Today Philly-bred and DMV resident Unlvcky Nas (@unlvckynas) steps his game up another notch with his new video that features and all out plot with a fake FBI investigation following him from Philly to Los Angeles.
On this track Unlvcky Nas conveys that when you have the money and the fame, new problems will arise and as such he says he “makes music for the people who know what the high life feels like.” His lyrics also warn of all the lows that can come from living life on the edge, but the self-proclaimed “Star Bul” clarifies that no obstacle can stop him from his goals.
The cinematic visual for “Cold Front” shows exactly what can happen when you are at the top trappin coast to coast and we get Unlvcky Nas flexing his acting skills to the max with multiple combat scenes and police raids.
Nonetheless, the DMV crooner always finds his way a step ahead of the opps, make sure to check out the end of the visual.
Disgraced singer R. Kelly is so dangerous, that prosecutors are asking a judge to order the singer and his defense team to return all evidence related to government witnesses after his upcoming trial.
R. Kelly is fighting with the government over a proposed order that bars him from maintaining and keeping printed copies of the witnesses’ statements in jail.
“In light of the defendant’s history of obstructive conduct and the involvement of others, including strangers, in schemes to harass, intimidate and physically harm potential government witnesses, there is a significant risk that civilian andvictim-witnessess who may testify against the defendant may be subject to harassment or far worse,” acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme wrote to a judge today (February 2nd).
Prosecutors say R. Kelly’s lawyers have the right to see the evidence to mount the singer’s defense, but they must not disseminate it and, after the trial, all of the materials related to the witnesses must go back to prosecutors after his trial.
Prosecutors cited his zeal to pay $170,000 to silence an individual who planned to go public with videos of the singer having sex with underage teens.
R. Kelly also wrote a letter to a Jane Doe witness in 2018, in which he threatened to expose nude photos of the individual to the public if she decided to testify against him.
They also referenced the disturbing behavior of several of R. Kelly’s underlings, who are trying to influence a case in which their boss could be locked away for hundreds of years.
On August 11th, 2020, a man named Richard Arline Jr. and another guy named Michael Williams were charged with interfering with witnesses planning to testify against R Kelly.
Another man named Donald Russell, who claimed to be R. Kelly’s advisor, was charged with placing a threatening call in December 2018 during a screening of “Surviving R. Kelly,” claiming a gunman was planning to shoot up the theater.
Prosecutors also say several potential witnesses have been subjected to death threats via social media from rabid fans of R. Kelly.
Prosecutors are asking to restrict the witness statements to R. Kelly, his trial counsel, and legal staff.
They are also demanding no copies of the statement be made, and that all materials be returned to the government within 48 hours of the completion of the trial.
California residing and Texas bred Rapper Aykay Delivers New Single “Hit the Cup”
Recently California based and Texas bred rapper Aykay delivered his new club friendly single, “Hit the Cup.” While not too many people are frequenting the clubs these days, this song is a track that will allow people to escape the troubles of our COVID-19 plagued world.
“I would say my sound is energizing, it’s very melodic but it’s also real. I put a lot of energy in and I try to put the feelings of the emotions when I wrote it, into the performance of the lyrics. I try to be as real and transparent as I can in each song and I feel that really helps me out,” Aykay said of his music.
Varying his sound from his last successful single “Who Diss?” with a more club friendly sound, “Hit the Cup” is a story many people can relate to when they meet someone at the club.
“Hit the Cup is really a club vibe and Who Diss? was a more personal thing, but Hit the Cup is more a track for when people can hit the club. Everyone has had those nights where they met some girl or some dude and it was just about enjoying the moment. 2020 was a hard year for everyone including me and so this song was just about letting go,” Aykay explained.
Fans of the song can go back and check out the single on Aykay’s previous mixtape, The Manifestation, but this song will also make its way to his upcoming and yet to be titled album.
“This will be on my next project, I don’t have a name for the album yet, but this track came out on my mixtape, The Manifestation that came out a few months ago and we ended up doubling back, so it will be pretty new to everybody.”
For the 24Seven produced track, Aykay is dropping the music video on January 29th and according to Aykay the music video is, “an experience, just dark club vibes and hitting the cup having fun with a sexy female.”
With Aykay’s eyes set on getting a deal via his business partner Rob Terrell’s Wealth Nation label, Aykay has come a long way from his early days at LA’s Film School where he learned the recording process and how music business works.
“I grew up in Livingston, TX in a town of about 5,000 people and I ended up joining the military. Once I was honorably discharged I ended up sleeping on my boy’s couch in Oceanside when I came across LA Film School,” Aykay said. “That was 2018 when I started school, then I graduated and actually went back for my entertainment business bachelors degree and during this time I started working with Rob and Tina and we did Who Diss?”
Aykay also has a reality TV show in the works with VH1’s sister company VH2 called Industry Certified: Journey to the Deal.
“For the next year I’m working on getting a deal and I’m actually working with my team doing a reality show that I’m part of called Industry Certified: Journey to the Deal. It will give everyone a different view of my life. It’s not out, we are about to start recording, but it will be on Roku and all sorts of platforms. It’s the sister station of VH1.”
She started last week off by doing a press tour to promote her two shows, the biopic “Wendy Williams: The Movie” and the accompanying documentary about her life.
While Mef ain’t say nothing … Mrs. Smith, the Wu-Tang Clan member’s wife, did.
Tamika Smith addressed it in a statement where she called the 2019 Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee a “miserable b####.”
She has noted that she never liked Wendy, even before these allegations, claiming she has been obsessed with her family.
“For years, I kept my silence while Wendy Williams launched constant verbal attacks against my husband, myself, and our family. In the past, I ignored her lies, innuendos, and blatant attempts to provoke us. But Wendy has proven again and again that she is incapable of any decency. Her obsession with our lives has reached a new low. And I’m tired of taking the high road,” Smith snapped.
She further stated that her remarks were all a ploy (like people have always alleged about the talk show host) to get ratings.
“In an obvious attempt to increase ratings for her sad biopic, her struggling TV show, and her burnt-out career, Wendy has once again targeted my husband. It’s a pattern that she has repeated for years,” Smith continued.
“When I was diagnosed with cancer years ago, Wendy shared my personal medical information her listeners live on the air during her radio broadcast,” Method Man’s wife said. “She didn’t care that she was violating my right to privacy, or that I hadn’t shared the news of my diagnosis with my family and friends yet. She never apologized, never expressed any regret whatsoever.”
“Despite my anger, I chose not to respond publicly to her unhealthy fixation with my husband and our marriage. It was clear that she was sick, and that she was struggling with a lot of issues including self-hate and low self-esteem,” According to Smith.
“Over the years those issues have made her increasingly ugly, both inside and out. And no amount of plastic surgery can fix the ugliness inside of her. Instead of using her platform to uplift women, she has spent her career attacking marriages while her own fell apart. She criticized celebrities battling addictions despite her own struggles with substance abuse. There’s no limit to how low she will go in the name of making headlines,” Smith said.
She continued, “Her career is on life support, her husband has abandoned her, and the ratings for all of her projects are down. She’s desperate for attention and is trying to use my husband’s popularity as a way to get her name trending. How sad that a woman who was once revered in the entertainment industry has reduced herself to a tabloid side note and circus freak.”
“For the record, my marriage is solid, my husband continues to enjoy a successful career, and Wendy will forever be one of the most miserable b###### on the planet,” Meth’s angry wife concluded.
“Wendy gets on the air and said [Method Man] ‘his wife is sick and she not doing to well,’ and I’m like this f###### b#### man,” Method Man told AllHipHop.com. “This [is] the big “C,” big “C” [for cancer]. I was ready. I was so mad, I was crying right there and I’m like I’m gonna kill some f###### body and these [Wu Tang friends] kept me in there, kept me in L.A…
“She said me and [the doctor] was f######,” Method Man continued. “What kind of s### is that, man? You don’t do that to nobody. You say the f### you want to say about me, say nothing about my family, man.”
Kim Hill is an original members of the Black Eyed Peas and she talk about the steps being taken to whitewash her out of the history of the Black Eyed Peas by not just management – but Peas’ group leader, will.I.am.
Ms. Hill discusses the racial and gender dynamics at play within the music industry, her early music journey, stories of touring with greats such as A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, Biggie Smalls and the importance of owning all her publishing rights.
Check out this amazing conversation and then check out Kim’s new company, Next of Kim
Salt-N-Pepa – which once included the lineup of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper – is currently being talked about a lot in the press and online. That is partly because Lifetime’s biopic about the Hip Hop group premiered on Saturday, January 23.
The Salt-N-Pepa television movie also garnered headlines when DJ Spinderella publicly addressed not being involved in the production. On January 22, Spin started a Twitter thread by tweeting, “Sorry but I gotta speak on this Lifetime special.., Too often, Black women who have made meaningful contributions in their industry are left out of historical narratives.”
Back when Salt n’ Pepa was building our legacy, which is rooted in empowering women, I could not have dreamed that this same group would one day disempower me.
Despite the personal, professional, and legal friction that is now present between the original members of Salt-N-Pepa and their longtime deejay, the iconic trio gave the world memorable classics like the 1987 single “Push It.” On an episode of Apple Music Hits’ I Miss… Golden Age Hip Hop Radio, Spinderella spoke about recording and releasing the Platinum-certified, Top 20 hit.
“‘Push It’ was already recorded, and it was a B-side [of the ‘Tramp’ single]. We were working that first [Hot, Cool & Vicious] album, and it wasn’t even on the album,” recalled DJ Spinderella. “‘Push It’ was just a side piece… I think we shot the video because they had already shot ‘Tramp.’ If I’m not mistaken, ‘Tramp’ was the hit for us at the time we were rocking with.”
Spin added, “And then suddenly, we shot the video… The video was on MTV, and it was shot by Ted Demme, who’s a director. Once that video hit the scene, that is when I feel the difference happened, the climb. The climb was uphill, if you just go up. We started performing that song and it was like a fire.”
Salt-N-Pepa’s historic role in elevating women in Hip Hop to new heights can not be denied. According to the RIAA, 1993’s Very Necessary album has moved more than 5 million units in the United States, making it one of the best-selling female rap albums of all time.
When the most recent Grammy Award nominations were announced, sections of social media went into an uproar over artists like The Weeknd being completely ignored by The Recording Academy. This was not the first time the Grammys were hit with “WTF?” backlash.
For example, seven years ago, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were the targets of online furor and disappointment when the Seattle-based act’s The Heist won Best Rap Album by beating Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. The duo won three other Grammys, including Best New Artist, that night as well. AllHipHop.com even ran an editorial about the controversy.
Macklemore seemed to be on the side of the Grammy critics at the time. After winning the gilded gramophone, the “Thrift Shop” performer posted the screenshot of a text message on Instagram that he sent to Lamar which included him telling the TDE emcee, “You got robbed. I wanted you to win. You should have. It’s weird and sucks that I robbed you.”
Rapper-turned-podcaster Talib Kweli recently had Macklemore as a guest on his People’s Party show, and the two musicians talked about the 2014 Grammy dispute. Mack was asked how he feels now when looking back at that time period in retrospect.
“It wasn’t just the Grammys that we won. We won every f###### thing,” Macklemore responded. “There was a big conversation around whether we should be in the Best Rap Album category, and I’m like, ‘What the f###? Do I not rap? Is this not a rap album?’ I get that there are Pop sensibilities. I get that there are unapologetic Pop moments. But is ‘Jimmy Iovine’ not a rap song?’ Is ‘Make The Money’ not a rap song?'”
He added, “At the time, I’m like, ‘This s### makes no sense.’ But I get it because it crossed over, right? It’s gotten bigger than I could ever contain. That’s the weird thing about ‘blowing up’ – it doesn’t become yours anymore, it’s the world’s. It felt like that, so that was a difficult time for me.”
Macklemore went on to say that he began using drugs again during the Grammy ordeal and now wishes that he had more of a “spiritual foundation” at that moment. The 37-year-old “Trump’s Over Freestyle” performer also discussed how it was a mistake to share his private text message on Instagram and how white privilege likely played a role in Grammy voters choosing The Heist over Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.
“I’m struggling with like, ‘Damn, I’m benefiting from the system I’ve been calling out since I was 20 years old.’ Here I am at the ‘highest level’ of artistic merit – The Grammys – and here I am benefiting from the same s### I’ve been talking about. So I was conflicted. People want to say it was guilt. It was, ‘He feels guilty about being white.’ That’s so surface level. Was there an air of that? Absolutely. Was that the reason? Absolutely not at the forefront,” offered Macklemore.
He continued, “It’s symmetrically breaking this s### down on who wins and why they win, and the whole system of the Grammys. And honestly, not believing in the voting system of crediting f###### art. How do we put awards to artwork? It’s just weird to begin with once you start stripping it all away.”
In March 2020, Shawntae “Da Brat” Harris revealed that she is in a same-sex relationship with Kaleidoscope Hair Products CEO Jesseca Dupart. The couple made their relationship social media official when Da Brat posted a video of the white Bentley that was gifted to her by Dupart.
Both women were recent guests on the Tamron Hall television show where they talked about the reactions they received after confirming their romantic relationship. Da Brat’s longtime musical partner and friend Jermaine Dupri also made an appearance on the daytime talk program.
“To see her in this space of just comfort, it just allows me to know that – it’s almost back to the same space that she was in when I first met her. She’s, at this point, invincible, and she can do whatever she wants to do,” said Dupri. “I’m very happy to see that she’s in a comfortable space and just happy.”
Da Brat then told Hall, “This is the first time I have ever heard JD mention anything, ever, in my whole life about who I’m dating, what I’m doing, who I’m seeing. They reached out to him to comment when I came out, he turned them down, he wasn’t doing interviews, he really doesn’t interfere with my life. He lets me live and do whatever it is I need to do to make myself happy.”
Dupri was very instrumental in Da Brat’s career as a Hip Hop recording artist. Her 1994 Platinum-certified, debut studio album Funkdafied and subsequent projects were released under JD’s So So Def Recordings record label. Presently, both rap legends are cast members on WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta.
Big Latto (aka Mulatto) is getting a substantial push from a major music outlet. The Queen of Da Souf album creator was selected as the MTV Push artist for this month.
Throughout February, MTV will present exclusive performances, interviews, and personalized content centered around Big Latto. Fans will get to view the Atlanta-bred rapper on the network’s television channel and digital platforms.
“I knew I was going to be a rapper early on, I’ve been rapping since I was 8 years old, and I’m talking about professionally, like been doing talent shows, open mics, paying to get on shows in the clubs at 15 years old, 14 years old, opening up for your favorite rapper, the real way,” Big Latto in a video Q&A.
She added, “I’m such a creative, my songs can start from anywhere. I might be in the shower and just come up with some lines and then I just put it in my notes on my iPhone. Or I’m in the studio and I come up with it after I hear the beat. And it’s not always something I’ve seen, it might be something a friend is going through or something a friend has talked to me about, and then it’s like, ‘Okay boom, I can make a song about this, somebody can relate to this.'”
According to Marvel.com, Proximity Media signed a multi-year tv deal with The Walt Disney Company that includes an upcoming Wakanda series to stream on Disney+. Proximity was co-founded by Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, and Peter Nicks. Coogler co-wrote and directed the Oscar-nominated Black Panther motion picture.
“It’s an honor to be partnering with The Walt Disney Company,” Coogler is quoted saying about Proximity Media’s new business relationship with the media conglomerate. The Oakland native is also working with Disney and Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige on the sequel to Black Panther.
Coogler added, “We are especially excited that we will be taking our first leap with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, and their partners at Marvel Studios where we will be working closely with them on select MCU shows for Disney+. We’re already in the mix on some projects that we can’t wait to share.”
2018’s Black Panther was a colossal blockbuster at the global box office. The culture-shifting superhero action movie grossed more than $1.3 billion worldwide. Marvel Studios also found commerical and critical success with the recently premiered Disney+ program WandaVision.
DeKalb County police reportedly found Rooks dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds. Detectives are said to be investigating a potential motive for the killing.
Today, Ricky Hawk, 23, was arrested for the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks, 34. On January 21, the DeKalb County Police Department investigated Rooks' death after he was found shot on Deep Shoals Circle. Hawk is in the DeKalb County Jail charged with Murder. #WeAreDKPDpic.twitter.com/AfaA8CtXgx
— DeKalb County Police Department (@DeKalbCountyPD) February 1, 2021
Chanel Hudson, a publicist connected to Silentó, has released a statement on Instagram about the entertainer’s arrest. The Atlanta resident informed her IG followers that Silentó has allegedly been battling mental health issues.
The self-described PR manager wrote:
Please send my client Silento some positive vibrations. Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses. We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer & positive energy!! Ricky is a beautiful soul and we hope that the same people who came up whippin’ & nay naying with him, continue to support him and lifted in prayer!! God bless.
Former rap star Silento is facing a murder charge, for killing his own cousin.
The “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” rapper was taken into custody earlier today (February 1st) in DeKalb County, Georgia.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 23-year-old, born Ricky Lamar Hawk, shot and killed his 34-year-old cousin named Frederick Rooks on January 21st.
One security camera from a neighbor’s house caught the shooting on camera, while several others in the area captured several cars fleeing the scene.
A DeKalb Police spokesman said a thorough investigation took place, and the evidence pointed to Silento as the gunman.
Cardi B promised her fans she had some big information to reveal earlier today in a sexy Instagram post, and she did not disappoint.
After making fans wait for almost 15 hours, the Bronx rapper revealed the big news. Cardi B unveiled the artwork for her brand new “UP,” which is slated for release this Friday.
The colorful artwork has a burlesque feel and was more than pleasing to the eyes of the Bardi Gang.
It can be nigh-impossible to distinguish who is who in a world convoluted with filters, massive pr machines, algorithms and just-add-lies to social media propaganda. Then there are the others, that take the longer route, backed by talent or the streets or sheer will. SKG , also know as Helecia Choyce, lies in the in many iterations of space, time and the physical. Once signed to Death Row Records, she has worked on 2Pac’s posthumous album Until The End of Time and shared the stage with Crooked I, Kurupt and the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
Now, SKG is back – with a ton of history with Suge Knight, Nipsey Hustle and others – as well is a current push that combines all of her sensibilities. Her next album “Unfinished Business” drops this summer with producer Caviar.
AllHipHop: Your upcoming album “Unfinished Business” has features with Anthony Hamilton, Lil Boosie, Juvenile, Beanie Man, Suga Free, Dave East and West Coast royals like Suga Free, Mista F.A.B., G Perico, Compton AV and more. What went in to the decision-making process of who you choose for this project?
SKG: I wanted to have a diverse selection for the album, because I’m a very diverse artist. So I wanted to work with artists that brung out each emotion that I wanted to implement in each song and that’s how the decision making came about for who I wanted to work it.
AllHipHop: Your new song “Tired” is a moving, powerful testimony. What moved you to do it now, when most rap seems to be Tik Tok challenges?
SKG: I wanted Change. I was literally tired of seeing the same thing. I have been a victim of police brutality as well as racial assault and it’s very stressful to deal with. My friend and I was attacked before by seven skinheads just for being Black. And we literally had to fight for our lives, we had to fight to stay alive because we were definitely out numbered. That was one of many reasons behind my song. Because I know how it feel to fight when people have knives on you, calling you n###ers and telling you you’re going to die because you look different.
Another reason is because my thought pattern. See growing up and seeing so many of my family members and friends die from Black-on-Black crime made me angry. I was really angry at my own for a long time, because my family and I have took so many losses at the hands of our own. I watched my grandmother bury her sons because someone that look liked them killed them and caused so much trauma and hurt in my family. So for a long time I would say let’s not talk about police brutality, let’s talk about Black-on-Black crime. I let my anger from my personal experience blind me to the big picture.
Then wanting to protect my kids from the way I grew up I sent them to school in Burbank, California which is a predominantly white school and what happened was kids there was calling them ni##ers, monkeys and more… the principal and the kids were very racist and I seen Black kids at the schools in Burbank cry over racist treatment. The principal would pacify the racist kids and treat our kids like the aggressor. And what that taught me is instead of saying “No, my kids can’t go to schools in my community, I should have volunteered at the school and help create the change I wanted to see.” Because putting my kids in a predominately white school created not only a disconnect, but also a complexion that I had to work years to reverse and show them that we are beautiful no matter who says other wise.
Also, what I realized is there is crime in every race. And you cannot compare police killings to Black-on-Black crime. Because police officers took an oath to protect and serve the community that pays the tax dollars to keep them employed. We shouldn’t justify a police beating or killing by saying first we have to stop killing each other. No, the police needs to stop killing us, we need to have more police officers in our areas that look like us, communicate with us, and want to work with the community to help rebuild And instill trust. Also, we have to work together as a race to protect our future generations as well as cease fire and create the change we want to see.
AllHipHop: How are you faring in these revolutionary and pandemic times?
SKG: I’m staying motivated and I understand we are on borrowed time so everyday we get to open our eyes is a new day and blessing.
AllHipHop: You used to be signed to Death Row Records (Tha Row) after Tupac died, but Death Row nonetheless. What was your experience like with legends like Crooked I, Kurupt and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes and what do you think of how it all ended.
SKG: If I can be completely honest, none of my label mates liked me. The love be so fake and the hate be so real and I’m ok with that especially at this point in my life. But I was a young teenager and I was dealing with adults who hated on me more than helped me. But at the end of the day I understand the politics and I will just say I’m still working. I wish everyone the best.
AllHipHop: You did appear on Until the End of Time, Pac’s third posthumous album. Did you feel any affinity to him or kinship? Tyrese claims Pac “visited” him.
SKG: No I didn’t. I was always around them as a kid. I just signed later in my teenage years.
AllHipHop: Did you have a relationship with Left Eye? If so, what was she like?
SKG: (Laughs) Me and Left Eye didn’t get along at all. I was always a fan of hers, but she didn’t like me because she thought I was sleeping with Suge. I was a fan of the artist Left Eye. But once I seen her character as Lisa I didn’t like her, which caused us to have a fight in the parking lot of Death Row Records office. She was very disrespectful to Suge and tried to fight him often, but I was young and wild so when she thought she was going to disrespect me I had to turn up on her. You know she’s no longer with us and my personal feelings or interactions have nothing to do with her greatness as a artist. It just taught me at a young age that you can’t idolize people you see on tv because your perception of who you think they are will be totally different from who they actually are.
AllHipHop: How was your experiences with Suge Knight? He once said you were the female version of him!
SKG: I will always have love for Suge, because he took a chance on me when no one else would. Suge gave me the game, the platform and taught me a lot about this industry especially the business side. We had our ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I’m grateful I was able to have the experience of being signed to one of the greatest labels of all times.
AllHipHop: You know Death Row is now owned by Hasbro the toy giant? Maybe we can get you made into a doll or action figure.
SKG: Yes I heard they do own Death Row now. And that would be dope!
AllHipHop: What do you think of the state of the rap game now? Also, the influx of woman dominating Hip-Hop – thoughts?
SKG: I think we have to remember that the world is always changing. Music is always changing and music influences the world. And we have to adjust to change and learn how to embrace it. That’s what we see in Hip-Hop. Also, I think it’s great to see so many talented ladies dominating the rap game right now. It’s inspiring on so many levels.
AllHipHop: And, of course we gotta talk about the West Coast. How do you feel about the coast? It seems like people are getting their flowers.
SKG: You know being from the West I always loved our cultural especially our Hip-Hop Culture. I think we are evolving as more rappers are coming out. For so long we had a dark cloud over us and I just feel like now we are starting to see new barriers being broken and I’m excited to work with the new artist that’s coming out the west as well as our legends.
AllHipHop: We are seeing rappers die a lot now, unlike when Pac and Biggie were murdered. One of the biggest was Nipsey Hussle. I feel that to this day. Can you talk about your experience with him?
SKG: So many people ask me about Nipsey and sometimes it’s hard to talk about because it’s so much deeper than rap. Nip and I we are from the same neighborhood. Growing up you see a lot of your friends / family / peers go through the trials and tribulations of either being a product of our environment or being a person that is there to better our environment and Nip was actually both.
See, I was with Nip from the beginning when he first did Slauson Boys and Bullets Ain’t Got No Name. I was working at 93.5 Kday under the managing partner Roy Laughlin. This was 2007-2008 And I brought Nip and most of the people from my neighborhood that rapped up to Kday. At first everyone was saying Nip was too hard core, they were very intimidated by him. They wasn’t use to really seeing a new rapper so determined but so authentically unapologetically hood. I worked and made my bosses play his music on the radio. I did that because I believed in him from the beginning. It’s easy for people to jump on the band wagon once you made it but to believe in someone when everyone is saying it or they will never work shows you the ones that seen the greatness in you when few wanted to believe or see it for themselves.
While I was working his project Nip and I got into it over a personal matter that I just chose not to discuss, but I was very upset at him. I mean extremely upset and angry which caused us to have a argument in person and on Twitter and I didn’t speak with him for almost 8 years. But we have a generational family from our neighborhood so him and my older brother remained friends throughout the years. B\ut I still admired his work from afar because from the beginning I knew he was one of the dopest artist and I was still happy to see him reach his potential of who he was destined to be even if I wasn’t apart of his journey.
After 8 years I was in our neighborhood and pulled up on him at his tshirt store. When I jumped out the car he turned around and we both start smiling and hugged and he said “ cuz yo crazy ass hold a long ass grudge” and as long as the grudge was held in that moment it was gone. We embraced and talked our situation out. I was happy We made up a few years before he passed away. But I’m still sad behind his situation because he was a person that loved and I mean loved his neighborhood, his friends, his community and sometimes people can hate you just by the way other people love you. We have lost so many people over in our area. I lost 3 uncles and My Older Brother and anytime someone you grew up with lose their life it’s a shared feeling of sadness. The whole situation is heartbreaking but I’m happy that GOD gave nip the right team to carry his legacy for generations to come.
AllHipHop: With “I’m Tired,” you take a responsible and conscious approach, but on “Break Em,” you have a sexy, raw approach. How important is it to show these different sides?
SKG: It’s very important to show different sides because that’s part of who I am. Those are my feelings. That’s how I feel At times. I have different emotions, different thoughts and some days I might feel one way and want to express myself in a certain manner and other days I might feel another way. That’s apart of expressing who I am artistically.
AllHipHop: What director did you work with on this ” I’m Tired “video? How was it working with them?
SKG: I worked with Rasheeda Wallace on this video. It was such an honor working with Rasheeda. She wears many, many hats. She had a vision for this video and she delivered tremendously. I can’t wait to work with her ok my other videos. Her vision and creative work is unmatched.
AllHipHop: What keeps you motivated to push forward after such a lengthy tenure in the game?
SKG: Honestly, it’s the people that send me messages. You know I been in the game for a long time and sometimes no matter what you did, or how much work you put in people especially your peers will discredit you. But I have supporters that I don’t even know sending me messages telling me to keep going and I don’t think they understand how motivating that is. Also, my kids. They help me keep up with the new trends and rappers as well. (Laughs)
AllHipHop: What’s next for you?
SKG: To continue dropping music and producing movies. I’m working with (comedian / actor) Miguel Nunez right now to produce the film “Juwanna Mann Two.” I’m also working on the Raz B documentary and I have a few other projects on the film side I’m working on. Later this year, I’ll be back in the studio working on my second album so I’m just focused and staying humble and determined.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to get across to people?
SKG: I just want to Thank Everyone for supporting me. All the artist that I have features with. The fans, blogs, anyone I ever worked with and anyone that share my music and videos I just want to say Thank You so much and I truly appreciate everyone.
The COVID-19 crisis has been a “blessing” in disguise for rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs because it’s allowed him to spend much-needed quality time with his family.
The Hip-Hop star admits he hasn’t always been as present as he needed to be for his children over the years, but when the coronavirus shutdown occurred last March, he realized what an opportunity he had been given to try and make it up to his brood – particularly after the shock 2018 death of his ex, Kim Porter, the mother of three of his six biological kids.
Diddy opened up about life during the pandemic in a virtual chat with music industry icon Clive Davis on Saturday, for part one of two pre-Grammys fundraisers.
“For me, my life got better because I was running myself into the ground and I wasn’t taking enough time for my family and for myself. It’s really been a blessing,” the rapper shared.
“I lost (Kim), the mother of my children (in 2018) and the time that (my kids and I) were sequestered together, it helped me to make up for all those years I was on tour and to get closer to my family.
“For me, it’s been a blessing but really using the time to become a better father and a better person.”
Diddy, who also took Kim’s eldest son, Quincy, under his wing during their years-long on/off romance, is now keen to make a chart return after previously taking a step back from making music.
“When I turned 50 (in 2019)… I knew something was missing and what was missing was music…,” he said. “I don’t have a big splashy announcement. I can just say I’m back orchestrating and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Lil Wayne’s pardon has officially been filed and registered by the Office of the Pardon Attorney, and his upcoming court dates related to his gun charge are off the calendar.
Wayne was supposed to head into court on March 4th 2021, after was caught with a gold plated .45 handgun on his private jet when he landed at the Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami in December of 2019.
In a shrewd move, Wayne pleaded guilty to the charges on December 20th, 2020, gambling that his buddy, President Donald Trump would grant him a pardon.
Tiffany Haddish and boyfriend Common have made their relationship TikTok official, by getting hot and heavy during the Silhouette Challenge.
The “Girls Trip” star shared a video on the social media site on Sunday, as the pair took part in the viral challenge. The challenge involves a person appearing head to toe in clothing to start with, with the video then cutting to the same person in barely any clothes, striking a sexy silhouetted pose.
Tiffany kicked off her video in a red trench coat, before the tune of Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” changed into Doja Cat’s “Streets,” and things began heating up.
In what appeared to be a black bikini, Tiffany writhed against a wall, before her other half made a cameo appearance and the pair started kissing and grinding against each other.
The video concludes with Common accidentally pulling Tiffany’s wig off during a particularly intimate moment, with both the actress and rapper shrugging and laughing at the mishap.
Tiffany and Common started dating early last year, with their romance apparently going from strength to strength.
Caught on camera, a Rochester police officer pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old girl who was already in the cop’s car and handcuffed.
The incident happened on Wednesday, January 27th, after law enforcement received a call that there was some sort of “family trouble.”
The girl was allegedly suicidal and wanted to also kill her mother. However, questions arise after she was assaulted by the grown-ups with badges and blue uniforms.
One question which is obvious: “Why did they spray her after she was already constrained?”
Police assert that they were overwhelmed and under-resourced and so they had to subdue the child. Still, two body camera videos of the incident were released five days later on Sunday, January 31, showing the girl clearly cuffed and screaming for her father.
She was in the vehicle and despite her being understandably upset, kicking, and crying— considering she is in the 4th or 5th grade — the multiple officers did seem in control. The spray was some extra sh*t.
Second question: Where was the unit organized to address mental health and social welfare concerns?
Crickets.
The city and the police have responded in a mixture of damage control and justification.
Interim Rochester Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan said that the way the girl was handled was flat-out wrong.
“I’m not going to stand here and tell you that for a 9-year-old to have to be pepper-sprayed is OK. It’s not,” she remarked. “I don’t see that as who we are as a department, and we’re going to do the work we have to do to ensure that these kinds of things don’t happen.”
The mayor, Lovely Warren echoed that.
“I have a 10-year-old daughter. So she’s a child; she’s a baby. And I can tell you that this video, as a mother, is not anything that you want to see. It’s not,” the mayor said. “We have to understand compassion, empathy. When you have a child that is suffering in this way and calling out for her dad, I saw my baby’s face in her face.”
Rochester Deputy Police Chief Andre Anderson tried to shed light on why his officers responded as they did. This ought to be good.
“It didn’t appear as if she was resisting the officers, she was trying not to be restrained to go to the hospital,” Anderson said as if we were not listening to how crazy that just sounded.
“As the officers made numerous attempts to try to get her in the car, an officer sprayed the young child with OC spray to get her in the car.”
The video shows her in the car … actually sitting with the handcuffs on … she was screaming and crying and trying to move but she was in the car until she fell out after being sprayed.
He then says that as a department they are “not making any excuses for what transpired” But it kinda sounds like that.
The Rochester Police Union Chief, Joshua Potash weighed in.
You listen and decide.
The Rochester police union chief responded to the pepper spraying of a handcuffed 9 year-old girl by defending the cops. The whole barrel is rotten.
A cop said to her, “You’re acting like a child,” and the girl reminded her “I am a child!”
A female officer speaks at one point (there were a lot of cops there) and threatens the less than a decade old child, “This is your last chance, otherwise pepper spray’s going in your eyeballs.”
Then another voice says, “Just spray her at this point.”
Hopefully, this family will be brought to justice. If the child was suicidal, this surely will add to her distress.
Rochester Police Accountability Board statement on the handcuffed minor who was subjected to an irritant by an RPD officer: “Our community needs to see exactly what happened on Avenue B.” #roc@DandCpic.twitter.com/apRudECccF
The Rochester Police Accountability Board put several suggestions on resolving this matter.
The PAB is asking the RPD to follow the law and provide our agency with all information regarding the Harris Street incident. pic.twitter.com/GMDvccoAIX
— Rochester Police Accountability Board (@RochesterPAB) January 31, 2021
The PAB is asking that Chief Herriott-Sullivan provide written answers to questions about the Harris Street Incident, including those questions listed below. pic.twitter.com/zYwrUISJ2c
— Rochester Police Accountability Board (@RochesterPAB) January 31, 2021
The biggest voice so far that has come out against the Rochester Police Department was New York State Attorney General Letitia James and Congressman Joe Morelle.
What happened in Rochester on Friday is deeply disturbing and wholly unacceptable. Such use of force and pepper spray should never be deployed against a child, period.
Statement from @RepJoeMorelle on 9-year-old being pepper-sprayed by Rochester police: "RPD’s response to this young girl lacked empathy, understanding, and basic common-sense — and if that is what 'protocol' looks like, it’s simply unacceptable." #ROCpic.twitter.com/T25y8p0x9b
Saint Lamaar is only 18 years old and already living out his dreams on the daily. Hailing from the East side of Columbus, Ohio and growing up in the church, music has been a part of his life since he can remember. Now currently residing in Atlanta, the rising star has had the pleasure of working with Grammy-nominated producer Willy Will and Grammy-winning producer Wonder Arillo.
Inspired directly by real life experiences, music serves as an outlet for Lamaar, a way to express himself in his most vulnerable state. One thing about him is his relatability to the masses, proving he’s human just like the rest of the world. Doing everything independent and putting in the work to make it to the big leagues, Lamaar released the visual for his newest single titled “Word For The Hood.”
AllHipHop: What was the household like growing up in Columbus, Ohio?
Saint Lamaar: I grew up with both of my parents. I have 6 other siblings, I’m the youngest of 7. Growing up was neat. I wouldn’t say I was babied or anything, but I did get a lot of love. I was babied by my sisters and had older brothers, so it was neat. They all did some sort of music or sports. We were always involved in different things.
AllHipHop: Biggest influences coming up?
Saint Lamaar: I have older parents so I listened to a lot of older music like Funkadelic, Temptations, Earth Wind & Fire. I love Musiq Soulchild, John Legend, those people. I love good music, music that makes you feel stuff.
AllHipHop: You grew up on music in the church, talk about taking the hip-hop route.
Saint Lamaar: I wouldn’t say I went all the way the Hip Hop route. I like to step into R&B, neo soul, modern day funk music. How I’m packaged, the stuff I do and who I’m around definitely looks Hip Hop, but I’m more well-rounded than just Hip Hop.
AllHipHop: At what point did you realize this music thing was forreal?
Saint Lamaar: Leaving high school was when I realizedI could really do it. The love I was getting in high school, it’s a real captive audience in high school. Everyone has to be there. If you’re looking at something, the person next to you is probably going to ask who it is. I figured I could probably do this, I’m getting good looks and people are looking into me.
AllHipHop: When did you move to Atlanta? I know you worked with Willy Will and Wonder Arillo.
Saint Lamaar: I moved to Atlanta 2 months after I got out of high school, so 6 months ago. The plan moving down there was getting a lot of stuff in order, really getting into the studio and creating stuff. Creating and figuring out what I wanted my sound to be, what I had going on, and who I wanted to link with. I linked with Willy Will first. Willy Will made the beat “Word For The Hood” with a producer from Columbus called Young Doe.
We went to a session down there at Triangle Studio in Atlanta, we did a cook up. The beat wasn’t already made so when we got there, we broke it down and figured out what we wanted to do. We wanted to make something fun and faster, so let’s try this. I got in there and that’s what happened. I met with Wonder a month later in Atlanta, Arillo’s a great, Grammy-winning producer. He came to Deep House Studios in downtown Atlanta. Same situation: we figured out the vibe, we cooked up, and it was a great time. It was a great time with both of them, a very transparent level.
AllHipHop: What was the inspiration behind your name?
Saint Lamaar: The Saint came from growing up in church. Growing up, I didn’t really involve myself in a lot of stuff so all my friends called me Saint a lot of times. I didn’t cuss growing up earlier. I’d always bring up bible verses, what God said. I’d always pray before all of my meals so my friends started calling me Saint. My middle name is Lamar so I put it together. Let me see if anyone has this name, no one did so I ran with that.
AllHipHop: Any significance in the two a’s?
Saint Lamaar: No, that’s how my mom spelled it. [laughs] She was trying to be different I guess.
AllHipHop: Who or what inspired “Word For The Hood”?
Saint Lamaar: Fun, I wanted to have fun and make a fun track. The mindset and situation I was in while making it, it was hot outside so I wanted to make a move and have fun. It was the right people involved in it, I went to the studio and it was off the head. Off the top, we created it.
AllHipHop: What about “Round Trip”?
Saint Lamaar: Round Trip was actually made in the same studio session, that’s funny. “Round Trip” was the same situation really. I had the beat before I went into the session. I went in there, it was the first song I recorded when I got into the studio. It was a song I wrote half of prior to the session. I wanted to record this one to see how it sounds, I like how it sounded so I ran with it.
AllHipHop: Your inspiration is life in itself, talk about creating music for other people to relate to.
Saint Lamaar: That’s a big part of music and getting consumers. Grabbing people’s attention and making music that people can relate to or find themselves in is a big part.
AllHipHop: What is it you want fans to get from your story?
Saint Lamaar: Just do it. Almost like Nike, just do it. If you feel like you can and if you feel like you’re different, don’t let anyone tell you what you’re doing and what you like to do is wrong or bad. Just because someone doesn’t like it, doesn’t mean it’s not good. It’s not for that person.
AllHipHop: How important is social media for your career?
Saint Lamaar: Really, it’s a place you can post music for people to listen to, you can engage with people and show a different side. With music, you can only show how you sound. You make a video, you show how you look. You can get on Instagram and talk, you can make posts and repost people stuff that you agree with. That’s instrumental in people finding out and knowing who you are.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Saint Lamaar: I need water in the studio, I need gummy worms in the studio, and I need a producer in the studio.
AllHipHop: What kind of producers do you like?
Saint Lamaar: I like people who don’t just deal with hip-hop tracks. I like to make ballads, I like R&B stuff. I really do prefer older producers because they sometimes have a different type of soul and have made different types of tracks. They’ve lived in different times where music might’ve been better, with different melodies. I like older music so I usually prefer older producers.
AllHipHop: What would you be doing if you weren’t doing music?
Saint Lamaar: I’d probably be a chef. I’d be trying to be a chef or going to school to be a chef. Or in school for business
AllHipHop: What food do you like to cook?
Saint Lamaar: Anything now, I’m pescatarian. I deal with a lot of seafood like shrimp and salmon. I like pasta a lot too.
AllHipHop: What makes you want to give back to where you came from?
Saint Lamaar: For sure, that’s big. I want to give back to where I came from. Even if it’s not where I came from, a situation I feel like I came from. That’s instrumental and if you can help in any situation, why not?
AllHipHop: What’s the reality of coming out of Columbus, Ohio?
Saint Lamaar: Columbus is a place where there’s a lot of talent, but Columbus hasn’t really been put on the map as a hub for talent where stuff comes out of. You haven’t really heard “oh yeah, so and so is from Columbus.” There’s not a lot of eyes on Columbus in the music industry. That’s the reason I left Columbus, I had to get in the mix and get around different people. That’s one of the reasons I took off and did what I’ve done so far.
AllHipHop: What goals do you have so far in this point in your career?
Saint Lamaar: I want to be huge. I want to be a household name of course, I want to make music for people to dance in the house to. I want to make music people have to replay, I want to make classics when they come out. I want to make real cinematic videos, not even crazy edits but stuff people want to look at. I want to become larger than life in a way.
AllHipHop: What’s it going to take to get there?
Saint Lamaar: Of course hard work. Getting strategic partnerships, that’s really important especially in the industry. Keeping one foot on their necks and one foot on the gas, that’s going to do it.
AllHipHop: Dream collab?
Saint Lamaar: Pharrell. 100% Pharrell.
AllHipHop: What do you like about Pharrell?
Saint Lamaar: His sound. I love his music when he’s actually in it and being vocal. I love his beats too, they’re crazy. I love music that makes you feel something and he hasn’t missed for me
AllHipHop: What can we expect from you next music-wise?
Saint Lamaar: A crazy visual, an out-of-this-world visual shot by director Cricket and involved with Ambitious day dreams. A project this year in 2021 for sure, crazy out-of-this-world visuals and a kick butt project forreal. That’s what you can expect.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
Saint Lamaar: Look out! If you don’t, it’s going to hit you in your face.
The cops have arrested a man charged with domestic violence in Brooklyn for another case, a highly publicized and vicious attack on a woman in Harlem. Tyrone Cooper, a 22-year-old African-American male, was taken into custody Sunday on another incident, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harris.
According to the report, Cooper assaulted his 20-year-old girlfriend in her East Flatbush apartment, striking her in the face and then choking her. He previously broke her jaw, according to an account told to police.
Cooper will be charged in the Harlem incident as well. No word yet on his cohorts also involved in that vicious Harlem attack as well.
The Harlem assault of a 31-year-old woman not only made headlines, but was a hot topic in social media as well. The woman that was attacked – kicked and punched – said she was “mauled “by the assailants, one of which bit her.
This evening, Tyrone Cooper was apprehended by @NYPD67Pct patrol officers in Brooklyn after responding to a domestic violence radio run. He was also wanted for the brutal assault on a 31-year-old female that occurred on January 18th outside a Harlem liquor store.
“I was mauled, this is more than being bitten. I was mauled – that he didn’t just bite me and like that was it,” she told local New York ABC, “This was a recurring action that he did on my face as if he was trying to literally take my eye. That’s what it felt like.”
” I will never forget that look in his eyes and it’s just being that close to me in my face, and just trying to do that like it’s feeling him biting on me and just his breath on me and just the scent of his clothes,” the victim continued, “He really just needs to be caught, all of them, because I didn’t deserve this, I was minding my business.”
All of this started because she reportedly would not respond to their sexual advances.
In the local community, there was a manhunt for the perps and hundreds of people assembled outside of the bodega where the incident occurred in a show of solidarity. Some supported street justice and community policing in the case and, early rumors suggested, that the men had been dealt with by vigilantes.
