Recently, Obama said that institutional constraints stopped him from remarking on the police killings of black people in America. The conversation was set to the police killing of George Floyd. But it’s spun into another conversation about what Obama could or couldn’t have done while he was president. Remember, there were a number of high dash profile police murders when Obama was in office. He said a few things but he didn’t make any super push against police brutality and or police terror or even institutional racism. He did, but he also didn’t. He could’ve done more, he admits but says that basically systemic racism stopped him. Not sure why that’s so hard to believe, but people are giving him significant flack.
Here’s what he said:
“I did not in any way want to endanger their capacity to go in, investigate and potentially charge perpetrators, which meant that I could not come down or appear to come down decisively in terms of guilt or innocence. Keep in mind, in 2012, I won. But I didn’t win congressmen and we didn’t win a bunch of governorships back. We didn’t win a bunch of state legislators back,” Obama said “And so, all the reform initiatives that we were coming up with, and the ideas that had been generated, we weren’t able to translate into as bold a set of initiatives as I would have wanted.”
Here is what I said on rap forum Boxden:
Damn, you hate to see it. I can’t diss Obama because that man would be dead if he got revolutionary in the LEAST. Being Black and president was a revolutionary act. I don’t think we can imagine the pressure of being in that spot knowing that anybody that ever tried to push the line got his noodles splashed.
But, Obama was a real Black president. He just had to play the game. And yall act like white supremacy ass Trump and the KKK republicans are are some kinda of symbol of power. No. They are just a symbol of white male terror and racism. The same MFers that razed Black Wall Street. Yall act like we didnt fight back. And you act like Obama did nothing. All lies.
I am not loving this, but also the slander is ridiculous from people on a damn message board in a lazy boy.
That said…I maybe dumb and blind but I am not gonna cape for Trump as some “super guy that lets his nuts hang” over Obama who had to be absolutely perfect just not to get murdered. FOH.
Rapper J. Cole has wrapped up his stint as a professional player in the Basketball Africa League and returned to the U.S. from Rwanda to tend to a “family obligation.”
He has since hit the court for two other preliminary games, fulfilling his contractual obligation to the new league, and has flown out of Rwanda because of a “family obligation.”
Throughout his three-game stint in the Basketball Africa League, J. Cole scored five points, and had three assists and five rebounds.
The North Carolina native played a total of 45 minutes for the Patriots, helping them reach the play-off quarterfinals on Thursday (May 27), when they will face off with Mozambique’s Ferroviario de Maputo.
It appears Rory Farrell and Jamil “Mal” Clay are taking their “firing” from The Joe Budden Podcast in stride. A new YouTube channel called New Rory & Mal debuted this week with a video titled “The Job Hunt.”
In the nearly six-minute sketch, Rory and Mal decide to seek new employment after they were excommunicated from The JBP Boys. Farrell opens by saying, “I can’t believe I got fired after I quit.”
The two cultural commentators called back to previous conversations from the podcast. Rory joked about his grandfather building bridges in New York City, and Mal referenced his overly used catchphrase “that’s crazy.”
Joe Budden and Rory apparently had behind-the-scenes heat over financial records and contractual obligations. The complicated ordeal between the friends/co-workers came to a head when Budden temporarily replaced his co-hosts on the show.
Budden initially threatened to sue his former colleagues if they immediately attempted to create their own podcast, suggesting Rory and Mal’s contracts with JBP contained non-compete clauses. The retired emcee later walked back those legal threats.
Both Rory and Mal have been promoting “The Job Hunt” on social media. A clip posted to Rory’s Instagram page has nearly 50,000 likes. His teaser vid on Twitter was viewed more than 400,000 times. The full YouTube version amassed more than 250,000 plays since premiering on the platform on May 26.
The Made In America Festival is returning to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this Labor Day Weekend. The 2021 edition of the Roc Nation-produced musical event is scheduled for Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5.
Made In America was founded by Roc Nation leader/Hip Hop icon Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter in 2012. Last year’s MIA was rescheduled due to safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest in America at the time.
An update on the 2020 Made In America festival. Let's focus our support on organizations and individuals fighting for social justice and equality in our country. We look forward to seeing you next year. pic.twitter.com/XQv5xIWren
— Made In America Festival (@MIAFestival) July 1, 2020
Organizers of Made In America are now ready to invite festivalgoers to Philly’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The event has reportedly generated over $135 million in economic impact for the city.
“We are thrilled to announce Made in America 2021 on the legendary Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This year will be like no other, as Made In America celebrates 10 years of music history-making moments,” stated Jay-Z.
The billionaire mogul continued, “The artists’ performances will be even bigger and Cause Village will host a wider range of amazing philanthropic organizations. We look forward to sharing incredible memories with our festival attendees and the city of Philadelphia.”
.@MIAfestival, 2017. @S_C_ took the stage for an unforgettable performance.
Previously, MIA showcased superstar performers such as Jay-Z, Pearl Jam, Drake, Beyoncé, Nine Inch Nails, John Mayer, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Coldplay, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, Janelle Monáe, 21 Savage, Post Malone, Travis Scott, and Cardi B.
Additional information and the official lineup for the Jay-Z-curated Made In America Festival 2021 will be announced in the coming weeks. “Early bird” tickets for the two-day event are now available at Ticketmaster.com.
Those of us who truly enjoy listening to good music feel compelled to do so in the purist, least interrupted of ways. Since life exists all around and finding the proper atmosphere and setup to blast your favorite album on massive speakers isn’t an everyday situation for most of us — the technical wizards of our time have invented noise-canceling headphones.
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Nasir “Nas” Jones and Peter Bittenbender created Mass Appeal Records in 2014. The New York City-based label entered into a new deal with The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment.
According to reports, The Orchard will provide the Mass Appeal artist roster with distribution, marketing, sync licensing, data analysis, advertising, rights management, radio promotion, and other services.
Many of Nas’s albums – such as 1994’s Illmatic, 1996’s It Was Written, 2001’s Stillmatic, and 2002’s God’s Son – came out via Sony Music’s Columbia Records. The Queens-bred emcee later signed with Def Jam Recordings.
“This is a full-circle moment for me,” said Nas about his partnership with The Orchard. “To come back to Sony Music with my own label is a major milestone.”
The Hip Hop legend added, “We see this multi-phase initiative as an opportunity to continue to push the culture forward, educate, and inspire. It’s what we do it for, I couldn’t be more excited.”
"We see this multi-phase initiative as an opportunity to continue to push the culture forward, educate, and inspire. It’s what we do it for, I couldn’t be more excited.” – Nas
Since its launch, Mass Appeal Records has released projects like Run The Jewels’ Run The Jewels 2, Pimp C’s Long Live the Pimp, J Dilla’s The Diary, and Dave East’s Survival. Nas’s Nasir, The Lost Tapes 2, and the Grammy-winning King’s Disease are under the company’s umbrella as well.
“Nas, Peter, and the Mass Appeal team have built an invaluable community that supports and cultivates artist creativity,” said Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard. “As a company and strategic partner, The Orchard will continue to empower and reinforce their creative vision, and help all artists under the partnership expand their global reach.”
The Mass Appeal brand is not only cultivating music. Nas and Mass Appeal COO Sacha Jenkins are curating Showtime’s Hip Hop 50 series which will include digital shorts, unscripted shows, documentaries, and additional programming that will celebrate the 50-year anniversary of Hip Hop culture.
“There are so many more stories. I’m opening up with this, but Hip Hop 50 is a multi-tier initiative, created by Mass Appeal [in partnership with CBS Viacom], and we built this platform to ensure the anniversary of Hip Hop is celebrated in a real iconic way, and that everybody should be involved with this,” explained Nas.
May 25, 2021, marked one year since George Floyd was murdered by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. In the wake of Floyd’s death, millions of people across the globe took part in #BlackLivesMatter demonstrations.
Lil Baby took to the streets too. The Atlanta native was also one of the most high-profile rappers to release a song addressing the state of the country after Chauvin was filmed pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes.
“The Bigger Picture” was heralded as an instant classic. The record peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 chart. Plus, Lil Baby’s protest anthem earned Grammy nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.
Members of George Floyd’s family and their legal representatives were invited to the White House on Tuesday to speak with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Lil Baby was also in attendance at that meeting in Washington, DC.
Following his White House appearance, Lil Baby posted two photos with Kamala Harris to his Instagram page. The IG caption read, “Big shoutout to @vp for taking the time out [of] her busy day to sit with me [and] have an open discussion! #wegottastartsomewhere.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPV1QCdHcJv/
Lil Baby did not specify exactly what he and Harris discussed, but multiple reports suggest the Floyd family talked to Biden about passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The proposed legislation is a police reform bill that includes setting up a federal registry of police misconduct complaints, restricting qualified immunity, and other provisions.
The George Floyd Policing Act passed the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in 2020 on a mostly party-line vote of 236–181. It was again passed in the House in March 2021 [220 to 112] without any Republican support. The United States Senate has yet to pass any police reform legislation since Floyd’s murder.
“We’re just thankful for what’s going on and we just want the George Floyd Policing Act to be passed,” Philonese Floyd told reporters. “If you can make federal laws to protect the bird, which is the bald eagle, you can make federal laws to protect people of color.”
Following the family’s sit down the POTUS, George Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams said, “[Joe Biden] did let us know that he supports passing the bill, but he wants to make sure that it’s the right bill and not a rushed bill.”
Soulja Boy got fans of 2000s-era teenage rap excited when he announced an upcoming Verzuz matchup against Bow Wow. On May 22, the “Crank That” rapper tweeted, “Soulja Boy vs Bow Wow #verzuz. It’s official.”
However, the verified Verzuz social media accounts never promoted a battle involving Soulja Boy and Bow Wow. Now, one of the supposed participants in the hits-for-hits clash is claiming the paperwork has yet to be finalized.
“Ain’t talking [Verzuz] until I see some contracts. FACTS… 🖊️ 📄… Back to regular scheduling program,” tweeted Bow Wow on Wednesday. Verzuz co-creator Swizz Beatz responded, “Knock it off King!!!!!!!”
The Shade Room uploaded Bow Wow’s tweet on Instagram. Swizz Beatz jumped in the IG blog’s comment section to simply post five laughing-crying emojis [😂]. Plus, Soulja Boy commented, “Somebody scared 😂.”
Bow Wow went on to tweet that his Verzuz with Soulja Boy might not happen at all. When asked by a Twitter user when the event would take place, Bow answered, “Who knows… might be a Tyson Fury/Anthony Joshua situation where we get close but watch it not happen.”
The “Like You” hitmaker also tweeted, “Until [it’s] 100% confirmed [I’ll] get excited. Are they trying to get it done? Yes. Is it done right now? No.” Bow Wow did state that he still wants to be involved in Verzuz.
“Politics… everybody [knows] this the [Verzuz] battle they wanna see. But until then… [I’m] bout to focus on wrestling and getting ready to release Fast 9,” tweeted Bow Wow on Thursday morning. The ninth installment in the Fast & Furious movie franchise is scheduled to hit theaters on June 25.
The Bow Wow vs Soulja Boy battle may be on hold at the moment, but Verzuz organizers continue to push forward with more faceoffs. A highly-anticipated rematch between Swizz Beatz and Timbaland has been confirmed for Sunday, May 30.
The world’s first and finest VSOP Cognac, Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège, honored AllHipHop’s own honcho Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur last week at one of their exclusive, private celebrations – #PrivilegeToast. The engagement, which was hosted by Hennessy Ambassador Valerie Lora, is an ongoing series of dinners that salute individuals that operate at the top levels of their respective professions all over the world.
Chuck, or Jigsaw as many know him as, has been at the helm of AllHipHop with Grouchy Greg Watkins since the inception of the site in the late 90’s. However, he was also a writer at The Source, VIBE, Complex magazine, numerous indie publications and served as a music , news producer at BET.com earlier in his career. On top of that, Chuck is one of the foremost speakers, critics, urban advocates and outspoken activists in the culture. He has been featured on MSNBC, National Public Radio (NPR), BET, TVOne, VH1, The E! Channel, MTV, USA Today, The New York Times, TMZ and a slew of other mainstream outlets. He even had a TedTalk, talking about why excessive planning is unnecessary.
The evening included craft cocktail options that offered Hennessy in numerous forms, a succulent dinner, which was pulled together flawlessly by Team Hennessy. The attendees included Echo Hattix, Founder and CEO of Echoing Soundz, Emmy Award-Winning director Bobby Yan, public relations and branding specialist Chanel Rae Pettaway, Jeff A. Watkins, Founder & CEO at CondrealTV, media communications specialist Gina Torres Dukes, singer/songwriter Skye and, of course, AllHipHop founder Grouchy Greg Watkins.
“Chuck is a mogul when it comes to media, he has built one the strongest platforms in entertainment and in Hip-Hop, AllHipHop,” Valerie Lora said, “I wanted to make sure I celebrated his wins NOW, a master of his craft, as he continues to champion our culture and push the envelope forward for that thing we all LOVE called HIP-HOP. Thank you for being innovative and having so many first in the online space and in entertainment. I’m most excited for what’s to come.”
Thank you Valerie, Hennessy and all that partook in honoring one of our own, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur.
Rapper G-Herbo has entered a “not guilty” plea in his most recent charge during a Zoom hearing with U.S. District Court in Springfield, Massachusetts on Tuesday, May 25.
Jim Lawson, the legal counsel for the Chicago native, entered the plea on his client’s behalf. The rap star is being accused of lying about participating in alleged identity fraud and his dealings with the man identified as his manager, Antonio Strong.
G-Herbo has consistently maintained that doesn’t know that man, never received anything from him, and also never gave anything to him. He even says that in his song, “Statement.”
The Feds said that G Herbo “knowingly and willfully made the following materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the Government of the United States” during an interview with the Secret Service and the FBI on November 24, 2018, in Ohio.
The State further contends, “Wright falsely said he’d never provided Strong any money, never received anything of value from Strong, and had no direct relationship with Strong.”
“In fact, since at least 2016, Wright had received valuable goods from Strong, including private jet charters, luxury accommodations, and exotic car rentals.”
To complicate his predicament, the case is strongly connected to a different charge that alleges that he, this Strong person, and four others are scammers.
G Herbo turned himself in this past December over the 14-count indictment, to face charges that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting.
In August, he will face a judge regarding the 2020 indictment. He still standing on his word. He ain’t do it.
New Skool Rules is a three day international music conference to be held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, going down this year from May 28-30. It is a global event, which offers a wide variety of entertainment, panels, workshops, masterclasses, showcases and network opportunities. New Skool Rules, in a most unique way, aims to strengthen Hip-Hop Culture worldwide. This is a special event that AllHipHop has been a part of for years.
We took time to talk to the owner of the festival Henca Maduro about the past, present and future of New Skool Rules.
Henca: New Skool Rules is for the 1st time fully virtual. We have a full programm, with more than 15 panels, 10 masterclasses and workshops, 4 demolistening sessions and speeddate carousels going on virtually. This is as close as you’re going to get to a real life music conference. People can set up video calls on the platforms, schedule meetings in their calendar and of course chat with one another privately or in the panel spaces. We even have 80 + showcases from all around the globe, that have been pre recorded and sent to us. We will also have a live stream where people can check dope interviews and the showcases for free during the New Skool Rules Festival. So everything is NEW when it comes to the fact that it is online, but what remains the same is the sharing and gaining of knowledge, the networking, the doing business while having fun. We’ll have a dj on deck all through the conference, that people can ‘hang out with’ in the lobby.
AllHipHop: How has the movement been able to endure for so long?
Henca: The movement came from people within the culture, we’ve started our movement when were 22. It’s a music conference build on a foundation of people from the culture building a platform for the culture. We’re a non for profit foundation, doing this to empower and uplift the urban/hiphop community. That’s why we were able to keep it going! The community believes in us, and we believe in them!
AllHipHop: Who are some of the artists and International delegates that are being featured?
Henca: We always have the stars of tommorrow featured today. I’m very excited to have all the artists performing but if I have to highlight some I would say, Vivecka (NL), Hallelujah (US) , Storry (Canada) and a US rapper named Gatson, but we also feature speakers like multi- grammy award winning producers Troy Taylor (Trey Songz, Boyz II Men, Koryn Hawthorne), Needlz (Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Kehlani, 50 Cent), Focus (Aftermath). Of course we will have A&R’s from the major labels and publishers like Shawn Barron (Motown) and Vivian Barclay (Warner Chappell).
AllHipHop: How has the festival been impacted by Covid-19?
Henca: In 2020 we were the first music conference to go virtual, but we did a super last minute XS version on zoom, we thought it was important to do something for the people around the globe that were all stuck at home. We had over 900 people participating. Now preparing the 2021 edition, we realised much earlier, that we wouldn’t be able to do a physical edition, once again. We’ve invested a lot of money into this virtual edition and hope people take advantage of this opportunity, to globally connect with likeminded people.
AllHipHop: When do you think it will be back in full swing?
Henca: We will be back in full swing May of 2022 with a physical edition, but honestly the virtual edition is really also a full conference programm, without the physical connection.
AllHipHop: Give people some idea of some of the success stories that have come out of NSR.
Henca: We’ve had a couple of success stories, like L.M.F.A.O, Nico and Vinz, who met the producer that made their number 1 hit record song Am I Wrong at New Skool Rules and got a bidding war started on that song during a demo listening session two years after they had met the producer during New Skool Rules. We also had Nicole Bus, signing to Roc Nation, delivering a #1 billboard song, through grammy Award winning producer Needlz, who she got to work with, in our writingcamp for the New Skool Rules anthem. These are just some of the success stories, but every year we see big and small successes started at New Skool Rules.
AllHipHop: Can you talk about the global impact of Hip-Hop and how NSR fits into that?
Henca: Hip-Hop has a huge global impact. The culture and the music, are sometimes even more respected outside of the US than it is, in the US. We encourage people to get an idea, what is going on globally and discover where they will fit in best. Sometimes people don’t get any recognition in the States, but are able to do major things across the globe. Or the other way around. The world is really big, we give people the tools to figure out where there music, beats or songwriting is most appreciated and provide a network for them, to capitalise on that. That’s what we are all about. After travelling to lots of different countries in the world, I realised that a lot of us are doing big things, but the power comes when you’re able to connect those things. This way we can support each others efforts and the whole Urban music industry can grow globally.
AllHipHop: Final words?
Henca: I’m blessed to be able to put this virtual event together in the middle of this pandemic. If it wasn’t for my partner Greg, my funders and our partners, it would have not been possible. I hope everybody that wants to make a living in the music industry takes advantage of this very unique possibility. For more info and the program www.newskoolrules.com and for people wondering what this amazing event costs (around 25 US dollars including fees).
Actor Anthony Anderson has taken Will Smith up on his Grown Man Sexy challenge and has already dropped eight pounds as a result of his new health and fitness kick.
The show will follow the “Men In Black” star as he attempts to get fit with the help of pro-athlete pals, scientists, nutritionists, and other experts.
Now Anthony Anderson reveals he’s been inspired by his pal’s drive and determination to slim down and has been one of the many fans trying to keep up with Smith.
Anderson has already started to see the results of his hard work, and he’s keen to keep on going and shed another 18 pounds.
During an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Anderson explained, “The challenge is just to transform that dad bod, that COVID bod back into something that’s healthy.
“So, we’ve all taken this 12-week challenge that Will threw out there and a bunch of us are on the bandwagon. It’s just about being healthy. It’s called Grown Man Sexy.”
“We’re into our third week right now,” he continued. “I’m down eight pounds. I’m 218 right now and I’m trying to get down to 200.”
Summer Walker is catching a lot of hell right now. Summer heat! I am not usually one to jump in on peoples’ parenting or how they raise their kids. But, the Internet IS talking and therefore we’re going to listen. So, it seems like Summer Walker is out there showing her baby. Remember, she and her boyfriend London On Da Track gave their child a Instagram page before the kid was even born.They already brought people into the situation from the get-go. Well, now they have opened up what they feed the baby in the mix as well.
I have not fully investigated all of this but a lot of people are concerned with Summer Walker’s baby because she is allegedly feeding her some form of hemp baby formula. Being that I am not a parent I’m certainly not going to weigh in on the nutritional merits of this stuff, but it seems like a bad idea. Some have noted the size of the babies legs and the nutritional value of this particular mixture. I again do not know what I am seeing fully, it looks like it is hemp seeds, honey and some other stuff.
Now, Summer Walker has already responded to the criticism in a post she put back on Instagram. She claims that the fans were roasting her child, but I don’t actually think that is the case. I think they are genuinely concerned but she did not really addressed the concerns directly. She simply felt like they were attacking her and a baby that they could not even see.
Following up the release of ‘Underrated,’ which saw features from Wyclef Jean, Tsu Surf, and Raheem DeVaughn, Jersey native Arsonal da Rebel (@ARSONALDAREBEL) connects with NLE Choppa for his new single “Wrong N####.” Appropriately titled, the menacing track serves to bridge the gap between Millennials and Generation Z. Filmed before the pair’s Pennsylvania show this past April, today he shares the accompanying music video for the Dinuzzo-produced cut.
Watch the HD-clip after the jump and stream York Records‘ (@yorkrecordsusa) DJ Envy-hosted compilation ‘Genesis Vol.1’ | HERE.
Join us May 28th, live from the BX for a night of Hip-Hop and history as two legendary artists & DJs come together for an amazing, virtual event.
Sadat X of the legendary group Brand Nubian and NINE will be playing their first ever live stream shows in Bandcamp and AltSpaceVR. Music will be provided by the Legendary Grand Wizzard Theodore and the event will be hosted by Grandmaster Caz.
AltSpace is a Virtual Reality platform by Microsoft, designed for live shows, meetups, and socializing, which has already hosted acts such as Ras Kass, Edo. G, DJ Red Alert, Reggie Watts, DJ Eclipse and more.
This unique experience puts the attendees inside the actual venue while allowing them to engage with others with the performers, creating a truly immersive experience.
To get the most out of this experience you will need a VR headset (like an Oculus Quest 2) and download the AltSpace app onto your headset. You can also participate in 2D mode from your computer by creating an account at www.altvr.com.
The duo will also be performing live via Bandcamp giving fans the option to purchase a general live stream ticket via Bandcamp and enjoy the show without creating an Altspace account.
There will be two available showtimes to give both European and US audiences an opportunity to attend.
Ticket options and times are below so be sure to take advantage of the early bird pricing and be a part of history. We Look forward to seeing you there.
TruRebel Migs is the definition of an independent artist who’s here to break through into the mainstream light.
Born to a struggling single mother in the Bronx and raised in the Manhattan Amsterdam Public Housing apartments, the rising rapper comes from true humble beginnings… and he’s here to turn that pain into heartfelt music for his growing fanbase.
At 16-years-old, TruRebel Migs lost his father, which resulted in him turning over a new leaf, leaving the streets and focusing all of his energy into music, and perfecting his craft in the studio.
To date, each release embodies his talents as an MC. TruRebel Migs paints vivid pictures of his past as he navigates this thing called life.
Migs sees himself as a true artist, someone who dives deep and is in touch with all different types of emotions. He states, “Life is an emotional rollercoaster. There’s artists that have a particular sound or subject matter, they’re the go-to for one mood. I sit in my thoughts a lot so I can be happy, sad, angry, turnt up, in love, heartbroken. I’m really in tune with how I ‘m feeling all the time and I’m able to capture that and put that in my music.”
Most recently, his single “Yuh Mi Ongle Luva, Dem Nuh See I” hit over one million plays on SoundCloud alone, within the first month of its release. Additionally, he loves to ride motorbikes and heads his own brand TruRebels, a multi-purpose organization that delivers messages through music and fashion.
AllHipHop: You’ve been in LA for 5 years, how’s that been?
TruRebel Migs: It’s cool. It’s different. It’s a big city geographically, a lot of different types of areas. You got the mountains, you can go hiking, you got the city, you got the beaches. You got a little bit of everything.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite part?
TruRebel Migs: I go around LA a lot, all over the place. I ride motorcycles so I ride around all over. I like Koreatown, it’s more like New York City with the foot traffic, people being outside, restaurants being open late. There’s not a lot of foot traffic in LA, you have to drive everywhere.
AllHipHop: Growing up in NYC, what was a young TruRebel Migs like? I know you’re from the Bronx.
TruRebel Migs: I grew up in the Bronx in the early part of my life as a kid, then I moved to upper West Side Manhattan with my mother. Being in the city, the city is really fast. I was really observant. It’s diverse as well, you get a bit of everything. You see people who are successful. You can be in the hood. There’s artsy areas, different types of areas with different types of demographics of people. It’s really mixed. You learn how to adapt to it being so fast, deal with stress. The city’s so fast-paced, you stressed out. Everyone’s on one hundred all the time.
I was fortunate to travel all over the country as a teen. At 16 or 17, I started seeing different cities in the US. I noticed other cities are real segregated. The hood is the hood, and it’s the hood for miles. The rich area is the rich area. New York’s very different, it has these little pockets where you can walk 3 blocks in any different direction and see a different environment. You see a lot.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences growing up musically?
TruRebel Migs: Rap-wise, my #1 favorite rapper is Nas. He’s #1. Of course Hov, Biggie, Tupac. I listened to a lot of Mobb Deep when I was a kid. Cassidy with the freestyles, he’s with Swizz Beatz making all these mixtapes. He had a lot of crazy punchlines, there was a timeframe where I listened to him a lot. I listen to a lot of genres other than rap. I listen to Bob Marley. John Mayer, I touched on that a little bit. There’s a point when I was learning the guitar and I was watching his stuff.
I like Sade, she’s fire. Erykah Badu. I listen to a lot of ska – reggae: Beres Hammond,Sanchez, Sizzla Kalonji, The Abyssinian. I like diving deep into different genres. As far as rap, I’ve always liked lyricists. People who their pen game is real life cryptic, that type of vibe. I started off being lyrical. I listen to a lot of stuff now that a lot of people probably wouldn’t think I’m not into. I like Uzi, Future. I really like Travis Scott, that type of music too. I try to soak in everything. That explains why my music is all over the place, I was influenced by a lot.
AllHipHop: Your father passed when you were 16. How did that affect you?
TruRebel Migs: I never grew up with my father. He reached out to me before he went. Incidents like that bring families closer. I met a lot of people in my family I didn’t even know about. I figured out they lived in all different types of cities, so I started traveling all over the US visiting my sisters. That started my interest of getting out of New York.
AllHipHop: You got “Yuh Mi Ongle Luva, Dem Nuh See I” out now. Hitting a million on SoundCloud is huge. You’re doing everything independent, how did that feel?
TruRebel Migs: That’s Patois (Caribbean Broken English). Other than the music side, I’ve been lifting my own weight when it comes to putting my stuff out there. Running playlists, a whole bunch of different types of marketing. Putting my own blood, sweat, and tears into pushing the music. It’s crazy seeing a lot of people I don’t even know commenting on it. It solidifies that I’m doing something right. Not that I had any doubts in the first place, but it’s dope seeing that. Seeing how big the music industry is, I know I’m barely scratching the surface. It’s so much work I have to still do, I have to stay consistent and keep pushing. It’s dope, I connect with a lot of people online. For real.
AllHipHop: What inspired you to make a record like this?
TruRebel Migs: Trying to touch on those feelings. It’s hard to get vulnerable in that aspect with music. A lot of artists don’t do that. Especially rappers, unless it’s Drake. He’s great at getting vulnerable with his music. I wanted to try something different, a different feel. I felt so happy and liberated making that song. That’s the first song that I had with no curses at all. I didn’t even realize it until after I listened: “wow, I don’t have one curse on this song.” Making music like that with that feeling, it’s a whole different feeling than rapping. Touching on experimenting with singing and harmonizing. You can touch on some many feelings and vibes that you can’t even scratch at all with rapping and spitting bars.
To me, music is all about universal human experience too. I want that person in Madrid, Spain, London, or South Africa, these people living and walking all different types of walks of life to resonate with those feelings I was feeling. No matter if they’re growing up poor, wealthy, a life of struggles, old, young, man, woman, whatever, it’s a universal human experience. That goes into how I feel about myself being a true artist and tapping into these vibes I didn’t even know I had.
AllHipHop: Talk about growing your fanbase, you got 2K people tapped in now on IG Live.
TruRebel Migs: It’s dope. I understand marketing, there are so many different ways to market. I got a lot of help when it comes to social media. When you try to push your brand, you could go months with hitting a wall. You won’t find any information, but I’m so inquisitive and I like connecting dots. Once I find something and I break through that wall, it knocks down more walls, opens more doors, and more information gets discovered.
In this industry, other than political brushing shoulders, networking is important. Information and resources are really important. I try to be as inquisitive as possible and make sure I’m stocking up on resources so I can be a benefit to anyone I encounter. I may be able to give someone some information or help another artist figure out how to monetize certain platforms. I’m really inquisitive, I sit on the computer a lot. I’m a low-key nerd.
AllHipHop: What’s the #1 thing that works with you and your fanbase?
TruRebel Migs: #1 is the music, it has to connect. As long as I push it out, and put it in the pockets it’s supposed to be in. I have 10, 20 million fans out there, I have to figure out how to expose them to it. With finding information and resources, it becomes a little easier scaling the outreach. At the end of the day, this music business is a business. I’m a brand, I have to view myself as a brand on top of being an artist.
With being a brand in 2021, you have to scale your business. You have to be efficient of how you get your stuff out to the masses, everything will snowball from then. I’m trying to stay level-headed and focused. Keep my head down, keep pushing. Over time it will grow. #1 thing is the music, then everything else on top of that.
I like switching from artist mode to business mode. When you’re an artist recording or writing a song, you can’t think “oh, people will love this. This is going to sell a lot.” You gotta be an artist in that moment. Once the music is on wax, then you switch into that marketing mode.
AllHipHop: 3 things do you need in the studio? I know you don’t smoke anymore.
TruRebel Migs: Yeah, I try to cut down. I’m pretty simple, the basics: a pen, a pad, some water. I’m not a closed environment type of artist primarily, but I don’t like distractions, like parties. I’ve been in those environments with other artists. It’s dope seeing other artists, how quick they write. Working with other artists has forced me to write really fast. Trying to keep the quality of what I’m saying in the lyrics, and do it in a timely manner. That’s dope when collabing, but I’m pretty simple.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next?
TruRebel Migs: Growing as a brand, locking in my resources. I gotta brand before I expand. TruRebels is my extended label. Branding before expanding. Making sure your ducks are in a row as an artist before you start trying to expand, so your infrastructure can support everything. Even with having a label: registering, publishing, working with the PRO’s, finding different ways to monetarily exploit all these different forms of royalties.
That’s the #1 important thing to me when it comes to the business. You have to take care of yourself and make sure you’re getting paid. No one’s going to really do it for you. A lot of artists are blessed by linking up with people and creating a team so fast where they can delegate and have a lot of help. A lot of what I have been doing I have been doing myself. It’s a blessing because it kept me patient through the process and I’m learning so much.
When it comes to distribution, I have people I can call on the phone now for certain things. Reading distribution contracts, you find so much information when you actually read your contract. All that stuff is important right now, and I’m trying to expand on all of it. There’s so much beyond [inaudible] Apple Music, Tidal, and Spotify. There’s so many different music platforms that I’m trying to become aware of. Licensing, mechanical licensing, that whole realm there’s so much information. I’m trying to soak all of that up.
AllHipHop: Anything you want the people to know?
TruRebel Migs: Check my stuff out: TruRebel Migs, I’m real easy to find. Tune in, it’s going to be a wave that’s going to come for sure in due time. Get ready for great music, dope music.
Rap newcomer Metro Marrs found himself in police custody at his high school graduation last week after causing a frenzy by throwing wads of cash into the air.
The “Bye Felicia” star, who signed to Quality Control Music – the home of Migos and Lil Yachty – last year, decided to celebrate his academic achievement at Georgia’s Langston Hughes High on Friday (May 21) by sharing his newfound wealth with his fellow classmates.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPPMnE9H_i4/
His stage stunt had fellow graduates jumping out of their seats to desperately try and grab handfuls of cash, with Marrs giving away around $10,000.
However, his antics landed Marrs in trouble with local cops, who escorted the rapper out of the ceremony and booked the 18-year-old for inciting a riot and disorderly conduct – all while wearing his cap and gown.
He isn’t the only Hip-Hop star to face a fine for an impromptu cash giveaway – Rich the Kid pulled a similar stunt in Los Angeles in April, when he was fined for littering after throwing dollar bills into the air from his car window as he took a ride through Beverly Hills.
Verzuz co-creators Timbaland and Swizz Beatz are to face off again for their hit web series over the upcoming U.S. Memorial Day weekend.
The pals first dueled at the Hot 97 Summer Jam in New Jersey in 2018, as part of a producer clash challenge – and that event encouraged the two hitmakers to launch a platform for rappers and singers to virtually battle in front of fans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A post shared on the official Verzuz Instagram page on Tuesday read: “Did y’all guess who the rematch was going to be!? @THEREALSWIZZZ vs @TIMBALAND THIS SUNDAY‼️ LIVE from @LIVMIAMI. Celebrating Memorial Day Weekend with our new #VERZUZLive.”
Swizz Beatz, real name Kasseem Dean, added: “Let’s go then,” while Timbaland wrote: “Alrite now.”
Since its launch last year, Verzuz has featured competitions between Monica and Brandy, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, Swizz’s wife Alicia Keys and John Legend, and the late DMX and Snoop Dogg.
The Recording Academy has faced substantial backlash for various reasons. Almost every year the organization’s Grammy Award nominations and eventual winners are met with raised eyebrows and side-eyes.
As a result of those past issues and other complaints, The Recording Academy continues to address the diversity in its membership and modify its policies. For example, new changes to the Grammy Awards Rules and Guidelines were announced today.
“Our peer-driven awards process is all about engagement, and nothing is more invigorating than seeing our members take part in submitting proposals to move the Academy forward,” said Harvey Mason Jr., Chair & Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy.
Mason Jr. continued, “We’re proud to work alongside today’s music creators to ensure their vision for the music industry is reflected in all that we do, and to continue our commitment to transparency by making these updates readily available to anyone that wishes to submit their art for Grammy recognition. These updates are a direct result of our collaborative process, and we’re thankful for the music community’s continued support every step of the way.”
The most significant rule amendment is related to the Album Of The Year category. The Recording Academy approved the following changes to the AOTY nominee and recipient eligibility:
Moving forward, all credited artists (including featured artists), songwriters of new material, producers, recording engineers, mixers, and mastering engineers are eligible to be GRAMMY nominees and recipients in the Album Of The Year category. Previously, the rule stated that all artists, songwriters, producers, recording engineers, mixers, and mastering engineers were required to be credited with at least 33 percent or more of playing time.
In addition, new rules for album eligibility include:
To be eligible for GRAMMY Award consideration, an album must contain greater than 75 percent playing time of newly recorded (within five years of the release date), previously unreleased recordings. The current eligibility rule is 50 percent. (Note: Best Compilation Soundtrack, Best Historical Album, Best Immersive Audio Album, Best Recording Package, Best Special Package, and Best Album Notes accept albums of recordings that are not newly recorded.)
The Recording Academy also made adjustments to the Classical Field, Music For Visual Media Field, and Music Film Field. A second Technical Grammy Award was added which is specifically reserved for a company, organization, or institution.
In addition, Academy members or their designated publicists are now restricted to FYC emails, social media posts, and physical mailings that promote only their own recordings. They can no longer lobby on behalf of other members under the new “Vote Trading And Manipulation” guidelines.
The initial outing for the Triller Live Concert Series is scheduled for June 19. Hip Hop star Meek Mill is set to hit the stage at the “Fight Club-Greatest Showman” spectacle along with Puerto Rican performer Myke Towers and Reggaeton artist Lunay. The musical showcase will be part of the Triller Fight Club boxing league event.
“This line-up will be as good as the best of the best festivals,” says Triller Fight Club partner Snoop Dogg. “For the first time ever we’re offering fans two for one, come see an epic world-class concert followed by the year’s most important boxing event.”
So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lythgoe is producing this edition of the Triller Live Concert Series. The entertainment extravaganza will be Miami’s first “full open seating” live event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This event will be the ultimate culmination of boxing purism melded with a show everyone will remember,” says Nigel Lythgoe. “Crafted around Little Havana in a theme embracing the Latin flair, we have everything from the best Latin dancing to performances that will be seen one time only and never again, and is sure to have the world talking about for years to come.”
The concert featuring Meek Mill, Myke Towers, and Lunay is scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm ET. Additional performing acts will be revealed in the coming weeks. A multi-title fight card will follow the Triller Live Concert Series.
Teófimo “The Takeover” López will face off against George “Ferocious” Kambosos Jr. for the IBF, WBA, WBO, WBC, and The Ring lightweight championships. Franchon “The Heavy-Hitting Diva” Crews-Dezurn and Elin Cederroos are also set to go head-to-head.
“Boxing fans will be treated to a card including two unforgettable, four-belt undisputed championship fights, in addition to a heavyweight world title eliminator,” said Peter Kahn, Chief Boxing Officer for Triller. “Boxing fans wil not want to miss these fights.”
Triller Fight Club will be the first-ever boxing event held at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The stadium is the current home of the Miami Marlins baseball franchise. Ticket prices range from $150 to $10,000. Limited luxury suites are also available.
“Come for the concert, come for the Greatest Showman show, come for the dancing, come for the boxing, or come for it all,” suggests Ryan Kavanaugh, co-owner of Triller. “Unlike past events, the concert will be first, so if you only want the concert, you can do that. If it’s not your cup of tea, come for the boxing and the show, or come for all of it. We have something for everyone.”
Kavanaugh adds, “The fights will be the focus during the fight window and the music during the music window, so fight fans and music fans alike will be able to watch what they love, uninterrupted.”
AllHipHop: Give people some idea of some of the success stories that have come out of NSR. 