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.
Ninety-six percent of the time, Nasir Jones is my favorite MC to ever touch a microphone. While many, including me, hail his landmark debut Illmatic as the greatest rap album of all-time and thus, his best work, his follow-up is my favorite of his legendary catalogue for a bevy of reasons. Released 20 years ago, It Was Written, propelled him to superstardom and cemented his now revered career.
It established him as a New York King in a time where platinum-selling, Bed-Stuy bred Notorious B.I.G. and an up an coming rapper from Marcy Projects, better known as Jay Z were all fighting for the top spot in the Mecca of Hip-Hop. It Was Written did what Illmatic couldn’t do- sell records with a mainstream sound while also keeping the streets and underground happy. It’s the balance that most rappers desperately covet, but so many fail to achieve. It showcased Nas’ polished lyrical skills and supreme ability to tell stories from various perspectives. The album also introduced Nas Escobar, a character in which he used to embody and advance a predominant theme of mid-90s hip-hop, Mafioso rap. Further, as compared to albums such as Raekwon’s Only Built For Cuban Linx, Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt, and AZ’s Doe or Die, Nas’ second LP would not only outsell these album’s but also stand as one of the greatest albums ever recorded in rap music.
The year 1996 saw the greatest summer in rap history. With classic albums from the likes of The Fugees, 2Pac, Jay Z and OutKast, Lil Kim and more, Nas had no choice but to come correct on his next project or instead forever be known as the Terrence Trent D’arby of Hip-Hop. To erase any possibility of a sophomore slump, Nas hooked up with perhaps the most underrated team of producers in music history, the Trackmasters. Comprised of Poke (Jean-Claude Olivier) and Tone (Samuel Barnes), the duo had been responsible for pretty much all of the big commercial hip-hop records of the 90’s. Though at the time they were more known for their work on R&B and Pop records such as Mary J. Blige’s My Life and LL Cool J’s Mr. Smith album, the duo had never been known to produce a complete rap record. With their heavy sample-filled records, it was unforeseen if they could translate their successful formula to the underground until Nas’ former Steve Stoute brought them into the fold. While they ultimately produced only half of the album, they were responsible for It Was Written brightest spots.
When the album released on July 2, 1996, it debuted at #1 and would remain at that spot for four consecutive weeks. While the album would ultimately go on to sell 4 million copies in the U.S. (4x Platinum), the success of the album was led by its main single, “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)”, featuring his Columbia records label-mate, Lauryn Hill. Hill, who was undeniably music’s brightest star at the time, was still reeling from the massive success of her group, The Fugees’ sophomore effort, The Score. Most importantly, Hill, a rapper and singer who was just as revered on the mic as she was on wax, provided Nas the right balance he needed to appease his fans. The Whodini and Kurtis Blow-sampling record, held the essence of early 80’s hip-hop while pushing it’s sound forward to match the climate of mid-90’s radio. With a catchy hook, Nas was able to bring his street dreams and aspirations to the forefront.
The album’s opener, “The Message”, proved to be a competitive declaration from the Queensbridge MC. Produced by the Trackmasters, the song samples Sting’s “Shape of My Heart.” Caught up in the East coast-West coast rivalry, the Queens MC found himself at odds with 2Pac over the song’s opening lines.
“Fake thug, no love, you get the slug, CB4 Gusto/Your luck low, I didn’t know til I was drunk though”, he raps.
Known for his boisterous, Thug Life mantra, Pac felt slighted and would in turn, go on to diss him on his next album shortly before he was murdered. Pac wasn’t the only one offended by the song. With references to the car Jay Z flaunted in his video for the song, “Dead Presidents” (a song that also samples Nas’ “The World Is Yours”), the beginnings of their beef that would take place in the new millennium would begin to commence here. With that said, the Notorious B.I.G. was the real target of the album’s opening song.
“Regulate wit my Dunn’s, 17 rocks gleam from one ring/ Yo let me let y’all n##### know one thing /There’s one life, one love, so there can only be one King” he raps.
Profiled and heralded as the King of New York in an infamous The Source magazine issue in 1995, B.I.G. had now become rap’s biggest star with songs all over the radio and Billboard charts. Though Illmatic was critically acclaimed when it released in 1994, it was Biggie’s debut Ready to Die that was the real commercial success. Thus, Nas’ hunger and desire to avenge this permeated throughout the album.
On “Street Dreams”, Nas elaborates on life post Illmatic. Nas was no longer the kid looking out his project window or loungin’ on park benches, he was now a target with money and success. He also had one foot still in the streets and would use his platform to speak for his boys that were still hustling.
“Though I’m innocent, til proven guilty/ I’ma try to filthy, purchase a club and start up realty/ For real G, I’ma fullfill my dream/If I conceal my scheme/then precisely I’ll build my cream” he raps.
Perhaps the greatest facet of the album is Nas’ ability to write from various perspectives and storytelling ability. With albums like B.I.G’s Ready to Die and Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt, the main knock on Nas, in terms of content, was that he never actually lived a drug dealer’s life but rather tended to use his environment as his muses. With that said, Nas was able to capture unique point of views because of this fact. For example, on “I Gave You Power”, Nas teamed up with arguably the greater producer in rap history, DJ Premier. Nasty Nas and Premo had teamed up prior to make some of the best records on Illmatic such as “Memory Lane” and “New York State of Mind.” On this song, Nas channeled the experiences and thoughts of what it would be like to be a gun in mid 90’s rap culture.
“I seen some cold nights and bloody days/They grab and me bullets spray/They use me wrong so I sing this song ’til this day/My body is cold steel for real/ I was made to kill, that’s why they keep me concealed/Under car seats they sneak me in clubs/Been in the hands of mad thugs/They feed me when they load me with mad slugs/Seventeen precisely, one in my head/ They call me Desert Eagle, semi-auto with lead.”
On “Watch Dem N#####”, Nas raps about betrayal and the paranoia that surrounded him post Illmatic. Featuring a young Foxy Brown, who would go on to be his group member in The Firm, the song captures the state of mind Nas was in at the time of the album’s release.
“Watch dem n##### that be close to you/And make sure they do what they supposed to do/Cause you know they be thinking about smoking you/ Never personal, nowadays, it’s the ways” he recites on the song’s chorus.
The song would prove to be prophetic as the East Coast-West Coast rivalry would result in 2PAC and B.I.G. being murdered in September of ‘96 and March of ’97. Speaking to this point, Nas decided to maintain his neutrality in the rivalry and work with former 2Pac producer and legendary West Coast artist, Dr. Dre on album cut, “Nas Is Coming.”
On other cuts like “The Set Up”, “Suspects” and “Shootouts”, Nas continued similar themes of the streets expressed on Illmatic. On “Black Girl Lost”, my favorite song from the album, Nas showcases his master storytelling ability once again, depicting a young girl who succumbs to drugs, alcohol and prostitution of the streets and another who continues to get hurt by dominating men. One of the girls Nas is describing has lost her way in life and prioritizes material things and goes to any length to get it. Featuring JoJo of Jodeci, the song encapsulates a common theme in the world of rap; money hungry women who use their looks and physical features for financial gain.
“Growin up seein it, it should remind you, you bein lied to/Everything that move be inside you/Sacred as you are, left with these wannabes to guide you/I watched you, hard to knock you, I tried not to/They spot you out dancin topless in your drawers/Damn look, there goes a black girl lost” he raps.
It Was Written is a classic for various reasons. Not only did it bring Nas success and cement his legacy, it transcended all of the potentially career-ending storylines that lied during that era in hip-hop. It also established The Trackmasters as a legendary producing team and proved that they could produce success street records in addition to their Pop and R&B appeal. The album also paved the way for Steve Stoute and proved his marketing and managing ability. Today, Stoute now runs Translation Inc. and has been involved in some of hip-hop’s biggest business deals. While it can be argued that It Was Written is the greatest sophomore album in the history of rap music, it’s ultimate legacy is that it showed that you could have commercial success while also maintaining street support. While Nas has always embodied the skills of Rakim and Kool G. Rap, his career ultimately transcended theirs in large part due to the success of It Was Written. Escobar was the first messiah of Hip-Hop. The fact that the album has aged well sonically all these years later serve as evidence for his place in rap lure. Thus, I guess it’s true, it truly was written.
(AllHipHop News) Eazy-E and Suge Knight were not on good terms at the time of his passing in the mid-1990’s. Their turbulent interactions were chronicled in the hit movie “Straight Outta Compton,” a movie that told the story of N.W.A.
Heller, the group’s former manager, says the late Compton pioneer would be please at Suge Knight’s present incarcerated status.
“Instant Karma. This is like OJ, I think its payback time. I think that Eric is looking down and smiling,” Heller said in a brief interview with TMZ.
Knight stands accused of a hit-and-run that has resulted in a murder case.
A lawsuit Heller has levied against “Straight Outta Compton” will continue after a judge ruled the movie could have defamed the businessman.
Rising rappers The Local Group decided to release a politically charged track titled “U.S.” as America celebrates its independence.
The song, which was produced by Peakinggg, was recorded during a particularly violent Summer, in 2015.
The Local Group consists of group members Ayun Bassa, 25, and Darian Steward, who is 25 years-old as well.
The duo was formerly known as BLKWHL, a group that released the 2011 project BLK FUEGO.
“I just wanted to capture the essence of what Ayun was saying with the hook and then lighten it up a bit with the second verse,” said group member Darian Steward. “Usually I’m the one with the deep emotional verse so I wanted to switch it up and have a lighter, more direct approach.”
The video for “U.S.” was lensed by CoupDeLa. Take a look:
Kanye West’s status in popuar culture has been taken to many areas, and lately it’s been in game shows. Recently, Mike Dean was watching the show Jeopardy, and manage to hear The Life Of Pablo as an answer for one of the questions. All of the contestants were stumped on the question involving Yeezy’s latest LP, however. The funnier thing is that they all stood in silence, stunned that out of all of the questions on the show, this one rap album ends up getting a question.
South Holland rapper Ben Heights has the drawn the attention of several major labels, including Roc Nation, Warner Music and Pharrell’s label I Am Other.
As a youngster growing up in Europe, Ben Heights drew inspiration from artists like The Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.
Ben Heights impressed several major label executives during the most recent New Skool Rules international Hip-Hop conference.
‘Ben Heights mixes live instruments, with vocal samples and then throws a super raspy vocal on
top. The hooks are super catchy but the songs have real topic matters, he impressed a lot of high level music execs at our conference,” said Henca Maduro, C.E.O., of New Skool Rules. “At New Skool Rules Ben Heights blew away several American A&R’s, who invited him to come to the States.”
Ben Heights 2nd EP will drop on top of 2017. His first single “Forever” of the release will be available worldwide for purchase digitally on July 11th.
40 is the new 30 and…so on. Well, Fergie has crafted a new anthem for all the sexy moms that permeate in the entertainment industry these days. “M.I.L.F $” is here and it knocks, if you are into rap with a pop twist. The video is as colorful as a candy store with guest appearances from Ciara, Devon Aoki, model and wife of John Legend Chrissy Teigen and others. Kim Kardashian ever gets jabbed as well. Check it out.
(AllHipHop News) Not too long ago, Turk was suing Cash Money, but now the former Hot Boy has signed his former legal adversary, Birdman.
Turk made the announcement on social media, to the glee of his followers.
“Yeah, y’all know what it is. A real n**a just re-signed with Cash Money.,” Turk said. “Y’all just stop trying to figurer the sht out, man, and accept it for what it is. Cash Money Records. I’m back, b***h.”
Previously, Turk settled a $1.3 million lawsuit with his former label, now his current label, over unpaid royalties. The exact details of that settlement have not been disclosed.
