Montreal rapper Chef Rambo channels his inner rager with “Bathing Ape”. A multitude of feelings enters the atmosphere once the song begins. Between the feeling of intemperance and the merciless head bopping that came with the soundtrack, it isn’t hard to tell that once you’re in, you can’t get out. —— The construction of this soundtrack in particular is impressive.
The usually lyrically inclined artist took a stroll out of his comfort zone to amend all of his capabilities. Artists are often insubstantial and vacillate towards their products. — A similar situation to when Drake released “Honestly, never mind” earlier this year, the superstar explored his comfort zone and found what takes effect for his following. Chef is learning the same and has us “moshing” in the process!
Rambo wasn’t always so lyrically inclined —— He began to inscribe rap lyrics at the age of just 9 years old. The Montreal native eventually decided to apprehend music as a serious occupation. Just months after it’s ubiquitous release, his second studio album “Not your local rapper” is already a certified classic and he’s followed up with an even more impressive drop-off. Bathing Ape welcomes innumerable amounts of flows, wordplay, rhythms, and more.
The state of musical production is in complete disarray with an overwhelming amount of clones, wannabe’s, and people who worry more about judgment than the actual craft at hand. Chef Rambo is a one-of-a-kind artist with the rare ability to bring entertainment to any category of music and anywhere.
I have a vigorous premonition that this young artist will enact a triumphant takeover in the near future. We look forward to following Chef’s prosperous journey through the rap industry. — Stream “Bathing Ape” now!
The Ice Brothers was started by two brothers, Mario Dagher & Peter Mardini from the ground up. Born and raised in Los Angeles, both of them are from Syrian descent, they set out on a mission to unleash their artistic abilities and bring change to the Jewelry industry! Their biggest goal was to come in and bring change, honesty and affordability to what was once thought unachievable. With 30 plus years of family experience within the jewelry industry from manufacturing, designing, to retail! They provide unbeatable customer service and pricing without lacking quality and craftsmanship. Known across the nation from the West to the East from cities like Chicago, NY, Detroit, Miami and of course their home Los Angeles.
They have worked with celebrities from all walks of life. Celebrities and Super Bowl winning Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson Jr, Hiphop Rap Icons like J Cole, Bas, Chief Keef, Swae Lee, Oh Geesy, Grammy Producer Hit-Boy and the list goes on. YouTube stars like Deestroying to Disney Channel stars like Asher Angel!
They have also been showcased on VH1 on Basketball Housewives. Starring in 2 Episodes involving producer Roccstar and his girlfriend Angel Brinks!
They have a new Ghiaccio line coming out that is going to showcase 1 of 1 pieces designed, manufactured, and produced by the brothers themselves. The Pieces will showcase new style watches, nails, chains, and pendants. They will be collectible items made out of 18k White & Yellow Gold set with VVS1 Natural diamonds!
The rumors are getting crazy right now with Young Thug. Apparently, it looks like a number of people started snitching. This is nothing new honestly, but it certainly does not look good for the Atlanta-based to Rapper.
Boosie said you can’t shake 20 eggs in a basket and expect none of them to crack. It looks like there’s some cracking going on. I can’t help but think that young thug is going through a little slice of hell right now. And
We’ll soon see if it’s deserved or not, but his crew is definitely not sturdy enough to handle the weight being put upon them. I’m wondering who this particular person is because it’s very difficult to read the print in this purported snitch report. But apparently the man’s name is Kenneth Copeland.“
His name is Lil Woody in the streets.
So Woody is basically saying that he was present win Young Thug reportedly rented an infinity car that was used in a shooting. From what I’ve ascertained Woody is supposedly a thorough Street dude. But how thorough can be win you are also snitching. Apparently, Thugger ordered the hit.
Check this out.
On the flip side, Copeland is just the person that has been named. There’s reportedly more than one egg that has been cracked. The word out there is that there are several others that at becoming state witnesses. This basically means everybody is trying to save their own skin. This is not the olden days, where people in the mob just did the time. This is the 69 days, where people get to talking! This actually is not the same.
I am interested in seeing what happens with this. Kevin Liles may need to pull some strings to mitigate further damage to the dude. And, I am interested in knowing where Gunna is in all of this. He wasn’t looking too good last time I saw his mug.
According to Variety, Meek Mill is one of the newest clients for the WME talent agency. WME will represent Meek in all areas. The business association is part of the 35-year-old rapper’s new Culture Currency initiative.
“The partnership between WME and Culture Currency is a strategic hybrid structure that will bring resources and opportunities to entertainers,” said Meek Mill in a statement. “I have grown and learned the business in an unorthodox way that is effective through relationships built on talent and creativity.”
He added, “As an entertainer, I see us as part of the first generation that truly has influence and connections spread throughout social justice, music, sports, the movie industry, politics, business and the tech world. Taking advantage of this opportunity will allow us to give others the same chance to catch their dreams. Thank you WME for opening the door to build this bridge.”
Meek Mill is more than a ten-year veteran of the music industry. His 2011 mixtape, Dreamchasers, helped establish him as a rising force in Hip Hop. The 2011 XXL Freshman delivered three more sequels to the Dreamchasers series.
Additionally, Meek dropped five studio LPs throughout his career. 2012’s Dreams and Nightmares, 2015’s Dreams Worth More Than Money, 2017’s Wins & Losses, 2018’s Championships, and 2021’s Expensive Pain all peaked in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 chart.
Meek Mill still serves as co-chair of the REFORM Alliance. The Board of Directors of the non-profit organization dedicated to criminal justice reform includes Jay-Z, Michael Rubin, Robert Kraft, Robert F. Smith, Van Jones, and more.
When Drake dropped the Scary Hours 2 track “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” in 2021, the song only featured Rick Ross. Apparently, Rod Wave had the chance to appear on the song as well.
360 with Speedy Mormonrecently caught up with Rod Wave. The interview included the Beautiful Mind album creator reflecting on his decision to pass up a chance to officially rap alongside Drizzy.
“I wanted the s### to be perfect because it’s Drake,” explained Rod Wave. “At that moment, I was still in shock. I was still adjusting to this s###, adjusting to like, ‘Ok, this is me. This is my life. I’m a rapper now.'”
The 22-year-old Floridian added, “It took me like a week to even record it. I was listening to it and I was like, ‘I don’t know what to do on this m###########.'” Wave admitted he got cold feet about his verse.
Drake saw an Instagram clip from Rod Wave’s interview and reacted to the Alamo Records recording artist’s explanation. The OVO Sound leader left a comment under the Complex account’s post.
“@rodwave this is an act of true respect I could never be upset this is some real artistry and holding yourself to a standard where you don’t bend for anybody just cause they are somebody much love for ya brada,” wrote Drake.
The 24-track Beautiful Mind arrived today (August 12). Rod Wave’s fourth studio LP features Jack Harlow and December Joy. Drake released his own Honestly, Nevermind album in June. That project contained a contribution by 21 Savage.
The new album,Traumazine, by Megan Thee Stallion landed on DSPs today (August 12). As part of the promotion for the project, Meg appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
For yesterday’s The Tonight Show episode, Meg actually served as a co-host for the program. The Grammy-winning rapper joined Jimmy Fallon in Studio 6B.
Fallon tapped Megan Thee Stallion to help with his monologue. As part of the bit, the self-described Hot Girl Coach briefly commented on Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Simon Cowell, and more.
Additionally, Megan Thee Stallion took part in the “Thank You Notes” and “Mad Lib Hip Hop Karaoke” segments on The Tonight Show. The “Pressurelicious” performer also discussed her new studio LP.
Traumazine arrived on August 12 via 300 Entertainment and 1501 Certified. The project’s tracklist features contributions by Key Glock, Latto, Pooh Shiesty, Rico Nasty, Jhené Aiko, Lucky Daye, Future, Dua Lipa, and other artists.
Megan Thee Stallion joined a list of special co-hosts for The Tonight Show that includes her “WAP” collaborator Cardi B. The NBC late-night show also recruited comedian Kevin Hart, rock star Dave Grohl, and Pop artist Shawn Mendes for that role in the past.
Two weeks ago, Beyoncé took over the music world once again by dropping her Renaissance album. This week, the “Break My Soul” hitmaker connected with Ron Isley and The Isley Brothers for a new collaboration.
The Isley Brothers will include “Make Me Say It Again, Girl”on a forthcoming album. That project will land in September 2022. Last year, Snoop Dogg showed up on the “Friends and Family” single.
Previously, The Isley Brothers released more than two dozen albums. The Heat Is On peaked at #1 on the Billboard album chart and earned 2x-Platinum certification from the RIAA.
The Isley Brothers are inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame. They also received the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Nicki Minaj is back with her highly-anticipated new single “Super Freaky Girl,” which samples Rick James’ 1981 hit “Super Freak.”
The NYC spitter has been teasing the song for weeks and even asked her loyal fanbase, The Barbz, to help her rename the track. She had to change the original title, “Freaky Girl,” after being told she could not use it.
“Super Freaky Girl” marks the first solo offering from Nicki Minaj since “Megatron,” in 2019. Watch the lyric video for the single at the end of the page.
Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is having a big month, performing at the Young Money Reunion in Toronto last weekend (Aug. 7), before it was revealed that she’d be the latest recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2022 MTV VMAs. She will also perform at the ceremony on August 28.
“Nicki has broken barriers for women in hip-hop with her versatility and creative artistry,” said Bruce Gillmer, chief content officer of music at Paramount+ and president of music, music talent, programming, and events at Paramount, in a statement. “She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki’.”
“Coming out SOONER THANK YOU THINK,” she wrote on Instagram. “I took some time to perfect this very intimate, delicate, electrifying, inspiring body of work. As I decide on a home for this project, I can’t help but reflect on what I’m including in this doc. Some things are so personal, it’s scary.”
She continued, “It’s like NOTHING you’ve seen before & I need it to be handled with care. Love you so much. Thank you for the continued support. @bronstudios.”
The Game finally dropped his much-hyped Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind album after a short delay due to sample clearance issues.
At nearly two hours long, the mammoth 31-track offering includes appearances from some of rap’s heaviest hitters. Kanye West appears on the previously-released single “Eazy” and also on “Fortunate” with Dreezy and CHILLER, while “O.P.P.” features YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Pusha T and 2 Chainz appear on “No Man Falls,” and Lil Wayne and G Herbo feature on “Chrome Slugs & Harmony.” Nipsey Hussle makes a posthumous appearance on “World Tours,” A$AP Rocky jumped on “Money Cash Clothes,” Big Sean features on “Stupid,” and Rick Ross joined The Game on “Save The Best for Last.” Other appearances include Fivio Foreign, Ice T, YG, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, Jeremih, and more. Stream it at the end of the page.
Earlier this year, The Game promised “my album gone be the best album of 2022,” adding that Drillmatic will prove “I’m the best rapper alive.”
He continued, “My controversy has always stepped on my greatness, but that’s all about to change. This album has a strong hold on being the best album of my career. It’s just different.”
“This n#### finna start another fire,” Wack 100 said of The Game during a Clubhouse conversation in April. “We starting a fire. The Black Slim Shady is coming. [Eminem] better be ready because this n#### done went crazy.”
Furthermore, Wack expects the Detroit legend to respond to The Game. “If [Eminem] responded to Machine Gun Kelly and Nick Cannon,” he added, “boy… it is what it is.”
DJ Geez has had some buzz around his name for a while now and is showing no signs of stopping soon. DJ Geez got the opportunity to DJ for Sway Calloway on SiriusXM SwayInTheMorning for the first time and also linked with comedian Gary Owens and legendary grandmaster Caz.
His latest single, “Married To The Game, feat. Jake Strain will only give his growing audience what they have been craving. The track has a solid approach. It was released via Swaggertown Records and Ruby Recordings. Check out the song below for the latest from the Philadelphia rapper.
Speaking on the release of “Married To The Game,” DJ Geez said, “It felt like the right time to release this kind of record. Something that felt fresh but was still connected to me, to my roots, and to the music I made years ago.” Keep Up With DJ Geez below:
Eclectic producer and artist Pancho Witt are paving the way for creatives pursuing their music dreams with his approach to crafting songs that forces the masses to pay attention. The Kansas native has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. His plan? Simple. “I want to help people. It’s just who I am.”
His initial single, “Low” grabbed the attention of core fans everywhere who never let go of his fresh flow and fire lyricism. They had no idea that shortly after, “Porsches, Dollas, Chains” would capture them again with its vibey disposition and contagious, catchy one-liners. “I’ve definitely evolved since then but there’s something about that album that gives me a feeling that it’ll be played for a while. I have songs on there that come straight from my soul, but also songs on there that you can get lit to. That was the whole point of the album, maturing.”
Pancho’s honest truths and spot-on delivery dance over melodically decorated tracks capture an audience that relates to his lyrics flowing from their speakers and into their homes. His sound is turning up audiences everywhere and giving them feel-good flows as they go about their daily lives.
His explosive new single, “Who Am I” gives listeners a glimpse into his evolution and what they can expect from him moving forward. “Don’t even get me started, I’m going to evolve! It’s about to be crazy!” It’s evident that Pancho has emerged from Topeka with intentions of making a real name for himself but repping where he’s from unapologetically.
When referencing the inspiration behind the track he gushes, “I want to make a difference in the town that I come from. I’m here to show my city what it means to live for a passion. I take this way too seriously to ever give up, slow down, or quit. I want more creatives to make themselves known for Topeka. I’m all in. There are so many things in the works. We’re about to go crazy! Keep up.”
Kansas will never be the same. The city’s on his back; his family is in his heart and the music scene is him for the taking.
Megan Thee Stallion has unveiled her highly anticipated new sophomore album Traumazine.
The 18-track album arrived on Friday (Aug. 12), featuring collaborations with Latto, Rico Nasty, Lil Keke, Big Pokey, and Sauce Walka, among others. Dua Lipa features on the album’s lead single, “Sweetest Pie,” while Future appears on “Pressurelicious,” which dropped last month. Check out the project below.
“Y’all know I always have problems with dropping my music under this label,” she penned on Wednesday night. “All these games and having to go to court just to put out my art has been so stressful.”
She then added a thank you to her fans alongside a hint that Traumazine could be her last on 1501 Entertainment. “Thank you hotties for rocking with me through the b####### WE ALMOST OUT 👏🏾” Megan wrote, adding, “LETS STAY FOCUSED AND RUN THIS LAST ONE UP.”
Y’all know I always have problems with dropping my music under this label,all these games and having to go to court just to put out my art has been so stressful. Thank you hotties for rocking with me through the b####### WE ALMOST OUT 👏🏾 LETS STAY FOCUSED AND RUN THIS LAST ONE UP
Ahead of the album’s release, Megan Thee Stallion explained that she treated the project “like a journal,” and admitted some songs she’s “nervous” for her fans to hear.
Traumazine explores the rapper’s “personal” and “vulnerable” sides. Megan also revealed fans will “be able to better understand why I am the way I am; why I started to be the way I am.”
She explained, “I’ve never been this open and you know, this vulnerable”, adding, “I don’t wanna make nobody cry.”
The Canadian superstar’s right arm displays a portrait of Denzel Washington from the 1990 movie Mo’ Better Blues and one thought to be a tribute to his former flame, Rihanna. He also has a massive likeness of Young Money honcho Lil Wayne on the other arm and an inking of “BBK,” believed to be for his friend, U.K. rapper Skepta.
Drake also has two tattoos of R&B singer Sade and a tribute to the late great singer Aaliyah beneath a dove beside the words “I love you, peace.” Others include tributes to The Beatles, NBA stars, and various album references.
His family also feature in his designs. Drake has a portrayal of his beloved son Adonis prominently featured on his right arm. Meanwhile his tricep bears a tatt of his father’s mugshot, inked in 2014. He also has a picture of his mother on his back, along with images of his late uncle and grandma.
However, his latest – an homage to his mother – is Drake’s first face tattoo. A simple etching of her initials placed near his eye. Drake shared the image on Instagram, noting simply “Sandra Gale” in the caption.
While Drake’s mother’s name is in fact Sandra Graham (nee Sher), it is believed the tatt is in his mother’s honor. Check out the new ink below, then watch a clip of the tattooist etching it.
A concert promoter sued Polo G and G Herbo for allegedly forcing him to cancel a festival the two were supposed to headline.
According to TMZ, Charles Potter of NoNaNi Entertainment booked Polo G and G Herbo to perform at a festival called Hoopz and Hip Hop. The event was supposed to take place at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Potter says he spent nearly $200,000 on the venue, staging, lighting, advertising and hosts for the event. But he eventually had to cancel the festival, blaming Polo G and G Herbo for not fulfilling their contractual obligations.
The promoter is now asking for $300,000 in damages in a lawsuit against the Chicago natives.
His lawsuit claims Polo G and G Herbo double booked shows on the same day as the festival. Potter accuses Polo G of promoting another event in Tampa while G Herbo secured a show in Atlanta.
Potter says Polo G received a $105,000 deposit for the festival. G Herbo got a $43,000 deposit.
Both rappers allegedly failed to promote the Hoopz and Hip Hop festival on social media despite their contracts requiring them to do so. Potter allegedly axed the event due to the double bookings and nonexistent promotion, losing thousands of dollars.
Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz will be opening multiple locations of his trendy Esco restaurant all throughout the country, creating a movement inspired by the success of his three spots in the Peachtree City.
The chart-topper talked about his fleet of restaurants, saying they are kind of like a lounge.
“It’s more lounge with great food and great atmosphere. Of course, we have the best drinks in town. We also have hookahs that attract pretty women, which attract playa guys,” he said.
His business partner Mychel “Snoop” Dillard added, “We’re a restaurant during the day, lounge by night. That’s the culture we create.” The food menu, she noted, includes “lots of things you may not see in restaurants late at night,” such as lobster tail, lamb chops and blackened catfish topped with crab meat.”
Dillard shared that the first Esco franchisee is Jessica Shinholster. She signed on to open a location in Columbus, Ohio. Now the team is finalizing contracts for spots to open in Dallas, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee.
Meek Mill found a new talent agency following his exit from Roc Nation Management.
The Philly native and WME announced a “strategic partnership” on Thursday (August 11). WME will represent Meek Mill in all areas as part of the deal, which includes his Culture Currency initiative.
“Meek Mill is one of the most influential voices shaping our culture today, whether it be in art, business, or social justice, and his network is equally impactful,” WME president Ari Greenburg said in a statement. “This partnership will provide an important pipeline for WME to support future cultural influencers and to provide Meek with another platform to continue building his business.”
Last month, Meek Mill explained why he left Roc Nation Management. He insisted the split was amicable and an opportunity for him to handle his own business. He expressed a desire to take risks and grow, which led to him signing with WME.
“The partnership between WME and Culture Currency is a strategic hybrid structure that will bring resources and opportunities to entertainers,” Meek Mill said. “I have grown and learned the business in an unorthodox way that is effective through relationships built on talent and creativity.”
He continued, “As an entertainer, I see us as part of the first generation that truly has influence and connections spread throughout social justice, music, sports, the movie industry, politics, business and the tech world. Taking advantage of this opportunity will allow us to give others the same chance to catch their dreams. Thank you WME for opening the door to build this bridge.”
Starz renewed another series in the 50 Cent-produced Power franchise.
The network announced the renewal of Power Book III: Raising Kanan at the Television Critics Association summer press tour on Thursday (August 11). Starz picked up 50 Cent’s show for a third season before the second season premieres on Sunday (August 14).
“Our passionate and loyal fans have been eagerly awaiting the season two return of Raising Kanan to see the continued transformation of a young and naïve teenage Kanan Stark into the ruthless, no-nonsense character they know and love,” Starz’s president of original programming Kathryn Busby said. “And we’re thrilled to be doubling down on a third season with this incredible cast led by Patina and MeKai.”
Power Book III: Raising Kanan debuted on Starz in 2021. It is one of three spinoffs to emerge from the original Power series, which concluded its six-season run on Starz in 2020.
Last year, Starz confirmed a third season for the first spinoff Power Book II: Ghost. Earlier this year, the network renewedPower Book IV: Force for a second season following public pressure from 50 Cent.
Check out the trailer for season two of Power Book III: Raising Kanan below.
Megan Thee Stallion’s new album Traumazine is scheduled to drop on Friday (August 12).
The Roc Nation-managed rapper shared the project’s cover art, release date and tracklist on Thursday (August 11). The 18-track album features collaborations with Future, Latto, Rico Nasty, Lil Keke, Big Pokey, Sauce Walka and Dua Lipa, among others.
Prior to the album announcement, Megan Thee Stallion addressed her longstanding issues with 1501 Certified Entertainment. She told fans the release of Traumazine brings her one step closer to leaving the label.
“Y’all know I always have problems with dropping my music under this label,” she wrote on Twitter. “All these games and having to go to court just to put out my art has been so stressful. Thank you hotties for rocking with me through the b####### WE ALMOST OUT. LETS STAY FOCUSED AND RUN THIS LAST ONE UP.”
Megan Thee Stallion also noted Traumazine is more introspective than her previous work.
“It took a lot of self reflecting to get to the point in my life where I am right now,” she wrote on Instagram. “I ain’t saying I finally figured everything out or that I’m finally at peace, bc I’m not… buttt im excited for the hotties to get a better understanding of what’s happening in my head.”
Check out the cover art and tracklist for Megan Thee Stallion’s Traumazine below.
Dende is here to bless the music industry with his talents, and he’s not stopping until he gets to the top. Hailing from Katy, Texas, the rising star prides himself in his versatility, with the ability to freely bounce between the genres of R&B and hip-hop. And if you happen to cross paths with him in person, he’ll more than likely make you laugh.
In describing himself, Dende states, “I’m a singer. Sometimes I rap. People say l be trying to save rap. I try to save hip hop. No, I’m a singer. I like to make jokes, that’s pretty much who I am. I’m more of a personality at this point, than just the artist.”
Fast forward to 2022, Dende is excited as ever to be releasing his newest EP titled 2 Sided, with the title directly inspired by his sexuality and coming out as a bisexual. The project is spearheaded by lead singles “Sugar Daddy,’ which sees Dende interpolating Estelle’s timeless “American Boy” record, and “Part-Time Dreamer” which details his experiences meeting a woman with dreams and aspirations as big as his.
Regardless, Dende creates from an honest and vulnerable place, creating lyrics inspired directly by real life experiences. As a recording artist, he’s had the pleasure of opening for some of the greats from Swae Lee to Bun B.
AllHipHop caught up with Dende in downtown Los Angeles, who arrived with his group CXR. Read below as we discuss his background, biggest influences, part-time jobs, when he took music seriously, his name, his new EP 2 Sided, coming out as bisexual, his sound, opening for Swae Lee, and more!
AllHipHop: You say you’re a personality, is that because you’re funny?
Dende: Yeah I’m hilarious. I’m actually the funniest out of CXR, that’s our group. He’s the manager [points to Nile], he’s the A&R [points to Mizz].
AllHipHop: What’s the group?
Dende: It’s a management group. Sometimes it doubles as a label. It’s me as an artist, it’s Chris Patrick, it’s Noski, it’s Erykah Officer, and it’s Nashir. Then we have producers.
AllHipHop: What was it like growing up in Houston?
Dende: A lot of people in Houston would try to say that I’m not from Houston because I grew up in Katy. Katy is the outskirts of Houston, it’s 30 minutes away. It was cool. I grew up in a very whitewashed area, so I was the token person over there. [laughs]
I liked Katy though, because it made me the person that I am. I wouldn’t be as funny now if I didn’t have to constantly make jokes to make people like me. That’s facts though. I like Houston. I like the music scene out there, it’s really dope. It’s a huge city, but the music scene is very small. Everybody knows each other.
AllHipHop: Who are your biggest influences? Who influenced you the most?
Dende: Singing-wise? I’ll say John Legend. I really like Saba, I really like Smino a lot. Who else? Al Green.
Friend: Tyga.
Dende: Put Tyga in there. I’m heavily influenced by Tyga. [laughs]
AllHipHop: Definitely want to talk about your new EP, 2 Sided. What’re you most excited for?
Dende: I just want people to hear, of course, what they’ve already heard and be like, “okay, I like this version maybe a little bit more.” Because that’s all I want to do is level up from what people heard. I did interpolations of songs on both of those. One of them was Estelle’s “American Boy,” and the other one is Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On.” I put my own twist on it, made my own connotation of what the song’s supposed to be. I want people to be like, “oh, this is actually really dope. And I’ve already heard this hook.”
AllHipHop: What do you want people to take away from “Sugar Daddy”?
Dende: That I want a sugar daddy. [laughs] When I wrote the song, I wanted a sugar daddy. At the time when I wrote the song, I thought “I could get a sugar daddy right now.” Somebody actually approached me trying to be my sugar daddy, that’s a fact. [laughs] It’s just a song about if I had a sugar daddy, this is what it would be like.
AllHipHop: Where would you go shopping?
Dende: Anywhere out of the country. Maybe France or Italy, that’s where we’d go shopping.
AllHipHop: Are you a part-time dreamer?
Dende: I’m a full-time dreamer. I make music, so to make music or do anything hard, you gotta be dreaming. It’s not a regular life. It’s not regular, you just fly somewhere after two days notice and be like “alright, we’re going to do a bunch of stuff to maybe give me a little bit closer to the dream that I’m trying to get.” When I talk to my friends that have jobs, they get very confused on what we be doing. I feel like a lot of my days are like daydreaming.
AllHipHop: Can you talk about your sound, and flowing between R&B and rap?
Dende: Honestly, I’ve been leaning a lot more into the R&B recently, just because I kept seeing everybody saying that R&B isn’t up to par. And I love R&B. I do rap a little bit still, but I want to lean more towards the R&B. I do think I don’t really sound like anybody though, so that’s cool. There’s a lot of people that do sound like other people,I sound like me. When they ask who you sound like, I usually just say Dende.
AllHipHop: Talk about opening for Swae Lee, he’s a superstar.
Dende: I had a show in New Orleans, it was a Triller event. He was very very late. I was supposed to perform inside, very early during the party. They said “Swae Lee said his flight got canceled, he’s not going to be here until 2am.” The event was supposed to end at 1am. They said “so we need you to perform when he was going to perform, at the time he was performing.” It worked out for me because it got me way more eyes, and I was outside as opposed to being inside where no one else was. It was really cool. When he came, I like Swae Lee so I got to watch him perform. It was really dope, he’s a cool dude.
AllHipHop: Were you nervous?
Dende: I wouldn’t say I was nervous, I was ready to get it over with so I can have fun. That place was weird though, they had women in cages. It was like a Hollywood party. There was a woman outside of the cage, she had a stick. It was cool, I liked it. It was dope.
AllHipHop: Talk about performing at SXSW and what goes into your live performances. I know that’s a big part of your artistry.
Dende: I’ve always wanted to do SXSW. I’m in Texas, so that’s 2.5 hours away from my house. We finally got to do it. We had our own event, we had a CXR SXSW event. It was everything I’ve ever wanted to do in a festival or more, because it’s a week long. I had 6 shows. I had to cancel the last one because I wasn’t taking care of my voice, but it was fun.
A lot goes into my live performances because I have a 6-piece band. I sing. If you’re a rapper, you can get away with just using tracks. But if I’m singing, even though I do have confidence in my voice, it makes the experience a whole lot more if you have the band. I love live instrumentation. For SXSW, we practiced every week for two months just to get our set.
We had two different sets. We had a 45-minute set, we had a 30-minute set that we had ready to just do. It was a lot of work, but it was fun. It paid off because we got a lot from it. We got a lot more fans from it, we got some sponsorships from it. It was dope.
AllHipHop: How’s the independent grind?
Dende: You know, I be broke. [laughs] But it’s okay. I’d rather not have major labels telling me what to do, because I don’t like people telling me what to do. It’s cool. As long as no one’s telling me what to do, I’m rocking.
AllHipHop: What are some goals for yourself?
Dende: A song with Frank Ocean. You know those big cutouts of people, I want to have one in a grocery store. Not for anything important, just to be there. I think it’d look funny. I can do that myself though. [laughs] Also I want to get some Grammys, that’s really what I want.
AllHipHop: What’s it going to take to get there?
Dende: Getting people to vote for me. Really, truly. [laughs] The music is good enough, we just gotta get them votes.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
Dende: Yes, make sure you all listen to my music because I think you’d like it. I think I’m pretty good at it. I’m good at making music, so I hope y’all listen.
Rocky Bucano is the Founder and Executive Director at Universal Hip Hop Museum. Rocky had a dream and that dream started many moons ago with a desire to create a brick-n-mortar structure that would tell Hip-Hop’s special, triumphant and revolutionary story.
In 2022, the structure is being built in The Bronx, where Hip-Hop began. Backed by a gumbo of support – from Microsoft to the city of New York to pioneers to fans – the Universal Hip Hop Museum is destined to be a fantastic structure when it launches in 2024. “I’ve been on this journey for 12 years now,” Rock states matter-of-factly. “It’s 12 years in the making. The beginning was tough, but now the enthusiasm is picking up. We’ve been doing things all around the country.”
There’s something to do as well, prior to the formal launch. At The Bronx Terminal, you can find the [R]Evolution of Hip Hop, “an interactive journey through history using artifacts, multimedia, artificial intelligence, and virtual and augmented technologies.” UHHM is celebrating the Golden Era of Hip-Hop, one of the most vibrant periods for the culture. Rocky Bucano and Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur talk about the efforts of the museum, some of the misconceptions, beefs with pioneers and his very interesting personal story.
