Atlanta-raised lyricist CyHi has officially dropped “The Prynce” from his stage name. The G.O.O.D. Music affiliate born Cydel Charles Young is also ready to drop a new video series called The Hardway Musicals Presents: Barcode.
“I’ve been kept silent for a while, just biding my time, but now I’m ready to start sharing myself in a way I haven’t done before,” says CyHi. “Barcode has allowed me to showcase my screenwriting skills and acting ability in the most creative and impactful way possible.”
Barcode is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, November 4. New episodes are set to arrive every Wednesday in the month. The showwill feature live performances, comical skits, interactive tools, exclusive merch, live chat functions, and Q&As with CyHi.
B. Simone, Emmanuel Hudson, Desi Banks, Nav, Karlous, Trizzy, Phillip Hudson, Chico Bean, Wallo267, Money Bag Mafia, and Tracy T are expected to make guest appearances on Barcode. The series also serves as a precursor for Cyhi’s forthcoming album.
A segment on Barcode will give viewers the chance to donate funds to finance the release of CyHi’s next music project. Plus, a portion of the proceeds will go to prison reform initiatives and assisting with medical attention for prison facilities.
CyHi released his critically-acclaimed debut studio LP, No Dope On Sundays, in 2017. His discography also consists of the Royal Flush, Ivy League, and Black Hystori Project mixtape series. He also collaborated on albums by Kanye West, Royce Da 5’9, Killer Miker, B.o.B., and other Hip Hop acts.
The 2020 American Music Awards will broadcast live on Sunday, November 22 at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC. Oscar-nominated/Emmy-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Empire) will emcee the event as the evening’s host.
“The AMAs brings together the music community to celebrate what really drives all artists – the fans,” says the former Howard University drama student. “I’m proud to take the stage as this year’s host – and also a fan – for what promises to be an electrifying night of music.”
Henson also teamed with the American Music Awards to put together a 15-track Voting Playlist on Spotify. The collection includes songs by Marvin Gaye, Dionne Warwick, Gil Scott-Heron, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Mary J. Blige, Lil Baby, H.E.R., Boogie, and more.
Hip Hop artist Roddy Ricch and R&B/Pop singer The Weeknd go into this year’s AMAs with the most nominations (8). They are followed by “Savage” rapstress Megan Thee Stallion (5) whose nods include New Artist of the Year and Collaboration of the Year.
Roddy Ricch, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Tand Taylor Swift, are up for Artist of the Year. The Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop category features Roddy Ricch’s Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial, Lil Baby’s My Turn, and Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake.
The 2020 American Music Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Winners for the show are decided entirely by fan-vote. Voting is open for all AMA categories at TheAMAs.com/Vote.
Amir Junaid Muhadith (formerly known as Loon) was chosen to serve as the inaugural Fellow in the REFORM Alliance’s Fellowship Program. The former Bad Boy Entertainment recording artist will work closely with REFORM executives on the Advocacy and Communications team to receive hands-on experience in policy creation, policy writing, coalition-building, research, digital organizing, and more.
This new position with the program comes about three months after Muhadith was granted an early release from federal prison following his nine-year incarceration for conspiracy with intent to traffic heroin. He is currently on probation.
“I can personally relate to the stress of navigating life on supervision with the risk of reincarceration, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to use my experience to help REFORM and collaborate on ways to make a lasting impact on the system,” stated Muhadith. “It’s imperative that we provide people on probation with the support, training, and counseling to truly succeed rather than resort to punitive punishment.”
Muhadith began connecting with REFORM Alliance Chief Advocacy Officer Jessica Jackson while he was still behind bars. Jackson advocated for his compassionate release under the federal First Step Act following the COVID-19 outbreak in the prison system. She partnered with Weldon Angelos and several other activists to petition for Muhadith’s release in July.
“Amir’s firsthand perspective and strategic thinking will be invaluable to helping us improve an ineffective and destructive supervision system,” comments Jackson. “In the short amount of time he’s been released, Amir has already impressed us with his ideas and commitment to creating positive change.”
Last month, the REFORM Alliance announced new hires. Janet Choi (Chief Content and Communications Officer), Adia Smith Parker (Senior Director, Development), Meagan Bond (Senior Director, Creative Campaigns), Geoff Holtzman (Director of Communications), Britton Smith (Senior Organizing Strategist), Colleen Donnelly (Director of Digital), Jasmine Wadsworth (Advocacy Chief of Staff), and Yesenia Valdez (Special Assistant to the President and Chief Growth Officer) joined the criminal justice reform organization.
2020 also saw the REFORM Alliance celebrate a big legislative win in the state of California. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the AB 1950 bill. The law caps probation terms to a maximum of one year for misdemeanor offenses and two years for felonies. REFORM Alliance worked with AB 1950’s primary sponsor, Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles), to gain support for the legislation in California’s State Assembly and State Senate.
Hip Hop artist Meek Mill and Philadelphia 76ers partner Michael Rubin are the Co-Chairs for the REFORM Alliance. Founding Partners for the collective includes Roc Nation founder Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Vista Equity Partners CEO Robert Smith, Third Point CEO Daniel S. Loeb, Galaxy Digital CEO Michael E. Novogratz, Brooklyn Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, and Arnold Ventures Co-Chair Laura Arnold. CNN commentator Van Jones is REFORM’s CEO.
A rising singer-songwriter named Erykah Badu introduced herself to the world with 1997’s Baduizm. It was the 2000 album titled Mama’s Gun that helped solidify the vocalist’s position as the “Queen of Neo-Soul.”
2020 marks the 20-year anniversary of Badu’s sophomore studio LP. The 4-time Grammy winner is celebrated her Motown Records classic by using her Instagram page to shout out some of the musicians that worked with her during the Mama’s Gun era like Common, Questlove, D’Angelo, and James Poyser.
Badu will appear on the first installment of The Message series hosted by Apple Music’s Ebro Darden. The conversation, which debuts on November 3 at 1:00 pm PT, covered several topics including Mama’s Gun. She also creates an exclusive Apple Music playlist of songs that inspire her to keep pushing forward.
“Wow, it seems like yesterday. Ebro, I’ve been on the road so long, I don’t remember growing up. It’s crazy. I try to live life so present that things happen, and the next day, you’re in another year. Kind of like this year, for example, this has been a very long and short and long and short year. 2020, it describes how my life is. The dramatic pauses and crazy endings and rapid beginnings,” said Badu.
Mama’s Gun was released on October 31, 2000. The project contains the singles “Didn’t Cha Know?” and “Bag Lady.” Both of those records earn Grammy nominations – “Bag Lady” for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song (2000), “Didn’t Cha Know?” for Best R&B Song (2001).
Several Hip Hop figures have come out in the last few weeks to show their support for either Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential race. In contrast, Belcalis “Cardi B” Almánzar has been at the forefront of the 2020 political process for months.
Election Day 2020 has finally arrived. Last night, Cardi took to Instagram to make one more pitch to her followers to vote in this year’s general election. The 28-year-old superstar did not mention Trump by name, but she made it clear that she did not want four more years of his administration in power.
“I’m tired of this b#######. I’m tired of getting upset every single time I see this man talk. It’s like, ‘Are you f###### serious?'” said Cardi, referring to President Trump.
She added, “You can make a change. I can make a change. You don’t gotta be special, you don’t gotta be rich, you don’t gotta be famous, you don’t gotta be beautiful, you just gotta be you with your one vote.” Her IG caption included the hashtag #BIGBIDEN.
While a recent study found that only 12% of the population admitted a celebrity can actually influence their thinking about the election, Cardi was among the few entertainers that can motivate a percentage of people to vote. The top celebs in that survey were LeBron James (36%), Taylor Swift (13%), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (9%), Oprah Winfrey (6%), Beyoncé (5%), Colin Kaepernick (5%), and Cardi B (5%).
One of the most celebrated groups from the 1990s could be headed to the Verzuz stage in the near future. Timbaland, a co-curator of the digital series along with Swizz Beatz, had R&B heads ready to pull out their leather jackets, black pants, and black boots.
“This group changed R&B!!!!! Y’all will soon see. #verzuz,” tweeted Timbaland on Tuesday with a photo of a Vibe magazine cover from 1995 featuring DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo.
Neither Timbaland nor Swizz revealed which act could possibly face Jodeci in a Verzuz battle. However, fans instantly began fantasy booking the matchup with other groups such as New Edition, Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, TLC, Silk, H-Town, and Guy.
If a faceoff is confirmed, Jodeci would certainly pull records from their Forever My Lady, Diary of a Mad Band, and The Show, the After Party, the Hotel albums. Timbaland’s early career included him producing songs for Jodeci before he created the Hip Hop/R&B sound that was made famous by artists like Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, and Ginuwine.
In the meantime, Verzuz viewers are preparing to watch T.I. (The King of the South) vs Jeezy (The Snowman) on November 19. That hit-for-hit musical bout between Atlanta rap legends will present two of the leading voices in the Trap music sub-genre.
On Tuesday morning, Trump brought out “Gucci Gang” rapper Lil Pump to share the stage with him in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Commander in Chief botched his guest’s introduction.
“I love your sound, I love your music. And speaking of sound and music and other things – one of the big superstars of the world… Lil Pimp!” Trump told his supporters.
Lil Pump publicly endorsed Trump last week. The 20-year-old Florida native suggested he was backing the president’s re-election campaign because of his opposition to Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s plan to tax individuals making more than $400,000 a year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CHGd5S3Hoc9/
Many social media users accused Lil Pump of merely using the global attention on the American election to gain clout for himself. It was pointed out that he has not had a hit song in two years and his Harverd Dropout album in 2019 was nearly universally panned.
In addition, Atlanta’s Rich The Kid claimed that Team Trump was willing to fly him out in order to campaign with the POTUS too. He wrote on his Instagram Story, “Jus got a call. Trump tryna send me a jet to Michigan. FOH I ain’t no sell out.”
The “Plug Walk” rhymer even posted what appeared to be text messages from an unidentified person pitching the idea of taking an airplane with Lil Pump to meet Trump and other billionaires. There has been speculation that the Trump campaign is paying celebrities to endorse the president, but those rumors have not been proven.
I have long wondered where have all our beloved thugs gone? Once upon a time, there were a lot of thugs and they mobbed the streets with HEAT!!!! “The Thug” became popularized by none other than Tupac Shakur, one of the greatest rappers to ever live. He was also one of the most politically minded and activist-minded individuals to ever come out of Hip Hop. Tupac was a G!
In the year of our Lord 2020, we have seen a lot of outspoken artists regarding Donald Trump and his looming fascist regime. They have been all over this thing, resulting in a movement opposing the president! However, not to be outdone, the president has strategically lined up his supporters that happen to be black leading up to the election!
And, these rappers have cursed the president out! YG has been unrepentant in his disrespect of the commander in chief! But others have quieted down! I am not going to call these rappers out by name because they did their work and I think they did good work! But as the election has come and we are about to elect another rain from one of these white guys, they are mad quiet!
The question I have is did these guys get paid a visit! One rapper in particular who you should know if you do your research threatened the president on social media. I heard that person received an actual visit from some alphabet boys causing just a bit of anxiety.
Now, this notion is not new. Back in the day, there was a mad rumor that fiery political rapper Immortal Technique was approached in Colorado or somewhere like that by them boys and was discouraged from continuing with his rage-filled raps against the president. Immortal Technique has since denied that happened but he was really quiet during the Obama rain. It could be just a coincidence because of the black president but it really seems to be the loudest silence ever.
Do you think it’s possible that President Trump since some folks to visit certain rappers to keep them quiet? He’s already known to pay the rappers, make deals with the rappers, and bailed him out of trouble! At least the allegations Go as such.
Chuck D has been at the forefront of Black Power consciousness in Hip-Hop for over 30 years as the lead emcee of Public Enemy. Much has been made of the 2020 presidential election, especially with the Democratic and Republican nominees. Chuck D gives his take on things from supporting Kamala Harris to what’s next to how real it gets in other countries.
AllHipHop: If 45 gets elected for another four years, are we in the worst-case scenario, I mean, where do you think we’re at?
Chuck D.: Voting in the United States has been highly primitive. Cave mannish ever since you got the Eenie, Meenie Miney Moe, you got one of two choices. I cannot critique David Banner because I think his idea is that Trump was the lesser of two evils.
And some people think that Biden and Harris are the lesser of two evils. Bottom line, you have to be proactive. Not just in the beauty pageant of your presidential election or selection. You have to be proactive in your local area more than ever. The promise of the United States means what?
There’s a lot of different fiefdoms all in operation that you have to have over standing. Even if you understand the fact that counties have plantations, you go from one county to the next county and one county says, “well, that’s what they do over there. We don’t do that in this county.”
How many counties can you count in the United States? Well, you go on Senators and stuff like that. So knowing who to vote for in your locality. One beautiful thing that we knew out of this energy that happened earlier this year is that young people stomped in their locale to make some change. And if they looked at a statue that just sat up there for the last hundred years, derogatory to the people that lived there. Then they said, “well, we’ll take it down.” That’s it no mistake that 45 would say that he would pass out 10-year bids, if you take down a statue of even somebody was derogatory.
So if that ain’t fascism, I don’t know what it is. Guessing to see if somebody is a fascist, against somebody saying that they’re a fascist and a racist in your grill?
I’ve been to 116 countries. I’ve been some places they call “gun to the head government.” So sometimes getting out of that USA gear opens yourself up to the world.
I’ll be real plain and simple. I’m a little biased. Kamala Harris. Cool. You’re a Black woman go on for you. That’s how crazy this s### is. And if you want to come to me with all your theories, yeah, okay. Obama was Skull & Bones, yeah, fantastic. But I’m telling you, I’ve been to the “gun to the head” governments man.
You go into Jakarta. They tell you “listen, man. Do your songs. Don’t talk to the people.” The minute you say something to the people that’s your ass.
Today, if your ass gets caught out there in one of the 214 countries, ain’t nobody gonna save you from the United States. We got to figure out what caboose to get on and how you kind of make it better. And the reason why you have to make it better is because you got loved ones. They probably can’t survive like you, even if you know how to survive.
You may say “you know I could make pancakes out of acorns in the woods.” Fantastic, man. Try to get that across to your seed that’s looking at you on an Xbox. Your girl is giving you problems now, cause she ain’t feeling you being in the woods.
You got to make it happen or not make it happen, dog. Yes. I’m just saying we’re at a point right now, it’s no time for micro differences. None. Right now it’s November 3. After November 3, it’s time to man or woman up no matter who’s up in there.
Let me tell you this much. You got animosity just triggered on Black folks, on the regular. Not too long ago, you had cats, throwing money at the camera and s### like that. So if you’re a poor white boy in Arkansas, you ain’t got a black person that you have as a friend and you’re looking at everything online? You might build up some animosity coming out of your head that ain’t legit, but it’s kind of like in your head. And it’s swollen up on all the stuff by just always being online.
Black folks were even mad at all these images. This was just why we were p##### off, “like every black person, they like that, how about the good images of black people? How about the black people that tried to come up and try to do some change every day?” We ain’t all like that. But we are looking at these images that come out of somewhere else. And they are looking at these images that come out somewhere else, getting animosity at us!
What made that young white guy, 20 years old in Charlottesville. What made him have so much racism in him to run over that woman in Charlottesville? He was like it was damn near like in 1892.
So I’m just gonna nail it here. This is why you always attack systemic racism, sexism, all those “isms,” the ills of society.
The biggest difference between 1990 when We Did Fear of a Black Planet when I already been in 60 countries and 2020 with “Fight The Power 2020” on What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down…the biggest difference?
People have been born and people have died. That’s the difference. So you can’t go around saying “haven’t we been through this before?” You look at somebody 21 and they are like “what the f### are you talking about old head?” Older people on their way out say “we kind of went through this s### before.” Younger people are like I don’t know what the f### you talking about dude.
When you don’t have that communication passed down or a learned experience from others, and have somebody’s intermediaries come in and teach instead of you teaching face to face?
Points is exactly what his name embodies: putting points up on the board at all times. Points, real name Al Sherrod, is a Grammy-nominated, multi-Platinum producer and songwriter who loves music down to the core.
Hailing from New Jersey but now calling Los Angeles home, Points carries an innate talent for putting words together — while bringing the vibes in any given moment.
Music has been a staple in his family since he can remember. At 5-years-old, Points created his first song. Playing it on the piano for his neighbor across the street, he fondly remembers her saying “this is actually good.”
“Music was always a big thing, I used to take the jingles off the commercials on the TV then make my own words to them,” Points explains. “Make people laugh, comedy and music was my s### as a kid. I want to spread joy and positivity, also speak for the ones who can’t speak for themselves.
It was in 2010 when he exploded onto the scene working with famed actor and singer Jamie Foxx on his standout album “Best Night of My Life,” as well as Mary J. Blige’s My Life I and II albums. Two years later, he co-wrote Jennifer Hudson’s “Think Like A Man” featuring Ne-Yo and Rick Ross.
Fast forward to 2020, Points is establishing himself as a recording artist in his own right. Following the release of “Free Man” released on Juneteenth, he returns with his newest banger titled “On Me.”
AllHipHop: Being from New Jersey, what was the household like growing up?
Points: It was a typical hood story. I had parents with substance abuse problems, that was rough. Some days gotta get yourself dressed, take yourself to school. Come home, your parents still won’t be there. It was cool because no matter what, they showed us a lot of love. Sometimes their issues made them unable to take care of us in the way they should, but we never felt like we weren’t loved. My grandparents took over when I was 10 years old, I moved in and lived with them until 17. My childhood was a struggle, which happens a lot in the hood.
AllHipHop: Who were you bumping growing up?
Points: I was bumping everything. Coming from a real musical family, I listened to a lot of R&B: Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye. I grew up in the Hip-Hop era so where I’m from, we’re killing it at that time. We had Naughty By Nature, Queen Latifah. We had New York right there so I’m a big Jay-Z and Nas fan. I grew up at a time where MTV was really popular. I listened to music that came on Road Rules and Real World like Red Hot Chili Peppers and a lot of those rock and roll bands. I even liked NSYNC when I was a kid. My music background was really diverse, I’m the king at karaoke.
AllHipHop: What’s your favorite song to karaoke to?
Points: I’m the karaoke king. I might get up there and sing Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way,” or Cameo’s “Candy.” I might sing “Contagious” by The Isley Brothers, it all depends. I like to do the things that’s going to really surprise people.
AllHipHop: How did you get into producing?
Points: I started with Fruity Loops when I was 14. My brother was in college, he had a compact computer and put Fruity Loops on that s###. He came home one time for Spring Break and I commandeered his computer for a week. I locked myself in the room, learned how to use it. I made my first mixtape, literally recording myself on his internet microphone onto the Voice Notes on his computer while playing my beats. I made the beat, then played the beat through the speakers of the computer. I take that onto the tape recorder, then I played the tape recorder loud while I recorded my song back onto the computer. I burned the whole s### onto a CD and made a whole 14-song mixtape in a week after learning Fruity Loops.
AllHipHop: What about songwriting?
Points: I’ve been writing my whole life honestly. Professionally I started in 2010, I was able to get on Jamie Foxx’s album Best Night of My Life. I wrote 2 songs on there, it’s been going ever since. Really in December, it’ll be 10 years since I‘ve been professionally writing songs.
AllHipHop: Can you describe that moment working with Jamie Foxx?
Points: I was invited to come out here by a producer named Eric Hudson, he did “Flashing Lights” by Kanye. He said “yo I’m about to work with Jamie, locking in with him doing 7 records. I want you to come out.” My first day stepping off of the plane, we went to the studio. Usually, Jamie would have 6 different writers around him. For some reason on this Friday night, nobody was there. Jamie was trying to fix up a song, it’s taking a little longer than he wanted to. He wanted to go to the club.
One of his background singers said, “you said you write songs right?” I said yeah. He said, “go help Foxx right now, we’re trying to finish this up.” I’m nervous because it’s my first day, I said “me, right now go help him?” He pressed that talk back button like “Jamie, Eric’s boy is a writer and he’s here. You want him to help you?” Jamie said, “hell yeah come on.” I was thrown right into the fire. Next thing you know, I’m giving him lines and telling him to sing something again. We bouncing back off each other. By the end of the session, he told Eric “your boy’s dope, I want him to come back.” We’re living at the house for 2 months, helping him finish up that album.
AllHipHop: How’d you get your name Points? Does it have to do with producer points?
Points: Yes it does, I came up with it. It has to do with always having to point to the s### I say, the s### I do. No matter how abstract or crazy it might seem, everything I do has a point. Everything everybody does should have a point, whether that’s a point to prove or whatever it is. There’s always a point to what I do.
AllHipHop: You released “On Me,” how’s it feel to be on the other side of the mic?
Points: I’ve been putting out music here and there. I had a band a hip-hop band a couple years ago I put music through, but this my first time really stepping out, standing on my own, and really depending on me. It’s cool it’s getting a good reaction, we’re doing really well on Spotify. I’ve been picking up a lot of new followers and fans on Instagram. People are catching on. I’m building, I want to keep putting out music because content is f###### king. You want to keep putting s### out, keep building, keep allowing people to find out more of who you are and what your talent is. Somebody told me a long time ago, you can’t be an artist if nobody knows where your art is. That’s what I believe, so now I’ma keep knocking them upside their head with new s###.
AllHipHop: You say “I came from a city full of murder and felony,” talk about your come up from the trenches to where you are now with the Balenciaga and Givenchy drip.
Points: Newark! I grew up in a place where my whole life, whole childhood was the top 10 worst cities to live in America. It’s mad cities in America, but my city was 5 worst cities to live in. Even now, the murder rate is still through the roof. It’s a hard-ass place, it’s a place you don’t go to unless you have a reason. I was able to make it out of there, transverse through the f###### b#######, stay focused, and find my way out.
My brain took me out of there, not music. My brain allowed me to say “these are the choices I need to make to better my life and my situation.” I was on welfare my whole life, I know what it is like to struggle. We lived in basement apartments, we slept in cars. My first video game, my first bike I ever bought got sold to the pawnshop. [Laughs] I knew that wasn’t a life I wanted for myself. My other friends might get some fast money, but these n##### either going to jail, killing somebody, or getting killed themselves. That wasn’t what I wanted to do.
Mentors too, I had some dope mentors by the time I got to high school like “nah you’re going to college.” I wasn’t going to go. My mentor picked me up, dropped me at my house like “I’m taking you to this college, you gon’ fill out this application.” If you don’t go, I don’t know what’s about to happen to you. People were able to steer me into the right direction, that’s what I want to be for other people too through my life. My music’s a way to introduce myself to people, “I f### with him, I understand where he’s coming from.” When they follow me as a person, hopefully, it inspires them to do greater and bigger things for themselves.
If I can make it out, you can make it out. What the f### is you telling me? You get into LA and the industry, n*ggas want to play games and do shady s###, or even try to make you doubt yourself in a lot of ways too. But if I would’ve never become successful as a songwriter, I already won because I made it out of where I come from.
AllHipHop: What do you want fans to get from this record?
Points: “On Me” is about a reality because in today’s world — whether you’re dealing with hood n*ggas, police crazy racist white m############ — you might want to really strap up. You might want to have something to protect yourself in the world we’re living right now, but you can still have fun. When I first heard the beat, this beat happy as s### but I need to say some gangster s### on here. The world is about juxtaposition, it’s about yin and yang. It’s about that duality. It’s good and it’s bad, you mix it all together and that’s how we have this f###### beautiful thing we call life. I have people who hit me up like “my kids love this song, they can’t stop humming it. They can’t stop singing it.” I had somebody hit me up, “why are you promoting violence?” I’m not promoting violence. If you run up on me, it’s not going to be as easy as you think. That’s all.
AllHipHop: Talk about writing on Brandy’s “Borderline,” how did that happen?
Points: I started working with my boy DJ Camper, the crazy dope producer from Atlantic City. He was working on Brandy for a few years, he said “I want you to come to the studio and lock in with us for a week.” I came over to Westlake, locked in. The first day I was there, we did “Borderline.” Shout out Kaydence, she came with a crazy melody. I’m the type of writer that if I go in the booth and I do a dope ass melody, we agree it’s a dope ass melody, everybody’s vibing and the feeling’s right in the studio, then let’s go with that. Sometimes when you co-write with other writers, they make it a competition thing. It’s not about me, this is about getting the song done. If the s###’s fire, the s###’s fire. We don’t need to be going back and forth.
Kaydence went in there did a melody, Brandy thought it’s dope, Camper thought it’s dope. Alright, let’s put the words to it. When we did the song, I knew it was special. The whole album is an abstract R&B, almost interpretive jazz, it’s really far out there in some ways. It challenges the listener to raise their level of how they hear R&B music. “Borderline” gave you that, but still give you a commercial sounding, something familiar, something middle the road enough to where you can be like “oh I like this, I get the structure to this song.” It’s doing what I thought it would do. I’m hearing some whispers, we might have to go get some suits come January/February time. Brandy’s the dopest.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio?
Points: Weed, good and fun vibes. Relaxed, people who aren’t about trying to perform, judge, or critique. People who want to come together and create good music. Last thing, I like Snapple fruit punch or Martinelli’s apple juice.
AllHipHop: Saw you post the Lambo while holding your daughter in the air, can you describe this feeling?
Points: It’s almost indescribable, honestly. I never even thought I’d have a kid. I made it to my mid-30s with no kids. I have her now, it’s all a f###### dream. Every day I wake up, I’m living a dream. That picture looks like some s### somebody would dream to do, that’s the happiness and the joy she has is a dream. We all try to get back to that feeling. She doesn’t know nothing about all this s###, all she knows is simplistic happiness. She just turned 5 months, that’s it. I put her in the air like that, that’s pure joy. That truck doesn’t matter to her, what I’m wearing doesn’t matter, no chains matter, no plaques, no money. That movement mattered to her, that connection is all I need. You can take the other s### away, I don’t even give a f###.
AllHipHop: How’d it feel to be nominated for a Grammy with Fantasia’s “Without Me” in 2014?
One of the dopest feelings I ever had. It was unexpected. I knew the song was dope. Every single person we played that song to for the whole year prior to Fantasia releasing that song, went crazy about it in the studio. I knew it’d be a single, it’d be a popular record for her, did not think it’d be Grammy-nominated. Nominated for Best R&B Song that year, it was a surprise and a shock.
I doubt myself a lot in different ways. Being around so many other songwriters and being in this industry, I always thought other people were going to have those accolades before me. I ended up getting my s### before everybody who I thought was going to get it before me. It was a cool experience to go there, walk the red carpet, do all the interviews. To have and share that moment with my homie, RIP K2, who’s from Newark too. We did that song together, he passed away the next year. To experience that together: from going to college together to riding in the limousine down to Staples Center, walking the red carpet, doing that whole thing together was a crazy dope experience.
AllHipHop: What can we expect next?
Points: Next is a record called “Perfume,” right after that is an EP called Everything Is F#####. It’s world inspired, it means f### it! That doesn’t mean that you need to be depressed about it. All good things come to an end at some f###### time. If this world’s going to s###, you might as well get whatever the f### you could get by any means you can get it. Go out here and go for it. The title track to the EP, the first lines I say “everything is f#####, I might as well go get my money.” I might as well get my s### off because everything’s going to s### anyway. We gotta choose between f###### these 2 m############ and live in a country with all this crazy s### going on, I might as well make the best of it.
Hip-Hop pioneer Russell Simmons has weighed in on tomorrow’s election, and unlike other rappers who have chosen to vote with their wallets, the Def Jam founder has opted to throw his support for compassion.
The Def Jam founder turned yogi who is responsible for breaking almost ¾ of the biggest Hip-Hop stars from the early 80s to the 2000s (via label or management including Will Smith, Rakim, and LL Cool J), took to social media to publicly endorse former Vice President Joe Biden for POTUS and Senator Kamala Biden as the number 2.
Russell said in a video sponsored by American Elections 2020, “I’ve traveled all over the world and I’ve seen how we’ve been viewed by other countries and other people. It’s a shock. It’s disappointing and disheartening.”
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“We have to make it clear to get back on track,” Simmons stated.
For Simmons, getting on track means a revamp of the current system. He believes that the Biden/Harris ticket will give America the “big facelift” it needs.
“They certainly can put us on the right path,” he continued. “You have to go back towards the path to equality, justice and compassion and love, and all of these important characteristics that define what America is about.”
Russell Simmons is no stranger to the political advocacy campaigns and has worked with the Democratic party for years to help secure the White House. His message has always been consistent.
“We can do it. be part of the whole, help the collective. Vote to make us all better and you will be better as a result,” Russell Simmons said.
Stevie Wonder brought a little soul to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ election campaign over the weekend, during a drive-in rally in Detroit, Michigan.
The former Motown superstar performed a short set that included “Can’t Put It in the Hands of Fate” and “Where Is Our Love Song” – his first new songs in 15 years – and spoke to the political pair’s supporters.
“The only way we’re going to win this fight, a fight against injustice, is by voting,” Stevie said. “We must vote justice in and injustice out.
“I feel this election here is the most important one of my lifetime.”
Stevie Wonder closed out his set by dedicating his hit Superstition to Biden, who will challenge President Donald Trump at the polls on Tuesday.
Saweetie has defended her controversial comments about BIRKIN bags, insisting they “symbolize a gift of value” in a relationship.
Last week the “Icy Grl” star hit headlines after her boyfriend Quavo gifted her with one in honor of the success of her new song “Back to the Streets” and she told fans during an Instagram Live stream: “If he not getting you a Birkin, if he not paying for your bills, then throw that n#### back to the streets, OK?”
She came under fire for her comments, with critics calling out the 26-year-old for putting material objects above healthy relationships – comments over which, in a new interview, she says that she’s “an entertainer and I come to entertain.”
“So that was an entertaining comment. Like JAY-Z says at the end of Ignorant S###, he goes, ‘It’s only entertainment,’ and then he does this little evil laugh,” Saweetie shared with Power 106 Los Angeles with Bryhana. “I was having a good time, promoting ‘Back to the Streets.’ And, you know, I’m popping my s### for my girls. But I feel like a Birkin symbolizes a gift of value.”
She continued: “But what comes along with being valued?” It comes with a healthy relationship. It comes with communication. It comes with getting gifts. It comes with being spoiled, because at the end of the day, we create life … Women are magical creatures and we deserve to be treated like a queen. So that’s what I meant by that statement.
“A Birkin is symbolic,” added the rapper, real name Diamonte Quiava Valentin Harper. “Get her a purse, get her some jewelry – of course, according to your tax bracket. I don’t want you to clean out your savings to try to keep up with social media or society… It was a quick comment that represents how I feel women should be treated, which is showered with gifts, OK?”
Snoop Dogg’s next album will feature a surprise tribute to his former rival, Suge Knight.
“Take It From A G,” which will drop in December, includes the track “Let Bygones Be Bygones,” in which the rapper gets nostalgic about the incarcerated former Death Row Records CEO.
“Studio every night to the early morn/Bloods and Crips all moving on one accord/Cuz did that/took Death Row to the top, my boys did that!”
Snoop also commends Suge for bailing late rap star Tupac Shakur out of prison in 1996 and signing him to his label, which at the time featured Snoop and Dr. Dre.
“I was at the motherfking top/When I hit my nga Suge and said you need to grab Pac,” the “Gin & Juice” hitmaker spits.
Snoop announced the news about his latest album over the weekend in a video posted on social media.
Tip “T.I.” Harris has evolved considerably from his days in the trap, but he’s still representing his beloved Atlanta the best way he knows. He’s gotten out in front of a number of issues that have plagued the people. Most notably, he has opposed police brutality but has also encouraged people to vote. He turned down a meeting with Donald Trump and has spoken out against the president. He’s presently giving thousands away on AllHipHop, from HBCU scholarships to straight cash to those in need. By the way, Tip somehow managed to soar past Eminem, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, The Game and Too Short with his 12th album, The L.I.B.R.A., which hit the Top 10 on Billboard. He is now in a race for the most Top 10s among rappers, tied with and Drake.
Despite the success of The L.I.B.R.A., there are important matters of the heart, mind, body and soul. AllHipHop’s Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur talks to Tip about the election, Breonna Taylor, lynchings, and more in the era of Trump. If nothing else, T.I. is a fighter and the proof is in the action.
AllHipHop: Breonna Taylor, do you have any thoughts about that? A lot of people are upset right now, myself included.
T.I.: Breonna Taylor, it’s an atrocity we already know. The horrible part is, I can’t be disappointed because I never had any expectations. I never expected them to get it right. All of us are knew. Question is, what’s going to be done?
AllHipHop: I don’t know, that’s tough, man that Attorney General –
T.I.: Stop spending our money. We just gotta stop. What happens if every n#### stays home. Nobody did nothing. No bus driver, no g###### airplane pilots. No strip dancers, no nothing. No comedians, no basketball players, football players, everybody. Everybody stays home. It takes that kind of sacrifice and that kind of commitment.
A lot of people would say, “Well, Tip can afford to do that. Hey man. I can afford to do that, but I can also get out there and go make some money if I want to. But if I’m deciding no, I’m not going to go out here and make them money, I’m gonna stay home.
Change ain’t gonna come without some level of sacrifice. And the problem is, we want change, but ain’t willing to sacrifice s### for it. Ain’t nobody willing to say what they’re willing to do. “I ain’t gonna stand in long lines..” Protest? “I ain’t gonna come out there they gonna break into something.”
So, what are you going to do besides sit down and just complain? What are you willing to do? What extremes are you willing to reach for the liberation of our people? And if you ain’t willing to sacrifice s###. Then you can’t expect s###.
AllHipHop: I’m wondering, from a leadership standpoint, although we have people like yourself Killer Mike, even Ice Cube, who I’m not really rocking with right now in terms of what he’s saying.
T.I.: I think he is making sense.
AllHipHop: Well, let’s talk about it. I feel like for that for Cube in particular, withholding the vote is almost like…
T.I: It’s not withholding the vote if we are asking for actual tangible action items that we can hold a candidate accountable to and for. That’s not holding the vote. If the administration says ‘alright guys, let’s sit down at the table, let’s figure out, What is it [that] we need to do so we can go ahead and get this thing moving?
At that point is Cube holding the vote? Or is the people who ain’t hollering at Cube to get it done holding the vote? Who’s holding the vote really?
AllHipHop: But it’s so late in the game.
T.I.: It ain’t never too late until the day after the votes is all counted. It ain’t too late. Listen, man, we have been following suit for generations. We’ve been f##### over by the left side and the right side. So, it ain’t like we could just say “okay we’re gonna go to the left side cause…that ain’t necessarily guaranteed either.”
I will say, it’s important to get out there and vote, regardless of who you vote for, if you don’t, you don’t count almost. I think that’s a big part of why we don’t get the answers and results that we hope for in our communities. I feel like the local elections are the ones that matter the most. The local elections are the ones that actually affect where dollars and resources are appointed in the community.
AllHipHop: From a moral standpoint, as crazy as that sounds, I feel like that’s still important. How you feel when you get up in the morning, the news that you get hit with We get bombarded with Trump. We talked about Trump so we don’t have to beat around the bush.
T.I.: The thing is, he’a doing what he said he would go do for his people. Whether you like that s### or not. I don’t like it. I don’t f### with him. But I got eyes though. The same m############ who got him in there, he’s moving s### for them. So if we gonna be the same m############ to get the other side in, is they gonna move s### for us the way he is for them? If that’s what you’re saying, let’s go. If not, what the f### is we doing?
T.I.
AllHipHop: I feel like your average, everyday person. My company, we are black-owned and independent. Doing very well in this environment as crazy as that sounds.
T.I.: There’s money moving around, but at what cost?
AllHipHop: I don’t know. I mean when ain’t selling out or nothing.
T.I.: No no no, I’m talking about me and you personally. It’s a bunch of money floating around, but people [are] still f##### up. What is the constant this excess, this abundance? What are we sacrificing? What are we giving up for this?
You know there’s been more Black people gunned down hunted, lynched at the hands of policemen and citizens since this administration has taken office. We gotta reexamine our priorities, that’s how I feel.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is to become a grandfather at the age of 43.
The sportsman confirmed the news on the Hollywood Unlocked: Uncensored podcast, revealing his 20-year-old daughter Iyanna ‘Yaya’ Mayweather is expecting her first child with her boyfriend, rapper NBA Young Boy.
“Always want the best (for her),” Floyd said. “If that makes her happy, then we’re happy – me and her mother (Melissia Rene Brim) are happy.”
He continued: “What I try not to do is be in her personal business because once she’s no longer under my roof, then you know what, it’s between her and her better half.”
Mayweather also addressed his potential son-in-law, NBA Young Boy, real name Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, who previously referred to him as Yaya’s “bch a daddy.”
“Well, my thing is this: it has to do with your upbringing,” the boxer responded. “It starts in the home first. What I’ve always taught my daughter is this: always be respectful when you’re going to anyone’s home. And whatever goes on in your home, don’t talk about it to the world.
“As far as NBA… I look at NBA YoungBoy as a child,” he continued. “I can’t get upset with a kid like that. It could’ve been one of those days for him.”
This will be Yaya’s first child and the sixth for NBA Young Boy, 21.
Travis Scott has quit Instagram after snaps of his Halloween costume were trolled by fans.
The 29-year-old musician appeared to depart the platform on Sunday after his Batman costume was met with jokes and mean comments from his followers.
Astroworld star Travis dressed up as the DC Comics hero and showed off the Michael Keaton inspired suit, which was brown in color, while he posed next to his vehicles of the same hue.
However, the look didn’t get the response the hitmaker hoped for, with a number of fans comparing the costume more to a cockroach than the caped crusader.
While many think he deleted his page because of the costume, others have speculated that Travis is stepping back from the platform as he’s gearing up to release new music.
The “Wap” rapper even noted on social media that she is flip-floppy with love and was considering staying with Offset. Now, it has been confirmed that she has officially dismissed her divorce petition.
Court documents note that she withdrew her petition over the last month, after filing in September.
Kulture’s parents have been here before.
So much so, people suspect the highly passionate relationship is fueled by this kind of drama — some even joking that the former “Love & Hip Hop” star is bringing her reality show energy into her real life.
After all, this is not the first time she called it quits and took him back. It also doesn’t help that the Bronx beauty filed the dismissal “without prejudice” – which allows her the right to refile the divorce at a later date if she chooses to.
Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, New Jersey has a powerful message to deliver on the cusp of our national election. Known primarily as an educator, author and politician, the Mayor also uses spoken word and music as a form of expression. He recently collaborated with renowned Grammy award-winning producer Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis to produce a five-track spoken word EP album entitled “What WeWant“. The title track and video from the EP were launched this summer and the video has already received more than 1,000,000 views across the web.“What WeWant Part 2” is the next chapter in this story and with the addition of triple threat Luke James, the “What WeWant” movement will surely reach an even broader audience.”What WeWant Part 2″, is a riveting, rhythmic, thought-provoking message that artfully addresses systemic oppression and social injustices.According to Mayor Ras Baraka” Art is everything. It is perspective, it is creativity, imagination and it is hope.
“Art conveys ideas and drives intention. Everything I do is grounded in art and poetic expression. George Floyd’s death affected me first as a Black man and as a human being. The fight for our humanity is still not resolved in this country after centuries of struggle. We are still trying to make people see that we are in fact human beings, that we deserve to be afforded the same rights and privileges as other Americans and the right to live to grow and to express our being human unfettered without obstruction complication or murder. As a mayor, it has become even more complex. I am in charge of the police the agency that has been the wall of white supremacy, and in Newark, we are challenging that notion, reconstructing that idea, and re-imagining our department through, training, diverting funds, partnering with community-based anti-violence groups, trauma circles, and community roundtables.”
According to Jerry Wonda “What WeWant” is not just an ordinary song. “It’s a reflection of our times. With all that’s going with the global economy, our communities, and Black Lives Matter, this song is a vital reminder of the wants, needs, and reality of the global community. It’s time, and if someone can hear this now and it will move them to vote, that’s great. Your vote is your voice. That’s what’s needed. We need to come together. It’s like what Ras Baraka said, Get Up.”
The video for “What WeWant Part 2” was shot earlier this year on the steps of Newark’s historic City Hall.
Political analysts have predicted that Georgia would move from being a red state to a blue state in the very near future. Democratic former State Representative Stacey Abrams lost the 2018 gubernatorial race to Republican Brian Kemp by less than 55,000 votes.
Could Georgia swing to former Vice President Joe Biden over incumbent President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election? The polls are extremely close with the Real Clear Politics average currently showing Biden leading Trump 47.8% to 47.4%.
Hip Hop legend Common made a stop in the Peach State to campaign on behalf of the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris ticket as well as Democratic candidates for the United States Senate. He was joined by Offset of the Migos at an Atlanta drive-in rally. Common also made an appearance on CNN to discuss the state of the race.
“I really do,” replied Common when asked if he believes Democrats can win Georgia this year. “Georgia was energized. It was inspiring to see people from all walks of life. I got to actually sit and meet with Senate candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. It was a beautiful picture of what America could be. This was a Black man and a White man who both were thinking about all communities, and they were working together thinking about what is the vision for people in Georgia but also just America. It made me hopeful.”
The “Say Peace” rapper continued, “I saw people from some of the most poor neighborhoods still coming out, aware, and talking about voting. They were talking about issues. One of the reasons I’m out there is to encourage those who don’t feel apart of the process to feel apart of it, to feel empowered by what voting is.”
There are 16 electoral votes up for grabs. A Democrat has not won Georgia in a presidential campaign since Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in 1992. The Republicans have won every U.S. Senate race in the state since 2002 when Saxby Chambliss unseated Max Cleland.
Jon Ossoff has a 1 point lead over incumbent Senator David Perdue, according to RCP. Raphael Warnock is leading in the crowded Georgia Senate special election at 39%. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote on November 3, a run-off election will be held on January 5, 2021, in order to fill the seat that was appointed to Republican Kelly Loeffler after Senator Johnny Isakson resigned in 2019.
Last week, Ossoff went viral on social media after he scorched his opponent in a debate. The 33-year-old former investigative journalist labeled Perdue a “crook” for allegedly financially benefitting from insider information about COVID-19 while he downplayed the deadliness of the virus in public. Perdue dropped out of the final Senate debate following the heated exchange last Wednesday.
