Your favorite tripped out trap star from the A is back again. Packing in the OVO swag with pints and bottles. ILOVEMAKONNEN laces up the Danny Wolf produced track, who is signed to DJ Scream’s Hoodrich imprint. Seems like MAKONNEN pretty much made it, whatever he’s doing works.
In this ode to life’s crazy kaleidoscope of f**ked up situations, Nico & Vinz, deliver “That’s How You Know.”The imported Norwegian duo tap both Kid Ink and Bebe Rehxa for the Rich Salamone produced track. Within the creative lens of RJ Collins & Pasqual Gutierrez the visual depicts a litany of vibrant situations which would humors if not for the harrowing implications which they imply. Tackling topics of infidelity, unfulfilled potential, indulgent self-destructive behaviors, and financial immaturity leads to an awesome video.
When Method Man and Mary J. Blige joined forces to put their spin on Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1968 track “You’re All I Need To Get By,” an instant Hip-Hop classic was born; quickly climbing the charts following the release of the Wu-Tang legends 1994 debut album, Tical.
Now rising singer Kris Kelli has tapped Miami’s own Rick Ross to put their own spin on the hit, delivering a MMG Digital release of the track, which has already began heating up the charts. Sitting down for an exclusive interview Ross explained,
What made it so dope, it’s popping off at radio. I know for me, just feeling her, just that reggae that vibe to it that sexy appeal to it.” He added, “It just feels good to focus on something real big. MMG Digital, it’s going to be something new we’re introducing to the world.
Making a name for herself by effortlessly blending rhymes with an island vibe, Kelli has hit the ground running. “Jamaica get ready. We’re taking it to the world. It’s a blessing,” she said.
Quinnshawn, a Rockford, Illinois native, is being touted as “The New Prince of R&B/Pop” by some music industry insiders is making serious moves with his new song “You Got It.” The record has catapulted him on to the radar and it’s making noise at mixshows nationwide. “I would like to be remembered as one of the top artists of my time who brought back the movement of real R&B music,” proclaims the singer.
Russell Simmons has made a high powered call to BET to facilitate the network to move up the BET Hip-Hop Awards, AllHipHop had learned exclusively.
Initially the popular awards show was to fall on October 10, the same day as “Justice or Else,” the anniversary of the Million Man March.
However, AllHipHop exclusively found that the Def Jam founder made a call to BET brass and negotiated the change to October 9th for the awards.
“Russell Simmons made a high level call to a BET executive respectfully requesting a date change due to “Justice Or Else” and BET mutually obliged and changed the date to October 9th,” a source told AllHipHop exclusively.
Minister Louis Farrakhan has been touring the country heavily promoting the March and Hip-Hop acts have been involved. Most recently, Eminem had dinner with the minister in Detroit.
Teyz Soprano speaks on his history of why he is a Problem Child & how the mixtape name came about. From being in jail at a young age to currently being signed to independent label OTP (On Top Paid) Records. Now he is working with producers such as Zaytoven, Cheese & C4. Directed by 1stClassFilms.
Since Jay Z has to testify in the “Big Pimpin'” copyright infringement case there are some things he does not want held against him. According to reports, Jigga does not want this wealth or criminal past mentioned during the case. Hova reportedly filed a motion to keep the jury from considering his riches and past charges as factors during the case.
The trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 13th. Besides Jay, the track’s producer, Timbaland, will also take the stand.
Osama Ahmed Fahmy is suing on behalf of his deceased uncle, Baligh Hamdi, who is the composer of “Khosara, Khosara,” the track he says Jay and Timbaland stole the melody for “Big Pimpin'” from.
With her classic 1986 album Control, future Pop icon Janet Jackson announced she was taking over the reins of her career from her father Joe Jackson. Thirty years later that same theme of self-actualization and artistic freedom now runs through In My Feelings, the latest work from singer/actor/dancer Trevor Jackson (no relation).
The Indianapolis raised triple threat’s musical career gained steam over the last several years with his 2013 debut EP #NewThang and touring with Diggy Simmons. Despite building a wildly supportive fan base, Atlantic Records was slow to follow up Trevor’s initial success with an official studio album.
The wait for the release of an LP weighed down on Jackson, and he finally took matters into his own hands. The result is the 13-song retail mixtape In My Feelings. Trevor invited Kevin Gates, Mystikal, IAMSU, and Iyn Jay to join him for his rhythmic revelation of becoming a new man.
The 19-year-old entertainer is pushing fresh tunes out to the public, but he has not walked away from his other entertainment-based profession. Trevor’s first steps in showbiz included three years starring as Simba in the Disney play The Lion King. He later appeared on the television series Harry’s Law,Eureka, and Criminal Minds.
Trevor is returning to the small screen as a series regular on the critically acclaimed ABC program American Crime. Season 2 of Oscar winner John Ridley’s drama also stars Andre “3000” Benjamin, Regina King, Timothy Hutton, Felicity Huffman, and Lili Taylor. Up next for Jackson are roles in the films Sons 2 The Grave and Juveniles as well.
AllHipHop.com caught up with Trevor Jackson to get his thoughts on In My Feelings, American Crime, and more.
You dropped your new project In My Feelings. That phrase could be taken a couple of different ways. What does that title represent for you?
For me, it represents becoming a man and experiencing life. There’s so many obstacles we go through, especially in this industry. We try to be so strong for everybody that’s around us. At one point I was like, “You know what? I’m in my feelings right now, and I’m okay with that.”
I want people to know it’s okay to be you and be real. I feel like there’s so many people trying to be someone else. I found myself doing that. I realized if I’m going to do this, I have to do this – my feelings, my vision, my music – the way I want to do things.
I noticed the sound on this project was more mature lyrically and vocally. How involved were you with the songwriting?
I wrote pretty much every single song. If I didn’t write one, I wrote at least half of it. Me and my brother Ian Jackson wrote the majority of it. I just wanted it to be real. I felt like the only way for it to be real is for me to do it.
I love writing. We were actually writing records for other people before we started writing this project. I said, “This synergy is so good right now. Let’s just keep it going instead of having all these writers come in and try to figure it out. I know what I like. Why not do it myself?”
‘In My Feelings’ Artwork
Do you feel like this is your Control? Janet Jackson took over the direction of her career with that album. Is that where you’re at now?
Yeah, I feel like that is the point I’m at now. Even when it comes to the cover design, I really wanted to be involved, be the captain of the ship. I always want to make sure I’m okay with anything that we do. That way I can never regret anything.
There were a couple of lyrics that stood out to me. You referred to yourself as a “hooligan.” Later on, you sang about being the guy a girl’s parents should be worried about. It seems like you’re breaking from a clean-cut image. Is that the direction you wanted to take?
When I go in there I never really have an idea like, “Oh, I’m doing this, because I want people to think of me in this way.” The hooligan line was from all these people thinking that they can control me, thinking that their way is better than mine. I’m like, “You forget I don’t give a dang about authority at this point.”
This is me. My music is me. It’s not a hooligan in the sense of I’m “crazy.” It’s a hooligan as far as I’m not going to go with the flow if I don’t feel it. I feel when God has a plan for you, it builds confidence. When you trust in that, it builds you to be more confident in yourself.
When it comes to the “momma warned you about me” line, I think you get that. I don’t really have to go into that. [laughs]
For some entertainers that start off young, jumping into being an adult performer doesn’t always crossover well with the public. But you seem to be doing well. How have you been able to manage that?
There was a point where I didn’t really want to go out anymore. I don’t go to parties except premieres and things like that. I was going through some things with myself and with the label, and I was in a “forget the world” moment for a second. So I just went into the studio.
I was in my Bruce Wayne mode for a second. I was just in the house trying to sharpen my tools and make sure everything was the way I wanted it. [My transition] was honest. I feel like people will always relate to honesty.
With some other child stars, I feel like either they were too aggressive or it wasn’t believable. If you keep it real, people will finally catch on. There’s no right or wrong way. It’s all about timing. I’m just thankful it’s been transitioning smoothly for me at this point.
You mentioned the label. On “Bang Bang” you talked about being frustrated that your album wasn’t out yet. Can you talk about what the hold up has been with your studio LP?
I feel like – the music industry especially – but with any business, there’s always politics you got to play. I was signed when I was 15. You think when you get signed things are going to go the way people say they’re going to go. That comes with being a man, you realize the realities of the world. You take it with a grain of salt, and you keep moving.
But yes, I was definitely frustrated. Three years entertaining and not being where I wanted to be, it gets frustrating. But you have to keep pushing and do what you feel is right.
You don’t sound bitter about it. It seems like you took it as a lesson.
I never try to look at anything I experience as failure or negativity. I think of it as: Okay, it should have happen this way. But since it didn’t, it didn’t happen that way for a reason. Now I’m going to make sure when I do it, I do it the right way.
You have both Kevin Gates and Mystikal on the project. Was that a coincidence or are you a big fan of Louisiana Hip Hop?
I’ve always been a fan of Mystikal. I remember that “Move (Get Out The Way)” song. I didn’t even know Ludacris’ part. I would just fast forward to Mystikal’s part. I just love his energy. I’m just thankful that he was willing to get on the project.
Kevin Gates, I didn’t hear of him until like 2 years ago. Then I heard “Satellites.” He’s rapping, but he’s singing. You know me, I’m a sucker for dope melodies.
He’s signed to Atlantic. He was across the hall when I was cutting the record. I went into the kitchen and I told him, “I got a record I’d like you to hear.” He came in, listened, and said, “What do I have to do?” I said, “Are you kidding? Just get in there.” He wrote his verse in like 15 minutes.
He’s a super nice guy. He’s intelligent. He respects me as an artist and vice-versa. That’s the type of people you want to work with. The people that believe in you.
A photo posted by Trevor Jackson (@trevorjackson5) on
You’re starring in American Crime season 2. From the synopsis I’ve seen, the second season is dealing with some really heavy subject matter. How are you preparing for that role?
To be honest, the director – John Ridley, he’s a genius – he’s been very selective with the information that he’s giving me. I still don’t know pass episode one. I think he’s doing it because he wants us to be surprised when we shoot it. That way it will be more real which I love.
I play a student who’s a basketball player. That’s really all I know up to this point. Ridley even tells me, “It’s about to get crazy. You have no idea.” I’ve never worked with a director like him before. I think it’s dope. Sometimes I’m like, “Why isn’t he telling me?” But I know it’s all going to come together. So I can’t really say much, because I don’t even know.
Are you ready for the attention that’s going to come with that role? The series is popular, especially among critics.
[Season 1 was] nominated for 10 Emmys! I’m blessed and thankful to be able to show people I don’t just act for whatever reason. I act because I really enjoy it. Just like I enjoy my music. I feel like people will take me seriously as an actor. I want to be able to use all that I was given while I’m here on Earth.
It’s a lead role, so I’m blessed. I’m learning. There are so many talented actors and actresses. You got Tim Hutton, Felicity Huffman, and Lili Taylor. Andre 3000 is playing my dad.
Having Andre as your TV dad is pretty cool.
When we had one of our first rehearsals, I was kind of tripping out. We were doing the scene, and I was thinking, “This is Andre 3000!” It was crazy.
A photo posted by American Crime (@americancrimeabc) on
Has anyone approached you about doing a reality show?
Yeah, a couple of times. It’s not something I want to do.
Is there a particular reason?
I feel like some people get consumed by this industry, because they give too much of themselves. They have nothing of their own. Once you let so many people in, and they know so much about you, you just open yourself up to negativity. That’s why you have to be selective and do everything in moderation. You have to have a little bit of yourself for you, so you don’t go crazy.
What are your thoughts on where R&B/Soul music is right now?
I think it’s dope. I definitely think it’s on the come up. I feel like it’s needed. Yeah, you turn up – and I’m not bashing any other type of music – but the Techno thing had its day. I feel like those records are made in that time, but I feel like the records that last forever are missed.
People miss feeling. I feel like that’s why it’s coming back, because that part of them has been missing – to be able to feel something when you listen to music. We can turn up, but at the end of the day, the music has got to speak to you.
In case you didn’t know, Styles P and Jadakiss are into the juice bar business. The LOX spitters are partial owners of the juice bar, Juices For Life, and have opened three (so far) in low income communities that are considered food deserts.
In a mini-doc with Elite Daily, they discuss how growing up in a low-income community influences what you put into your body.
“Growing up in Yonkers, NY we didn’t know what was good for us,” Jada states in the beginning of the video. “If you walk down the block in the hood it’s nearly impossible to find something healthy to put in your body. We were consuming what was made available to us.”
“You don’t know the options aren’t good,” Styles P added. “Those are good options to you.”
Their goal is to give their community and other neighborhoods healthy eating options to encourage better eating.
“The juice bars are opened in the hood on purpose to educate our people on health awareness,” Jada said.
It was just weeks ago that the Kartel Gang was riding high on the success of songs with Beanie Siegel, Red Cafe and Uncle Murda, but that all ended short last week as Russ Blade was murdered in Queens. Robbed for his jewelry in the late hours of the night, the Queens bred rapper is survived by his wife and daughter. While they still don’t have answers about who it was that senselessly killed Russ Blade, Bo and Blade knew each other since the sandbox as you can see in the art for this single.
Needless to say, this is a very tough time and this is an important song for both King Bo and Smit of Backdoor Movements (manager of Kartel Gang), as they try to carry on Russ Blade’s legacy. The legacy of Russ Blade’s music will live on through King Bo, who will continue to push on for Kartel Gang as a solo artist. While it may be some time before King Bo regroups after losing his brother from another mother, he felt it was necessary to pay tribute to Russ Blade with this song, “My Brothers Keeper.”,
Tyler, the Creator recently revealed that he has been banned from the United Kingdom for three to five years due to the nature of his lyrics. The “DEATHCAMP” rapper usually resorts to his Twitter feed with his feelings but this time he has opened up about the ban from the country with UK outlet The Guardian.
“I felt like a criminal,” he said when discussing what happened when he arrived at the UK border. “And then [a Border Force officer] showed me lyrics from songs … literally, a paper with five lines of lyrics, and four were from Bastard songs and one was from Tron Cat. I never perform those songs. Thirty minutes later, the guy comes in, he gives me a paper, and he says: “OK, they’re not letting you in the country.” The paper said I couldn’t come at all, saying that I support homophobia and acts of terrorism, and [it said] some other stuff. ”
“The home secretary has considered whether, in light of this list, you should be excluded from the UK on the grounds that your presence here would not be conducive to the public good,” the letter to the performer stated. “The home secretary has reached this decision because you have brought yourself within the scope of the list of unacceptable behaviour by making statements that may foster hatred, which might lead to intercommunity violence in the UK.”…Your albums. Bastard, in 2009, and Goblin, in 2011, are based on the premise of your adopting a mentally unstable alter ego who describes violent physical abuse, rape and murder in graphic terms which appears to glamourise this behaviour.”
“Now I’m getting treated like a terrorist,” he continued. “I’m bummed out because it’s like, dude, I’m not homophobic. I’ve said this since the beginning. The “hating women” thing – it’s so nuts.”
Tyler went on to question why he would be banned if it is clearly understood that he was rapping on behalf of his alter ego or the perspective of someone else.
“The thing that irks me about it is that the paper saying I am denied entry to the UK clearly states that these songs were written from [the perspective of] an alter ego – which means they obviously did some research on these songs that they’re detaining me for.”
One of the songs responsible for him being banned, “Blow,” was written from the perspective of serial killer Ted Bundy, he says.
Tyler was also unable to tour in Australia thanks to the efforts of a feminist group, Collective Shout,to halt the approval of his visa.
“They’re following!,” he said about Collective Shout. “They’re just followers at this point – to me, at least. Personally. I don’t know. It all came out of nowhere; I was [in London] in May, dude. Two months later they’re like: ‘Hey, uh, yeah, we reviewed music from a long time ago out of nowhere, [and] you can’t come in.’What?”
After the release of his debut LP “Halal Chinese Food” at the top of the year, Brooklyn emcee Ockz returns with a free project for the fans, “The Stuyvesant Chronicles”, released today, September 1, exclusively on AllHipHop.com.
The new concept mixtape finds Ockz flying in a dope ensemble of indie artists to lend their specialities over some familiar, jazzy samples. It was clear that he’s no newcomer to the game when he leaked the recent singles and videos for “Nautilus” with Fred The Godson and “Cops & Taxis”, with a cameo from the tape’s talented co-executive producer, Raki.
People just catching on to Ockz will appreciate his latest leak for its timeliness with the #BlackLivesMatter movement – “Rise Up” is a strong dose of Hip-Hop featuring lyrical powerhouses Skyzoo and Quadir Lateef. Download “The Stuyvesant Chronicles” for free below, and check out the single and tracklist, too:
Tracklist:
01. Stuyvesant Chronicles Intro
02. Nautilus feat. Fred The Godson
03. Robert Beck Speaks
04. Come Live With Me
05. 24 Karat Black
06. Cops & Taxis
07. Rapid Fire feat. Jessica Care Moore
08. Brooklyn Jihad
09. African Music Interlude
10. Coffee Cold
11. Rise Up feat. Skyzoo & Quadir Lateef
12. La Corporacion feat. Patty Crash (of The Legendary Roots Crew)
13. Placebo
14. Solstice
15. Stuyvesant Salaams
Fresh off of rocking the Cali leg of Wiz Khalifa and Fall Out Boys Boyz of Zummer tour, Raven Felix links with Philly singer/songwriter Ashley Jones and drops her new visual “Little Less Hard.” On the Tekneek produced song, Felix gives viewers a taste of where she comes from and what the San Fernando Valley is about. With her upcoming Valifornication project on the way, Felix has continued to build a fast growing buzz and fan base that is only getting louder.
Sincerity wraps his statement as OG Maco explains,”With a system that’s corrupt and broken I feel like we got to fight it,” he exclusively tells AllHipHop. During the conversation the “U Guessed It” rapper acknowledges that “there are good cops,” but questions sordid American police brutality. He challenges the steadfast notion of the inherently ineffective peaceful protest. Mentioning the slain souls of Mike Brown, Sandra Bland, and Tamir Rice — all of whom met untimely deaths after interactions with law enforcement — OG suggests a self-preserving notion.
“At some point you got to go fight. They’re going to kill us all anyway. We’re going to die anyway; or, they’re going to send us off to prison to die anyway. Shoot some sh*t, riot, f**k some sh*t up! But don’t do it in our neighborhoods; that’s all we got,” he says. The Atlanta-based rapper then ensures to convey that it’s not a “black and white issue,” rather an economic one.
Check out the full clip and discover what all OG Maco has to say.
Remember when N.W.A’s former manager Jerry Heller said he was going to wait until he saw ‘Straight Outta Compton’ to voice his opinion, and to see if he needed to take legal action? Well it seems like he doesn’t agree with his portrayal and there may be some ongoing litigation on the way. Heller did say that when he sees the film, he would be front row with his lawyers. We will see what legal action he decides to take.
Heller told the LA Times,
“Well, my only comment so far is that I think it’s inappropriate for me to comment on a movie that I haven’t seen,” he said. “I did see it on Saturday, and I’m still not willing to comment right now on that movie because I think sooner or later it may be part of an ongoing litigation.”
It’s always something going on with Young Dro! He drops a song that people love and radio runs crazy with only to be plagued by some sort of legal trouble somewhere along the way. According to TMZ The latest rumor is that an Atlanta stripper/ strip club employee (who has in the past been said to be Robyn Fly) filed a grand theft auto report against Young Dro, accusing him of failing to pick her up in her own car, abandoning the vehicle, and setting her up by leaving weed and a stolen gun inside. Allegedly Dro asked the stripper to borrow her Cadillac and she agreed as long as he picked her up after her shift at the Pink Pony. Apparently when the police and the woman located her vehicle with the help of OnStar, the police arrested her, causing her to file the report against Dro. Say it ain’t so. Not Mr. “car ain’t got no roof…. not Mr. We in da city.” The woman and Dro have two completely different accounts of what happened.
Over the last few months it seems like Young Dro has told at least 3 different stories as to what happened with this car. It’s hard out here!
Chris Brown is facing a lawsuit from a man who was wounded at a private party he hosted back in January, CBS reports.
The “Autumn Leaves” singer hosted “Chris Brown’s Capricorn Bash” at the Fiesta Nightclub in San Jose, CA which ended in gunfire, leaving five people shot. Paul Briley, 22, was one of those victims and now he is taking legal actions against Breezy and Fiesta nightclub because of his injuries.
In the lawsuit, Briley claims that permanent damage to his foot has been done due to the wound and is suing for “lost earnings, medical expenses, and other damages including all past, present, and future physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering, including fright, shock, terror, and post-traumatic stress of being shot.”
The lawsuit also states that the club should have taken better security precautions and performed better searches on party-goers. The lawsuit also says that it should have been known that something dangerous would happen due to past shootings happening at Brown’s concerts and even mentioned his past violent encounters, mainly the one with Rihanna.
Groupies are still ruining great nights it seems. Apparently Fabolous had some groupies in his section that were under the influence of something that were killing the vibe. Somethings never change. Groupie tales from the desk of Fab below.
Rick Ross is looking to leave his legal woes behind and get back to releasing music. This time, he is dropping new music with little notice to his fans. The MMG boss revealed via his Instagram that he is dropping a new project, Black Dollar, on Sept. 3rd.
Since the release date is just two days away, Roazy dropped the lead single “Foreclosures” and reportedly plans on releasing the Dream-assisted track “Money Dance” today (Sept. 1) at 3:05 p.m.
Following the success of his “You Lose” video, Mississippi emcee Mike Caesar returns with a new drop his fans will enjoy. “W.A.I.T,” which serves as an acronym for “We’re All In Together,” is produced by Viewtiful Jaybo and allows Caesar to display superb lyricism and depth, as he details how hard he worked, prayed and waited for success and triumph.
Also for those waiting, Mike Caesar has also released the official trailer for his upcoming “Gotta Ball” video, which is a continuation of “You Lose”.
