With 15 million viewers, FOX’s new hit show Empire is the highest rated new show of the 2014-2015 TV season. One of the show’s creators, movie director Lee Daniels, is looking to pull in even more viewers. He’s trying to snag Denzel Washington for one of the show’s episodes.
Daniels posted a pic of him and the Oscar-winning actor on his photo map and wrote that he was trying to persuade the A-lister to guest star on the hip-hop drama.
“Trying to talk this one into doing a guest star on #Empire,” he wrote under their us-ie.
Daniels recently told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Washington was impressed with the show and showed interest in making an appearance.
“Denzel hasn’t done television in 30 years. But he saw the pilot and said, ‘I’ve got to be a part of this.’”
Empire has already been renewed for a second season.
Shawn Pen, once known as Little Shawn, was a 90s rapper who worked with the likes of the Notorious B.I.G, released two hit singles, “I Made Love” and “Don Perignon” and an album The Voice In The Mirror. Now after serving seven years in prison for drug trafficking, the Brooklynite is writing books instead of bars and recently released his book, The Black Church, which he describes as a tale of “sex, money, drugs, violence and the Lord.”
The book follows the ups and downs of a friendship of two men who were once drug kingpins, Trevor and Rudy, whose lives go down different paths after being released from prison. After coming home, Trevor got married and started a church while Rudy returned the street life, but they remained friends through it all.
Pen recently sat down with AllHipHop to talk about how he came up with the idea for the book, what readers are in for and why the most flattering thing someone has told him about his book was also the most insulting. Peep the video below.
Iggy Azalea claps back at her naysayers on a regular basis and this time was no different.
Jill Scott and Eve recently gave their opinion on the “Goddess” rapper during a sit down with the Sway In The Morning Show and said they wished that she would embrace her Australian culture more.
“It would be dope to hear her with her swag,” Eve said as Jill Scott agreed. “What are you, who are you and what is that? That’s the only reason I say that. They (Austrailians) are so dope!”
Iggy took to her Twitter to give the Philly gals a piece of her mind, saying that they only want her to fit a stereotype so they’re comfortable.
DJ EFN releases the second leak “Revolutionary Ride Music” featuring Your Old Droog, Royce Da 5’9, OC & Reks off his “Another Time” album dropping March 3rd.
K Camp stopped by Hoodrich Radio recently to talk with DJ Scream about a host of topics including but not limited to his recent success, touring and of course – copy cats. Hit the play button below and see what his beef is all about!
The bad blood between Lil Wayne and Cash Money seems to be ballooning, along with the amount Wayne seeks to get.
The New Orleans-raised label has had a major falling out over the failure or unwillingness to release Wayne’s new album.
Wayne has dropped a lawsuit to the tune of $51 million.
He also declared that he is legally the one that jointly owns music works and copyrights by Nicki Minaj and Drake, as well as others.
For Tha Carter V to drop, Lil Wayne would be contractually obligated to an $8 million advance and another $2 when the album was completed, according to a report from TMZ.
Wayne says he has received nothing, even though Cash Money allegedly has the album.
Joey Bada$$ burst onto the Billboard charts with his debut B4.Da.$$ landing at the Number 5 slot on the Top 200 Albums chart.
The Brooklyn native moved an impressive 58k. He also debuted at the Top slot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and the Top Rap Albums charts.
The rapper got almost no commercial support for the feat.
Lupe Fiasco debuted on the same day last week, but moved 42k, a number that included album streams.
Nicki Minaj’s album dropped last year, but still pushed through to the Number 6 slot.
See the whole top 10 below.
1. Fall Out Boy – American Beauty/American Psycho 218k
2. Taylor Swift – 1989 119k
3. Meghan Trainor – Title 86k
4. Ed Sheeran – x 76k
5. Joey Bada$$ – B4.Da.$$ 58k
6. Nicki Minaj – The Pinkprint 54k
7. The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World 51k
8. Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor 51k
9. Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour 50k
10. Mark Ronson – Uptown Special 49k
Ludacris has been awarded full custody of his young daughter, Cai, a 13-month old child born to Tamika Fuller.
A court deemed the rapper as the more “fit and proper parent” to take care of the child, whose full name is Cai Bella Bridges.
The rapper was immersed in a serious, contentious dispute with Fuller.
“After review of all the evidence, the testimony of the witnesses, the report of the guardian ad litem, and the claims made throughout this entire case, I am gratified that the judge found me to be the most fit and proper parent to have primary physical custody of our beautiful daughter,” Luda told People magazine in a statement.
Fuller revealed that Ludacris, real name Chris Bridges, requested her to get an abortion when they found out she was with child.
“I told him the same day that I found out. He was not happy. He cried. It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy because he did say, ‘This wasn’t something that we planned. Let’s move forward and get an abortion. We’re not going to have a family. The baby is not going to be with the mother and the father in the same house,” she maintained. “This is all bad.’ [He said] it would ruin his life. It’s going to ruin his career.”
The court charged that the damaging and public remarks Fuller made hurt her. She attempted to also get more money from the rapper in the form of child support. She also publicly aired out a lot of the rapper’s professional finances, which was viewed negatively from a judge.
The baby was conceived while Luda was publicly with then-girlfriend Eudoxie, who is now his wife.
He has a 13-year-old daughter named Karma, a teen from another relationship altogether.
Taylor Gang’s Chevy Woods returns with a response to anyone that may have ever disrespected the Taylor Gang’s “Shooters.” While everyone in Taylor Gang smokes heavy, its clear Chevy has no problem bringing out the shooters to handle a problem. Chevy’s always been close to the steets so this is no surprise, but this video packs shots as the visual is a mini movie documenting what happens when you mess with the Taylors.
Killa Mike and El-P are back again with another dope visual from the second installment of their Run the Jewels efforts. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out Run the Jewels live in concert you are missing an inspirational peformance and an act that is looking like it will continue to make its mark for years to come.
“I’m fly as a pegasus, that’s no embellishment / I’m here to pain the whole game, where the Excedrin, Good p####, good marijuana that be my medicine/ And I’m a mixture of MJG and the Weathermen” – Killa Mike on “Lie, Cheat, Steal”
Slim Thug is releasing a documentary about his life and how he came up in the rap game. The documentary has candid interviews from Mike 5000 Watts, Killa Kyleon, Paul Wall and more in the clip. Check it out below. Following the trailer is the video for his track “The Top.”
They say every artist has several births and re-births over the course of their career. Such is the case of International Jones (formerly known as Fiend), who is back with a new project after finding critical acclaim with his Wrapping Papers EP last year. Remaining true to his sound, MFOK (Music. For. Our. Kind.), shines light on one of New Orleans’ most classic rappers.
Over the years International Jones has remained on the rap scene proving his staying power. Having had success early on in his career with No Limit Records and Master P, landing a verse on “Make Em Say Ugh,”International Jones has also found success with the Jet Life Records having toured and recorded with Curren$y and other rappers in the movement like Smoke DZA, Young Roddy, Corner Boy P andTrademark da Skydiver.
TheVerce, short for Verce-a-tile, is an Atlanta bred musician that at first started by following the southern trend of distinctive hip-hop, and has since stepped out to write and perform productions that consist of a more electronic hip-hop style from the studio to the stage.
TheVerce’s stage show mixeas his sound with classic vibrant onstage colors and laser sharp lights, creating his unique electronic hip hop performance that shadows a host of EDM shows. Backed by Platinum Limitless Productions, in conjunction with EP Entertainment, Verce achieved a new single “Another Round” featuring “Snoop Dogg” courtesy of Doggy Style Records and the The Verce’s“LifeNLights” EP is releasing in October. Check out his latest video for “Wait on Me” which really gives a feel for the direction Verce is looking to go.
Now y’all know a while back Amber Rose made it no secret that she felt Kim Kardashian was a homewrecker and that she played a part in she and Yeezy’s breakup.
Well now that Rose is single and back on the prowl, word is she may want the love of her life back.
The Sun reports that Rose has been wearing similar outfits as Kim, allegedly “toning” down her look to catch Yeezy’s attention.
From The Sun:
“In October, just a month after she filed for divorce from Wiz Khalifa — ending their 14-month marriage — Amber Rose posted a cheeky belfie that was strikingly similar to Kim Kardashian’s infamous effort a year before. And less than a week after Kim dressed down for Paris Fashion Week in September, Amber stepped out in a similar look. She has reportedly also been sending private messages to Kanye in a bid to win back the “love of her life”.
Don’t know how much to believe with this one. We’ll keep an eye on it though…
Footage has surfaced of reality star Erica Mena arguing with club promoters in Cleveland, Oh., after she failed to show up at a scheduled nightclub appearance that evening.
The promoters allegedly paid for all of Mena’s traveling, hair and makeup, a personal driver and her stay in a hotel.
After dishing out all that cash and Mena not showing up, the promoters had enough and wanted Mena out of the hotel room they paid for.
“Traci says the club is filled with at least 800 people, and Erica is nowhere to be found so she begins texting her manager again, and its now 1 am. Remember, Erica was contracted to be at the club from 12 am until 2 am.
At 1:10 am Erica texts them and informs them she is outside in the car, and is not coming inside until she is paid an additional $275 dollars. Yes, you read that correctly. Traci’s sister, goes to the car to pay Erica, and claims Erica was in a rage, yelling, and cursing, and making her demands for the money, advising she would not come inside until she received it.Traci’s sister gives Erica the money, and goes back inside the club to wait for Erica.
Traci says its 1:50 am at this point, and she then starts receiving more text messages from Erica, who is still in the parking lot saying she now wants $1,000 dollars or she is not coming inside. Traci says she was a nervous wreck, and her reputation as a promoter was on the line, so once again she gave into Erica’s demands, and Traci’s sister went outside to hand Erica the money. Now this is were things get cray cray. Traci’s sister claims when she went outside and approached the car, as SOON, I repeat, AS SOON as the money entered Erica’s hand the driver hits the gas throttle, and the car takes off!!!!! I’ll let you pause and let that sink in.
At this point Erica has received $1775 in cash. Traci frantically starts trying to contact the driver that she paid for through a transportation company, to try to find out what’s going on. The club closes at 2 am, and at this point people are leaving and she had to start giving refunds to a good portion of the club goers that had arrived to see Erica Mena.
They finally get a hold of the driver who informs them he was instructed to pull off, and he claimed Erica instructed him to take her to the hood because she wanted to quote “shoot her 1 and 2” unquote, saying she wanted to get high.
Traci arrives back at the hotel and says staff informed her that they overheard Erica saying ” I don’t like working with these black monkeys” saying, ” I don’t usually do business with these black monkeys” But Traci took it with a grain of salt, because she wasn’t sure if the staff was just trying to stir up more drama.
Traci says Erica then arrived at the hotel and starts making the racial slurs directly to her, and her staff’s face, calling them “black, broke, monkeys” and “f*cking monkeys” Traci says they then pulled out their phones and began video taping her, and that is when Erica changed her demeanor, but Traci says the police officers witnessed Erica’s racial tirade.
After informing the police what was happening, Traci says the police made Erica vacate the hotel room and leave the building.”
Talented and innovative artist, Jo’ Rodeo, releases his highly anticipated single “Billy” from his upcoming sophomore mixtape “Rodeo vs. Rodie”. Rodeo really standouts vocally on this track. While having a raucous and powerful voice, that he uses only when he wants to add more impact to what he’s saying, he also has a compelling way that he layers his voice even when he’s being blunt. From the ad libs to the addictive hook, Rodeo remains consistent in his flow. The beat, produced by Rio Mac, fits perfectly with Rodeo, which not only makes for a solid collaboration but it helps Rodeo take off in his verses.
Buggs Tha Rocka celebrates his third straight win for Hip Hop Artist of the year at City Beat’s 18th Annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards with the release of his visual Celebration For Us featuring Moxy Monster & OATW.
Buggs Tha Rocka’s new project “Scattered Thoughts Of An American Poet” is available for free download on Bandcamp.
Ludacris has been awarded full custody of his young daughter, Cai, a 13-month old child born to Tamika Fuller.