Detroit’s Trick Trick drops a moving ode to the violence that Black and minority American’s have been faced with as police brutality appears as a recurring theme on today’s news. This is what Trick Trick had to say. Give him a minute:
“Unite or be imprisoned. Universal Freedom can Only be Achieved through the Unification of the righteous. A deliverance of the Truth will unlock the chain of oppression. And may the Most High PROTECT those who choose to Command Respect to secure PEACE for the future of OUR Children. I’ve been Enlightened and it’s selfish to NOT Share KNOWLEGE of LIFE. I can only pray that this composition of audio and visuals will awaken the SPIRIT of COURAGE in ALL people who wish for a better world for us all. Whatever color you want to acknowledge yourself as, We are ALL Children of the same Higher Power. Much Love and Respect to whoever is viewing this work …Christian “Trick Trick” Mathis”
Having surpassed her initial goal of earning a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Houston, Briana Bette, has reformulated her educational goals and is currently a graduate student. Although much of her time is consumed by her diligent studies, the Southern stallion has managed to bring her entrepreneurial desires to fruition. Her Fit Butt Curvy empire, which is structured around both fitness and lifestyl is steadily growing.
Aside from pursuing her intellectual attributes, and amassing her own assets, Briana’s natural beauty has lead to many rewarding modeling endeavors. Her curvaceous physique was prominently featured in Kendrick Lamar’s “King Kunta.” An array of other respected publications have also showcased Ms. Bette.
Possessing both beauty and brains, it’s only natural that Briana has earned the distinction of being AllHipHop’s, Woman Crush Wednesday.
Calico Jonez emerges with features from Young Scooter, Lil Booise, Gucci Mane, OJ Da JuiceMane, Soulja Boy, Tracy T, Shy Glizzy and more on his tape called, Dope Run which is available on the MyMixtapez App and CalicoJonezWorld.com. Peep one of the singles here dubbed “Wedding Pictures.”
Juicy J, Lil Wayne and August Alsina get to talking about Mrs. Mary Mack aka Mary Jane. With nice cars and dope animated effects this video is def one that entertains.
Maryland’s own Flex Kartel returns, and this go around he’s got the gloves off! Linking with Eddie Vanz and producer ItzDBeatz, Kartel takes to the streets of Baltimore amidst the backlash from the Freddie Gray incident to bring us the official visuals for his latest single, “#Ferguson”. The BlakkHouse Films directed video comes from his most recent project, “Just For You”, and captures the turmoil that was, shining light on that shook the nation and the world. His message is simple; #AllLivesMatter. If you haven’t picked up the project already, you can do so right here.
Big Boi’s not in the studio with Andre 3000 but he has been taking up his time working with another duo. He and the rock twosome Phantogram have linked up and they are now dropping new music together.
They have announced that they will be releasing a new EP under the moniker Big Grams, which will also serve as the project’s title. Big Grams will be available Sept. 25th. The seven-track effort is light on features, with only Run the Jewels and Skrillex lending their talents to the project.
“Fell in the Sun” will debut as the first single today (Sept.9) on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 show.
Peep the cover and tracklist below.
1. “Run for Your Life”
2. “Lights On’
3. “Fell In The Sun”
4. “Put It On Her”
5. “Goldmine Junkie”
6. “Born To Shine” (feat. Run the Jewels)
7. “Drum Machine” (feat. Skrillex)
Amber Rose has a new man in New York Giants superstar Odell Beckham, Jr.
Seems like they just started dating each other. But, this is the thing. As far as I can see, this is the first dude Amber dated that WAS NOT a rapper. So this could prove somewhat interesting when the Giants start getting it on in the new season. Odell started looking for Amber and they went out late in August for dinner.
This ain’t nothing to reallllllly mention, but just putting it in the books.
Backed by a classic Curtis Mayfield sample, Memphis recording artist turned social activist Marco Pavé unloads the latest leak from his forthcoming Perception EP. “Black Tux”, produced by frequent collaborator Kenny Wayne, is a soulful banger that captures Marco’s both personal and political frustrations.
With a declarative hook that states, “please understand the basics/this black tux costs cheaper at Macy’s/put us in the basement deeper than Anne Frank/seek to keep us down but this crown no erasing.”, it’s very clear that Pavé isn’t limiting his teachings to the classroom.
Rita Ora and Chris Breezy team up for her new debut single “Body On Me.” The two get into the performance on Jimmy Kimmel and Rita get an opp to showcase her talents. The two share a moment at the end.
Sadat X – yup thats a throwback name that conjurs up feelings of the the late 1990’s but you gotta peep this new joint “Joe Frazier.” Teaming up with The UMC, this track is a produced by Fantom Of The Beat and knocks just as much as the late boxing legend’s left hook. The song is available as a hidden track when you download the Never Left album via Bandcamp. The album features Cormega, Black Rob, Dres, King T, Chi-Ali, Skyzoo, Craig G & More.
As DMX sits in jail, his oldest son is putting one of his most precious possessions up for sale on the internet. TMZ reports that Xavier Simmons has taken his father’s commemorative plaque for his first three albums, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, And Then There Was X and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, and put it up for sale on eBay.
Potential buyers will have to pay $3,000.
The world got a first row seat to X’s tumultuous relationship with Xavier when they appeared on the OWN series Fix My Life with Iyanla Vanzant. Xavier confronted his father about his infidelity to his mother, which he witnessed first hand as a child, and his substance abuse. By the end of the show the two were not on speaking terms. Xavier is reportedly selling the plaque so he can get cash to jump start his own music career.
Dark Man X was sentenced to six months in jail in July after failing to comply with child support payments and traffic violations. He is serving his time at the Erie County Holding Center in Erie, NY.
Police officers who were present in Compton at the time of “F*ck Tha Police” and its video release knew that the game had changed once this song came out. Cube, Yella and others break down how they felt about the song and what inspired it in this Noisey film. While there have been a ton of interviews with everyone that was a part of this movie, this is a great segment that shows an introspective look at life in the trenches for both police, gang members and anyone that looked like a gang member as you will see in the video below.
Compton not only marked the arrival of Dr. Dre’s first album in 16 years, the West Coast opus also serves as the inauguration of several new voices to the Hip Hop conversation. One of those young performers Dre crowned on Compton is Oxnard, California vocalist Anderson .Paak.
With credited features on six songs and appearances on two others, Paak’s soulful vibe soaks into the core of Compton. The migration from underground indie artist to joining Dre’s esteemed family tree of music acts was not an overnight expedition.
Paak first fell in love with making music when regular visits to his elementary school principal’s office were halted by the discovery of drumsticks. At 11 years old, his godsister invited him to play drums at church, and Anderson almost instantly became addicted to the art.
Nearly a decade and a half later, Paak released Violets Are Blue followed by Lovejoy, O.B.E. Vol. 1, and Cover Art. His most recent solo project, Venice, hit the internet in 2014. Anderson also joins with producer Knxwledge as the duo known as NxWorries.
AllHipHop.com spoke with Anderson .Paak to discuss his contribution to Compton, his own artistic output, and his intriguing life journey.
Do you remember your earliest memory of making music?
I remember being like 5 or 6 writing raps with my older cousin. Coincidentally, my earliest memories are of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. My sister had a record player, and she was playing Snoop and New Edition.
I remember memorizing the lyrics to “Nothin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” and “Dre Day.” I remember looking at those videos along with Kriss Kross, ABC, and Immature. I wanted to rap and break dance. I just wanted to be in Hip Hop. I loved dancing, beat boxing, anything that had to do with Hip Hop.
You originally started performing under the name Breezy Lovejoy. Why did you start using Anderson Paak?
It was just a lifestyle change. I was going through different things, and my world had been upside down for a while. I was tired of that sh*t. I was just letting life throw me around. I didn’t have any direction.
There was a time where someone sat me down and said, “You should try this for a few months.” I sat down, regrouped, and got things together. Something cliqued. I wanted my artistry to reflect that. I wanted people to have a chance to rediscover me as an artist.
I read that you were once homeless. Can you talk about how that happened?
I didn’t want to f*cking work for nobody else, and I’m not a great businessman either. I just didn’t want to go to a job, work for pennies, and still be homeless.
I just wanted to stick around people that was doing the same thing I was. Thank God I was around people that believed in me and didn’t want to see me out in the street, so they took me in. I was with a group of people that put our pennies together to make something happen.
There was a period of time where I was homeless, and I had a family. My son was a newborn. I just got married. That time of being homeless built a lot of character. That’s the foundation that I’m on right now. A lot of songs came out of that. I needed that sh*t.
How did you connect with Dr. Dre and Aftermath?
I connected to them about four or five months ago. They heard the song “Suede.” They had been playing that sh*t for weeks, and DJ Dahi sent some beats for the project that they thought I would sound best over.
They called me up. I met Dre and D.O.C. the first night. We started working on “All In A Day’s Work.” From there, every other day I was over there.
Were there any songs that you recorded with them that didn’t make the album?
Damn near everything I cut made it. If it didn’t make it, then it was for Mez’s album, my album, or something else. I was blessed to have damn near everything make it.
Is there any talk about you and Mez officially signing with Dre and Aftermath?
We’ll see what happens. I’m just really grateful that I’m on the project and that the art is out there. We’ll see how that manifests into the business.
How would you describe your own musical style?
It’s just Soul, Funk, pain, Blues, Black music. It’s f*cking church. Modern Gospel is fusion. If you hear these Gospel artists, they’re doing some crazy arrangements. I’m a product of that.
Even the vocal approach. Even how I sound on the Dre album and the music I’m putting out. I’m reaching for that feeling I used to get playing drums in church.
You know n*ggas come in crying on Easter because they get hit with that: Oh my god, what am I doing with my life? That’s the emotion we’re giving people. I don’t even care what you believe in. When that music hits you, you’re going to feel it.
What inspired the concept for the “Miss Right” video?
That was from [director] Jay Ahn. That’s just how he thinks. He was very passionate about the song. So I was like, “F*ck it. Do whatever you want. Just make it look good.” He came back with that crazy ass treatment. At first I was like, “I don’t know.” But then I said, “Let’s do it. I think it’s cool.”
It would have been easy to do your standard R&B video, dance in front of a white background with a pretty girl. Those videos are tight too, but I rather do something different. He put everything into that with very little to work with. I don’t want to put him on blast, but I gave dude $300. Now he’s doing Jhené Aiko, Chris Brown, and Omarion’s video [for “Post To Be”].
What separates your brand as a solo artist from your work with NxWorries?
I’m working with one producer with NxWorries. With my solo stuff, I’m producing and working with musicians and different producers. NxWorries is us coming together as our own respective artists. This is us coming together to do something we’re not used to doing and making something new.
I don’t think Knxwledge has worked with one artist as close as he’s worked with me. I haven’t worked with one producer top to bottom either. It’s us coming outside of our comfort zones, creating something natural.
It has a big impact on how I’m making music on my solo thing. For this project, I’ve gotten to develop my tone from working with him. So it’s seeping into my own stuff as well. It’s helped me a lot.
So you have another full project on the way?
Yeah, Malibu. It should be out this year.
You’re currently on tour with Earl Sweatshirt. How’s the road life treating you?
I love it. I’ve been on tour every year since 2012, and this has been the coolest for me. I’ve been able to bring my childhood friend with me. I’m out with Knxwledge. Everybody is cool as hell.
You’re a songwriter. There has been a lot of discussion about ghostwriting the last few months. What are your thoughts about that?
I welcome it. You got a hit song for me and I like that sh*t, I’m singing that sh*t. That’s what they did on Motown. I don’t give a f*ck.
I guess rapping is a little bit more particular, because you’re supposed to write your own sh*t. The art of rap is different, but I ain’t no rapper. So I could give a f*ck.
There are a lot of talented songwriters and producers that I’d like to work with. And there are a lot of artists that I’d love to write for.
Have you written for anyone?
I’ve been writing with Omarion recently. I’ve written with Watsky and Dumbfoundead. Not too many people. I guess it takes a certain type of person for me to write for, because I’m so used to doing just me.
I’m not from that school of writing for other people. I’ve tried it at different times, but it just doesn’t work. I’m too raw to write for females, and when I write for males – I guess I have too much of a particular sound. I’ve done some writing here and there, but it takes a certain type of artist for me to pull it off. But I’m working on it.
You went from being homeless at one point to appearing on songs with Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Eminem. What advice would you give an up-and-coming artist that may be going through a tough time?
Don’t be a little p*ssy. Don’t be afraid to be homeless and dusty. That’s what I see. People are afraid to be dusty, especially in LA.
Perception is everything, and that’s how people get caught up. They want to look the part, but they’re not really in the studio doing sh*t. They’re out there looking the part, but when they get in the studio they don’t have no chops.
There were a lot of years where I was dusty and not the coolest person. I was awkward and nobody gave a f*ck. That’s what you got to go through sometimes.
Some people get in quick, and they don’t have to go through that sh*t. But then some people also burn out really quick too. That’s not what I want. Nothing came easy to me. I had to f*cking fight. Like Kendrick said, “All my life [I had to fight].”
So even this Dre sh*t. It’s a blessing to be on these records with all these dynamite people, but I’m still doing shows where nobody could give a sh*t. I’m still out here busting my ass.
I’m out here trying to give performances and deliver good music, because that’s what it’s all going to come down to. You still have to put out something people are going to care about. What are you going to do? Do you.
Anderson .Paak Is Ready To Take R&B Back To Church
(AllHipHop News) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was already dealing with filing for bankruptcy, and now the media mogul is being hit with a lawsuit over his Starz series Power. TMZ reports an author named Larry Johnson is suing 50 for allegedly stealing his idea.
Johnson claims he sent a copy of his manuscript for Tribulation Of A Ghetto Kid to Nikki Turner at G-Unit Books in 2005. He believes the work eventually got into the hands of 50 and later became the premise for his hit show.
According to the suit, there are several similarities between Power and Tribulation. The main characters each have “goatees” and both project’s central supporting character (Tommy in Power) have short tempers.
Nightclubs are featured in Power and Tribulation as well. Plus,Johnson wrote his book under the pen name “Ghost” which is also the alias of drug dealer/businessman James St. Patrick in Power.
Larry “The Ghost” Johnson has written other books including the Tribulation Of A Ghetto Kid II and Tribulation Of A Ghetto Kid III. He also released Mass Appeal, The Thrill, and Cold Blooded.
Johnson is seeking $200 million in his case against 50.
(AllHipHop News) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ performance at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards was overshadowed by the Miley Cyrus/Nicki Minaj spat and the Kanye West presidential announcement, but some Hip Hop fans were appreciative of the Seattle duo’s set at this year’s VMAs.
While performing his new single “Downtown,” Macklemore brought out rap legends Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, and Kool Moe Dee. However, the moment was hit with mixed reviews.
Some observers saw it as a cheap attempt to get back in to the good graces of Hip Hop followers after Mack’s controversial Grammy win over Kendrick Lamar in 2014. Others praised The Heist creator for bringing attention to some of the culture’s forefathers.
Melle Mel fell into the latter group. The 54-year-old member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five even told XXL that other modern rap stars would not have reached back to pay homage to him and his fellow pioneers in the way Macklemore did.
He said:
And my whole thing was this: I know for a fact that J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar or Rick Ross or Jay Z or any of these cats, they would not have done it. Ever. They would not have done it. It took him to do it. And all those other so-called “real cats,” they should hang their heads. Because somebody should have done it by now. They could have reached back to any of us. If you’re making records and you say you’re hip-hop, you’re supposed to have a connection to what hip-hop really is. And nobody made that connection until Macklemore made the connection. And I’ve had this conversation quite a few times since everything happened and had that little controversy of, yeah, the White boy, using the OGs, or blah blah blah. And like I said, none of those other guys would have ever done it. And it’s a shame that that’s the reality of what the game is right now.
Big Daddy Kane also addressed today’s rappers:
If they use the term “Old School artist,” they’re normally talking about me, Rakim or Kool G Rap, somebody like that. What this brother did was he reached out to the real legends. Because [when] we talk about people like myself, Rakim, Jay Z, Nas, you’re talking about the Charlie Wilson’s, Teddy Pendergrass’, the Michael Jackson’s of the game, the people who came into something that already existed and took it to a different level. When you’re talking about Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, you’re talking about the Ray Charles’, Quincy Jones’ of the game. We’re talking about the inventors. And no other rapper in this current era of hip-hop has done that: reached back to the people that invented this thing that everybody else is getting paid off and paying homage this way.
(AllHipHop News) Hip Hop legend Eazy-E died 20 years ago this week from complications of AIDS. The N.W.A member’s son did an interview with The Recollectors. The website highlights the stories of people that have lost family members to AIDS.
“We arrived at Cedars-Sinai: Dad was in the hospital. I didn’t understand because he was so uplifted. It didn’t seem like anything was wrong,” recalled Eric Wright, Jr. “We were just cracking jokes on each other. He’s joking about what he wants to eat.”
Lil Eazy explained that he was not fully aware of the disease at the time. He found out about his father’s diagnosis from another member of his family.
“Finally my grandmother told me that my dad had the same thing as Magic Johnson. I was 10 at the time and didn’t understand what that was,” said Wright. “But Magic Johnson was (and is) still very much alive. So it was like, ‘Oh ok, it’s not that bad, he’s an athlete, they just don’t want to touch him and be around him. But this is my Daddy; I’m not scared to touch my Daddy.’ You don’t understand that it’s a fatal disease.”
As Wright entered his teenage years he began questioning the stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS such as the belief that only homosexuals contacted the disease. He is now involved in AIDS awareness work focusing on educating the younger generation.
Eazy-E’s daughter, E.B. Wright, has announced she is working on a documentary about her father. She stated, “It’s basically going to surround the scandal behind his death and exposing everything that happened. People don’t know what really happened.”
(AllHipHop News) Accusations of beat stealing have become common place in Hip Hop. The latest incident comes from someone named “Schlacka” who’s claiming Travis Scott used his production to remake the beat for “Wasted.”
Metro Boomin, the producer of the track off Scott’s Rodeo, saw the tweets and responded. The Atlanta-based beat maker denied lifting anything from someone else and even threatened to smack his accuser.
Besides Travis Scott, Metro has also produced for Future, Waka Flocka Flame, Rick Ross, Migos, Meek Mill and others. He has a platinum single with ILoveMakonnen’s “Tuesday.”
One of Rick Ross’ baby mamas, Tia Kemp, is either bitter or petty as she recently called out Ross’ 22-year-old boo Lira Galoree(Mercer). She wanted to know if Meek Mill and Rick Ross were running a train on Lira, as Lira had been linked to Meek prior to her relationship with Ross. Either way Ross doesn’t seem to care as he recently got Lira’s name tatted on him. Tia let us know if you find out the answer!
It looks like Nicki Minaj has made up her mind about who she 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. Let us pack our shhhh now. LOL.
WSBTV was reporting on passengers getting arrested for guns at the airport (those who fail to have a valid permit). In their news story, they reported that Waka Flocka was amongst those arrested for failing to have a permit. The part that caught us off guard was the fact that they showed a picture of Bobby Shmurda when talking about Waka. C’mon WSBTV. I guess all black people rappers look alike. They could’ve at least Googled Waka.
