H&M will be releasing a ‘H&M Loves Coachella’ collection set with garbs fit for the outdoor festival. The collection will be available at 350 of their stores as well as online. Exclusive wear will be on sale at pop shops at the concert, which takes place Apr. 10th-12th and 17th-19th in Indio, CA. The collection drops on Mar. 19th in North American and worldwide on Mar. 26th.
“Coachella is one of the most anticipated music events in the country and this collection gives fashion and music lovers the opportunity to be a part of it,” a H&M spokeswoman told WWD.
For the ladies, the H&M team has designed crop tops. rompers, lace tops, and wide-leg pants while graphic t-shirts and shorts are available for the men. The festival wear isn’t pricey, ranging from $4.95 to $49.95.
The musical lineup for Coachella includes Drake, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, The Weeknd. Azealia Banks, Ab-Soul and many more.
(AllHipHop News) When it was revealed not a single Hip Hop album made the top ten in sales for 2014 people began to speculate that was the result of the genre’s fans no longer buying albums. That seems to be only partially true, but not because rap followers were necessarily illegally downloading the projects. It may be because Hip Hop listeners simply chose to stream the albums instead of purchasing them.
While Nielsen Music data reveals Hip Hop/R&B only accounted for 13.9% of album sales in 2014, the two musical styles made up 28.5% of streaming compensation – the year’s highest percentage. These numbers include totals from the OL, Beats Music, Cricket (Muve), Google Play, Medianet, RDio, Rhapsody, Slacker, Spotify, Xbox Music, and YouTube/Vevo services.
Rock music led the year with the largest percentage of album sales (33.2%) and came in second in streaming (24.7%). Pop accounted for 10.8% of sales and 21.1% of streams. EDM (2% sales, 6.8% streaming) and country (11.8% sales, 6.4% streaming) were the other top genres for 2014.
Overall streaming had already grown by 42% in the first half of 2014, and album sales dropped by 15% during that same time. Music streaming’s impact versus album sales became so noticeable that Billboard decided to include streaming numbers in the calculations for its album chart. Every 1,500 streams began to count as one album sale on the Billboard 200 starting with the December 4 edition of the magazine.
Fans reaction to J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive demonstrated the current power of streaming. According to reports, the Roc Nation emcee’s third studio LP broke Spotify’s one week streaming record for 2014 when it pulled in 15.7 million streams in December.
Even though Hip Hop album sales declined in 2014, rap artists used other non-traditional methods of music distribution to successfully reach the masses. One of the most effective approaches was the “BitTorrent Bundle.” Projects by rap acts De La Soul, G-Eazy, and Ace Hood made the top 10 most downloaded bundles from the platform. Each of those artists crossed the one million download mark for their respective releases through BitTorrent.
(AllHipHop News) When a rapper borrows rhymes or a flow from another rapper is that considered “biting” or “recycling”, “jacking someone’s style” or “paying homage”? This is a question that Hip Hoppers have been debating since Big Bank Hank reportedly used Grandmaster Caz’s lyrics for 1979’s “Rapper’s Delight.”
A contemporary rap artist is giving his thoughts on the subject. Maryland’s Logic spoke about “biting” in Hip Hop with VladTV, and Young Sinatra expressed his belief that using other emcee’s words and cadence is not a bad thing.
“Don’t you think that’s kind of like stupid, primitive?” asked Logic about emcees being criticized for covering other artist’s work. “I think it’s primitive. There’s a difference between, ‘Oh, I’m just gonna take this whole dude’s everything – his story, his style, his this, his that’… That is unacceptable, because Hip Hop was built upon fact.”
After offering high praise to Drake, Logic then questioned why the Young Money representative was able to use Migos’ “Versace” flow, but when J. Cole did the same he faced backlash.
“So Drake can just take Migos whole s**t and do it on like 9 songs in the same year and like 2 or 3 times on his album, and that’s cool? But then J. Cole wants to joke around with the flow on ‘TKO’ and people are like, ‘That’s Drake flow.’ What?” stated Logic. “That’s the s**t that’s so weird about this. People say things and it’s just so unintelligent… I’m pretty sure that Migos flow has been done by somebody else.”
Logic then goes on to discuss how artists’ music serves as inspiration to others, including fellow rappers.
Mikey T The Movie Star exclusive interview with BNice on how an independent boss structures his label to make it to the top. Real artists with real stories turning a negative into a positive empire. Stay tuned for projects coming from OTP recording artists Teyz Soprano, ChinoNetProfit and Fidoh Cashtro..
(AllHipHop News) Singer/rapper Lauryn Hill will hit Washington DC and New York City next month for a series of show dates. Ms. Hill’s “Small Axe: Acoustic Performance Series” is scheduled to take place in the nation’s capital and the Big Apple February 13-25 with 2 dates in DC and four in NYC.
Check out Ms. Lauryn Hill’s tour itinerary and video of the former Fugees member performing “Ready Or Not” at the Brooklyn Bowl below.
Feb. 13 – Washington, DC – Howard Theatre
Feb. 14 – Washington, DC – Howard Theatre
Feb. 17 – Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
Feb. 20 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
Feb. 23 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
Feb. 25 – New York, NY – Blue Note (early show)
Feb. 25 – New York, NY – Blue Note (late show)
(AllHipHop News) This year’s “May The Fourth Be With You” could be a Star Wars Day that not only celebrates the franchise but also give fans the opportunity to once again purchase licensed headphones connected to the iconic sci-fi movie series. SMS Audio founder 50 Cent spoke with What’s Trending at CES 2015, and the Queens rapper-turned-mogul announced his company’s continued partnership with Star Wars.
“The Star Wars brand has sustained its relevance since 1975. It’s really one of those companies, they won’t license Star Wars to someone,” said 50. “It’s tough to climb in bed with Star Wars.”
According to 50, the second edition of his Star Wars headphones will be available this May. The previous collection of “Star Wars: Street By 50” line featured four styles (Galactic Empire, Rebel Alliance, Boba Fett & Stormtrooper). The headphones retail at $199.
Episode VII of the franchise will hit theaters later this year. The J.J. Abrams directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens is scheduled for release December 18, 2015.
(AllHipHop News) Iggy Azalea has become one of the most controversial figures in rap music in years. Some people see her as the face of white appropriation of Hip Hop, others see her as the representation of Hip Hop’s continual growth.
Legendary female rapper MC Lyte has joined the conversation about Iggy. The creator of 1988’s Lyte As A Rock, 1991’s Ain’t No Other, and 1996’s Bad As I Wanna B appears to fall in the category of artists that support Iggy’s movement in the culture. She spoke about the “Fancy” performer with Hello Beautiful.
“What I think about her is that she is a fan of Hip Hop. I’ve heard her on a few interviews, and I know who she is in terms of having traveled abroad since I was 17, 18 years old. And there are people of all colors that love Hip Hop,” said Lyte. “When she says that she is a lover of this culture, I believe her. Everyone has something to contribute. You either like it or you don’t, but you can’t just say, ‘You can’t be here.’”
(AllHipHop News) Adrian Broner made waves across the media last week when the boxer offered some choice words for Roc Nation founder Jay Z and superstar singer Rihanna. The 3-time world champion suggested on Twitter the Brooklyn rapper could “suck his d**k” for only offering him $40 million for 5 years to join Roc Nation Sports.
In an interview with TMZ, Broner discussed turning down the potential deal with the boxing wing of Jay’s company, but he went beyond just stating his reasoning for not joining the Roc. He also added “f**k Rihanna… She’s gonna give me some p***y and that’s it.”
The boxer is now backtracking from those comments. In a video posted on TMZ, Broner revealed he got a call from a “big homie,” and the friend told him he was wrong for inviting “another man to another man’s private part.”
“I want to apologize to Jay for that,” offered Broner. “I’m a man at the end of the day, and I can admit when I’m wrong.”
Broner then adds he never should have said “f**k Rihanna” and reaches out to Jay to get in touch with him to talk personally.
Dear Dude Schmushed Between Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill, Nicki And Their Mates,
You are in a great space. I don’t know who you are, aside from you being P-Mon, Meek’s right hand, which kind of means I do. I don’t care – you could be his right foot. It does not matter that you are there in the middle of Rick Ross and his lady, Wale and his lady and the burgeoning love of Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill. Speaking of Meek, what’s so funny? OK, maybe it is a bit funny. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this one is about 1,100 at least.
Nevertheless, you got no cause for worry. I’m sure you get mad thots on fleek (or whatever the words are today) and, if you don’t already, you soon will. Women love a sympathetic thug figure and will take care of you accordingly. Nevertheless, this picture is classic and there are nothing more than classics in the future for you, brother. You are already becoming a blog sensation.
I salute you and would trade places with you in a heartbeat. Pause. You are clearly somebody important. More important to me.
It looks like Hip Hop had a successful night at the Golden Globe Awards tonight. At the prestigious ceremony, Chicago rapper Common and GOOD Music singer John Legend had won the award for “Best Original Song”. The two artists won the award for their song titled “Glory” from the movie Selma. Common went the extra mile during his acceptance speech by paying tribute unarmed black teens. The song beat out several competitive nominations, including Lorde, Lana Del Ray, Patty Smith & Lennay Kay, and Sia & Greg Kurstin. Check out Common’s acceptance speech here, and keep scrolling peep the picture of the two holding the award and check out “Glory” below.
Boxing champion Adrian Broner may believe that his decision to not join Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports was good, but for others, it didn’t seem smart. One of those others turn out to be 50 Cent, who also happens to be a boxing fan himself. The Hip Hop mogul was asked about the Roc Nation situation by TMZ, and he told them “He [Broner] shouldn’t have said that”. Broner recently displayed his dislike for the Roc Nation Sports on TMZ Hollywood Sports, sending both shots to Jay Z and Rihanna. Check out the video below.
While the contract issues between Lil Wayne and Birdman may seem detrimental to each other, it seems be affecting other close members of Young Money. In a recent interview with Hollywood Today, singer Christina Milian opened up a bit about the current conflict, telling the publication that as a member of Young Money, it has affected her business as well. She continued on to say :
“I think everyone is trying to work it out and I wish the best because honestly, it’s an empire built between Birdman [and] Wayne.”
She continues on to say:
“They basically paved the way for people like me to have the opportunity to be successful, so I pray that it all works out, I know he prays the same thing.”
To start the year off right, Pittsburgh star Wiz Khalifa releases his official set of visuals for the song “Raw”. Directed by Gerald Victor and Alexi Papalexpoulos, The video is for a single off of the Taylor Gang founder’s Grammy-nominated album Blacc Hollywood. With albums like Nobody’s Smiling, The Marshall Mathers LP 2, and Oxymoron as competition for the prestigious award, Wiz is going to need all the help he can get to win.
When rapper Kevin Gates V-blogged us about him banging his cousin, ninjas went bonkers! Reenacting Elvis Presley’s 1964 song, “Kissin’ Cousins”—Gates took it a step further, telling us that the p####### v##### was too good to give up when he found out she was his cousin. LOL. (Dude is hilarious!) I guess he “never gets tired” of banging his cousin!
But hold on! Stop the presses! Many of us have had a cousin that we were sexually attracted to! Don’t lie! I’ve had at least four female cousins that I was attracted to and vice versa! Oh yeah! They could get it and at least one of them did get it! Like many of you who think cousin screwing is nasty and incestuous, I too, thought so—at the time I was doing the dirty-deed, but unlike you parrots, I later found out that I was just brainwashed into believing a lie.
Do you even know why you believe sexing or marrying a first/second cousin is wrong, nasty, or incestuous? Because it’s against God and the Bible? WRONG! Because it’s genetically wrong? WRONG! Because it’s incest? WRONG AGAIN! U.O.E.N.O. (You Don’t Even Know) Face it! You’re ignorant about this subject and have adopted a fallacy/lie. I assume Kevin Gates thinks it’s wrong too, but he just can’t control his hang-low penis. Yo’ Kev! This column should put your mind at ease!
Going way back to the biblical days, marrying cousins took place. The most famous case being Jacob, the father of the Israelite nation who married two of his first cousins, Rachel & Leah (Genesis 29). Unlike the law forbidding homosexuality, there are no laws forbidding marrying cousins in the Bible. In fact, it was “S.O.P.”–standard operating procedure back then.
Marrying first cousins was no issue until the 19th century when some religious quacks here in America spoke out against the practice. Their beliefs have spilled over until today and got you believing the same, but the reality is that 80% of all marriages in human history have been between 1st & 2nd cousins and 10% of all marriages today are between cousins. Even Charles Darwin aka “Mr. Natural Selection” married his 1st cousin, Emma Wedgwood.
Marrying cousins is as old as man himself! Practiced today in the Middle-East, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, South America, Canada, north & South Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.
The National Society of Genetic Counselors did a study (1965-2000) and concluded that there is, “No genetic or biological reason to discourage cousins from marrying” AND stated, “Incest should not be applied to cousins, but only to sexual relations between siblings or parents and children.” Furthermore, the study concluded that there is little to no genetic risk—no more than unrelated sex partners.
Now let me bring it home for all the Kevin Gates-he-so-nasty folk. It is legal to marry your first cousin in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Alaska!
You may judge Kevin Gates for screwing his cousin. You may continue to think that intermarriage between cousins is incestuous. That’s what ignorant and stupid people do—believe their own lies and cast judgment/aspersions and condemn other cultural norms that don’t conform to theirs. Go ‘head on with your pseudo 21st century morality! I understand. But the “Coonerific One” is here to set you straight! Kevin Gates—knock tha boots, beat the breaks off your cousin! Go on and knock that thang out the park! Do it for me! That is my Word!
Follow Khalil Amani on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @khalilamani, Khalil_amani. Catch his articles in Straight Stuntin Magazine.
Although Birdman is still trying to deal with the his legal conflict with Lil Wayne, it seems like Rich Gang is still prospering. Recently, two fellow members, Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug, has teamed up for a new track titled “In This Game”. The song is a little bit more upbeat than a lot of songs from both Rich and Thug’s traditional catalogue, however, the song seems to fit them. Check out “In This Game” below.
It looks like Jay Z might have to get back in the studio, because there’s a chance Beyonce is going to have another child. Earlier today, Beyonce posted a new pic on Instagram with her in the sand in an interesting way. Around her stomach, you can see a little bump.
There hasn’t been any confirmation on the power couple having another child, but we might see that as time go by.
SangoBeats has been making a lot of low-key moves, but he still seems to be one of the dopest producers to look out for. Recently, the Michigan DJ has been doing a few collabs with a Texas-based singer named SPZRKT, and now here is “JMK”. The new song knocks, it’s choir-like instrumental is blended with some bass, with SPZRKT rolling in with dope vocals. Check out JMK below:
Kendrick Lamar has people quite upset over comments he’s made regarding Mike Brown and the state of the Black community.
The comments, seen below, stemmed from an interview with Billboard magazine.
I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it’s already a situation, mentally, where it’s f—ked up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should’ve never happened. Never. But when we don’t have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don’t start with just a rally, don’t start from looting — it starts from within.” Lamar, who has said that he wasn’t raised devoutly religious, fingers the small figure of Christ dangling from a chain around his neck. “We’re in the last days, man — I truly in my heart believe that. It’s written. I could go on with Biblical situations and things my grandma told me. But it’s about being at peace with myself and making good with the people around me.”
Kid Cudi responded on Twitter.
“Dear black artists, dont talk down on the black community like you are Gods gift to n##### everywhere,” said Cudi on twitter. “If you wanna help, inspire, uplift, don’t point the blame and talk down.”
And then Lupe Fiasco jumped in and lamented Cudi for his commentary.
“Shut up…FOH @KidCudi. How about you stop s####### on the people who really cared about your well being when this biz was ripping you apart. Fake ass @KidCudi,” Fiasco said.
Phony Ppl has been an active band for a while, releasing several projects with a unique mixture of Jazz and Hip Hop. The Brooklyn-based band has definitely started to make more noise in the past 4 years, and now things seem to get better with this new song they released titled “Why iii Love The Moon”. According to a post on FADER, when it came to making the new track, Phony Ppl didn’t really no intentions to make a track, it just seemed to happen. Check out this track below and let us know how you feeling about Phony Ppl.
