(AllHipHop News) White House representatives must respond to calls to ban rapper YG’s song “Meet The Flockers” from public media.
A page was set up on the White House’s “We the People” petition website in September, calling for the controversial rap track to be banned from public distribution.
It has now received 100,000 signatures before its October 22 deadline, meaning it must receive a response from government officials within 60 days.
On the petition page, a message reads, “The song ‘Meet the Flockers’ by YG encourages violence and crimes to a specific ethnic group. As one of this group in North America, I feel seriously offended and threatened. Please ban the song from public media and investigate legal responsibilities of the writer.”
It has been claimed the song incites violence against Chinese-Americans because the lyrics form a step-by-step guide on how to commit a burglary and the track opens with the lines,
“First, you find a house and scope it out. Find a Chinese neighborhood, cause they don’t believe in bank accounts.”
It was released in 2014 but it returned to the spotlight when a Chinese-American woman shot three intruders who entered her home, killing one of them, in Atlanta, Georgia last month.
Protesters have also been demonstrating outside YG’s gigs, most recently outside Irving Plaza in New York on Monday night (October 17).
YG, real name Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson, previously told FM magazine in 2014 he wrote the song simply to share his own experiences of breaking into homes, for which he served time in prison.
Eve recently decided to reminisce on her collaborative moments with Dr. Dre. She posted an Instagram post that showed her reflecting on wanting to leave the studio at times because of fatigue, but Dr. Dre told her if she didn’t finish her songs then he wasn’t coming back to the studio.
Eve thanks Dre for pushing her because she says it was because of this that she made some of the best records of her life.
She also credits him as being the greatest and the Godfather of Hip Hop.
Dr. Dre’s incredible music production talent and ability is undeniable, but fans seem to believe Eve was trying to take the heat off of Dre as fans were dragging him to hell and back on social media for beating Michel’le, which was chronicled over the weekend in her biopic ‘Surviving Compton’.
The biopic portrayed Dr. Dre as a serious abusive boyfriend… a true woman beater. E-V-E fans could be wrong, but the timing of her posts seemed like a distraction and some serious damage control.
(AllHipHop News) The third installment of Michael K. William’s Unjust Justice: The Jimmy Rosemond Tapestitled “The Takeover,” is set to drop tomorrow (October 18).
The 10-part series will be executive produced by Michael K. Williams and directed by Don Sikorsi.
The in-depth investigative documentary will dig into the true motivations for prosecutor Todd Kaminsky’s quest for the conviction of music mogul James “Henchmen” Rosemond.
Rosemond claims Kaminsky relied upon the accounts of jailhouse informants in his prosecution, and even bribed Leah Daniels, the sister of “Empire” director Lee Daniels, for her testimony.
“I will take my part by exposing some of those ills [injustice] with a 10-part series called Unjust Justice. Everything that you wanted to know about the Criminal Justice system or what you thought you knew about it will be illuminated in these docuseries, good and bad,” Williams told AllHipHop.com in a statement.
Rosemond became infamous for his alleged involvement in the 1994 shooting of Tupac at Quad Studios, something he has consistently denied.
James Rosemond is currently serving a life sentence in prison for his 2012 conviction on drug conspiracy charges.
He is also serving a second life term for allegedly ordering the murder of 50 Cent’s associate, Lowell Fletcher, who had been present when Tony Yayo allegedly slapped Rosemond’s young son in 2007.
For quite a while now, I’ve been hesitant to endorse anyone in this upcoming presidential election. The options were too distasteful, too insulting, too pathetic for me to even consider it to be worthy of a serious conversation. I didn’t want to speak with representatives of either the Democratic or Republican candidate, for I would consider it to be a complete waste of time.
I also never felt the need to tell other people what to do. So, when people would ask me who I’m voting for, I wouldn’t answer the question. I simply encouraged black people to consider all of their options as they make this important decision.
Then, it hit me. I know how I would like to cast my vote. I would like to cast my vote by not voting at all.
You see, some people believe the old cliche that “if you don’t vote, you don’t count.” This is like saying that a woman who doesn’t choose a boyfriend is going to be ignored by every man she sees. That simply not true. The fact is that if you don’t vote, you’re effectively letting people know that you’re here and that you’re available for the most promising political suitor.
By not voting, the black community can send a message loud and clear that our political loyalty can be given to the candidate who serves us the best, and not the one who simply tells us that they are not as bad as the other person.
We’ve been extremely loyal to the Democratic Party for a very long time, but one would be hard pressed to find any evidence that our communities have benefited because of it. The Republican party’s stubborn commitment to arrogant old white men makes them a nearly impossible choice for those who care about the least of us.
So, there we sit, unable to get any support from the candidates who show up in our churches and eat barbecue chicken with the pastor so they can tell you horror stories about how scary Donald Trump is and how your ancestors died for you to have the right to vote.
Sorry people, but your ancestors died for you to have the RIGHT to vote, and not the obligation. They didn’t sacrifice so you could trade one form of oppression for another. Also, some might consider to be an insult to your ancestors for your votes to be wasted by throwing all of your political muscle behind politicians who are doing almost nothing for you. Voting for a do-nothing politician is like enabling a drug addicted relative by thinking that if you buy them enough crack, they will eventually kick the habit.
Remember: The future of the black community is not about the next election. It’s about the next 100 elections. Also, we can do far more by pooling together our dollars than by pooling our votes. One of my respected friends told me that he’s supporting Hillary Clinton because he feels that her policies would be better for black people.
“I’m not voting for Hillary, I’m voting for her policies,” he said.
Now, this is a logical and thoughtful thing to say and I respect it. However, I would also argue that the policies that most matter for the future of black America tend to NOT be the policies implemented by a white supremacist government. Instead, we are most affected by the policies that we implement toward OUR COMMUNITY AND EACH OTHER. So, if black people were to commit to a policy of keeping our dollars in our communities, educating our own children, developing/supporting our own media outlets, we could do more in a decade than that which has been done by the last 10 Democratic presidents combined.
By withholding our vote, we are able to better negotiate our position in the 2020 election and beyond. Both parties would be served full notice that black people are not to be taken for granted, and they will work overtime trying to figure out how they can earn our loyalty and trust once again.
As I wrote in a recent article on the topic, getting political power requires that you present what political scientists call a “credible exit threat” to let your candidate know that you have options. But we don’t present this threat and instead give our loyalty freely, easily and cheaply, like the woman who sleeps with any man who brings her a bag of Cheetos because she is convinced that no one else can ever possibly love her.
The fact is that we can love ourselves. We don’t have to give ourselves away to the lowest common denominators, and instead can build a community that teaches others that our respect, and our votes, must be earned and not taken for granted.
This is why I am not voting in this presidential election. In fact, there is nothing about this election that even resembles Democracy. All of our ancestors, black, white and otherwise, would be ashamed by what this country has become.
Dr Boyce Watkins is a Finance PhD and author of the book, “The New Black Power.” To learn more, please visit DrBoyceWatkins.net.
Word on the street is that rapper Troy Ave is doing pretty bad as he’s had to miss dozens of tour dates, and thousand of dollars due to the restrictions set in place by his bail conditions.
The rapper is still dealing with the attempted murder charges from the deadly May 25th shooting that took place at Irving Plaza.
Ave wants the judge to lift the bans on him performing at nightclubs, various venues, and the restriction of him being unable to leave New York City.
According to his lawyer, John Stella, the rapper is barely making it with the hit to his income.
Troy has had to cancel at least 50 tour dates since his arrest, and he hasn’t been able to book any new ones. Ave even had to use his mother’s home as collateral for his $500,000 bail.
“He’s barely able to get by. Touring is what drives everything else, and it’s hard to release music if he can’t promote it with live performances,” said Stella.
Stella wants Troy Ave to be able to still travel and do his performances with necessary conditions.
A number of superstar rappers showed up to support the TIDAL X: 1015 charity concert, which was live streamed via the Tidal entertainment platform.
Radio personality Angie Martinez was the host for the event and discussed the concert with AllHipHop.com in a previous interview.
“People have these platforms to use their amazing voices to inspire people all the time or create good music that provokes things,” Martinez told AllHipHop.com. “All of that’s cool, but ultimately if you can use your voice to change people’s lives, that’s what it’s all about.”
All of the ticket sales from TIDAL X: 1015 will benefit the Robin Hood organization. Take a look at rappers like T.I.,Lil Yachty, Levi Carter and others hit the red carpet.
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Bebe Rexha
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Prince Royce
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Sir The Baptist
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: T.I.
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Blood Orange
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Levi Carter
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Emeli Sandé
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Lil Yachty
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Lil James
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: DNCE
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Salva
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Danielle Bradbery
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Kevin Garrett
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Justine Skye
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
Nicki Minaj and Beyonce lit up the red carpet at the Tidal X: 1015 benefit concert for The Robin Hood Foundation. A number of stars came out, but these two drew most of the attention with their outfits. Take a look.
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Nicki Minaj
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
Beyoncé arriving at the Tidal X benefit show for the Robin Hood Foundation, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City.
Featuring: Beyonce, Beyoncé
Where: New York City, New York, United States
When: 16 Oct 2016
Credit: WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Nicki Minaj
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
Beyoncé arriving at the Tidal X benefit show for the Robin Hood Foundation, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City.
Featuring: Beyonce, Beyoncé
Where: New York City, New York, United States
When: 16 Oct 2016
Credit: WENN.com
TIDAL X: 1015 – Star-studded benefit concert hosted by TIDAL and Robin Hood at the Barclay Center
Featuring: Nicki Minaj
Where: New York, United States
When: 15 Oct 2016
Credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com
It really looks like there is absolutely no possibility for reconciliation between Lil Wayne and Birdman, although it once seemed possible.
Wayne sat down to talk with HipHopHollywood to explain that readers will get a true inside look into his life in his new book, ‘Gone ‘Til November: A Journal Of Rikers Island’.
In the interview he also opened up about the lessons he learned behind bars, and his plans to release new music.
Wayne explained that him finding patterns while behind bars allowed him to keep a lot of things he was doing and plotting on in his cell a secret.
Lil Wayne said that while he was excited that people like Drake came to visit him in jail, he still remembers that Drake smashed one of his girls!
The interview took a twist when Lil Wayne answered a question about his relationship with Birdman.
He told the interviewer that Birdman certainly isn’t a friend of his, and he’s certainly not family as his last name isn’t Carter.
We’d have to admit, it’s so entertaining to wait for Wayne’s response to any question about Birdman. It never gets old.
(AllHipHop News) Nicki Minaj is responsible for two of the most viral moments from the TIDAL X: 1015 concert on Saturday.
Video of the New York rap superstar meeting her idol Lauryn Hill was blasted across the internet.
Nicki’s twerk performance from the Barclays Center and her backstage dance rehearsal also became web favorites over the last two days.
The Breakfast Club spoke with the “Truffle Butter” spitter about her big night.
“Such a surreal moment. I couldn’t control myself. I was at a lost for words,” said Nicki about meeting Ms. Hill for the first time. “She was super sweet and gracious.”
Charlamagne Tha God later asked Nicki if her ex-boyfriend Safaree was a better twerker.
“First of all, you have to compare my twerk video on my Instagram. Cause that’s the one that’s epic. He can’t do better than that. Now that one at Tidal? Yes,” replied Nicki. “I could tell y’all some stories, but I ain’t.”
In addition, the Trinidadian-born artist spoke about the female Hip Hop game and the current “mumble rap” era.
“People act like just being a female rapper is hard, but being a male rapper and being taken seriously is hard too,” Nicki stated. “We’re in the era of mumble rap. Some of it super dope, and some of it like, ‘Okay, let’s see where this goes.’ It’s always difficult becoming a staple in Hip Hop.”
Minaj named Young M.A., DeJ Loaf, Lil Uzi Vert, and Fetty Wap as new rappers she is a fan of at the moment.
Watch a replay of the TIDAL X:1015 charity concert featuring Nicki Minaj on Tidal.
(AllHipHop News) Donald Trump has been under fire for over a week.
Potential voters across the country have expressed concern over the presidential candidate’s comments from a previously unreleased 2005 conversation with Billy Bush of Access Hollywood.
The leaked tape included Trump talking about how he believed his fame allowed him to grab women by the”p*ssy” even without their consent.
That controversial statement was followed by numerous women claiming Trump groped them or was sexually aggressive toward them in some way.
Many people have been critical of Trump’s words and alleged actions. However, some of his supporters have attempted to compare his comments to Hip Hop lyrics about sex.
Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell – a rapper known for sexual songs such as “We Want Some P-ssy!” and “Me So Horny” – is not buying the connection between his music and The Donald’s reported treatment of women.
Luke was a guest on the Kevin Klein Live radio show, and he shared his thoughts on the Republican nominee.
“The difference between me and Trump and the music that I’ve done is [that] we glorified the v#####. We don’t take it,” stated the former 2 Live Crew member. “He’s talking about rape, and we’re talking about, ‘Hey, we want some [p-ssy].'”
The 55-year-old businessman also recalled attending a party in Florida hosted by Donald Trump.
“Me, Mike Tyson, and Eddie Murphy – we were invited to his mansion up in West Palm Beach one time. And he had all these women running around,” said Luke. “It was so much going on to the point that I couldn’t take what was going on in that room and I left.”
Campbell would not go into detail about exactly what took place at the event, but the Miami native described what he saw as “wild things.”
Uncle Luke later declared on the Kevin Klein program, “This guy is not fit to be a president.”
Remember last month when Migos promised to deliver their sophomore album, ‘Culture’. Well September came and went, and it was extremely quiet on their side.
Migos member Quavo recently took to Twitter to explain that their label 300 Entertainment is causing the hold up.
Quavo blasts the label for temporarily shelving the project.
“@300 You makin the fans Angry they Ready for #CULTURE Comment ? if U Tired Of Waiting!! REALTALK!!,” he Tweeted.
Migos have certainly had some rough patches since signing with the 300 label back in 2014. Offset previously made it known that label head Lyor Cohen was blocking the highly-anticipated collaborative project with Young Thug and Migos.
Migos have been wanting to part ways from 300 for a while and have been going through litigation to do so. Lyor will soon assume the role as the Head Of Youtube’s Global Music, and we wonder will this make it easier for the project to come out. Are you anticipating ‘Culture?’
@300 You makin the fans Angry they Ready for #CULTURE Comment 😤 if U Tired Of Waiting!! REALTALK!!
REVOLT TV kicked off it’s third annual Revolt Music Conference in a major way, and the 2016 conference was just as action-packed at the previous years proving to be the intersection of music, technology, and innovation.
The conference was filled with insightful panels, networking opportunities, 90s parties and yacht celebrations, and overall empowering experiences that helped attendees understand and navigate the evolution of the music business.
The conference kicked off with an opening ceremony that honored both Sean “Diddy” Combs and DJ Khaled. Combs was presented with his very on ‘Sean Diddy Combs Day,’ and DJ Khaled was presented with the [MAJOR] key to the city of Miami Beach!
[jwplayer KReiinOI-ObhXW36r]
On a night were Diddy was presented with his very own day, it was only fitting for his sons Justin and Christian Combs to share their collaboration with Andre Harrell and Foot Action that chronicles them carrying their father’s legacy as well as showcasing their style and involvement in both Hip Hop and their family’s various business ventures.
The ceremony featured performances by Ro James, Kent Jones, and Mario, and saw remarks from Revolt COO Derek Ferguson, President of Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Bill Talbert, as well as General Manager of The Nobu Eden Roc Resort, Laurence Dubey.
Immediately following the opening ceremony, Ciroc re-introduced it’s ‘Let’s Get It’ movement with a unique event titled Cocktails With [DJ] Khaled.
The event was an event exclusively for the media that previewed the “Let’s Get It: The Mango Story” and further expanded on DJ Khaled’s new partnership with the newly launched Ciroc Mango. In addition to Mango inspired installations, guests in attendance were treated to Ciroc Mango infused food and the new signature cocktails. The most memorable moment from the reception was the inspirational artwork. Attendees were asked to describe their life in 5 words and creative artists turned the words into framed artwork gifts.
This year’s RMC also featured it’s first ‘Be Heard’ auditions and showcase. Many of the conference’s attendees had the opportunity to perform their music in front of an esteemed panel of judges that included Andre Harrell, Eva Pigford, Rockstar, and Cool & Dre.
Highlights from the first full day of the conference included a live broadcast from your favorite morning show, The Breakfast Club, a rousing address including invaluable career insight and advice during the #AskDJKhaled Q&A, as well as the Apple Music x DJ Khaled Yacht party that featured performances from Nas, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, Trina, Kent Jones and Dave East.
[jwplayer 4PAeyEdh-ObhXW36r]
[jwplayer mHgpPs41-ObhXW36r]
Some of the industry’s biggest power players including Matthew Knowles, Julie Greenwald, Lenny S, Lyor Cohen and many more took the stage as both panelists and keynote speakers on both Friday and Saturday.
A few of the top music executives, key influencers, radio personalities, DJs, managers, music marketers, hit-making producers, & A&Rs allowed attendees to gain both knowledge and insight on topics ranging from the power of a song to breaking, discovering, and developing new artists.
The final day of the conference saw industry heavy hitters cover topics such as branding and making money in the digital space as well as galvanizing those in attendance to go out and vote in this year’s election.
The RMC closed in legendary fashion as Revolt & Diddy honored Nas with the Jimmy Iovine Icon Award at the annual RMC Gala Dinner. The award is presented to industry icons who have had a unique influence on music as well as a lasting impact on the culture as a whole.
[jwplayer WKaUst4Z-ObhXW36r]
Although Kehlani & Bibi Riley opened up with unique performances, it was the remarks and heartfelt personal anecdotes by DMX, Nas’ daughter, Destiny Jones, and Diddy that stole the evening.
Destiny reflected on Nas not only being the best father but also on him changing the world and impacting others. Diddy and Nas took turns reminiscing on stage about coming up in the Hip Hop world together to laughing about [them] trying to outshine each other with jewelry in the “Hate Me Now” video.
DMX told Nas,
“[Music] It was tearing up the streets. I’m like you this guy here has something. I respected the flow, I was aware of the talent, and it was a honor just to be associated with the same people. We had yet to meet. Fast forward to shooting Belly and it was like Wow!”
The night ended in such an epic manner with Nas & Diddy partying it up in the Eden Roc Mona Lisa ballroom at the annual RMC ’90s party!
The Revolt Music Conference has established itself as a must-attend event in the industry, providing attendees with the opportunity to soar, excel, and expand.
(AllHipHop News) Socially conscious MC Common will speak on various racial issues addressed on his upcoming album Black In America in an appearance at Morehouse College October 24.
“‘Black America Again’,” is centered on the injustices that black people have experienced and endured since we arrived on the shores of America,” Common told Allhiphop.com.
The rapper says that he wrote the title track for the album in March, but painfully identified that the track could have been just as relevant in the 1960s or even 1800s.
It also was recently announced that the MC’s 11th album Black America Again will be released to the masses November 4.
Additionally, college events highlighting Common’s message are to be planned in the coming weeks.
(AllHipHop News) After people began using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media to bring awareness to police brutality and racial injustice, critics of the movement began using the hashtag #AllLivesMatter.
Over the last several years, many celebrities have weighed in on the Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter discussion.
DJ Smallz caught up with Grand Hustle’s Young Dro to ask him where he stands on the subject.
“Black Lives Matter. For he who loves the world is not a friend of God. All lives are not good lives,” stated Dro. “I wish I would love everybody. Somebody finna f-cking kill me….”
He continued, “I can’t love everybody. You can’t do that. That’s the key to failure.”
The “We In Da City” rapper also talked about racial profiling, suggesting sometimes African-Americans’ actions lead to certain responses from law enforcement.
“I don’t want nobody to think that we ain’t out here doing some bullsh-t like the police just killing us. We killing each other,” said Dro. “That’s why I say all lives don’t matter. Some of these people [are] heartless. I can’t care for you.”
(AllHipHop Feature) With the final weeks of the 2016 presidential contest dissolving into a race to the bottom, many citizens across the country have openly expressed their anger at the current American system. In some cases, that resentment toward the establishment has converted into outright rage.
It’s in that climate that veteran rhymer Joe Budden returns with his latest musical offering. The Slaughterhouse member connected with production partner AraabMuzik for the upcoming Rage & The Machine album.
With Araab handling the beats, Budden tackled the bars. The Jersey-bred podcast host previewed the LP with the early releases “Flex” with Tory Lanez and Fabolous as well as the Jazzy assisted “By Law.” Rage also features appearances by Joell Ortiz, Emanny, and Stacey Barthe.
Budden first broke onto the scene in the early 2000’s under the Def Jam umbrella. He would later release several projects via the Amalgam Digital and eOne independent labels. But now the 36-year-old East Coast representative is on his own with Mood Muzik Entertainment.
In part one of my conversation with Joe Budden, we talked about Rage & The Machine being his first self-release. The topics of whether a major label is still necessary in modern times, the rise of internet culture, and the transformation of Hip Hop were discussed too.
Rage & The Machine is a joint effort with you and AraabMuzik. Does the album title represent each of you in some way?
Araab is the machine, because of his immense talent and capabilities on that MPC [drum machine]. It’s very throwback and nostalgic. We don’t often see producers create that way, and they certainly don’t have the hands and techniques that he does.
Rage with me is for so many different reasons – the aggression we were going to attack each verse with, the mood overall you would walk away with listening to my entire discography, and love broken down. And of course, the iconic band Rage Against The Machine. It just made all the sense in the world to name the collection that.
I was listening to your podcast, and you talked about the content on this album being different from All Love Lost. You’re very personal with your music. So was there something that happened over the last year or so that caused you to go in this direction?
No, I wouldn’t say there was anything in particular that occurred. I think Araab laying the groundwork and me just feeding off him and the mood in the studio… We changed a few things in our work schedule and routine. He was with me quite a bit. I think we just fed off of each other, and that’s the energy that manifested.
I saw you’ve said you were thinking about doing a sequel. Is that still in the works?
Yes. Definitely, 100 percent. I like sequels. [laughs]
I also heard the pre-order sales are doing well. Do you have any expectations for this album as far as sales?
Where the hell did you hear that at? [laughs]
From somebody on your team.
Oh, they’re bias then. They’re supposed to say that.
Is that not the case?
Actually, for me, this album is celebrating independence. So while I’ve never been a numbers guy, clearly I gotta look at the math because it’s my money on the table as opposed to the label’s [money]. It’s a different infrastructure. I’m looking forward to the new experience. I’ve worked to get here my entire career.
Maybe I’m looking at the numbers differently. First week numbers are all that are really talked about in Hip Hop. When doing it this way, you really are more concerned with the life of the project and making sure as many people get to hear it as possible.
You talked about your experience in the industry. You were signed to a major at one point. You were also signed to an indie. Now you’re releasing this album under your own brand, your own company. Can you go into more detail on how the creation and rollout process has been different this time? Like you said, this is your money on the line.
I think if anything, I’ve evolved in the communication all around. It’s been on a whole different front than I’m used to. I think the team has done a great job of how I’ve been projected. I’ve probably been much more active than I’ve been in recent history. The important thing is that that resonates in the music. All of that is pointless if we can’t hear it. So you can hear it on the album. By the grace of God.
“Rage & The Machine’ Cover Art
Do artists still need to sign to a major? You have so many different performers that are doing well and living a nice life just being independent. What are your thoughts about that? Do you think a major is even necessary at this point?
It depends on what your objective is. Some people want to make their music as mainstream as possible and get it as widespread as they possibly can. They probably have hopes of getting on a label, because the label is going to spend and invest more money into you. I’ve never been into loans. I rather play with my own money.
Always. I don’t understand why people so freely relinquish their rights today. Labels are decimated now more so than they’ve ever been before. The leverage and power are much more in the artist’s hands than they’ve ever been. Actually, I don’t even know if there is even such a thing as a rollout anymore. I could make that argument. With that said, what the f-ck do I need a label for?
You’ve always been at the forefront of internet culture. Even before social media, you used your brand to directly connect with your fans. Way before a lot of other artists and the labels saw that approach. At the time, did you realize you were setting a new bar?
I knew I was doing something different. I knew I was taking a different approach. I knew I was ahead of something, ahead of the curve. I was only proven to be right once everybody else joined and started doing things in this new way that labels were previously ignoring. I was just ahead of things. Foresight is always important in business. Luckily, throughout my career I’ve been a beneficiary of some extremely good foresight.
Going back to the project. Both the cover art for Rage and the video for “By Law” were shot in black-and-white. Was there any symbolism behind that black-and-white theme?
I like black-and-white. I like black-and-white like I like sequels. Black-and-white is pretty underrated. Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions [To Hold Us Back] – that album was so influential, to not only the emcee I became, but the man I grew into. When I think Hip Hop with a message, I think all black. So you saw me in all black often in this process. By happenstance, every time they had a camera, I was in black.
So that was just by chance, but it ended up working out?
When you live it, it’s easy to capture. There’s no conversation to be had. There’s no gimmick. There’s no plan to put into effect when you just let something be.
Jumping off of that and even going back to what you said about PE, I was listening to your freestyle with Styles P. There was a line where you said that the entire game is “meek.” Obviously, Hip Hop is evolving over time. But in your opinion, what do you think has caused this present-day Hip Hop to become “meek” in your view?
There are too many variables. But probably overall, fan consumption. In Hip Hop, what’s hot has always been a representation of what the kids in a certain age demographic thought was hot. So the times are just reflecting the kids and culture today. It’s like what Kid ‘N Play was to our generation. I’m happy there’s a Hip Hop for kids. I’m happy there’s a Hip Hop for adults. I’m happy Hip Hop is so well represented and diversified today.
Some people make the argument that what’s happening today is not necessarily Hip Hop, it’s its own break-off genre and maybe it should have its own name.
It would still be birthed from Hip Hop. It would still be Hip Hop’s offspring. It’s still directly related to Hip Hop. Does it sound like it’s a subgenre being curated? Yes. That doesn’t eliminate Hip Hop or make it greater.
Commonwealth State native, JBdaPilot is back with the debut leak off his forthcoming These Are Dark Times mixtape. Entitled “Don’t Worry,” the record finds the talented emcee/vocalist urging his uneasy love interest to stop fretting and simply just trust him.
We all remember the infamous “thots” from Ice Cube’s Friday movie from the thirsty “Felicia” to Craig’s ex girlfriend “Joi.”
St. Louis rapper Doughboy not only remembers them well, but he uses them as the premise of his latest music video for “No Thots.” In the clip directed by VideoGod, Doughboy creates his own version of “Friday” as he denies thirsty “thots” from reaping the benefits of his lavish lifestyle.
While Doughboy impersonates “Smokey,” a majority of the film’s well-known characters also make an appearance in the short flick like “Big Worm,” “Deebo,” Felicia’s fine sister “Debbie,” and of course the voluptuous “Ms. Parker.” The song comes fresh off Doughboy’s latest project SAKrifices, which is available now.
Watch Doughboy say no to the thots in his Friday inspired music video below.
Just when you thought the New York City heatwave was over, No Panty, the hot new Latin hip hop group with members Bodega Bamz, Joell Ortiz, and Nitty Scott bring you their first visual “Hola” off of their new album Westside Highway Story (produced in its entirety by Salaam Remi).
Watch as No Panty show you their rap skills, continue to go commando, all while giving you a taste of their city.
Harlem rapper Dave East is having quite the month – recently signing to Def Jam Records and giving fans a new mixtape titled “Kairi Chanel,” in honor of his daughter.
Today, East premieres a new visual off the project with Mass Appeal, for the stand-out track “Type of Time.” The video showcases his transition of once struggling in the city, to now overlooking it in a penthouse view, but never forgetting where he came from.
