Troy Ave is back with the re-release of his Major Without A Deal project. The Reloaded version shows Troy revamping the whole tape with 14 tracks and features from Fabolous, 50 Cent, T.I. and more! Stream below and share your thoughts in the c-section.
The Roots may be headed to your city to spread some holiday cheer. Between Dec. 26th and Jan. 2nd, the hip-hop band will be performing in four cites for their Holiday Tour before returning to their post at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. During the abbreviated road trip, Black Thought and Questlove will be welcoming only one special guest: Common.
Peep the dates and ticket info below.
12/26/15 – The Paramount, Huntington, NY Ticket info
12/27/15 – The Borgata featuring Common, Atlantic City, NJ Ticket info
12/29/15 – The Fillmore, Silver Spring, MD Ticket info
1/2/15 – House of Blues, Boston, MA Ticket info
Kendrick Lamar has always been vocal about the influence that west coast legends have had on his career. For the new issue of PAPER magazine, the “King Kunta” rapper has penned an essay paying homage to N.W.A frontman Eazy-E.
K. Dot recalled when he first heard Eazy-E’s music and how it helped him put his young life in perspective.
“I would go outside and see the same imagery in my reality as the things they were talking about on the record,” he wrote. “From the way these guys talked to the way they carried themselves to the type of activities that they were involved in, the whole thing was a real life introspective report from the ghetto. Looking at them and sitting inside my community, it left a big toll on me because it always let me know that no matter how far I go, I gotta stay in reach of the people and what’s going on in the neighborhood, whether it’s a harsh reality or not.”
The “Nowstalgia” issue, which features Grace Jones and FKA Twigs as the cover stars, also has Swizz Beatz reflecting on the influence of the Notorious B.I.G and Eminem discussing Tupac’s impact. The issue hits stands Oct. 20th.
Fitness guru and entrepreneur Rosa Acosta celebrated the highly anticipated Grand Opening of her flagship store, Cossamia, with a ribbon cutting ceremony this weekend. Celebrities, stylists, fashionistas and industry tastemakers came out to attend the “Pretty In Pink” themed soiree that also featured an exclusive Pop-Up Shop of Amber Rose’s new eyewear collection ‘Bash EyeWear’. Rosa Acosta celebrated the day with her famous friends including fashion designers Geebin Flores and Angel Brinks,Somaya Reece, music stars Anjali World and Kreesha Turner, VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Hollywood star Nastassia Smith and more.
Guests at the “ALL PINK” affair enjoyed a curated soundtrack by DJ OHWerd, an open bar sponsored by E-40’s Earl Stevens Selections, Sluricane and more in addition to a delectable dessert bar by Studio Chefs. The event was sponsored by Lyft, Captiv8 and produced by Echoing Soundz. The boutique, located at 7600 Melrose Boulevard, features unique fashion picks by designers Geebin Flores and Angel Brinks as well as fitness pieces from Rosa’s “Body by Acosta” line.
Keep up with what’s new with Rosa Acosta by following her on Twitter and Instagram: @RosaAcosta.
Check out more photos from the event below! Photo Credit: Burris Images and VVK Photos
Iggy Azalea has had endless controversy surrounding her career but that has not discouraged her from making more music. The “Black Widow” rapper has been hard at work on her sophomore album and revealed the project’s title while chatting with fans on Twitter.
Her new album will be titled Digital Distortion.
@HausOfIggz digital distortion is not a song title, its the name of my album.
When it comes to collaborations, Iggy said she hasn’t asked anyone to hop on a track yet but will be doing so soon. The artwork is being created as well.
@CRISDOMlNGUEZ i dont have any yet, but i will ask people soon.
Until Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj got together, JD aka Jermaine DuPri was the man that stunned America when he got with Janet Jackson. But that was a long time ago. Janet is now married to a billionaire and JD seems to be back to his playboy ways. And then this happened: JD began following an ID devoted to his relationship with Janet. He looking with fondness at what once was?
It looks like Young Thug has made up his mind about who he will be voting for in 2020! It’s Yeezus; Kanye West for President! As much as we love Ye…..oh never mind. Does he have your vote for 2020? If Ye was ever to become president that would make Kim Kardashian first lady. We aren’t sure we need Thugger’s perspective on anything political. For some strange reason we could actually see Ye and Thugger doing a track together. We aren’t saying it would be great, but we could see it happening.
With the release of his new single, “Young Jesus,” it is obvious that the release date of Logic’s second album, The Incredible True Story, is nearing. The DMV rapper has announced that his sophomore project will arrive on Nov. 13th via Def Jam.
My sophomore album "The Incredible True Story" is releasing everywhere Friday November 13th.
No word on the features yet. The Under Pressure rapper will be hosting a panel during Comic Con in New York City to discuss the album with Steve Blum on Oct. 10th, so hopefully he will be dishing about what fans can expect from the album then.
Throughout the Drake and Meek Mill beef, Nicki Minaj has remained quiet. Understandably though, since she has a lot of love for the both of them. In the cover story for the New York Times Magazine, the Head Barb finally opened up about how she feels about the tension between Young Money brethren and her bae.
‘‘I hate it,’’ she said. ‘‘It doesn’t make me feel good. You don’t ever want to choose sides between people you love. It’s ridiculous. I just want it to be over.’’
The “Only” rapper also responded to Miley Cyrus’ comments about Nicki feeling like the “Anaconda” video was snubbed at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.
“The fact that you feel upset about me speaking on something that affects black women makes me feel like you have some big balls,” she said. “You’re in videos with black men, and you’re bringing out black women on your stages, but you don’t want to know how black women feel about something that’s so important? Come on, you can’t want the good without the bad. If you want to enjoy our culture and our lifestyle, bond with us, dance with us, have fun with us, twerk with us, rap with us, then you should also want to know what affects us, what is bothering us, what we feel is unfair to us. You shouldn’t not want to know that.”
Nicki ended up snapping on the journalist, Vanessa Grigoriadis, who conducting the interview after she asked if she thrived on drama, referring to the rap battle between Meek and Drake and the legal battle between Lil’ Wayne and Birdman. After saying that was a “disrespectful” question, she asked “Why would a grown-ass woman thrive off drama?”
‘‘What do the four men you just named have to do with me thriving off drama?’’ she asked. ‘‘Why would you even say that? That’s so peculiar. Four grown-ass men are having issues between themselves, and you’re asking me do I thrive off drama?… That’s the typical thing that women do. What did you putting me down right there do for you?’Women blame women for things that have nothing to do with them. I really want to know why — as a matter of fact, I don’t. Can we move on, do you have anything else to ask?’’ she continued. ‘‘To put down a woman for something that men do, as if they’re children and I’m responsible, has nothing to do with you asking stupid questions, because you know that’s not just a stupid question. That’s a premeditated thing you just did.’’
After calling Grigoriadis “rude” and “disrespectful” she ended the interview.
With the release of ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ the ladies have been going crazy over Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr.. An old picture of O’Shea and his ex-girlfriend hit the net, and the ladies were not feeling it. In addition to the original photo, some tweets surfaced that allegedly showed the ex and O’Shea dissing black women. O’Shea didn’t take too kindly to the whole situation, and he jumped on his Instagram to give a PSA. He also cleared up the rumors about the offensive tweets, explaining that the tweets were Photoshopped.
After 16 years, Dr. Dre finally returned this August with the brand new album Compton. The legendary Aftermath Entertainment founder’s third and supposedly final studio LP brought together some of the leading minds in songwriting, production, and artistic development.
Among the many talents that contributed to the making of Compton: A Soundtrack By Dr. Dre were singer-songwriter Anderson .Paak, producer Bernard “Focus…” Edwards, and A&R coordinator Andrew “Drewski” Corria. Each of those Aftermath affiliates played a significant role in the final 16-track project which opened with 276,000 copies sold it its first week.
AllHipHop.com conducted separate interviews with Paak, Focus…, and Drewski to ask each of them about the possible cultural impact of the album inspired by N.W.A’s biopic Straight Outta Compton. The three Aftermath insiders also offered their thoughts about working with Dr. Dre and hearing the homage to his hometown for the first time.
Your Most Memorable Moment Working With Dr. Dre On Compton
Anderson .Paak: Doing the music and everything was cool, but sometimes when we were just chilling and drinking we’ll go work on a song, and I’ll just talk to him about music. I asked him to break down the story of when they were recording [“Deep Cover”]. He told me, “We did that sh*t on a broken bass in a room with Snoop.”
He told me they originally did “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” to “I Can’t Go For That.” That uptempo, soul pop song. It was going to be this disco type song. They actually did a demo to it, and Snoop recorded that sh*t from jail. I guess I could have got that story from wiki, but I heard that sh*t from him. Those type of stories, I nerd out over.
For example, hearing how he had The Chronic and was shopping it everywhere. People were laughing at him. People told him it was garbage to his face. He went home to his apartment with Nate Dogg and was like “I don’t know.” He was second guessing himself… Dre… The Chronic album! That’s sh*t is fuel to the flame for me.
Andrew Corria: Honestly, it’s so many moments. I’ll sum it up into one statement: just seeing Dr. Dre make a song, seeing him work, and seeing his work ethic is one of the most amazing things.
He has it all – financially, with his legacy. He’s a little bit older than most artists, but he’s the most humble, down to earth dude. And he works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. He has every reason not to work his butt off, but he does. It’s just amazing to see.
Focus…: When it came out, that was probably one of the highest moments I’ve ever been in my whole career. Just to see how the world responded to it when I saw it go live on iTunes. We had an amazing amount of pre-orders, and they didn’t hear any music. That was just awe-inspiring.
Anderson .Paak
One Thing You Learned About Dr. Dre Through The Process Of Creating Compton
Anderson .Paak: He’s a perfectionist in its truest form. He’s got to have it done right. That’s almost a dying art at this point. I meet less and less people that are like that. I meet more people that are down to just put out sh*t.
To be a perfectionist in this age is something to be in awe of. For someone who can actually afford to do it – it’s crazy to be around. He goes hard for everything – everything!
Andrew Corria: He’s very down to earth, super cool. I’ve met a lot of people that have done ¼ of what he’s done, and I see how they act and treat people. It’s like, “If Dre can be super cool and humble, why can’t you?”
Focus…: What I learned was more about the process that makes him Dr. Dre. It was amazing to watch him work. I’ve never seen him go through the whole thing and then finish the project.
I’ve always seen him mix other people’s projects, but I’ve never seen this. I’ve never seen a whole project from top to bottom go out the door. That was probably one of the greatest learning experiences I’ve ever seen. Seeing him creating, rapping, orchestrating, mixing, mastering – I’ve never seen it like this before. It was really, really amazing.
Your Initial Reaction When You Heard The Completed Compton Album
Anderson .Paak: I thought it was just a true work of art. I had a lot of respect for it. He didn’t care about making a single or any of that sh*t. I thought this is Dre adapting to the times. Not only still staying true and still evolving, but even the method of how he did it. He did that album in a few months.
He was just going off his inspiration from the movie, so he went in to make a brand new album. He had enough balls to scrap 10 years of work on another album [Detox]. He said, “F*ck it. I’m just going to start from scratch. I’m not going to over think it. I’m just going to do it.”
That’s how people make music now. That was Dre’s way of doing that. I loved it, and I’m so happy and proud to be part of that sh*t.
Andrew Corria: I remember the day it was available to stream. It was amazing to hear it outside of the studio. It was just like, “Wow, I was a part of this great piece of art?”
Focus…: At that moment I got to listen to it as a fan. Honestly, it was amazing. I guess you don’t hear it for real until you hear it with other ears. I can’t listen to it with my producer ears. I have to listen to it as a fan, and that was a great moment to hear it all together with the skits and everything. It was amazing.
Focus…
What Do You Think The Cultural Impact Of Compton Will Be?
Anderson .Paak: Time will show. We’ll see if it sticks. I think it’ll stick. Dre put out a dope album for the time. He’s showing how he can get down in this era. “This is how people are doing it? Alright, I’m going to show you how to do it.” We’ll see if people are still banging that sh*t.
It’s like when Miles Davis was still putting out music in the 90’s. He didn’t give a f*ck. They were talking sh*t about him too, all the way to his grave. But he didn’t give a sh*t. He kept putting out music in every era. And he wasn’t interested in doing the same thing twice.
That’s what I was super proud of too. Dre was taking a risk with this album – vocally and production wise – while staying true to what he wanted to do. He got the features from who he wanted. It was all him. That’s how it will affect the culture. Do sh*t how you want to do it, and it’s never too late to drop some sh*t.
Andrew Corria: I feel like for a lot of people it’s a lot easier to make music now. I don’t think there’s as much money in it as it used to be with streaming and leaking, so people don’t put as much time and effort into it anymore.
To see him take months to put a project out and really put his heart and soul into it – you can hear it in the music. I hope that’s one of the things that impacts music – people put more effort into making music.
Culturally, I feel like with a lot of the stuff talked about – as far as Black Lives Matter – it helps to shed a bigger light on everything. The song “Animals” could do that. I’ve even seen YouTube videos with that song playing in the background. It’s powerful to see.
Focus…: I think it was a necessity. I think people that are trying to pick it apart are picking it apart because they don’t understand it. But if they listen to it for what it is – an art piece – and they see that we’re trying to push the level of where music is now to a bar where it hasn’t been set at in a minute, I think people would appreciate the fact that we’re at least putting more effort, musicality, and production value into a project than a lot of these newer artists are doing.
Hopefully, it will help things turn around. Even if the new artists start to mimic or copy, at least they’re putting more production value into their projects. Hopefully, it will start to set the bar and set a trend.
(AllHipHop News) Post Malone has created one of the biggest internet hits of the year with his basketball inspired “White Iverson.” The track has over 39 million plays on SoundCloud, but the success of Malone’s “White Iverson” may soon be overshadowed by a major co-sign from one of the biggest stars in pop culture.
When Kanye West debuted his Yeezy Season 2 collection at New York Fashion Week last month, the rapper/designer also introduced a new song titled “Fade.” The cut features appearances from Malone and Ty Dolla Sign.
Post sat down with DJ Skee to talk about his contribution to Ye’s latest work. According to the Texas-bred rhymer, Kanye expressed appreciation for his music during a party for Kylie Jenner. That encounter led to the collaboration.
“He said, ‘Let’s get in the studio.’ He sent over that record, and I just did scratches,” explained Post. “We linked up in L.A when we were both out here, and that’s when I finished it.”
He added about working with the platinum-selling artist, “That’s a lot of pressure… It was a very scary type of deal.”
Charlamagne Tha God doesn’t bite his tongue ever, and he actually doesn’t seem too far off with his analysis of Omarion’s position as at a part of the MMG collective. Charlamagne seems to believe that Omarion isn’t promoted properly on the MMG label. Fans even commented on social media saying they forgot he was on the label or they had no idea he was on the label to begin with. Omarion responded basically saying whether he’s promoted well or not, he’s still successful and sh*t is still happening. Well ‘Post To Be’ did well, but would it have done as well without the assist from Chris Brown and barely-can-singJhene Aiko’s grocery line? LOL.
It appears it could. London posted a picture to his IG page of him in the studio with Kendrick. The caption reads, “To Keepin a 100 ft. Kendrick Lamar.”
You may know the beatmaker’s name from the “we got London On Da track” tag at the beginning of songs like Tip’s “About The Money”, Young Thug’s “Check,” Lil Wayne’s “Amazing Amy,” and Rich Homie Quan’s “They Don’t Know.”
Will Kendrick be one of the next rappers to get the “we got London On Da track” drop?
(AllHipHop News) The Game and Young Thug have once again started throwing shots at each other. The two rappers’ issues reignited after Game talked about Thugger during his interview with The Breakfast Club.
There is now footage of Game performing at Skee TV Live circulating the net. In the clip, Game ends his performance of “Hate It or Love It” by sending blatant shots at Thug.
“Since I was 10 years old, I was a young Blood. These days y’all n*ggas got Young Thug,” rapped Game. “Y’all favorite rappers wear skirts. My favorite rappers used to put motherf*ckers in a hearse.”
Game is set to release part one of his sixth studio album The Documentary 2 on October 9. The 2-disc project will feature Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Scarface, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Future, and many more.
Thug Misses Khia has kept us talking over the years with her wild antics. It’s been 13 years since she hit the scene with her debut album Thug Misses and lead single “My Neck, My Back.” She never stays gone too long….. well on social media at least. Recently, she took shots at Janet Jackson and Tamar Braxton. She said Janet Jackson cut her out of the music video for their collaborative single, “So Excited,” because Janet thought Khia was sleeping with Jermaine Dupri. Khia also said her last album was better than Tamar Braxton’s last two albums. Oh Khia!
(AllHipHop News) “Mumble Rap” has become one of the most popular and most criticized forms of music today. With artists like Future and Young Thug focusing more on melody and beats than clarity and enunciation, some listeners are hoping the culture shifts back to highlighting lyrical ability.
California rapper Hopsin has stepped up to address his less lyrical peers with the new video “No Words.” The Funk Volume leader relied on humor to express his discontent for “mumble rap.” He even placed some of the blame on the listening public.
“No Words” opens with Hop saying:
Man, rap today f*cking sucks bad. I don’t give a f*ck what anybody says. These fools ain’t spitting no type of dope sh*t. But that’s not even the bad part. They’re not even saying words anymore. They just got a hard ass f*cking beat to trick dumb a#### like you to make you think you like the sh*t…
We got some real f*cking mentally retarded rappers in the game. I know for a fact nobody knows what the f*ck these dudes be saying.
Hopsin did not refer to any artist by name, but by using Auto-Tune, wearing fake “locks”, and pretending to drink lean, it seems obvious the L.A. representative was taking shots at Trap stars.
This is not the only time the “Crown Me” performer has called out other rappers. In August, Hopsin challenged other rap crews or labels to battle his Funk Volume team for $500,000. After his squad went back-and-forth with Horseshoe Gang, FV’s Jarren Benton told AllHipHop.com the half a million dollar offer is still on the table for any other team.
“There wasn’t real beef with Horseshoe Gang. Actually, we consider Crooked I extended family,” said Benton. “It was just all in fun. We’ll still do it if anybody else wants to step the f*ck up. We’ll go ahead and knock you out too.”
(AllHipHop News)The Royal Frontier is back with its latest installment of modern rap-to-Shakespearean series. After tackling The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” in August, Ice Cube has now gotten the translation treatment.
Words from the Hip Hop legend’s 1993 storytelling classic have gone from “Just waking up in the morning, gotta thank God” to “Awake, awake! I pray my thanks to God.” Memorable lines such as “Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp, and it read ‘Ice Cube’s a Pimp'” have been converted to “My name and my colours blazon’d on high. ‘Exalt the fierce, young bawd,’ quoth Mercury.”
Prints of “Twas A Good Day” and “The Notorious Soliloquy” are available for purchase at society6.com. Read The Royal Frontier‘s “Twas A Good Day” below and compare the lyrics to Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day” at Genius.
Awake, awake! I pray my thanks to God
For this strange day’s rare, wondrous fantasies.
The cur lieth quiet, air lieth light.
I alight on a meal fit for Shylock
And content myself with the light breakfast.
I received a letter from the maiden,
Whom I pray may finally share her fruits,
And I sent forth to attend her tonight.
Forecasting my future in plagued times
‘Fore casting myself out into my cart,
Delighting as did once the chariots.
Upon brief respite, mine eyes trace the grounds.
O what relief: the knaves are all scatter’d
And for the peace I often hold such strife.
A message arrived from a w####, O,
Whose watery moon glimmers through the night.
I seek the friends playing at bowls for sport
For I kiss’d the jack, desired mistress,
And won a brave game when last we played.
Upon the field, I triumph as Ares
Dreaming a dream that’s touched by fairies.
I returned home to cleanse my foul parts.
Following hair-breadth scapes, Fortune or merth
Quieted the tumult of yesterday.
The boasting enemy that haunts our land
Was haply struck by blindness and did not
Mark me in the manner of those false dogs.
We study lines at my pupil’s lodging
Till weary minds seek chance for sustenance.
Prepare up dice for playing at Bone-Ace.
Behold: not fullams, still the bones obey.
One-and-thirty, again one-and-thirty,
I vanquish my foes; no pip out today.
Crown-filled purse heavy, let us to sitting
For another victory at shove groat.
No soldiers struck down by sword or by maul
Zounds, more such days as these to us befall!
I put money in my purse and left to
Pluck a flower I have long admired
From a garden of herbs with ale mixed.
While my sailors thriv’d ‘gainst insolent foes
I hoisted myself upon a mountain.
The s##### pour’d like tide into the breach,
Plunged, descrying some secret treasure,
And the fierce event my flower wilted.
Awaken! We must obey the time. And
With nectar overflowing from her mouth.
I piloted her back to her garden.
Carouse again! Drank I the potation
And thrust myself apace into the dream
Belike some counterfeit realm of sweet luck.
The constables, now slumbering in peace,
Caged vile vultures that seek carrion.
We sup untroubled on beef and mustard,
My name and my colours blazon’d on high.
‘Exalt the fierce, young bawd,’ quoth Mercury.
Though I am pottle-deep, I hold my drink
While my messenger presents late letters.
I didn’t e’en brandish my rapier
Forsooth a dream, but never happier.
(AllHipHop News) The last several years have seen a lot of discussion around White performers making Hip Hop music. From accusations of cultural appropriation to debates over the use of the n-word to calls for more acceptance of non-Black emcees, the conversation around race and rap has been extensive.
The Fader recently published a lengthy conversation between Stolen Youth collaborators Vince Staples and Mac Miller concerning White rappers. The Black Summertime ’06 rhymer and the White GO:OD AM spitter were very open about the topic.
Read excerpts from Mac Miller and Vince Staple’s exchange below and the entire article at thefader.com.
Mac Miller: There’s always been a bunch of white rappers in the super-underground scene – cult sh*t, like Atmosphere. I never listened to any of it, but there was a lot of white people like, “I love white rappers because I can identify with them.” The reason white rappers can do what they do is because white people be hoorah-ing the sh*t. It’s like when there are white people on an NBA team.
Vince Staples: White people definitely root for white people.
–
Staples: I ain’t really f*ck with Eminem at first. I saw “Purple Pills,”and I was like, “What the f*ck is these n*ggas doin’?” But I didn’t really care about rapping. I was trying to hear some Ja Rule, like, “N*gga, where Ashanti at? Don’t nobody wanna hear you rappin’ about your momma.” That’s how I was feeling in my younger days. Eminem was too aggressive for me.
Miller: Now it’s evolved to where you have different types of white rappers. You have a RiFF RAFF, and an Action Bronson, and me, who are all completely different. Earlier, white rappers were just on the super storytelling, very poetic.
–
Miller:I remember touring and doing shows, and I was the first rap show ever in all these colleges. Six thousand kids, and I’m the first hip-hop show because I’m white-college-friendly. That was always a demon for me. It was hard to sit here and know that, because I was a white dude, I was able to sell easier and be more marketable. That wasn’t tight to me. I wanted to go through the same sh*t that everyone else did. But I did that sh*t, and that sh*t was huge for me.
Staples: Maybe you’re not the problem. Maybe the problem is that black people don’t support each other and don’t f*ck with each other as much as they should. Maybe Hispanic people don’t f*ck with each other and support each other as much as they should. You’re not the problem. White people got the right idea: the first thought, the first action, is to be a supporter.
–
Staples: White people loved MC Hammer, though. “Can’t Touch This.” Let’s dance, we’re not killing nobody. White people love Michael Jackson. And they love him to this day.
Miller: I might make a song like “Thrift Shop.” This is a thing that me and Vince agree on, that none of our other friends do. Me and Vince and [Schoolboy] Q.
Staples: Q, yeah. I was about to say: Q ready to get that check. I make music at the end of the day. I ain’t worried about sticking to hip-hop. Y’all gotta stop worrying about the race sh*t. It’s more important sh*t out there. Ja Rule got a show on MTV, let’s talk about that.
