(AllHipHop News) Tonight, Lil Kim will accept The Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) Awards biggest honor – the Icon Award and the Queen was pleased to accept the distinction.
“Whenever someone says that they are doing something that empowers women, I was like what? That’s amazing and the fact that they are giving me the biggest award, that’s the Icon Award. I’m speechless. Thank you WEEN,” she told AllHipHop’s Chuck Creekmur.
The WEEN Awards will also honor the following:
Meagan Good (Actress) – Women’s Empowerment Award
Ethiopia Habtemariam (President of Motown Records) – Music Maverick Award
Lil’ Kim (Entertainer) – WEEN Icon Award
Geneva Reed-Veal (Mother of Sandra Bland) – Social Justice Award
Yara Shahidi (Actress) – TV & Film Empowerment Award
Dia Simms (President of Sean Combs Wines & Spirits) – Corporate Leadership Award
Teyana Taylor (Actress and Singer) – Mission Award
Elaine Welteroth (Editor, Teen Vogue) – Editorial Excellence Award
Kim also addressed another matter.
Just a couple short days ago, Lil Kim conducted an interview where she said with considerable levity that she was a “Spanish girl trapped into a Black girl’s body.”
The blow back on social media was serious, as people had a number of negative comments to say about the Queen B. AllHipHop talked to Kim about the aftermath of it all.
“Why is that controversial though?,” she said of her remark. “Because people are stupid. And you’re all dumb. People just like to start s##t when they can’t find anything (else to say). At the end the day, I grew up around a lot of Latinas and Latino Men in my family and in my life. They don’t know that. I don’t give a f##k either. People just want to have something to say. I’m very familiar with the culture and I’ve very familiar with other cultures too. Maybe that’s how I was feeling that day too. I identify with certain cultures, which is a good thing. My daughter is also half Latina and I don’t think that’s by chance.”
“You just gotta laugh at they a####, because they’re stupid.
Kim’s primary function of the evening was to support Floyd Mayweather, who launched TMT Music Group. The boxing promoted several of his new acts and fielded questions from outlets such as AllHipHop.
“At the end of the day, Floyd is my best friend…whatever he needs from me,” she said. “I’m here supporting my Money Team family, all of the new artists. Sunny is gonna be so freakin’ amazing, Lil James, that’s my buddy. He’s so dope. Its a blessing. I understand Floyd a lot, especially when it comes to the way that he connects to music. Me and him connect in so many ways. We have the same taste in music and the same taste in fashion. Sometimes we don’t agree on the same song.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Foot Locker certainly has a thing for celebrities picking on their career downfalls for their latest commercials.
The shoe store is gearing up for its fifth annual “Week Of Greatness” where they have rounded up various athletes and celebrity recording artists to assist them in their nationwide campaign.
The “Week Of Greatness” campaign will includes Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, Gareth Bale, Anthony Martial, Tom Brady, and Ja Rule as the athletes help promote the hottest sneaker and apparel releases from featured Foot Locker brands.
In Ja’s commercial the rapper stars as an Uber driver who takes time out to reminisce on the good ol’ days of his once great career. Ja engages in a conversation with his passengers on the topic of greatness.
It’s good to see Ja Rule having a great sense of humor about 50 Cent “ending” his career.
Hell for a CHECK, I’d have a great sense of humor too. The Foot Locker campaign kicks off Nov. 19.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Cam’ron continues to remind people that he is NOT the one to be played with in business or on social media.
Cam’ron has been shooting down the bull this week after he already addressed the UFC for using his song, and Love & Hip Hop for putting him in commercials like he is an official cast member.
After his dissatisfaction with these occurrences Cam took to the ‘gram to post
“We’ll be reaching out tomorrow, me and my lawyer.”
By the time it got to this poor fan, Cam certainly had a bit of petty left. The fan posted under one of his photos,
“This ain’t 94.”
Cam’ron got the girl together so bad she changed her name or deleted her page. The rapper responded saying,
“I was in HS in 94 lol. This money makes me relevant.. I never wanted to be a rapper.. Big L (a n-gga u probably don’t know) told me I was good.. And I respected that.. I played ball and got money.. But I took rap money and invested.. Because nothing lasts forever.. (Even tho I’m still nice). I see da clothes you dressing ya baby in.. U ain’t never had 1k at one time.. Give me a po box number.. So I can get ur baby right.. I know U a single mother.. Cause u dead ugly.. A n-gga made a mistake and u kept it.. But holla at me,” he wrote.
When are these “fans” going to learn to stop coming for these celebrities. Cam’ron always has a little bit of time to get someone in line.
(AllHipHop Rumors) Even Mama O has to be very careful about what she tweets!
It’s pretty evident that most are not here for the fact that Donald Trump has been elected president.
Oprah isn’t here for him either, but her attempt to promote peace, hope, and positivity while accepting “what we got” backfired.
During a Facebook Live event promoting director Ava Duverney’s 13th Netflix documentary, Oprah took some time out to respond to the backlash she’s been receiving for her recent tweet that promoted optimism as we are forced to go forward into Trump’s presidency.
Oprah originally posted a photo of Obama and Trump next to each other with a tweet that said,
“Everybody take a deep breath! #HopeLives!”
Lady O clarified that her tweet was about having hope during the transition of power, and not her backing Trump.
Oprah stated that she couldn’t breathe after the election because she expected tension and strain. She says that when she saw Trump and Obama being gracious to each other is when she felt she could breathe.
She went on to call her tweet a mistake though.
I think even the most optimistic people can’t help but to be negative with this upset of an election.
Ocean, a notoriously secretive artist, did a rare interview with the New York Times where he talked about dealing with the financial aspect of the music industry.
“It started to weigh on me that I was responsible for the moves that had made me successful, but I wasn’t reaping the lion’s share of the profits, and that was problematic for me,” said Ocean.
It took four years for Ocean to follow up his Grammy-winning album channel ORANGE.
The Los Angeles-based entertainer gained a reputation for being a perfectionist when it comes to his art.
The NYT profile seems to show Frank Ocean is not as concerned about the immediate commercial impact of Blonde.
“With this record in particular, I wanted to feel like I won before the record came out, and I did, and so it took a lot of pressure off of me about how the record even would perform after the fact,” Ocean stated “Once the goal is met, everything else is lagniappe. It’s not essential for me to have a big debut week, it’s not essential for me to have big radio records.”
Ocean did admit he pays attention to album sales for the purpose of knowing where to schedule his live shows and appearances.
Blonde debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 276,000 album-equivalent units.
“I guess there’s a satisfaction that comes with looking at numbers like that, and I’m making, like, No Limit-type of equity, Master P-type of equity on my record,” added the 29-year-old singer-songwriter.
Rapsody brings it on this new 10-track soulful release.
The album “Crown” features Rapsody paired with a number of talented artists. Standout tracks include with “Gonna Miss You” with Raphael Saadiq, “2 AM” with Ab-Soul, “OooWee” with Anderson.Paak and “Fire” with Moonchild.
(AllHipHop News) A suspect is in custody for the murder of pioneering Hip-Hop artist, Mr. 3-2 in a shooting that also left two other people wounded.
The rapper, who started his career as a member of The Convicts in addition to another group with Big Mike, was shot and killed during a gunfight at a Houston gas station.
Police have charged Vincent Depaul Stredic, 39, after he pulled a shotgun from the trunk of his car and fatally shot Mr. 3-2, born Christopher Barriere.
The 44-year-old rapper died instantly, when he shot in the back of the head. Another person was shot in the face and was being treated at Ben Taub Hospital.
Police say Stredic left the scene three times, and when he came back, he then proceeded to shoot the second male.
(AllHipHop Features) In the music game, artists are inspired by other talented stars, and it’s always best to give influential people their flowers while they can still smell them. Kid Cudi received overwhelming support from his fans and peers when the Cleveland native announced he was checking into rehab for depression.
One of Cudi’s musical scions took it a step further by creating a 6-track project dedicated to the man born Scott Mescudi. With production by Taokescheap, Hassan Khaffaf, Humbeats, Phresh Produce, Pablo Dylan, and Montage, OG Maco’s For Scott… is a collection of heartfelt reflections on the artistry of Kid Cudi.
In part 2 of my conversation with Maco, the 24-year-old Atlanta spitter talks about his appreciation for the creator of the classic album Man on the Moon: The End of Day. The discussion also includes Maco Mattox’s thoughts on his relationship with Hip Hop and the music industry.
There’s been a lot of conversation about Kid Cudi and what he’s dealing with in his personal life. There has also been a lot of outpouring of support because his music has impacted a lot of people. You’ve said he’s somebody that you look up to as a musical hero.
I wish nothing but the best for Scott. I can’t put a value on how much he touched my life. I honestly cannot. It’s a lot of moments where I wouldn’t have made it without Cudi. He didn’t know it. Even that realization right there helps you keep going. Even this year with [Maco sings] “beautiful morning,” people are really starting their day with that. He’s giving people joy at the darkest time in his life. So I really hope he finds whatever he needs to be happy. I hope he focuses on himself because he did so much for us.
I like to look at people’s social media accounts before I interview them because I feel like that gives a window into their mind. I noticed you had a couple of posts that suggest you’re not really into the rap game or the music industry at the moment. Would you say that’s a fair assessment?
That’s a pretty fair assessment.
What has led you to have that feeling about the business you’re in?
When you come into rap, you know a lot of sh-t is f-cked up. But you never expect to see how f-cked up it is so fast. A lot of people don’t [see it] because they had to grind for years and years. Things slowly happen over time. But for me, it was like I immediately went to the big boy pool. It was like random guy – boom – big boy pool.
People didn’t even give me a lot of time to become a celebrity. I had to go from being me to… this is something that nobody ever did. I was the first of my kind – being me for the whole world. No apologies for it, but at the same time, people held me up to a standard like 2 Chainz or Drake or somebody. They’ve been doing this sh-t forever.
Even people behind the scenes, people who’ve been through the same thing, they’ll even sh-t on you for something so simple when they’ve done the same things. Or watching people who you helped get into situations let something so simple change them into whole different people.
It’s all that kind of sh-t. There’s f-ckery with the business with the sh-t that goes on. It will disillusion you from the passion of the music. Especially when they’re vilifying you for trying to help them.
All that kind of sh-t will f-ck with you when you know you can get money a million other ways. You don’t really care about sh-t as much. You love it the same, but you just don’t care about it as much. I know I do this well, but the things you gotta do to succeed at this… I can’t even be happy with me if I do all that.
A video posted by Maco Mattox (OG Maco) (@ogxmaco) on
I want to ask you about Quentin Miller, but I don’t want to go back because I feel like that story has already been told. But because you guys were friends, or at least associates, before all that happened, do you think that relationship could ever be mended?
That’s with Quentin and whatever the f-ck he got going on. The narrative is pitched like that sh-t happened and me and Quentin never saw each other again. That’s not what the f-ck happened. I’ve seen Quentin at least ten times since then on random passes and at mutual friends’ cribs.
You can only avoid a n-gga but for so long. And I never avoided Quentin. I don’t have no problems with him. I listen to Quentin’s music. Go to my Soundcloud, go to my likes and see how many times you see Quentin Miller in my likes. I listen to “Dodger” all the time. I put hella random and big people onto that sh-t.
I don’t give a f-ck. All these n-ggas is sensitive is what I’m saying. All these rap n-ggas are sensitive as f-ck. All of them act like girls on their f-cking period. Then when their period is off, they want to be friends again. But when their period’s on, it’s like it’s the end of the world. I don’t rock like that. If you’re my n-gga, then you’re my n-gga. If I didn’t want you to die yesterday, I don’t want you to die today.
How long do you think you’re going to stay in this game? Do you have any ambitions to go into another field and leave Hip Hop?
Nah, I think people misconstrue what I’m saying. I’m being prevented from what I need to do here. What amazes me is you see Future go on tour in Europe and he gets a big ass Fader post. Drake goes on tour in Europe and gets a big ass Fader post. AllHipHop and everybody were talking about it.
But I’m about to do my second tour with just as many countries. I’m not going for four or five dates. I go for f-cking sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty f-cking dates at A1 venues. I sell them out. But everybody acts like it didn’t happen. I go to China and do a whole f-cking tour, and everybody acts like it didn’t happen.
They act like I’m trying to find my way or some sh-t. I’m not trying to find sh-t. I really wish people would start asking me about that: Why the f-ck aren’t people giving you the respect they’re supposed to give you?
Everybody wants to ask me questions about Quentin Miller and about my f-cking eye and about random sh-t. But why not ask me how the f-ck I feel about being one of the best n-ggas doing this sh-t and n-ggas not acting like that’s what’s the f-ck’s going on? How about they ask me about that? That’s how I feel.
I’m going to get money regardless. I’m not going to stop getting money from this sh-t because I earned that. But what I’m saying is I’m not in the same pursuit as everybody else. I’m gonna do the same sh-t [Dr.] Dre did. He spent his whole life trying to get a certain amount of money and in one move made more money than he ever made.
That’s what path I’m on. I’m not on this petty ass sh-t. And I’m still going to be the best n-gga doing this sh-t at the end of the day.
One of Diddy’s Bad Boy’s Is Back. The only thing is that she’s NOT a boy! Remember Mysterious? Mysterious was an artist on Diddy’s reality show “Making Of The Band” and she was one of the key members. Well, Mysterious has returned with a new song that has leaked with Kanye West, Lil Wayne and a dude named Ron Burgundy that I never heard of.
The song is hot, but what is Mysterious up to these days, because I haven’t heard SQUAT from her in years!
Listen and hit me up if you know something.
As I listen, I hear that is Kanye West on the hook. Here is a bit more on her as she talks to Diddy back in the day.
(AllHipHop News) Following the election of Donald Trump, the Hip Hop Caucus is hosting a call-in panel discussion about how to strategize during the next presidential administration.
Celebrities Ty Dolla $ign, Vic Mensa, and Tori Brixx will be part of the “What’s Next? conversation.
Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood will serve as moderator and Grammy winner Malik Yusef will provide poetry reflections.
The conference call is scheduled for November 16 at 7 pm ET.
(AllHipHop News) There are over 2 million people incarcerated in federal prisons, state prisons, and local jails across this country.
In fact, the United States has more people behind bars than any other nation on the planet.
As a result, many Americans have to deal with friends and family members being locked away.
South Central artist Wil$on decided to address his connections to currently detained individuals on the new single “Letter.”
“So we all know mass incarceration is a big problem in the United States. ‘Letter’ is about having loved ones in the prison system,” the 22-year-old rhymer tells AllHipHop.com. “The song is basically how my friend Lonnie Williams and cousin Darion Thompson got there and the questions they ask about what’s going on in the outside world.”
Wil$on’s “Letter”was produced by Compton duo Cook&Jango, founders of the Busy Sounds collective.
The track will be included on the forthcoming Cuz I Felt Like It mixtape.
Pharrell Williams has released a new song from the forthcoming film “Hidden Figures,” which is also featured on the Hidden Figures: The Album soundtrack.
“Hidden Figures” is the untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.
It was a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world.
The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.
Pharrell Williams produced the film’s soundtrack, in addition to partnering with longtime collaborator Hans Zimmer as well as Benjamin Wallfisch to compose the film’s score.
The album is available everywhere Friday, December 9.
(AllHipHop News) It has been a week since the world found out Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States.
Many Hip Hop stars supported Trump’s opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. One of those rappers is Vic Mensa.
The Chicago native penned an essay about Trump’s victory for Billboard magazine.
Mensa wrote in part:
My fight doesn’t end here no matter the outcome. I could have felt a bit more comfortable but a felt sense of security had Hillary won, because the things that I’ve been talking about this year and going hard on are the same. Those things have not changed. They’ve just manifested themselves in slavery, Jim Crow Laws, segregation and mass incarceration. Even the conversations people have about mass incarceration don’t get to the issue. They always talk about nonviolent crimes. They don’t even get the issue and how different this nation treats its prison system. It’s not just nonviolent offenders that need to be re-evaluated. It’s the entire motherf-cking system…
This is not the first time in American history where poor people have been led to believe they’re white and have also been led to believe that their problems are the result of Mexicans, Muslims and black people. It’s just a scapegoat technique to keep them confused and keep them from looking at their real enemies, who really propagate their state of disenfranchisement and major corporations like the president-elect. They’re just pawns in a bigger capitalist and imperialist game. Until we can regroup and re-identify the real issues in our society — which I think Bernie Sanders started to get people focused on – we’re gonna have all of this pointless fighting in this country that’s not taking us anywhere positive.
A young woman appeared on The Dr. Phil show last week, and went public with claims that Eminem is her father.
The girl, is named Haille, just like Em’s real daughter and she presented photographic evidence, which she claims is her mother and a man who looks like Eminem.
The only problem is, Dr. Phil’s guest is a schizophrenic, and her siblings, in addition to her mother, have tried to tell her that she’s wrong about Eminem.
Even Dr. Phil showed a little sympathy for the woman, although he had to have known the ill woman’s appearance was going to go viral.
(AllHipHop News) The Jay Z led Tidal streaming service pulled a major move in the streaming wars when the platform was able to secure Prince’s extensive catalog.
After the death of the performer in April, Tidal was standing alone as the only streamer to have access to the icon’s music.
The Prince estate is now suing Jay Z’s Roc Nation for copyright infringement over the exclusive streaming rights given to Tidal.
According to the lawsuit, the estate alleges Tidal was only granted a 90-day streaming exclusivity period for Prince’s 2015 album HITNRUN Phase One.
In addition, Tidal reportedly has not attempted to contact Prince’s estate since he passed away.
Roc Nation has filed a petition claiming there were both oral and written agreements between Prince and the company.
Prince also streamed his Freddie Gray tribute concert from Baltimore on Tidal.
He was supportive of Tidal’s artist-owner business model as well.
“Once we have our own resources, we can provide what we need for ourselves,” said Prince. “Jay Z spent $100 million of his own money to build his own service. We have to show support for artists who are trying to own things for themselves.”
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Rick Ross is reportedly facing a default judgement for failing to respond to a lawsuit over a missed performance.
Bosses at Mithraic Group Entertainment sued the Hustlin’ hitmaker for breach of contract and unjust enrichment earlier this year, claiming they paid him $55,000 to perform at the University of Texas alongside Meek Mill and Machine Gun Kelly in 2012.
The Mithraic Group Entertainment reportedly worked out a deal to pay Ross $110,000 for his set and wired him $55,000 as a deposit.
Meek Mill and Machine Gun Kelly, who are also named in the lawsuit, received $20,000 and $12,000, respectively, according to the legal papers.
However, the show never took place and the promoters were not able to recoup the money.
(AllHipHop News) Lauryn Hill has announced a bunch of new dates to her “The MLH Caravan: A Diaspora Calling! Concert Series.”
Lauryn has been out on the road selling out dates for the “Diaspora Calling!” concert series, which is being produced in conjunction with Live Nation.
Each show features performances by artists from different parts of the African diaspora.
“The MLH Caravan allows me to continue the theme of unity and celebration of the many facets of cultural and artistic beauty throughout the African diaspora while on tour this summer and fall. In these days of tension, tumult and transition, an exchange of this kind can yield direction, expression, understanding and empowerment as well as connection, self love and appreciation that hopefully overflows into our respective communities.”
New dates are listed below:
11/15/16 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
11/16/16 – Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium
11/27/16 – Austin, TX – Moody Theater
11/29/16 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec
12/1/16 – New Orleans, LA – Saenger Theatre
12/6/16 – St. Petersburg, FL – Mahaffey
12/8/16 – Lake Buena Vista – House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista
12/9/16 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater
12/11/16 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater
12/13/16 – Indianapolis, IN – Old National Centre – Murat Theatre
12/15/16 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace Theatre
12/18/16 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
1/31/17 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Hall For The Performing Arts
2/2/17 – Cincinnati, OH – Aronoff Center For The Arts
2/4/17 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theatre
2/6/17 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
2/7/17 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
2/9/17 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
2/14/17 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
2/23/17 – Boston, MA – Wang Theatre
2/25/17 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
4/28/17 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater
One of Diddy’s Bad Boy’s Is Back. The only thing is that she’s NOT a boy! Remember Mysterious? Mysterious was an artist on Diddy’s reality show “Making Of The Band” and she was one of the key members. Well, Mysterious has returned with a new song that has leaked with Kanye West, Lil Wayne and a dude named Ron Burgundy that I never heard of.
