Kid Cudi gained international recognition and began his rise to stardom with his commercial single “Day ‘n’ Nite,” which went on to feature on his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day in 2009.
After moving from his native Ohio to New York, two chance encounters with Kanye West helped to elevate his career. However, according to Jim Jones, he is “solely responsible for Kid Cudi’s career.”
During a recent conversation with VIP Saturdays on Sirius XM he recalled his first meeting with Cudi.
Jim Jones Says “Kid Cudi Was Nobody”
“Kid Cudi was nobody,” Jim Jones declared. “He worked in a f###### store under Koch Records. I was signed to Koch Records. I didn’t even know Kid Cudi worked down there. Lisa Brunt’s nephew at the time was doing some work for me in my studio, and he’s like, ‘Yo, I manage these video directors, and I want them to shoot a video for you,’ and s### like that. I’m like, ‘Show me the video.’ They showed me the video, ended up being a Kid Cudi video that they shot for free for him.”
Kid Cudi then continued, “They’re like ‘This is the kid that works in the f###### rock-n-roll store under Koch. They just did it for him,’ and I was like, ‘Give me the record, and I’ll let y’all shoot me a video.’ They got me the record, they shot the video.”
When asked how Hot 97 got hold of a version of “Day N Night,” Capo said someone from the station took it before removing him from the track.
“I put it on YouTube. Somebody at Hot97 ripped it off of YouTube and started playing it at Hot97,” Jim Jones said. “When he got his deal, they took me off the record and went for ads without me on the record. DJ Cassidy did that, you dig. You know I bumped into him, but that’s my man, though. It’s always a joke, though, but it happens like that. I’m solely responsible for Kid Cudi’s career. You can go tell him that, and he’s going to tell you, ‘He’s right.’”
The Boston Celtics star spoke about the new deal during a press conference ahead of Thursday’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Check out the video below.
“It was time. For me, like I said, anytime I make a life decision, I contemplate. I think about things deeply,” Jaylen Brown explained. “And from what I want to do, the missions I want to get accomplished, it was the right decision.”
Aaron Donald teased a possible Yeezy cleat collaboration after linking with Donda Sports, while Brown recently became a shoe-deal free agent after his long-term deal expired with Adidas. He stated that he would prefer his future deal to include investment in the social justice causes he supports.
According to ESPN, Jaylen Brown and Kanye West have known each other for some time but only formalized the partnership recently. He says he’s not fazed by the controversy that surrounds Ye.
“People have concerns or critiques, etc., but in the world we live in, there’s concerns and critiques in any and everything,” Brown said. “I feel like this is a good moment for me in my particular life. I’m excited to build and create and do things that I’ve always imagined I wanted to do on the court and off.”
“Partition,” a new single by Gerardo Merez, has been published. Since its debut, the song has garnered a sizable online following. It quickly went viral when it was published. Gerardo ‘s great music, along with the song’s catchiness, has resulted in a masterpiece.
Gerardo may be fresh to the music world, but he is far from inexperienced. This year, Gerardo has five singles out. When you listen to them, you can hear the depth of feeling he has sought to instill in them. The song “Partition” is a good example of this. It’s a memorable tune that will appeal to people of all ages.
The music in “Partition” provides the impression that it might be played indefinitely without becoming monotonous. Whatever it is about the song makes you want to hear it repeatedly, no matter how many times you hear it. This clearly demonstrates Gerardo’s talents.
Jose Estrada’s latest single, “Tempo Drop,” has just been published. The song has gained a significant amount of traction on the internet since its release. As soon as it was published, it instantly became viral on the internet. Jose Estrada’s music and the song’s catchiness combine to create a gem.
Jose Estrada is a professional artist in the music industry, but he is not a novice. Five singles have been released by Jose Estrada this year. The amount of emotion Jose Estrada sought to create in them can be heard when you listen to the songs. In particular, “Tempo Drop” demonstrates this. Music lovers of all ages will enjoy listening to this song.
The music in “Tempo Drop” gives the idea that it might be played eternally without getting boring. Listen to the song over and over again because of whatever it is about it that makes you want to do so. In light of that, Jose Estrada’s talents are clearly on display.
The debut of Quaid Madison’s new single has shocked the music industry to its core. Recently, a new album titled “Connections” was made available to the public. And it’s been performing very well thus far. The song has received a warm reception from the public, and it appears to be a big hit.
An up-and-comer in the music industry, Quaid Madison is more well-known as a creative thinker. Quaid Madison is well-versed in the demands of musicians, artists, and influencers, as seen by his clients. He’s mastered the ability to recognize a person’s wants and requirements. This is a skill he brings to his music as well.
The goal of Quaid Madison’s “Connections” project was to meet their need for music. There’s a sense in which Quaid Madison listened to what people were listening to before creating this song. As a result, listening to music has become a pleasure. You’re stuck listening to the music again and over.
Desiigner got into a shouting match with L.A. cops after a traffic stop went wrong on Wednesday (Jun. 1), leading to a tense exchange that was made a little smoother by a passerby who just so happened to be Tariq Nasheed.
As reported by TMZ, cops claim the “Panda” hitmaker was pulled over for driving without license plates. They also took issue with the tinted windows on his vehicle and made a stop. Desiigner then reportedly left his car to approach the officer.
In the video of the altercation obtained by TMZ, Desiigner becomes angry after noticing the cop has his pepper spray in hand. He rants at the cops, calling one “a racist b####,” telling them there’s no need to use force.
When Desiigner spots a bystander filming, he yells, “You know who I am right? Desiigner. Panda. Let the world know,” while using his own phone to document the incident on IG Live.
Desiigner Tells Cops “Keep Your Hands off Your Gun”
“This is bigger than Freddie Gibbs, all them n#####,” he tells the camera. He then asks for another cop to approach, yelling, “I do not feel comfortable with you. Can you please back up,” before claiming. “You threatened me multiple times,” again requesting the officer back off.
A cop can be heard off-camera asking for “a conversation” when Desiigner suddenly begins pleading with officers. “Please, please keep your hands off your gun,” he begs repeatedly. “I don’t got s###,” he adds.
Cops then repeat their request to “have a conversation,” telling him they’re only in the situation because “you got upset” and began yelling.
The rapper then complains the cop threatened him “multiple times,” adding, “Suck my dick. You violated me bro.”
According to TMZ, cops were able to diffuse things, and Desiigner was eventually given a ticket and went on his way. However, not before documentary filmmaker and internet personality Tariq Nasheed got involved.
“I was driving down the street here in #LA,” he noted on Instagram, sharing his own footage of the incident. “I saw the #LAPD surrounding this random brotha at a gas station. The cops had their hands on their gun holsters, so I pulled over and walked over to the brotha to make sure he was ok. From what I gathered, the cops were following the brotha because he happened to be in a nice car. When I left, I realized that it was the rapper @lifeofdesiigner.”
Kanye West apparently changed his mind about NFTs.
According to Fortune, Kanye filed for multiple trademarks related to NFTs. Ye’s applications include “blockchain-based non-fungible assets,” “currencies and tokens,” and “online retail store services featuring … digital art.”
Kanye’s filings mark a dramatic change in his stance on NFTs. Earlier this year, he dismissed NFTs in a since-deleted Instagram post.
“STOP ASKING ME TO DO NFT’s I’M NOT FINNA CO-SIGN,” he wrote. “FOR NOW I’M NOT ON THAT WAVE. I MAKE MUSIC AND PRODUCTS IN THE REAL WORLD.”
Kanye’s post included a photo of a handwritten note expressing a similar sentiment. But his written message did leave the door open for NFTs.
“My focus is on building real products in the real world, real food, real clothes, real shelter,” he declared. “Do not ask me to do a f###### NFT … Ask me later.”
Although Kanye was initially reluctant to hop on the NFT bandwagon, that didn’t stop his name from being attached to a non-fungible token. One user minted Ye and Kim Kardashian’s divorce papers as an NFT.
The divorce papers went up for sale on OpenSea, a marketplace for non-fungible tokens. The unknown seller set the price at well over $400,000 but received no offers.
Lil Nas X vented online about receiving no nominations for the 2022 BET Awards.
The Columbia Records artist mockingly thanked BET in a since-deleted Twitter post on Wednesday (June 1). He reacted on social media after learning he wasn’t nominated for a BET Award for the second year in a row.
“Thank you bet awards,” he wrote. “an outstanding zero nominations again. black excellence!”
Lil Nas X’s complaint led to him clashing with Twitter users. One person questioned his credentials for a nomination, which provoked a response from the hitmaker.
“Idk maybe 3 of the biggest songs of last year & a critically acclaimed album,” he fired back in a since-deleted tweet. “i feel like that should’ve helped me a bit.”
Lil Nas X also tried to clarify his frustrations. He explained why the snub bothered him so much in another since-deleted post.
“Doesn’t even have to be me nominated,” he wrote. “i just feel like black gay ppl have to fight to be seen in this world and even when we make it to the top mfs try to pretend we are invisible.”
Lil Nas X did receive two nominations for the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards, a separate ceremony held by the network. He also performed at the 2021 BET Awards despite not being a nominee.
A grand jury indicted the 18-year-old man accused of killing 10 Black people in a mass shooting at a Buffalo grocery.
Payton Gendron shot a total of 13 people at a Tops store in Buffalo on May 14. He was charged with multiple crimes related to the shooting in a 25-count indictment on Wednesday (June 1).
The charges include 10 counts of murder in the first degree, 10 counts of murder in the second degree as a hate crime, three counts of attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime, domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, an armed felony.
Gendron, who is white, targeted the Tops grocery due to its location in a predominantly Black neighborhood. He visited the store a few months before the deadly shooting.
The shooter drove to Buffalo – hours away from his Conklin, New York home – because it was the closest city with a large Black population. His alleged manifesto referenced the “replacement theory,” which is a racist conspiracy.
Benny The Butcher, a Buffalo native, spoke about the shooting during a May 27 appearance on MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber. The Griselda rapper noted his child felt traumatized by the hometown massacre and the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
“People are afraid to go to the grocery stores,” Benny told Melber. “My daughter hasn’t been going to school since that happened. So, it’s like, that’s the last thing we need (the Uvalde shooting). We got to find a way to protect ourselves and situations like that.”
A gunman shot and killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde on May 24. Law enforcement killed the 18-year-old shooter, whose name was Salvador Ramos.
D Rocke is an influential rapper that has climbed his way up the steepest of steps in such a short period. The NY rap artist/songwriter has risen from the ground up, displaying rare talent and true emotion you may be missing from your daily playlist. His singles have amassed lots of views as his distinct playboy aura has been with him since childhood. It’s no secret that real-life events inspire his lyrics and videos.
The rapper has put his best foot forward, working with all kinds of greats in the industry. From the combination of hard work & determination, the iconic rapper has successfully gained the attention of many, and we’re excited to see where this rising artist lands as we’ve been keeping an eye on his growth. Today D Rocke delivers “LOSING FRIENDS” (Debut EP), to his supporters coast-wide.
Feeling bored or sluggish throughout your day? We’ve got you covered. 101jamz! Entertainment that’ll change your whole day. Their on-air personalities are amazing and sure to help bring some genuine laughter into your day. WVAI 101.3 Jamz is the voice of Charlottesville and No. 1# for Hip-Hop and R&B radio station. They have original shows like the following:
Jo Iyce In the Morning Featuring Sherell Rowe
Smash City with DJ Almighty
The Midday Connection with Chey Parker
Block Party with Laila & Bri
The Chris Thomas Show
Though none of this would be possible without those behind the scenes. Jaquan Middleton aka “DJ Almighty” (PD), DJ Joi Iyce (Mixshow Coordinator), and Kawani “Que the plug” Belk (Marketing Director/Producer) has helped the team continuously strive further and be better. The entire management has for sure found top-quality content.
Jo Iyce in the Morning with Sherrell Rowe
Co-host of the Radio One DC’s “The Clean and Dirty Podcast” and “Hot in my city”, you can catch DJ Jo Iyce spinning every week in the hottest DMV Nightclubs along with his mix-show on WKYS 93.9 every Friday. DJ Jo Iyce is a professional DJ, who has worked with some of the most well-known names like Future and brands in the music and entertainment industry. He continues to break new ground throughout his fascinating career, producing exceptional music and gaining more experience.
The Morning’s show co-host Sherell Rowe, is a writer, singer, and dynamic arranger who has taken the steps towards securing her own place in the music industry. Sherell was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and her father was in the Marines. She moved around a lot as a child because of his career, which allowed her to experience many different genres of music and culture. Sherell uses these as inspiration to encourage the creation of her music.
You can hear her talent on her 2010 Dark Planet Record EP, Sherell Rowe. Which was labeled “Hand’s down, one of the best projects of the 2010s.” Labeled “Best Alternative Artist” in the 2011 DMV Award and has collaborated with numerous artists. Such as Wale, Raheem Devaughn, and Fattrel, to name a few. She and her long-time friend DJ Jo Iyce are currently teamed up and can be found on “Jo Iyce in the Morning with Sherrell Rowe” every week, from Monday through Friday, 6 – 10 am. Follow @joiyceworld and @sherellroweshow on Instagram.
Block Party with Laila & Bri
After being picked from thousands of applicants to be an on-air personality with the Steve Harvey Morning Show, Laila Lopez immediately found her place on the radio. At the end of the Steve Harvey Morning Show, Laila continued her career by moving to 107.9 – The Dirty Boys.
Since then, Laila has worked across numerous high-end platforms, ranging from Sirius XM to TMZ. Before finding her home amongst the team of 101jamz. She now co-hosts “The Block Party with Laila and Bri!!” Once these two paired, the chemistry was effortless, and there has yet to be a dull moment.
Laila’s Co-Host, Bri Arier, is a native of Chicago. She originally found herself in the industry at the young age of 15! Playing a primary role in the girl group she was a part of, Bri adapted quickly and was able to discover her way around the industry.
Attending College in her home state, Illinois, she pursued a degree in fashion merchandising and Business Marketing. This made her move to Atlanta in pursuit of a corporate career. Once in ATL, she landed a role in a YouTube short film, which reignited her love for the entertainment industry and led her to Hollywood.
Alone on the west coast, Bri bravely took on LA, landing a seat on the renowned podcast “IZM Radio.” Unanimously selected by the podcast’s die-hard fanbase, Bri joined the team. Though IZM was her first introduction to radio, she was the puzzle piece the team had been looking for. Offering real and relatable energy that hooks tuned in listeners.
Bri shot for the sky and never stopped igniting the spark. The IZM radio show led her to co-Host not only a longstanding show but also reality episodes about herself and a traveling business show that highlighted Black-Owned Businesses. Though she started alone in an unknown place, Bri has made one of the most aspired places to live, her home through perseverance and charisma.
Be sure to follow Bri and Laila, @mslailalopez, @bri.arier, and never miss their show “Block Party with Laila and Bri from 3 pm-7 pm every Saturday.” As I said before, it feels like they never miss a beat; they get the vibes just right. Are you ready for a Block Party?
The Midday Connection with Chey Parker
101Jamz doesn’t stop there, though. Chey Parker is the midday personality on 101Jamz. She takes over the airways every weekday right after Jo Iyce, and Sherrell Rowe from 10 am – 3 pm. She can also be found on 93.3WKYS, where she is regularly on the air from Fridays to Sundays.
Parker is a media personality and entrepreneur who has also worked as a writer, editor, producer and on-air talent for over a decade. Originally from Hampton, Chey graduated magna c## laude from Howard University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. She has worked with several heavy-hitting media outlets, including C-SPAN, the British Broadcasting Company, Radio One, IHeartMedia, and PBS. In 2019, she was recognized on Vice’s DMV Top 35 Under 25 list for her career achievements and industry contributions.
But Chey isn’t just all about media. She currently works as a lead communications specialist for Deloitte Services LP, one of the largest accounting and consulting firms globally, supporting strategic communications for the firm’s high-priority business marketing initiatives. Chey is also the proud owner of Sacred n’ Sophisticated Glamour, a luxury lifestyle and clothing brand set to relaunch in 2022. To stay updated on the Launch and Chey, follow her @iamcheyparker.
Smash City Radio with DJ Almighty
Another awesome member of the 101Jamz fam is DJ Almighty. Born in Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY, and raised in the pink house projects, east Brooklyn. Until the late ’90s, Almighty migrated to New Jersey for some time, then to Virginia in 1998, where his dreams came true.
“I come from a family that makes the noise in the streets,” with music inspired by his father, Joseph “DJ Peter Jeter” Middleton, and his uncle Gerard “The Disco” jammers running the streets of Brooklyn. Legendary DJ Watkins introduced Almighty to the hip-hop industry, most notably the Fat Boy’s Prince Markie D, Whodini, Salt n Pepa Jaz-o, and Fresh Gordon. He discovered Spinderella of Salt n Pepa, although not fairly credited for that.
Almighty managed to make it on his own after moving to Virginia and landing a spot on WNRN’s The Boom Box 91.9 FM in Charlottesville, VA. This is where he now resides, owns, and operates this radio station, 101.3 Jamz. He also founded the soul of the Charlottesville urban festival with friends in the city. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat & Facebook @djalmighty.
THE MIX SHOWS
But what about the weekends? I can hear you saying. Don’t worry, we are covered as DJ Radio Mix Show. DJ Ms. Carter, Coalition DJs, and DJ Jonny Kaine (@jonny.kaine) bring the heat every Saturday from 9 am – 5 pm, playing nonstop bops. The music is fresh and keeps the party bumping all through the weekend
The Chris Thomas Show
That’s not all, a new show with Chris Thomas will be debuting this July 2022. I, for one, cannot wait until Saturday morning. Which is maybe the weirdest thing I’ve ever said.
Where to Listen:
Broadcast radio (101.3 FM) in Charlottesville, VA, and Albemarle County
Taska K asked a court to overturn Cardi B’s $4 million victory in a defamation case.
The vlogger, whose real name is Latasha Kebe, lost a lawsuit to Cardi B earlier this year. Tasha K disputed the verdict in a brief submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on May 27.
Tasha K claimed Judge William Ray skewed the trial in Cardi B’s favor by excluding evidence about the rapper’s character. The YouTuber suggested Ray wrongfully deemed the evidence to be prejudicial, according to court documents obtained by Billboard.
“During the jury trial, the Defendants were prevented from presenting character evidence and specific instances of conduct of the Plaintiff, despite the fact that under Georgia law, if there is an assertion of damage to reputation, Plaintiff’s character is substantively at issue,” Tasha K’s attorneys wrote. “The jury heard a very lop-sided presentation of evidence and, because they did not get to learn who the Plaintiff truly is, the jury returned a general verdict for the Plaintiff, against both Defendants.”
A jury found Tasha K liable for defamation, false light invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. But her lawyers suggested Cardi B never proved the allegations.
“Plaintiff’s case was based on six statements, which she alleged were defamatory,” Tasha K’s legal team wrote. “However, Plaintiff failed to prove, with clear and convincing evidence, that the Defendants published any of the six statements with actual malice. The gist of Plaintiff’s evidence consisted of her general denial that any of the statements were true. Meanwhile, the Defendants presented evidence that proved they did not act with actual malice. The Plaintiff also failed to present evidence to show that the Defendants directed any of the six statements at her, thereby preventing her from recovering for intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
Tasha K urged the court to reverse the judgment and call for a new trial. Cardi B’s attorneys will respond in the coming weeks.
Now this is an interesting time. Consequence has an album coming out in in 2022 featuring a bunch of folks AND we are growing up. We are maturing. All the while, some of us are becoming less mature. At any rate, the gesture was made public and it’s cool.
I don’t really know what else to say about it!
So…Let’s take a trip down memory lane, just a few years ago. In 2018, the relationship between Kanye West and Drake turns sour. Pusha T released “that song,” which revealed that Drake had a kid. And other scathing stuff. And then Drake fired back with his own response. We’re not gonna mention the songs because they are irrelevant now! (SIKE – hit those links!)
Last year, Drake and Kanye got back together and everything was cool, even though we believe J.Prince was the catalyst that twisted their arm. Anyway, Consequence has inserted himself into the peaceful equation and that is all good. He did play a role though. He was the one that beefed with Drake on Kanye’s behalf.
You know, it’s a slow news day, but this is important. Let peace prevail.
Arriving at The North Star Boys’ show at The Roxy in Los Angeles, a legendary venue where all the greats of the music industry have performed, we were welcomed with a line of fans, also known as Stars, bleeding into the streets for blocks on end. Not only were they patiently waiting for doors to open, but they held signs and cheered anytime there was any inkling of excitement.
Boasting a whopping 5 million followers on TikTok alone, NSB serves as the first Asian-American content group, which came in perfect timing being that May was AAPI month. Founded by brothers Oliver Moy and Sebastian Moy, the 7-member group went from coming together during the pandemic to now becoming an international sensation. Of course, this doesn’t come without passion, work ethic, and resilience when it comes to chasing their wildest dreams.
Most recently, The North Stay Boys unveiled their highly-anticipated debut single titled “you are my star,” dedicated to their incredibly loving and loyal fanbase. The record (along with all their music) was distributed via HitCo, the record label co-founded by music mogul L.A. Reid.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to have your performance here at the Roxy, a legendary venue?
Oliver: How do you boys feel?
All: So excited man. Excited, nervous.
AllHipHop: Why are you nervous?
Ryan: My social battery is very low, I’ve seen a lot of people.
Oliver: I am really excited. I was nervous yesterday, but now that I’ve checked out and scoped around the venue, I’ve seen all of the Stars waiting in line outside and I feel much better.
AllHipHop: I cover a lot of shows here, there’s never a line that long
All: Really?
AllHipHop: I mean, for Yeat there was.
All: [laughs]
Sebastian: Shout out Yeat, we’re coming for you.
AllHipHop: How does that feel, to have your fans literally waiting outside? Some have signs, some are cheering.
Oliver: They’re the best
Sebastian: Mind-blowing, it’s absolutely surreal
AllHipHop: You guys just released “you are my star,” how does it feel to have your first single out?
Oliver: Yes, finally right? The inspiration for “you are my star” were the Stars, which is what we call the fandom. They inspired me to write a song for them because without them, we would not be anywhere near where we are now. In fact, without them, we would be nothing.
AllHipHop: And you guys write all your own music?
Oliver: Absolutely.
AllHipHop: What is the recording process with so many people?
Oliver: It is actually quite funny, we take turns.
All: [laughs]
Oliver: We record every single night. We argue, like Darren says it’s my turn to go up on the mic and Kane says it’s my turn. It’s a lot of fun. We all record it in my bedroom on the computer.
AllHipHop: Talk about how your group formed and how you choose your members.
Sebastian: I woke up with a dream one night about a year ago. I thought there are no Asian American content groups or anyone that’s really taking it seriously. I thought it was a really good idea, then I met the wonderful guys in Texas. They were already a group of best friends and we kicked it off, had amazing chemistry and energy right away. We were like, “Yo, I don’t know if you guys want to throw your lives into right now instead of following your current plan…” A lot of them were in college and doing their thing, really pursuing this dream. Everything from there was a domino effect, all falling in together perfectly.
AllHipHop: When did Tiktok kick off for you guys?
Oliver: My brother and I, we were on TikTok when it came up because previously we were on Musical.ly. You know that transition from Musical.ly. to TikTok? My brother Sebastian and I have been on social media for 6 years now, we had all this knowledge. We knew how to grow pretty well on social media and we wanted to share that knowledge with a group of best friends and grow together.
AllHipHop: What was the first video that went viral with the whole group?
Sebastian: For Oliver and I, we definitely had a lot of viral videos. I don’t remember the first one exactly, it was a while ago. Once we showed the world the group, it instantly kicked off. We shared with them our mission statement and our vision, everything we do is for the supporters. They really have been supporting us since the beginning.
Oliver: I’ll give a little more detail. Our first viral video put together was a line video, we got into a line and there was a phone on the stand. We walked in a line and that was it.
AllHipHop: Have you guys always done music?
Oliver: I’ve been passionate about music for as long as I can remember. I was into poetry and thought it was cool. From there, it took me into finding a passion for music and songwriting. With the members of NSB, we decided we’d take this route because we came together initially to make content, simply making videos in short form and long form, but then it grew into something more than that.
Because I make and produce music and write songs in my room every night. One day, Regie came into my room, knocked on my door and said, “ I want to hop on a track.” And he did. I said “where did you get that voice from?” He said “I don’t know man.” From there, we were trying everyone’s voices and they sounded great. We just took it from there.
AllHipHop: I’d imagine your fans loved you first for your content. How did they feel when you said you are releasing music?
Oliver: They were very excited. I did not realize the process of making a song and getting it onto Spotify, it took way longer than I thought so thankfully the Stars are very understanding. The process of us announcing we have a debut single ready to release, it took about two months. It was a lot of good build-up and hype around the song. Now, we’re here at the Roxy in West Hollywood about to perform our first ever show.
AllHipHop: What else are you guys performing?
Oliver: We have about 10 songs, 9 unreleased tracks and “you are my star’ that just released.
AllHipHop: So why the name North Star Boys?
Oliver: I got it from my mom. Sebastian came out with the idea of an Asian American content group, which was amazing. I came up with the name North Star Boys because our mom always taught us growing up to always follow our north star. What that means is to figure out what you want to do with your life, and reverse engineer it from there. We wanted to inspire Asian Americans around the world, the first step was to grab a couple of Asian Americans that have a similar goal and dream and go from there.
AllHipHop: Do you feel like it is hard to make it in the music industry as Asian Americans?
Oliver: Making it in the music industry as Asian American, I wouldn’t say it is, but you have to play your cards right. We have a beautiful fanbase that backs us up with everything.
AllHipHop: I know you just had a crazy show in NYC. You had a Meet & Greet right?
Oliver: Yes. How do you guys feel about it?
Regie: It was unreal and one of the biggest days of my life. Core memory.
Oliver: That was the day we found out how big our Stars are. I think tonight will be the second time we find out how strong our Stars are.
AllHipHop: Talk about collaborating with Patrick Starrr for AAPI month
Oliver: Patrick is amazing. We thought it would be perfect to collab with him because Patrick Starrr, North Star Boys. Plus, I grew up watching his content on Youtube. I used to put makeup on in high school because I was insecure about my skin and acne. But as time went on, I realized that you don’t need to wear makeup to feel confident. If you have a blemish, it doesn’t matter.
AllHipHop: Your skin looks great by the way
Oliver: You know what I say about that? When you stop worrying about your skin, that’s when it gets better.
AllHipHop: What fans can expect from the EP?
Oliver: We have the whole EP ready to go, we are waiting for the perfect moment to drop it.
AllHipHop: Is there a name?
Oliver: There is, but I’m not going to tell you yet.
AllHipHop: How would you describe your sound?
Oliver: NSB Sounds. It is a mixture of all our favorite genres mashed into one.
AllHipHop: Is NSB going to be doing collaborations?
Oliver: We are very open-minded to collaborations. Hit us up if you want to collaborate.
AllHipHop: What do you guys like to do when you’re not working
Regie: I like to work out and play video games.
Justin: Video games
Oliver: I like to make music, honestly. Away from social media, every second I can I am making music. I love it so much.
Sebastian: I like fitness, I like going to the gym and making music as well.
Kane: I like playing sports and watching anime.
Darren: Video games.
Ryan: Video games and sleep.
Tyler (manager): I love supporting the boys. Everyone here has a passion for music so at the end of the night, just make music. Even if it doesn’t get released.
Oliver: I also like to beat everyone in the chess. Sometimes, we go out for Kbbq. Sometimes, we play basketball. A lot of group activities.
AllHipHop: You guys all live together?
Oliver: Yes.
AllHipHop: Do you have any goals for yourselves as NSB?
Oliver: We want our music to be heard by many people, because I never thought I’d get back into releasing music. But now that the Stars are here for us, we want to share our music with them because the music means so much to us and it is written in our room. There are no writers currently that are helping. Everything written in our music comes straight from us so we want to share that experience and memories with the people that support us.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know about?
Oliver: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview and hope you enjoy the show! .
When it comes to hip-hop, most people think that coming from the streets enhances your image because that’s where the genre was born. Because of this, it still comes as a surprise to most people when you mention the top most educated rappers. Many famous figures in rap earned a college degree. If you’re keen, you can hear this in their intelligent rhymes.
However, some went to university but dropped out to concentrate on their career. After finding success, some institutions, like Carolina Central University, have recognized and celebrated these musicians with honorary papers.
Here is a list of rappers with a degree:
1. Childish Gambino
Donald Glover is one of the most multi-talented artists. He worked as a network television writer immediately after completion t and is well known for starring, writing, and directing the popular Atlanta TV series. The stage name is his alter-ego in the hip-hop world. He has been one of the most outstanding artists in that scene despite it being a side project to him. He prides himself on one EP, five mixtapes, and three albums. “This Is America” is one of his most iconic songs. His creativity is an excellent example of what individuals with degrees can do.
The dream began at NYU’s Tisch School of Arts. This institution, which is also known for creating different music production courses, is the Alma Mater to many famous artists. Glover was a Dramatic Writing major who became a graduate in 2006. According to his interviews, he feels very positively about his studies.
2. David Banner
Lavell William Crump was born in 1974. He is a famous director, American rapper, activist, and philanthropist. He earned his undergraduate degree from Southern University, and his master’s in Education from Maryland Eastern Shore University.
3. Talib Kweli
If you click any article ranking the greatest artists of many generations, TK is one name that will appear at the top. He also happens to be one of the individuals with a degree. In one of his interviews he mentioned that he had grown up in a literate family. His mum was an English professor, while his father was a sociologist and administrator. His brother is a law professor.
When growing up, Kweli wrote stories and poetry and later started rapping as a way to gain fame among schoolmates. He joined New York University to study theater. Melissa Coldwell – a music producer and a researcher of performing arts, who also works as a writer for PapersOwl, states: “His intricate, dense rhymes are what made him stand out. The art created by Talib Kweli is something that grasps the listeners’ attention from the second they hear it”. She goes on to add: “His literary gift fills his lyrics with so many layers, it helped the acclaimed rapper to become media darling”.
4. J Cole
Regarded as one of the best modern emcees, the North Carolina rapper credits his work to his time as a student at St. John’s University in Jamaica, Queens. He joined the institution on an academic scholarship. He finished in 2007 with a business degree even after juggling between going to class and studio.
St John’s administration invited the Fayetteville town-born Cole to headline the spring concert for years after he left.
5. Kanye West
YE is a fashion mogul besides being a talented rapper, singer, and songwriter. The multi-talented man went to high school in his home city and later studied at the American Academy of Art under assistance. KW attended Chicago State University to study English but left to focus on his career.
6. Ludacris
Born Christopher Luda, the rapper was very bright. He graduated summa c## laude from Georgia State University. He did music management which helped him launch Disturbing The Peace Records with his manager. Chris is also a very famous actor.
7. Chuck D
He is known for being a politically outspoken MC. Before fame came, he spent hours working on his craft and studied BFA in Graphic Design at Adelphi University (AU). Despite majoring in this program, it’s not his visual style that makes him popular in the industry. His lyrics always outdo the beats in a loud baritone which enunciates each word like he’s a newscaster. It doesn’t matter how fast the flow is. According to him, the genre was CNN for black people, and the message was the essential thing.
8. Flavor Flav
Born William Jinathan Drayton Jr in 1959, Flavor is a great American musician and actor. He showcased his talent on reality TV. William graduated from AU’s culinary department. He was the founder and member of the Public Enemy hip-hop group that dominated the scene for many years.
9. Lil Wayne
Born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, Wayne is known as one of the most successful emcees who broke into the scene at a very young age. The talented musician was born in 1982 and prided himself on writing his music. Carter was an honors student at McMain Magnet School but left at 14 to concentrate on music.
However, he would later join the University of Houston, majoring in political science. He took psychology classes at UH but eventually enrolled in online courses at Phoenix University because of his busy schedule.
Conclusion
Many more icons went to college, a lot of them are not featured in the list. Some names include Ryan Leslie, Diddy, Young MC, Mos Def, Ice Cube, etc. So, if you think all MCs have no good grades, you thought wrong.
One of the reasons people think these people lack education is because most MCs always aim for authenticity and street credit. In hip-hop, it means narratives of a dropout, rising from the ghetto to riches, and owning guns. Even those who make it to prestigious schools often hide this fact by not talking about it.
Salute my homey Johnny Depp! The actor, who was banished from Hollywood for allegedly being abusive, has won a deformation trial against his ex, Amber Heard.
The jury found that Depp was defamed and awarded him some cheddar cheese.
The jury in Virginia today, Wednesday, June 1, found that the actor was in fact defamed by his ex-wife in a 2018 opinion piece. This was a long, messy battle over allegations of domestic abuse.
The jury‘s decision came after a six-week grueling trial that had everything from pooping in the bed to searching body orifices in it. Get this: even Monica Lewinsky referred to it as “courtroom p###. “Millions of people watched this on their television set or streamed it online. I even turned in from time to time!
Johnny Depp denied that he repeatedly physically abused his ex-wife, including head butting her, dragging her by her hair, sexual assault and other forms of abuse. Heard, 36 years old, was something else. She even made the rumor section before for possibly sniffing cocaine on the stand. Anyway, that’s that!
Bobby Brown has opened up about being blamed for Whitney Houston’s death.
The New Edition singer, who was married to the star between 1992 and 2007, spoke to Fox News Digital to promote his documentary, “Biography: Bobby Brown,” in which he claims Whitney didn’t quit drugs when he did, causing a rift in their marriage.
“That was pretty rough. Not many people knew what was going on. Not many people knew how (those accusations) affected me,” he said. “Not many people knew what they were talking about. They weren’t living, breathing, or waking up with us. They just took it to the outer limits of expressing what they thought was going on. But the truth is, they really didn’t know what was going on.”
Bobby also spoke of his own rehabilitation journey.
“There were so many times that I said to myself, ‘I want to get clean.’ And I actually got clean from narcotics. That was so long ago and I’m thankful for it,” he added.
But after ceasing his illicit drug use, Bobby still struggled with alcohol: “Alcohol had played a big part in my life. I just had to get that one thing off my back. It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to be full of life again. I finally had the chance and I’m taking full advantage of it.”
Bobby spent time at a treatment facility for alcohol abuse in 2020 and he is now clean.
Brian I, an artist that learned the importance of perseverance and motivation early in his career. Changing the sounds so popular to our ears, Brian did have to overcome obstacles to achieve the successes he has. Although extremely successful in his career, Brian yearned for a career that gave him flexibility and evoked his passion. This feeling of dissatisfaction and needing to provide as a family man made him even more determined to succeed. Despite the difficulties he faced, Brian I has persevered and is using his music to inspire others. His most recent single entitled “Major Keys” was made with the pure intention of making listeners happy and boosting morale.
Musicians have always been a creative bunch and many of them strive for independence in their work. Brian is no different. He has built his career on being an independent musician, but he is open to expanding his horizons by signing a deal with a record label. While he values his independence, he recognizes that a record label could provide him with the resources and support to reach a wider audience. Ultimately, Brian I just want to make great music and share it with as many people as possible. Whether he does that as an independent artist or with the help of a record label remains to be seen.
As a musician, Brian has many more plans in store. He plans on continuing to write and record new music, and perform live shows. He also plans on expanding his musical repertoire by learning new instruments and genres. In addition, he plans on collaborating with other artists, both locally and internationally. By continuing to pursue his musical career, Brian hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams and pursue their passions.
Atlantic Records wants to show that they support Young Thug and Gunna, and they should. But why?
Young Thug and Gunna still captivate our minds. The pair of rappers are party to a consortium of men that have been hit with the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) and it looks like it’s doing to be a long haul.
Part of the reason Atlantic has opted to weigh in is because the government has decided to include lyrics of songs as a part of their prosecution. It seems as if lyrics incriminate the artists in a crime or so the local government alleges. Essentially, it supports the state’s case against them in these assertions that they were a part of a criminal empire. And, unexpectedly, are saying that Young Thug – the androgynous, genre bending influencer – was actually was the leader of said empire, YSL.
This has been a long-standing issue in Hip-Hop and the ubiquitous, now-faceless culture.
Corporate America is now influencing the narrative and the art that we project to our communities and our culture. YSL (Young Stoner Life Records) is a music label that has a deal with and, I would assume, is very profitable for Atlantic Records. They are not OK right now. A recent social media post said,”Protect Black Art…Stop Putting Music On Trial.” They are not OK. This serves two functions, in my opinion.
It shows in a baseline sort of way that they support the artist, but draw a clear line at artistry and lyrics. It also implies that they are not necessarily protecting criminal activity, but will ride and die for freedom of most speech. They tow the line just enough to have Thugger and Gunna’s backs, but absolve themselves of guilt in the event the pair were actually mob material.
What do you think?
On the surface, the gesture is good and wholesome in a way only a CEO in a PR crisis could love. But, underneath, it really brooches an age-old topic. Art, artists, so-called free speech, criminality, money and even the mob have always had deep connections to Black art. It has been nudged thataway every step of the way. Pro Black radical revolutionary rap never got corny or wack, it was systematically phased out. Simple and plain. The way the streets/coke rap/hoe rap/ wack rap and whatever else you want to deem lame doesn’t dominate simply because it’s superior to the rest. That is Black art too, but shamelessly marginalized into oblivion.
Hip-Hop is in a really good space right now. It almost feels like the 90’s, when corporations did not really care until they saw the artist as a profit center. Since we want to protect Black art, lets shield those smaller voices from the rigors of the game, conformity withstanding. Sex and murder are not the only dishes on the menu. You can sell people a sack of air if properly marketed. So, lets feast on the full buffet that Black Art has to offer.
It is art. And art is a subjective term and a broad term that spans across a really really wide spectrum, especially with Black music. I understand that entities like Atlantic Records to run the gamut of artist, but we don’t see everybody. We need to see more people.
Young Thug, Gunna and their homies face football numbers in jail. Lyrics are a small portion of the case, as the prosecution has been looking at them for years. It is not simply music, because just about every rapper on Earth would be guilt of something. The game is the game is the game. We’ve known about clandestine forces in Hip-Hop for a long time and have all-but-accepted it as a reality of life like GMOs.
So, if we are protecting ART, let’s do that. Let us start by diversifying and investing in all artists equally. If we are talking about art, less commerce, then let’s show that commitment. Hell, let’s commit to the outlets too, by the way, which are also a part of the cultural ecosystem that helps bolster these names. Protect everybody.
A 28 year old teacher from Midwest, Oklahoma is under investigation, because authorities say she sent naked pictures and an inappropriate video to a 16-year old student. This woman works at Midwest city Middle School first of all, I have to say it: What 16-year-old goes to middle school?
Moving on.
Court documents revealed that this woman, named Ivy Reneau, met the kid at a soccer practice and “heard rumors that he liked her.“ This teacher then added the boy on Snapchat. Now you already know this is going to go all the way left.
Things went completely awry when a faculty member at the school heard the team telling friends that he had been sent naked pictures by a teacher. The teacher then reported all of this to school administration.
The boy was privy to the Ivy Reneau’s breasts, and another picture of her posing in front of a mirror sideways with no clothes on. Also, there was an inappropriate video. I am not sure what inappropriate means, but I think her hoohah might be involved.
When police interrogated the teacher, Reneau told them she knew it was wrong but she thought the boy was 18-years old. This leads me to be believe this person had to be in high school and she is a predator. She said she did not have any sort of physical relationship with the kid.
At the time of this writing, the likely soon-to-be former teacher had not been taken into custody and had not been arrested but she does face a felony charge of using technology to engage in communication for sexual or prurient interest with a minor. She has yet to declare her innocence or guilt.
Midwest City School District issued a statement according to People.
“District officials were notified of an alleged relationship between a Mid-Del staff member and a student,” the statement reads. “We reported the information to law enforcement so that they could begin an investigation. The staff member is no longer employed by Mid-Del Schools, and we have worked closely with the family of the student in the wake of this accusation. We will continue to fully cooperate with the authorities.”
So here’s my take. People are going crazy. Teachers are going crazy. And this 28-year-old teacher is simply a product of a sick, degenerate society that we have grown. The soil is extremely fertile! If you look at it, she’s relatively young. So, her brain is as warped as a teenager in a lot of different ways, because she has grown up in this age of technology and oversharing.
I am in no way trying to say that she is innocent. She is a grown woman that is contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The boys jibber jabber probably saved her from some serious, serious punishment legally because I think she would’ve gone through with it had she been given the opportunity. She’s a cougar already!
And I don’t wanna hear about boys wanting this type of behavior infringed on them! This boy is a 16-year-old in middle school! He needs all the help he can get!
