AllHipHop

homepage

I Am More Than Selma

By: YourfavenightmareCategory: Uncategorized

Greetings Relatives,

I am an activist! I am a rap artist! I am a published writer, community and event organizer! I am a mother ! I am a woman! I came 50 years later to Selma to commemorate Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights for African Americans.

I was asked to speak at an event called “I am more than Selma” which is founded by local youth and community organizer Michelle Browder and Veronica Very. They began working with young people to educate them on the history and mobilizing action plans to make changes. I spoke on a panel with the President MTV Rock The Vote, Sabrina Fulton (mother of Trayvon Martin) and others. 

The feel of Montgomery was murals on buildings of Martin Luther King Jr. , Rosa Parks and many other Civil Rights Movement activists. There was a red carpet in front of the Rosa Parks Museum with a car sponsor marketing banners everywhere. There was a Caucasian woman that spoke amongst African American that marched on the bridge with King 50 years ago. That helped organize Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. This Caucasian Alabama resident spoke about how she loved her Black maid, and she didn’t know the Civil Rights movement was going on. She said she just learned about Emmitt Till in 2008. This is was just the beginning. 

On Saturday I went to Selma to hear President Obama speak. I met up with the Ferguson protesters. As we are awaiting our tickets to get in we were shouting “Hands Up! Don’t Shoot!” “No Justice!! No Peace!” The organizers attempted to divide up the group with limited ticketing but the more media that came and snapped pictures we was able to obtain 40 tickets to get in. After 2 hours of waiting to get pass the airport security style entrance we walked into the “special guests” area. Immediately it looked like an award ceremony. One section was for the red carpet style entry to the stage. The special guest section was crowds “oohhh and aweing ” on congress people, celebrities. The REAL activists , community leaders, were standing on the side of the stage struggling to see the stage. So when the show began we watched it from a jumbo tron. As another Caucasian Selma resident spoke he explained how he didn’t know about the Civil Rights movement and he has seen changes 50 years later in Alabama. Has it really changed? 

As I walked amongst whites and blacks line dancing, people blasting music, bbq’ing laughing, and yelling at protesters saying “Black Lives Matter!” Im hearing people talking saying “they always talking about Black lives matter but what about Black on Black crime?” I went to a film festival with Tory Russell – co founder of Hands Up United telling us that they have urban farming, tech programs and a breakfast program. When it was time for Q & A another Alabama resident brought up homosexuality in Alabama!! Tory said “I didn’t care if you was gay, green, brown whatever when we was in front of those tanks! I only was looking for people that were ready to resist at that moment!” 

BET had a concert featuring Vanilla ice and others I decided not to go. There was an elite ticketed breakfast on Sunday morning I decided not to go. There was a Youth Turn Up concert I decided not to go! There was a fashion show I decided not to go! I couldn’t entertain our holocaust! 

I saw the movie when it premiered in Dec. “Selma”. I wept! I left that movie theater knowing that Martin Luther King Jr.  wasn’t no punk! He was a revolutionary! A visionary that didn’t hold his tongue! When it was time to rally before they marched there wasn’t no Elvis concerts! There wasn’t a club atmosphere.,. Or was it? 

Here we are 50 years later and in my opinion we are more segregated than we were then. We are segregated amongst each other as Black people. What I saw was the “Black privileged  vs the common folks of the community ” it’s the “I don’t see color today vs. the police that are killing Black people for being Black because they feel threatened” it’s the “I don’t know what’s going on but I can tell you everything about an iPhone, Love & Hip Hop, Empire episode vs. the Im in the streets protesting I don’t have time to watch tv” it’s the “lets bring in Vanilla Ice because that’s what we think the Civil Rights movement was about vs. the where was Jay Electronica, Nas, Jcole, Lil Boosie rapping “F**k the Police” I mean isn’t that what all those people that died on the Edmund Pettus Bridge was saying after they got beat and killed? 

Now, I did March the bridge with the Foot soldiers of the “60’s. I did see their tears as we marched! I did sing the gospel hymns of the Civil Rights movement but immediately I started chanting “Hands Up! don’t shoot!” With only a few joining in. There was a huge disconnect of today’s civil rights movement in Selma over the weekend. They didn’t treat the parents of Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner family with the upmost respect. I guess they wanted to reminisce more of yesterday and ignore the issues of today. 

I have helped put together major events from the Millions More Movement, Saviours Day Convention, and numerous hip hop and youth events and never have I experienced so much of a disconnect of the actual reason we was there. They turned the Bloody Sunday into an All Star weekend. I bet if the Jewish community had an annual Holocaust memorial event there would be absolutely No bbq’ing, no line dancing , no Turn up type atmosphere! They won’t allow it!! So why do we ?? Why is every Martin Luther King holiday an opportunity for people to party? Why is Black History Month the shortest month of the year but the month where we have Super Bowl, All Star, The Grammys, NYC Fashion week to get our thinking back to partying! 

I don’t know about you but in December my friend Rumain Brisbon was shot and killed by the Phoenix Police Officer Mark Rine because as Rumain was bringing home food to his daughters, this officer harassed him shot him in his torso and shot him twice in the back as he payed in front of his kids and their mother with McDonald’s food in his hands. My closet friend Lakisha Davis 13 year old son Trayvion was shot execution style by the Dekalb County police officer 3 years ago. But before this happened I felt the pain of Trayvon Martins parents so I protested in the streets to show solidarity! I protested in the streets and in the government offices for every injustice I saw. I guess it’s real for me! I guess we would stop partying when it hits YOUR family!!! I guess every 38 hours a Black life is killed is not enough for you to want to fight back. I guess it has to be 5 lives within your community, your school , your family to want to seek justice and take the voting rights that Dr.King and others fought for and died for more seriously. 

Or is it that the 500 years of slavery wasn’t enough? Or even the 19 year old that got killed by another white cop on Saturday while Pres.Obama was speaking still didn’t hit home. And the protesters that came from other cities was urged to be quiet in the midst of music playing. 50 years later there is still video footage of young white boys from Oklahoma chanting “hang that n#####”! He’s not allowed in our fraternity!” You still want to party? Not close to home yet? 

We must respect our ancestors and their works and be serious on the social issues that’s affecting us today. Being a Black and Native American woman that saw the affects of white supremacy on both sides of my family it deeply hurts and affects me today. I have two sons that I have to protect and educate I’ll be dammed if 50 years from now the next Bloody Sunday Jubilee is a huge foam party with laser show unless we take our history serious TODAY!

Thank You, Dame Dash.

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur)Category: Uncategorized

Thank you, Dame.

In the past two weeks or so, I’ve watched a couple of interesting interviews of Damon Dash. Apparently he’s been making the rounds to promote his new movie Loisaidas, but the lengthy interviews seem not to focus any reasonable amount of time on the movie. Instead, the interviews careened off to other areas of discussion which he then used as an opportunity to give the interviewers and the listening audience what I deemed as an inspiring lecture on shedding fears, no longer accepting complacency, the value of self-worth, the importance of being independent, and Business Entrepreneurship 101. Many websites, this one included, posted Dame Dash’s most recent visit to Power 105 the Breakfast Club under very eye catching headings such as, “Damon Dash sonned Envy and Charlamagne” or “Damon Dash slams the working class” or just simply, “Damon Dash goes off.” Obviously those headings were intended to invoke something in the reader to make him/her want to view the video. That was the sole purpose. And it worked. But was that actually what happened?

People want to disregard Damon Dash or at the very least, attempt to discredit him. He has been sold to the public as being an a##hole or too arrogant. Not to mention that many people, in the Hip-Hop community, perceive him to be or at least, have been led to believe that he’s the reason the ROC, that we were first introduced to, crumbled. He seems divisive. He’s the bad guy. A description people love to so loosely throw around and associate with anyone threatening to the status quo by thinking and doing for himself. Well, you know what? Sometimes we need quote unquote bad guys. Especially when they’re telling the truth.
There is truth to the old adage that “employers raise their children to be employers, while employees raise their children to be employees.” Oftentimes that is very accurate. But what’s wrong with challenging the consciousness of people to change that train of thought for their own benefit?

RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Dame Dash’s Rules For The Successful Businessperson

While fear can be the greatest immobilizer in the world, being comfortable on someone else’s dime may be the greatest misnomer. Who wouldn’t want to create and develop something of their own to leave their children, with the hope that they’d aspire to do the same? Who wouldn’t want to create several different means of cash flow that allows you and your family to be the greatest benefactors of your work? Who wouldn’t want to invest and continuously reinvest in himself? I mean, come on, if nothing else, who wouldn’t want to have the means to have seemingly control of his own life to determine how his time is spent?

People seem to call Damon Dash (not to his face, he says) a lot of different things. However, one word I’ve never heard used to describe him is “stupid.” With that being said, I loved the apologetic exchange that he and DJ Envy had as men when they both thought that the other had referred to the other as stupid. That was extremely powerful to witness, as was the rest of the conversation when you peel back all of the ill-gotten perceptions, remove the unnecessary emotions and get to the essence of the discussion.
What man doesn’t want to be his own boss? What man doesn’t want to be the only super hero to his own children? Let’s be honest, I don’t know a man who doesn’t want to be in the position to do what the f### he want to do, whenever the f### he want to do it and however the f### he want to do it. And do we honestly believe that working for another man would afford us the luxury to be the man we’re destined to be?

When you work for someone else there’s always a (in my Tony the Tiger voice) great disparity in the profit and earnings margin. We know this. Just as well as we know that when you work for someone else you could always be terminated. Not to mention how you’re made to feel internally as man, and the things that you subject yourself to, as a man, because you don’t want to…But when you have your own and you’re investing your own money, it gives you control, it gives you power. It gives you a greater sense of self-worth, self-value, self-esteem and self-confidence. And if truth be told, it’s not even about the dollar amount. In all actuality, it’s about freedom. And that’s what Damon Dash message was to me. But if possible, people will have you to believe that the cusp of his interviews was something far less important and very miniscule.

Reminding me. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this message. Nor is it the first time we attacked the messenger with this same message, tried to minimize it and dismiss it. Minister Farrakhan and the NOI, other black leaders and organizations have always preached independence, encouraged ownership and a do for self-mentality. But just as they were, so is he, painted as “wrong” or simply put, the “bad guy.”

Well look brother Dame, I just wanted to say “thank you” for the very inspiring and much needed message. And I’m certain that I’m not the only one who needed that particular message at this particular time. We do have the ability to choose our own conditions, with that being said, why wouldn’t we choose to be free?

Richy Forbes & SSK- "Never"

By: Rea Davis @IamReaDavisCategory: Alternatives

Richy Forbes (AKA Mr International) is representing the island of Turks & Caicos, Miami and Nigeria, and as a result his sound is a refreshing blend of Afro, R&B and Hip-Hop. His boisterous personality shines through within seconds on every performance and is backed up by his lyrical bravado. Not shy to deliver a heartfelt melody, he expresses themes of love, pain and prosperity. Producer So Special Kay (SSK) on the other hand is the mellow crooner of the two giving every song a touch of soul. His vocals stretch from sweet to street on demand, painting each track with an unique contrast. This however works to a charm since he also produces each song, allowing their vocals to fit right at home in the music. The two both based in London, UK, have collaborated on a series of songs, most recently R&B throwback “Never”, and hip-hop club banger “Mirror”. Both of these have received good reception at shows, and created a level of buzz for the two acts. The duo just released the visual for “Never”

SSK stated:

“I’d say filming never was a roller coaster of emotions. We actually shot the video twice and recorded the song like 3 times. It was inspired by some of our old influences including R.Kelly, Jodeci & Blackstreet, but also modern artists such as Future. As a result it sounds 90’s yet it sounds current so has been described as “a Modern throwback” As a producer I wanted to capture the feel good element of classic R&B with a energy that can work well in today’s contemporary R&B crowd. It was a beautiful experience producing it, and singing on it especially being able to pay homage to Blackstreet on the middle 8 section, and to R. Kelly with the “Sex Me” sample embedded under the beat. Forbes decided to go with a topic we all been through, hard times in a relationship that could go either way; Sometimes we say crazy things in those moments that don’t help the situation and by time we think to let the person know we didn’t mean them, it’s too late. It works both ways.”

The video was directed by Emile Terrenze, a film Director from London responsible for the Online Series No I.D. Check out the video below.

Amber Rose Joins “SlutWalk”

By: YourfavenightmareCategory: News

Amber Rose has joined a good cause with an interesting name – “SlutWalk”.

Strolling since 2011, the SlutWalk Movement isn’t new, but it has found a new audience with the socialite. SlutWalk was created when a police officer in Toronto, Canada told a student to “Stop dressing like a s###.”

Apparently, since Amber has been criticized for her dress style and sexy IG posts, she has created her own version of the walk.

She stated: “My S### Walk will be about every Woman Equality issue we deal with everyday u can walk and make signs for the issues ur passionate about. I’m in the beginning stages of putting this together but with ur help this could be an amazing liberating experience for us women. Stay tuned for more info in weeks to come. #AmberRosesSlutWalk ❤️”

Rape culture often blames women for getting sexual assaulted stating that their choice of clothing entices men to attack them. Essentially it gives the attacker an alibi for his actions. On the other hand, those that partake in the s### walk are encouraged to dress like “s####” to underscore that no matter what they were, sexual assault us unacceptable.

FullSizeRender (28)

Lil Wayne Fires Shots At Baby And Rich Gang

By: YourfavenightmareCategory: Rumors

Baby and Lil Wayne are really going at it and they are on a path of destruction. It doesn’t appear that there can be peace ever. Anyway, the video if the diss has been taken down, but there’s still some remnants of it floating around. On the song, Wayne says, ”I say hit em up to my daddy b#### ass.” He also took a shot at Young Thug. Some Young Money dude named Flow goes at Young Thug saying, “Young m############ Money/These my m############ brothers not my f###### hubbies.” Weird. Anyway…there’s no Drake, Nicki…or Tyga included. Anyway….yeah….

Wayne was on some of that Goodie GOOD GOOD GOOD…

Kanye West Says President Obama Has Called His Home Phone

By: YourfavenightmareCategory: News

Nobody wants to see Kanye and the President fight, but the pair disagree over whether or not the man in the highest office of the nation has called Hip-Hop’s most polarizing figure’s home.

RELATED: President denies calling Kanye West.

Check out what Kanye had to say about it.

Who has a home phone anyway?

Buku Music + Art Project Recap Day 1

By: Vance BrinkleyCategory: Events

Day 1 at Buku Art + Music Project is over, but there was a lot of dope stuff happening at the NOLA-based festival. The early acts consisted of unique local artists like Pell and Big Freedia, but when the sun came down and more artists started to perform, things got crazy. ASAP Rocky killed his performance, and showed up with Raury see watch Lil Boosie perform. AllHipHop is down here capturing some serious moments from Buku. Check them out below

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

Zoom #Buku

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

 

[KNOCKOUT NATION] Jean Pascal: Respect and Redemption Against Kovalev?

By: YourfavenightmareCategory: Lifestyle

This interview original appeared on KnockoutNation.com.

Can a former champ get some respect? To hear the way critics and fans are describing Jean Pascal’s chances tomorrow when he faces feared puncher and (WBA, WBO, IBF) titlist Sergey Kovalev, you’d think the man nicknamed “The Krusher” was facing an Friday Night Fights last-minute replacement and not a former linear light-heavyweight champion.

Admittedly, Pascal’s career has been treading water since losing the title to Bernard Hopkins back in 2011. But unlike most B-Hop victims, Pascal perservered, starting with a high-profile win over fellow Canadian Lucian Bute last year. After failing to goad Adonis Stevenson into a fight, Pascal has settled on the next best thing in Kovalev. Read how Pascal plans to shock critics and fans come Saturday night.

KnockoutNation: Let’s get right to the prevailing narrative of this fight. Most critics are expecting you to take a beating and possibly get knocked out because you fade late in fights. How do you answer that analysis?

Pascal: Like Roger Mayweather says, those people don’t know s### about boxing! If you look at my career, I only faded in one fight and that was the first one against Bernard Hopkins. People don’t realize that I was sick and injured in that one. Otherwise, I’ve always been in great condition. And the reason it caught up to me in that fight is that I throw all my punches with bad intentions. I’m not a fighter that will just throw 800 jabs.

KnockoutNation: Styles makes fights, but why did Kovalev have such an easy time with Hopkins compared to your two fights against him?

Pascal: The Bernard Hopkins that Kovalev faced wasn’t the same one I fought four years ago. There is a big difference between being 44 and nearly 50 years old. Your body and stamina changes. Just look at Bernard now. You can’t win a fight throwing less than 200 punches.

KnockoutNation: Your were supposed to get rounds in your last fight, but that backfired with Roberto Bolonti going down from that foul in round two. Do you still believe he was faking that injury?

Pascal: I knew he was faking. I didn’t put power on that shot. I thought I was supposed to be fighting a boxer, not a soccer player or Oscar-worthy actor.

KnockoutNation: Despite this fight being for the three belts, Adonis Stevenson is still the linear and WBC champion. Does a win put you in the driver’s seat regarding any further negotiations?

Pascal: That guy is a disgrace to the sport. It’s a waste of my time to even talk about him. Belts don’t define champions — champions define the belt. A lot of guys have them (belts) but they are not warriors. I want to be seen as a warrior. This is not my job but my passion.

Kovalev’s WBO title and the linear title are my old swag. After [beating] Kovalev, I can get any challenger.

KnockoutNation: Your drug testing request to Kovalev went unresolved. Is this is concern in the back of your mind that you may be getting in there with a feared puncher that has an illegal advantage?

Pascal: I’m disappointed in Kovalev. They agreed [to the testing but then] wanted to choose the agency even after I’m paying. I used the same protocol in 2013 with Lucian Bute and took 10 tests. Why am I the only one doing random testing? It’s a shame.

History-wise, doping has been a culture in Russia for years. Look at the Rocky 4 movie. Yes, it’s a movie but there’s some truth in there.

KnockoutNation: You know you’re a massive undergdog. You’ve fought punchers before, but never one like this…

Pascal: Kovalev looks like he can knock a grizzly bear out. True, he doesn’t have a lot of flaws. Along with power, he has decent speed and defense. But nobody’s perfect. I beat Chad Dawson when he was undefeated and the linear champion. I will prove to you and everyone else why I am the best.

For more, go to KnockoutNation.com.

 

Roga Raph – "Visionary Shift" (Album Stream)

By: Scooby Wilson (@mcscoobins)Category: Music

Jazz rap: a subgenre of Hip-Hop discussed ad nauseam by diehard fans. Whether you’ve been caught in a daze while bumping Tribe’s Low End Theory, or you know Blue Notes Records’ discography front to back, the music has birthed passionate listeners for a reason. While some heads might discount the music as being a relic of the past, the sounds of the underground still emit those feel good jazz vibes, even in today’s Internet Era. Proving that there’s still an audience for that laid back groove is the Mt. Kisco, New York based rapper/producer, Roga Raph. Raph is a part of the new wave of emcees looking to expand upon those jazzy Hip-Hop cuts that many of us grew up with, in hopes that he could give both contemporary heads and new listeners, simply great music. This effort all begins with the release of his eleven track, au gratis debut, Visionary Shift.

Packed with dusty piano riffs and buttery soul samples, the free release gives off that old school feeling without coming across as either formulaic, or dated. As a graduate of Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts, as an Illustration major, Raph is also the graphic designer behind the project’s artwork.VIsionary Shift is Raph telling his story, but also having fun, by not taking this tale too seriously. The album’s strengths is its sonic diversity. Whether it’s the chilled out, “Signz,” the debut, “Fck Whut They Say,” or the uptempo “In The Now” with its prominent Eckhart Tolle samples, Raph proves that he can ride with the best of them. Visionary Shift is now available for free download, so be sure to check for rap’s new best kept secret.

Check Out Some Highlights From Buku Music + Art Project 15'

By: Vance BrinkleyCategory: Events

AllHipHop is in New Orleans for Buku Music + Art Project, and it is poppin. Several acts have hit the stage since 3 pm in the City of Saints, and the energy level hasn’t came down yet. Run The Jewels performed with the intensity and aggressiveness they are known for, while ASAP Rocky killed his set with some new music. check out some clips of performances by Big Freedia, Pell, STS9, ASAP Rocky, Run The Jewels and more via Instagram.

Follow @VBrinkley513 for updated performances and pics from Buku.

ASAP Rocky #Buku

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

New ASAP #Buku

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

Run The Jewels #Buku

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

Pell #Buku

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

Yung Lean & The Sad Boys #Buku

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

Mr. Carmack

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

Big Freedia #Buku

A video posted by Vance Brinkley (@vbrinkley513) on

Chevy Woods Talks About His First Dab With All Def Digital's The Vault

By: Scooby Wilson (@mcscoobins)Category: Videos

On the sophomore episode of The Vault, ADD sits down with rising rap star Chevy Woods, who explains the time he had his first “dab” with Wiz Khalifa, A$AP ROCKY, and Trinidad James. Let’s just say it didn’t go so well, and Wiz Khalifa’s mom was there, too. Yikes!

Do Tyga & Kylie Plan To Wed When She Turns 18?

By: Rea Davis @IamReaDavisCategory: Rumors

Photo via Kylie Jenner’s Instagram

Everyone continues to debate the “friendship” of Tyga and Kylie Jenner. Basically everyone is calling BS. As they continue to deny it, there are others who are confirming it. Not to condone it at all….but what has been entertaining is the women calling out Kylie were the same ones messing with men in their 20’s in their teens. No one believes these two are just friends, but the question at hand is are the two planning to get engaged and then married. You know all fast like Luda and Eudoxie then put it on the show. Lol.

Oh yea and Tyga posted this on Instagram today:

Screen shot 2015-03-13 at 8.24.22 PM

Via Hollywood Life

“Kylie definitely wants to marry Tyga — one day. She’s in no rush to get married or have a baby anytime soon,” a source close to the reality star tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

“When she does turn 18, she is having a big party to celebrate. It will be part birthday celebration and part coming out party for her and Tyga,” our source reveals. “And it will definitely be filmed for the reality show.”

For now, Tyga is still such a big part of Kylie’s life that her sister Kendall Jenner, 19, thinks of him as family!

While away at Paris Fashion Week, Kendall took to Instagram to post a sweet photo of herself, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall and Tyga, captioning it, “missing the fam.”

What are your thoughts?