(AllHipHop News) The New Skool has determined to distinguish themselves from others by hosting their annual conference, versus dropping the ball and not doing anything.
From May 29th to May 31st, Epitome Entertainment is set to host the New Skool Rules Urban Music Conference and Festival during its original programming time.
Only instead of a physical revival, attendees will have one of the best virtual experiences the organizers can produce.
Hip-Hop seems to be king in every corner of the world and just like rap music has touched the earth’s entirety, so has the coronavirus.
While folk have been informed to shelter-in-place, New Skool Rules would not have that mandate be the barrier that blocks them from delivering top-grade industry education and business tips for the public.
For New Skool Rules, it remains a top priority and massively important to keep feeding urban music creators and their teams’ information and knowledge. This drive helped to create the virtual experience at the onset of Summer.
Like always, the New Skool Rules Urban Music Conference and Festival will be hosting, panels, workshops, masterclasses, demo listening sessions and will even feature live performances.
The panelists will range from major labels like Motown, Atlantic Records, Republic, Sony, Warner as well as the major publishers Warner/Chappell, Sony/ ATV, Universal Publishing.
Of course, experts on branding, social media and other interesting topic matters will be on hand as well.
The conference is free and it can only be accessed through a zoom session. Get your tickets swiftly as rooms ares limited.).
The physical New Skool Rules will take place Oct. 30th – Nov. 1st 2020 in WORM, Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Future has been slapped with a countersuit from one of his alleged baby mamas.
Eliza Seraphin claims the Hip-Hop star is the father of her one-year-old daughter Reign, and she has been fighting to have the paternity confirmed in a Florida court since last summer.
Future, real name Nayvadius Wilburn, has confessed to having a sexual relationship with Seraphin, but has continually dodged the question of paternity, even after a recent DNA test reportedly came back positive.
She has submitted various text messages purportedly received from the “Life Is Good” rapper, with one stating, “let your lawyers speak for u at this point! u bogus, stole my last name now u want to b relevant jus fall back off the net trying to to prove a point.”
Seraphin, also known as Eliza Reign, goes on to allege Future tried to scare her into having an abortion after discovering she was pregnant.
He has yet to respond to the suit.
The MC has six children, each with a different woman, while he is facing a similar paternity claim from another female, Cindy Renae Parker, who insists he fathered her baby son, too.
(AllHipHop Rumors) What in the “Lucious Lyon” is going on with Bryshere?
Well according to Charlie Mac, actor Bryshere Gray (Yazz the Great) has been diagnosed with ADHD — causing him to uncontrollably act out in ways that might appear disruptive and reckless.
His mental health disorder was made public by his manager after his former landlord sued him for over 30K in damages and released embarrassing images of his condo.
Gray, also known as “Hakeem Lyon” from the hit Fox series “Empire,” left his condo covered in dog feces, along with garbage bags and clutter on the floor.
There was also full plates of breakfast left behind in one of the bathrooms.
Gray had been renting the apartment during his time in Windy City while filming “Empire,” with a lease that ended in August 2019. But upon leaving, he did not address the variety of concerns that landlord brought up, presumably extending beyond what his security deposit could cover.
Outside of the dog doody, which according to the landlord has caused significant damage to the property’s hardwood floors, the animal urinated all over the place.
Gray was known to jump out of windows, clog up the toilets with condoms and smoke weed in the place. His lease specified that there should be no smoking.
First out the Limo Charlie Mac explained that this seemingly manic behavior is “unfortunately [the] a result of” his ADHD.
According to multiple health journals, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that can cause above-normal levels of hyperactive and impulsive behaviors.
People with ADHD may also have trouble focusing their attention on a single task or sitting still for long periods of time. Both adults and children can have ADHD.
This is also not to be confused with the mental health disorder, schizophrenia, that his TV brother André Lyon suffered throughout the various seasons of Lee Daniels’ hit show.
The Philadelphia legend says that people should not let this color their image of Gray saying: “He’s a great person and it will be taken care of. It will be handled.”
Charlie Mac also stated: “There is money inside of his security deposit that should rectify whatever issues the landlord has. [It’s] sad that the landlord has chosen this way to handle this but we will do what is needed to make sure it is taken care of.”
(AllHipHop News) Fat Joe has urged fellow rapper DMX to rethink his upcoming rap battle with Eminem – because there’s no way he can win.
Producer N.O.R.E. recently let it slip that Verzuz battle series bosses Timbaland and Swizz Beatz were setting up a battle royale between Slim Shady and DMX, during which the two hip-hop icons will go head-to-head with a selection of their biggest hits.
But as the world awaits the rap battle for the ages, Eminem’s Lean Back collaborator Fat Joe is urging DMX to call it off or taste a crushing defeat.
“I don’t think nobody can f##k with Eminem,” Joe told “Drink Champs” podcast hosts Lenny S, DJ EFN, and N.O.R.E. “DMX got the biggest hits in the world, one of the greatest rappers of all time. Legendary, iconic, superhero. And everything I’m saying is understating, he’s bigger than that.
“But there’s something about that white boy (Eminem) and his fans.”
And to prove his point, Fat Joe recalled the work Eminem put in on the Lean Back track, revealing, “He sent me that same verse 30 different times, saying it with a different tone, lighter tone… he wouldn’t make up his mind. 30 different takes and verses… The same verse…! Different flows… This dude is such a perfectionist.”
Meanwhile, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer have been confirmed as the latest stars to battle via Verzuz on Instagram Live this weekend.
“MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 5/23 @grunggaadzilla vs @kingbeenieman… Sound Clash edition. You ready?!? #VERZUZ,” a post on the rap battle venture’s website reads.
The two dancehall giants have a real-life rivalry, which hit a peak when Beenie Man married Bounty Killa’s former lover, Michelle Downer. They have since played down the feud and last year shared a stage at the 2019 Reggae Sumfest.
(AllHipHop Rumors) I have news for everybody. The Word on the street is that HipHopDX has been sold to Warner music. This is an incredible turn of events, because that website has been around for a very long time. Keeping it 100% honest, the site does a really good job and has consistently been a big competitor of AllHipHop.com. Rumor has it they hate us. That is ((mostly)) a joke, but I have to say that this is what I am hearing. From what I understand, Warner music has also obtained a couple of other sites, in an apparent effort to have places to organically promote their interests. Now, I don’t know that for certain, but it only makes sense. What do you think of the alleged selling of HipHopDX,?
I do not want to have a hard opinion on this, because it is all business at the end of the day. But what you should know is that AllHipHop is the last one left in this independent Hip-Hop media landscape. Now, there are obviously others out there and they are likely doing incredible things but they simply are not like we are. They are different. So, there is no hate or animosity to anybody but just know that we are still mavericks in this game. I know some people don’t care either way, but…these things matter.
As it relates to HipHopDX, I have no idea how much the site was sold for, if the staffing will remain the same, or if the original owner is going to stay on board to manage the site. The only thing I know, based on my source, which is extremely reliable, is that the site is now a corporately owned entity. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that in the land of capitalism.
(AllHipHop News) Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are fueling romance rumors by playing lovers in the rapper/rocker’s new video.
MGK released the promo for “Bloody Valentine” and introduced the “Transformers” star as his twisted onscreen girlfriend amid reports the pair is dating for real following Megan’s split from her husband, Brian Austin Green.
The video begins with Kelly waking to find his lover has bound him.
She then tapes his mouth shut and dances around his house in her sleepwear, miming the words to his song while tormenting him and kissing his neck.
At one point Fox shares a sauna room with Kelly as the hitmaker sings: “I can’t hide how I feel about you.” She also electrocutes her rumored boyfriend by dropping a hairdryer in a bath he’s taking.
The promo ends with the ungagged Kelly and Fox almost locking lips.
Rumors of a romance began circulating last week when the couple was photographed together in Los Angeles, and Green addressed the story while confirming he and his wife of seven years had split during his podcast on Monday, revealing he has yet to meet Kelly, real name Colson Baker.
“She met this guy, Colson, on set,” the actor said. “I’ve never met him. Megan and I have talked about him. They’re just friends at this point.”
But Brian made it clear that his estranged wife’s relationship with the rapper was not behind their split.
“I don’t want people to think her or he are villains or that I was a victim in any way,” he added.
Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, who will also star in the upcoming movie “Midnight” in the Switchgrass, have yet to respond to rumors of a romance.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Future has always been regarded as a certain sort of man. We all know the Jidenna song “Classic Man,” but Future should do one called “Toxic Man,” because that is what people are calling him. New reports punctuate that! Bruh has so many baby moms, I have lost count.
Eliza Seraphin is one of those baby moms and she and future have a 1-year old cutie, Reign. Welp. They are in court…and she’s winning, in the court of public opinion at least. A report from Complex states that Future is guilty of defamation, “false allegations of promiscuity,” sexual misconduct, claiming she’s crazy, a clout chaser and….last but not least….stealing his name. But, she also says he threatened to kill her if she didn’t abort the baby and then some. WOW.
One text allegedly said: “Let your lawyers speak for u at this point! u bogus, stole my last name now u want to b relevant jus fall back off the net trying to to prove a point. TMZ this b#### stole my last name I think that’s what i heard! I will never respect a clout chasing b#### NEVERRRRRRR FOH.”
Thoughts?
Future has some dope music, but…this ain’t it bro.
(AllHipHop News) As the amount of COVID-19 cases in New York City surpasses 190K, Brooklyn-bred Hip Hop star Joey Bada$$ is working with The Fund for Public Schools and the NYC Department of Education to assist some of the city’s most vulnerable citizens.
“Super proud to launch this campaign in conjunction with @thefundforps & @nycschools to support NYC’s homeless students. I’m donating $25K and would love your support, either as a repost and/or contribution of any size–every $ counts!” tweeted Joey on May 20.
The Fund for Public Schools then tweeted, “Thank you @joeyBADASS, as a proud former NYC public school student, for joining our NYC Schools COVID-19 Response Effort and helping to provide critical resources to some of our most vulnerable students during this time.”
Thank you @joeyBADASS, as a proud former NYC public school student, for joining our NYC Schools COVID-19 Response Effort and helping to provide critical resources to some of our most vulnerable students during this time. https://t.co/C5hwDO4bCG
— Fund for Public Schools (@TheFundforPS) May 20, 2020
In addition, the NYC Schools COVID-19 Response Effort is helping to ensure students have the technology needed to learn remotely and provide the children of essential workers with quality care. There is also a focus on prioritizing the specific needs of students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and students in temporary housing.
New York City schools serve over 1 million students in 1,800 school communities. According to Joey Bada$$, over 110,000 students in the NYCDOE system are homeless. The self-described “proud product of New York City public schools” also informed his followers that 85% of those homeless children are Black or Hispanic.
The Fund for Public Schools has been the 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner to the New York City Department of Education since 1982. All donations to the Fund are tax-deductible. To donate money to theNYC Schools COVID-19 Response Effort visit fundforpublicschools.org.
Now more than ever it will take a village to support the well-being & continued learning of NYC's 1.1 million students.
(AllHipHop News) NBA great LeBron James is sharing his production talents with the trillion-dollar technology company that Steve Jobs built. It was announced that King James is involved in Apple’s new short-form documentary series titled Greatness Code.
The unscripted program is being produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s Uninterrupted as well as Gotham Chopra, Tom Brady, and Michael Strahan’s Religion of Sports. Chopra also served as the director.
Greatness Code will cover untold stories from some of the greatest sports stars in the world and highlight pivotal moments in their respective careers. The first season features seven mini-episodes. Athletes featured in S1 include:
Four-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Champion, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist LeBron James
Six-time Super Bowl Champion and four-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady
Olympic Gold Medalist and Co-Captain of the US Women’s National Soccer Team Alex Morgan
Worlds Fastest Man and eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt
Record-holding Olympic gold Medalist Snowboarder Shaun White
Five-time Olympic Gold medalist and 15-time World Champion swimmer Katie Ledecky
11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater
Greatness Code is scheduled to debut globally July 10 exclusively on Apple TV+. Gotham Chopra for Religion of Sports, Ameeth Sankaran for Religion of Sports, Maverick Carter for Uninterrupted, and Devin Johnson for Uninterrupted are credited as executive producers.
(AllHipHop News) Usher Raymond’s comments about Nicki Minaj have led to digital attacks from the Young Money rapper’s stans. While speaking with Swizz Beatz about potential Verzuz battles, Usher said Minaj was a “product” of her longtime rival Lil Kim.
Many social media users and professional media personalities then offered their opinion about Kim’s influence on Nicki. For example, Claudia Jordan was joined on a recent episode of her Out Loud show by LisaRaye McCoy, Syleena Johnson, and Vivica A. Fox to discuss Lil Kim paving the way for Nicki Minaj.
“I don’t know why the fans are getting so angry at what Usher said. Usher did not slam Nicki Minaj by saying that. That is not a diss to her, but it is a fact,” said Jordan. “Lil Kim came up way before her in a crew of all fellas. She was hard with it, and she was sexual. And she made that popular.”
Those words have seemed to p### off some members of Minaj’s fanbase. According to Jordan, the Barbz sent threats to her elderly mother and tormented her teenage niece. The Fox Soul host addressed the alleged harassment on Twitter and Instagram.
Jordan tweeted:
WOW now the Barbz have gone too far. Threatening to “BEAT HER” my 69 year old mother & now harassing my 15 year old niece? At the end of the day what will this accomplish but keep your karma bad & get you bought up on charges? WE stay protected-KNOW THIS. #OverATalkShowConvo smh. So yall can justify trying to scare a little 15 year old black girl- like times aint challenging enough without you barbz being so ridiculous. I hope yall feel good about yourselves. But then again you have to be brainless & soul less to think that is cool or funny. Way to go!
She also wrote on IG:
So me & the girls discussed a literal Hot Topic. We didn’t call anyone out their name, diminish anyone’s talents or say anyone wasn’t great. We just talked about our opinion of an old comparison. Let me just say this AGAIN-both ladies are great and part of history in their individual ways. And by both- I’m talking about nicki minaj and lil kim. In my opinion one paved the way for a certain style and super sexy and sexual lane with hard bars….kim. And the other really raised the bar as far as exploding in the main stream and accomplished incredible things-nicki. The fact that some fans are so unreasonable that a simple 3 minute convo where no one was trashed or bashed lead to this response is absolutely mind blowing. The irony of it all is these threats came outta anger of thinking their queen was being attacked in some kind of way- which is a lie. But the remedy for THAT is to threaten innocent people that have nothing to do with any of this??? The irony! Look I can take all this so called dragging. I can take every last one of your insults about my “no lips” my age, me allegedly being broke, old, irrelevant, a hoe, can’t get a man & all the other goofy sh*t y’all been saying. Bring all ur remarks 2 me & get what you need to off your lil bird chests. But how do you ever think it is ok to threaten to put my mother into a hospital bed who doesn’t even know who the hell you’re defending? Then to track down my niece who u only know who she is because I recently posted a happy birthday post celebrating her- and you heathens go after her???? If you claim to love & want to defend your queen- act like it! Cause this gross, low life crap you guys are pulling is ridiculous and I promise you it ain’t doing nicki any favors! I highly doubt someone as successful as her would approve of you Guys hurting an elderly woman and a child! I am more than able to take all your lil goofy word smoke but leave kids and parents outta this!! You people blew the real convo totally outta proportion like idiots! Grow up and calm the hell down! To my mother and niece from the bottom of my heart I’m so sorry these demons dragged you into my mess. I promise I wont let anything happen 2 you.
WOW now the Barbz have gone too far. Threatening to "BEAT HER" my 69 year old mother & now harassing my 15 year old niece? At the end of the day what will this accomplish but keep your karma bad & get you bought up on charges? WE stay protected-KNOW THIS. #OverATalkShowConvo smh
So yall can justify trying to scare a little 15 year old black girl- like times aint challenging enough without you barbz being so ridiculous. I hope yall feel good about yourselves. But then again you have to be brainless & soul less to think that is cool or funny. Way to go!
Doja Cat added new vocals to the track from The Weeknd’s After Hours studio album. The record was produced by Max Martin, Oscar Holten, and Tesfaye.
“In Your Eyes (Remix)” comes a few weeks after Doja recruited Nicki Minaj for a remix to her song “Say So.” The Doja/Nicki version of “Say So” hit #1 on the Hot 100 chart for one week so far.
The Weeknd has scored two of his five career Number Ones with singles off After Hours. “Heartless” spent one week at #1 in 2019. “Blinding Lights” stayed atop the Hot 100 rankings for four nonconsecutive weeks in 2020.
(AllHipHop News) Black Entertainment Television is moving forward with its annual BET Awards. The 2020 edition is taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, so the network is relying on “an array of innovative techniques and artist-generated content” to present the showcase.
“The BET Awards are a seminal event – the biggest celebration of Black culture, Black accomplishment, Black excellence, and Black potential,” said Scott Mills, President of BET. “Our community, and the many millions who love Black culture, look to the BET Awards for signature moments of enrichment, entertainment, and empowerment. Recognizing the unique role the BET Awards plays for so many, and the challenging times we find ourselves in, we know it was more important than ever to deliver the BET Awards in 2020.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the BET Awards as well as the 40th anniversary of Black Entertainment Network. Connie Orlando, EVP Specials – Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, is overseeing the 2020 show.
“At BET, we place the health and safety of attendees, staff, vendors, and partners first, which is why the biggest night in black entertainment will go on implementing this innovative production direction,“ said Orlando. “For the past twenty years, The BET Awards have paid homage to all things now and relevant. Despite the challenges of today, we will deliver a show filled with larger than life, inspiring, empowering, and entertaining moments, which have shown the magic of our culture for over two decades.”
The 2020 BET Awards are scheduled for Sunday, June 28 at 8 pm ET. The official nominations for the 2020 BET Awards will be announced on a later date. BET’s three-day BET Experience will not take place this year and will return in 2021. All VIP packages sold to date will be available for a refund.
(AllHipHop News) There have been rumors about a Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole collaborative album for years. In 2015, the two Hip Hop A-Listers fed into the speculation when they swapped beats for the “Black Friday” two-pack.
Top Dawg Entertainment president Terrence “Punch” Henderson Jr. recently squashed the idea of K. Dot and Jermaine actually releasing a full body of work together. He told a Twitter user, “Not happening.”
However, Punch later returned to the social media platform to offer a little hope for TDE and Dreamville devotees. The record executive/music artist walked back his previous statement.
“Nah I don’t know. It might still happen. I want it to happen,” tweeted Punch. “Y’all really want that album still??? Like for real? I think it would [be] great for Hip Hop. I did my part though. I spoke to both of them. Hit them n*ggas!”
Back in 2016, fellow Top Dawg emcee Ab-Soul suggested that his Black Hippy brethren had already begun creating songs with Cole. Ab-Soul said, “They got something in the works. They’ve been working on that motherf*cker for a while.”
The Kendrick Lamar/J. Cole effort may still be a dream project at the moment, but fans of the Compton superstar could get new music from him in the near future. This week, TDE CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith told his Instagram followers, “Stay patient king Kendrick will return soon.”
Y’all really want that album still??? Like for real? I think it would great for hip hop. I did my part though. I spoke to both of them. Hit them n#####!
(AllHipHop News) Rap pioneer Mc Lyte has launched a U.S.-wide talent search to find her new co-star for an upcoming sitcom.
The Hip-Hop icon is developing a new half-hour series called “Partners in Rhyme,” which will center on a female foster kid and social media star who is convinced she will become the next Cardi B.
Lyte, real name Lana Moorer, will feature as a record label executive tasked with taking the teen under her wing.
And to find her young co-star, she has teamed up with producers at U.S. network UMC (Urban Movie Channel) and officials at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) to launch the “Shoot Your Shot” casting call, inviting wannabe actors to apply for the role.
Five finalists will perform at the planned ABFF event in Miami, Florida later this year when a winner will be chosen as the show’s lead.
Lyte, who has featured in TV series like “Power,” “S.W.A.T.,” and “Queen of the South,” is working with Martin and The Jamie Foxx Show executive producer Bentley Kyle Evans on the project.
In a statement, she said, “It’s an honor to be in business with UMC for Partners in Rhyme. “Teaming up with Bentley Evans and Harvest Studios made the creative process an amazing journey. I’m even more excited that my production company, Sunni Gyrl, led by Lynn Richardson, who also serves as Executive Producer, has planted its feet in the production world. I’m excited to see all of the casting submissions and find our co-star.”
“Partners in Rhyme” is expected to debut its pilot episode at the 2021 ABFF, before premiering on UMC.
(AllHipHop News) Cardi B, Rihanna, and Tom Hanks are among the winners for the 2020 Webby Awards.
The “Umbrella” hitmaker has landed the Webby People’s Voice Award for Fashion & Beauty (Social) for her Fenty Beauty cosmetics brand.
Rapper Cardi B picked up the Webby Award and People’s Voice Award for Fashion & Lifestyle (Video) for her Nails advertisement with Reebok.
The Webby Award for Comedy (Video) went to Squarespace’s “Make It With” Idris Elba campaign, while Lil Nas X’s Panini video was named the winner of the People’s Voice Award for Best Art Direction (Video).
Other winners included basketball icon LeBron James (Best User Interface (Websites) for ESPN’s Welcome to Bron Bron Land), hit fantasy drama “Game of Thrones” (Volumetric/6-Degrees of Freedom (Video) for The Dead Must Die Magic Leap Experience), and Saturday Night Live (People’s Voice Award for Best Use of Stories (Social).
There were also new prizes for stars using their online presence for good during the coronavirus pandemic, with Special Achievement honors for DJ D-Nice (Webby Artist of the Year), and Swizz Beatz and Timbaland (Webby Break the Internet Award).
(AllHipHop News) The pandemic may have expedited the release of rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine, but it has delayed justice for the guy accused of kidnapping the rapper.
As Tekashi 6ix9ine celebrates his freedom by starting new beefs, lawyers for Anthony “Harv” Ellison are worried about counseling their client due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Due to the pandemic we have not been able to spend any meaningful time with Mr. Ellison to discuss sentencing issues and prepare for his sentencing,” explained Harv’s lawyer Deveraux Cannick.
As a result, Judge Paul Engelmayer has decided to push Harv’s sentencing back until July.
So the judge allowed 6ix9ine to serve about four months of his sentence in home confinement as a reward for cooperating with the Feds and testifying against the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods in a blockbuster RICO trial in October of 2019.
The rapper’s testimony helped earn the Feds guilty pleas or convictions against 11 members of the gang.
Harv is facing up to 30-years to life in prison when he is sentenced on July 23, 2020.
Tekashi 6ix9ine has not been bashful about addressing his co-conspirators, even though Harv Ellison is still await sentencing, as is Kintea “Kooda B” McKenzie
Sean “Diddy” Combs and a variety of people touched by music industry legend Andre Harrell, will celebrate his life in a live TV special airing on REVOLT and BET.
(AllHipHop News) Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, and Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds are joining forces to honor late record executive Andre Harrell as part of a new U.S. TV tribute.
The influential Uptown Records founder, who famously helped put Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Mary J. Blige on the path to superstardom, passed away earlier this month at the age of 59.
Now his famous friends and colleagues are coming together virtually to remember Harrell for a special show titled, “Mr. Champagne and Bubbles,” a nod to one of his nicknames.
Chris Rock, Naomi Campbell, director Lee Daniels, groundbreaking music and film executive Clarence Avant, and singer Robin Thicke will also feature during the broadcast, as will embattled Def Jam Recordings co-founder Russell Simmons and his model ex, Kimora Lee Simmons, among many others.
“Mr. Champagne and Bubbles” will air commercial-free this Sunday on BET and Combs’ REVOLT TV, for which Harrell served as vice-chairman.
(AllHipHop News)The 25th anniversary of the late Notorious B.I.G’S debut album, Ready To Die, has inspired a new clothing line.
Bosses at sportswear firm Fila are set to unveil the special collection, Fila x Biggie, in honor of the landmark record’s release.
It will feature six looks, including a T-shirt and visor from the Fila archives, as well as a new sneaker model.
“We created this exclusive collection to honor a groundbreaking album, artist and pop culture icon who has left a lasting impact in the music world and beyond,” a statement from Louis W. Colon, the vice president of heritage and trend for Fila North America, reads.
“The era’s most iconic Hip-Hop stars embraced the Fila brand, with memorable looks. In 1993, Biggie took the stage in Philadelphia wearing the T-shirt and matching visor that are part of the collaborative collection today.”
Biggie, Born Christopher Wallace, the star was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997. His killer has never been found.
Meanwhile, bosses at Fila will donate a pair of children’s sneakers to the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation for every shoe sold from the capsule on its website.
The items will be given to children from the rapper’s native Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.
(AllHipHop Features) KSI is rapidly becoming a household name. The British native has amassed millions of subscribers and billions of streams all over internet platforms. This has allowed him to pivot from a gamer to YouTuber to actor to rapper to professional boxer. This amazing ascent has been recorded and documented on social media. But, unlike many, KSI has a relentless, genius work ethic that has paid dividends.
AllHipHop’s Chuck Jigsaw Creekmur hosted a talk with KSI and got more familiar with this brilliant, hard-working master of all trades.
AllHipHop: How you doing, man?
KSI: I’m kind of tired. I’ve been promoting this album left, right, and center, man. I’ve been working my ass off. This Corona thing hasn’t stopped me, man. If anything, it’s made me even more busy, because yeah, I’ve been focusing on YouTube, training, boxing training, recording with the Sidemen, doing videos of my own, working on new music, promoting the album, doing press. Yeah, it’s been 110% right now.
AllHipHop: That’s it. You know at least 150%, 175% at least. Well, give people the rundown on your album, and who’s on it. It’s a solid project from what I’ve heard.
KSI: Yeah, bro, I got Offset, Rick Ross, Lil Baby, Jeremih. Fam, list goes on. Trippie Redd. When it comes to features, I went ham. I know I’m probably the only UK artist to do something like this for sure. And for me, it’s always about breaking the boundaries of what a YouTuber can do. I started out as a YouTuber, and I still see myself as a YouTuber. And yeah, I want to show that I can do bits when it comes to this music scene.
I’ve been doing music for years, man, 10 plus years. And this is my first album, my first solo album. And I’m ready, man, I’ve put a lot of time, effort, and work into this. And yeah, everything has just come together perfectly. And I’m ready for people to hear it and be shocked. But good shocked. Yeah.
AllHipHop: Yeah. First of all, give everybody the title of the album, and the 411 behind the title.
KSI: Yeah. So title of the album is called Dissimulation. It means to hide one’s thoughts or feelings. And yeah, there’s some personal songs on this album. There’s a lot of things that happened in my life that I feel I haven’t really let people know, and I kind of wanted to show that through the album. For me, it’s therapeutic, making songs where I’m able to really show my emotion, and show how I felt with certain situations. And yeah, I think I do that quite well. Well, I mean, I don’t care what anyone thinks if I’m being honest. I did it the way I wanted to do it. And yeah, it’s that.
AllHipHop: That’s what’s up. Now, I have to backtrack just a little bit, right and I’m going to be honest, I’m a huge boxing fan, right. So I tuned into you based on boxing. So I’m saying, I’m like, “Who is this guy? Who are these guys fighting in this pay-per-view?” And then I saw it was a sold out. And I’m like, “KSI?” I’m looking at the Wiki, and it keeps saying, “Gamer.” It keeps saying, “YouTuber.” And I’m like…
KSI: “What’s going on?”
AllHipHop: I couldn’t wrap my brain around it. So I was mind blown after looking into your history as to how, first of all, how far back you go number one. And then number two, to realize you’re just now a professional boxer, you’re really at the earliest stages, it’s not really what you do, do, per se. First things first, I got to ask you, what made you take that leap into professional boxing?
KSI: Well, it started out as a joke, my G. The whole thing started as this joke. There was a YouTuber called Joe Weller, and he was fighting another YouTuber called Theo Baker. They were having a fight, they were the ones that started it. And I made a little comment on Joe Weller’s Instagram going, “Oh, I’ll fight the winner.” So obviously, they had their fight, and then Joe Weller goes, “Ah, all right, let’s go, let’s fight.”
So obviously I said that as a joke, I didn’t really want to fight, because I didn’t know how to fight, never fought in my life, I’ve never done anything to do with physical or combat sports. So we went back and forth, I was telling him I don’t want to do it, he was like, “Nah, nah, you’re a pu$$y, let’s do it. Let’s go. Come on.” It was long. Even fans were getting on me, everyone was getting on me. So I was just like, “Screw it, let’s go.”
So I trained for the fight. We had it in February, a place in London, I forgot what it’s called now. But yeah, how have I forgotten? It was a place in London. And yeah, we fought, and I won. TKO round three. And then yeah, from then, I called out Logan Paul, called out Jake Paul. Logan said yes, so I fought Logan. We drew the first time in Manchester Arena. Second time, we fought in the Staples Center, and I beat him.
AllHipHop: Okay, got you. Now, whenever I see somebody get big names, Rick Ross, Lil Pump, Smokepurpp, all these figures, really respectable guys in the game. How did you build with a Rick Ross? Was it off the music? Was it money?
KSI: So Rick Ross and Lil Baby, they both heard the song, and they just f##### with it, man. They f##### with it. They saw my journey, they saw the whole boxing thing, and they just loved it, man. They were just like, “Yo, you got hype.” They saw my fan base, they saw my numbers, they saw my previous songs, and they were like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, this guy is going places.” They knew. So there were like, “Yeah, we’ll hop on this easy.”
Same with Trippie Redd, same with Offset. Offset don’t just jump on anything. You can give him as much money as you want, if the song is trash, he ain’t going to do it. So he heard it, and he just f##### with it so much that he wanted to be in the music video as well. And yeah, that’s dropping on Friday as well.
Bro, these guys, they understand, and they get it. They understand I’m not just jumping on the bandwagon of music, and just releasing s### music, bro. I’m out here releasing dope as f### music that I can’t wait for people to hear, and I can’t wait to perform.
AllHipHop: Yeah. I got to give you your respect, man. I mean, the music is really, really good. “Houdini,” it’s a pop hit. But on the other side, the song with Lil Pump is banging.
KSI: Yeah. Yeah, you’ll like Cap for sure. Same as the other songs on the album, man. Yeah, there’s some big bangers. And then even in the deluxe as well, man, there’s some big bangers. So yeah, yeah, yeah, we going ham with it, we going cray.
AllHipHop: I was giving my daughter a lecture. I’m like, “Yo, you got to master one thing first.” I’m yelling at her like, “Master one thing! And then go to the next thing, and then …” But you seem like you’ve mastered everything you’ve touched. I mean, you’re still a young dude.
KSI: I think I just find a way to balance everything perfectly. So I find a way to balance the YouTube, and the music, and boxing. I just make it all work. If I would focus on YouTube the whole time, yes, I’d be an amazing YouTuber. I’d just get bored, man. I’m a person that, I get bored easily. So I feel like I need to focus on other things. So right now, I’m in certain modes. So right now I’m in YouTube mode. So I’m just putting out YouTube videos. And I’m having fun with that, and I’m just doing what I need to do when it comes to YouTube.
And then if I need a fight, I’ll be in boxing mode. So I don’t do YouTube, and I don’t do any music, and I just focus on the boxing purely, and making sure when I’m in camp, it’s just boxing. I’m watching boxing, I’m breathing boxing, everything is just boxing. And I just become obsessed with it.
And then when it comes to music, bro, I delve deep. I’m listening to beats upon beats, upon beats, and going studio all the time. I’m just writing, writing left, right, and center, just making beautiful songs, or hard songs, or just experiment, and trying stuff. So yeah, I just find a way to tap into each mode whenever I need to tap into it. And it allows me to do many things at once, which is a beautiful thing.
