(AllHipHop News) Beyonce, Jay Z, and Usher will join President Barack Obama on Friday to help him celebrate his last birthday at the White House.
The Commander-in-Chief turned 55 on Thursday, and sources tell the New York Post’s Page Six column that First Lady Michelle Obama has organized a star-studded party on Friday night to mark the special occasion.
Other guests invited to the big bash include Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, while Vice President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton are also expected to attend.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar and Usher will provide the entertainment for the night, according to the publication.
“All the preparations and the guest list are being kept top-secret,” the insider tells Page Six. “The plan is to throw a party for the president to really let his hair down. There will be performances and a dance party that will go late into the night. Social media will be banned.”
The First Family is no stranger to star-studded celebrations – Beyonce performed for the First Lady’s 50th birthday party in 2014, when Michelle was also serenaded by John Legend in front of guests such as Wonder and Paul McCartney.
If the White House party news is true, Beyonce and her rapper husband Jay Z will be jetting in from her Formation World Tour, after completing the European leg of the trek in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday.
The R&B superstar wrapped up her latest run of gigs in style by treating local fans to the Spanish version of “Irreplaceable.”
Video footage of the rare performance of “Irreemplazable,” filmed at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys venue, has gone viral, showing the audience singing along to every word.
“Irreemplazable” featured as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of her B’Day album in 2007.
Rapper Quan assisted fellow Virginia native Pusha T on a new song titled “All On Him.”
The video, which was inspired by the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, was directed by Chip Stackin’ and is deeply personal to Quan, who lost his own son.
“The concept I chose for this video was the Tamir Rice tragedy, because I can’t fully understand why those cops shot that baby,” Quan told AllHipHop.com. “However, in my video he lives instead of dies. We were able to save him. The same way God saved us many times over. The key to the change is peace, great music and God. ‘Cause it’s all on Him. My friend Max profit who plays one of the police officers, was killed during the shooting of this video. That kid [at the end of the video with his hands up] is my son, an angel.”
(AllHipHop News) Odd Future founder Tyler The Creator has officially announced the lineup for the 2016 edition of his Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, scheduled to tale place November 12-13 2016 at Exposition Park in Los Angeles.
Artists slated to perform at the event will include Lil Wayne, Chance the Rapper, A$AP Rocky, Erykah Badu, Death Grips, Schoolboy Q, Flatbush Zombies, Toro Y Moi, Kaytranada, among many more.
Also to be included on the bill are Odd Future affiliates the Internet, Domo Genesis, Left Brain, Mike G, and Taco which will accompany Tyler for this year’s festivities.
The schedule for the event was bumped up to two days after the success of last year’s edition, with artists performing such as, Snoop Dogg, YG, Schoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky, Syd The Kid, and Danny Brown.
Last year’s edition of Camp Flog Gnaw saw over 30,000 tickets sold.
Bronx native Tony Sunshine has returned with a new video for his song “Danger” featuring Big Pun’s son Chris Rivers, who has been putting work and building his own legacy, which would make his dad proud.
Tony Sunshine’s song “Danger” features the pair dreaming of what it might, or might not be like, spending the day with their fantasy girl.
Tony Sunshine is currently in the studio working on new music.
(AllHipHop News) As the United States countdowns to Election Day 2016, the premium cable network EPIX is set to premiere the new docu-series America Divided.
Rapper/actor Common serves as an executive producer for the program. The Chicago raised star is joined by Norman Lear (The Jeffersons, Good Times), Shonda Rhimes (Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder), and others.
America Divided centers around inequality in education, housing, healthcare, labor, criminal justice, and the political system.
The eight-story, five-part series will follow several high-profile correspondents as they examine specific inequalities related to their own biographies.
Common returns to Chicago to explore policing and mass incarceration (“The System”), Rosario Dawson travels to Flint, Michigan to cover the water crisis (“Something In The Water”), and Jesse Williams goes back to the classroom to learn about the school-to-prison pipeline (“The Class Divide”).
Other contributors include Lear, America Ferrera, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler, and Peter Sarsgaard. The show was created by Solly Granatstein, Lucian Read, and Richard Rowley.
America Divide is scheduled to premiere on EPIX on September 30. Watch a clip featuring Jesse Williams below.
Slim Thug recently stopped by Hot 97 for an interview with Ebro In The Morning. During the interview he spoke on the Black Lives Matter movement, rappers moving their money to black banks and much more.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the interview was Slim talking about taking a Jay Z song and not having a shot at Beyonce.
Slim Thug says when Jay Z was working on “I Ain’t Heard Of That” remix which was really the “Change Clothes” remix, Jay Z ended up doing his own verses to it but he didn’t use it, so Slim ended up doing verses as well. He and Pharrell were supposed to reach out to Hov again because Slim wanted the song since Jay Z didn’t use it, but the album ended up leaking. Slim jokes that he ran in to Jay Z later on and Jay said that was really his song.
Slim Thug also says he didn’t actually know Beyonce before “Check On It”. He says if he knew her he wouldn’t have let a young Jay Z steal her from him! Rosenberg asked Slim Thug if he recorded “Check On It” in the studio with Bey, to which Slim replied saying he had to send his verse because Jay Z wasn’t having that. Hilarious!
(AllHipHop Features) Nearly seven years ago, Terrence “Bump J” Boykin pled guilty to charges connected to a 2007 bank robbery, and the up-and-coming music artist was ordered to serve time at a Ohio federal prison.
The Chicago native was sentenced to 10 years for the offense, but Bump is likely to return home in the near future. While Boykin’s life is set to restart with his release, the period of incarceration at FCI Elkton is not the beginning of the Bump J story.
A decade ago Bump was on the verge of being the next great rap representative for Chicago. The Goon Squad general was putting the city on his back with projects like the DJ Drama hosted Chicagorilla.
This precursor to the popular Drill sound took place well before the current movement of rising Chi-town spitters found favor across the country. Many of those same street-oriented newcomers – such as Lil Durk, Lil Bibby, Smylez, and Rico Recklezz – have named Bump as a significant influence on their musical style.
At one point, backing from Atlantic Records and a co-sign from Chi City heavyweight Kanye West placed Bump J on a ladder to reach unimaginable heights in the industry. The business arrangement with Atlantic was eventually severed, and the “Move Around” rhymer’s scheduled debut album Nothing To Lose was scrapped.
However, his stretch behind jail bars has allowed the wordsmith time to craft new lyrical bars. Last month I spoke with Bump J over the phone, and the “Chief Of Chicago” discussed when he is expected to be released, his mindstate at the moment, and more.
What do you expect will be the reaction from your fans when you get out?
I get a lot of support now, so I expect it to continue. I’m very appreciative of that. It really is some of the things that keep me going. I don’t need much to motivate me, but it’s been a lot of support within the Hip Hop community and from my fans period.
Do you keep in touch with other rappers like Kanye and Durk?
I talked to Durk the other day. I talked to Jeezy. I talked to Herbo. I talk to a lot of guys. But during my whole bid, I’ve been doing time and not really keeping in contact with the outside world period besides family.
Are you doing a lot of writing?
I do a lot of reading and writing.
What type of stuff are you reading?
I’m reading [Napoleon Hill’s] Think and Grow Rich. I don’t read novels. I read a lot of educational and motivational things.
Hill’s Great Depression Era Self-Help Book Is On Bump’s Current Reading List
Are you writing lyrics?
Yeah, I’m writing lyrics.
When you come out, are you going to be prepared to go right to the studio and start recording?
I’m trying to get right to work and hit the ground running.
There have been rumors that you’re signing with G.O.O.D. Music.
It’s an option that’s on the table. I have several offers on the table already. But Kanye is a good friend of mine, so I’m always going to give him the first dibs.
Have you been following what’s happening in Hip Hop?
I try to keep a close ear on it. We don’t get a lot of music. We get enough on the computer, but I keep up with what’s going on.
Who are some of the artists that have been catching your ear? Besides the people you associate with like Durk and Herbo.
I listen to almost everything – Future, Drake, Kendrick, Kevin Gates. I listen to everything. When I say “everything,” I mean almost everything. Those are some of the guys – J. Cole, Jeezy – that really got my ear.
That’s a wide range. They all have different lanes with different topics they focus on.
Being from Chicago and right in the middle [of America], I’ve always listened to everything from West Coast, Down South, and East Coast. My style may lean more towards the East Coast, but I’ve always listened to everything.
Speaking of your style, can you give a hint to where your mindset is with what you’re writing now?
With me, I always try to stay witty. Even with the way that I feel that rap is going – as far as the “turn up” kind of music – I still try to stay witty even when I’m doing that type of stuff.
So you’ve been able to pay attention to Hip Hop, have you been able to pay attention to the greater American society as far as social issues and politics?
Yeah, it’s hard not to pay attention. It’s a lot going on with the police killings. It’s starting to get out of control. I just saw another police killing. I’ve definitely been paying attention.
A lot of Hip Hop stars have taken it upon themselves to do more to help the community. Like Game and Snoop Dogg got together and called for a peace rally for the gangs in Los Angeles. Do you see yourself taking on that role as well?
Yeah, especially in my city. It’s a lot going on. It’s always been a lot going on. I want to have a positive impact on my city against the negativity that’s going on.
Even when I had my Goon Squad before I got locked up, it was based on unity. My crew consisted of different factions from everywhere, brought together despite the different affiliations, just to win.
I want to use my power and influence for that good and motivate others to stick together. It’s the same thing they’re doing in Atlanta culture and Cali culture – just to be able to bring our star power to the community and try to help change something.
Honestly, it’s so hard. Maybe in Chicago, they gotta make the bullets $10,000 or something. Because this sh-t is just out of control.
We talked before about you having this wide range when it comes to the music you listen to. When you look at Chicago right now, the same thing seems to be happening in the city. You have artists like Herbo, Durk, Vic Mensa, Chance The Rapper, and Mick Jenkins. They are all building their own wave and still being successful. What do you think it is about the city that’s producing this range of talent at the moment?
I think it’s a diverse city period. There’s a lot of different personalities and it shows with those artists you just said. Even with Vic Mensa, he touches on the same social issues. I was listening to his [“16 Shots”]. I think we’re all dealing with the same social issues, but we all come from different walks of life. It’s a diverse city and it comes out in the music.
Is there anything else you want your fans to know right now?
I’ll be home. I’m better than I was when I came in. As far as me as a man, I’m more focused now. And I’m ready to turn up.
You talked about how you get to listen to some music on the computer. Are you familiar with modern technology and apps like Twitter and Snapchat?
I try to stay in tune with what’s going on. I don’t know how to work the sh-t, but I’m in tune with it.
I’m sure your people are going to put you onto it as soon as you get out.
Yeah, I know that’s a big part of the business right now. I read a marketing book that was talking about a lot of it. I try to stay in tune with what’s going on.
Bay Area legend E-40 has teamed up with Oakland artist Kamaiyah for a new single titled “Petty.”
The pair trade rhymes about their frivolous haters on a track produced by J Hawk.
“When I work with talent from my community, it feels organic,” E-40 said about working with Kamaiyah. “Kamaiyah is a talented artist and she’s bubbling right now in the streets.”
“Petty” is the first release from E-40’s double album The D-Boy Diary: Book 1 & 2, which is slated for a November release.
When it comes to Hip-Hop, there’s a new artist every hour coming out the woodwork. But not everyone comes with the kind of co-signs Tone Tone has had since he’s#### his stride.
On any given Sunday, the Gold Rolex rapper might get a text from the likes of his video costar Blacc Chyna, to his Gansta Grills host DJ Drama to his guy Akon.
The Detroit native sat down with AHH’s @MrMecc to speak on getting west-coast love, being a hometown hero and his record with Gucci Mane.
(AllHipHop News) Rap legends Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and Nas hosted a Hip-Hop boot camp to educate the young stars of Baz Lurhmann’s new TV series “The Get Down.”
The show stars Jaden Smith, Shameik Moore, and Justice Smith as members of a group of talented teens growing up in New York’s South Bronx in the 1970s, during the birth of the Hip-Hop movement.
And before filming on the period project began, director Baz made sure the youngsters were fully versed about the roots of rap.
Justice tells U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America, “Baz’s team was awesome, they provided us with a bunch of resources in terms of books and movies and things like that, but we also had a boot camp with Kurtis Blow and Grandmaster Flash, Lady Pink (graffiti artist), Nas, Raheem from the Furious Five, where they taught us graffiti and breakdance and rap and stuff.”
The castmates even had to perfect popular dance moves from the 70s, with Justice really being put through his paces for his character Ezekiel “Books” Figuero.
Jaden, who is no relation to Justice, explains, “Justice had to go through… learning how to dance, do the hustle, the bus stop, the funky chicken…”
Grandmaster Flash and Nas both served as advisors and producers of “The Get Down,” while the “One Mic” hitmaker also helped to write original rhymes for one of the main characters.
“The Get Down” premieres on streaming service Netflix next week, on August 12.
Uh oh it looks like Bad Boy and Faith Evans fans may not get a chance to see the First Lady of Bad Boy when the Bad Boy Reunion tour hits Atlanta…. or well if she does, she could be facing some serious legal trouble.
Her decision to hit the road with Puffy has left a Georgia promoter in a bad situation. According to TMZ, there are documents showing that promoter Jeremy Hill booked Faith to perform at Wolf Creek Amphitheater in Atlanta on September 10, 2016, and according to the documents Hill has already paid her $17,500.
Hill realized that things wouldn’t work out for the best for his concert when he saw that Faith was on the Bad Boy Reunion Tour, especially with the Atlanta tour stop being two days before his concert date. This is also a huge problem because Hill has artists sign non-compete agreements that state that artists can’t perform within a 100 mile radius of his concert during the 6 month period leading up to the concert dates.
Hill is now filing a lawsuit because he says he was informed that Faith is backing out of his deal. He’s suing to have Faith blocked from her Bad Boy performance and he wants her to run him $100K. We shall see how this plays out.
Award winning journalist and author Peter Bailey recently took his critically-acclaimed “NITECAP” series to New York City, where he got a chance to speak with the legendary Rakim, who invited him to the 30th anniversary of Paid In Full.
The iconic emcee discussed how rappers need to start using their platform to speak on social issues, police brutality, bashes black stereotypes and agrees with Jay-Z on Hip-Hop’s role in race relations.
(AllHipHop News) R&B superstar Usher is returning to the big screen in the upcoming biopic Hands Of Stone.
The 8-time Grammy winner will play Sugar Ray Leonard alongside a cast that includes Robert De Niro as boxing coach Ray Arcel and Edgar Ramirez as Roberto Duran.
Hands of Stone follows the life of Duran, the legendary Panamanian fighter who fought Leonard in a classic 1980 rematch.
The movie was written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz.
Music and entertainment platform Tidal has exclusively released a teaser for Hands Of Stone which is being distributed by The Weinstein Company.
“We’re thrilled to, once again, be collaborating with Jay Z and the incredible team at Tidal as we continue to push the limits of content distribution,” states TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “It’s a phenomenal platform that provides creators and innovators with a unique setting to display their work and further engage and entertain new audiences.”
Hands Of Stone is scheduled for release nationwide on August 26.
Rappers Hockaday and Kazi Jones have dropped their album The Bane of Fear,” after releasing their buzzing single “Set Back.”
Kae Hockaday is a Delaware based rapper, while Kazi Jones is a New Jersey based-producer.
The pair met while attending Delaware State University and discovered they had incredible chemistry as a rapper/producer combo, much in the tradition of Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth and DJ Premier and Guru.
“He [Kazi] was one of the first producers I starting working with and has done a lot of my earlier music,” Kae Hockaday told AllHipHop.com. “Kazi was a perfect choice to nail the sound I wanted for this project. It’s been a long time coming so it was only right we hooked up for this album.”
The new album explores how listeners can learn to overcome their fears and achieve ultimate success, through the lessons they have learned along their own musical journey.
(AllHipHop News) Many Los Angeles residents were excited to find out the Rams were moving back to the city.
The new West Coast NFL franchise has begun its training camp for the 2016 season and the team had a couple of special guests stop by the field.
Top Dawg Entertainment emcees Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q were recorded participating at the Rams’ camp. In a video, Q can be seen throwing a pass to K. Dot as he ran a wide receiver route.
The Black Hippy members are both natives of the L.A. area. Kendrick claims Compton.
Schoolboy was raised in South Central, and he eventually played football at West Los Angeles College.
Watch Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q at the Los Angeles Rams training camp below.
Witnesses stated Drama told people in a Buckhead building that he had a bomb.
The “Left, Right, Left” rhymer was supposedly searching for the law office of Phaedra Parks.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star has come out to defend Drama.
According to TMZ, Parks was aware Drama was coming to visit her office in order to give her his new CD, but he arrived on the wrong floor.
A receptionist allegedly called security when Drama refused to leave.
In addition, Drama’s mother spoke to the website. She claimed her son told security: “I have a bomb CD. It’s about to blow up” and “I got that bomb ass CD in the car.”
Parks believes whoever called law enforcement was profiling the rapper because he had on a white t-shirt, baggy pants, and gold teeth.
A SWAT team, the Department of Homeland Security, and airport police dogs swept the area and Drama’s vehicle for bombs, but authorities did not find any explosive devices.
(AllHipHop News) Nicki Minaj will soon be taking her talents into the digital world with her new mobile gaming app Nicki Minaj: The Empire.
The Queens superstar has linked up with mobile gaming giant Glu Mobile for the latest business venture.
While playing Nicki’s new mobile game The Empire, players can rock virtual stages, create songs and lyrics videos, customize their crib and host parties.
All while guiding their created musician down the road to superstardom, with appearances from an animated Nicki.
The charismatic MC posted the following to her Twitter account in December of last year when teasing of the games impending release:
Absolutely!!!! U guys r gonna spazz out when u see what I put in this game. https://t.co/ddeQqQxUh9
Digital brand Glu Mobile, which will be producing the game, is also responsible for the very well received Kim Kardashian Hollywood app and games with Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.
Kardashian’s venture with the brand has been very lucrative to date, as the app earned $100 million since its 2014 launch, as reported by Glu Mobile CEO Niccolo de Masi.
There is currently no set release date for the new mobile game.
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Rick Ross has shed 75 pounds after doctors told him his bulk and his heavyweight lifestyle would kill him.
At his heaviest, the “Hustlin’” hitmaker tipped the scales at 350 pounds and as a result slept for just three hours a night.
Ross also had a habit of gobbling down huge steaks at 4am, but two seizures within six hours of each other made him get serious about his diet and his health.
“I’m still losing weight, and now I’m starting to build hard muscle in places,” he tells Men’s Health magazine, explaining he has been taking his weight loss slowly.
“If I quit all the things I loved cold turkey, I knew it would only be so long before I went back to my old ways.”
In order to achieve his goal, Ross pledged not to eat fast food after 5pm and he hired a chef to cook up healthy meals for him.
He also created a new ‘RossFit’ motivational work group to help him stay true to his goals, and now he jogs four days a week before hitting the gym.
Ross can’t believe he’s actually enjoying the healthy lifetstyle, adding, “My advice for anyone looking to lose weight is to not make it feel like a job.”
