(AllHipHop News) There’s East Coast vs West Coast then there’s U.S.A vs. Cuba. Over a year after Jay Z and Beyonce’s trip to Cuba sprouted controversy, U.S. government officials have declared the trip not in violation of the U.S.-Cuba embargo.
Back in April 2013, Jay Z and Beyonce spent their fifth wedding anniversary in Havana, Cuba as part of a “cultural trip” licensed by the Treasury Department, according to organizers of the trip. After a review by the Treasury Department, the trip was deemed was no in any violation, according to he Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General yesterday (August 20th):
We found no indication that U.S. sanctions were violated, and we concluded that the … decision not to pursue a formal investigation was reasonable
The U.S-Cuban embargo began back in 1960 and places restrictions on imports from Cuba as well as traveling from America citizens. The Carters’ trip was described as a “people-to-people” cultural visit which included visits with Cuban artists, nightclubs and privately run restaurants.
A week after the early April 2013 trip, Jay Z responded to criticism over the Cuba visit on his song “Open Letter”. On the song Jay Z rapped: “I’m in Cuba, I love Cubans/This Communist talk is so confusing.
(AllHipHop News) Rappers have become wrestlers, actors and now graphic novelists. Today (August 21st), DMC announces the creation of his independent publishing house Daryl Makes Comics and announces an upcoming novel.
DMC #1 will be the first release from the new publishing house and features a superhero named DMC whom “dons his tracksuit and Adidas sneakers to defend the city’s marginalized citizens against super villain and super hero alike” according to the press release. Comic books have been a large part of DMC’s life for decades and he attributes one particular comic book character with helping shape his confidence during Run DMC’s early days:
When Run came to me the first time and said ‘Yo, we’re putting you in the group,’ I was a nervous little nerdy kid. I didn’t want to get up in front of y’all and rhyme but then what gave me confidence, out there on stage was pretending that I was the Hulk on the microphone.
The story was created by DMC, along with Damian Scott and Ronald Wimberly. DMC believes that this novel is simply an extension of Hip Hop’s tradition of creative diversity:
Hip hop was always based on creativity. So what we’re trying to do with this comic book is not trying to create anything that’s new; we’re just going to show the world what’s already there… the beauty and the creativity of it.
The novel is set to be released October 29th, however attendees at the New York Comic Con event will get an advance look. The New York Comic Con event is scheduled to take place from October 9th until October 12th at the Javits Center in New York City.
(AllHipHop News) Talib trying to keep the minds awoken, apparently, unlike CNN. During an interview on CNN with host Don Lemon, Kweli engaged in a passionate diatribe over alleged misrepresentation of the facts in the Ferguson protests by CNN.
Kweli took particular issue with an article on CNN.com entitled “Ferguson streets were calm until bottles fly” from this past Tuesday (August 19th). According to Kweli, his eyewitness account of the event varies drastically from CNN’s report:
What I saw with my own eyes..and I was there on the ground. That’s not what happened. The CNN report on your website says it chased young men down. No, it chased men, women AND children down. The CNN report, the title says ‘calm until bottles fly.’ They don’t mention bottles in the article. In the article you read 5 pages, there’s no mention of the bottles flying. I saw the bottles fly. You know when bottle flew, after the cops told me they’d blow my effing head off.
The conversation turned personal when Don Lemon interrupted Kweli during his speech. Kweli quickly informed the host that he did not have respect for the 15 year veteran MC and exhibited such disrespect prior to the interview going live:
You didn’t invite me, Nicole invited me. First of all, you didn’t say nothing to me. You on your phone the whole time. You ask how to pronounce my name. You have no respect for who I am.
Check out Talib Kweli’s full interview on CNN below:
(AllHipHop News) New York emcee Talib Kweli was being interviewed by CNN’s Don Lemon, but the exchange quickly turned sour. As Kweli attempted to criticize CNN’s coverage of the protests in Ferguson, Missouri, Lemon tried to cut him off by asking another question.
From there Kweli asked Lemon to allow him to finish his thought. The two then went back-and-forth with the Black Star rapper calling Lemon out for what he saw as being rude before the interview even began.
“I would listen to you if you had the decency to greet me,” said Kweli. “You didn’t even invite me. Nicole invited me. You didn’t even say nothing to me. You were on your phone the whole time. You asked how to pronounce my name. You don’t have respect for who I am.”
According to Kweli, an article on CNN.com inaccurately described one particular incident in Ferguson. Apparently, the site claimed bottles being thrown caused police action and men were being chased by the cops. Talib says he was at that scene, and he claims the police escalation led to the bottle throwing and the officers were actually chasing men, women, and children.
The two did end the segment on what seemed like good terms.
Compton rapper AD returns with a socially conscious new track, “PIA (Pigs In America)”. The record is fueled by the recent tragedy involving the unarmed shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and sheds light on the police brutality and excessive force tactics, used by police officers across America.
(AllHipHop Features) In part two of AllHipHop.com’s exclusive interview with Statik Selektah, the production maestro reveals some of the upcoming projects that may feature his work.
Besides Joey Bada$$ and Action Bronson’s respective albums, fans could hear the Statik Selektah drop on songs by 50 Cent and Q-Tip in the near future as well.
Statik also shares some of the fellow producers he is checking for at the moment and the five tracks from his own catalog that stand out for him. He also talks about hooking up with Major League Baseball and why a track he possesses with A Tribe Called Quest and Consequence will never see the light of day.
I read you have a track with A Tribe Called Quest and Consequence in the stash. Do you think you’ll ever drop that?
No. Just the way that Consequence and Tribe happened to fall out, I want nothing to do with that. Q-Tip’s a really good friend of mine. I would never disrespect that. I don’t rock with Cons no more like that, so it is what it is. I’ll let that stay in the stash.
Are you working with Q-Tip on his album?
I’ve been in his sessions. I’ve definitely did some scratches, and I played him some beats. I’m not going to lie, I ain’t been to his crib in a couple of months. But I’m definitely going to be involved.
We’ve definitely sat down a lot of times and talked about the album. I just don’t know where he’s at creatively on the album yet. I’ve heard a couple of songs that were really, really dope, but I’m not sure where he’s at right now.
How did that MLB All-Star remix come together?
I bumped into some dudes from Major League Baseball I think at the Action Bronson show at Irving Plaza. One guy said, “It would be real dope if we could work one day. I do MLB Network, and they need to put something with baseball sounds.”
I said, “That’s easy.” I think from the beginning the idea was to do the All-Star break anyway, so it worked out on time. But it was in the works for a while.
[mlbvideo id=”34576353″ width=”600″ height=”400″ /]
Who are some of your favorite producers out now?
Definitely Jake One. There’s this kid named AntMan Wonder that’s really dope. He’s not really out there like that, but I think he’s going to make a really big impact. He works with Justice League and myself. Whenever we need a sample replay he does it, but he also does his own beats.
You know my man Kirk Knight from Pro Era. I think !llmind gets me the most excited when I hear some new music. The kid Theophilus London, he’s dope.
If you had to pick five quintessential Statik Selektah tracks, which ones would you choose?
Probably “For The City” by Jadakiss and M.O.P. that I did. “Stop, Look, Listen” which is featuring Q-Tip, Styles P, and Termanology. Definitely “Bird’s Eye View” with Joey Bada$$, Raekwon, and Black Thought. I would say “Carry On” off the new album featuring Joey and Freddie Gibbs. And “So Close, So Far” with Bun B and Wale.
Have you done any production for other artists outside of What Goes Around and the Joey Bada$$ project that we can expect from you in the near future?
Action Bronson’s album. The Underachievers’ album. I’m on that, and that’s kind of a different style beat for me. I’ve been really invested in Action and Joey’s albums. A lot of it is on there.
My artist Ea$y Money is dropping real soon. I’m executive producing that. There’s a lot of people on there – 9th Wonder. I definitely produced a lot of that. Me and Jared Evan are dropping another R&B project. I got a lot s**t coming out.
I just did a joint with Brother Ali. I heard 50 is writing a couple of joints. We’ll see what happens with that.
For Street King Immortal?
I don’t even know what it’s for. I just know I’ve been dealing with his A&R, and they picked a couple [of beats]. He said he was writing.
DJ Statik Selektah
Download Statik Selektah’s new album What Goes Around via iTunes.
(AllHipHop News) Chevy Woods is coming straight out of Gangland with a few solutions to the recent uprisings in Ferguson, M.O. following Michael Brown’s tragic death. In the FIRST PART of our EXCLUSIVE interview with Woods, the Taylor Gang co-founder speaks on how his experience with the police is similar to that of Michael Brown, how he’d handle protests if he was President and more backstage at his show at Grammercy Theatre last night (August 20th).
The population of Woods’ home city, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania is roughly 26% African American with over 60% of the population being White. On November 11th, 2012, unarmed African American teenager Leon Ford Jr. was shot and paralyzed by Pittsburg police with no weapon recovered after police confronted the man in his car over suspicions of gun possession. According to Woods, the experience of police brutality exhibited in Michael Brown’s shooting is one he is all too familiar with:
Same thing. I mean, I’m just going to be honest. It’s usually not too many Black officers that are coming to the neighborhood like ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ It’s harassment and slavery still and all of that stuff still. It’s still going on. It might be hidden a little bit but for something like this to happen, or something like that to happen, you see it. Now it’s on world news. It’s right in your face.
A major criticism of the handling of the Ferguson, M.O. riots and protests has been Gov. Jay Nixon ordering National Guard soldiers and military police in Ferguson this Monday (August 18th). If Chevy Woods was the President of the United States, that would have been vetoed after assessment of the crisis:
Some things will die down. If somebody loot a store, you can take everything out of there but then what you going to do next? It’s just like I wouldn’t send no army out there. That’s all. I would’ve just handled it with whatever the local police or state troopers, whatever that is. Just to make it like a warzone was totally out of order to me.
Check out the FIRST PART of AllHipHop’s EXCLUSIVE interview with Taylor Gang’s Chevy Woods below:
(AllHipHop News) Floyd Mayweather Jr. has engaged in more feuds with rappers than actual rappers in 2014. During a recent interview, the world’s highest paid athlete compares his relevancy to rappers such as T.I., 50 Cent and Nelly.
Since T.I. and Floyd Mayweather Jr. physical altercation in Las Vegas during Memorial Day weekend, the two have exchanged disparaging remarks centered around an alleged relationship between Mayweather and T.I.’s wife, Tiny.
During that time, Mayweather Jr engaged in a back-and-forth spat with Nelly stemming from Nelly dating Mayweather’s former fianceé Shantel Jackson. As usual, 50 Cent has provided numerous video commentary on his personal Instagram about both incidents, all of which has led Mayweather Jr to a realization about his own relevancy:
What’s so crazy is this: You know, when people are not relevant, and they’re not moving units like they were once moving … you’ve got to realize, I’ve been relevant for 18 years.
Mayweather later states “hip-hop artists, they come and go” and separates himself from Hip Hop artists by reiterating his bankability. Mayweather’s September 2013 fight with Canelo Alvarez broke the record for highest PPV revenue in the sport’s history at $150 million.
50 Cent took exception to the news and released a few videos on his personal Instagram account. In one of the videos, 50 alleges that Nelly slept with Melissa Brim, the mother of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s daughter, Ayanna.
Check out Floyd Mayweather Jr say Hip Hop artist come and go as well as 50 Cent’s responses below:
(AllHipHop News) Killer Mike and El-P are officially reuniting for a sequel to last year’s Run The Jewels album. RTJ2 is set to drop October 28 via Mass Appeal Records. The pair will also head out on a North American tour to support the LP.
“We are very excited to bring you the next chapter of Run The Jewels via the good folks at Mass Appeal,” states El-P. “We can make no promises about the safety of any animals involved in the creation of this record.”
The project will feature guests appearance by Rage Against The Machine’s Zack de la Rocha, Blink-182’s Travis Barker, and more. Run The Jewels 2 will be available on several formats including free download, CD, LP, and digital.
“It is the best rap group album since RTJ1!” says Mike.
Perception shapes reality. As time elapses perception evolves. Caressed and improved by time’s insistent hands, Twista’s discography has been enriched by years he has invested into his art.
Dark Horse, his most recent contribution to the Hip-Hop collective, is a fluid demonstration to his time-management skills and artistic advancement. Recently, AllHipHop.com inquired about how Twista chooses to invest his time and about his creative cultivation:
In terms of becoming a better artist, a better businessman, and a better man; how have you learned to best invest your time?
Have you experienced a spiritual and creative alignment that has fostered an unrelenting artistic breakthrough; if so, which track from Dark Horse best exemplifies this cohesion?
There still hasn’t been an official statement yet on the status of these two, but unofficially its looking like they’re done. From the sounds of things Future couldn’t commit to being completely faithful just yet.
US Weekly reports:
“Ciara left her rapper fiance Future, after she learned that her baby daddy was cheating on her with his wardrobe consultant, Tyrina Lee, an insider reveals to Us Weekly.
As Us broke the news last week, the “I’m Out” singer, 28, called it quits with Future just three months after welcoming their newborn son, Future Zahir Wilburn. According to the insider, Ciara learned of her man’s infidelity through the rumor mill, too.
“She found out about the affair through multiple sources in recent weeks,” the insider tells Us. “There was clear evidence when she approached Future about the cheating. This was clearly not just a one-night thing.”
Lee was Future’s stylist specifically for his music and photo shoots, as well as his personal shopper. According to the same insider, Ciara was “devastated” about her fiance’s betrayal.”
Check out the rumored sidechick:
What’s worse is that allegedly Future has been flying ol’ girl out on private jets and showering her with gifts and she purposely posts pics for Ciara to see.
It seems like these rappers keep breaking Cici’s heart…maybe you need to move around and find a decent R&B singing dude.
Karrine ‘Superhead’ Steffans is back once again. A decade ago she shook up high-up with the release of her first book, “Confessions of a Video Vixen,” and now she is ready for round two.
She took to Instagram to share the news:
“Just because I don’t jump up and down trying to defend myself every time someone in my life says or does something negative toward me, doesn’t mean I’m accepting their b#######. The most dangerous person in the room is the quietest. Over the years, I have fought very private wars and let the public spin. I didn’t have the energy to fight the world. I was too busy trying to save my own life. But, you see, the thing about writing is that you can do it anywhere, at any time, record everything, then kept it. Just hold on to it…until. After all, revenge is a dish best served cold and the best revenge will always be truth and success. I like to play dead. I like to lull people to sleep with a false sense of victory and when they have fallen asleep, I like to stifle them with my words…stab them with my pen…boil them in its ink. VINDICATED: CONFESSIONS OF A VIDEO VIXEN is on its way and nothing will be the same. Good morning. ?”
By now everyone knows that Tyga decided to call off his engagement with former King of Diamonds employee Blac Chyna. word is she’s been somewhat in denial about the situation, but from the looks of her Twitter rant, she’s coming to terms with it pretty quickly and is refusing to let her name get dragged through the mud.
photo credit:Bossip
Was Blac Chyna really creeping’ or were the people just talking? Looks like we may have to wait for a response from Tyga…
The release of Jeezy’s new album is coming up and the rapper is pulling out all the big guns. Anyway, a little birdie told me that Jeezy strongly suggested that Jay Z would be in the video for his next album. He didn’t say for sure, but…we’re anticipating!
That’s pretty much it. LOL! More on the way from the man formerly known as “Young.”
With all the drama stirred up on last season’s LHHNY, looks like Joey may be looking at some real trouble if these accusations are true. MediaTakeout is reporting that Budden allegedly beat up his girlfriend pretty bad.
“Rapper Joe Budden got upset because [JOE’S GIRLFRIEND] dumped him after discovering he was cheating and hooking up with strippers. She then went out (clubbing) with a couple of friends to blow off some steam. One of her friends boyfriend uploaded pictures of [JOE’S GIRLFRIEND] clubbing on Instagram and someone forward the pictures to Joe.
Joe [must have] thought [JOE’S GIRLFRIEND] was out clubbing and flirting with other men so he showed up Sunday morning, where she was out eating with friends (in Washington Heights) and told her to get in his car. When she entered his car he immediately bashed her head into the dashboard of the car and drove off with her to his house [in neighboring Ne Jersey] when they arrive into his drive way he dragged her out the car her kicking and screaming and he repeatedly punched and kicked her in the ground.
Once inside the home he choked her to the point she thought he was going to kill her. She said he had to fight her way off him, gasping for air. He spitted in her face and threatened her not to tell anyone. She said the look on his face was dreadful like he had no soul. She managed to escape his home and contacted the police. Currently there as been no arrest made. A police report has been filed for New York and New Jersey.”
Do you think Budden went upside ol’ girl’s head like that???
(AllHipHop News) The Unit is back, but have no interest in rehashing old rivalries…until they’re asked. During an upcoming G-Unit Reunion special on SiriusXM taped last night(August 20th), 50 Cent addressed Ja Rule and Fredro Starr recent comments on their past feuds and claims to have “iced them”.
In Ja Rule’s recently published book Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Being a Man he recounts a time when he attacked 50 Cent with a bat in the early 2000s. During an interview with The Breakfast Club in June, Fredro Starr remarked that during his scuffle with 50 Cent at the 2003 Vibe Awards, 50 in fact missed his punch, contrary to prior reports. According to the G-Unit general, these recent recollections are evidence enough that he “iced them”:
[The Ja Rule incident] is so old it doesn’t make sense to talk about it. Even around that, you had Fredro [Starr] come back and say something. These guys man..I f*cked them up bad. [Laughs] Whenever a person let that much time go by and they come back with some sh*t like that. I thought the book was about your life? I guess I’m your motherfu*king life.
Buck later stated “you smacked the sh*t out that boy”, seemingly referring to Fredro Starr incident at the 2003 Vibe Awards.
R&B crooner Rayven Justice has been enjoying success with his club smash “Slide Thru”, from his new EP “I Have A Dream”. Rayven is chief among the new wave of R&B elite including Tee Flii, Eric Bellinger, Ty Dolla $ign and August Alsina.
For “I Have A Dream”, Rayven brought some friends along, including Atlanta’s Migos, L.A.’s TeeFlii and fellow Bay Area artist Kool John from HBK Gang.
You can also check out the new video to “I See You” featuring Kool John below:
In honor of the Beat Junkiesnew record pool and website, Melo D has put together a mix that features a diverse sample of tracks available on the pool.
The mix includes exclusive versions of tunes that go back as far as 1967, and range from Cyber’s edit of the “California Soul” Diplo remix, to the Beat Junkies’ edit of Chuck Inglish’s “Keith Sweat” ft. Sulaiman, to a Melo D Edit of Giorgio Moroder’s “Tears.”
