A week after their surprise FreEp, Parts Unknown was released, The Doppelgangaz (Matter Ov Fact and EP) return with a new visual, “Rox Wid Her”.
“Rox Wid Her derives from a saying coined by our friend Big Josh. It describes a situation in which you aren’t in a relationship with a female, but you are cool with her. The video for “Rox Wid Her” documents a situation we find ourselves in often; and that’s being held as a sex slave by a female.”
(AllHipHop News) Eminem rarely gives interviews, but the Hip Hop legend is showing support for his longtime business associates Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine by being the first guest on Apple’s Beats 1 online radio station. Beats 1 is part of the tech company’s latest venture, Apple Music, which incorporated the Dre and Iovine founded Beats Music streaming service.
Em is sitting down with Zane Lowe for an exclusive Q&A next week. Lowe, formerly of BBC Radio 1, joined Hot 97 host Ebro Darden and London-based radio personality Julie Adenuga as presenters on Beats 1 Radio.
According to the New York Times, Dre, Drake, Pharrell, Jaden Smith and several other entertainers have been hired to host and plan their own shows on Beats 1. The Dre lead program is titled The Pharmacy.
Tyga tried to pull a Beyonce, by dropping a surprise album. The question is: did we care? Did we want or need new Tyga music? Heck is the only reason we know/care because of Kylie Jenner? VH1 thinks so.
(AllHipHop News) Tonight (June 25) the NBA holds its annual draft. By this evening several young basketball players will fulfill their dreams of becoming part of professional franchises.
Before those potential future stars find out which team they will be playing for next season, Bleacher Report collected some of the prospects to perform dramatic readings of lyrics by Toronto Raptors Ambassador and Young Money representative Drake.
Justise Winslow, Sam Dekker, Frank Kaminsky, Willie Cauley-Stein,Myles Turner,and others recite lines from Drizzy songs such as “10 Bands,” “Make Me Proud,” “Know Yourself,” “The Motto,” and “Over My Dead Body.”
(AllHipHop News) Singer/actor Jussie Smollett is set to join his younger sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell (True Blood, The Great Debaters) on the WGN America program Underground. The breakout star of Empire will guest star on the cable network’s forthcoming series about a group of slaves escaping a Georgia plantation.
Underground will be the first time the Smollett siblings appeared together on screen since 1995’s On OurOwn. Jussie will play a runaway slave named Josey. The cast also includes Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton), Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Adina Porter (True Blood), Mykelti Williamson (24), and Johnny Ray Gill (Rectify).
Show creators Misha Green (Sons of Anarchy, Heroes) and Joe Pokaski (Heroes, CSI) serve as writers and executive producers for Underground. Anthony Hemingway (The Wire, Treme) directs the first four episodes.
Underground is scheduled to premiere in 2016 on WGN America.
It looks like the Wests aren’t the only ones ready for baby number 2. Rumor has it that Beyonce and Jay Z are expecting their second child, and this time they will actually be using a surrogate. Allegedly, an inside source told InTouch Weekly that the power couple plans to be very upfront about the process. Supposedly, they are choosing this option so that Bey won’t have a high-risk pregnancy. Allegedly Bey-Z’s rumored marital issues had Jay pushing Bey to give Blue Ivy a sibling to strengthen their family bond. Hey, we don’t know about this one, but we do know that some still believe Beyonce didn’t even carry Blue Ivy.
When Odd Future arrived on the music scene, the crew announced they would “Kill Them All.” Having sprouted several impressive acts in just five years, OFWGKTA has become one of the most preeminent artist collectives in recent memory.
OF’s musical family tree includes critically acclaimed rappers Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Frank Ocean, and extended brethren Vince Staples and Casey Veggies. Yet another prominent branch of the Los Angeles-based collective is the R&B/Soul band The Internet.
No, the word “band” does not refer to the term used to describe the manufactured pop groups that make teens girls swoon. The Internet consists of musicians that sing, write, play instruments, and create mature art. While birthed from Odd Future, the outfit has carved its own distinct lane in the musical landscape.
Led by 23-year old vocalist/producer Syd and 26-year-old synth player/producer Matt Martians, The Internet is returning this month with their third studio album Ego Death. For this round, Syd and Matt tapped Patrick Paige II (bass), Christopher Allan Smith (drums), Steve Lacy (guitar) and Jameel Bruner (keys) to join them in the studio to record the entire the project.
Over 12 sultry tracks, Ego Death takes listeners on a hypnotic voyage through the mind of an individual trying to reconcile the joys and pains of life. The album presents itself as the intersection between the poetic tone of Digable Planets’ Reachin‘, the passionate Neo-Soul of Erykah Badu’s Baduizm, the spirited live instrumentation of The Roots’ Things Fall Apart, and the lyrical candor of Andre 3000’s The Love Below.
AllHipHop.com spoke with Syd and Matt about the new LP. The two performers also discuss the current status of Odd Future and why Millennials need to let their egos die.
The title of the new album is Ego Death. What inspired the name of the project?
Matt: Ego death is a current thing within my friend circle. It’s part of the psychedelic experience, trans meditation and ego death. You’re at your true creative form when you don’t allow things to affect you. You let go of worry.
Syd: You let go off your ego.
Matt: Exactly, your ego is everything. Your ego is that thing that where you don’t tell your mom you love her because you don’t want to seem soft. It’s a culmination of all those things. Things are better when your ego is dead.
In the absence of the ego, what fills that void creatively?
Syd: When you’re not worried about what it’s going to sound like to other people, when you’re completely vulnerable, that’s when you are the most creative. I don’t think there is really a void when there’s an absence of ego. Maybe there it is, but I think it allows more space for life, for stuff that really matters.
For this album, you recorded with all six members contributing to the sessions. Did that experience have an effect on how you created this project as compared to your previous works?
Matt: For sure. With this album we had two new members – Jameel Bruner and Steve Lacy. Those are young cats. Jameel is on keys and Steve is on guitar, and they bring a whole different sound to the band. You can hear it on the album.
I feel like we are at our true form as a band as far as finding our true sound. I feel like we have the perfect formation of a band. Not just musically, but just as friends.
That’s nothing against Tay [Walker]. He’s still one of our great friends, but he’s a solo artist. He was always a solo artist. He was really doing us a favor, because we couldn’t really afford a keyboard player at the time. Tay is doing really well now as a solo artist.
I think now we have a really, really good group of guys. It’s perfect for the sound we always wanted to put out there.
Your previous albums had a limited number of guest features. But Ego Death does include some notable artists like Janelle Monáe and Vic Mensa. What is your process for deciding which artists you want to work with?
Syd: There’s really no process involved. We’re just kind of making stuff, and our artist friends happen to come over. We just say, “Hey, we should work.” It’s just natural.
We talked about working with Vic when we first met him. Then one day he was in L.A. We were at the studio and he came through. We played him the [“Go With It”] beat. I knew I wanted a rapper on it.
We were originally going to get Tyler on that particular song, but we decided that we wanted to do a song with Tyler that he helped produced or produced himself. We wanted that side of him as well.
So when Vic came through, I thought, “He would be perfect to put on this. It makes more sense.” Janelle was in town. She’s a friend of Matt’s through family.
Matt: They’re all my friends. They’re artist friends that made sense. Everybody has been wanting to work with Janelle – and me personally from growing up knowing her.
Syd: James Fauntleroy was set-up by our A&R Mark Williams.
Matt: James was a fan of us, but we didn’t really know it. When we had the opportunity to work with him, we said, “Yeah!” James became a friend after that.
It was one of those things where it all came together naturally. We’re very grateful these guys were a part of it and came to support us in that way.
Since you were actually in the studio with them, does that mean you recorded other tracks with them besides the ones that made the album?
Syd: There may be a couple, but none that are on the album.
Matt: You hear interviews by certain bands where they say, “We made 30 songs for the album.” For me, we’re a made-to-order type of band. [laughs] We make what we’re supposed to make, because we put a lot into those songs.
To be honest, we have to live some more to have more to talk about. All of our songs are about real situations. You’ve got to get some more life points to write about it in the music. We really want these songs to stick around for a long time, so you have to put more into them besides just making a thousand songs with a thousand ideas.
Syd: I’m actually very envious of artists who can make a lot of music. Unfortunately, I’m not like that. A lot of members in our band are like that. Steve and Jameel make stuff all the time. Chris makes stuff. Patrick makes hella stuff we don’t even know about. [laughs]
As far as writing goes, I don’t write everyday. I don’t make music everyday. I spend a lot of time thinking about music, thinking about business, thinking about interior design. Just random stuff. I’m kind of all over the place. I can sit down and write songs if I need to, but I don’t just do that. So we have maybe 4 or 5 other songs that we made around the same time, but they just didn’t fit on the album at all.
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All
Tyler is on the album. He created this stir over the last couple of weeks when he kind of suggested Odd Future was disbanding. I know you guys are still affiliated with them. What exactly is the status of Odd Future as a collective and your association with the actual Odd Future record label?
Matt: I watched Tyler’s interview with Hot 97. Basically, what he meant is that we don’t hang out everyday. That’s literally what he means. If Earl saw Tyler today, they would give each other the biggest hug.
It’s more that we are being real about it. Instead of being fake like a lot of acts that pretend like they’re best friends when they actually hate each other, it’s better for us to say we don’t hang around each other. We actually love each other behind the scenes.
It’s interesting when you see [the media hype] and it’s a thing when I know if all of us were in a room right now together it would be mad jokes. It needed to be said, because I think it’s important for our progress, and other people in Odd Future’s progress, to shed that name.
It’s a badge. It’s a great thing. Everything has to move on. Everything has to have closure. I think what rose from that is what really matters. A lot of great careers spawned from that, and a lot of great careers will continue to spawn from that.
So I think it was important for Tyler to say that. I know Tyler. Tyler is very smart. He knew what he was doing. He needed to say it.
Matt: All them dudes – Tyler, Vince – no matter the silly sh*t that goes on when you’re late teenagers, when you get older them dudes know that got each other’s back. They care about each other a lot, whether you believe it not. These dudes came up with each other. So when I see it, that sh*t makes me smile.
They always had respect for each other. It was just growing up. That ego… ego death man! That ego! A lot of my friends have been talking about the concept of killing their ego and humbling themselves. I think it’s a really cool concept, because our generation really needs to be humbled. There are a lot of egos based off nothing.
Syd: Off Twitter followers.
Matt: Off Twitter and Instagram followers. If Instagram decided to delete their sh*t tomorrow, so many people would literally be suicidal. So many people’s life, ego, and emotions weigh on the balance of a number. It’s the craziest thing. So everybody needs ego death.
“Ego Death” Cover Art
The Internet’s Ego Death is scheduled for release on June 29. Order the album on iTunes and Amazon.
Songstress Monica says she was the original trap queen! Monica performed at Yo Gotti’s annual Memphis Birthday bash alongside artists such as Nicki Minaj and Dej Loaf. Monica wanted to connect with all the real b*tches in the audience. Monica said,
“See before there was a ‘trap queen’ I was trappin’ doing the real thing.
It’s still kind of hard to believe that Monica was with Rocko all of those years.
A South Carolina politician asked about the Confederate flag flying outside the statehouse instead took aim at the victims of last week’s church massacre.
State Rep. Bill Chumley appeared to insist the nine black victims gunned down by 21-year-old mass murder suspect Dylann Storm Roof inside Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on June 17 could have put up more of a fight.”These people sit in there and waited their turn to be shot,” Chumley told CNN reporter Drew Griffin on Tuesday.
Rick Ross was denied bail during a hearing on Wednesday (June 24) and will remain in Fayette County jail until he goes before a superior court judge on July 1st, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
The MMG boss was arrested June 24th stemming from a June 7th incident where he allegedly pistol whipped a groundskeeper after forcing him into his guesthouse at gunpoint. The victim reportedly has a chipped tooth and has lost use of his jaw and is restricted eating and drinking through a straw. Ross was charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and kidnapping.
Ross’ bodyguard, Nadrian Lateef James, was also charged with aggravated battery and kidnapping.
The incident that led to the violent event is unknown.
Atlantic Records artist Sevyn Streeter teamed with California based arts education organization P.S Arts to encourage Los Angeles area students to engage in arts and music. During a visit to the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, Sevyn spoke to the young people and sang along with the Steel Drum class.
Sevyn watched the students perform Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Bob Marley’s “Is This Love.” The R&B songstress then joined the students to sing “The Way,” a song she wrote for Ariana Grande. Later that evening, Sevyn was a special guest at Rap-Up Magazine’s 15th Anniversary Dinner along with Karreuche, Dawn Richardson, Melanie Fiona and more.
Check out photos of Sevyn Streeter at the Camino Nuevo Charter Academy and Rap-Up Magazine’s 15th Anniversary Dinner in the gallery below
YG is breaking his silence regarding the shooting that happened last month in Los Angeles. The “Do It To Ya” rapper said he was only shot one time and claims that he has no idea who pulled the trigger but is sure that it was not a rival gang member.
“It was not gang-related at all,” the 25-year-old told Billboard. “It just happened out of the blue. We don’t know who did it, we don’t know why. We don’t know nothing.” He continued, “I got lucky because a main artery is right there, right around the groin. The bullet didn’t go that deep, and it didn’t hit any bones.”
He said after he was shot he had another brush with death while on his way to the hospital.
“After I got shot, I’m telling everybody, ‘Take me to the hospital, because I can’t die.’ We hop in my homie’s car and bam — we got in a car accident! We hit an island trying to avoid another car. We had to hop out of the totaled car, hop in another car. At the hospital we had to tell people, ‘Take me serious right now — you don’t even understand what’s going on.’ It was wild.”
The left coast native speaks about the incident on a track called “Twist Your Fingers” off his sophomore debut, which he revealed is titled Still Krazy.
When asked about his debut album, My Krazy Life, being underrated he compared it to Jay Z’s debut album Reasonable Doubt getting a delayed acclaim.
“People were just unfamiliar with my first album and they didn’t really think I was going to make it as far as I did. But I think my sound has grown since. When I drop this new album you aren’t going to feel like I went too left trying to switch it up. It’s still a good follow-up album talking about real situations in my life.”
Atlanta rapper, Lil Donald, sits down with DJ Smallz and explains how his “Juice” single came about featuring K Camp and how he linked with Future, recently signing to his Freebandz/Epic imprint.
Bobbi Kristina Brown has been moved into hospice care, CNN reports. The Houston and Brown family released a statement regarding their decision.
“Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s condition has continued to deteriorate,” read the statement. “As of today, she has been moved into hospice care. We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God’s hands now.”
The 22-year-old reportedly arrived at a hospice care facility in Atlanta on Wednesday night (June 24). Brown’s grandmother, Cissy Houston, said that Brown has “global and irreversible brain damage.”
Brown was found face down in a bathtub in her Atlanta home on January 31st and has been unresponsive ever since.
Rihanna is expanding her fashion horizons and is launching an accessories line, according to reports. Rih’s company, Roraj Trade LLC, filed an application with the US Patent and Trademarks Office last month in New York. It was registered and trademarked under leather products and clothing products.
“$CHOOL KIlls will be an accessories range covering everything from tote bags to purses, and later on, fashion,” a source told Grazia. “She still loves the music, and it’s what launched her, but this is her focus right now.”
The insider went on to assure that Rih will continue to release albums but does not want to limit herself to music and touring.
“She will continue to release singles and albums, but she’s had plans in place to expand in other areas like fashion, for a good few years now.”
The Bajan songstress currently serves as the creative director for Puma, overseeing the apparel and footwear for the women’s sports line. The “American Oxygen” singer recently became the first black woman to model in a Dior campaign as well.
Produced by the multi-talented AlBe Back, fresh face Hassan Khaffaf returns today with a brand new single. Inspired by athletics like so much of the rap game already is, Khaffaf gives us champion-minded “Win On The Road”. The new effort describes the mentality of Hassan and his understanding of what it takes to become a legend in the game.
Despite the reports, Gucci Mane will not be released from prison in July. Guwop’s lawyer Drew Findling said that the reports that the Atlanta rep will be released in July are far from true.
“We do not know where that rumor came from, so that’s just Internet and social media fabrication,” Findling told MTV News. “We have no idea where that release date came from because we’re still in the midst of resolving things with the Bureau of Prisons. There was some confusion on their part, about his release date. I can’t get into specifics, but we’re in the midst of corresponding with the Bureau of Prisons.”
Findling said is working hard to get Gucci back on the streets though.
“I’m trying to iron out a specific release date for him, but that I can tell you that is not his release date. There’s nothing formal about that. It’s a product of social media.”
Rumors began swirling that Gucci would be home soon when DJ Bankhead took to his Instagram and posted “JULY 11 MY HOMIE BACK IN THE STREETS SALUTE.”
Gucci has been behind bars for two years serving a three-year sentence for federal gun charges.
SV links up with fellow Michigan torch-bearer Jon Connor on another J-Dilla produced banger “Tear It Down”. Purchase Slum Village’s new album YES! now on iTunes.