(AllHipHop News) Rapper Rick Ross celebrated America’s Independence Day holiday while on house arrest by hosting a huge pool party at his Atlanta, Georgia mansion.
The Hustlin’ hitmaker is currently dealing with the legal implications of his alleged involvement in an assault which reportedly took place at this home last summer, but that didn’t stop Ross from marking the 4th of July weekend with a big bash at his lavish pad on Sunday.
Video footage posted online by party goers shows Ross enjoying the festivities himself by taking a dive into his outdoor swimming pool as his guests cheered him on – all while wearing his ankle bracelet.
Fellow rapper Meek Mill – who recently completed his own stint on house arrest – and his girlfriend Nicki Minaj also attended the weekend event, while photos Ross posted on his Instagram page show Outkast star Big Boi and singer Omarion present, too.
Ross also shared an aerial shot of his mansion while the pool party was in full swing, and captioned it, “The Untouchable Empire.”
The Hip-Hop heavyweight, who has been allowed to continue working while under house arrest, has been boasting about his luxurious lifestyle on social media in recent weeks, sharing snaps of himself receiving a private four-hour spa treatment from celebrity massage therapist Loyale, of Green Room Massages.
However, Ross recently claimed being confined to his home, despite his luxurious surroundings, was not ideal, describing his punishment as a “f**ked up position” to be in during a recent chat with British radio host Tim Westwood.
Ross is facing aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and kidnapping charges for allegedly attacking groundskeeper Jonathan Zamudio at his Atlanta estate in June, 2015.
(AllHipHop News) Joe Budden chose to hit Drake with a preemptive strike by going at the OVO boss with a nearly seven minute diss song called “Making A Murderer Part 1.” While Drake has yet to officially respond, another rapper has stepped in with some bars for Budden.
Battle rap legend Hollow Da Don renewed his rivalry with Budden by dropping his own version of “Making A Murderer.” The two emcees famously went head-to-head at the Total Slaughter event in 2014, and Hollow was crowned the victor.
Hollow’s “Making A Murderer Pt. 2” includes the Loyalty Over Money leader claiming that his battles get more views than the number of plays for Budden’s podcast. The New York representative also rapped about Eminem’s Shady Records supposedly abandoning the Slaughterhouse member.
Both Hollow and Budden have spoken about being friends with Drake. But Budden still decided to address his issues with Drake publicly which ultimately drew a response from Hollow.
Budden’s verbal attack against the “One Dance” performer stems from his viral rant where he called Drake’s Views album uninspired. He believes Drake then sent subliminal shots at him on “4pm In Calabasas,” and there have been rumors the YMCMB representative planned to answer Budden on an upcoming collaboration with French Montana.
Listen to Hollow Da Don’s “Making A Murderer Pt. 2” below.
(AllHipHop News) President Barack Obama celebrated America’s birthday with the annual July 4th party. The POTUS honored military veterans and their families with a concert special in the White House’s East Room.
TDE emcee Kendrick Lamar and singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe were tapped to perform. Lamar ran through several of his hits including “Money Trees,” “Swimming Pools (Drank),” “B-tch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” and “Alright.”
K. Dot and Monáe assisted the Commander-In-Chief in singing happy birthday to Malia Obama as well. The First Daughter turned 18 years old on July 4.
One month after being released early from prison, Gucci Mane already has an album in the works and three singles under his belt.
With the release of his first project post-jail Everybody’s Looking dropping later this month, Gucci Mane is literally documenting the making of the album and the rapper has more material than we’ve thought.
Recently, Gucci posted a video on his Snapchat, showing all of the raps he wrote while in jail.
In the brief clip, the Atlanta emcee had his home studio’s wall covered with verses written over his three years of being incarcerated.
Expect Everybody’s Looking is going to be a long album.
(AllHipHop News) – Despite the fact that publications as mainstream and unbiased as The Washington Post and Time Magazine recently issued full transcripts of the speech that Jesse Williams gave on June 26, 2016 at The BET Awards, apparently not everyone agrees that Williams’ words are something to be applauded.
On July 1, 2016 Erin Smith started a petition on the popular site Change.org claiming that ABC needs to fire Williams from it’s long running show “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Smith launched the petition on the grounds that his words were not political, but a “racist rant” pitted against “law enforcement and white people” as per the Change.org petition.
While it is not known exactly what spurred Smith to take to Change.org to voice displeasure with Williams’ speech in such a public forum, it is should be noted that a former member of Black Hollywood’s in crowd was the first to call Williams’ words a direct affront to white people.
On Wednesday, June 29th, former “Clueless” star and habitual Fox News pundit Stacey Dash went on record via blog post to incongruously call Williams ” the perfect example of a Hollywood plantation slave,” while also stating that Williams’ words were “nothing short of an attack on white people.”
As reported by ET Online and other news outlets, Dash also painted both BET and Williams with the same brush, accusing both the “Grey’s Anatomy” star and the cable network of “keeping racism and segregation alive.”
In keeping with Dash’s views, Smith’s petition also labels William’s words as hate speech leveled specifically at white people.
As of this article, Smith’s petition has gained 1334 supporters with a goal of 1500 to send Smith’s petition to ABC.
However, on Change.org. Williams would seem to already have his defenders.
Murphy’s petition, aptly titled “Don’t Let The Racists Win! ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ Don’t Fire Jesse Williams,” currently has 13,080 supporters.
If the petition reaches it’s goal of 15,000 supporters, it will be sent directly to “Grey’s Anatomy” creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes.
Shonda Rhimes, who was named by Time Magazine as one of 2007’s 100 People Who Help Shape The World, is one of television’s most successful and formidable executive producers.
She is also African-American.
So far no official statement has been issued from either ABC or Shonda Rhimes in regards to Williams’ speech or either petition.
(AllHipHop News) Kim Kardashian has shot down rumors suggesting her post-baby body has been digitally enhanced in Fergie’s new music video for “M.i.l.f. $.”
Kanye West’s wife, who gave birth to second child Saint in December, has been showing off her slim physique in recent weeks after shedding her pregnancy pounds with regular work outs and the help of dieting program Weight Watchers.
She further flaunted her sexy figure with a raunchy appearance in a clip for singer Fergie’s new promo, released last week, in which a blonde Kim douses herself in milk while wearing a t########## T-shirt and cut off denim shorts.
The footage prompted some critics to question whether her small waist had been altered using computer software program Photoshop, but the 35-year-old shut down the claims in a post on social media app Snapchat late on Sunday.
Sharing behind-the-scenes clips from the video shoot, Kim made her feelings clear by writing, “F**kYoPhotoShop”, before crediting a waist-training corset for her sexy new look, adding, “#Corsetlife.”
Kim and her sisters Kourtney and Khloe have all previously posted images of themselves wearing the popular corset contraptions on social media, claiming the belts have helped them achieve their famous hourglass figures.
The new mom is joined in Fergie’s video by Ciara, Devon Aoki, Amber Valletta, and models Chrissy Teigen and Alessandra Ambrosio, who both appear with their children.
It’s not the first time Kim has been accused of having her image digitally retouched.
She sparked similar controversy in 2014, after posing for her infamous ‘break the Internet’ nude photoshoot for Paper magazine, but magazine editors quickly dismissed the allegations.
“So many people have asked us, ‘Oh, is that butt… it can’t be real, it’s padded, you added to it, in retouching…’ That is all 100 percent Kim Kardashian,” Paper’s editorial director, Mickey Boardman, told E! News at the time.
However, he confessed a few changes were made to the cover photo, simply to “make it look as good as it can for a magazine cover”.
“We did not create a body. We did not shave pounds of her waist,” he added. “That is who she is. That’s what she looks like. That’s why she’s a superstar.”
(AllHipHopNews) The digital legacy of Prince will live on as the pop icon’s official websites from 1994 to the present will be archived by The Prince Online Museum.
“This Museum is an archive of that work and a reminder of everything he accomplished as an independent artist with the support of his vibrant and dedicated online community,” says Sam Jennings, director of the Prince Online Museum and webmaster of Prince’s NPG Music Club, which provided exclusive Prince content from 2001 to 2006 through subscription.
According to The Fader, the website currently hosts 12 of the 20 plus Prince websites.
There will reportedly be no downloads sold and no membership fees required, according to Jennings, because the project was executed by individuals close to Prince, simply out of love.
The archiving of Prince’s digital legacy is slightly ironic as Prince banned Youtube and iTunes from hosting his music and actually deemed the internet as dead in an interview with The Daily Mirror in 2010.
“The Internet’s completely over. I don’t see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won’t pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can’t get it,” said Prince, who also revolutionized the way independent music was sold online as well.
“The internet’s like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good.”
Prince died on April 21 at the age of 57 from a synthetic opiate overdose. You can give the legend’s digital archive a look here.
(AllHipHopNews) Drake’s dominance on the charts overseas shows no signs of subsiding as the MC hit the top of the Australian singles chart with his track “One Dance” featuring WizKid and Kyla.
This is the track’s seventh week on the top of the charts down under with the Rihanna assisted “Too Good” coming in at fifth place and “Controlla,” claiming the 50th spot.
Overall, Drake has had five songs reach the Top 50 and even he held the #1t on the albums chart in Australia in May with Views, which is currently sixth place on the charts.
The news comes as the Toronto native landed his ninth consecutive week at the top of the Billboard Top 200 album chart, which beat out the previously held record set by Eminem’s 2000 release The Marshall Mathers LP.
Drake’s “One Dance” track is also making waves in the UK as the smash hit set the record for the longest reign at the top of the singles chart in the market in 22 years.
(AllHipHop News) Miami rapper Zoey Dollaz celebrated Independence Day by dropping his new mixtape “Port-Au-Prince.”
Zoey released the tape at 5:09 PM, as a tribute to Haiti. The timing of the release is more than a coincidence – “509” is the telephone area code for the island nation.
Port-Au-Prince was executive produced by rapper Future, who makes guest appearances on two of the 16 tracks featured on Zoey’s new mixtape.
Lil Durk, Casey Veggies and K Camp also check in to assist Zoey, who is signed to Future’s FreeBandz label, which is distributed by Epic Records.
Check out the full mixtape and tracklisting below:
Essence Festival weekend certainly belonged to Oprah Winfrey and her OWN network as it’s new series ‘Queen Sugar’ took over with a star-studded screening, reception, as well as a Q&A moderated by Essence’s entertainment director Cori Murray, on the festival’s main stage. This was the Queen of all media’s first time at the Essence Festival, during it’s 22 year history.
The Q&A featured the cast of the show as well as the creator, ‘Selma’ director, Ava DuVernay. Winfrey & DuVernay teamed up once again to bring the new drama to the network. Winfrey also delivered an inspiring keynote speech at the convention center, and the OWN weekend closed with a cocktail reception at Legacy Kitchen with key influencers, tastemakers, an industry insiders celebrating the new series.
‘Queen Sugar’ is adapted from the novel by Natalie Baszile and tells the story of three siblings who inherit their father’s 800-acre sugarcane farm. After a family tragedy, the family must navigate the triumphs and struggles in order to run the ailing farm in the deep south. ‘Queen Sugar’ is DuVernay’s first television series, and all episodes in the debut season will be directed by women. Winfrey and DuVernay hope to break many barriers with this new series. Winfrey told those in attendance,
“The experience of Sugar has been elevating on every level. I knew that it was the beginning of a new day for our network. It’s a different kind of television. It’s luxurious, sensual, elevated, and it’s real.”
“We stand here in a space by the only Black woman who owns a network,” said DuVernay.
Cast members in attendance included Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe, Omar Dorsey, Tina Lifford, Dondre Whitfield, Nicholas Ashe and Bianca Lawson. Oprah, Ava DuVernay, Gayle King, Lynn Whitfield, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Richard Lawson, Adrienne Bailon, Loni Love, Lalah Hathaway, Stevie J, Mona Scotty-Young and many more were also in attendance.
‘Queen Sugar’ will debut as a two-night event on Tuesday, September 6 and Wednesday, September 7 at 10PM ET/PT on OWN. The series will regularly air Wednesday nights at 10PM ET/PT for the remainder of its first season.
Check out a recap of the reception via RevoltTV below!
While the country celebrates 240 years of independence this week, Hip-Hop has also had some noteworthy things happen in its history as well. Over the course of seven days, classic albums have been released (Paid in Full), legends have been born (50 Cent, RZA), and barriers have been broken (“Walk This Way”).
As the saying goes, “You don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” Here is a look at notable events that took place in Hip-Hop this week from years past.
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(AllHipHop News) Drake has landed a ninth week at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart in America.
His Views has now spent more weeks at number one than Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP, and only two other Hip-Hop albums – Vanilla Ice’s To the Extreme and MC Hammer’s Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em – have spent more weeks on top.
Drake has now become the first solo male artist in 12 years to spend at least nine weeks at number one – Usher last managed the feat with Confessions in 2004.
Beyonce’s Lemonade rises a spot to two on the new countdown, while The Avett Brothers score their highest-charting album ever, as True Sadness debuts at three.
Twenty One Pilots’ Blurryface and Anti by Rihanna round out the top five.
With the rise of Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2016 presidential election, a reactionary nativism has taken hold in America. Resentment towards immigrants and Muslims has found solace in Trump’s promises to “build a wall” between Mexico and the United States, as well as deny further entry to Muslim immigrants. These themes have generated a White nationalistic fervor among Americans who believe they want to “take their country back,” and “make America great again.
What is both ironic and comical about the pleas of these reactionary American nativists is that they are premised on some ridiculous White settler colonial myth about the founding of America. These ideas assume America was founded on notions of liberty and freedom when in reality those rights were originally only assured to land owning White males. What is more important in deflating this pedestrian narrative about American history’s “debt” to its bourgeois slave owning revolutionary origins, is that the most important person in assuring this settler colonial project called America was not aborted less than 30 years after the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence, was a former Black slave who helped lead an Army fellow former African slaves against three European Empires to free his people: Jean-Jacques Dessalines, founder of the independent nation of Haiti.
“But the prejudice of race alone blinded the American people [to] the debt they owed to the desperate courage of 500,000 Haitian Negroes who would not be enslaved.” — Henry Adams, direct decedent of John Adams and America’s foremost Historian of the 18th and 19th centuries
After defeating one of the greatest military expeditions in the history of the British Empire under the leadership of Toussaint L’Ouverture, his second in command, General Jean Jacques Desssalines was charged with the task of ultimately defeating Napoleon Bonoparte’s massive army from the years of 1802-1803 when Toussaint was captured by Bonaparte’s emissaries and sent back to France to die imprisoned.
What is lost on most Americans is that Napoleon Bonaparte, renowned as one of the greatest military minds in Western history, was not merely intent on conquering the former African slaves in Haiti, but also using the opportunity to plant a military expedition in New Orleans large enough to conquer North America and then president Thomas Jefferson’s United States. Hence making the newly independent United States a subject and colony of the French Empire.
“[Napoleon] set his sights on a new goal: restoring the imperial crown’s finest jewel, the lost Saint-Domingue/Haiti. In 1801, he sent the largest invasion fleet that ever crossed the Atlantic, some 50,000 men, to the island under the leadership of his brother-in-law Charles LeClerc. Their mission was to decapitate the ex-slave leadership of Saint-Domingue/Haiti. “No more gilded Africans,” Napoleon commanded. Subdue any resistance by deception and force. Return to slavery all the Africans who survived.
Napoleon had also assembled a second army, and he had given it a second assignment. In 1800, he had concluded a secret treaty that “retroceded” Louisiana to French control after 37 years in Spanish hands. This second army was to go to Louisiana and plant the French flag. And at 20,000 men strong, it was larger than the entire U.S. Army. Napoleon had already conquered one revolutionary republic [France] from within. He was sending a mighty army to take another by brute force [The United States of America].” –“The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism,” Edward E. Baptist
In the eyes of many Americans today deluded with ideas of America’s current military prowess, the notion of Thomas Jefferson and the United States ever being concerned about an impending threat from France may seem ridiculous. What such ahistorical analysis ignores is Thomas Jefferson himself, drafter of America’s Declaration of Independence, was so terrified of the prospect of Napoleon’s army in Louisiana that he publicly stated that Napoleon’s mere presence may force the newly independent United States to run back to cower under the protection of Great Britain’s military, or her national protection completely.
“And yet, as Jefferson now instructed his envoy to Paris, Robert Livingston, “there is on the globe one single spot, the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy. It is New Orleans. Jefferson had to open the Mississippi one way or the other. Should a French army occupy New Orleans, wrote Jefferson, we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and Nation.”—“The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism,” Edward E. Baptist
Thomas Jefferson, America’s founding father, was cowering in fear about the prospect of fighting Napoleon’s Army. The same army the Haitian former slaves had been bravely vanquishing and eventually totally defeated under the leadership of Jean Jacques Dessalines. So much for the idea of American exceptionalism.The capture of Toussaint L’Ouverture on June 7, 1802 instead of weakening the Haitian resistance in fact strengthened it. Toussaint was one of the more moderate Haitian Revolutionary leaders, and he was replaced as head of the Black rebellion by the most feared and brutal of his Generals: Jean Jacques Dessalines. Dessalines planned a war of extermination of every Frenchman on the Island using the revolutionary call “Koupe Tete, Boule Kaye” meaning “Cut off their heads, and burn their houses,”–referring to all French soldiers and Frenchmen in sight.
“By the middle of 1802, the first wave of French forces had withered away [in Saint Domingue/Haiti]. Napoleon reluctantly diverted the Louisiana Army [20,000 soldiers] to Saint Domingue/Haiti. Then this second expedition was also destroyed. So even as Toussaint L’Ouverture shivered in his cell across the ocean, the army he left behind [under Jean Jacques Dessalines] became the first to deal a decisive defeat to Napoleon’s ambitions. Damn sugar, damn coffee, damn colonies,” the first of the Whites [Napoleon] was heard to grumble into his cup at a state dinner. “–“The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism,”–Edward E. Baptist.
After vanquishing Napoleon’s forces in Port Au Prince and Les Cayes, Napoleon’s remaining army retreated to Au Cap, Haiti to be defeated in the final battle of the Haitian Revolution, The Battle of Vertieres, November 18, 1803. This final defeat of the remains from Napoleons massive expedition was so demoralizing that it not only forced Napoleon to give up his plans of conquering North America and the United States, it forced him to enter an agreement that would change the history and trajectory of the United States forever, literally giving birth to the nation it was to become: Napoleon consummated The Louisiana Purchase. Again, this was only possible because of the Haitian Army lead by Jean Jacques Dessalines.Thomas Jefferson expected to only benefit from the situation by acquiring the city of New Orleans. So important was that port city to the potential development of the United States, he was more than thrilled with the possibility of acquiring merely that city from Napoleon. The extent of Bonaparte’s demoralized defeat at the hands of Jean Jacques Dessalines and the Haitian army was demonstrated by the extent of the deal he consummated with Thomas Jefferson’s representative in Paris:
“Napoleon’s minion shocked Livingston [Thomas Jefferson’s representative] almost out of his knee breeches with an astonishing offer: not just New Orleans, but all of French Louisiana–the whole west bank of the Mississippi and its tributaries. now the United States was offered–for a mere $15 million–828,000 square miles, 530 million acres at three cents per acre. This vast expanse doubled the nations size. Eventually the land form the Louisiana Purchase would become all or part of fifteen states. It still accounts for almost a quarter of the surface area of the United States. By the late twentieth century Jefferson’s windfall would be feeding much of the world. One imagines that Livingston found it hard to hold his poker face steady. He immediately agreed to the deal.”–The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism,” Edward E. Baptist.
The efforts of Jean Jacques Dessalines and the Haitian Revolutionary army not only protected the fledgling United States from impending French conquest, the defeat of Napoleon by the brave Haitian former slaves gave America the land mass that would propel it into being one of the most powerful nations in history. None of this would have been possible without the bravery of the Haitian people who wold not be enslaved.
“to the deadly climate of Saint Domingue/Haiti and the courage and obstinate resistance made by its Black inhabitants are we indebted…[The] truth is, Bonaparte found himself absolutely compelled’–and not by Jefferson–“to relinquish his daring plan of colonizing the banks of the Mississippi.” — Alexander Hamilton. Quote from: “The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism,” Edward E. Baptist.
The Haitian Revolution saved Jefferson’s United States from eventual conquest by Napoleon who placed 20,000 soldiers (more than the entire United States Army at the time) in New Orleans to invade North America after he foolishly thought he could defeat the Haitian Revolutionary Army. Those 20,000 soldiers had to be sent to Haiti to quell the rebellion and were subsequently defeated. Napoleon then sold all the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi to Thomas Jefferson for three cents per acre. This is the real story of how America was made great. Next time some Trump supporters wish to pop off about “taking their country back,” just remind them they should thank God and the Haitian people that they even have a country.
(AllHipHop News) Ever since his single “Panda” emerged as one of the hottest Hip-Hop songs of the summer, Desiigner has been labeled as a watered-down version of Future.
While he may be trying to find a way to create his own sound and image as an artist, the Brooklyn rapper keeps making attempts to troll Future and his fans by making memes mocking the rapper.
Now, Desiigner is performing Future’s songs at his concerts.
Desiigner was recently captured performing DJ Khaled’s “I Got The Keys,” which features Future and Jay Z.
Instead of him at least turning up to all of the verses on the song, the “Panda” rapper seemed to pander to Future’s part a bit more.
Future recently opened up about what he thinks about Desiigner during his cover story in Rolling Stone, claiming that he doesn’t even want to his name in the article.
Twitter even clowned Desiigner for performing the song, which he’s clearly not on.
Every BBQ playlist starts and ends with this classic by Will Smith aka The Fresh Prince. Before he was saving the world in Independence Day and helping Uncle Phil find his neck , Will Smith was giving us classic Hip Hop classics like this.
Frankie Beverly & Maze – Before I Let You Go
The 2nd single from the band’s debut live album LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS, this song sounds just as smooth as it did 35 years ago when it released.
Naughty By Nature – Feel Me Flow
The legendary rap group Naught By Nature has given up countless classics such as “O.P.P.” “Hip Hop Hooray” and “Uptown Anthem” but no Naughty By Nature song sets the mood at a BBQ more than “Feel Me Flow.”
Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up
This release from the King of 70s soul music was an instant classic and topped 3 different billboard charts and to this day will get ur drunk uncle up out his seat to bust a dance move until he slips a disc.
Shade Shiest Ft. Nate Dogg- Where I Wanna Be
While the credits say it’s a Shade Shiest song, don’t get it twisted, this is indeed a Nate Dogg song. The both soulful and rugged sound he gave this and every other song he appeared on is something that will truly be missed in the game and will never be duplicated.
Michael Jackson – P.Y.T
No music list of any theme is complete without The Goat Michael Jackson. There’s many songs from MJ that can be played at a BBQ, but in 2016 with Wale making the remake with “MY PYT,” it’s only right we go with the original. As long as you have some pyt’s around, you can’t go wrong.
Kanye West – Good Life
“PYT” is such a great a song, it helped birth another summertime classic, “Good Life.” With Kanye using samples from “PYT,” T-Pain lacing the hook and Kanye arguably at his apex, this song epitomizes the word timeless.
The Gap Band – Outstanding
There’s a reason artists like Charlie Wilson can remain relevant after being in the game for 40 years. For certain artists it seems like everything they touch turn into gold. He’s helped craft hits for Snoop, Justin Timberlake and of course himself as the lead singer of The Gap Band and no song from The Gap Band will bring the warm summertime feel of nostalgia more than the classic “Outstanding.”
Snoop Dogg- Beautiful
It’s only right we follow Outstanding with another classic featuring Charlie Wilson. With help from Pharrell , Snoop gives us a classic that can be enjoyed by all age groups, which isn’t always the case for Snoop, but is necessary at a BBQ that will most likely have children and senior citizens who’s always ready to yell “that’s not music!” present.
Zapp and Roger – Computer Love
This has and will always be a banger, but I gotta be honest. The scene from “Menace 2 Society” with Caine rollin up to the BBQ in the Mustang on chrome with this track blastin is so embedded in my head, I can’t help but think of this as a summertime anthem. With that said, this song’s influence is immeasurable. From the thousands of people implementing auto tune to their music to The Goat Tupac using the hook from this song on Temptations to the dozens of people who has sampled this song, “Computer Love” is a bonafide classic.
Wreckx-N-Effect – Rumpshaker
Teddy Riley is one of the most underrated producers of alltime. He’s mastermind of legendary groups like Guy, Blackstreet and Wreckx-N-Effect who all have “summertime anthems”, like “No Diggity” and “I Like,” but if your BBQ is filled with fine ladies, Rumpshaker is the jam you wanna throw on.
R.Kelly – Backyard Party
While a lot of the songs on the list were added due to the vibe and nostalgia the song brings, this song by the king of R&B was created specifically for a BBQ. Another great summertime anthem by Kellz is the 2003 hit Dance In The Name of Love.
Outkast – The Way You Move
Arguably the greatest rap group of all time, Outkast has reinvented themselves numerous times throughout their career. In 2003 they released the Grammy Award winning double disc album that would go on to sell over 10 million copies. One of it’s biggest singles with the smooth “The Way You Move” with Big Boi handling the rhymes and Sleepy Brown holding down the vocals.
DJ Ghost Town – My Boo
Most kids today would call this the “Running Man Song” but way before it’s recent resurgence into the young Hip Hop culture, the So So Def classic My Boo was controlling dance floors around the world.
Super Cat Ft. Biggie Smalls – Dolly My Baby
Being part Jamaican, it’s only right that one of the first songs Biggie every featured on is a reggae classic. The song also features a verse from Puff Daddy that most people don’t even realize is him until told so.
SWV Ft. The Wu-Tang Clan – Anything
What happens when two of the biggest groups of the 90s collab on a track? A timeless classic is created…… well sometimes. Anything has the perfect summertime vibe and a verse from Method Man that I recommend to every young Hip-Hop fan who want’s to know what the definition of “flow” is.
Ja Rule – Livin It Up
Say what you want about Ja, but the brotha knew how to make hit records. Most were songs that your girl sings along to in the car until you wanna jump out the window, but “Livin It Up” is a song that even the fellas can sing along to.
Earth Wind and Fire – Let’s Groove
I can’t even put into words how much I love this song. To many including myself, EWF is the greatest group of all time and on most days. “Let’s Groove” is my favorite song from any artist from any genre. One of those songs that can be appreciated any and everywhere.
Tupac – I Get Around
From my favorite group of all time to my favorite solo artist of all time. Almost every fan of Hip-Hop that I know, knows every word to this song. This is one of those jams you put on and watch everybody rap along to during a game of spades and you’re almost guaranteed to see somebody bust out this dance move
Zhane is an extremely underrated group in my opinion. In the 90s they were cranking out hits, one of my favorites being the collab “It’s a Party” with Busta Rhymes. However, their biggest song was “Hey Mr. DJ,” rightfully so, because to this day this song will have everybody turnin up at any BBQ or party.
LL Cool J – Around The Way Girl
Uncle L has so many hits, it’s difficult to just choose one for a playlist. He mastered the art of of blending the smoothness of R&B to the ruggedness of Hip-Hop, which resulted in him having a extensive catalog of hits.” Around The Way Girl” just embodies the vibe of the summertime that involves getting fresh to go out and bag some honeys at the BBQ or standing at the bus stop, suckin on a lollipop.
Luther Vandross – Never Too Much
This doesn’t even need an explanation, just press play.
A Tribe Called Quest – Check The Rhime
It’s no surprise that Tribe is considered the greatest rap group of all time by many. They’re conscious enough to be respected by backpackers and Hip-Hop’s more mature audience and they’re raw enough to be appreciated by Hip-Hop fans who mostly listen to “gangsta” rap. Which is the reason why A Tribe Called Quest will always be a go to group to play at any party function.
Lucy Pearl – Dance Tonight
In 1999 Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest , joined Raphael Saadiq from Tony!Toni!Tone! and Dawn Robinson from EnVouge to form the supergroup Lucy Pearl. I still be on the verge of tears (thug tears of course), when I think about the fact that they only made one album. “Dance Tonight” is the lead single to their debut classic album.
Groove Theory – Tell Me
To cap the mix off is the classic “Tell Me.” There’s certain songs that can be put on repeat and listened to all day with no cares and 20 years after it’s release, that’s still the case for “Tell Me.”
Bonus:
The Wu-Tang Clan – Ice Cream
This is a little too raw for the children and grandparents, but once they’re all out the house and it’s just you and your friends, throw this in the mix.
It looks like Joe Budden is going to go at his enemies one more time.
Last week, the poet laureate took his talents to diss Drake and, to a lesser degree, Meek Mill. The only thing is, nobody responded.
Now a recent Instagram post suggests he will return more fire to Drake, who he has accused of sending subliminal shade to him in song. Check out the post below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHbbz2VBXg1/
On Twitter, he offered even more saying, “
I guess this is what I gotta do to make y’all rap.” and “My Condolences.”
I guess this is what I gotta do to make y’all rap.
Meanwhile, Drake’s new album looms at the top of the chart for a 9th week, an impressive feat for these times. Also, French Montana allegedly intervened when Drake was about to respond. Nobody knows for certain.
(AllHipHop News) Get ready Wiz Khalifa fans, the TGOD boss is planning on releasing an album soon.
Yesterday (July 3), the Pittsburgh rapper tweeted that he’s been spending a lot of his time lately mixing music and working on artwork that will drop next week.
Although Wiz wasn’t specific on exactly what he’s working on in the lab, he did announce that his next album is almost finished.
Happy Sunday. Getting new music mixed and artwork done to drop this week.
— Taylor Gang World Leader (@wizkhalifa) July 3, 2016
Also finishing up the album. A bosses work is never done.
— Taylor Gang World Leader (@wizkhalifa) July 3, 2016
It’s that fireworks and barbecue time of the year again. No doubt, among your friends and loved ones it can be wiled away debating who makes the best potato salad and who is most likely to almost go to the hospital over the fireworks. But maybe you want to debate something different this year.
To that end, we’ve decided to compile a list of the best and most under appreciated places to spend the 4th of July in and around the 50 states with a premium on encountering like minded Hip Hop people with whom to enjoy it. Don’t read that as a singles/hookup deal, but as it’s often been said, the Lord helps those who help themselves. So take that with a grain of salt and a roll of the dice.
Atlanta, Georgia. As always, Atlanta is a great city when it comes to partying it up with the people. This year, the Centennial Olympic Park is where it’s at when it comes to the 4th and enjoying free music and many forms of live entertainment suitable for the whole family. It also doesn’t hurt that the fireworks won’t be skimpy as Atlanta boats the biggest fireworks display in the Southeast.
Manhattan, New York – Though it has been reported that some inclement weather might be rolling into NYC in the form of high winds and a Tornado watch, despite the weather Manhattan always over performs when it comes to fireworks and the legendary Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular Show. A 25 minute show that brags some of the best and most “spectacular” fireworks are set off to much pomp and circumstance over the East River every year. To get an even closer look, many opt to try one of the July 4th fireworks cruises offered by the New York Classic Harbor Line. But be warned to check the weather forecast first this year.
Long Beach, California – When it comes to Long Beach, much like Manhattan, it’s all about the water on July 4th, but the vessel tends to be the Queen Mary. The RMS Queen Mary is Long Beach’s as a permanently moored 1936 ocean liner that has been refurbished as a swank floating hotel offering luxe staterooms, swanky restaurants and its own day spa, tearoom and amazing sundeck. For many years it has been the place to enjoy an All American themed July 4th with live entertainment and stunning views of one of the best fireworks displays in Los Angeles. While it must be noted that the live music isn’t exactly Hip Hop at The Queen Mary, the views and the celebration go far in placating those who wish they were blasting something with a little more soul. If the Queen Mary experience isn’t quite the thing, there is always the July 4th BBQ hosted by The Aquarium Of The Pacific, The Bluff Heights Block Party, and for those looking for something that feels a bit more expensive, the historic 4th of July party in the Sky Room at the very top of the Breakers building. Surely you won’t be bored.
Oahu, Hawaii. As Oahu was the site of Pearl Harbor and remains the site of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, the 4th of July never ceases to be a big deal. With the Ala Moana Center and Beach Park annually hosting one of the biggest fireworks displays in the nation, it’s a must see if the spectacle of big exploding lights in a tropical setting equals your penultimate idea of fun for the 4th. Tours of Pearl Harbor are always a big thing for the island, and there is also the Da Hui 38th annual paddle board race, as well as the Kailua Fourth of July Parade and Airshow to get your 4th of July celebrations going.
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. As our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean have never been known for not bringing some flair to a party, if you spend your 4th of July in St. John, not only will you see red, white and blue, but many other colors to compliment a rich and joyous tradition of parade floats, street parties and 4th of July themed carnival. In particular, there is a group of Afro Caribbean Indians who sport purple feathers when they come out and celebrate in all of their July 4th finery. As an added bonus, the celebrating starts on July 3rd, with Emancipation Day, in celebration of the date that the Danish colonizers set the slaves on the island free in 1848. The following day, in keeping with St. John’s status as a U.S. Territory since 1917, the party extends into a full bodied celebration of the 4th of July.
Liberia. The Republic of Liberia, a country in West Africa that began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society, is an unlikely but interesting place to celebrate independence twice. As Liberia declared it’s independence from America as it’s own country on July 26, 1847, Liberians have been known to celebrate July 4th but really save the celebrations and parades for July 26th. So, while it might not be hopping on July 4th it’s potentially a great place to do a redo of the whole independence thing West African style come the 26th.
