(AllHipHop Rumors) Yesterday, George Floyd was laid to rest. The man was a beloved father, son, big brother, Hip-Hop artist, basketball star and so much more to those that loved him. For me, he was a Black man that did not deserve to die in the manner that he expired.
The funeral did not stop the pervasive rumors that have dogged the whole thing since Derek Chauvin’s mug shot showed up. So, to be clear, I don’t subscribe to these conspiracy theories. I have been known to push a theory or two, but this ain’t one of them. Still, I think these thoughts and ideas are worth exploring.
Here are 10 reasons why all of this may have been staged.
1. The mug shot of the killer doesn’t match
2. The cop in the video has been traced to an actor named Benjamin Ray Bailey. (Illseed note: This absolutely does not make sense to me)
3. On close up of the Asian officer and Derek Chauvin’s badges don’t match. They look like costume badges.
3. No EMT ever arrived. An emergency vehicle showed up but no EMT. Only cops got out of the emergency vehicle.
5. There were no efforts to revive George Floyd. No CPR or mouth to mouth.
6. When you look at the positioning of the knee that killed George Floyd, it wasn’t directly on the neck. Very little force was applied.
7. George Floyd had a closed casket. Why? He wasn’t shot in the face nor was he mutilated.
8. The casket size seemed very small. Floyd was a big, big man at 6’6″. He wouldn’t have fit in that little casket, as nice as it was.
9. Why a public funeral?
10. The death was staged or done to implement martial law and insert chaos.
I have seen this a lot too: “I think this was a filmed public execution of a black man by a white cop, with the purpose of creating racial tensions.”
I have to say there’s a lot to refute here, but maybe there is something there. I definitely have seen aspects of lawlessness that we have never seen at other protest movements. But, the idea that George Floyd is out there alive? I am not on that wave, but some are. By the way, here is the autopsy report (click here).
Weeks of demonstrations in the streets and the entertainment industry’s call to action helped pressure both houses of the New York State Legislature to repeal 50-A after bills stalled in the body for years. Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he will sign the legislation.
“The Legislature just voted to repeal 50-A and I will sign it into law this week. The countless voices for reform united and were heard. NOW is the moment for real change,” read a tweet from Governor Cuomo’s verified Twitter account.
The Legislature just voted to repeal 50-A and I will sign it into law this week.
The countless voices for reform united and were heard.
NOW is the moment for real change.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 10, 2020
Public demands for more accountability from police departments have spiked in recent weeks. The on-camera murder of George Floyd by now-charged Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin and the countless viral videos showing unnecessary aggression towards peaceful protestors by law enforcement ignited international outrage.
Buffalo, New York police officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski were recently charged with second-degree assault following the two cops being seen shoving Martin Gugino to the ground and causing the 75-year-old man to suffer serious head trauma. Like with the George case in Minneapolis, the initial BPD police report concerning Gugino contained outright lies about the incident.
A statement from the Buffalo Police Department last Thursday claimed a person “was injured when he tripped and fell” even though a video clearly shows Gugino was purposely pushed by the cops. The initial Minneapolis statement about George Floyd’s death did not even mention that Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes even after the 46-year-old man was visibly unconscious.
“I can’t breathe” were some of Floyd’s last words before passing away because of the conduct of Chauvin as well as the three other officers at the scene – J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. “I can’t breathe” was also among the final words of Eric Garner who was killed by New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo in 2014.
According to reports, New York’s 50-A statute is the reason the public was not able to learn about Pantaleo’s long history of misconduct before choking Garner on a sidewalk in Staten Island. Leaked documents later revealed that Pantaleo had at least seven complaints filed against him with the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
Police unions, representing over 200,000 New York officers, vehemently opposed the repeal of section 50-A. General Counsel’s Office of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York suggested the law change was an “attack on law enforcement.”
(AllHipHop News) #BlackLivesMatter has become a global movement. Great Britain was one of the many countries that saw people take to the street in protest against police brutality and systemic racism.
The British demonstrators were not just expressing their objection to the killing of numerous African-Americans at the hands of police officers. BLM protestors in the United Kingdom are also bringing attention to police violence in their own country.
For example, English rapper Jermaine “Wretch 32” Sinclair uploaded a video on Twitter showing what appeared to be his father, Millard Scott, being tasered by local cops on April 21 in a Tottenham area residence. Scott was not arrested, but apparently a 22-year-old man was charged with encouraging another person to commit an offense and a 52-year-old woman was later charged with obstructing the police.
Wretch 32 tweeted on Tuesday evening, “This is how the police think they can treat a [62-year-old] black man in Tottenham but this 1 happens to be my dad #Nojusticenopeace.”
The Upon Reflection album creator and his father made an appearance on ITV News to discuss what they see as police misconduct directed at black residents. When asked if the violent April 21 incident would have happened if he was a white man, Scott answered, “No way, no how.”
London’s Metropolitan Police insists race did not play a role in the situation and claim to have found no indication of misconduct on behalf of the officers. However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan is calling for the Independent Office for Police Conduct to investigate.
“I have asked the Metropolitan Police for an urgent explanation of this distressing incident, which is understandably causing considerable concern,” said Khan. “It is absolutely vital that our police service retains the trust of the communities it serves.”
In response to the recent murder of George Floyd by now-charged Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, discussions about race relations and the culture of policing are taking place across the globe. Wretch 32 reflected on still having to talk about racism and police misconduct years after older generations dealt with the same injustices.
“I’ve grown up in a household with my dad and uncle, and I’ve watched them fight against police brutality my whole life. I’m 35 now and we’re still here again today,” Wretch 32 told ITV News. ‘I now have to have the same conversations that my dad and my uncle and my grandparents and my parents had with me when I was a child. That means there is no progression.”
(AllHipHop News) According to reports, Travis Scott is accused of stealing the melody for his chart-topping hit “Highest In the Room.” Songwriters Olivier Bassil, Lukas Benjamin Leth, and Benjamin Lasnier filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Houston-raised rapper.
Lasnier claims he posted a version of a guitar recording to his Instagram account in 2019 and an altered version of the sound was later used on “Highest In the Room” without permission. The lawsuit says Scott’s engineer, Jamie Lepr, allegedly received beats from Lasnier before the riff in question made it onto the released record.
“I will just add that our clients are very successful songwriters/producers who, as set forth in the Complaint, and is common practice, corresponded with the defendant writers with an eye toward licensing their work through a collaboration,” said Richard Busch, the plaintiffs’ attorney.
Busch’s statement continues, “They never expected that this would end up in a lawsuit but felt they had no choice but to take this action under these circumstances.”
Someone connected to Scott reportedly told TMZ that the case has nothing to do with the 28-year-old recording artist. The unnamed source described the lawsuit as a “frivolous dispute between producers.”
(AllHipHop News) Kiari “Offset” Cephus exercised his Constitutional right yesterday by stepping into a voting booth. The Migos member announced to his 16.6 million Instagram followers that he voted in the Georgia primary.
“My First time ever voting because I wasn’t allowed! I over came this obstacle and decided to make a real difference!!!! Everybody please go vote today (LAST DAY)!!!” wrote Offset in an IG caption on Tuesday.
The Father of 4 album creator was able to cast his vote in Georgia. However, the primary has been marred with widespread criticism. Officials are calling for investigations into why voting machines were not working properly, there was a lack of available ballots, and voters had to spend hours standing in lines.
Some observers are accusing Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger of purposely engaging in voter suppression in Democratic and mostly black districts. Kemp’s name was trending on Twitter on Tuesday night as users across the country questioned his leadership and integrity.
“These devastating barriers to voting were avoidable. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and State Election Board members failed voters and our democracy. Despite repeated calls by advocates to ensure adequate resources at the polls, fix ballot problems, and provide paper backups for faulty voting machines, Raffensperger neglected his obligation to protect voters’ rights and ensure their safety,” says Aklima Khondoker, All Voting is Local Georgia state director.
Khondoker continues, “The disenfranchisement today was unconscionable, but not surprising. Georgia has an ugly history of silencing voters at the polls. Raffensperger and state officials have starved counties of the resources they need to carry out elections. We can’t afford another election tragedy. We won’t stop demanding that Raffensperger and state election officials act now to make sure every voter can cast a ballot that counts in November and beyond. Our democracy is at stake.”
Today was a tragedy in Georgia. And completely avoidable.
Together with other voting rights advocates we urged @GaSecofState to fix problems we saw coming.
This cannot happen again in November. Officials must take these steps now to prepare: https://t.co/l4SQkvU7op
— All Voting is Local (@VotingIsLocal) June 9, 2020
Secretary Raffensperger issued a statement that read, in part, “The voting situation today in certain precincts in Fulton and DeKalb counties is unacceptable. My office has opened an investigation to determine what these counties need to do to resolve these issues before November’s election.”
Stacy Abrams was Governor Kemp’s Democratic opponent in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. The founder of the Fair Fight organization addressed Raffensperger seemingly trying to shift the blame for the voting troubles from elected state officials to the two counties with large black populations.
“GA’s Constitution makes @GaSecofState responsible for elections. Counties follow its direction/training & relies its investment. That’s why Athens-Clarke was chastised for straying from doctrine. Either you’re in charge or you’re not. ‘There’s no such thing as halfway crooks,'” tweeted Abrams.
GA’s Constitution makes @GaSecofState responsible for elections. Counties follow its direction/training & relies its investment. That’s why Athens-Clarke was chastised for straying from doctrine. Either you’re in charge or you’re not. “There’s no such thing as halfway crooks.” https://t.co/3fzSXT6XwI
(AllHipHop News) As the #BlackLivesMatter movement has become the top news story for weeks, more attention is being placed on other less-publicized questionable deaths of other African-Americans. Hip Hop stars T.I. and 50 Cent used their respective platforms to bring attention to one particular person in Georgia.
The family of Tamla Horsford is seeking a more extensive review into the Forsyth County woman’s mysterious passing in 2018. The mother of five was found dead in the backyard the morning after she attended a house party with a group of white women.
“Where is the investigation on this one? SMH ♂️,” wrote 50 Cent on his Instagram page. T.I. posted about the case on IG too, and the Hustle Gang leader’s caption simply read, “FYI.”
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced the Tamla Horsford case was closed because investigators said they found no evidence of foul play. Family attorney Ralph Fernandez claimed he reviewed the evidence and believes “homicide is a strong possibility.”
According to Fernandez, Horsford was apparently involved in a struggle at the home. He also claimed evidence at the scene was disposed of, witnesses provided conflicting statements, and no photographs were taken during the autopsy of Tamla’s body.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations’ Medical Examiner’s Office released a statement claiming the department conducted an autopsy and photographs were taken. As of June 8, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is prepared to havethe GBIreopen the investigation if Fernandez offers new information about the case.
(AllHipHop News) Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons is prepared to appear on today’s episode of The Breakfast Club. Some people expressed an issue with the radio program allowing the accused rapist on their platform.
Sil Lai Abrams is one of the women that alleged Simmons of sexually assaulting her in the past. She took to Twitter to call out The Breakfast Club and its hosts DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne Tha God.
“Please explain this @breakfastclubam @cthagod @angelayee @djenvy. Why? Why do you carry water for this man? Why now? Why are you so [tone-deaf]? You’re all complicit in ensuring that Black women’s right to bodily autonomy continues to be denied. You’re also rape apologists,” tweeted Abrams.
Why? Why do you carry water for this man? Why now? Why are you so tone deaf?
You're all complicit in ensuring that Black women's right to bodily autonomy continues to be denied. You're also rape apologists. https://t.co/AI2zjRpfNj
— Sil Lai Abrams AKA Alecto ALT: A Woman Finding ☮️ (@Sil_Lai) June 10, 2020
Several accusers, including Abrams, appeared in the controversial documentary On the Record which presented the accusations against the multi-millionaire. Simmons stepped down from his companies in 2017 after sexual misconduct allegations became public. He has denied assaulting any women and stated all sexual contact was consensual.
The complaint from Abrams and other women comes after The Breakfast Club recently faced criticism for interviewing known far-right conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. Charlamagne later admitted the conversation with Limbaugh felt like a waste of time.
This is as good a time as ever to share why a show like @breakfastclubam would have a guest on who has been credibly accused of rape by multiple women. Their star is a virulent misogynist. https://t.co/Pv9soSL4bI
— Sil Lai Abrams AKA Alecto ALT: A Woman Finding ☮️ (@Sil_Lai) June 10, 2020
What we’re seeing here is a classic example of WHY hip hop is seemingly immune from accountability for men within the community who abuse and violate women.
This is the dynamic explored in #OnTheRecord happening in live time.
Wagons circling to protect the guilty.
— Sil Lai Abrams AKA Alecto ALT: A Woman Finding ☮️ (@Sil_Lai) June 10, 2020
Legendary Hip-Hop / R&B group Full Force is back with some music with a positive message during these stressful times.
Full Force group members Bowlegged Lou, Paul Anthony, and B-Fine just dropped another song to add to their vast catalog with the tune “The L♡ve Of A Hero” featuring Brian Inerfeld.
Full Force is one of the most revered groups in the genre’s history thanks to classic songs like “Alice” and “Ain’t My Type of Hype” in addition to collaborations with UTFO (“Roxanne, Roxanne”), Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (“All Cried Out”)
The group has also enjoyed a five-decade run as producers for everyone from Fat Joe to Rihanna to Selena and Britney Spears.
And who can forget their unforgettable roles as the tough guys in the “House Party” movie franchise with Kid-N-Play.
Take a listen and peep the video to their latest record “The L♡ve Of A Hero” featuring Brian Inerfeld.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Feel free to correct me. The streets are talking. Before I get into the rumors, let’s get with the facts without prejudice. The rapper has been in a Bronx cell since December 2019 after being incarcerated on rape charges. Recent reports say that coronavirus has prevented him from getting a day court. Things are starting to open up so maybe that will change soon. We need to hear from him!
“At this current time, C-Rayz Walz can’t discuss or comment on this allegation. What I can say is that I have known C-Rayz Walz as both his manager and closest friend for six years. I have seen him devote the majority of his time to take care and provide for his son. Walz put his music career on the back burner in order to be the best father he could be. Walz knows what it is like to grow up without a father figure, and also what a perilous time it is to be a Black man in America,” a statement from management to HipHopDX. “His family and friends know who he is, what he represents and what kind of father he has been. He spreads knowledge and positivity, both through his music and community involvement. Walz is a caring person and has always been committed to teaching and uplifting the youth and especially to his son. That is the C-Rayz Walz I know and love.”
So, here is the rumor. I am hearing that he may have been beat up really badly in jail. I do not have a lot of info on this. This may have been the result of him being charged (not convicted) of rape. I confess I heard this rumor a few days ago and didn’t say much to see where it may have come from. But, the reality is this may be nothing. Or it could be something. The source that hit me with this is a friend of C-Rayz Walz and is actually concerned but hasn’t been able to find out anything. So…here I am.
(AllHipHop News) Another video of a Black man begging to police that he can’t breathe emerges out of Texas.
While it happened in 2019, Javier Ambler’s voice is just as devastating as Eric Garner’s and George Floyd’s and adds to the ever-growing number of Black people murdered while in the custody of the police.
Body camera footage betrays the police again. Released by the Austin Police Department, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office deputies can be seen in hot pursuit for 22 minutes of the 40-year-old on March 28, 2019 (1 AM) after the police flagged him down.
Oh, so there you go. He was wilding when the cops tried to apprehend him.
Actually, it wasn’t even that deep. Ambler did not dim his car headlights when he passed by the deputy. That was his offense and ultimately why he is not here today.
After the chase, Ambler struck three “fixed objects” on and off the road. The Texas Attorney General stated in the custodial death report.
That’s what the AG says. A 14-minute body camera footage shows that the officers walked up on him (after the accident). Ambler gets out of the car with his hands up. He also was unarmed and not intoxicated, posing no threat to the police.
In reports, the officers assert that Ambler was resisting and didn’t comply when they told him to obey certain commands and so they cuffed him.
The video shows that Ambler was visibly upset, responding to being detained and that he had heart issues. “I have congestive heart failure.”
In addition to bringing attention to his heart issues, Ambler also cries out, “I can’t breathe.” He repeats the health warnings over and over again, the deputies’ body cam shows.
But after a couple of minutes in, Ambler is unresponsive. Once the cops realize this, the camera is taken off him.
Then you see him with the cuffs off and them trying to administer CPR until the EMT arrives.
Ambler’s death was ruled a homicide but the causes of death are as follows: congestive heart failure, hypertensive cardiovascular disease associated with morbid obesity “in combination with forcible restraint.”
“After reviewing the video evidence, OPS concludes the primary deputy ‘JJ’ Johnson and assisting deputies acted in accordance with the guidelines set in the WCSO policy and used objective reasonableness in the level of force used.”
The Office of Professional Standards in the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department said, “OPS also recommends the chain of command review the use of force and complete the RMS Response to Resistance module, in accordance to WSCO policy.”
Surely prompted by the death of George Floyd, the Travis County District Attorney will now look into what really happened during his arrest over a year ago.
DA Margaret Moore says that after seeing the video that was provided by an Austin police officer, she has determined that the case will need a grand jury and the city is preparing for that.
The officer responded to the scene as it came over his monitor and was in essence on his turf. However, because he was not involved, he is not going to be under investigation.
“We have determined that we need to take it to a grand jury,” Moore said, adding that officials with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office have not been cooperative. “This case has been so unusual. It is not typical for us to encounter obstacles to getting evidence especially from another law enforcement agency.”
More information to be forthcoming … unfortunately … This story is all too frequent.
(AllHipHop News) Kim Kardashian wrapped up her husband Kanye West’s 43rd birthday with the sweetest message on Monday, calling the rapper “My King”.
The reality TV star and entrepreneur posted a series of throwback photos of the couple and offered up a heartfelt message to her husband of four years.
“Thank you for always being you and never letting the world change who you are! Life wouldn’t be the same without you!” Kim wrote.
Her mom, Kris Jenner, also wished Kanye a happy birthday, calling him “an amazing son, father, husband, uncle, brother and friend”, and adding: “Thank you for being such a special and important part of our family… I love you very much.”
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Saweetie has insisted it’s “business as usual” for herself and her boyfriend Quavo during the coronavirus lockdown, because they are used to working together from home.
After social distancing measures were introduced earlier this year in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19, musicians around the world were forced to call time on studio sessions in order to comply with the guidelines.
And while some people have been struggling with being at home all the time, Saweetie – real name Diamonte Harper – isn’t one of them.
“Before quarantine we spent a lot of time with each other, so it’s not really that different,” she told Us Weekly of herself and her Migos star boyfriend, who she’s been dating since September 2018. “Fortunately for us, we’re both workaholics, so because he’s focused on the third Migos album and I’m focused on my next project, it’s kind of like business as usual and we kind of just brought our work home.”
Despite having Quavo at home with her, Saweetie doesn’t turn to the 29-year-old for advice on her work very often.
Although she’s quick to add that her beau would be happy to offer her some helpful pointers if she asked him.
She also shared that Quavo does give her advice on music when she asks for it.
“I normally like to keep things in-house only because I like surprising everybody. It’s not that I wouldn’t want advice from him because he does give advice when I need it,” she smiled.
“I’m such a hermit crab when it comes to my music. I like to perfect everything and then show everybody what I’ve been working on.”
Jahlil Beats is a legendary producer in the rap game, and he deserves all his flowers. Signed to Roc Nation, the Philly native is responsible for some of hip-hop’s most timeless hits, from Meek Mill’s “Amen” featuring Drake to Bobby Shmurda’s “Hot N##ga” to Lloyd Banks’ “Jackpot.”
And let’s not forget his own critically-acclaimed Legend Era mixtapes that reel in all the dopest features from old school to new school.
Born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania, real name Orlando Tucker began producing at the young age of 11. With his dad being a producer, they had a home studio where Jahlil frequented, conjoining in the festivities of rapping and singing.
The day his father gave him FL Studio would change his life forever.
From there, he got hooked on making beats, eventually doing his own mixtapes with the hottest rappers in his city.
Producers wise, Jahlil always looked up to the likes of Swizz Beatz and Mannie Fresh.
In 2008, he met Meek Mill — the beginning of a decade-long working relationship and friendship. Aside from the endless plaques, last year Jahlil won a Grammy for his work on Anderson .Paak’s “Bubblin.”
AllHipHop caught up with Jahlil Beats as he was promoting his latest release, Legend Era 5, which features artists like Roddy Ricch, Lil Wayne, Dave East, Future, Gucci Mane and others.
Jahil as driving home from his son’s birthday party, but he took some time to discuss how he got his start with Meek, winning a Grammy, giving back to his city, and more!
AllHipHop: Bring us back to when you met Meek Mill on Myspace in 2008.
Jahil Beats: He had dropped his mixtape called Flamers 1, I hit him up on Myspace like “I’m a big fan of your music.” I used to always watch him on YouTube, his battle DVDs. That was my start. He said “send some beats,” I sent him 3 beats. One of the records was “I’m So Fly,” my first record on the radio. Another record “Hottest In Da City,” I was actually rapping on the hook. Third record was “Indian Bounce.”
AllHipHop: And Meek named his Flamers 2 tape: Hottest In Da City.
Jahil Beats: That’s when he got a cosign from T.I., he’s running around with Grand Hustle. Meek was super hot. He had a record called “In My Bag” buzzing heavy in Philly, I was happy to have the opportunity to work with him. He was coming up, I seen potential in him and I was hungry. As soon as we connected, he got locked up weeks later. He’d call me from jail like “when I get out, it’s on. We gon’ work.” He kept his promise. His manager at the time Charlie Mack (who ended up being my manager) reached out to me: “did you do the ‘Hottest In Da City’ beat?” I said “yeah.” He said “that’s all I need to know, you need to be running with us.”
He came to my mom’s crib where I was living. He sat down with my mom and said “I want to manage him,” the rest is history. When Meek got out, we’re in the studio from 12pm to 12am because that’s the only thing they let him do. He was on house arrest for a week, I’d come over there and he’d play my beats off his boombox. [chuckles] At his aunt’s house, he had no furniture. Our first day in the studio together, we did a record called “Make Em Say.” That’s our first taste of success, I was probably 19. We made the Billboards strictly from Philly. Killing the clubs: D.C., Maryland, Delaware were all playing it.
AllHipHop: “Amen” is one of my favorite Meek songs ever. What memories are tied to that record?
Jahil Beats: I’ll never forget, it was supposed to be for Dreams and Nightmares but it ended up on Dreamchasers 2. We were out in LA working, it was a sample this kid Key Wane (Big Sean’s producer) chopped up. Meek did the record and sent it to Drake. Drake said he wanted my drums on there, so Meek got me in the studio. I flew out, I got in the Boom Boom Room and did the drums. I took the sample and turned it into my own beat, the rest is history.
AllHipHop: That was such a moment in time. What was it like seeing Meek catapult to the forefront of hip-hop?
Jahil Beats: Right, it happened fast for both of us. He signed with Rick Ross’ MMG a month before I signed with Roc Nation. It was going crazy for both of us. At one point I was away for a minute. I was in Virginia working on Chris Brown’s Fan of a Fan with Tyga and Kevin McCall. I was working with Soulja Boy. Young Money, did a joint for Wayne called “Willy Wonka” for I’m Not a Human Being. I was in it too but Meek transforming into a superstar made me proud. If he’s winning then I’m winning, because I was there in the beginning. Me, him, DJ Difference, my man Conn, and Charlie Mack. Crazy because I met him in 2008. By the time 2011 hit, both our lives changed.
AllHipHop: Talk about your journey with Roc Nation, you’ve been with them 9 years.
Jahil Beats: I’m on my third deal, I love it over there. Doing all those records with Meek, working on Fan of a Fan, “Ima Boss” was the sole reason I got the deal over at Roc Nation. That was Jay Z’s favorite. They sent the intern to reach out to me, I was ignoring him like crazy.
AllHipHop: Why? You didn’t think it was real?
Jahil Beats: Yeah I didn’t think it was real. He said “I’m from Roc Nation.” He was so persistent, he’s like “Jay wants to sign you at Roc Nation. He wants you to come up.” I came up one time, had one meeting with an A&R. The second time, one of Jay’s close friends Emory Jones reached out to me. He’s at dinner with Jay like “I want you to come up again, Jay wants to sign you.” The last time, I came up with my lawyer. He’s looking at the contract for 2 weeks. I signed my contract, they took me in the back to Jay Z’s office.
AllHipHop: What were those initial words with Hov?
Jahil Beats: He was mad cool and down-to-earth. He said “yo, congrats.” I was about to have my daughter, it couldn’t have been a better time. I remember walking out of his office, he grabbed my shoulders and shook me up. They grabbed bottles of Ace of Spades, we toasted. They took me out to dinner, it was a blessing.
AllHipHop: How was dinner with Jay Z?
Jahil Beats: It was an out-of-body experience, I couldn’t even believe it. He invited me to a 40/40 party. I’m sitting in this VIP area with him, Spike Lee, Warren Buffett, Swizz Beatz. Crazy.
AllHipHop: How’s your relationship with Hov now that it’s been almost a decade?
Jahil Beats: It’s all love. It’s crazy because I saw him right before I won my Grammy last year. He’s asking about the family and showing love.
AllHipHop: How’d it feel to win a Grammy for Anderson .Paak’s “Bubblin”?
Jahil Beats: Me and my boy Antman Wonder produced that. He makes this crazy style music, like Blaxploitation films. I ended up downloading one of his mixtapes and sampling it, that’s the beat for “Bubblin.” Anderson Paak follows me on Twitter, I reached out to him like “yo, let me send you some joints.” He’s like “hell yeah, send me some records.” I sent him a whole bunch of beats. He did mad records, but “Bubblin” was the only record that stood out for both of us.
A year before it released, he ended up going on tour. I didn’t hear anything about it. His story was he went back and Dr. Dre heard it. He played it for Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre said “you have to put this s##t out right now.”
People don’t know that Dr. Dre won a Grammy with us too, he mixed the record. Crazy for me because Dr. Dre mixed my record, he’s the greatest producer. I knew the video was crazy, but I didn’t know it was going to win Best Rap Performance. When I found out, I was in Miami. We celebrated hard because I’ve been in this game for a long time, since 2008. That’s my first nomination.
AllHipHop: It goes to show the work ethic is worth it, a lot of producers’ end goal is that Grammy.
Jahil Beats: Honestly, I never thought I’d win a Grammy. I love making music and doing what I do. I didn’t think we’d win because we were up against Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, Cardi B. I actually was late to the red carpet. “We probably already lost, I’ll get there when I get there.”
AllHipHop: Was it in LA or NY at that time?
Jahil Beats: LA. On my way to the carpet, I got on Twitter and my mentions were flooded. Everybody’s like “oh s##t, you won a Grammy! Congrats.” Roc Nation had tweeted me, Warner Music had tweeted me. That’s how I knew it was real, I’m like “holy s##t.” We ended up going to the red carpet, taking pictures, and leaving. We got f##ked up, I didn’t even watch the Grammys.
AllHipHop: Did you turn up with Anderson?
Jahil Beats: I actually turned up with him the night before. Our birthdays are on the same day, so we got it in. He got sick, him and his son ended up leaving the hospital and going to the Grammys. We celebrated on our birthdays. He had a party that night, we went in.
AllHipHop: How do you gauge Anderson’s mindset as opposed to Meek when you’re creating a record? I love producers who actually study the artist and cater to them.
Jahil Beats: With me and Meek, we create with a lot of energy. Meek’s on everybody’s playlist when they’re going to the gym. We make anthems. We go into the studio with the mindset of making anthems. Outside of telling stories, we’re focused on club music or street anthems. With Anderson .Paak, it’s a lot more melodic. A lot more melody, a different type of structure. I put way more into “Bubblin” than I did to “Ima Boss.”
AllHipHop: Why’s that?
Jahil Beats: Because the music. Antman Wonder put an orchestra into that whole piece. With “Ima Boss,” it’s some brass horns, some synthesizers, that’s pretty much it. Only thing both of those tracks have in common are the hard-hitting drums. They’re both 2 different artists. Anderson Paak does a lot of live drums. The first time I worked with him, I did the “Come Down” remix with Schoolboy Q and Ty Dolla $ign. He’s like “do you, do your drums.” A lot of the records he did before “Bubblin” were live drums, “Bubblin’ had a lot of trap elements to it.
AllHipHop: Do you know the majority of the time if it’s going to be a hit?
Jahil Beats: Never, ever. I’m just happy to make music and work with artists I’m a fan of. I love to keep that mindset because you never know, life is crazy. You never know what blessings will come your way. I like to take it one day at a time, so I apply those elements of making music. One track at a time. There’s even tracks I think are the greatest beats I ever made, that rappers pass on. You have to take it with a grain of salt. I don’t even come in like “yo this is going to be out of here.” Whatever happens, happens. I never knew “Hot Boy” was going to be this big.
AllHipHop: The Bobby Shmurda record? That record is legendary!
Jahil Beats: I always look at my music as art, whether rappers are on it or not on it. When I put out instrumental tapes, I’m creating art. I’m an artist by myself. I started putting out instrumental tapes. Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel were big fans of everything me and Meek Mill were doing. I put out this mixtape called Crack Music 6, they did “Shmoney Dance” and “Hot Boy.” Ended up going viral on Vine and Instagram.
No lie, I found out late. Kevin Durant had tweeted me like “yo this your beat? This s##t’s cazy.” I reached out to Bobby on Twitter, he gave me his number. I called him, he said “I’m trying to get out the streets, trying to do music full-time.” I told him “you have my blessings, do what you gotta do. If anything big happens with it, we’ll handle the business down the line.” A couple weeks later, my man Sha Money XL reached out like “we want to sign him at Epic. Him and Rowdy, let’s take care of business.” They paid for the beat, put the machine behind it and it was outta here. Ended up being a #1 rap record.
AllHipHop: Free Bobby Shmurda. Isn’t he supposed to get out soon?
Jahil Beats: Yeah, I think he gets out in December. I talked to Rowdy weeks ago, they’re both good. As soon as they get out, we going in.
AllHipHop: Congrats on the release of your new mixtape Legend Era 5. How does this compare to your other projects?
Jahil Beats: I just wanted to put some music out. I dropped Legend Era 4 last year, right after my birthday. I got that feeling that I wanted to put music out. A lot of unreleased stuff on there, stuff I worked on this past year with Lil Durk, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne. I got Rich The Kid on there, Gucci Mane. Exclusive joint with Future. Travis Scott has a freestyle on there, Kevin Hart freestyle, Bad Bunny freestyle. This kid I work with all the time, Jinsu, he’s been there from the beginning. Got some instrumentals on there too. Putting something out for my followers, anybody who follows me. Feeding the streets. Getting a lot of good feedback too, I’m happy with that.
AllHipHop: What does it mean to have Meek Mill on the project, given your guys’ history?
Jahil Beats: It’s good. It’s crazy, the Lil Durk record was actually Meek’s record. We’d gone to Atlanta, he was working in Atlanta for one of his EPs, Legends of the Summer. I did that record, my brother co-produced it too. I did this record called “1 AM” [for Meek]. Lil Durk ended up snatching “Bougie” and putting it on his album — but that was meant for Meek Mill. I love that beat, that bounce was different. The tape is a whole bunch of records that I love, my favorite records past and present. I wanted to feed the streets and do what I do. I’ve been doing this since 2011.
Jahil Beats: I have a loyalty towards DatPiff. My boy’s KP from DatPiff. You rocking with me, I’ma always be solid with you. Next week, I’ll put it on every other streaming service. Or I might give my followers and fans a treat and make it an all instrumental project.
AllHipHop: Your deal with Roc, is that management or label? You get to do whatever you want.
Jahil Beats: That’s the best thing, it’s a publishing deal. They make sure they take care of me on the sync licensing. Every month, they license my music out and keep that bag coming in. I work on placements. They got me a sync license with the last Men In Black movie. We had “Bubblin” in there. I did the official Beats by Dre commercial, through Roc Nation too.
AllHipHop: If you could battle someone on VERZUZ, who would it be?
Jahil Beats: I’m not looking for nothing, but I’m not running away from no battle.
AllHipHop: Is there anyone that you think would be on par for you to battle?
Jahil Beats: It has to be someone from my era. It’s about nostalgia that makes these battles so great. Honestly, this is how I feel. The biggest battles are from a lot of dudes who have a lot of years in the game, besides 1da and Hit-Boy. I’m not even going to say no names. They have to come with their A-game because it’s different. A lot of dudes have hit records, but a lot of dudes don’t have them bangers. Them anthems hit different.
AllHipHop: Talk about investing in Kognition, the artificial intelligence company that locks doors.
Jahil Beats: Kognition is an artificial intelligence company I brought to Chester, made in Philly. Their technology is in the World Trade Center, they’re from Philly. I’ve been building up downtown Chester, PA for about 3 years. I wanted to make it safe. It’s software that weeds out people coming in with guns or weapons, people looking for trouble. Not even targeting anybody but making sure the downtown corridor is straight and businesses can thrive without being robbed, them stealing, or any type of danger. It could possibly be a billion-dollar company, I hope so. That’s why we started at Chester, putting them in all the commercial properties that we own.
AllHipHop: You’re only 32, what are some goals for yourself?
Jahil Beats: I want to be a billionaire one day. It’s not even about me, I want to help a whole bunch of people on a large scale. I want to help the world, you need money to do that. I want to change my city, my biggest goal right now. I want to build my city up, start with the sneaker stores. I got a DTLR franchise, it’s the first signature store in Chester. I have 2 clinics. One was supposed to open up but with COVID-19, they had to cancel their ribbon cutting. I got another clinic coming with PA Health and Wellness coming. We got mad big companies coming in, for sure. I’m also doing the residential thing too. I’m doing affordable housing. I’m coming, trying to build the city up and do some innovative things.
AllHipHop: You have a love for sneakers too?
Jahil Beats: Big love for sneakers, I got a crazy collection. I wouldn’t call myself a sneakerhead because I don’t really know the history like these dudes. I got a great collection though, I can tell you that much.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let us know?
Jahil Beats: Legend Era 5 out now. Vibe out to the music!
(AllHipHop News) Actor Shemar Moore is feeling “confused” about returning to his S.W.A.T. police officer role amid the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests around the world.
The 50-year-old actor spoke to “Love & Hip Hop Hollywood‘s” Moneice Slaughter in a video message that was shared on social media, in which he admitted he had mixed feelings about playing Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in the CBS series following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers.
“With my platform, I do have to go back to work and put on an LAPD uniform, and I am confused about it,” he revealed. “I am struggling with it because I don’t just wanna go back and just do the dance. I have to go back and tell the real story. Because George Floyd is real, and so many others before that…
“These cops need to be corrected. Some of them are f##ked up, but a lot of them are good. Some of us Black people are beautiful, and some are f##ked up…but we all bleed red…I understand how bad s##t is, but we have to stay optimistic. We have to stay hopeful, because we will fix this.”
Shemar added that he’s going to use his celebrity status and his “platform on S.W.A.T” to spread the word about racial equality and preventing police brutality, adding: “I’m gonna tell Sony and CBS and my bosses that if we don’t speak on it, then they can’t f##k with me.”
“I can’t do it by myself… but we can do it collectively, together,” he concluded.
(AllHipHop News) These past two weeks may have felt like an eternity for many, but today, George Floyd was put to rest in his hometown of Houston.
In a private funeral service funded by boxer Floyd Mayweather, a crowd of 500 gathered at The Fountain of Praise Church to honor and remember the life of Mr. Floyd, whose life was taken too soon.
“This is a celebration of Floyd’s life,” said Ma K. Wright, the co-pastor of the Church.
“We celebrate a life that had its up and downs as many lives do but also a life that was connected to God and one that all people around the world have now connected to because of the tragedy and the trauma by which he passed.”
Various speakers, that included civil rights leaders, took to the podium including those who voiced the need for justice and a “call for social reform.”
“It’s so important that we move forward from here from a place of healing and wholeness because if we expect change to happen in our community, we can’t come from anger and hurt and loss. We have to learn how to move as a whole unit.”
As heavy as many of our hearts have been, this tragedy offers a glimpse of hope for the future. George Floyd’s murder, at the hand of police, leading to protests across the globe, as people of all backgrounds joined in demanding justice and change.
“If he was told he would have to sacrifice his life to bring the world together and knowing him, I know he would’ve did it,” shared his brother, Rodney Floyd.
(AllHipHop News) Rapper YG has taken critics of his political activism to task online after leading thousands of Black Lives Matter protesters through the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday.
The “Big Bank” star joined forces with officials at social and racial justice organizations Black Lives Matter L.A. and BLD PWR to stage the peaceful demonstration in Hollywood, five days after having to cancel a similar event over safety concerns for participants.
As huge crowds gathered on Sunday, YG took the opportunity to use the march as the backdrop for his new music video, filming footage for his new protest song, “F##k The Police (FTP).”
However, it appears that led some social media users to question the authenticity of YG’s activism, prompting the rapper to fire back in a lengthy post online on Monday.
Alongside video footage of the protest on Instagram, he wrote, “For anyone out there talking I don’t question your advocacy and don’t think you should question mine.
See you gotta understand that a lot of people out there they see me as a N. They don’t see the black proud man. They see a kid from bompton and they expect violence. They hear FTP & they think I’m gonna come and burn my city. So we showed up and did it right. We proved them wrong
“See you gotta understand that a lot of people out there they see me as a N##ga. They don’t see the black proud man. They see a kid from Bompton (nickname for Compton, California) and they expect violence. They hear ‘FTP’ and they think I’m gonna come and burn my city. So we showed up and did it right. We proved them wrong.”
The real story here is me and Black Lives Matter brought out 50,000 people today to peacefully protest and unite for change.
YG went on to insist the “real story” was the thousands who took to the streets to “peacefully protest and unite for change”, as he defended his decision to film his promo at the event.
“I wanted to document that so when they hear this song and think we are reckless and violent they see a peaceful protest of all different people coming together for a common cause,” he wrote. “That is history. That is breaking down these stereotypes on our people and our neighborhoods.”
“All of us protesting are on the same side here..instead of questioning each other’s activism we should be directing that energy at the cops and the government and helping to create the change we want to see. Stay focused and stop that social media judgment without knowing facts and hurting a cause we all a part of. We got a real enemy and it ain’t each other. On my momma!”
Stay focused & stop that social media judgement without knowing facts & hurting a cause we all is apart of. We got a real enemy and it ain’t eachother!
(AllHipHop News) Lizzo doesn’t mind when her name is used as an insult on TikTok, because it means she’s “doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
The 32-year-old singer took to Instagram to admit she’s frequently mentioned in comments on posts featuring curvier ladies – but she doesn’t mind one bit.
“To the people who be putting my name in the comments, THANK YOU!” she said. “(If people think of me) every time (they) see a big girl on this app loving on herself, (then I’m) out here doing what (I’m) supposed to be doing.
“‘Letting you b##ches know that the next time you try to make fun of a woman for her body or her size, that b##ch we’re out here and we don’t give a f##k!”
Lizzo continued to say that being compared to such women “is a compliment” because they’re “putting themselves out there and being confident”.
“And we’re confident and we’re bad b**ches and we’re cover stars and, yeah, we get the motherf**kin’ views, the likes, and the motherf**kin clicks because we IT!” the Good As Hell singer laughed. “So, thanks! And to all the big girls, I see you. Keep putting my name in the comments…”
(AllHipHop Music) From Minnesota to Ferguson to Chile- People are out in the streets resisting the police. Resisting a system that got its boot on our neck! We demand Justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, for the Mapuche community in the South and so many others murdered by police. Worldwide people are rising up. We are seeing History unfold in real time!
Who are the Leaders? Who are the Shooters? This is justified rage. It will MULTIPLY.
“New rebel music with our comrades,” said Rebel Diaz in a press release. “From Bambu on the West Coast, to Sa-Roc in Atlanta, to St. Louis with our brothers Tef Poe and T-Dubb-O, to Newark with the legendary Rah Digga solidarity!”
“Leaders and Shooters” features MULTIPLY (Tef Poe and Rebel Diaz) ft. Sa-Roc, Bambu, T-Dubb-O, and Rah Digga. TheMULTIPLY project by Rebel Diaz and Tef Poe is coming soon.
Directed by K-Boogie of Spanish Fly Media Photography by Gabriel Hernandez Solano
Kresnt is back with a brand new single for audiences all around the world. “Never Picked” is centered around the concept of loving a delicate flower, one that you’ve grown and loved since the beginning. You never made the conscious decision to pick it so it can live up to its fullest potential and be admired afar.
In this lifetime, we all go through life experiences with various relationships. “Never Picked” speaks to loving your partner, even if it means leaving the situation to improve the lives of both parties involved. Kresnt unleashes the Audiodrugz-produced record after numerous versions, linking with friend and artist Lidnesty out of Sweden.
The song also features No1-Noah, who immediately hopped on the record and killed his verse. Fans can look forward to Kresnt’s forthcoming album Everybody Knows Reloaded, slated to arrive on June 10th. The project will see Kresnt’s authenticity with records developed from the back of his mind, transcending genres of hip-hop, R&B, and soul.
(AllHipHop Music) UK’s premier DJ Mr. Play has released a unique digital mixtape that melds the Drill Music scenes off both the UK and the US, specifically New York City. The “tape” lines up M24, Sheff G, Headie One, Pop Smoke, DigDat, Fivio Foreign and many others. Mr. Play is the UK’s leading urban promoter, host and International Artist Liaison. A master of Turnin’ up every party crowd; whether at home in the cosmopolitan melting pot of London, on the dance floors, poolsides, or clubs spanning international cities across the globe. Check out “London Drill & New York Drill Mix 2020.”
More on Mr. Play:
MR PLAY covers a remit more than one title alone can hold. A master of Turnin’ up every party crowd; whether at home in the cosmopolitan melting pot of London, on the dance floors, pool sides or clubs spanning international cities across the globe. MR PLAY has been welcomed and supported by many crowds and fans in countries such as; UK, Portugal, Cyprus, UAE, Spain, France, Rotterdam and the USA, to name a few.
MR PLAY knows how to get the best out of a night out! Here is a short list of the artists he has either spun alongside or played at concerts and after-parties for; Lil Wayne | Rick Ross | Neyo | Chris Brown | Tinie Tempah| Alexandra Burke | Rosa Acosta | Lloyd | Omarion | Jodeci | Mario | Chipmunk | Fabulous | 112 | Jagged Edge | T-Pain | Fantasia | Sean Kingston | FEKKY | Wu Tang Clan | Lemar | Trevor Nelson (BBC RADIO 1) | DJ Target (BBC RADIO 1Xtra/Roll Deep).
More recently, MR PLAY has been recognized for his representation with Wiz Khalifa and Taylor Gang in the Red Bull Sound Clash at London’s O2 and Disturbing London, ATL in 2016/7. Well known as the Resident DJ at Memorial Day Weekender Festival in the Dominican Republic, and now for the 5 year running, as well as Fresh Island Festival, Croatia for the 3rd year running! Being of Sierra Leonean descent, MR PLAY is making his effort to bring his country of maternal origin on the map, by headlining at a yearly music Festival every December.
Mr. Play is an award winning radio personality and has featured with guest appearance slots on Radio 1xtra and Capital Xtra shows alongside DJ Abrantee, DJ Target & DJ Charlesy (Disturbing London).
When not DJ’ing and hosting parties MR PLAY serves as an ambassador of his hometown working alongside International Artists & Sport Athletes both in London and around the world. He has a keen interest to share his experience and knowledge with the younger generation, and is an active member for the Board of Lambeth Steering Committee. Through his work with the council, he aims to support and motivate young people to achieve their own dreams within the music and entertainment industry. An active participant too of the New Skool Rules Music Industry Panel in Rotterdam yearly, MR PLAY extends his advice and guidance to those with a similar dream across the European region.
