(AllHipHop Features) Washington, DC is best known for being the seat of power for the United States government. Many politicians enter the town as civil servants and leave as wealthy multi-millionaires. For some, politics is the ultimate hustle, the truest form of being a gangster.
Presidents, congressmen, and lobbyists are not the only power brokers to conquer the dark corners of DC. The city also has a history of street generals such as Rayful Edmond, Wayne Perry, and Alpo Martinez securing dominance in the area around the nation’s capital.
The tales of criminal elements and its effect on communities have long been part of the greater American story told through art. Films such as The Godfather, Casino, and Gangs Of New York were windows into the dealings of organized crime.
In the same tradition of those gangster-themed movies, subgenres of rap music took on the role of being an outlet for creators to share the difficult happenings in their immediate world. William “WillThaRapper” Kent is one of the new voices spelling out the realities of urban life in Washington.
“I’m a street runner. I stayed in the streets all the time. So all my music is based on either actual experiences I went through or my men went through,” explains Will. “I’m in the field with my men, so if my men went through it then I was a part of it.”
The 20-year-old Southeast DC native has gone on to insert those biographical moments into his Street Runner, 19 and 20K mixtapes. Will lets listeners understand he has spent time with savages on songs like “21.” Then he turns right around and displays his vulnerability on cuts like “Life.”
Both records are firsthand chronicles, but Will uses the two tracks to present the wide scope of living in the oft-ignored sections of the DMV. It helps people understand there is a lot more to the narrative than just glorifying violence.
The up-and-comer now resides in Capitol Heights, Maryland. Will remembers his Suitland High School days being partly defined by having to make potentially life-or-death decisions.
“It was cool until about the 10th, 11th grade. That’s when you’re not neutral anymore and people start trying you,” says Will about growing up in the DC area. “The same blocks you used to walk through are now filled with ‘opps.’”
Facing opposing crews was an obstacle for a teenage Will Kent in The District. Relocating to southern Maryland caused boredom to become the most taxing hurdle to overcome. It was during that period of time in the Chesapeake Bay region that WillThaRapper first tried his hand at the art of rap.
“I was on probation. My mother moved me to St. Mary’s County for a year, so there was nothing else to do. I was bored. I bought a mic, and the rest is history,” recalls Will.
Just like every other person to eventually pick up a microphone, a young Will was a fan before he started recording. And of course, he still returns to other acts’ music for enjoyment and inspiration.
Will lists fellow DMV representative Lightshow and Dreamchasers leader Meek Mill as contemporaries he plays time after time. Older songs by Lil Wayne are part of the regular rotation as well.
While he has his personal favorite rap stars, it is clear Will has grabbed the attention of arguably the biggest rap talent to emerge from the DMV – Maybach Music Group’s Wale. The onetime Northwest DC resident jumped on WillThaRapper’s already buzzing track “Pull Up Hop Out.”
Washington, DC may be the most powerful city on the planet, but it is still relatively a newcomer when it comes to its place in Hip Hop culture. New York City, Los Angeles, and Atlanta have the infrastructure in place to draw serious attention to a rising entertainer. In contrast, the DMV is still in its initial stages of becoming a national powerhouse.
That developing dynamic allows for cooperation among DMV reps so all boats can rise. It also sets up an environment that could be filled with ill will for the rappers making noticeable moves. According to Will, the envious ones have been kept at bay so far, at least in public.
“Face-to-face, most people lately been saying ‘good job’ and showing love,” states Will. “Not sure what they’re saying behind closed doors, maybe some slick hating sh-t. I don’t know. They’re showing love for the most part.”
He adds, “[The current DMV Hip Hop scene] is f-cking great. Everyone is on the come up. Everyone’s trying to come together. Whether it’s fake or real, I don’t know. I’m with it though.”
The WillThaRapper story is just beginning. Even though all the pages have yet to be written, Will already has career-defining details he plans to see featured in the completed biography.
As a testament to the idea of wanting to grow beyond just being in the streets, Will spends a majority of the song “Shotz” warning those looking to do him harm, but an unexpected bar about attending the prestigious Grammy awards is subtly interwoven into the record’s blatant severity.
“Yeah, I wanna go to the Grammys and win. Only so I can go and give my mother a shout out. I want everyone to know I have the best mother in the world,” declares Will.
The love for his mom is enough to motivate William Kent’s drive to bring a golden trophy back to DC. The desire to elevate his loved ones above the daily issues associated with street life ignites the young man’s effort as well.
In addition, Will’s creative mission includes inspiring the people trapping out the trenches and the guys on the block living. The combination of those personal and professional goals is fostering a genuine ambition within WillThaRapper to leave this Earth as a Hall of Fame level artist.
“Success is when I can lay back with whoever I’m with in my crib and the phone rings and my mom and friends are calling me with normal people problems, instead of hunger, stressing, struggling, and street beef problems. That’s success!” Will conveys. “I’m trying to be big as sh-t. I’m trying to be bigger than the Beatles.”
(AllHipHop News) R&B singer Jeremih returned to his hometown of Chicago last night as part of the “Summer’s Over Tour” with PartyNextDoor.
Reports began circulating Jeremih ended his set after two songs by yelling “f-ck y’all” to the crowd and throwing down the microphone.
The 29-year-old “Oui” vocalist took to Twitter to address the situation that took place at the Aragon Ballroom.
“Chicago u know I love y’all. I didn’t say ‘f-ck y’all.’ I said ‘ah they some hatas! F-ck yalll!’ (to the sound people) that cut off my ears while performing,” Jeremih wrote on the social media platform.
He added, “Truth is ‘they’ didnt want me 2 perform tonight.. it sad people will take ur money and blatantly make it seem like I only want to do 2 songs.”
The “Summer’s Over Tour” is scheduled to continue in Houston on December 1.
(AllHipHop News) Proud father Swizz Beatz has shared a video of his five-year-old son Egypt singing his first-ever song.
The music producer and his wife, singer Alicia Keys, welcomed their little boy in October 2010 and the youngster is already taking after his musical parents.
Posting a clip on Instagram of Egypt sat at the piano, Swizz gushed about how talented the five-year-old is as he sings, “I am the super boy, the super boy,” while playing his composition.
“Proud Dad Alert,” Swizz captioned the video. “Egypt wrote his 1st song Super-boy wait for the fancy fingers at the end Kids you gotta love em #Dedication#hardwork EGY-Keys-Beatz (sic)”
Considering his parent’s musical pedigree Egypt’s talent should come as no surprise.
Kanye West called Swizz “the best rap producer of all time,” while Egypt’s singer-songwriter mom Alicia is a 15-time Grammy award-winning artist.
Egypt also already has a producing credit on Kendrick Lamar’s untitled unmastered record for the track untitled 07, Swizz revealed on social media describing it as the “best dad moment ever”.
Alicia has also gushed about her son’s natural talent during an interview with Ryan Seacrest earlier this month.
“He’s super musical,” the “Girl On Fire” hitmaker smiled. “He always has been, since he was a kid. You could play a rhythm on a drum and he’d duplicate it, or you could do a beat box with your mouth and he’ll duplicate it.
“He’s playing piano and he’s getting good at it, he’s out there practicing. It takes practice! No one is good for no reason, so he’s working on it.”
N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN had an intimate discussion with MC and fellow podcaster Joe Budden. The new episode touches on Joe’s incident with Taxstone, his career and more.
Ganxta Nip is one of the architect’s of Horrorcore Hip-Hop and has been doing it well over 20 years. While the genre has seen many highs and lows, the Houston-based rapper has not wavered in his intent to be he champion of the music. This time, he follows up with “Landlord 2,” where he tells copy cats, he owns the house and they are just paying rent. Don’t pay? You don’t get kicked out. You die. Check it out below.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Don’t play with us ScHoolBoy! Check out what he stated on the Facebook yesterday. I would have had it up yesterday, but the team here at AllHipHop dropped the ball. SMH. Anyway, love the team but I guess I was the most excited to hear that Kendrick and Cole are definitely coming out. BUT, he also mentioned that Andre 3000 is coming out too? Crazy! Even Andre has to feel a way about these wack rappers. Peep!
(AllHipHop News) Lil Wayne’s former bus driver has hit the rapper’s record label with a lawsuit, claiming his feud with Birdman almost cost him his life.
Young Money, Cash Money, Bryan “Birdman” Williams, Young Thug and Peewee Roscoe are being sued by Alvin Lewis, who was driving Wayne’s bus on April 26, 2016, when it was hit with gunfire.
Alvin Lewis’ lawsuit claims that Peewee Roscoe threatened to “spray” the bus after a dispute arose at Compound nightclub, just after Lil Wayne performed.
“Defendants placed plaintiff in immediate fear of death and severe bodily harm by attacking and attempting to kill him without any just provocation or cause,” Lewis claims in his lawsuit.
<strong>(AllHipHop News)</strong> More details are emerging about Kanye West’s mental health, and the breakdown he suffered that led to the cancellation of his “Saint Pablo Tour.”
Kanye was hospitalized after two dates in California, one in Sacramento and the other in Inglewood.
Sources told TMZ.com that the rapper never properly grieved after his mother passed away in November of 2007.
Stress, a lack of sleep, touring and running his businesses, helped send the rapper to UCLA Medical Center for treatment on November 21.
But, the high profile robbery of his wife Kim Kardashian West in Paris, and his mother’s death, helped send the rapper the edge.
Dr. Donda West died after receiving a tummy tuck and liposuction from celebrity plastic surgeon, Dr. Jan. Adams.
In fact, as previously reported, his mother’s funeral was on November 20, the same day he canceled his concert in Los Angeles.
In November 2007, shortly after his mom’s death, Kanye canceled a performance during Victoria’s Secret’s fashion show.
Kanye was supposed to be released to his doctors on Monday (November 28), but those plans with scrap, and the rapper will remain hospitalized for the foreseeable future, according to reports.
(AllHipHop News) N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton will be part of the Grammy Hall Of Fame class of 2017.
The Hip Hop group’s debut studio LP is among 25 songs and albums being recognized by The Recording Academy.
“The Grammy Hall Of Fame represents all genres of music, acknowledging the diversity of musical expression for which The Academy has become renowned,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy in a statement. “Memorable and inspiring, these recordings are proudly added to our growing catalog and are an integral part of our musical, social and cultural history.”
Other ’17 inductees include Jackson 5’s “ABC,” Prince’s Sign O’ The Times, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Billie Holiday’s Lady Sings The Blues, and David Bowie’s “Changes.”
There are currently 1,038 recordings in the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Uh no, how will we live? Muva Rose announced that she’s leaving the ‘gram for a little while.
Amber Rose took to Instagram to reveal that she’s quitting social media for the rest of 2016. The only problems are: an announcement wasn’t needed, there is only one month left in the year, and her assistant will still be posting photos on her page.
Amber won’t be on the ‘gram to show us half naked photos or clap back at those who s### shame. She also won’t be around to come to her reality star friends’ defense when someone is attacking them. Amber you will surely be missed…..we guess.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Uh oh! Who would cheat on Lauren London?
Word on the street is Nipsey Hussle allegedly cheated on Lauren London and now has a side/break baby. Say it ain’t so.
Apparently the mother of the baby girl is currently awaiting a paternity test.
Rumors spread that their was trouble in paradise a few months ago when Nipsey and Lauren welcomed their first child together. There were even rumors that Nipsey was creeping around with another woman and another one of his baby mamas.
The couple quickly clapped back assuring everyone that all was well with them and their relationship. If Nipsey really does have a new break baby, he certainly won’t be the first or last rapper or entertainer to have one. We just wonder how this will affect their relationship.
(AllHipHop Rumors) It looks like Cam’ron & Juelz Santana have gotten caught up in their own scandals.
The new season of Love & Hip Hop New York has barely been on a few weeks and some sexually scandalous material has emerged.
Cam’ron is making appearances on the show for his girl JuJu, and Juelz and Kimbella are back with the sh-ts.
Women have been coming out left and right claiming that Juelz is cheating on Kimbella again, and that Cam’ron has a little harem of his own that he rotates in and out.
Multiple women sent blogger Fameolous in various details. One woman claimed that JuJu was messing around with Cam when he was still with his son’s mother. She even went as far as to say Juju was a groupie turned wifey who f-cked on the first night!
The woman is so mad with Cam that she even shared part of his telephone number in an attempt to validate her claims. She also said that Cam has bumps on his penis, and that it’s all fun and games until he spreads STDs to others.
The woman also claims Cam will mess with any kind of woman, and he’s allegedly been messing with a molly-popping- woman that lives in a 2 bedroom apartment with 8 people.
The lady is also claiming that Cam’ron has a history of messing with hood rats from Newark and Patterson, New Jersey.
According to the tips, it may not have been a good idea for Juelz to do Love & Hip Hop right now especially since he allegedly has so many sidekicks. Then again, the woman believes Kimbella isn’t going anywhere because she needs him for relevance. Carry on!
