Despite being a memorial for one of the most celebrated West Coast rappers of this generation, The Marathon was up until recently a hub for economic vitalization for The Crenshaw and Slauson community.
That was always Nipsey Hussle’s idea. He wanted a location that could be for us and by us, employing people from the community and feeding the sociological beast created by gentrification, racism, and poverty.
And yet, this place that was created to be a haven is now a revered tourist spot for those who loved the message behind the deceased Crip turned Mogul’s music.
Now, the store has been vandalized, according to a video posted on social media by DJ Akademik.
The footage shows broken windows and spray paint all across all the stores in the entire strip mall, including The Marathon.
“Whoever did this s###,” someone says as they film the destruction. “If a Crip n***a ever find out who did this, it’s ugly for them cuz.”
While the damage is extensive, it is unclear who are the culprits. Authorities are looking at security footage and hope to find who is responsible for the vandalism.
The rising star of a burgeoning Memphis rap scene, Key Glock is known for his thudding flows and boastful wordplay. Proving that he was born to shine, Key Glock shares “All Of That,” his new music video.
Rocking a cadence that resembles a street nursery rhyme (“N***a that ain’t this/And n**** this ain’t that/I’m a dog ass n****, I ain’t never chased a cat”) atop swelling synth strings, Glock methodically establishes that he has everything he’s dreamed of since he “jumped up off the porch,” including the respect of his city.
In the video, Glock shuffles between the club and the studio–wherever he goes, he has diamonds on his wrist. “All Of That” is Glock’s first new song since the release of Son Of A Gun, Glock’s mixtape, which debuted at #37 on the Billboard 200 in May.
The beef between Freddy Gibbs and Young Jeezy continues. I am not going to rehash everything about these two but I am going to just say that you know Jeezy signed Gibbs back in the day. It didn’t work out and now they have been beefing ever since.
I don’t know why these two grown men are still at odds but geez he said it back off with a new song from the upcoming album The Recession 2. By the way, this new album drops this Friday from G-Eazy. Anyway, Jeezy says Freddie gauge was not Gangsta.
I guess this is a good way for Jeezy to get publicity for the new album because I didn’t even know it was coming until this moment. Freddy Gibbs has taken shot after shot at Jeezy on songs and I don’t know the Jeezy has responded. Nevertheless, there’s a twist, he also disses 50 Cent on the same song. That makes it a bit more interesting so I guess I need to go in research what was going on between those two. But with $.50 going on and on on Instagram, it could be anything.
50 Cent is “sure” Lil Wayne was paid to support U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the election, because the “In Da Club” hitmaker reportedly turned down his own $1 million pay day.
Wayne hit headlines in late October, just five days before Americans headed to the polls, when he posted a photo of himself meeting the Republican leader online, giving Trump the thumbs up for his criminal justice reform attempts.
The apparent endorsement split public opinion, and is even said to have cost Wayne his romance with his girlfriend, Denise Bidot, but 50 is confident his rap peer only waded into the political forum to boost his bank account.
He made the remarks during an interview on New York radio show The Breakfast Club on Tuesday, claiming he was also approached by campaign bosses to back Trump publicly, in exchange for a hefty fee.
50 explained he was initially offered $500,000 to join Trump at his inauguration, if he won a second term in office, but the figure was allegedly doubled as the musician mulled over the proposition.
“(They were) offering me a million dollars to come to Trump’s inauguration, right? I passed on it…,” he said. “(It was) $500,000, and then it went up to $1 million while I was still confused with whether I should do it.”
He eventually decided to pass on the lucrative offer, because he knew Trump was only interested in attempting to secure votes from the African-American community: “He participated with different artists and s**t like that for the black vote… And I’m going, ‘Nah, I ain’t gone put myself in that position,’ ’cause I didn’t know what I was got to do to recover from it, right? To be honest with you (sic).”
And when radio co-host Charlamagne tha God made a comment about Wayne “definitely” receiving a check for his Trump campaign participation, 50 replied, “Oh yeah, I’m sure. Easily. He got paid…”
50 Cent recently revealed he ended up voting for new President-elect Joe Biden, despite initially indicating he was in Trump’s corner because he didn’t agree with the Democratic challenger’s plan to introduce higher taxes for the rich.
It’s not the first time Trump campaign bosses have attempted to woo 50 for a public endorsement – in 2017, he claimed he had been offered $500,000 to make an appearance during the property mogul and reality TV star’s initial 2016 run for the White House.
For over two decades, World Wrestling Entertainment has been the most dominant wrestling promotion on the planet. Last year, a new company called All Elite Wrestling sprung up with the hopes of offering wrestling enthusiasts a high-quality alternative to WWE.
Since its inception, AEW managed to build a core base of fans that have made the brand’s Dynamite show on Wednesday nights a ratings success for TNT. All Elite has now joined forces with legendary music video director Julien “Director X” Lutz to create The History Of A Revolution campaign which spotlights AEW stars such as Cody Rhodes, Brandi Rhodes, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Nyla Rose, Scorpio Sky, Dr. Britt Baker, and Private Party.
“There’s a bunch of things that we’re like ‘OK. Anyone can do that’…but wrestling? Well, I don’t know.’ There’s a standard that’s going on. And these guys proved that, no, there’s not. They can be just as great, and be just as successful, and just as loved. And actually, even more impressive,” Director X told For The Win.
Director X is best known for being behind the camera for music-related visuals such as Usher’s “U Don’t Have to Call,” Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” and Drake’s “Hotline Bling.” The Toronto native also helmed the 2018 remake of the Superfly motion picture starring Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael K. Williams, Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, and Rick Ross.
All Elite Wrestling appears to be making the push to become a more mainstream promotion. For example, AEW Executive Vice President/main event-level wrestler Cody Rhodes is serving as a celebrity judge on the Go-Big Show along with Snoop Dogg, Rosario Dawson, and Jennifer Nettles. There have also been hints that 4-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal will be stepping into an All Elite ring in the very near future to feud with Rhodes.
The next episode of AEW’s Dynamite is scheduled to air tonight (November 18) at 8 pm ET on TNT. Matches set for the show include Cody Rhodes & TNT Champion Darby Allin vs Brian Cage & Ricky Starks, AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks vs Top Flight, NWA Women’s World Champion Serena Debb vs Thunder Rosa, Pac vs The Blade, and Orange Cassidy vs Kip Sabian.
Many fans of 1990s-era pop culture are patiently waiting for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion to debut this Thursday, November 19. Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, and Alfonso Ribeiro got back together. Even “the original Aunt Viv” Janet Hubert-Whitten was part of the show. James Avery (Uncle Phil) passed away in 2013.
Back in September, Smith got many of his Instagram followers excited about The Fresh Prince 30th-anniversary celebration when he posted photos with his castmates from the set. He announced The Fresh Prince reunion special was headed to the HBO Max streaming service.
This week, some of the actors and actresses from the popular NBC sitcom made appearances on The Tamron Hall Show. It turns out, Alfonso Ribeiro – who played the preppy, dance-loving Carlton Banks – was nearly part of another NBC series from the same time period.
“I kind of walked away from the business for a little bit. When I came back, I had an opportunity to do two shows and one was called A Different World, which was the spin-off with Lisa Bonet and Kadeem Hardison, and then I got the opportunity to do this pilot or presentation for a buddy of mine, Will, called The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Ribeiro explained to Hall. “I had to actually make a choice as to which one I wanted to do because if I had chosen A Different World, it’d been a whole different story, right?”
He continued, “I picked the role of Carlton because I had hung out with Will and Jeff. We went to Disneyland and Endless Summer Jam. And having spent time with them, I felt there was some sort of magic there, there was something special about them. Whether he could act or whether he could deliver being an actor, nobody knew. But I felt like, ‘Wow, this is something that if it works out is going to blow up and be special.’ I had to make the choice. One was already on the air for several seasons. This was a presentation that wasn’t even maybe not even a real pilot, but something in my gut said that Will was going to be special.”
A Different World aired for six seasons between 1987 and 1993. The Cosby Show spin-off was led by Lisa Bonet for one season. Throughout its run, A Different World also starred Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Dawnn Lewis, Darryl M. Bell, Charnele Brown, Cree Summer, Glynn Turman, Jada Pinkett, Sinbad, Marisa Tomei, Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis, Diahann Carroll, and Patti LaBelle. In 1990, Ribeiro made an appearance on the “Hillman Isn’t Through With You Yet” episode of the HBCU-set show.
Tip “T.I.” Harris irked a few people after the self-proclaimed King of the South made comments that were believed to be about the killing of King Von. The Atlanta representative somewhat walked back his statement, but he continues to address social issues like ending street violence. Promoting unity is one of the topics that was brought up during T.I.’s appearance on Apple Music’s The Message with Ebro Darden.
“I think of all the things that plague our communities, man, sticking together will solve 99% of it. I think the message has always been liberation. Just providing the info that could lead people to the understanding, ‘Hey, look, we’re going to have to come together if we’re going to overrun this,'” offered Tip.
He also discussed police brutality, Lil Baby’s well-received protest song “The Bigger Picture,” and the impact of N.W.A’s classic record “F### The Police.” In addition, Darden asked T.I. about Pulitzer Prize-winning Hip Hop artist Kendrick Lamar. The Grand Hustle leader mentioned the TDE star in relation to other legendary rappers and groups that are known to create socially conscious music.
“Present-day, I think he’s probably the most successful revolutionary rapper alive,” said The L.I.B.R.A. album creator about the Compton native also known as K. Dot. “It’s hard to sell. It’s hard to do good business in the revolutionary category. It’s not easy.”
T.I. continued, “Artists like KRS-One, even Common, Mos Def, The Roots, usually have to trade commercial success for speaking truth in the revolution. And Kendrick has been the one who has been able to simultaneously achieve both. And I think that’s extremely special. That’s an art within itself.”
After dropping his debut independent studio LP Section.80 in 2011, Kendrick Lamar went on to release the Interscope-backed good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, and Damn. All three of those projects have been certified at least Platinum by the RIAA and were nominated for Album Of The Year at the Grammys. The latter two won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
To Pimp a Butterfly and Damn both debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 324,000 and 603,000 first-week units, respectively. Lamar also scored two more #1 albums with the Untitled Unmastered compilation and Black Panther: The Album soundtrack. Plus, his catalog contains two Number Ones on the Hot 100 chart, including the Damn single “Humble.”
The highly-publicized forthcoming bout between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. is shaping up to be more than just a boxing showcase. Fans that put up the $49.99 to see the fight will get extra music entertainment as well.
A star-filled line-up of Hip Hop artists is set to perform as part of the event. Social video platform Triller announced Lil Wayne, DaBaby, French Montana, Wiz Khalifa, and YG will perform at the Pay-Per-View spectacular on November 28.
“This event is going to go down in history, no doubt! I’m grateful to be a part of it and share the arena with two living legends. I’m stoked to perform and give the fans something they can rock to,” says Lil Wayne. Wiz Khalifa states, “Nov 28th, I’m putting on a live show and watching two of the greats lace up their gloves, thanks to Triller.”
“Thank you to Triller for giving me the opportunity to perform on this historic night, in the same arena as these boxing legends. It’s truly a moment,” declares French Montana. “I’m honored and can’t wait to see Tyson and Jones fight.”
The Tyson-Jones clash will be scored by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission. Ray Corona will serve as the referee. The PPV fight card also includes Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson, Badou Jack vs. Blake McKernan, and Viddal Riley vs. Rashad Coulter.
“The connection between boxing and music is undeniable. As a global language, music unites cultures, and we knew this historical moment needed to include some of the biggest names in the industry. Unparalleled to any other entertainment platform in the space, Triller is determined to give fans a night they will never forget,” said Bobby Sarnevesht, Executive Chairman of Triller.
“Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.” is produced by Tyson’s Legends Only League along with Charlie Haykel and Juliane Hare’s Don Mischer Productions and Carleen Cappelletti’s Anchor Street Collective. The event will be available for streaming on www.TysonOnTriller.com.
Rising music superstar Megan Thee Stallion is in the middle of a press run to promote her upcoming debut studio LP, Good News, which will be released via 300 Entertainment on November 20. The Houston Hot Girl was recently the subject of a cover story for GQ magazine.
During the “Rumor Report” segment of Tuesday’s The Breakfast Club show, Charlamagne called out Megan Thee Stallion’s team for apparently insisting the radio personalities not ask her about certain topics related to Lanez if she was to appear on the Power 105.1-based program.
“She told all that to GQ?” Charlamagne asked co-host Angela Yee as she reported the Megan/Lanez update from the magazine. “Meg was supposed to be here this week, but they had a long laundry list of things not to talk to her about, and it was all Tory Lanez and that situation related.”
DJ Envy then added, “I think it’s crazy because when she does White publications, she’s able to talk about everything she wants to talk about. But when she goes to the Black press and Black publications, there’s a list that the label sends out – ‘Don’t ask her about this. Don’t talk about this. Don’t talk about that.’ But we’re the ones that support her and hold her down.”
Later in the broadcast, Yee pointed out that it was likely Megan’s label and/or management who listed the topics that were forbidden from being discussed. Charlamagne agreed, “I’m positive it’s not her. I just think it’s wack when her representatives do that… At least talk with your people, because you’re comfortable with your people. Them White people are just using you for a story.”
Tonight (November 18), BET will air an original documentary titled Smoke: Marijuana + Black America. The two-hour special examines marijuana’s cultural, social, economic, and legal impact on American society and the African-American community.
Smoke was executive produced and narrated by Hip Hop icon Nasir “Nas” Jones. Cannabis businessman B-Real of Cypress Hill, The Notorious B.I.G.’s son C.J. Wallace, R&B recording artist Ty Dolla $ign, and Columbia University Professor Carl Hart will appear on the program.
In addition, Senator Cory Booker, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, and Representative Barbara Lee will discuss the complex legacy of marijuana. Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris was among the commentators for the doc as well.
Corvain Cooper, a father who is serving a life sentence for selling marijuana in the same neighborhood that now includes legal dispensaries, is spotlighted in Smoke. Viewers will also get exposed to the stories of NFL star Ricky Williams and WNBA star Cheyenne Parker. Both athletes risked their careers by openly embracing cannabis usage.
Smoke: Marijuana + Black America is scheduled to premiere Wednesday, November 18 on BET at 10 pm ET/PT.
DeSean Jackson, the world-class football player and the wide receiver of the Philadelphia Eagles, is now making the big leap into music. Now, some of you that follow his career closely already know that he’s been a Hip-Hop artist, rapping with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Gillie The Kid. However, the baller is taking his talents to a whole new level. His new songs, “Giving Up” and “Just Ball,” have garnered hundreds of thousands of views online and positions him as the next big athlete in Hip-Hop. But can he do it? Jackson comes from a long line of athletes-turned-artists, but DeSean has a very unique path. Not only did he go to the same high school as Snoop, many moons later, but Jackson’s formative, younger years were also spent in Philadelphia amid the blossoming rap scene with Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and other top tier talents. So, he has the best of both worlds, to quote New York Jay-Z. Also, DeSean is going to continue to share his experiences, opinions, talents, and more on AllHipHop.com in a presently-unnamed series. We will continue to share his wisdom on a weekly basis. In the meantime, enjoy this conversation between Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur and DeSean Jackson.
It’s not everyday you get someone as excited about hip-hop as Conor Michael Smith, and he’s out here using that excitement to fuel his own rap career. Growing up religiously listening to the likes of Jay Z, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and inspired mostly by King Los and Mos Def on the freestyling tip, the Cleveland native has big dreams.
The 21-year-old states, “I try my best to play the long game. I want to rap, play violin, sing. I want to compose soundtracks for movies, there’s so many things.”
You may have seen Conor on the ABC show Boy Band, in which legendary producer Timbaland was a judge. While he began rapping prior, Conor found himself harmonizing and singing on the show — which was fun and exciting, but ultimately resulted in doubt.
“If I join this band, am I selling out? Is this something that’ll ultimately diminish my worth as an artist and take away the soul of what I do? What if it becomes big and I’m stuck doing the pop thing forever?”
Spending the last few years fine tuning his sound and musical vision, which includes separating himself from his former pop band days as a member of In Real Life, Conor’s main focus is to create fearlessly honest music with a positive and powerful impact. With his debut release titled “With You In Mind,” he does just that. A modern-day call to arms, Conor is seeing spitfire rapping about the state of our country, urging listeners to remember the ones we’ve lost to violence while emphasizing the importance in voting.
Paired with an equally powerful visual, “With You In Mind” was shot in front of a beautiful mural at LA’s #FAMEYARD on Melrose Ave, reminding the masses that they have the power to change the narrative for generations to come.
AllHipHop: What was the household like growing up in Cleveland?
Conor Michael Smith: We’re a family of 7. I have 4 younger siblings: 2 sisters, 2 brothers. Being the oldest child, I carried this responsibility whether it was validated or not. I had to do something significant with my life because I have so many younger siblings. 4 of them, they all look up to their older brother. I always had to reallY do something and do it better than everybody. Always had that mentality. Whether it’s violin, basketball, anything, I knew I had to be the best at it. At 15, I knew music is what I was going to do. I’m not there yet, but I’m going to spend every day of my life working to get there. Sacrifice everything to get there.
AllHipHop: What happened at 15 that made you decide that?
Conor Michael Smith: I had a really tough time in school. They’d put me in these stupid classes. They had me on pills, had me going to therapy. I was so frustrated, felt like the school system was dissing me my whole life. I always had friends. I was always doing well in the things I love to do so I never considered myself as a problem, but teachers and staff are quick to make you think that. You’re seeing the principal everyday, it’s annoying. It kept getting worse and worse.
Eventually, my parents took me to this hospital in Baltimore where they diagnosed me with autism. I was so over it because I felt like they won, they got their label on me. They’re putting me in all these classes, I was so ashamed of it to be honest. There was nothing I could do. I was constantly fighting against everybody around me trying to give me this label or trying to put me in this box with these other kids. Fast forward a couple years later, a fan comes up to me at a Meet & Greet. His mom’s crying, she comes up to me and says, “my son just got diagnosed with autism and he doesn’t know how to deal with it.” I’d never told anyone, I kept it so secret.
AllHipHop: I have chills!
Conor Michael Smith: This kid was a huge fan of mine, knew all my SoundCloud stuff. I decided to get the puzzle piece that represents autism tatted on me [points to arm tattoo], and I posted about it. Ever since, There have been so many people who come up to me like “hey I struggle with this.” It may not be autism, may be something totally different. It was a weight I had to carry around with me and almost hide from people, to then allowing it to become a superpower, almost- it’s the coolest thing.
AllHipHop: How is music a coping mechanism for you?
Conor Michael Smith: Honestly, I got a lot to say. There’s a lot of stuff I want to say that I don’t because I’m a very honest person. If we’re friends, I’ll say a bunch of stuff and you’re like “damn, that was kind of mean.”
AllHipHop: I can’t picture you being mean.
Conor Michael Smith: It’s not mean, more “dang he really said that?” I like telling people how I feel, a lot of times it doesn’t get out the right way. When I’m writing, I can try saying things a certain way, but ultimately I get to choose what people hear. When I’m speaking, they get it all at once and it’s too much. When I can center and organize a thought of mine or an emotion, that’s why I love music. The new song “With You In Mind” came out the way it was, it was so targeted and focused. Every single line was a compilation of conversations and things I felt, not the last couple months but my whole life. Growing up in Cleveland my whole life where I’m from, seeing all these different things. All that built up, I packed it all into this one song.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CG0eRcoHcFY/
AllHipHop: When did you record it?
Conor Michael Smith: I’d been recording it the last couple months. I don’t go in there and freestyle in the booth, I really take a lot of time writing. The writing took about 3 days. Alright I’ma get 64, and that’ll be the whole thing. I’ma do the string section at the end. I recorded it, then went back in because I needed to do some lines. The last 2 minutes was one take. I get all this anxiety when I go in to record because I have so much love for the words. I write it and think “oh this is so great.” I go to record it and hope it sounds like how I hear it in my head. This one did, incredible.
AllHipHop: Talk about the recording process, working with Slim, and John Lindahl.
Conor Michael Smith: First of all, it was an honor to work with Slim and Base. Kels (MGK) went to the same school I went to in Cleveland. He’s the best, he’s always shown me so much love. He has this concert in the winter during Christmas called XXMAS. I’d go there every year and see him, he’d say “bro, you gotta keep going!” He’d give me some advice. Slim was always supportive, I’d see him like “we gotta work!” Years of that, eventually for it to finally happen with this one is so sick. Honestly the process was super quick too, because I’d made the beat already.
AllHipHop: You produce everything too?
Conor Michael Smith: I went into Logic, I did the chords and the drums. I never made beats, ever. This day, I decided to sit down and make a beat.” [starts beatboxing] It was crazy, I program it. I get the progression, write the whole song. I was sitting and it happened.
AllHipHop: How does it feel to be so honest? You make music to make a positive impact, which I really respect.
Conor Michael Smith: It feels good. That’s what I’m supposed to do, I’m supposed to be honest. The rappers and artists I love were always so brutally honest that it almost felt you were their best friend and they’re telling you something. Tupac, Eminem, Biggie, Kendrick, they paint these vivid stories like you’re talking to them. You really know them. I was always a writer, I’d always write stories. When I fell in love with hip-hop, it matched up perfectly. I can also sound cool while telling something I really feel. People love it and connect with it. They get my lyrics tattooed on them, my name. It keeps me going. I want to be even more honest, even more vulnerable.
AllHipHop: How does King Los inspire you on the freestyling tip?
Conor Michael Smith: Los really inspired me so much to go and rap for people. Even before he did Sway, I was hip to his music when he was just Los. The Crown Ain’t Safe mixtape, Zero Gravity 2, all that. I really studied his lyricism: the way he’d put together words, the rhyme schemes, all the syllables, the nerdy stuff. [laughs] Seeing him freestyle was inspiration. I used to go up to people on the street in high school and be a pest. “Let me rap for you, I’ma freestyle!” I’d talk about what they’re wearing, incorporate their name. He taught me that. ‘
J Cole was actually the first show I went to. 2014 Forest Hill Drive, my first ever concert. Seeing him perform that whole album, I’m like “yeah, this is what I’m doing.” That was the deciding factor for me. Him, Kanye, Logic was a big one in high school. Jay-Z was a big one too, the person he is outside of being able to rap. I really pay close attention to what he does because it’s so much bigger than making an album that sells well. You’re setting an example for the next generation and your family. His kids are going to grow up: “wow, my dad’s Jay-Z!” He’s setting that standard. It may be intimidating, but to set that standard of excellence is so sick. That’s what I want to do.
AllHipHop: How was shooting the visual during COVID-19? I know you did it on Melrose.
It was wild because people were walking by on Melrose, you see some kid rapping his ass off in front of the mural. I definitely had to tune everything out and focus. We ended up reshooting it a bunch of times, the one we landed on was the one take. The song’s so important to me that I didn’t want the video to take away from what the song was. You can easily go wrong with a subject matter like that, you can easily make it corny. That’s why I didn’t include any protest footage because I thought it was too on the nose. Listen to what I have to say, that’s all I really care about.
AllHipHop: What do you like to do for fun?
Conor Michael Smith: I like to play basketball. I’ve been teaching myself how to sing during quarantine, that’s been the most fun. I like to hang out with friends. I like to rap. I rap all the time, I rap a lot. My friends will tell you if you throw any song on, any beat on, I’m going in. At least out in LA, there’s a lot of places you can go to. We were out in Malibu today at this place called God’s Seat, this huge view on top of a mountain.
AllHipHop: It’s a hiking spot?
Conor Michael Smith: It’s not too much of a hike. You can go on top of this rock and see the whole thing, it’s wild.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Conor Michael Smith: Water, my violin, sometimes a ukulele. Usually a piano. An ideal studio would have a piano, I’d bring my violin, and water. I’m a simple guy. I’m about my business.
AllHipHop: What can we expect from your forthcoming mixtape?
Conor Michael Smith: I’m trying to play this the long way. The way I look at artists, I’m more likely to check you out if I feel you need my support. I’m not the biggest thing in the world, I need y’all help. I need fans. I’m hungry, that’s what I want to see. When people try to come out the gate with a big video and a big single, they got the hottest producer, I’d rather do it my own way and have someone feel like they can be a part of my growth. I want people to feel like they’re on the journey with me, rather than they’re watching this guy who’s got it all figured out and they’re lucky to be listening to him.
For real, I need my fans. I need people to listen if I’m saying something. It’s very important. The mixtape, I want to really take it back to the old school s### because no one’s doing that today. Everyone’s got Spotify or Apple Music, it’s all on streaming services. I want to drop it on my website and I can rap on any beat. Old school, new school, throw in some originals in there. It’s almost my resume to the rap game in general, in a cohesive story. You’ll see I don’t just rap. It’s like my college resume: I do this, I do this, I do this.
AllHipHop: Are you still independent?
Conor Michael Smith: Yeah, I plan on it too. The only way I’d sign is if… you mentioned DJ Drama. How he signed Jack Harlow, that’s smart. It’s smart to sign to somebody who’s going to elevate you as an artist and want to develop you, get you in the studio to try new things. I don’t want an advance, I don’t want any of that s###. I want to make my s###, I know I don’t need somebody’s handout money-wise. I want to make cool stuff and get better as a musician.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
Conor Michael Smith: I’m very grateful because this is my first ever song I put out. It feels surreal to put something out finally of my own. I can search my name on iTunes, that’s insane to me. My 15-year-old self is freaking out right now, he can’t believe I’m even doing this. I’m excited for the journey. Stay tuned, I got a lot coming. I don’t plan on stopping until I’m the biggest. The best. I’m trying to get GOAT status. I’m playing the long game. I don’t want anything quick. I only want a boost if I’ve got a foundation on it.
The big question of the day is will Donald Trump pardoned Lil Wayne? For those that have been under a rock for the day -Lil Wayne was caught with guns, drugs, and ammunition on his private plane almost a year ago. The rapper, was straight busted and even admitted to owning the gun. He said the gun was a Father’s Day gift from his daughter. WHAT A GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING!
After the initial bust, there was literally nothing stated until today. And the charges that were brought down upon Lil Wayne were those related to the gun in the ammo. Perhaps the drugs were such a small amount that they did not bother to charge him with that. Because Lil Wayne is a felon, the guns in the ammo or illegal. Now the cash money rapper is facing some serious jail times. He is due back in court next month.
The big question: Will Donald Trump, the outgoing president of the United States of America, help the rapper get out of his conundrum?? As you already know, Wayne endorsed Donald Trump in a most flagrant and major way right before the election. A mere days before the presidential election, Wayne comes out in full fledge support of Donald Trump! People were surprised, but it’s not out of line or off-brand of Lil Wayne. However, folks looked at him like he had a clown suit on. In an article on AllHipHop, it was theorized Donald Trump and Lil Wayne struck a deal for when such charges came down on him. Donald Trump has the capacity to pardon folks for crimes on his way out.That includes his own crimes, and he is expected to pardon himself he is a citizen again. That’s right, the president who is accused of a number of criminal activities can actually pardon himself. Obama, for example, gave out 1715 pardons when he was walking out the door. Most of those were victims of the “war on drugs.” Donald Trump is expected to do the same but we’ll see who he gives this privilege to when he leaves the office, if he leaves the office. We know he does not want to leave the office because there is a lot of legal dancing that he’s going to have to do.
So what does all this mean to Lil Wayne? The hope is he’s able to get his butt out of trouble, but will soon see, won’t we?
Barack Obama says that Donald Trump’s image of success might be the reason rappers supported him.
Make no mistake, Barack Obama is a Black man … who balanced being arguably the most powerful man in the world … with listening to Jay-Z and Chance the Rapper while vibing in the West Ring.
During one interview to promote his new memoir, “A Promised Land,” he spoke about his successor’s shallow attempt to access men of color by manipulating and targeting Hip-Hop artists with the bells and dog-whistles of the allusion of their acceptance into the White Man’s Wealth Club.
He said, “People are writing about the fact that Trump increased his support among Black men [in the 2020 presidential election], and the occasional rapper who supported Trump … I have to remind myself that if you listen to rap music, it’s all about the bling, the women, the money.”
He continued, “A lot of rap videos are using the same measures of what it means to be successful as Donald Trump is. Everything is gold-plated. That insinuates itself and seeps into the culture.”
Ouch … He ain’t really wrong.
Donald Trump, before becoming the 45th president of the United States, was featured on hundreds of mainstream rap songs. Many rappers saluted him for being rich and flagrant with his wealth (whether earned or inherited).
Rap acts like Kanye West, Tribe Called Quest, T.I., Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, Rae Sremmurd, Ice T, Nelly, Rick Ross, E-40, Young Thug, and Young Jeezy have all mentioned him before 2016.
That was before he was the POTUS.
Since then (and specifically this year), he is mentioned on wax but most certainly is not being glorified.
While West, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, Lil Pump, and Polow da Don all have jumped out of the window in support of him and his policies, receiving a ton of backlash from the Black community.
Artists like Public Enemy, De La Soul, Nas, Talib Kweli, YG and Nipsey Hussle, Walé and Snoop Dogg have released records that are stinging in reproach.
Rappers like Common and Jeezy even supported doing PSAs and stomping with the recent Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden’s campaign.
Even battle rappers, URL’s Charlie Clips and DNA dropped a PSA endorsing the new president-elect, receiving backlash from critics who did not see this as a legitimate outreach to Black men and other fans in their space, but as pandering. With the recent victory of 302 electoral votes, many of those same critics are silenced.
It has been estimated that 20% of Black men voted for Trump this year. This is a two percentage point jump from 2016, where 18% voted for him.
Barack Obama also has a relationship with rappers (who don’t regret publicly endorsing him) and his not just from schmoozing them up. 44 genuinely loves the culture.
In addition to the memoir, he also released his Promised Land-themed playlist that features several rap songs including “My 1st Song” by Jay-Z and “Lose Yourself” by Eminem.
However, during an interview with TV show Extra, the “In Da Club” star ruled out a potential reunion with Chelsea – mainly due to her support of New York governor Andrew Cuomo.
Telling the outlet there was “no” chance of him and Chelsea giving things another go, Fif added: “She thinks Cuomo, Italian guys, Italian hunk, she thinks he’s cool — I think he’s alright.”
He smiled: “Chelsea’s a good friend of mine. Whatever she says is fine with me. I don’t care what she says. A part of her show is almost to be unpredictable, and unpredictability is what makes a comedian.”
A search of Wayne’s jet found a small amount of cocaine, some opioids, and guns.
At the time, reports suggested Wayne was toting a gold-plated .45. The Feds have charged him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
“Dwayne Michael Carter, a/k/a Lil Wayne knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year,” according to Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney.
The charge could mean big problems, for Wayne, who served a year on Rikers Island in 2010, after the cops found a .40 caliber handgun on his tour bust back in July of 2007.
Wayne is due in court to answer the charge next month.
Rap mogul and entrepreneur Russell Simmons has one less rape allegation to worry about after a judge in Los Angeles ruled the complaint against him fell outside the statute of limitations.
The music producer denied her claims, insisting they amounted to nothing more than an extortion attempt.
Last week, Judge Mark H. Epstein granted the defendant’s motion and ruled events from an alleged incident in 1988 could no longer force a case.
Simmons still faces multiple allegations of rape and sexual abuse, while three of the women who have accused him of sexual harassment have opened up about their experiences in a HBO Max documentary.
On the Record, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January (20), features Drew Dixon and her fellow accusers Sil Lai Abrams and Sheri Sher.
Dixon has alleged Simmons raped her at his apartment in Manhattan, New York after offering her a job at his Def Jam Records label. She was one of the first women to expose the businessman’s alleged bad behavior in a New York Times article in 2017.
Simmons has denied all accusations of sexual misconduct and assault against him, stating: “I have never had a sexual encounter that was not consensual or lawful. Ever.”
On Monday, Hulu began streaming 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez. The Vikram Gandhi-directed investigative documentary explores the life and career of provocative Brooklyn rapper Danny Hernandez who is better known as Tekashi 6ix9ine.
A description for the doc reads:
One of the most controversial figures in contemporary pop culture, 69 repeatedly broke the internet with his sensationalist music videos and social media beefs before infamously testifying against Brooklyn gang the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods in a landmark trial. Director Vikram Gandhi (Kumaré, Barry) gets up close and personal with the neighborhood locals who knew 69 when he was still just Danny Hernandez—before the hard-core persona and the face tattoos—to chronicle his meteoric rise and fall from fame and probe the harsh extremes of addiction to fame in the digital era.
At least one person connected to 6ix9ine is not supporting The Saga of Danny Hernandez. The “Trollz” rhymer’s manager, Murda Murphy, took to Instagram to slam Hulu’s film as well as Showtime’s upcoming three-episode Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine docuseries which is expected to air on the cable network in 2021.
“The Hulu & Showtime @6ix9ine projects!! Are both unauthorized!! Nothing to do with us!! Zero!! The people in these talking are [cap]! Are not involved with us in anyway!! Don’t support this trash!! When @6ix9ine does something you’ll be the first to know!” posted Murphy on his Instagram Story.
Supervillain supposedly includes director Karam Gill conducting an exclusive interview with 6ix9ine after he was released from prison earlier this year. In 2019, 6ix9ine pled guilty to nine federal charges including racketeering, testified against his Nine Trey Gangster Bloods associates, and was sentenced to two years in prison.
The 24-year-old New Yorker later received an early release due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Hernandez pled guilty to the use of a child in a sexual performance in 2015 which led to a four-year probation sentence.
Several other Nine Trey members took plea deals but did not cooperate with the prosecution. Aljermiah “Nuke” Mack took his case to trial, and 6ix9ine took the stand against him. Mack was sentenced to 204 months in prison for racketeering and drug-related charges. Co-defendant Anthony “Harv” Ellison was sentenced to 288 months in prison for the 2018 kidnapping of Tekashi.
“As alleged in the indictment, this gang, which included platinum-selling rap artist Tekashi 6ix9ine, wreaked havoc on New York City, engaging in brazen acts of violence. Showing reckless indifference to others’ safety, members of the gang were allegedly involved in robberies and shootings, including a shooting inside the crowded Barclay’s Center, and a shooting in which an innocent bystander was hit,” stated U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman in 2018.
The 2020 American Music Awards, which takes place on November 22, will have a couple of nostalgic Hip Hop moments. Legendary 1990s-era trio Bell Biv DeVoe and chart-topping 2000s-era hitmaker Nelly will both perform during the industry event.
Three-time AMA winners Bell Biv DeVoe are returning to the show to run through their classic records “Do Me” and “Poison.” Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe made their American Music Award stage debut in 1991 with their single, “B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me?).”
Nelly will celebrate the 20-year anniversary of his debut, Diamond-certified studio album Country Grammar by performing the tracks “Country Grammar,” “E.I.,” and “Ride Wit Me.” The three-time American Music Award winner won his first AMA trophy in 2002 for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist.
Previously, the American Music Awards organizers announced Lil Baby and Megan Thee Stallion as performers. Roddy Ricch and The Weeknd earned the most nominations with 8. Megan Thee Stallion picked up 5 nods. DaBaby, Doja Cat, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift tied with four nominations.
Empire actress Taraji P. Henson is hosting this year’s AMAs. The 2020 American Music Awards are scheduled to air live on November 22 at 8 pm ET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on ABC. Winners were decided entirely by fan-vote.
Former President Barack Obama’s A Promised Land is out today (November 17). The memoir is the first installment of Obama’s two-part book series covering his tenure as President of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
‘A Promised Land’ cover
In celebration of the release of A Promised Land, Obama presented his personally curated collection of tunes. “A Promised Land Official Playlist” is a mixture of songs featured in the book and songs reflective of Obama’s time in office.
Beyoncé’s “Halo” and “At Last” both made it onto Obama’s Spotify list. Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” and Jay-Z’s “My 1st Song” were among the final selections as well. “A Promised Land Official Playlist” also includes records by Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Coltrane, Sade, Stevie Wonder, and others.
“Music has always played an important role in my life – and that was especially true during my presidency. In honor of my book hitting shelves tomorrow, I put together this playlist featuring some memorable songs from my administration. Hope you enjoy it,” tweeted Obama on November 16.
Music has always played an important role in my life—and that was especially true during my presidency. In honor of my book hitting shelves tomorrow, I put together this playlist featuring some memorable songs from my administration. Hope you enjoy it. pic.twitter.com/xWiNQiZzN0
