Baton Rouge rapper and Bad Azz Music Syndicate leader, Boosie Badazz, sits down with DJ Smallz and reveals what kept him motivated during his prison sentence and what he would change about the current prison system.
The news of Chinx Drugs’ death startled everyone this morning, even Meek Mill. In Chinx’s honor, the Philadelphia rapper released “Miss My Dawgs”. He even brought Travi$ Scott and Strap for featured verses. Check out the track below
Earlier this week, Taylor Swift teased her track Bad Blood with Kendrick Lamar. Now, the official video is out. According to Illroots, the video was premiered during the 2015 Billboard Awards. Check out the video below.
Last night at the Powerhouse Festival in Los Angeles, Kanye West performed a new song that followed his 808’s and Heartbreak single, Heartless According to P&P, the new track is titled “I Want It All”. The song continues Heartless’s tone played by a piano, but Kanye spazzes over it. Check out the new song below.
Welcome to another edition of The Odd Side, a column that explores the effects of Hip Hop’s transformation through new sounds.
It’s been a while since the last post about the talent out of Maryland came out. However, as time went by, the weather has been a lot better. Summer’s here, and there’s a ton of new artists that are supplying some good music to get you in the mood. Today’s feature artists will get you ready for the season of the beach, warm weather, and dope settings. Some of the tracks might give you a cool vibe for the smooth rides, and some are just dope to turn up to.
Zacari – Foggy Windows
Zacari is a singer that definitely showed out on this cut “Foggy Windows”. The smooth beat produced by J-Louis & NGHTMRE added an upbeat, groovy bass to match the L.A. singer’s jazzy vocals. It’s followed by a big bass drop and complete switch of the song. However, “Foggy Windows” somehow seems to remain cool while it happens. If the weather is nice and you’re in your whip, this is the song you need.
MNEK – Believe (Cher Refix)
MNEK has been making a lot of dope music lately. With his EP dropping soon, we’ll have some more music to. For now though, the London singer released a remix to Cher’s classic song “Believe”. It may sound odd on paper, but this remix has a bit of a kick to it, and the soulful vocals through the chorus will have you singing after the first time.
Goldlink – Sober Thoughts (Chris McClenney)
The original “Sober Thoughts” was a popular hit last year, but this Chris McClenny remix gave it the dance-like vibe to take over this summer. The remix follows Goldlink’s versed with a heavy bass line, upbeat claps, and keyboards. If you want to get your cookout jumping, you’ll need this song in your life.
KR – Play My Sh*t
This Los Angeles rapper needs to link up with PYRMDPLAZA more, because these two can make some good music. “Play My Sh*t” feeds off the energy of both PLAZA’s instrumental and KR’s raps. The final product is a track that will have you grooving for the night outside.
Rihanna – BBHMM (Krsmix)
Rihanna’s latest hit “B*tch Better Have My Money” might already be a song ruling radio stations during the summer, but this remix turns it on its head. Given a more futuristic sound with more bass hits, the Krs remix will have your speaker bang an more ways than one this season.
What did you think of the tracks, can they fit on your summer playlist? Let me know on Twitter (@VBrinkley513) and look out for the next edition of The Odd Side.
In a recent interview with YaHeard.com, Scorpio of the legendary hip hop group, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, stated that the Grandmaster Flash himself was the “Milli Vanilli of Hip Hop”. The original member of the group also stated that Flash didn’t contribute to any of the songs including legendary hits like The Message. Although the group included Flash in the past when all of the group’s classics dropped, the DJ himself is available to receive the same benefits that the rest of the group has received for their pioneering music. That even includes the group’s 2007 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction. Talk about awkward, you can click here if you want to check out the rest of Yaheard.com’s interview with the Furious Five’s member, Scorpio
Last night, Rihanna performed on Saturday Night Live. Though it may seem normal (because Rihanna is always on SNL), the pop star was a special guest this time to sing two new songs titled “B#### Better Have My Money” and “American Oxygen”. Check out highlights of the performance below.
Last night, Jay Z went hard in the paint at the Tidal concert event. Check out the video, where he lyrically name checks Apple, Spotify, YouTube, as well as Freddie Gray and Mike Brown.
Rapper Chinx, 31, was murdered in Jamaica, Queens early this morning, approximately 4am.
The rapper, known to roll with French Montana, was reportedly driving when he was shot several times. Another man was critically wounded in the gunfight that took place on Queens boulevard as Chinx drove his Porche.
Chinx, real name Lionel Pickens, was shot several times in the body. His unidentified passenger remains in critical, but stable condition.
After the shooting, both men were rushed to Jamaica Hospital. Chinx died at the hospital.
Chinx dropped Hurry Up & Die Vol. 1: Get Ya Casket On in 2009, Cocaine Riot in December 2014 and, most recently, was featured on French Montana’s “Off The Rip,” which also offered Nore. He was a popular member of French Montana’s Coke Boys as well as an artist on the label.
Meek Mill gave a sobering condolences to his comrade Chinx.
“This is exactly why I don’t play in the streets ….. Chinx to French like Omelly to me! I tell @Omelly and my real day 1s get out that hood no matter what it cost or the circumstance! It’s nothing that add up to losing ya life at a young age!!! N##### killing n##### that’s Tryna win! I got love for the people in the hood but I don’t f### wit the hood nomore! I dont agree with the rules, most of that s### stupid to me now because I learned and it has nothing to do with having money! Seeing s### like happen always make my heart cold and make me act in cold ways towards my own kind of people! I hate to see potential DIE!! REST WELL #CHINX WE GONE F**KING MISS YOU!!!”
UPDATE:
Somebody may have given police a lead on his murder, as a user @teamshabbaofficial left a less-than-cryptic message on Chinx’s page.
UPDATE #2
Here are some of the images that have been in circulation around the crime scene where Chinx was slain.
Last night at the Los Angeles Regent Theatre, Kendrick Lamar and singer Bilal was present with producer to Adrian Younge to perform a brand new song titled “Money Over Love”. According to P&P, the song might’ve not been the first song these three created. They have been in the studio for almost a year now. While we wait for these three to release more music, check out a few clips below.
Lil Durk is back with a new rack titled “Don’t I”. The beat is produced by Young Chop, with a set of visuals to bring the fans in. Check “Don’t I” out below.
Even with him being in jail, Bobby Shmurda seems to still be in trouble. According to a TMZ report, the GS9 rapper was in a fight with other criminals in jail. The report states that the fight was initially gang-related, with Shmurda and his allies being Crips and the people they were fighting Bloods. The guards ended the fight though using pepper spray to break participators up.
There isn’t any report whether the fight will affect Shmurda’s court case, but let’s just hope he doesn’t fight anybody else when he’s behind bars.
B.o.B. may have not been in the spotlight lately, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not making music/. Recently, the ATL rapper released a new track titled “That’s How You Feel”. According to Complex, the song was “what fans were asking for”, according to B.o.B. Check out “That’s How You Feel” below.
Earlier today, Janet Jackson surprised everyone when she announce the release of a new album. The superstar also announced that she will go on a world tour this year as well, all through a video via Vimeo. There hasn’t been any announcement whether we’ll get any new music from her anytime soon, but let’s keep it on our radar. Check out the vid below:
Drama King Golovkin’s Middleweight Run Continues Against Monroe
Two days out from what will be Gennady Golovkin’s 14th defense of his WBA title, the middleweight knockout artist from Kazakhstan is preoccupied with one topic amongst his team while taking a training break – Al Pacino. In his now trademark broken (but improving) English, Golovkin praised the legendary thespian’s ability. It’s fitting that “GGG” would enjoy the drama of Pacino’s dexterity in portraying chilling emotional distance, like Michael Corleone in The Godfather, and over the top bravado as Scarface’s Tony Montana, since they parallel Golovkin’s own nature in and outside the ring. Between the ropes, Golovkin’s work is more machine than human; his demeanor ranges from stoic to an occasional snarl punctuated with devastating power and aggression that has cultivated an 18-fight KO streak dating back to 2008. Outside the ring, his ever-present smile and jovial interviews has added several new catchphrases to the boxing lexicon (“good boy,” “are you serious?”).
The latest potential “good boy” is Willie Monroe, a southpaw whose boxing lineage includes a father/trainer that boxed professionally for 15 years, and a great uncle in Willie “The Worm” Monroe who defeated Marvin Hagler. While his name won’t ring out amongst most casual fans, Monroe’s in-ring pedigree hints at skills another fighter possessed in Golovkin’s toughest fight to date.
Back in 2011, Golovkin was unknown to most fans when he stepped into the Roberto Duran Arena in Panama City to face Kassim Ouma. Back in the early 2000s, Ouma was one of the sport’s top junior middleweights. He relied on volume punching and underrated skill from his southpaw stance to capture the IBF strap and briefly hold the distinction of being the division’s best fighter. But by the time he faced Golovkin, Ouma had been wore out through years of attrition fights.
The actual fight didn’t follow the usual script of an up and comer feasting on a shot opponent. Through the first half, Golovkin was the one who couldn’t get his footing. He was stifled by the speed of Ouma’s right jabs and straight lefts at mid-range. Inside, Ouma was the one getting off first and leaving Golovkin a step behind in most exchanges.
In the second half, youth and power took over. Ouma’s legs got a step slower, and that proved to be the difference between evasion and eating flush Golovkin power shots. After several one-sided rounds that were difficult to watch, the referee saved a battered Ouma in the 10th.
Although rumored to have gone into the fight with the flu, Golovkin makes no excuses on his performance. But he has a quick counter for those who look at that bout as proof he may struggle against Monroe, who’s a natural middleweight with fast hands and slick footwork.
“Ouma was good style, tricky for me. It took time to figure out,” Golovkin admits. “Me? [I am a] much better fight since then. Remember I then fought another southpaw in [Grzegorz] Proksa and [had a] better knockout. You’ll see more in this fight.”
He has a point about Proksa, who was gradually broken down and dispatched in the 5th round. But Proksa is also a former light middleweight without the size and strength that Monroe carries. It’s those qualities that make Saturday’s matchup intriguing and one with the most potential of any recent Golovkin fights to go into deep, competitive rounds.
“Conditioning. I know I need it,” Golovkin says. “I need deep rounds. [My] power is always there. Conditioning keeps you ready for tough fights. The good fights and drama is people want.”
A Game of Drama Shows
We’re now in the post “Floyd and Manny” Era. Neither of those superstars has announced their retirement, but their May 2 clash signaled the summit of their careers; never again will either have the public’s undivided attention. Eyes will now shift to the rest of the fistic landscape to find out who’s next.
The fighter to strike first in staking their claim was Canelo Alvarez, who has the luxury of literally fighting the week after Mayweather-Pacquiao against James Kirkland, a face-first brawler who couldn’t get out of the way of any Canelo power punch. Less than three complete rounds later, Kirkland was counting the lights following a third knockdown.
The outcome lead to many, fueled no doubt by the delusional fantasy that Mayweather-Pacquiao would be an all-out war, to hold up Canelo-Kirkland as what boxing “should be.”
Golovkin is aware much of his appeal comes from the marketing of his bouts being guaranteed knockouts. But he also recognizes the mastery of the Sweet Science Mayweather possesses to have a career that spans the scalps of 20 world champions over five weight classes without taking serious damage. GGG’s mission is one of a delicate balance – delivering exciting bouts even when faced against quality opponents with styles that have proven not to be fan-friendly.
“Manny and Floyd was smart boxing. But people like Canelo fight more,” he noted. “I want to show I have both. My style can adapt and still bring drama.
I want everyone, every style. Canelo’s fight, he likes guys in front. You have punch, you want a fighter who’ll stand in front of you. He and Cotto struggled with southpaws. But me, I need challenge. Monroe’s speed and movement are good.”
Throughout our interview, the names of Canelo and current middleweight linear champion Miguel Cotto are constantly referenced by Golovkin. They represent the big names that can shoot Golovkin’s status to the top of the boxing world. But one also represent the clearest examples of why the “business” of boxing has denied him the chance to achieve one of his long-standing goals – unifying the middleweight champion.
On June 6, Cotto will make his first defense against Daniel Geale, a man Golovkin knocked out in three rounds last July. The WBC has decreed the Geale fight to be Cotto’s “voluntary” defense, meaning he’d be required to face Golovkin in his next fight since GGG is the interim title-holder.
The likely scenario is that Golovkin does indeed fight for the WBC title this fall, but not against Cotto. At last weekend’s Canelo-Kirkland fight in Houston, representatives for Cotto’s promoter, Roc Nation Sports, were reportedly seen at the venue and allegedly there to negotiate an offrt sheet for Canelo and Cotto to meet in September. Golovkin would get a step closer to unification since Cotto would be stripped, but he again loses out on facing a superstar.
Golovkin turns somber and then dismissive when hearing this potential scenario out loud. Since debuting on HBO in 2012 and subsequently signing an exclusive contract, he’s caught on quick regarding big network business aspects. But he still can’t quite wrap his head around the concept of not facing your division’s top challenger.
“Sometimes I get disappointed. Guys says they don’t want to fight me because of money and blah blah blah,” Golovkin mocks. “Look, champions don’t say that. Champions fight best challenges… My goal is still all the belts. WBC says next, I’m ready for Cotto. IBF I want. Andy Lee and WBO, I’ll take fight. Being number one is very important to me.”
Build Your Own Superfight
Golovkin’s promoter, K2, has tried to be proactive in landing a big fight for their man. The previous middleweight kingpin, Sergio Martinez, was shielded from them by his promoter Lou DiBella, who flat-out said GGG was “too dangerous.” A fight with Chavez Jr. was nearly done last year before Junior walked away, balking at contract extension provisions with his own promoter Top Rank. With Oscar De La Hoya stating he would prefer to look at a Canelo-Golovkin fight in “two years,” that leaves one name.
Before his own contract disputes with former promoter Goossen Tutor, Andre Ward was poised to take over the Pound 4 Pound #1 spot after the Mayweather. The contract issues have kept Ward sidelined since November 2013, and that forced sabbatical ends on June 20 when he faces Paul Smith in a tuneup fight and his first under Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports.
Between 154-168 pounds, Ward is the only fighter most would consider a clear favorite over Golovkin. He has the size advantage, faster hands and one of the best defenses in the game. But when considering a fight between the two, K2’s managing director Tom Loeffler says it’s a fight that needs rebuilding.
“Andre Ward unfortunately had his issues on the promotional side. He also said he wanted to get back in the ring with a tuneup fight first,” said Loeffler. “Ward clearly established himself with the Super Six tournament, but that was awhile ago. He’s lost a lot of traction in that time period. Gennady has clearly established himself with the ratings, ticket sales and sponsorship he brings.
The Roc Nation signing will create a lot of momentum for his career. We’ve always said Gennady will move up to 168 or down to 154 for a big fight. The financial package for an Andre Ward fight on HBO isn’t big enough right now for a pay-per-view fight. If Andre gets back and is active with Roc Nation’s media platform, I can see that fight happening.”
Rumors abound that the two camps have already started preliminary talks to face each other next year should they keep their winning ways. Golovkin himself would neither confirm nor deny, but he did hint at expecting 2016 to be a year of defining fights.
“It will be important time for me and big time for my team. The big fights, Cotto and Canelo, they can happen. Ward, he’s good. It’s good he’s coming back. That’s a nice fight, good challenge. Right now, middleweight is perfect fit for me. But I will move up and he is the challenge.”
And this brings us back to Saturday night and Willie Monroe. May 16 is not just about a new “southpaw challenge.” It’s an opportunity for Golovkin to further his case for middleweight and boxing supremacy. His hope for future superfights rests not just on winning, but doing it in world-class fashion.
In his last fight against Martin Murray, Golovkin saw the 11th round for the first time while achieving a stoppage. The fight had ceased being competitive several rounds before and it looked like Golovkin was simply using Murray to try new punches and conduct an extended cardio session. When asked if that’s possible for Monroe, the colder change in Golovkin’s voice in jarring.
“I could. I’ll do what needs to be done.”
Golovkin vs. Monroe airs on May 16 on HBO Championship Boxing at 10 p.m.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of AllHipHop.com
The irony of Straight Outta Compton is that it begins with Dr. Dre saying, “You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge,” because, truth be told, the album that follows is more focused on having a criminal mind than a conscious one. And while N.W.A’s official debut revolutionized the sound and look of music, it wasn’t until Ice Cube split from the California supergroup and dropped his first solo effort, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, that Dre’s words could really ring true.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of that 16 track release. And with things like racial strife, economic disproportion, and political unrest grabbing headlines in 2015, it is just as relevant now as it was a quarter of a century ago. AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted is articulated anger at its finest. In other words, Ice Cube combined Public Enemy’s aptitude for social analysis with N.W.A’s “f**k you” mentality and created a timeless call to arms unlike anything ever heard before.
The first three tracks speak volumes with just their titles (“Better Off Dead,” “The N***a Ya Love to Hate,” and “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted”) and set the tone for whole project. And while some may want to dismiss it as just ‘gangsta rap’ it is impossible to do so after hearing the lyrics. The day is coming that you’ll all hate / Just think if n****s decide to retaliate / They try to keep me from running up / I never tell you to get down, it’s all about coming up … When I’m shooting, let’s see who drop / The police, the media, and suckers that went pop. The music itself is just as layered too, courtesy of The Bomb Squad. Whether it’s a Steve Arlington loop, a drum solo from Kool & the Gang, or a beat change, the way their instrumentals are constructed puts them in a class by themselves.
“You Can’t Fade Me” is a bit more personal than political and it breaks down the stress of a possible unplanned pregnancy. That serves as a smooth transition into “Once Upon a Time in the Projects” which is about how Ice Cube unknowingly goes to a crack house to pick up a girl and while’s he waiting for her, the cops bust in. It solidifies Cube’s knack for storytelling and holds up really well. Redman even borrowed elements of the song two presidential terms later for “Jersey Yo!”off of Doc’s Da Name 2000.
“Turn Off the Radio” is a twofold attack which doesn’t just criticize the airwaves for not playing Hip-Hop, but also takes aim at the artists who compromise themselves for mainstream appeal. The following song, “Endangered Species [Tales from the Darkside],” a collaboration with Chuck D, rivals the intensity of AmeriKKKa’s opening records and the distorted feedback (among many other things) in the beat bring a sense of urgency to it that complement the rhymes perfectly.
Cube then breaks up his all-out assault with dark comic relief on “A Gangsta’s Fairytale,” “I”m Only Out For One Thang” with Flavor Flav, and “Get off My D**k and Tell Yo B***h to Come Here.” The way that these songs are sequenced into a collection of music with much heavier themes is certainly a testament to Ice Cube’s talents as a writer and emcee, but also just as reflective of The Bomb Squad’s ability to put together albums that connect. Without question, they are a name that comes up in “the best Hip-Hop producers ever” discussion and this 49:36 of music is some of their most memorable work.
With the album being recorded in New York by East Coast producers, “The Drive-By” and “Rollin’ wit the Lench Mob” do a great job of injecting some California love by bringing in elements that are truly West Coast – a drive-by shooting and Cube’s crew, The Lench Mob. Diverse components like that are what solidified AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted’s rangeand gave Cube the space to establish himself on his own terms. He once said, “We wanted to give an identity to the new people I was with. People from my neighborhood, and not from Compton. Because I come from South Central and I was always with these dudes from Compton in N.W.A.”
“Who’s the Mack?” is the soundtrack to ‘Street Smarts 101.’ And so atop horns, flutes, and a funky bassline Ice Cube educates listeners on the deceitful ways of pimps, panhandlers, and smooth-talking guys. For “It’s a Man’s World,” he and female emcee Yo-Yo battle and she is able to get back at him for comments made on records before that were hard on women. In the last verse, she refers to herself as “the brand-new intelligent Black lady” Cube’s response, “You’re kinda dope, but you still can’t fade me.” It’s a fair fight, and a better song than anything Jay and Foxy or Biggie and Lil’ Kim ever did together. Then, closing out the album, there’s “The Bomb.” After fifteen tracks of politics, concepts and stories, here is a top-tier rapper rhyming purely for the sport of it and proving why he is the best of the best.
All things considered, Ice Cube’s debut is a masterpiece. It elevated the bar that N.W.A had set and proved that an angry 20-year old African-American man had far more insight into the problems in America than anyone in the establishment would ever give him credit for. And to the people that didn’t like it, refer to his last words on the album’s intro: “F**k all y’all!”
It’s as unapologetic as it is undeniable, and that is why AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted is one of the greatest Hip-Hop albums of all-time.
Respect due.
What do you think of AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!
Bringing you a new video today from Philadelphia native Tayyib Ali. Entitled ‘Lobby Interlude‘, the visual treatment, shot by Creative Eye Vision, includes feint hits of animation throughout making the appeal much greater. Only 2 minutes long, the video certainly doesn’t lack quality of bars as the Philly emcee tears through the production with swift lyrics and a powerful delivery.
