A lot of things were happening in 1997 that rattled Hip-Hop culture.
It was another era. Gas was only $1.22 per gallon, and Steve Jobs was negotiating his return to Apple. What was devastating was the loss of the Notorious B.I.G.
It was life-shattering. It made the culture feel abandoned by all the elements we believed were real, “Peace, Love, and Having Fun.”
But then, on June 3rd, the boys from Staten Island gave the world hope and a feeling that all could be right in the universe as they united (for the first time in four years) and released the iconic album, Wu-Tang Forever.
The project was more than a set list of great songs. It was a life preserver for a group of like-minded head-nodders exhausted by the nonsense that took ‘Pac and Biggie away. It was a return to the real.
So, we pause, 25 years later, to celebrate what RZA, GZA, Ason Unique aka Big Baby Jesus aka Dirt Dog aka Dirt McGirt aka Ossirus, aka the Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon the Chef, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna, gave to the world.
The Grammy Award-nominated double-disc opus saved lives with the information it gave and the musicality of the project.
Who doesn’t remember the first time “Triumph” blasted through their speakers, and you heard that over five minutes and nine verses of lyrical mastery?
To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Wu-Tang Clan’s Wu-Tang Forever, Get On Down and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is releasing an anniversary collection that includes the album with a lyric booklet, a silver-colored 7-inch single of “Triumph” with “Heaterz” on the B-side in a picture sleeve, and a reissue of the double cassette in a slipcase.
In addition to the album’s 25th-anniversary release, the Staten Island natives have shared a new installment series of newly found video interviews from 1997 that the members made while shooting the video for “Triumph,” which took a mindboggling five days to shoot and was filmed by Brett Ratner.
Also, the Wu has created a visual playlist on YouTube called “New York is Home,” including some of their favorite spots that helped create the group that we love so much.
Other visual delights made available to fans is the “new Wu-Niverse, documentary-style profile series on Certified, the digital destination platform celebrating SMEs R&B and Hip-Hop catalogs.
These mini-documentaries follow fans worldwide and spend a day with them as they show us their love for Wu-Tang. From the eccentric to the unexpected, these profiles uncover the power of Wu-Tang and their lasting effect on so many fans’ lives.”
As aforementioned, this album was nominated for Grammy for the project.
While they did not win on the show for the record, they won big in another way. In celebrating Wu-Tang Forever, we would be remiss if we did not celebrate the most legendary moment in rap history.
I may have gotten it all confused. Are used to see young thug wearing dresses and appearing extremely androgynous and thought that meant he was sauce. As time moves forward, it seems like the opposite is true. First of all, he is innocent until proven guilty.
It seems as though his cohorts in crime, allegedly, are singing like birds on a sunny day. The other members of the YSL crew are claiming to be scared of young thug and fear he will kill them as well as their families. This sounds crazy. It almost sounds as if Young Thug is the godfather or some sort of criminal sociopathic murderer.
Just gives a bit of a different point of view to Kevin Liles’s tears yesterday. No, I am thinking maybe he was crying because he was scared. As you may recall, the mogul put up his own personal assets as well as company assets to secure a bond for Young Thug. Jeffrey was denied bond even though they agreed to put 24 police officers on him for 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Those singing birds are singing so loudly that they wouldn’t even except that million dollar proposition. That is some serious fear.
KING SLIME.
“ He is the most dangerous of the 24.”
Dang! Check this out.
They are also saying Thugger is also going though detox. They have been tracing his calls and say that he was on drugs up until this trial for bond.
Hip-Pop star Doja Cat is among the acts that have contributed to the upcoming Elvis Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The Planet Her album creator recorded the song “Vegas” for the project.
A music video for Doja Cat’s “Vegas” landed on YouTube today (June 3). The 3-minute visual, directed by child, features a cameo by Shonka Dukureh,the actress who playsBig Mama Thorntonin Elvis.
Director Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic comes out June 24 in the United States. House of Iona/RCA Records will release Elvis Original Motion Picture Soundtrack on the same day the film hits theaters.
Austin Butler stars as Elvis Presley in the Warner Bros. motion picture. Tom Hanks plays Presley’s manager ColonelTom Parker. The cast also features Helen Thomson, Richard Roxburgh, Olivia DeJonge, Luke Bracey, Natasha Bassett, and David Wenham.
R&B vocalist Givēon has already scored a #1 single on the Hot 100 chart, earned seven Grammy nominations, and received multiple Platinum plaques.
However, the 27-year-old Epic recording artist has yet to release an official studio LP. Givēon is now ready to present his full-length debut album to the world.
The West Coast singer/songwriter’s Give Or Take project will land on digital streaming platforms on June 24. A 47-second trailer for Give Or Take arrived on YouTube this week.
Givēon made it to #1 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart as a guest feature on Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” in 2021. Fellow R&B musician Daniel Caesar also appeared on that song.
Earlier this year, Givēon went into the 64th Annual Grammy Awards with six total nominations, including a Best R&B Song nod for “Heartbreak Anniversary.” His Take Time EP was up for Best R&B Album at the 2021 edition of the Grammy ceremony.
The Recording Industry Association of America presented “Heartbreak Anniversary” with a 3x-Platinum Award in January. Givēon’s Gold-certified When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time compilation dropped in March 2021.
Yesterday, Megan Thee Stallion published the official music video for her “Plan B” single. The Casey Cadwallader and John Miserendino-directed visuals bring together Hip Hop and fashion.
Casey Cadwadaller is the creative director of the French fashion house Mugler. Cadwallader also created the custom looks that Megan wears in the “Plan B” video.
Hot Girl Meg originally dropped “Plan B” as an audio release on April 22. The Rob Holladay-produced track peaked at #29 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart at the beginning of May.
Previously this year, Megan Thee Stallion put out “Sweetest Pie” with Pop performer Dua Lipa. That collaboration managed to make it into the Hot 100’s Top 20 by landing at #15.
Megan’s catalog also contains the Tina Snow and Suga EPs. The Houston, Texas native presented her debut studio LP, Good News, in November 2020. The Something for Thee Hotties compilation dropped in 2021.
Tuma Basa, Director of Black Music and Culture at YouTube, wrote a blog post titled “Black Music Is A Movement, Not a Moment.” The article highlights the platform’s music playlists and Roots Picnic live stream.
“Black Music Month may as well be renamed to ‘Range and Depth Month.’ That’s because it’s the time of the year where we get to really celebrate the range of genres and subgenres that originate from Black culture as well as how deep they’ve penetrated popular music. We’re going in!” states Tuma Basa.
YouTube also announced a second-year partnership with 1500 Sound Academy for the #YouTubeBlack Music Future Insiders Scholarship program. Aspiring students can participate in 1500 Sound Academy’s Music & Industry Fundamentals Live Online Program. The course offers lessons in music production, engineering, songwriting, mixing, music business, and more.
Additionally, the #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund will continue. Over 300 grantees have received support from YouTube. Seed funding was invested into the development of their channels as well as bespoke training, workshops, and networking programs. An external program called YouTube Avenues is coming soon too.
“It’s not a coincidence that Black artists have made such an impact on YouTube. From my early years at Def Jam to my current work with YouTube, I’ve had a chance to see and work with the immeasurable genius of Black artistry. Black music is a heartbeat of culture and that’s why YouTube celebrates Black creativity today and everyday,”says Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music.
Throughout his career in the music industry, Lyor Cohen served as an executive for Def Jam Recordings and Warner Music Group. He was also one of the co-founders of 300 Entertainment. YouTube named Cohen as Global Head of Music in 2016.
On June 10, The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts will honor The Notorious B.I.G. by hosting an orchestral tribute for him. The New York City venue partnered with Bad Boy Entertainment, Atlantic Records, Rhino Records, and The Christopher Wallace Estate.
The black-tie event will feature symphony performances of Notorious B.I.G.’s songs from the Ready to Die and Life After Death albums. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson will arrange and conduct the concert with appearances by The Originals and special guests.
“Christopher Wallace wasn’t just an extremely charismatic, intelligent, rare, skilled, and elite rapper, he was and is someone that represents freedom, excellence, and transcendence for all people,” says Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.
The composer also says, “His heart and spirit is what touches and inspires us. His legacy is on an upward trajectory, and I can’t wait to share an orchestral impression of some of my favorite music of his. Being able to pay tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. with an orchestra at Lincoln Center is one of the greatest honors and joys of my life.”
The Notorious B.I.G. Orchestral Tribute is part of The Lincoln Center’s Summer for The City Festival. A limited number of free advanced reservation tickets will become available starting June 6.
“Biggie is the best rapper ever. But more important, he was one of the most genuine people I’ve ever worked with and became friends with,” states DJ Clark Kent of The Originals.
Clark Kent continues, “The time we shared will never be forgotten. The music we made together, like ‘Sky’s The Limit’ and ‘Players Anthem’ are timeless. It was an honor to share those moments with him. He will forever be missed by me.”
Digga D found himself in trouble with the law during a recent trip to France after getting arrested. He was also banned from entering the country for twelve months following a fight with a security guard.
The West London drill artist took to Instagram Live to explain the events surrounding his arrest. The clip opens with Digga D displaying a bump on his forehead. “I’ll be honest with you, man got smoked by a security guard,” he admitted. He got into a physical fight with the man before cops showed up and arrested him. Check out the video below.
Digga D Blasts “Corrupt” French Cops
The “Pump 101” rapper then claimed that French police beat him up during the arrest and said he’s “banned from France.”
As the video continues, a man with a French accent is heard urging Digga D to complain about the cops before they “destroy the evidence.” He also explained that he might not be able to press charges against the French authorities due to the time elapsed. “I didn’t know they were corrupt over here like this,” Digga D said before telling him “Ceclia” would be in contact.
Digga D was likely referring to his lawyer Cecilia Goodwin, who appeared in a documentary about the prominent U.K. artist. The film centered on the 2018 Criminal Behaviour Order imposed on Digga D after his conviction for conspiracy to commit violent disorder. The ruling was the first of its kind in the U.K. and affected the type of music he released. According to Cecilia, this gave authorities the ability to control and censor his art.
It appears Digga D was detained overnight in France before emerging from the station unaware of his location.
While the alleged ban will affect his plans to work in the country with local rappers, he remained resolute. “You win some, you lose some, he explained at the end of the video.”This country is foul.”
Remy Ma found herself on the receiving end of some fierce internet backlash when she said she doesn’t classify Doja Cat as a rapper during a recent appearance on Drink Champs.
However, the Bronx native says her comments were taken out of context, and she was actually paying Doja a compliment. Remy Ma clarified her remarks during an interview with Black Compass Media while discussing her plans to create opportunities for female rappers with her new battle rap league Chrome 23.
However, it got a little awkward for the hosts who tried to change the subject after Remy Ma responded, “Don’t even bring her up. I thought I was giving [her] a compliment,” she added, referring to her past remarks. “Her whole entourage or fan base came for my life. I was like, ‘I thought I said something good!’” Check out the conversation below.
While Remy Ma also called her “dope,” she’s not alone in questioning how to categorize the Grammy-award-winning artist. Nonetheless, Doja Cat has always considered herself a Hip-Hop kid at heart, and recently revealed her upcoming album will be rap-centered.
Remy Ma Presents “Ladies & Gentlemen”
Meanwhile, Remy Ma continues her journey as a battle rap league owner with her second event later this month in New York. It’s guy vs. girl on Ladies & Gentlemen, her first intergender event following the success of her inaugural all-female card in February. There is one exception, as former two on two partners and friends, Ms. Hustle and Viixen the Assassin go head-to-head on Friday night (Jun. 10). Take in the glamorous trailer featuring Remy Ma below.
Jim Jones and Migos joined forces for a new venture which takes them into the metaverse.
The rappers “bounce between eclectic digital worlds” during the video for “We Set The Trends,” which premiered on Thursday night (Jun. 2). Check out the trailer below.
The visuals feature Jim Jones and Migos in animated form as they traverse the metaverse in the new NFT release. EddieVisual and Yasha Gruben directed the video, which features the collaborative designs of 15 visual artists.
WE SET THE TRENDS // Tomorrow in @decentraland come watch this Meta themed animated music video by @jimjonescapo x @Migos feat tons of your fav NFT influencers & Artists. 3pm PST – FREE entrance for all, just hop into genesis plaza and select our event! More info in bio! #BAYCpic.twitter.com/fzI0DfhEqU
“We are calling it the Web3 Avengers, I think that pretty much sums it up,” Eddie Perez explained.
“We view this project as a way for visual artists that work on music videos to get residual income from their work,” Grammy Nominated Director Yasha Gruben added. “This is a new blueprint for visual artists in the music industry.”
The video premiered on Thursday (Jun. 2) and is exclusively available in Decentraland before arriving on Jim Jones’ YouTube channel Tuesday June 7.
Juelz Santana joined Jim Jones and Migos on the original cut of “We Set The Trends.” Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled also hopped on the remix, which landed a few weeks ago. The track initially appeared on Jim Jones’ January Gangsta Grillz: We Set The Trends mixtape. Fans can check out the remix on Capo’s channel while awaiting the debut of the NFT version.
The former owner of The Source turned himself in to cops in May after a warrant was issued for his arrest following an altercation with ex-girlfriend Althea Heart and her partner.
Benzino confirmed his release to AllHipHop and sent us an exclusive jailhouse picture. The snap was taken by a fan who captured Zino flexing his muscles while behind bars.
The footage of his initial arrest went viral. However, according to Benzino, the footage is from an old altercation that he was recently charged for. “I was kind of arguing with the guy she was with at the time,” he told AllHipHop. Long story short, the case was like two years ago, and somebody put that old video up, and it got me kind of arguing with him,” he added.
Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest after he missed a virtual court appearance in April when he was sick with Covid.
His relationship with Althea Heart played out on T.V. screens when the pair appeared on reality television throughout their relationship. Benzino proposed during their time on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta in season 3 (2014). They went on to have a son but would ultimately break up. They attempted to fix their relationship on Marriage Boot Camp but failed to reconnect.
He took to Instagram shortly after the hearing to address the allegations. “2015 my brudda never did a day in jail because I claimed my s###,” wrote Yak Gotti. “I did 4 years fed with no tears! Stop the [cap emoji].”
During the hearing, his legal team insisted Yak Gotti is a hardworking family man. Additionally, he has the support of his “friends, family,” and “business associates.”
However, prosecutors argued Gotti poses a threat to any potential witnesses. They also accused him of participating in gang activity since his arrest in May. They also cited his criminal history, including his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Donovan “Big Nut” Thomas.
Yak Gotti and YSL Duke were charged in connection with Thomas’s death after they were arrested during a traffic stop. Cops found an AK-47 assault rifle and a .40 caliber handgun in their possession.
The snitching allegations arose after prosecutors claimed Gotti previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. While they did not elaborate, there was speculation that he cooperated with investigators and snitched on his co-defendant, YSL Duke.
Yak Gotti was denied bond after the judge ruled he was a threat to witnesses and had concerns he would attempt to flee. The trial is expected to begin in January 2023.
HBO is celebrating 20 years of The Wire with a retrospective podcast hosted by Method Man.
The Wire at 20 presents a behind-the-scenes look at the series through interviews with the cast and crew. Method Man hosts the podcast after portraying Melvin “Cheese” Wagstaff in the critically acclaimed show.
HBO released the first episode of the podcast on Thursday (June 2), which is the 20th anniversary of TheWire’s premiere. Method Man takes listeners back to the early days of the show, exploring its origins with the help of creator David Simon.
“The Wire was far from a surefire hit from day one,” HBO notes in its description of the episode. “Host Method Man walks through The Wire’s long journey to the screen and the initial challenges it faced. Series co-creators David Simon and Ed Burns join to discuss how their backgrounds in journalism and law enforcement shaped their vision for the series. Executive producer Nina Noble and writer/producer George Pelecanos weigh in on how the writer’s room was sometimes a shouting match.”
All five seasons of The Wire are currently available to stream on HBO Max.
Listen to the first episode of The Wire at 20 hosted by Method Man below.
An 88-page indictment accused the “Hot” rapper and his associates Gunna, Lil Duke, Unfoonk, Slimelife Shawty, Yak Gotti and 22 other people of running with YSL, which allegedly committed murder, dealt drugs, engaged in shootouts with other gangs and other crimes.
On Thursday (June 2), Young Thug appeared in court via Zoom to enter a plea regarding his racketeering charges. He pleaded not guilty.
Steel asked the judge to grant Young Thug a pre-trial bond. Additionally, Steel asked for home confinement with electronic monitoring under the strictest circumstances.
The rapper’s lawyer presented an expert witness named Charles Mittelstadt, an expert criminal defense investigator, to support Young Thug’s proposal to get a bond. He revealed Young Thug had four properties, one of which could be used to house him with GPS ankle monitoring, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Mittelstadt also revealed he lined up physical monitoring with 24 police officers to keep tabs on the rapper, search any potential visitors to the residence and keep contraband material out of the rap star’s house.
Each visitor would be searched and wanded. Just to pay for the staffing of police would cost Young Thug over $1 million per year.
Young Thug also agreed to close circuit monitoring inside and outside via the security systems at his home. The rapper also agreed to have no internet access and no cell phone access.
Young Thug’s lawyer and Mittelstadt hoped to prove the rapper would not be a danger to the community if he was granted bond.
To continue his career, Young Thug asked to have studio equipment brought in so he could continue recording music.
Young Thug’s business partner and 300 Entertainment founder Kevin Liles was the next witness.
Liles vowed to put up his company assets to back Young Thug’s motion for bond. He questioned why Young Thug’s rap lyrics were on trial during teary-eyed testimony.
“It’s funny how we’re the number one music in the world now, and they want to bring this back up,” Liles said, referring to the prosecution’s attempt to use Young Thug’s lyrics against him.
“We don’t argue about any other movies or genres of music that talk about ‘I ran them over in my truck,’ or ‘I got drunk and went and shot him,'” he said. “We don’t bring those things to court. Court. But ‘our music,’ we’ve been on trial. And we’re constantly on trial about who we are, what we are. Ain’t nobody gave us nothing. So we sit here on trial, and we talk about lyrics? I don’t understand. I’m going to keep fighting for it. Because I believe in self-expression. And I believe we should protect black art.”
Prosecutor Don Geary flatly objected to Brian Steel’s assertation that Young Thug was not a danger to the community.
“This is all about money,” he said. “This is an attempt to say, ‘Judge, I can buy a bond.’ Respect to the court. Judge, everything you heard was someone that has a financial interest or some other professional interest relying on Mr. Williams. Yes, they need him out. Yes, they need him to be there. Yes, it’s very important to them because it’s all about the money.”
Geary told the court that witnesses in the case have been “threatened with violence.” He didn’t claim Young Thug ordered the threats but insist the rapper is the mastermind behind the YSL gang. He also downplayed the notion of Thugger’s efforts in the community.
“Bad people sometimes do good things,” he said before referencing the Gambino crime family. “That’s what he put up – he put up the appearance in the community and people that are financially dependent upon him.”
On a side note, the prosecution presented arguments regarding Brian Steel, the lawyer representing Thug. The state claimed that hiring Steel to represent the artist was a conflict of interest since he represented another defendant indicted on a different and unrelated case.
The judge ruled that Steel can represent Young Thug for the time being and that the court plans to return to the issue in August. The rapper is slated to go to trial in January 2023.
Cam’ron is hosting a new series titled Hip Hop My House, which is scheduled to premiere on June 21.
The home makeover show is reminiscent of MTV’s Pimp My Ride. Cam’ron teams with designer Zeez Louize to renovate a fan’s home, transforming it into an elaborate tribute to a rapper or group.
Artists featured in the series include 24KGoldn, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Erica Banks, Migos, Nelly, Polo G, Rae Sremmurd and Tyga. All nine Hip Hop My House episodes will debut the same day on Paramount Plus.
Paramount Plus released a trailer for Hip Hop My House ahead of its premiere. The preview shows Cam’ron and Zeez Louize at work but not always on the same page.
MTV Entertainment Studios and Anaïd Production produce Hip Hop My House. Margaret Mardirossian, Helen Schmidt, Jennifer Little and Sophie Morgadinho serve as executive producers.
David F. Mewa is the series producer for Anaïd Productions. Bruce Gillmer, Amanda Culkowski and Jennifer Demme are executive producers on behalf of MTV Entertainment Group.
Cam’ron’s Hip Hop My House arrives on Paramount Plus a few weeks after the streaming service relaunched YO! MTV Raps. New episodes of the reboot premiere every Tuesday through July 12.
Jeezy and Jeannie Mai introduced their daughter to the world via YouTube on Thursday (June 2).
Jeannie Mai shared footage of their baby girl Monaco in a new episode of her web series Hello Hunnay. The video featured several clips of Jeezy enjoying quality time with his daughter.
The episode showed Jeezy and Jeannie Mai’s baby hanging out with various members of their respective families. Monaco also got to meet the cast of The Real.
Earlier this year, Jeannie Mai explained how she and Jeezy decided on their daughter’s name. She intended to pick something that started with a “J” but noted why those plans changed in a previous episode of Hello Hunnay.
“I thought Baby J’s name should be a J name, because obviously Jeannie and Jeezy makes sense, but that wasn’t the name that came to us,” she said. “What really came to us was how Baby J came to fruition for us when we were dating.”
The couple named their daughter Monaco due to the principality’s significance in their relationship.
“It’s the first place that Jay and I traveled to when we were dating,” she said. “And it’s the first place we ever established what was going on with us.”
Watch Jeezy and Jeannie Mai with their daughter Monaco below.
Yvng Sammie aka “Mr. Do It So Precise” aka “Mr. Ahh Ohh Nana” coming out of Canada, Toronto, Ontario of Jamaican descent has sparked a buzz worldwide with his exotic dance moves on the vine. With his new career stepping into the music scene in 2021 Sammie has already opened up for many artists internationally through both music and dance. In October of 2021, he released his first EP independently and accumulated over 65,000 streams, In February of 2022 he then released the deluxe project which now has 80,000 streams and counting. The drive this YVNG man has isn’t going unnoticed and he is definitely on to something.
Sammie plans to release his first official album on his birthday August 24th, this year titled “CAIRO” which is named after his son. Sammie has been working hard in the studio releasing singles every Friday for the summer of 2022 following his upcoming album release. The project will be backed by a leading independent record label company for the distribution, management, marketing, and promotional aspects of this newest release “CAIRO.”
On Jensen Kirk’s newest single and visual, “Lost In The Sauce,” he spits, “can’t get lost in the sauce, gotta get paid when I talk. You know everything costs, that’s universal law. They gon’ try to throw you off, but the opposition flaw. I came to get it all, because everything I want costs.”
Hailing from South Central Los Angeles, Jensen Kirk has been grinding for the past decade, creating his own lane within music and fashion while making sure he’s always keeping family at the forefront. When describing himself, he states, “I like to say I’m my father’s son and my mama’s child. I’d like to have a family in the future.”
With the ability to both rap, sing, and write songs, Kirk broke out onto the scene with his smash hit “California Girl.” which hit mainstream radio in perfect timing. Additionally, he had a big moment with the release of “Paper Chaser’ featuring Big Sean, which was featured on one of Sean’s mixtapes.
Now, Kirk unveils his newest project titled VISIONS, an acronym that stands for “value in sight is one’s next success.” The 10-track project is spearheaded by lead singles “Baby Bluek” and “Lost In The Sauce.”
AllHipHop: You’re from South Central LA, how was that growing up?
Jensen Kirk: It’s a gift and a curse. We get opportunities, but at the same time a lot of people think it’s easier because you’re in a big city. Sometimes, it’s a lot of politicking to get through to what you’re trying to get to. It’s a lot of gang interference sometimes, when you’re growing up in a community and all that. It’s also a lot of positives too, as far as community is concerned. That had a big effect on me, my morals. Just giving me morals and having a bigger outlook on what I’m trying to do for real, but I love it. I grew up here, I love it.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences?
Jensen Kirk: I look up to artists like Hov, Kanye, 50 Cent, Drake, people who were able to do it on a big level. The people that’s doing it right now would be Kendrick, Cole, and Drake.
AllHipHop: At what point did you decide to do music?
Jensen Kirk: I got my break in the game when I had a song with Big Sean called “Paper Chaser” that got to radio, Power 106 and all that. Once we got that on the radio, bam! We here. We got to do tours, that’s when I knew that I’m here for real. Then Kanye posted it on his blog at the time, that’s when it was like “okay yeah, we’re here for real.”
AllHipHop: How’d “Paper Chaser” with Big Sean come about?
Jensen Kirk: I had an A&R at the time that introduced us, then Sean came to the studio and it was history after that. He heard the song, he said “bro I need to put a verse on this.” I said “let’s do it!” After that happened, it was boom boom boom. Just easy after that. He put a verse on there, I shot it to mix show radio. Shoutout to DJ’s that played it for real.
AllHipHop: Is Jensen Kirk your real name?
Jensen Kirk: Mmhmm. With the name thing: at the time, I had the name J.K, JK, and all these aliases. I thought man, I need to go on and just use my real name. Because the music I was doing at that time was adding up to where I really wanted to see myself going. Once I made that name change, that brought us where we are here today.
AllHipHop: New EP Visions out now, how are you feeling?
Jensen Kirk: Yeah man, Visions. It’s crazy, production from Willie B. He did a lot of stuff with TDE, Kendrick, SchoolBoy Q. Production from Super Miles, he did the Wale, Chris Brown single. I’m just blessed to be here. We got two singles that debuted, they both did 50K on YouTube. We got 100K on YouTube and all that, it’s a beautiful thing.
AllHipHop: What’s the acronym for Visions?
Jensen Kirk: Visions acronym is value in sight is one’s next success. Coming into this project, I was thinking “okay, what do I want to change from the last thing I dropped?” Coming out the pandemic, doing all that, what do I want to change? Hindsight is 2020, we all got hindsight right? We don’t want to go back to the past. Insight is now, foresight is where we see ourselves in the future. I took all of those sights, how can I initiate that into the project? That’s where Visions came up because damn, all these sights is a vision. It’s my vision, and I want to put that in the project.
AllHipHop: What songs mean the most to you?
Jensen Kirk: “Baby Bluek,” that’s the main single we dropped. Then “Lost In The Sauce” is the follow-up single. Them probably the two right now to draw people to the project, to have people go to Youtube and see all that. But the one that really sticks out to me, I’m a be honest, “Lost In The Sauce,” but I also think “Jumpin out tha Roof.” A lot of people like that song, so we might shoot a video to that.
AllHipHop: What were you going thru recording “Lost In The Sauce”?
Jensen Kirk: I just heard a beat for real. Super Miles is a fire producer so once I heard that beat, it brought out that emotion where “yo, can’t get lost in the sauce. Gotta get paid when I talk, everything costs.” But it also brings back to where I see myself in the future, foresight. “I gotta get paid when I talk, everything costs.” That’s where I saw myself in the future, in my near future too. Yo, I want to do these shows. I want to get booked for these shows. I want to hopefully sign a lucrative deal. I really want to be for real in this s###, not just play play.
AllHipHop: How’s the independent grind?
Jensen Kirk: Independent is cool, but we’re always shooting to be lucrative and to make some financial gains. But also too, not just for the now. It’s important for me to have generational wealth and all that s### that Hov and all them be talking about. That’s important for me. How can I set up my family and my next seeds? That’s the way I look at it, I’m sacrificing this for the now. So that the people that I bring in — not even just my family, but the people that I employ. How can I help better their situation?
AllHipHop: You’re a songwriter too, can you touch on that side of you?
Jensen Kirk: Early on, I was in the studio with Rufus Blaq. He did a lot of songs with B2K, Rihanna, a lot of people. I had a lot of study under Rufus. As far as collaborations, being in the studio with No I.D. around the time when I was with Big Sean, and coming across J. Cole in the studio. Just seeing how these people write their music and produce their stuff, that was big for me. It brought a lot of confidence to what I was doing to say “okay, yeah this s### is for real.”
AllHipHop: How would you describe your fashion sense?
Jensen Kirk: In the grand scheme of it all, I’d love to do a collaboration with a fashion brand. I know early on I was part of the Rhude clothing brand. A lot of people are rocking Rhuge now, and I was part of that early on. Seeing how that was developed and formed, for me it was like damn. People like my sense of fashion and like what I bring to the table. Being a part of the brand or being a part of any type of fashion line, that’s big in my future. I f### with it. The aesthetic, the style, Pharrell, what he brought to the gam . Kanye, what he brought to the game. I f### with all of that s###.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Jensen Kirk: My engineer Chris Plata, that’s my engineer. I need the atmosphere need to be good, whether it’s beautiful women, good friends, just people with good atmosphere. The third thing I need in the studio, some water for real. Some good water because all that rapping, it’s a lot of talking. So you need to be hydrated.
AllHipHop: Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?
Jensen Kirk: Yes of course, goals for real. I want to be named amongst the greats. I want to be really in the game for real. I want to be really a part of this s### and not just for play play. I really want to be initiated and named amongst the greats, that’s really my goal, I want to be named amongst the greats and be financially lucrative in the future. In the near future, that’s my goals.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let people know?
Jensen Kirk: The project is out now, Visions. We got two singles, “Baby Bluek” and “Lost In The Sauce.” They doing dumb numbers on Youtube. S### I’m trying to do more interviews with Shirley, that’s what I’m trying to do. [laughs]
The Girll Codee is here! Get ready! These two young ladies, which come from Brooklyn New York, are on a pathway to revolution.
But ShaaBiggaa and Hiii Siddity’s revolution is not the bloody type. This is more of a cultural revolution, whether or not they believe it. They are representing that there are differences in how Hip-Hop can present itself, wholly real and completely authentic.
The New York rap scene has always produced artists who have pushed the culture forward with talent. Recently the buzz around the industry is for the new crop of artists emerging from the city that never sleeps.
They represent a return to fun, paryting, humor and honesty. And then there are the bars. They are lyricists that are clearly serious about the craft, but don’t take themselves too seriously. The Brooklyn tag team have been creating a path for themselves with their high energy. The duo also have the numbers to back up their talent. Their songs “El-Bonics” and “Woah” have millions of views throughout social media, and they love to feed the streets with freestyles over beats in homage to NY legends such as The Lox and Mobb Deep.
Chopping it up with our correspondent Slops, Girll Codee breaks down what it’s like to be from New York, the reception they’ve received from fans, who are some of their favorite artists, and the plans for themselves in the future.
LeBron James just made history as the first NBA player, that is presently active, to become a billionaire.
The 37-year old champion, father, business man, activist is now making more money than Ronald McDonald! I am just kidding. But last year he made $121.2 million and that tipped him over the billionaire status. They are calling it the three-comma club.
Most of his money, by the way, has been made outside of basketball. Inside of basketball he made roughly $387 million. His SpringHill Entertainment company is worth roughly $300,000,000, his stake in Fenway Sports Group is worth $90 million and he even has a stake and a pizza company that is worth $30 million. Jeez!
This dude is paid!
One thing is for sure and two things are for certain, I am going to DM him and ask him for some money. Just give me a chance at making rent.
This is a long way from the days of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Even though those guys were stars, this certainly set a new precedent. I hope the kids understand that they are going to have to work hard to do anything near what LeBron has done.
By the way Forbes is the people that put this out there and did all the valuations and all that good stuff. Next up for LeBron is owning a sports team so let’s see how far he can go with that!
