The Black Opera’s “Behold the Opera” is the latest single from their forthcoming album, ‘The Great Year'(out September 30 via Mello Music Group). The mysterious hip hop collective flexes its muscle with an onslaught of bars chock-full of poignant and razor sharp rhymes over a menacing backdrop driven by stiff high-hats, bass, and majestic operatic voice samples provided by yU (of Diamond District).
Hus Kingpin leaks a track from his forthcoming mixtape New York N***a In LA. “#TheWinners Firm Family” features vocals by The Firm’s Nature and Dr. Dre.
(AllHipHop Features) It could be argued that Harlem, New York is the epicenter of the current battle rap scene. The locale has birthed numerous top-tier performers in the culture including 112th St and St. Nicholas Ave’s T-Rex.
With over 20 on-camera match-ups throughout his career, Rex’s stat sheet features bouts against some of the best battlers in the world. This past summer the 29-year-old emcee/songwriter earned a title no other battle rapper can claim at the moment when he took out Cortez, Marv One, Big T, and Daylyt to win the first Total Slaughter tournament championship.
In the 6th edition of AllHipHop.com’s “Profiles In Battle Rap,” T-Rex shares which battle rap stars he wants to jump into the ring with next. He also reveals the one mainstream rapper he’d like to face, his favorite battles, top 5 DOA, and more.
Hometown
I’m from Harlem 112 Street, no fear.
Years Experience
I have 17 years doing this.
Style Known For (ie aggression, wordplay, punchlines, freestyle)
My style is aggressive punchlines and real lines you can relate to I call it. Grown man bars.
Crew
My crew is Dot Mob – Murda Mook, K-Shine, Daylyt, Tay Roc, Dan Bars, Real Deal, Chayna Ashley, Star Smilez.
Slogan
I have a few slogans: “Grown man bars”, “This n***a dead”, and “Get da n***a Rex”.
Leagues Competed In
The Street, Fight Klub, Hoodlife Ciphas, Smack DVD/URL, Grind Time, Battle America, Ahat, Ultimate Warrior, U-Dubb, Colorado Battle League, and I’m the first champion of Eminem’s Road To Total Slaughter reality show, and Snoop Dogg’s Gladiator School.
Mixtapes/Albums
8/30, Blood Of A Dinosaur, I Pitty Da Fool, Summer Time, and my new album called Pito Pops.
Favorite Battle (Participant)
My favorite is Me vs Aye Verb.
–
Favorite Battle (Non-Participant)
My second is Murda Mook vs Loaded Lux.
–
One Of Your All Time Hottest Lines
My hottest, I don’t know, but my favorite is – “Mook want 25K to kill a n***a ,that’s ill/ For 25K I’ll kill a n***a for real.”
Your Battle Rap Mount Rushmore
Me, Goodz, Murda Mook, Loaded Lux
One Mainstream Rapper You’d Like To Battle
Kendrick Lamar
Name One Battler You Think Could Possibly Beat You On Their Absolute A-Game:
Nobody can beat me.
Artists You’ve Worked With Musically
God bless the dead. R.I.P. Big L, R.I.P. Stack Bundles, DJ Webstar, Ron Browz, Jim Jones, Styles P, Remy Ma, Memphis Bleek, Young Chris, K-Slay
Your Battle Rap Hit List
Charlie Clips, X-Factor, Tsu Surf, and Hollow Da Don for now
Top 5 Emcees DOA
No order – Jay Z, Eminem, 2Pac, Nas, Jadakiss
Do You Prefer To Participate In A Debatable Battle Or A Clear Victory?
I rather have a debatable battle. It has more replay value, and that will bring the best out of you.
Where Do You See Battle Rap Going In The Future?
I see battle rap like UFC fighting. Once you watch it, you fall in love with it. I will pay anything to see it. I think it’s going to go real far. We will be in our own lane and able to feed our families real soon.
Follow T-Rex on Twitter @IHATETREX and Instagram @theyhatetrex.
Read other “Profiles In Battle Rap” articles here.
What other battle rappers would you like to see featured in AHH’s “Profiles In Battle Rap” series? Share your picks in the comments section below.
This one is kinda strange but word is Nick Cannon will now be managing none other than…
Amber Rose’s modeling and singing career.
PageSix reports:
“We hear the “America’s Got Talent” host, who is splitting with wife Mariah Carey, is going to manage the model/video girl through his company, NCredible Entertainment.
We’re told Rose, who was once signed to Ford Models and recorded a single in 2012, but is perhaps better known for her choice of minimal outfits (and eye-popping curves), flew to New York to take a meeting with the multifaceted Cannon today.
But Cannon and Rose’s relationship is strictly business — Rose, who is Kanye West’s ex-girlfriend, is now married with a kid to rapper Wiz Khalifa.”
That’s a win for Cannon. Wonder what Mariah Carey thinks…?
The internet slandered Momma Dee to the point of no return with all kinds of memes and tweets when video surfaced of her performing live and her flipper came tumbling down.
Momma Dee deserved a new smile and Married to the Medicine’s Dr. Heavenly gave her just that:
Now the slander can end. Although the #wegonthankJesus tag is a little shady if you ask me…
Just as one of of The Lost Voices was to conduct an interview with AllHipHop, he was arrested by the police, seemingly a move just to jostle the young man’s life. He was released shortly after activists, lawyers and others assembled to get him out.
Despite what the somnolent masses may believe, the embers in the hotbed of Ferguson, MO have yet to cool down. Much of the media is long gone, as busy journalists have fulfilled their assignments and have moved on to the next salacious story. The tanks and militarized police have rolled back, but the battle continues.
The Lost Voices understand this all too well.
The Lost Voices are a rambunctious, political collective that has set up an encampment outside in close proximity to where Mike Brown was slain in August by officer Darren Wilson. Comprised primarily of 10 young people, their goal is to activate their comrades and also turn up for Mike Brown, who could have easily been one of them that Wilson killed in the street. Committed to sleeping outside is no easy task, especially when you have a local government of dense oozes corruption and misconduct. And yet, the Lost Voices understand that they are not alone, connecting revolutionary dots with Organization For Black Struggle (OBS), Black Lives Matter, the ACLU and and a resolute conclave of activists and organizers. They’ve even linked up with drug dealer-turned-activist Freeway Ricky Ross and found inspiration in J. Cole, who visited Ferguson during the uprising.
AllHipHop’s CEO Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur talked to one of the leaders in the Lost Voices, Travis, after their voices started a previous feature story on Ferguson and Mike Brown . (Click here to read “Ferguson’s Struggle: No Games, The Spirit Of Tupac And A Divided Movement”) The 19-year-old conveyed their struggles, woes and emotional terrorism taking place in the Ferguson area, which is truly a microcosm of conduct all across America . More importantly, Travis reveals how the Lost Voices are slowly being found by inserting themselves in the systemic revolution taking place in 2014.
AllHipHop.com: Hey Travis..how are you doing? I heard you had some recent issues with the police?
Travis: Yesterday, I was locked up. I guess I had too much swag in my walk. They got me for “manner of walking” and “obstructing traffic.”
AllHipHop.com: I never heard of a charge like manner of walking. Wow. That’s hard to conceptualize. If they want you, they will find a way. How are you guys holding up aside from the most recent things that have happened?
Travis: We’re holding up pretty good. Right now, we just found a new camp site. And we’re setting up our business. We just got our LLC and getting our tax ID and everything like that squared away.
AllHipHop.com: First of all, how many of you live in the encampment?
Travis: There are 10.
AllHipHop.com: Explain to me, in your own words, what you are doing and what you want to accomplish. A lot of people have not heard of the Lost Voices and want to know.
Travis: What we are about is the youth. The oldest of us is 43. We range from the old to the young and who’s not born yet. We’re just trying to get everybody’s awareness about getting their rights down and being educated about their rights. And, knowing that you don’t have to stand and let the Mike Brown case occur again. We’re trying to end that and bring awareness in our community.
AllHipHop.com: You had to move your camp. Is that due to the police or something else, like the business where you were staying.
Travis: There’s some issue with that. Originally, we was at the Red’s BBQ place, which is like a couple blocks down. They told us we could set up a place to get people to vote – register to vote, but then they changed their mind. Its been a wishy washy thing with them. And then they said they would get the police involved and the lawyers and all that. So, we decided for ourselves to go ahead and move before there are any problems. I guess, later on that night, we had problems because I got arrested. They don’t like what we’re doing I guess.
ALSO READ: Ferguson’s Struggle: No Games, The Spirit Of Tupac And A Divided Movement”
AllHipHop.com: I guess maybe the restaurant wasn’t interested in having that political portion…
Travis: Yeah.
AllHipHop.com: Where are you guys moving now?
Travis: We’re at the old Ponderosa restaurant.
AllHipHop.com: They are willing to let you all stay there with no issues?
Travis: Actually, we’re trying to find out who owns it, and the building. Until that comes up, we’re not going to worry about that. We have a P.O. Box and a bank account set up to accept donations.
AllHipHop.com: You guys have made an impression. There’s always this reoccurring criticism of young people, that they lack intestinal fortitude when it comes to political engagement. Where do you guys fall into this new form of leadership?
Travis: This was the spur of the moment. We didn’t really see the vision of us growing like this, but to see all the support we’re getting. And realizing….I’ma tell you this too: we were all complete strangers. We didn’t know each other from a can of paint. We took up the position of being leaders to organize ourselves. That’s just great thing that happened, being complete strangers and getting to know one another. Especially in St. Louis. The Mike Brown case, I mean the Mike Brown death…he was the inspiration for us to come together. I can say this. We love J. Cole. He was a part of it. And, NWA was a part of it too. Keeping that attitude.
AllHipHop.com: I saw some video. You guys really get it poppin…
Travis: Yes, sir. I’ll tell you this too. Every time we get on the street, its like a straight concert. And that’s how we get connected to the youth, having some sort of concert for them. So they can have fun and not have to worry bout the extra bulls**t we are going through. That would be like the most treating thing.
AllHipHop.com: New York and New Jersey, where we are, have their issues with police brutality, but the uprising in Ferguson was a completely different thing. What’s it like being a young person in that area? Is this normal? Was Mike Brown a special instance?
RELATED: Live From Ferguson: AllHipHop Gets The Ferguson People’s Side Of The Story
Travis: The Mike Brown situation…that was captured. It was a captured moment, a police killing a young man. I’m sure they’ve killed others the same, but in this instance, it was no longer going to happen again. This could have been me or my twin brother. Like what the f**k? You get antagonized by the police and they are supposed to protect and serve you. And then they wonder why they are being disrespected. They have a distinct attitude about young black men and how they approach us. I’m probably not making any sense right now. But, every time I come around the police, I get nervous. I shouldn’t feel like that every damn time.
AllHipHop.com: There’s a lot of studies about that. Racism is a mental thing. It wears you down, it stresses you out and creates ailments. The actual presence, the intimidation – if you want to call it that. People don’t talk about that much. What would you guys say is your goal? You have a company now.
Travis: The goal of the company is to get the word out. We are speaking for the people. Straight up. For the youth to stand up. That’s a monumental thing. We’re making history now. We want to make people aware of our rights. And voting. Its so important. I had a couple people to get to vote and they didn’t want to, because they didn’t know the elected officials. That’s a f**kin’ problem. Point blank. That’s a big thing that’s got to change. We’ve got strength in numbers.
AllHipHop.com: The population there is mostly Black. It seems like you guys would have an easy time voting in who you want to, or getting somebody in that represents what you want.
Travis: And we have two female Black Senators come to us. Maria (Chappelle-Nadal) and she spent the night with us. That’s the most important thing. We (the youth) don’t trust authority.
AllHipHop.com: The cameras have died down now and the media is not as prominent. What’s it like now? How is the fight carrying on with less media present?
Travis: Its very strong. A lot of the media have left. The Lost Voices haven’t. We’re growing each day in numbers. I’m telling you right now: the passion has not left. The media have gone. We haven’t left until we have justice.
AllHipHop.com: When you talk about justice. A lot of people fight for justice, they want to do it when its easy or don’t have a concept of how long it takes to actually achieve justice. What keeps you motivated, especially with the militarized police.
Travis: I can tell you now. We don’t give a rat’s ass about a tank coming up at us. What was normal was not normal. Us just standing by was not normal. This is normal right now. All of us have gotten together. We’re like a big family. We gotta start someplace. And you gottta teach the children the right way.
AllHipHop.com: Did you know the average member of the Black Panther Party was about the same age as you are? How do you feel about that? A lot of people these days look at leaders as older people, you know Al Sharpton…
Travis: And that’s something that has to change! Like, old young…it doesn’t matter how old you are. You have to have the mindset. We all have the mindset to be leaders. We have grown to be leaders..young leaders. I have never seen so many people with so much passion. You have some that are Bloods and some that are Crips. It doesn’t matter. We came together. That’s the most important thing.
ALSO READ: Rebel Diaz Gives Insight On What’s Really Happening In Ferguson
AllHipHop.com: This is AllHipHop…I gotta ask: Are a any of you going to start rapping?
Travis: [Laughs] Of course. We have a couple of rappers. One’s name is Dante and the other’s name is Low-Key. Just wait on that. Lost Voices.
AllHipHop.com: Even though its kind of cliche, Hip-Hop a big way to get the way to get the word out. There’s nothing like Hip-Hop.
Travis: Yeah!
AllHipHop.com: Did you have anything else you wanted to say?
Travis: Until we have freedom we can never have peace. Until we have our freedom, we can never have peace. We have to get our freedom to get our peace.
All images from Facebook
(AllHipHop News) K. Michelle has no chill when it comes to voicing her opinions of fellow female artists Elle Varner and Lil Kim. The Tennessee native visited The Breakfast Club and went in on the two ladies.
When asked what happened between her and former friend Varner, Michelle explained that she and “curly head” had a falling out over comments Michelle made about Varner’s ex-boyfriend Iman Shumpert. Michelle then implied Varner tried to steal her persona.
[ALSO READ: Elle Varner Addresses K. Michelle Feud]
“I was in her ear when she was going through it with Iman like, ‘f**k him’. She wanted to start saying ‘f**k you.’ I was like, ‘this is not you’,” said Michelle. “Next thing, I look up and she’s on couches, turning up going ham on people. I’m like whoa.. Even management was like whoa, the blond wigs.”
Michelle added that she felt Varner stole her sound on a particular record as well. She said, “I’m the only b***h yodeling in these hooks. You can’t do this.”
The former Love and Hip Hop Atlanta star even got new management after the incident, feeling the reps showed favoritism toward fellow client Varner.
When it came to the Queen Bee, Michelle started by saying, “I’m not studyin’ that lady.” Kim’s fans took offense to Michelle referring to Nicki Minaj as “The Queen Of Rap” on Twitter during MTV’s Video Music Awards.
Michelle responded by tweeting, “f**k Lil Kim’s fans” which brought a response from Kim on Twitter. According to the perfomer, if Kim felt some type of way about the tweets the Brooklyn femcee should have called her directly.
“B**h trying to get a VMA moment. Neither one of us was there, motherfu**er. At least I’m in the studio working,” said Michelle. “You been in the game. You could of at least been a guest.”
Michelle did state she views Lil Kim as a legend and looks up to her accomplishments in the industry, but she does not understand why the Hard Core rapper would address her on social media and not via phone.
“Why would you go and talk to me on Twitter? Cause you wanna keep them three fans you got,” said Michelle. “You could’ve been a woman and texted me.”
[ALSO READ: Hip Hop Rumors: Lil Kim Vs. K. Michelle?]
Watch K. Michelle’s interview below.
Detroit rapper Icewear Vezzo releases a hood anthem as his first single, “Take A Picture” off his forthcoming mixtape “Solitaires” Drank God hosted by Adrian Swish, DJ BJ3525, & DJ Outta Space. The project will drop on his birthday Oct 31st.
(AllHipHop News) The Notorious B.I.G’s classic debut album Ready To Die is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. One of Biggie’s hottest singles at the time was “One More Chance (Remix)” which featured vocals by Mary J. Blige. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul spoke with Revolt about the chart topping rap song.
[ALSO READ: Mary J. Blige Announces New Album ‘Mary J. Blige: The London Sessions’]
“‘One More Chance’ the remix came about through Puffy [Combs] just saying, ‘I need you to come down here and get on this Big song,'” recalls Blige. “[I said, ‘Whatever.’ We were all family. He if called… I’m coming down.”
Blige also reflected on Ready To Die as a complete album. According to the Grammy-winning singer, she knew the project was something special from the very beginning.
“When I first heard Ready to Die, I was like, ‘This kid Biggie, he’s special’,” said Mary. “Because he was saying how a lot of us were feeling at the time. A lot of us were feeling like, ‘I don’t know if I want to live through all of this.’ He was speaking to us, but he was also helping us to see that we probably shouldn’t be ready to die.”
[ALSO READ: Lil Kim Shares Favorite ‘Ready to Die’ Memory With B.I.G.]
Watch Mary J. Blige’s interview below.
We got an earful when the world got to hear Trina’s new track, F*** Love, which we all ASSUMED was geared toward former boyfriend French Montana and his new boo Khloe Kardashian.
Trina took to Twitter to clear up rumors and set the record straight about the song.
Photo Cred: Bossip
Do you believe Trina? Or do you still think she was taking shots?
(AllHipHop News) Kanye West found himself in the middle of another controversy this week when the G.O.O.D. Music boss told two fans in wheelchairs to stand up at a recent concert in Australia. Kanye apparently refused to continue his show until he had confirmation the concert goers were really handicapped.
[ALSO READ: Hip-Hop Rumors: Kanye West Yells At Handicapped Man To Stand Up!]
Ye later came out and blamed the media for over blowing the situation, and he told the press to “pick a new target.” West’s wife Kim Kardashian defended her husband on Instagram and accused the media of twisting things as well.
Now a member of the media has written an open letter to Kanye about the wheelchair incident. Huffington Post contributor and stroke survivor Harshada Rajani penned a post titled “Open Letter to Kanye West, From a Kid Who Gets ‘Special Parking and S**t.”
Read Rajani’s open letter below.
To the esteemed Kanye West:
I wanted to sincerely thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the strength and character you showed at your concert in Sydney. You are a consummate performer who just needed to put those lazy, unappreciative fans in their place. You are an intelligent man so you obviously deserved to ask them for proof of their alleged disability. I mean who wouldn’t call a security detail on the delinquent concert-goers to verify their disability status?
As you and your wife attest, this is just a catastrophe created by the media. They have pretty much outlined exactly what happened verbatim, and truthfully portrayed your pompous attitude in all its glory, but I know they somehow made this all up. Your unabashed offensiveness victimized two people, but clearly, you are the victim in all of this! Like you said, you are just a target; you did nothing wrong! There is no video that clearly shows you totally humiliating and patronizing two of your loyal fans, while a whole entire stadium laughs at and taunts them. Oh wait…there are numerous videos that show exactly that. In fact, media outlets like E! News and MTV News have euphemistically portrayed this as an “awkward moment” or “misunderstanding.” So wait, the media has actually been much nicer to you than the ugly truth of the video. Mr. West, with all due respect, I don’t think this argument is working anymore.
Let me try another angle. When those two fans refused to stand up for one of your earth-shattering, mind-blowing performances, they gave up their human right to be treated with respect — who cares if they physically couldn’t stand. I mean you did show in your attitude and the fans’ reactions in the video that people who are in wheelchairs and “get special parking and s**t” are definitely things to laugh and joke about. Yes, you singled out and publicly shamed those two people in front of the entire world solely based on their outward appearance. You probably discriminated against those people more than you’ve ever been discriminated against in your entire life, but who cares, right? If it was discrimination based on race or ethnicity, you would definitely apologize. But do you care about the feelings of the over three million Americans in wheelchairs whose hearts hurt after seeing that video? No! Disabled people obviously don’t deserve to be treated with an equal amount of respect and dignity as your able-bodied fans. Thank you so much for showing us this unforgettable lesson, and for using your voice to spread this poisonous insensitivity to the world! No one man should have all that power, but unfortunately, you do.
By the way, I’m in a wheelchair and though I can stand, I wouldn’t waste even half a breath of energy standing up for you.
Sincerely,
Harshada Rajani
p.s. Apologize. A generous donation to the disability charity of your choice will be expected at your earliest convenience.
[ALSO READ: Tony Williams Says Kanye West Is Attempting To Make The Next “Thriller” (POLL)]
What do we have here? Just a day or so ago, I was told that Ab Soul wanted to create Detox for the good Doctor Dre with the whole TDE crew! BUT….DR. DRE IS WORKING ON ANOTHER ALBUM!
I can’t process it.
RELATED: Dr. Dre Scrapped “Detox” Title For Next Album
Its like somebody died and came back to life! The new album won’t be called Detox, but something else – and he’s working on it. The crazy thing is…can it happen? Does Hip-Hop still want an album from Dr. Dre? We all thought he was chillin’ sittin’ on half a billion
Take the poll…
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(AllHipHop News) Note to producers who want to work with Nicki Minaj, don’t speak about any music you work on with her before she does. Eric Bellinger learned that lesson recently when the singer-songwriter publicly discussed Nicki’s “Anaconda” prior to its release.
[ALSO READ: Producer Eric Bellinger Gives A Hint On What To Expect From Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda”]
Bellinger stated that he worked with Polow da Don and Da Internz to craft the track, but Nicki apparently tweeted (then deleted), “There are only 2 producers on #Anaconda ~ Polow Da Don & Da Internz. No one else should be out here doing interviews about it. #ThirstyAss.”
That message from the Young Money rapper did not sit well with Bellinger. In an interview with XXL, he expressed his belief it was unfair for Nicki to deny his contribution to the hit song.
Bellinger said:
I’m never gonna try to take credit for something I didn’t do so for her to be angry that I spoke on it is one thing, but for her to try to take my credit away for being there from the night before ‘til the sunrise, I definitely don’t think that’s fair. I was upset at first but now I look at it like whatever’s meant to be will be. I’m not trippin’. I got so many other songs coming out, it’s like, OK cool, you wanna trip? God got me.
[ALSO READ: Nicki Minaj Says She Has Grown As A Writer On “The Pinkprint” Album]
(AllHipHop News) Rick Ross apparently had some issues with where he’s been placed on Forbes annual Hip Hop Cash Kings List. In five years, the Maybach Music Group leader has never cracked the top ten of the magazine’s highest earning rappers in the game.
[ALSO READ: Diddy, Jay Z & Nicki Minaj Make Top 5 Of Forbes Cash Kings List]
Rozay spoke with Forbes’ Zack O’Malley Greenburg to offer his thoughts on the coveted list.
“I’m always top five. That’s in my mind,” Ross said. “The beauty of the Forbes list is that it excites the streets. It gives people an idea of what’s going on financially. It inspires the youngsters.”
When Greenburg asked the Miami native for more information about his concert appearances that would support his claim he should be among Diddy, Jay Z, and Dr. Dre at the top of the Cash Kings List, Ross replied, “I’m just giving you my guess. I don’t got no facts.”
Ross adds he feels fortunate to be “associated with success” and a brand such as Forbes. The Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings List 2014 will be revealed next week.
[ALSO CHECK OUT: Rick Ross Ft Project Pat “Elvis Presley Blvd”]
Watch Rick Ross’ interview below.
(AllHipHop News) While in the middle of a sex tape controversy involving her ex-boyfriend Hefe Wine, “Fancy” rapper Iggy Azalea has filed a lawsuit against him. The complaint is not about the alleged sexual footage Wine wants to sell. Iggy claims her former lover/producer stole music off her computer.
[ALSO READ: Iggy Azalea Reps Say Alleged Sex Tape Could Be Hers]
According to TMZ, Iggy says Wine unlawfully downloaded material from her laptop in 2009 when the two were living together in Atlanta. Wine had threatened to release an EP of Iggy’s previously recorded tracks that he states would “shock the world.”
Iggy is suing Wine to prevent the EP from coming out on the grounds the project was created from the music stolen from her computer. Iggy also refutes she signed a contract with Wine that gave him permission to release her work. She calls the document a forgery.
The Island Records artist has also threatened to sue the p### company Vivid Entertainment over attempting to purchase and distribute her apparent sex tape with Wine. According to reports, Wine is still planning to release the footage.
[ALSO READ: Hip-Hop Rumors: Iggy Azalea Ex-Boyfriend Will Release Sex Video]
(AllHipHop News) In part three of Noisey’s “Back & Forth” interview with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, the two Def Jam founders discussed one of the label’s iconic acts – Public Enemy. Simmons offered high praise for the legendary rap group.
[ALSO READ: Rick Ross, Method Man, Foxy Brown + More Performing At Def Jam 30th Anniversary Concert]
“Public Enemy changed everything about Black America. They made [Louis] Farrakhan popular,” said Simmons. “They helped make the Million Man March. They put red, black, and green s**t around n***as’ necks instead of chains. They did everything. They were amazing.”
Public Enemy made an undeniable mark on Hip Hop and mainstream culture. Albums like 1988’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and 1990’s Fear of a Black Planet are considered some of the greatest rap LPs ever created.
“After months, finally they came in and they said, ‘Okay, we’re ready to do this, but it’s not Chuck D. It’s Public Enemy. The Hip Hop version of The Clash,” explained Rubin about the roll out of P.E. to the public. “Here’s Professor Griff. Here’s Flavor Flav. Here’s Hank. Here’s The Bomb Squad. We’re going to have the S1W’s. They had the whole thing planned out. And I said anything you want to do.”
[ALSO READ: Chuck D Shares A Letter He Received From 2Pac]
Watch Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin’s interview below.
(AllHipHop News) All the running jokes that Dr. Dre’s album Detox is never coming out appear to be completely factual. According to Aftermath producer Dawaun Parker, Dre changed the name of his next album years ago.
[ALSO READ: Eminem Brings Out Dr. Dre At Wembley Stadium Concert (VIDEO)]
“Here’s the thing that a lot of people don’t know… at one point a couple of years ago – and I’m only saying this because [R&B singer] Marsha Ambrosius revealed more – that the album [Dre’s] working on is not called ‘Detox’,” said Parker. “He scrapped ‘Detox’ a couple of years ago, and came up with another title. I won’t say what the title is cause I haven’t seen that online or anything yet.”
[ALSO READ: Rakim Wants To Make Another “The Watcher” With Dr. Dre & Jay Z (VIDEO)]
Watch Dawaun Parker’s interview with Jeff Weiss and MC Nocando’s Shots Fired podcast below.
(AllHipHop News) West Coast Hip Hop legend DJ Quik is set to drop his ninth studio album The Midnight Life next month. The project is being released via his own Mad Science label in conjunction with INgrooves Music Group.
[ALSO CHECK OUT: DJ Quik ft. David Blake & Bishop Lamont – “Trapped On The Track”]
“This album is my ode to having fun in the midnight hour,” says Quik. “That’s the best time for making music in my opinion. It’s quiet, especially if you’re in a recording studio. You can hear everything and you know everybody’s asleep. You can sneak and do your best work.”
Fans that pre-order the album now on iTunes get the free track “That Getter” featuring Quik’s son David Blake. Early purchasers will then receive “Pet Semetary” on September 30. The Midnight Life also features appearances by El Debarge, Bishop Lamont, Suga Free, Dom Kennedy, Mack 10, and more.
“Musically, this album is a bulls-eye for me,” adds the Compton representative. “Can’t nobody tell me different because I’ve seen it give people chills. I’ve seen it make people happy, smile, drink, party, dance, ask for it on repeat. This album is for people who like to have fun.”
Quik will be performing on the Murs 316 Stage at L.A.’s Sunset Strip Music Festival this Sunday. The Midnight Life is scheduled for release on October 14. Pre-order is available now on iTunes.
[ALSO READ: DJ Skee’s DASH Radio To Live Stream The MURS 316 Stage At Sunset Strip Music Festival 2014]
Check out the cover art and tracklist for DJ Quik’s The Midnight Life below.
1. Intro
2. That N****r’s Crazy (D. Blake)
3. Back That S### Up feat. Tay F 3rd & David Blake II (D. Blake, D. Kim, D. Blake II)
4. Trapped On The Tracks feat. Bishop Lamont & David Blake II (D. Blake, P. Martin, D. Blake II)
5. El’s Interlude 2 (D. Blake, E. Debarge)
6. Puffin The Dragon (D. Blake)
7. Pet Semetary (D. Blake)
8. Life Jacket feat. Suga Free & Dom Kennedy (D. Blake, D. Walker, D. Hunn)
9. That Getter feat. David Blake (D. Blake, D. Blake II)
10. The Conduct feat. Mack 10 (D. Blake, D. Rolison)
11. Shine feat. David Blake (D. Blake, D. Blake II)
12. Bacon’s Groove feat. Rob “Fonksta” Bacon (D. Blake, R. Bacon, Jr.)
13. Broken Down feat. Suga Free & Tweed Cadillac (D. Blake, D. Walker, C. Brown)
14. Why’d You Have To Lie feat. Joi (D. Blake, J. Gilliam)
15. F**k All Night (D. Blake)
(AllHipHop News) Two veteran Hip Hop stars recently loss close family members. Common’s father Lonnie “Pops” Lynn passed away, and 50 Cent’s grandmother Beluah Jackson died.
[ALSO READ: Snoop Dogg, Common, Jay Electronica, Bobby Shmurda & More To Perform At BET Hip Hop Awards]
Both Lynn and Jackson played significant roles in the lives and songs of their musical loved ones. Lynn appeared on several of Common’s albums including Resurrection‘s “Pop’s Rap” and The Dreamer/The Believer‘s “Pops Belief.” Jackson was the subject of 50’s verses on songs like “Talk About Me” off the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ film soundtrack.
[ALSO READ: G-Unit Announces 2nd EP “The Beast Is G-Unit”; 50 Cent Explains Why Game Was Left Out]
Listen to Common’s “Pops Belief” featuring Lonnie “Pops” Lynn and 50 Cent’s “Talk About Me” below.
Schoolboy Q decides it’s time to release some new material and drops a new verse over Disclosure and Sam Smith’s latest joint “Latch”. Hopefully this is a sign for a new project from Q soon.