Frank Ocean released “Blonded 004,” aka the fourth installment of his Beats One radio shows.
During the new episode, Frank plays a diverse tracks from Kodak Black to Boards of Canada and premieres an alternative version of the track “Lens” featuring Travis Scott.
Kid Ink is gearing up the release of his upcoming project “7 Series” set for next week, but first the L.A.-native blesses fans with a new track titled “Lottery.”
A few weeks back, Jay Critch and PnB Rock were seen in the studio together cooking up, and now the two rising stars return with a new track from the session.
(AllHipHop Features) Brian “Stro” Bradly hasn’t even reached his 21st birthday, yet he’s already spent most of this decade building an impressive resumé in television (Red Band Society), film (Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk), and music (“Champion”).
America was introduced to the rapper-actor as a teenage contestant on the first season of The X Factor. Six years later, Stro is no longer The Astronomical Kid seen on the music competition show. He’s now a young man with a fresh creative voice that’s defying the stereotypes of Millennial rappers.
In many ways, Stro is built in the mold of master emcees from Brooklyn. He’s a poet capable of arranging words over beats which feel like the traditional Hip Hop of his hometown while also tapping into the energy of modern rap culture. The 20-year-old lyricist demonstrates his gift at cross-generational representation on his new LP titled Grade A Frequencies.
Following other projects like B.O.A (Birth Of Astro), The Chosen One, and Computer Era, Grade A Frequencies has Stro operating on another level as a music artist. We spoke about his latest body of work in part one of our conversation for AllHipHop.com. The discussion also featured Stro talking about New York City radio, potentially signing another major label deal, and more.
AllHipHop: You rapped “I don’t make music. I make frequencies.” Can you elaborate on the meaning behind that and how it relates to the album title?
Stro: I’ve been rapping for like 12 years. So that’s like my whole life. For the longest time in my career, when I got behind the mic, the focus was to be the best rapper. Recently, I just started discovering a lot of dope music.
It may not even be Hip Hop. It could be a group called King that put out an amazing album called We Are King. Matt Martians from The Internet put out an album called The Drum Chord Theory which is amazing. Then I just found out about a rock group called Unknown Mortal Orchestra that put out an amazing album called Multi-Love.
All of this music hit me in a deeper way than it just being music. I started thinking back to my childhood and experiences I’ve had with music. They way music affects your brain and affects the listener is deeper than just audio.
I study and analyze music in a deeper way than the average person. So I understand music is really a frequency, a vibration that makes you feel a certain way. So me saying, “I don’t make music. I make frequencies,” is my way of telling people I’m in a different place when it comes to creating.
AllHipHop: I found it interesting you only have nine tracks on the album. Lately, in Hip Hop, it seems like people tend to pack a whole bunch of tracks on the album, but you kept it minimal.
Stro: This for me is more like an LP. People call it an album, but it’s really an LP to me. I didn’t really record it like an album. I guess if you have an original body of work that you’re selling then it’s considered an album, but I recorded it more as an LP.
It’s like a reintroduction or a sign of what’s to come from me. This is definitely a different body of work from my earlier stuff. The lyrics are there, but it’s more about the frequency and the vibe. So I tried to keep it short.
AllHipHop: I saw you tweeted that you’re putting out a separate LP this year.
Stro: Yeah, I just wanted to let people know. I’m definitely trying to put out more music. I put out one project every two years. That’s because I judge based on substance. I can understand a person like Kendrick Lamar or J. Cole putting out a body of work and not saying nothing for two years.
But I’m not Kendrick Lamar or J. Cole, so I can’t be on that wave of staying away for long. So I gotta keep feeding people music. The second LP – I don’t want to talk about it too much – but it’s definitely coming this year.
AllHipHop: On the “Cool Kids,” you talk about how some people say they never see you in the hood. Is that something that weighs on you as your career continues to grow?
Stro: My life is very weird. I’m not famous to the point where I can’t take the train. But every once in a while people notice me on the train. So when I said that, I’m not trying to make it seem like I was a famous ass dude.
But I went back to my old high school, Boys and Girls. There was a lot of love there. But there were a lot of people shocked like, “He went here?” I’m from the hood, but I don’t think that matters when we have a conversation. You’re not going to assume I’m from the hood.
I definitely got certain people that feel away when I don’t want to be on the block or in the hood. They’re not understanding that’s not the type of wave I’m on now. Being a person with a little bit of buzz, they take that the wrong way as me selling out. I spent the majority of my life in the hood. That’s not a place I want to be anymore.
A post shared by #GradeAFrequencies 4/21 ? (@strothemc) on
AllHipHop: On “Brownsville Freestyle” you rapped about staying independent. But on [Taylor Bennett’s] “New York Nights,” you were talking about maybe doing a deal with Def Jam. Are you considering signing with a major label again?
Stro: It would have to be a fair deal. I’m not anti-major label. I’m anti-getting jerked. If somebody comes up to me with something that’s comfortable, I would definitely sign. I think I just said Def Jam in that song because it rhymed. I don’t want to be creatively jailed. I don’t want to have too many restrictions. It has to be the right type of relationship.
AllHipHop: A few years ago you had a debate with [Hot 97’s] Ebroabout New York City radio.Joey Bada$$ did an interview with Hot 97 recently and brought up some of the exact same points you were making years ago. In your opinion, do you see any difference at all now?
Stro: Ebro’s a character man. [laughs] Joey said the same sh-t I said. [laughs] He might have added two more points. But when I went up there and debated, it was just one of those things you want to know. I wasn’t like, “Yo, play my record or I’m not going to make it.”
I actually don’t listen to New York radio, so it’s not something I care about enough to go up there and debate it again. It’s the same thing with certain websites. If a website’s not putting my stuff up, I’m going to wonder why they’re not including me in the conversations or posting about my music. But if I don’t check it, I’m not that hurt.
I mess with AllHipHop. So when y’all post my records I appreciate that. But if y’all didn’t post my records, I’d feel a way because I’m a genuine fan of AllHipHop. I check it all the time.
It’s the same situation with radio. If I listened to Hot 97 or whatever station all the time, I would feel a way. But I’m at a point now where I keep the aux cord on deck, keep the iPod, and keep my headphones on my head. So I’m not really in tune with what’s playing on New York radio. And I don’t care enough about it to vent about it anymore.
When I saw the Joey thing, I thought it was dope he went up there and pulled their card, like a million artists that have gone up there. It’s always New York artists going up there complaining, and Ebro hitting them with a hot take and trying to make a joke out of it. But I think it’s definitely something people should be concerned about as far as the future of New York music is concerned. But I’m over it.
AllHipHop: How do you discover new music that you find yourself enjoying?
Stro: Honestly, that’s another thing with the frequencies. It finds me. I just hear stuff. Being that I listen to all different types of music, it literally finds me. Sometimes it’s as simple as clicking “shuffle” on Tidal. I use Tidal a lot.
They got this thing on Tidal called “track radio” where they give a list of songs that are in the same realm as the song you were just playing. I discover music like that. Or by asking people around me.
AllHipHop: You understand internet culture in 2017. People are always looking for stuff to make conclusions about some “hidden message” you’re trying to say. So I wanted to ask you about the “Bryson Filler” interlude. Some people may take it as you’re dissing or mocking Bryson Tiller. What was your intent with that track?
Stro: It’s a joke. I needed something to cut into the LP just to change the tone. When you listen to the LP, it starts off on a more turn up vibe. Then as it gets toward the end, the vibe gets more mellow. So it’s just a joke.
When I grew up listening to Hip Hop, a lot of my favorite albums like Chicken-n-Beer by Ludacris… He’s got a skit on there where it’s an old man that’s a fake 50 Cent. It’s a play off of Get Rich or Die Tryin’. It was just a joke. It ain’t a diss.
I f-ck with Bryson Tiller. I’m pretty sure people are going to hear it and go, “It’s a diss.” Why would I diss Bryson Tiller? I don’t know him. I have no reason to diss him.
AllHipHop: That’s just the culture we live in now. You can say two words and it becomes a diss on Twitter.
Stro: I hope when people listen to it they understand it’s a joke. That’s something I want to bring back to Hip Hop -those skits and that comedic aspect. I’m a rapper, but I’m also very funny in person. That’s something I do. I be in the room singing like Bryson Tiller. It’s just a joke.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Well that was fast. The internet was all over Tyga after the paps took a pic of him looking guilty as hell with some new chick named Jordan aka Kardashian Lite. Well, Kylie has wasted no time is fueling rumors that she has a new man now.
In a recent video post, that shows nobody’s face, it has been rumored that Kylie Jenner is now dating rage rapper Travis Scott. The clip is quick and really just shows two people holding hands and one of them maybe looking like Kylie and a shadowy person.
Here is a recap of Tyga’s goofy self looking like he got caught coming out of a gay w#########. The chick denied that they are seeing each other, but nobody believes that malarkey.
(AllHipHop News) Brian “Birdman” Williams and his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams are also accused of falsifying financial accounting records, in a new lawsuit filed by the owners of the record label that originally signed hit rapper Drake.
Aspire Music Group was created by industry powerhouses Cortez Bryant, Gee Roberson, and Derrick Lawrence.
In a new suit filed last week on April 18 in Manhattan, Aspire claims Cash Money deliberately interfered with their recording deal with the Drake.
“Defendants have brazenly engaged in a systematic and pervasive effort to cheat Plaintiff out of its contractual entitlement to tens of millions of dollars in profits and royalties, and to its one-third ownership interest in the copyright to Drake’s first six albums. Plaintiff brings this action to right this egregious wrong,” the new claim reads.
The lawsuit claims the Williams’ and Cash Money provided fraudulent accounting statements, and beat Aspire out of their portion of a $10 million advance Drake received from Cash Money, to deliver his first six albums for the label.
Aspire claims Cash Money rarely presented any statements regarding Drake’s earnings, and when they did, the documents comprised of mostly overstated deductions, and eventually, nothing at all.
“Plaintiff and its principals have received nothing more than a few modest advances from Defendants in connection with the Aspire/YME Agreement,” the lawsuit says.
“Moreover, instead of fulfilling their contractual obligation to provide these accounting statements on a monthly basis, Defendants initially provided no statements whatsoever,” lawyers for Aspire claim. “Then, when pressed, Defendants provided only sporadic, deceptive statements containing inflated and impermissible deductions. Eventually, Defendants ceased to provide Plaintiff with any accountings notwithstanding their obligation to do so.”
In the latest action against the legendary label, Aspire says it is owed at least $4 million Drake’s $10 million advance, not including what they might be owed in royalties from Drake’s#### albums like Thank Me Later, Take Care, Nothing Was The Same, Views and even his most recent playlist release, “More Life.”
Lil Wayne is also suing the label for $51 million, claiming Birdman and Cash Money are holding his money and his highly anticipated album Tha Carter V, hostage.
(AllHipHop News) Kendrick Lamar is one of the most discussed rappers of the day and for good reason. DAMN. is a critic’s darling,K-Dot is the peoples champion and album sales are the best for 2017.
However, Kendrick has shared a part of his personal life as it relates to DAMN. – his mother’s reaction.
His mother, who was present on Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, said that this is her favorite album from her son.
(AllHipHop News) Eve, Fat Joe, The Lox, Cassidy, French Montana and Swizz Beatz impressed during a Ruff Ryders reunion gig, as DMX struggled through his set.
Stars from the hip-hop label took to the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center over the weekend and fans went wild as several special guests made an appearance during the gig.
Bronx natives Fat Joe and Remy Ma kicked off the night as they performed their huge hits “Lean Back,” “All the Way Up” and Remy’s solo effort from 2006, “Whuteva.”
French Montana, who had joined in the group effort for “All The Way Up,” then performed “Unforgettable,” “Ain’t Worried About Nothin,” “Pop That,” and his verse from Bobby Shmurda’s “Hot Boy (Remix).”
Eve blew the crowd away as she took to the stage, gave the strongest performance of the night, with her set including hits “Love Is Blind,” her Gwen Stefani duet “Blow Your Mind,” “Satisfaction,” “Who’s That Girl” and her verse from Missy Elliot’s “Hot Boyz (Remix).”
The LOX paid tribute to the The Notorious B.I.G. when they brought out Junior Mafia’s Lil Cease to perform “Get Money” and his verse from Lil Kim’s “Crush on You.”
After jumping into “All About the Benjamins,” the hip-hop trio enlisted Brooklyn’s Uncle Murda to perform “Cam’ron Voice” and M.O.P for “Ante Up.”
Rapper and producer Swizz Beatz performed his own solo efforts, including “Money in the Bank,” during his hour-long set, as well as the tracks he has produced, including Drake’s “Fancy,” T.I.’s “Louie Rag” and Jay Z’s “On to the Next.”
The headline act DMX then stormed the stage, wearing a black Ruff Ryders jersey emblazoned with the number 88.
However, during his hit-laden set which included hits “How It’s Goin’ Down,” “Party Up” and “Ruff Ryders Anthem,” he launched into long speeches in between tracks, losing momentum which confused the crowd.
He was then told he had to cut his set as he was running over, to which he shouted, “They can kick rocks!” before singing the Phil Collins hit “In the Night” to the crowd’s dismay.
“Don’t expect me to be a role model!” he yelled as he closed his set.
The Ruff Ryders label was established in 1997, and birthed several successful number one albums, including Eve’s debut Let There Be Eve in 1999, and DMX’s And Then There Was X later that year.
Over the last several months, we’ve seen David Banner build great anticipation for his forthcoming album, which has included standout releases like “Marry Me” featuring Rudy Currence and the Big K.R.I.T.-assisted single “My Uzi” to name a couple. Now, with the release of The God Box quickly approaching, Banner turns up the dial once again with the release of another track from the impending LP.
Teaming up with Black Thought of The Roots and trapstep trio What The Duck, David Banner delivers the THX-produced single “Who Want It” — another extremely aware single from the Mississippi native that comes filled with nothing but bars filled with knowledge, backed by a stirring, grungy instrumental. David Banner’s impending album, The God Box, arrives May 19thand is currently available for pre-order.
(AllHipHop News) Ice Cube is planning another Friday movie, according to his big screen dad John Witherspoon.
The actor/comedian met the rapper at an airport earlier this month and Cube told him he was developing a fourth film in the cult franchise.
“We’re gonna meet next week and get things together,” Witherspoon said during a radio interview in Florida.
The first “Friday” movie, which also co-starred Chris Tucker and Nia Long, aired in 1995.
A sequel, “Next Friday,” came out in 2000, and the Christmas-themed “Friday After Next” followed in 2002.
“Ride Along” star Ice Cube, who co-wrote the “Friday” movies, first talked about a new sequel last year, revealing “Last Friday” would only work if he came up with the right story.
“Can’t do ‘Last Friday’ unless we can do it right,” he said. “Ball is in (studio) New Line Cinema’s hands. Bat is in mine.”
He also dismissed rumours suggesting his son, actor O’Shea Jackson, Jr., and comedian DC Young Fly would be taking over the lead roles in a new “Friday” film, after images of the pair were posted on Facebook.
Sharing a snapshot of the post, he declared: “This is fake. My son doesn’t have a Facebook account. Can’t mess with a classic.”
In a Reddit question and answer session, he wrote, “The next ‘Friday’ movie is caught up in development hell at New Line Cinema. Pray that we get it outta there.”
(AllHipHop Rumors) It has to be tough dating somebody like Nicki Minja. Where do you go from there? Meek needs to find him a scientist or something. Somebody smart! At any rate, there is new intel suggesting that he’s found his new “bae” in Dubai. I mean, why do we care? I don’t know, but this is what people are talking about. This babe from Dubai looks good enough. It seems like a random fan pic to me, but check it out.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTHxb9Lgv5N
Here are some additional images of her. I think people just want to see Meek with a new chick so they can joke endlessly about how she is not Nicki Minaj.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSs_0XeAIFd
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSjHB2MAd2s
I don’t know where people get this stuff from. She and Meek took a picture. What’s more interesting is it seems like Ameriie is in the boy Meek’s eyeline. This is where I draw the line! You stay away from her, Buddy.
How did Ameriie just add another “I” to her name. Maybe somebody was messing up her google images.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Welp! It is all out civil war in Hip-Hop. Young vs Old. Commercial vs Lyrical. Young vs Young. All sorts of volatile mixes. Well, the latest is Cassidy, the Ruff Ryder. Once upon a time, Cassidy was the young rapper coming up and battling it out with cats like Freeway. He has a couple of hit records too. Well, now…he has dropped the bomb.
Last night at the Ruff Ryders reunion show at the Barclays Center, Cass pounced on Lil Yachty, Philly rapper Lil Uzi Vert and even Brooklyn’s own Young MA.I thought people liked Young MA? I think Cass is trying to start something with somebody that has some bars. Those other people got nothing for Cass. They may not even know who he is. Check out the video below.
(AllHipHop News) The heirs of slain concert promoter Eric Johnson are suing Young Jeezy, accusing the rapper of killing their father.
Johnson was shot dead backstage at a Jeezy and Wiz Khalifa concert in Mountain View, California in 2014, and now his family is calling for justice.
The dead promoter’s kids claim an eyewitness told Mountain View police officials the shooter looked like Jeezy, and the witness repeated that claim in a deposition – and picked the rap star out of a photo line-up as the killer.
A second witness described the shooter to a police sketch artist, who drew someone that looked “eerily similar to the way Young Jeezy looked” according to TMZ.
Johnson’s kids are curious why Jeezy was never charged and they are suing the hip-hop star for funeral expenses and other damages as part of a wrongful death suit.
(AllHipHop News) Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. is now the top album of the years, crushing the 2017 record set by Drake’s More Life.
DAMN. surpassed 300 million streams in it’s first week out, the second album this year to achieve such a feat. Drake’s More Life pushed out 385 million streams late March.
Kendrick’s opus straight sold 325k, which Hits Daily Double reports is about 100k more than More Life.
Billboard suggests strongly that K-Dot will push 530,000 to 550,000 equivalent album units, but other metrics go as high as 610k.
DAMN. dropped on April 14.
Kendrick’s Untitled Unmastered. (2016) and 2015’s To Pimp a Butterfly also topped the charts.
(AllHipHop Rumors) This dude is a mad man or a dumb man. I think the latter. Well Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown feels like he has a great, big chip on his shoulder. So guess what he decided to do? GET A BIG CHIP TATTED ON HIS SHOULDER. A POTATO CHIP. Yes, people. This second year NFL player not only got a POTATO CHIP on his shoulder, but he also felt compelled to tell everybody via social media. Now, every is going in on dude over it. I find it funny, especially since he is a Dallas Cowboy. Not a fan.Anyway, in true social media fashion, he took it down when the heat got too hot on the plantation. Check it out:
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Jay Z is expanding his TV resume by executive producing a series about racial issues in America.
His six-episode series, titled “Race,” will offer “a stark and provocative look into systemic injustices in America”, using documentary, animation and archival footage to outline issues surrounding financial inequality, the criminal justice system, social media, activism, and family.
The series will also feature present day stories from a variety of immigrants and first generation Americans, according to Variety.com.
“Race” will air in 171 countries in 45 languages.
The project is part of Jay Z’s two-year film and TV deal with The Weinstein Company, which he signed last year.
(AllHipHop News) VH1 will give viewers of “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” and the Black Ink crew a behind-the-scenes tour of both of the hit series, through three special episodes.
First up is a special on Joseline Hernandez, called “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Joseline’s Special Delivery,” which will chronicle the turmoil and joy she felt giving birth to her daughter Bonnie Bella.
The second special also centers around “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta.”
During “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Dirty Little Secrets 2,” various cast members and producers from the show each expose each other and break down all of the drama that occurred over the past six seasons of “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta.”
The third and final special is about the Black Ink Crew, called “Black Ink Crew: Behind the Ink.”
The Black Ink special will be hosted by cast member Sky, and will show the top 10 craziest moments from all of the seasons of “Black Ink Crew.”
“Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Joseline’s Special Delivery” Premieres Monday, May 1 at 8 PM, the “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Dirty Little Secrets 2” plays on May 10 at 8 PM, while “Black Ink Crew: Behind the Ink” debuts on May 17 at 8 PM ET.
(AllHipHop News) OK. So…Tyga is all the rage on social media today and its because of his face, not his raps. Apparently, Tyga was stepping out and got COLD busted! Or was he? As you should know, Tyga managed to score with Kylie Kardashian or is that Jenner? I can’t keep up. Anyway, Tyga may or may not be dating this new chick Jordan, but the images says “BUSTED!”
Here is the crazy thing: Jordan used to date Justin Bieber and be a waitress at H######. Here are the images in question.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTKDE8KB7JK
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTKZZHUhzvv
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTKBbcdlArp
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTKh2IRAq8j
By the way, she denies with emoji that she is dating Tyga!
