(AllHipHop News) Ice Cube and Jerry Seinfeld will headline the inaugural Colossal Clusterfest in San Francisco, California this summer.
Comedians like Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Sarah Silverman, Hannibal Buress, Tig Notaro, Chris Hardwick, and Pete Davidson will descend on the Civic Center Plaza and Bill Graham Civic Auditorium from June 2-4.
The first Comedy Central-sponsored event will feature music from rappers Ice Cube, Vince Staples, as well as musicians Tegan & Sara, and Chromeo.
Festival-goers will also be able to check out onsite attractions dedicated to hit TV comedies South Park, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Seinfeld.
(AllHipHop News) Chuck Creekmur, the CEO of AllHipHop.com, helped make history during Black History month at Delaware State University.
Delaware State University, located in Dover, DE, became the first historically African American institute of higher education to host a TED Talk.
TED, which operates under the slogan ”ideas worth spreading,” is a media organization that hosts conversations from influential, expert speakers even celebrities on education, business, science, tech, creativity, and other topics.
Other speakers at the university included DSU President Dr. Harry Williams, The Charity Company’s Eric Smith, Dr. Francine Edwards, DSU Jordan Gonzalez and others. Wilmington University’s Dan Young organized the entire affair that attracted about 200 attendees on February 11 under the theme of “On the Wings of Diverse Thought.”
The Dover Ted Talk offered a variety of topics dealing with social media, the power of the Black dollar, over-prized text books, happiness and a plethora of other issues. Creekmur, the last speaker of the event, spoke about “Why Planning Is Overrated.” The conversation included his personal account of AllHipHop’s origins, how things didn’t go as expected and included references to Mike Tyson, Jay Z, The Geto Boys, The Smashing Pumpkins as well as scientific, social and opinionated views on planning.
Shortly after the talk, Creekmur, often called “Jigsaw,” said:
“Last week, I delivered my first @Ted Talk at #delawarestateuniversity, a historic moment since it’s a first for an #HBCU. I really appreciate the opportunity and enjoyed talking to the audience. As soon as the video is finished, I’ll share it.”
Dover is expected to have another round of Ted Talks in the summer.
(AllHipHop News) Taraji P. Henson “vibed” out to Kendrick Lamar while getting ready for the Oscars.
The “Hidden Figures” actress stunned at the 89th annual Academy Awards on Sunday (February 26), opting for old Hollywood glamour in a navy velvet Alberta Ferretti gown, that sat off the shoulders and featured a thigh-high split.
She teamed the look with Nirav Modi diamonds around her neck, Jimmy Choo shoes and soft waves in her hair.
“Taraji loves to have a toast of champagne, listen to Kendrick Lamar or classic hip-hop. It’s always fun; we just vibe out,” her make-up artist Ashunta Sheriff told People.
For the make-up, which included a blue smoky eye, luminous skin and a natural lip, Ashunta took inspiration from Diahann Carroll, the first black actress to star in her own TV series.
“(Taraji) loved it,” the beauty expert smiled. “She knows that I know her face as well as my own so she trusts me and doesn’t fight back – usually!”
The 89th Annual Academy Awards Arrivals
Featuring: Taraji P. Henson
Where: Los Angeles, California, United States
When: 27 Feb 2017
Credit: Apega/WENN.com
The 89th Annual Academy Awards Arrivals
Featuring: Taraji P. Henson
Where: Los Angeles, California, United States
When: 27 Feb 2017
Credit: Apega/WENN.com
(AllHipHop News) Chance the Rapper sat down with Katie Couric for a lengthy discussion, and addressed a number of topics, covering his Grammy wins, his religious beliefs and his business structure.
According to Chance, he started reinvesting the earnings from his merchandising business back into his overall career as a musician early on.
The sales of his hats, t-shirts and other products allowed him to focus on a different strategy for marketing and distributing his music, and himself.
“I have a very successful merchandise business. I sell merchandise online at ChanceRaps.com,” Chance explained. “That’s my main revenue. And then also you can buy tickets to any of my shows on ChanceRaps.com. And, you know, I think reinvesting in myself and being faithful to my consumers and to God I’m always covered.”
Chance admitted that running his music career was very demanding, especially after his high-profile Grammy wins.
He recently signed up with CAA to help represent him in various aspects of his career, but he’s adamant on remaining independent with his music.
But Chance admitted he often toys with the idea of signing with a major label, to help offset some of the workload.
“I get to choose how much my music costs. I get to choose when my music gets released. I choose when I go on tour, who I work with, what movies I work with,” Chance said. “But do I, like, sometimes think, like ‘Dang, this would be way easier if I, you know, had a machine behind me?’ Yeah, I think about it all the time.'”
Mobb Deep’s Prodigy has landed a residency at the legendary Blue Note club in New York City. Prodigy will hit the stage for the first of several appearances, on February 25. While he’s there, Prodigy will perform songs from his album HNIC, backed by a live band. Prodigy’s other engagements at Blue Note include shows on March 24, April 21 and Friday, June 2. Other artists who have residencies at Blue Note in 2017 includes Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Two men have been arrested and charged with the murder of DMV rapper Dirty Swipey. Dirty Swipey, born Douglas Brooks, was shot and killed last year in August of 2016. According to local police, 18-year-old Deshawn Watkins and 19-year-old Dante Brewer were collared for shooting the young rapper outside of a Suitland, Maryland apartment complex. “The preliminary investigation reveals the suspects intended to rob Brooks and others who were attending a party in the apartment complex where the homicide occurred,” the cops said in a statement about the homicide.
Swizz Beatz and DMX Courtesy of BFA/Leandro Justen
The Ruff Ryders will reunite on April 21 at the Barclays Center for the “Ruff Ryders Reunion Tour.” DMX, Eve, Swizz Beatz, The Lox, Drag-On and other special guests will hit the stage with the legendary crew in Brooklyn. Ruff Ryders’ founder Joaquin and Darin Dean have relaunched the brand as Ruff Ryders Indy with a deal through Fontana Distribution. Tickets to the event go on sale on Friday, March 3 at 12:00 PM EST.
(AllHipHop News) Members of R&B group Dru Hill have suffered a legal blow after their royalties lawsuit was dismissed by a judge on Friday (February 24).
Three members of the band, fronted by “Thong Song” singer Sisqo, sued EMI and its parent company Sony/ATV, in 2015.
Sisqo claimed EMI executives paid more than $600,000 of his royalties to 27 Red Music Publishing, a company he used to collect various royalties, but he never received any money, while his bandmates James ‘Woody Rock’ Green and Larry ‘Jazz’ Anthony, alleged EMI bosses wrongfully paid at least $30,000 of their royalties to 27 Red.
In an amended complaint, filed in June, they sued for breach of implied contract and declaratory relief.
Sony/ATV and EMI filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit and on Friday, New York district judge Alison J. Nathan granted it, dismissing the claims with prejudice, basing her decision on their inability to plausibly allege an enforceable contract.
Their legal action against 27 Red remains unresolved. Sisqo, real name Mark Althavean Andrews, sued for breach of contract while Green and Anthony sued for breach of implied contract.
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Kodak Black is back behind bars, for allegedly violating his probation.
The rapper was in court in Broward County Florida earlier today (February 28), where officials hit him with multiple charges relating to violating his probation.
According to reports, Kodak is on probation for an incident where he was involved in a strong arm robbery in May of 2016. He violated the terms of his release for these charges.
According to authorities, police saw pictures and video showing the rapper at multiple places that were not approved by his probation officers.
Kodak visited a strip club in a boxing match with Adrien Broner, where he actually walked the boxer into the ring during his fight with Adrian Granados.
Kodak also failed to complete an anger management program, according to reports. He is being held in the Broward county jail, without bond.
(AllHipHop News) Veteran R&B duo TLC are getting ready to release their final album two years after fans helped them reach a funding goal online.
Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins and Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas achieved their Kickstarter goal back in 2015 and now the girls’ manager, Bill Diggins, has announced the finished result will be tentatively scheduled for a summer release.
The funding continued and TLC closed down the fundraiser three weeks later after scoring over $430,000 in donations.
The release delay irked some fans who felt cheated and created a “#TLCIsGoingToJailParty” hashtag on Twitter.
In his new Kickstarter statement, Diggins has apologized, revealing the TLC stars had to complete an arena tour before starting work on the album.
“I could go on in more detail… but the simple fact is that T-Boz & Chilli were inspired to make a record that they could be proud of and they would not settle for less and sometimes you just cannot rush art.”
The new album will be the “No Scrubs” hitmakers’ first studio album since the death of bandmate Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes in 2002.
(AllHipHop News) South Carolina-bred emcee Nick Grant traveled across the pond to spit bars on Tim Westwood TV.
“Tim Westwood is legendary and an iconic platform, therefore I couldn’t play with the opportunity,” Grant tells AllHipHop.com about appearing on the show in London. “Just blessed and excited to show what I’m capable of doing with my talents to a new audience.”
The Culture Republic representative tackled the classic “Ice Cream” beat off Raekwon’s 1995 masterpiece Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
(AllHipHop Rumors) Welp! It looks like The Game and Meek Mill won’t be getting along anytime soon!
The two rappers were already beefing last year, and they are again…kinda…now that The Game gave his disapproval of how Meek Mill was handling Remy Ma ethereing Nicki Minaj over the weekend.
The Game wanted to know how could Meek possibly turn his back on Nicki, and laugh at her getting destroyed, when according to him, Nicki made Meek poppin’.
“Instead of leaving yo bum a-ss like she should’ve, she held yo skinny rat face havin a-s down! Now she gone & all you can do is try & sh-t on her every chance you get over social media? Straight p-ssy sh-t,” said Game.”
Well Meek Mill & Omelly weren’t feeling The Game’s long azz post, and took to social media to let it be known just how they felt.
“The n-gga a weirdo, y’all know that sh-t. Who the f-ck write that paragraph that n-gga wrote? Ain’t none of us read that sh-t. We like, ‘Yo, this n-gga trippin.’ Man f-ck that sh-t. This some weirdo sh-t. You gotta be a weirdo to write all this sh-t about another man. And it’s b-tch sh-t. You in the middle of some sh-t; get the f-ck outta here, you weirdo. How is y’all even vouching for this sh-t? Y’all out here standing up for the wrong sh-t,” said Omelly.
Meek Mill even chimed in saying,
“We gon’ f-ck his b-tch, that’s all we gon’ do. I know one of his baby mom’s mad. I know one of your baby mama’s wanna get you back.”
This reply video is a little weird with Omelly in the mask lol. The L’s just keep coming for Meek and now for his ex, Nicki! Do you think either one of them will fully be able to recover?
Word on the street is that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian got a little reality check over Oscars weekend.
Apparently the celebrity couple isn’t exactly as Hollywood or A-list as they’d like to think.
As anyone would, apparently Kimmy Kakes wanted to attend the Oscar after parties but she wasn’t invited to ANY this year!
According to RadarOnline, KimYe was flat-out rejected from several of this year’s biggest Oscar after-parties!
“Kim was hoping to go to the Vanity Fair party, or really any party. But she didn’t receive an invitation!” said an insider.
Apparently Kanye and Kim have been denied access to post-Oscar celebrations in the past as well…so much so that Kim is said to not have attended one since Elton John’s 2014 bash.
Hollywood can be hell a lot of times, but it seems to me that the parties wouldn’t mind the extra press from the couple attending. Then again, they love to keep things exclusive, and to remind you that your name is NOT on the list.
The Wests are said to have watched the award show at home this year. That’s so unfortunate as their “friends” Jay Z and Beyonce were definitely spotted at the “functions”. LOL.
“They watched the show at home. Kim is often reminded that she is not a real star when she goes to any of these things, but she and Kanye really wanted to have a fun night out,” said the source.
Ouch! They are banning KimYe nowadays?! Be nice Hollywood; be nice!
(AllHipHop Rumors) Word on the street is that Nicki Minaj allegedly has bigger problems than just Remy Ma!
Rumor has it that the head Barbie is skating on thin ice with Republic Records. Apparently the label has invested so much into her, but all of her returns aren’t looking good.
Her features are said to be forced so the label can get some of their money back, and she’s said to require a lot when it comes down to marketing. Her contract with Young Money is said to almost be done, but apparently Republic doesn’t want to give her another deal because some of the top folks allegedly don’t like her, and she’s allegedly caused many problems for other artists who are actually “liked at the label”.
There’s more! An insider is also claiming that Nicki was forced to make up with Taylor Swift, had a staged beef with Miley Cyrus, and apparently it was Birdman and Mack Maine’s idea for Nicki to alter her appearance so drastically with various procedures.
The inside source has spilled quite a bit more claiming that Minaj did in fact sleep with Drake, Birdman, and Wayne. They even went as far as claiming that Wayne is “broke” and struggling with a heroin addiction.
Word on the curb is that Nicki’s new forthcoming album will largely have a Carribean/dancehall sound to it and that she somehow got Drake to help her write some of her music.
We wonder if Remy knew that Christina Aguilera apparently blocked her from being a part of the voice, and that allegedly big name actors have said they wouldn’t be involved in films if she were to land a role in them.
Wowzers! Say it ain’t so! Regardless or not if all that Remy and this insider have said is true, Nicki’s fan base, the Barbz, still ain’t playing with anyone who wants to speak ill of their leader.
Rumor has it that the Barbz even leaked Funk Flex’s personal information for him siding with Remy and straight up clowning Nicki. Flex also says one can’t be the Queen of rap if they [Nicki Minaj] use a ghostwriter. Man this is getting interesting. It looks like Nicki isn’t going to respond to Remy!
(AllHipHop Rumors) Welp it looks like some legendary female rappers and some peasants are getting in the mess that is the Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj beef, and for some it’s voluntarily.
Lil Kim clearly took Remy’s side, as she cheered Remy on at a concert they were both on. She even went as far as to say that now her and Remy may collaborate, and it may even be time for a “Ladies Night” follow up.
Well, there are many memorable lines that one could take away from Remy Ma’s Nicki diss, “ShETHER”, such as Nicki protecting her child molesting brother, her ass shots popping, her allegedly smashing Ebro, Lil Wayne, and Drake, her previous beefs etc, but it looks like fans also felt like Remy brought Foxy Brown into the beef.
Foxy fans assumed “ShETHER” was also used to take a shot at one of Nicki’s allies, Foxy with the line,
“I kill rappers, and you good as dead, b-tch, talkin’ sh-t about me to a deaf b-tch, and usually I have sympathy for the impaired, but not when you hard of hearin’ from untreated gonorrhea.”
Foxy and Nicki have been known to be close over the last few years, and everyone knows Foxy suffered hearing loss for a few months.
Foxy seems to be sending a message to Remy not to play with it! Foxy expressed that she isn’t into the back and forth, but she will kill these heaux!
“I don’t battle tho I #bodybag,” said Foxy.
If you care, tired azz super thot, Katt Stacks also came at Remy Ma, and decided to take up for Nicki Minaj. Katt calls out Remy for “picking” on Nicki for not going to prison, and she even tells her that she’ll make Remy her girlfriend.
Azealia Banks also said that she feels like Nicki Minaj would call the police if something were to really go down!
What a week man! Don’t you think that Nicki should respond to Remy with a diss!?
(AllHipHop Music) Lyrics are supposedly back. Nah. Mysonne proves that and has endured enough moons to see some of the masses come back. Mysonne is one of the realest without question, but he’s evolved considerable since getting out of jail. He’s how repping at marches and is an activist. Take a listen to this and ehy
Lastly, I have to commend him for continuing to rap as Funk Flex slaps him and guffaws in the background.
(AllHipHop News) Los Angeles rap legend Xzibit recently revealed his plans for the future and his retirement from rapping.
According to X, he is planning on leaving rap after he finishes his 10th album.
Currently, Xzibit has released seven albums to date and he is in the studio preparing new material for his eighth album.
“I’m going to do three more projects and then I’m done rapping,” Xzibit said. “’I’ma do 10. At the end of what I’m doing right now, it’s gonna be 10 albums. Right now I’m on seven, so I got to do three more and then as a rapper, I will physically be done creating new albums.”
Xzibit said that even though he will physically retire from rap, he plans on releasing a new crop of artists through his record label, Open Bar Entertainment.
“I will continue to produce other artists continue Open Bar Entertainment, put out the new generation of Open Bar Entertainment and then just be satisfied with what I’ve done. Nobody told me when to start and no one is going tell me when to stop.”
Xzibit said his main motive for retirement is the fact that he is a new father, having two sons.
While Xzibit has not released an album since 2012’s Napalm, the rapper warned his competitors that he was still on point with his lyrics.
“You know I don’t play with it, you know I still got bars I will destroy your favorite rapper f##k what you think,” Xzibit said. “You know I continue to write on paper, I’m a purist and there’s something to be said for that. I’m not taking away anything from all the new rappers.”
The platform got a huge shout out during the 2017 Grammy Awards when Chance The Rapper name dropped the service during his acceptance speech.
Two weeks later, SoundCloud has announced the roll-out of its mid-priced subscription plan.
Users can now experience ad-free content for $4.99 per month.
The German-based company is looking to recruit new subscribers for on-demand streaming as competitors such as Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Red continue to battle for market share.
“SoundCloud’s unique mix of content, much of which can’t be found anywhere else, is an incredibly attractive offering for music lovers who are at the forefront of what’s happening now and driving what’s next in music,” says Alison Moore, Chief Revenue Officer at SoundCloud.
She continues, “SoundCloud Go answers the call from our users who want the ability to take the huge catalog of content found in SoundCloud’s free, ad-supported offering with them anytime, anywhere, without interruptions, at a very affordable price. And at the same time, we’re now giving users who haven’t made the jump into a music subscription plan, a robust, fully on-demand option at an accessible price.”
The new SoundCloud Go provides listeners access to over 120 million tracks.
SoundCloud Go+, formerly known as SoundCloud Go, is a premium subscription which gives subscribers ad-free, offline access to more than 150 million tracks for $9.99 per month.
Additional exclusive product features for SoundCloud Go+ will be revealed later this year.
“SoundCloud offers the largest, most diverse mix of established and emerging artists, all in one place. Now with three ways to experience SoundCloud: SoundCloud’s free, ad-supported offering, SoundCloud Go and SoundCloud Go+, users have even more freedom to choose the features and content they want, at the price that fits their budget,” adds Alex Ljung, SoundCloud’s Chief Executive Officer. “By expanding our offering, we not only enhance the experience for listeners on the platform, but also unlock new revenue opportunities to further expand our creator-payout program.”
SoundCloud Go and SoundCloud Go+ are available on the iOS App Store, Google Play, and at soundcloud.com.
Users can sign up for a free, 30-day trial of SoundCloud Go or SoundCloud Go+. A monthly subscription fee will be added at the end of the trial.
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Li’l Kim is shooting down reports that she will aid Remy Ma and her conflict with rapper Nicki Minaj.
Lil Kim gave props to Remy, but said that she is not thinking about “Ol girl” (Nicki Minaj).
“Number one: y’all giving ol’ girl too much credit. I’m not even thinking about that,” Lil Kim told Billboard. “I’m not even thinking about ol’ girl! I’m so far past that. That’s never on my mind.”
Lil Kim said Nicki has not been on her mind for “a long ass time at all” and she made it clear she would be staying clear of Remy’s beef with the Young Money rapper.
The Queen Bee said she was a fan of Remy’s diss track “shETHER,” labeling the song “good hip-hop music” just like Drake’s “Back to Back was hard.”
“I got nothing to do with that. When I had my situation and my situation came up, I handled my business. If anybody comes to me, if ol’ girl came to me, I’ma give them the business,” Lil Kim promised.
“That’s just the bottom line of it. So if it ain’t coming my way, I ain’t got nothing to do with it. Me and Remy is cool. I hate when media do that. That’s the thing,” Lil Kim said.
(AllHipHop News) A Toronto rapper who is on tour with Drake has run afoul of the law back in his hometown.
Rising rapper Pressa is out on the road with Drake on the “Boy Meets World” tour, despite the fact that he’s due in court this October, to face serious gun and kidnapping for ransom charges.
Pressa, 20, is accused of taking part in shooting up a condo and kidnapping somebody for ransom last April.
According to the Toronto Sun, the rapper, born Quinton Gardiner, is also allegedly the leader of the Young Buck Killas gang.
Local police have lashed out at Drake as well for bringing an alleged kidnapper on tour, since Pressa could ultimately be a flight risk.
“I find it troubling,” said Inspector. Mike Earl. “Here’s a guy (who’s) supposed to be on bail on serious charges. Why is he permitted to leave country and tour with somebody who is a literal mentor to the city’s youth?”
Pressa is serving as an opener on the tour, which has made stops in England, Germany, the Netherlands and other European countries.
The say detectives knew that Pressa had been granted a “bail variance” which allowed him to travel for work.
But investigators, who are attempting to get Pressa back to Canada, say they had no idea the rapper would be granted wide-ranging traveling freedoms like luxury jets, tour buses and five star hotels, while he is on the road with Drake.
Inspection said expired milk and raw hamburgers were stored above collard greens and found the mold-like substance growing in the kitchen area.
TMZ.com caught the rapper on camera revealing some good news about his fledgling business.
“I’m very happy, it took less than a week,” 2 Chainz said very calmly. “It took less than a week. As you know, I am a first-time restaurant owner. We had some issues last week that really wasn’t no issues. It was a random inspection on a Friday, one of our best nights.”
The rapper blamed people in the neighborhood for drawing attention to his restaurant, although he did not elaborate.
“You can’t stop what God already has planned for you, so yeah. No one gave us any news credit when we scored a 99. Some people just want to see things go down. Never once did I discredit anybody, it’s a team thing.”
2 Chainz also revealed that he may be expanding Escobar Restaurant & Tapas, which is now offering brunch.
(AllHipHop Features) There are tons of adjectives to describe Raekwon, but there would likely be little resistance to the native New Yorker being labeled a Hip Hop legend. As a member of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan and the creator of the certified classic album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, Rae has stamped his name among the greatest emcees to ever touch a microphone.
However, The Chef is not done. Next month Raekwon returns with his 7th solo studio LP The Wild. The 16-track project is short on Wu member contributions, but Lil Wayne, CeeLo Green, Andra Day, G-Eazy, and P.U.R.E. offer featured appearances.
Raekwon recently ignited the rollout for The Wild with the G-Eazy assisted “Purple Brick Road” as well as the cut “This Is What It Comes Too.” Last week, I caught up with the ICEH20 Records head for a discussion about his new album and more. Here’s part 1 of our conversation.
AllHipHop: I wanted to start with the title The Wild. What does that title represent for you?
Raekwon: The title, The Wild, represents the times that were in and the vibe I’m getting from what I’m seeing going on in the world. And it’s me expressing my energy from the wild side. When you look at the title, it’s kind of self-explanatory.
I look at today’s industry as being a jungle. There are different rules. Me being out in the wild for so long and looking at what it is today, it’s just different. All that I’m doing is expressing myself in the greatest way to let people know that I still get busy on the mic, I can still swing around this jungle and still be the king at what I do.
I really observe the characters that play a role in this music and how they’re so funny, weird and having their own way of judging things. It’s also looking at society with this guy as our president and all the foolishness that’s going on.
Just know, that’s how I’m perceiving the world to be at this moment. It’s wild times. So I felt this title fit the criteria of what’s going on today. It wasn’t like I called it The Wild before I made the album. I called it The Wild after I made the album.
I think I did a freestyle on [Funkmaster] Flex a few years ago over Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya?” beat. I think I said at that time that my next album might be called The Wild. It’s just so ironic that the next album is called The Wild.
As you can see on the cover, it’s the whole New York. It’s Time Square which we changed to Crime Square. I’m bigger than a lot of the people on there. I’m coming through as a giant, as a king. I’m coming to see what’s going on with the industry today. As you look down, you see all these different characters at the bottom. This is how I sometimes perceive what’s going on in the world today.
You see the alligator with the smile on his face. People portray that they’re good people, but in all reality, it’s a crocodile smile. The rat pointing the gun at the mole, he thinks he’s tough. But you’re not really tough because you’re not designed for the repercussions that can come, and then you fold under the pressure.
A lot of sh-t that’s going on is happening in that picture. That’s why I say it’s so many subliminals in that picture. When I sat down with the artist named Dan Lish from out of London, he asked me, “Where do you want to go?” So we had to build this whole vibe from scratch. It came out perfect. It came out exactly what I wanted it to be. That’s why I felt the title was perfect for this album.
AllHipHop: I was going to ask about the cover art. As you were talking, I was thinking about how the image perfectly depicts what you were saying about your attitude on the industry and the world.
Raekwon: And New York City not really having an identity. New York City is going through an identity crisis, not really knowing our music that created everything. Now we just seem a little back-in-time with what we want to do because we don’t really know ourselves anymore at that level.
I’m not saying there are a lot of ignorant dudes out there. You still got guys being successful, but there’s really no citizenship where it’s respected no more. It’s like each man for himself. That’s why we had New York looking kind of old and washed [on the cover art] because that’s how it looks a little bit to me today.
‘The Wild’ Cover Art
AllHipHop: You’ve embraced some of the younger acts that came out of New York. Like you’ve done songs with A$AP Rocky and Troy Ave. Do you feel like it’s starting to shift in a different direction or are you still concerned about where the state of New York Hip Hop is in particular?
Raekwon: Those are my young homies. They’re good friends of mine. The bottom line is that I support everybody that’s just made it from one place to another. If you can get out the ghetto and be successful, God bless you.
I just look at it as it’s all about getting in where you fit in with what’s going on today. There are some things I respect. Then there are some things that I don’t respect. I guess the thing I don’t respect is that a lot of artists are being driven off just some one hit wonder sh-t and not really making music that’s going to be timeless or be around for the next twenty years.
I was blessed to have that type of career, and it’s still going. I just want to see more artists be authentic. It ain’t just about being one-sided. Make a full body of work. Show the people you want to be here twenty years later and you want to be seen as the true artist that you are live out its course.
That’s where things become a little difficult when I look at what’s going on today from an East Coast side of things. I’m sure all over the world, everybody has their flaws. Nobody is perfect. I never said I was perfect, but I just think when you’re an artist you’re supposed to be the best at it. I guess that comes in due time when people go through their situations like anybody else.
My opinion is make money, do the right thing, but also be creative, be a little bit more true to yourself and know that at the end of the day, it takes more than just a little record or two to make you be the big guy. It’s all about that legacy. You want to put yourself in the legendary box one day. I feel like a lot of the music today is not aimed at those principles no more.
AllHipHop: I’m sure there are a lot of people that agree with you that a lot of the music now is disposable. You put in the work to create an album that’s considered a classic and people still talk about it twenty years later. You’ve done a lot in the business. What keeps driving you even though you’ve already achieved all these accomplishments? What keeps motivating you to put out music?
Raekwon: What keeps motivating me is the people. It’s just the good and the bad that comes with being an artist. People putting you on a plateau where they feel like, “Yo, you’ve done excellent work in the business. You lasted this long.”
Then there’s the other side. People think because you’ve been in the game so long you’re old, you don’t got it no more or whatever. All these things – I put in one bag and it makes me stronger, just knowing the good and the bad that’s inside that bag. It’s the challenge of thinking that some guys just get old and lose it.
But here it is. You got me that’s getting older, but still getting iller. I still feel fresh. It’s like seeing a n-gga just get home from jail and that n-gga still looks good – that mentality of feeling good about yourself.
You’re eating right, getting good rest, and doing whatever you have to do to take care of yourself. That’s the same mental picture I draw in my mind when I’m writing and being a great artist. I feel good today.
I feel like the production is up to par. It’s not me trying to be something I’m not. It’s not me jumping around and being confused on what people expect from me. It’s all about the growth. I feel like my growth span is really showing off right now in the greatest way.
AllHipHop: Going back to the album, I noticed you didn’t have as many features as your last work. Ghostface [Killah] is not even on it. Why did you decide to keep the features at a minimum this time?
Raekwon: I decided to do that because I felt like my last album, Fly International Luxurious Art, had a lot of successful people on it. It had more features than I ever had in my career on one record. So I just wanted to do something different.
Every time I give you guys an album, I want every album to be a different movie, not always the same players or the same typical joints. I wanted to really reverse that whole psychology and just go back to being an emcee. I put a few names up there that I never worked with that I felt fit the bar of what it is I’m trying to give you.
So I put Lil Wayne on a record. I put CeeLo Green on a record. I have a new artist. His name is P.U.R.E. I know he’s going to be a great guy in the business. I just wanted to go light, but I wanted to do my thing and let people know that I don’t have to lean so much on doing features.
Not having any of my Wu brothers on there was because the time that I’m in at the moment it just happened to be like that. It ain’t the fact that I didn’t want them. It’s the fact that we’ve heard a lot of records of me with my brothers on it, so I don’t feel like every record got to be with Wu members.
AllHipHop: I know you and Wayne had a song together with Q-Tip. Had you ever worked together prior to that?
Raekwon: We were on records with other people that meshed us together. But me and him never had an opportunity to work with each other like, “This is going to be a record for me and you.” I remember Wayne calling me and wanted me to be on a record.
So automatically, this is how real friends do. We trade favors. So when I got on his record, he felt like it was only right for him to get on something for me. We never worked together through the years, and I respect Wayne a lot.
He’s clever. He always pays homage. He’s a legend in my eyes. I just wanted to call him and just say, “I need you to get on this. I found something that I think you would rip. I think the world is going to be like, ‘Wow. The Chef and Wayne?’”
It sounds almost impossible to create, but that’s only to the eyes of those who don’t understand. But to me it was like, “Yo, it’s time. I just gotta give him something he would really appreciate.” The record I gave him – he went in on it. He smashed it like I knew he would.
1.) “The Wild” (Intro)
2.) “This Is What It Comes Too”
3.) “Nothing”
4.) “Skit” (Bang Head Right)
5.) “Marvin” featuring Cee-Lo Green
6.) “Can’t You See”
7.) “My Corner” featuring Lil Wayne
8.) “Skit” (F-ck You Up Card)
9.) “M & N” featuring P.U.R.E.
10.) “Visiting Hour” featuring Andra Day
11.) “Skit” (Bang Fall Down)
12.) “The Reign”
13.) “Crown Of Thorns”
14.) “Purple Brick Road” featuring G-Eazy
15.) “You Hear Me”
16.) “Bang Outro”
