(AllHipHop News) A picture is worth a thousand words, but add a few hashtags to the caption and then the pic can actually create a thousand questions. That’s the case for a photo uploaded to Q-Tip’s Instagram page.
The A Tribe Called Quest member posted a picture of him and fellow producing legend Dr. Dre in the studio. The caption for the picture simply read, “#detox #lastzulu #hideyodrummachines #beatsnrhymes.”
The first two hashtags refer to Q-Tip and Dre’s respective upcoming solo albums. Dre’s Detox has reached urban legend status after over a decade of speculation about its release, and Q-Tip has been discussing his The Last Zulu LP for at least a year.
The Abstract leaves the door open to question if the pic is a statement about what’s to come from the two Hip Hop titans. Other producers like Bink! have revealed they provided tracks in recent months for a potential Detox album. Q-Tip previously shared another studio photo featuring Kendrick Lamar. So both Dr. Dre and Q-Tip seem to be putting in work for the projects.
(AllHipHop News) The classic rap battle between Nas and Jay Z is still one of the most talked about subjects in Hip Hop, and when the individuals that were directly involved in the situation give their thoughts about the topic it still becomes news.
The latest person with first-hand knowledge of “Nas vs. Jay” to weigh in is Roc-A-Fella co-founder Dame Dash. Speaking with BET, Dame shares the Roc’s and his own reactions to the Nas diss track “Ether.”
“He was the only person that got a Jay,” said Dame. “Trust me we didn’t like it. We did not like it over there. I couldn’t speak to Jay for like two weeks. I had to leave.”
Dame also praises Nas for going head-to-head with Jay when the Brooklyn emcee was one of the most popular rappers in the game.
“We were undefeated until then, so I got to give him props as a warrior,” added Dame. “That n***a went up against Jay Z when Jay Z was at the height. So he’s a battle rap god warrior.”
(AllHipHop News) Unless you happened to have an extra five million dollars in your bank account, the likelihood you will be able to own the new Wu-Tang Clan album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is very low. That’s because only one copy of the LP is being given to the highest bidder, and according to RZA that amount now stands in the 7-figure range.
Two Wu fans have created a plan for the masses to get access to the project. Russell Meyer and Calvin Okoth-Obbo started a Kickstarter campaign to purchase the album. If they raise enough money to outbid other potential buyers, they plan to release the music for free.
The description for Once Upon A Time In Shaolin – For Wu Fans, For Wu People reads:
For all the fans who won’t be able to pay 30-50 bucks to listen to a double album in one sitting, let’s raise enough money to buy this album and then turn around and give it away for free. Wu members can still get their CREAM and the rest of us get to enjoy an epic album instead of some uber rich bastard keeping it to himself like a collector’s item.
As the founder of this group I pledge to not keep a single penny of the money raised. Every cent will be bid to win the album. If we don’t get it then everyone gets their money back.
“I can’t imagine RZA being upset if enough Wu-Tang fans get together and raise enough money to purchase [the album],” said Meyer. “We don’t want some guy in Dubai who literally has money to burn to buy it as a collector item that only six people will get to listen to.”
The campaign will run until June 9th. As of press time, 245 backers have contributed $1,487 of the $5 million goal.
(AllHipHop News) Snoop Dogg is about to take Sin City back to the 1920’s during a six-date residency at TAO Las Vegas. The Snoopadelic Cabaret will feature Snoop aka DJ Snoopadelic headlining the roaring twenties themed event.
The showcase will include the West Coast rap icon running through his hit records as well as aspecial curated DJ set. Attendees will also be treated to period-influenced entertainment, custom costumes, décor and specialty cocktails of the era.
“I’m excited to partner with the TAO team for these special classy events,” stated Snoop Dogg. “This summer is going to be epic and I can’t wait to give Vegas that real Snoopadelic Cabaret vibe.”
Concert goers will be able to access an exclusive password each night by following TAO’s social media, @TAOLasVegas. Winners will get to enter The Snoopadelic Cabaret through a secret back door.
Snoop Dogg’s residency at TAO Las Vegas will debut on Saturday, May 3 after the Mayweather – Maidana fight. The second date is scheduled for Sunday, May 25.
After performing with Outkast at last weekend’s Coachella Festival in Indio, California, Future teams up with Andre 3000 for the new track, “Benz Friendz (Whatchutola)” set to be featured on Future’s sophomore album Honestavailable on Epic Records.
Sheesh! You do a p#### with a shower curtain and you get all this newfound attention. I guess “sex tapes” are not played out after all. I thought they were corny and the door closed once KK came through as a star. But, never FRET, Mimi is here but how…? I am hearing from a couple sources that Mimi is actually and factually on that White Girl. I mean, these people INSISTED that she’s on that White! I personally have no prior knowledge of that, but I’m just saying.
This rumor could explain her odd, erratic behavior as of late. I dunno.
The p#### continues to make waves all over the place though. Mimi’s back in the Game. I wonder what’s next.
PS: I heard Mona Scott Young is livid over this. I don’t know for sure, but I heard that Mona really doesn’t like this one!
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
(AllHipHop News) Two big annual festivities are taking place this weekend – Easter Sunday and Record Store Day. Hip Hop group De La Soul is combining traditions from both days with an “Easter Egg Hunt” style vinyl contest.
One hundred copies of the Smell the Da.I.S.Y. instrumental vinyl will be hidden in stores throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
As a tribute to the late producer J Dilla, who produced the tracks on the project, the records will resemble the original tapes Dilla would send to artists like A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and De La Soul.
“The reason we choose to release an all-instrumental version of Smell The Da.I.S.Y. is to give people the experience of a J Dilla beat tape that we were so lucky to receive,” stated De La member Dave Jolicoeur. “These beat tapes were the springboard that generated creation and inspiration for us.”
The New York trio released the Smell the Da.I.S.Y. mixtape bundle through BitTorrent in March. Users who downloaded the bundle will receive early access to clues. Autographed copies will also be auctioned on eBay with proceeds going to Dilla’s family.
(AllHipHop Interviews) During his 34 years on the planet, Andre “Mac Dre” Hicks created over a dozen musical releases including Young Black Brotha, Ronald Dregan: Dreganomics, and The Genie of the Lamp. Tragically, the Bay Area rapper’s life was cut short when he was murdered in Kansas City a decade ago.
Since that time, followers of the late Thizz Entertainment founder have continuously worked to keep his legacy alive. The next step to maintain the memory of Mac Dre in the public’s consciousness comes in the form of two films – a documentary and a biopic.
Veteran actor Tray Chaney (The Wire) announced he has been selected to produce and star in both upcoming Mac Dre pictures. He also revealed that Dre’s mother Wanda Salvatto is on board with the projects.
AllHipHop.com was able to connect with Ms. Salvatto, aka Mac Wanda, via e-mail to ask her about the Mac Dre movie.
Why did you decide to endorse a film being made about your son now?
Because it is ten years now since we lost him, and I still see the impact he’s made on his family, friends, and fans. That speaks to what kind of person he was, and more people should hear his story.
How did you connect with Tray Chaney and his team?
Well, I connected with Tray through a mutual friend, and after meeting Tray and having multiple conversations I saw how he was affected by my son in a positive way.
We initially hired Tray to narrate the forthcoming Mac Dre documentary which is in production. In researching and working on the documentary, Tray has met with many of Mac Dre’s family and friends, including Curtis Nelson (Kilo Kurt).
Tray and Kilo hit it off, and the idea of Tray portraying Kilo evolved from there. Tray’s passion for these Mac Dre projects has been infectious, and his connections and experience have led to a role for Tray on the production side of things.
Mac Wanda + Tray Chaney
How involved are you in the film’s production?
I’m working closely with the producers and director on the documentary and feel confident that the story is in good hands. I also will be a consultant and an executive producer on the planned theatrical releases.
What do you hope viewers will learn about Mac Dre from seeing the movie?
I really want people to understand where he came from and to consider his music in a larger social context. Hip Hop is everywhere now, but when he started there was no path to follow. He was a trailblazer. He wrote about the world that he saw, and his raps spoke to issues important and still relevant today. For example, stop-and-frisk, the use of rap lyrics against defendants in criminal trials, and first amendment issues.
(AllHipHop News) The last time Brittany Nicole Carpentero was on the national stage, she was announcing her voluntary exit from the popular reality TV show, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta back in March of 2012. Two years and a new reality show later, the 25 year old 10 year veteran, Diamond speaks EXCLUSIVELY to AllHipHop about Lil Scrappy’s disparaging comments, Crime Mob break up and we track the evolution of her different answers over the years.
Crime Mob Breaking Up
Diamond was barely 16 years old when Crime Mob’s infectious hit “Knuck If You Buck” hit the scene and decimated Hip Hop radio. Less than four years later, Diamond was informed she was no longer in the group by reporters on the red carpetat the 2007 Dirty Awards. Back in 2011, Diamond maintained that the split was due to business differences during her interview with ThisIs50 in 2011:
I was nominated for Dirty Chick of the Year at the [2007] Dirty Awards and I wanted to red carpet by myself, just because I didn’t want to feel, like, tension, because I was always singled out. Even though I walk solo, I always represent the group. I don’t see the issue with it. At the time our former manager sent the message back to me that the group was like ‘well, if you walk solo, then you aren’t in the group.’
Over six years after the dissolution of her relationship with Crime Mob, Diamond reveals the business complications that led to the group’s disbanding. According to Diamond, the group ended after shady business tactics on the manager’s part:
Lil Scrappy
Diamond’s stance on her relationship with Lil Scrappy since it’s end over two years ago has remained consistent. She maintains she’s not a bad person and that the truth will soon be revealed:
While her stance has not changed, she does reveal to AllHipHop that she is preparing to reveal her true feelings towards the situation on her new album:
Even though thats my past, about my ex and him getting on the TV show saying some things about my character that weren’t really true. You know, I kept my keep so I can put it in my music. To really tell my story. That was the past this is now, but a lot of women can relate to my story That’s just a little piece of it. But that’s just a piece of my life, that’s not my whole entire life.
Evolution As A Rapper
Diamond will star in the T.I. executive produced Sisterhood of Hip Hop on Oxygen channel which chronicles Diamond and four other other MC’s (Nyemiah Supreme, Siya, Bia and Brianna Perry) journey through the industry. While Diamond loves the diversity of women on the show, that acceptance of others was a skill Diamond developed over years:
Diamond at 16:
We knuckin and buckin cuz I got a nine I blow you away cuz you wastin my time -“Knuck If You Buck”
Diamond at 25:
I have more to talk about than just getting crunk and fighting in the club. The sound, the instruments, I have live producers coming in playing live on the drums, and the piano. I’m really taking it to the next level.-ALLHIPHOP INTERVIEW
Diamond informed AllHipHop that she will reveal the title to her new album on Sisterhood of Hip Hop, but has not picked a release date as of yet. Sisterhood of Hip Hop will premier on the Oxygen Network later this year.
“I thought Nas was gonna be a great trumpeter.” – Olu Dara, Nas’ father
Nas’ esteemed father couldn’t have been more wrong, as his lyrical genius of a son would craft a classic called Illmatic 20 years ago this year. Last night in New York City at the Beacon Theater, 3,000 plus fans, industry heads and newbs came out to celebrate the anniversary of the seminal album in the form of a film screening and concert by the man himself.
“Time Is Illmatic,” a documentary crafted by Erik Parker and One Nine, is a multi-layered look a the Queensbridge-bred artist, but also examines the plight of youth and families reared in the ‘hood. The flick delves deep. “We see what’s going on–pregnant ladies doing crack,” Nas said of his early development bearing witness to the drug epidemic that swept urban America. The movie also shifts from the death of his dear friend Ill Will, his mother’s passing and the relationship with his father, Olu. Jungle, his brother, is the secret weapon in the documentary and he offers a different, often hilarious perspective. Frankly speaking, this is a must-see music documentary.
The movie kicked off the Tribeca Film Festival and Robert De Niro, Swizz Beatz, Pete Rock and Raekwon were on hand to watch the documentary as well. Once the viewing was over, Alicia Keys took the stage and introduced Nas, who performed Illmatic in its entirety.
Kim Kardashian, who is good friends with Trina, tried playing peace maker by pulling the old ‘lets talk like women’ 3-way call, but was met with deaf ears.
Khloe tried to explain that she had no idea Trina was dating French, but Da Baddest B**** wasn’t trying to hear one word.
A source also shared with Hollwoodlife that Trina is devastated by French’s sudden change of heart.
“She feels like French is an opportunist. He dropped Trina and went right on to Khloe, Trina stood by his side through everything and he just discarded her. They were living together, I mean come on. She has no clue what’s going on, she’s reading about it just like everyone else is.”
Looks like Khloe knows how to steal pick ’em. Is it about to be a girl fight or nah?
(AllHipHop News) The house that Wu built is quickly crumbling. Today (April 17th), Raekwon explains his rift with RZA, says he’s on a strike from Wu-Tang Clan and more in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.
Yesterday (April 16th), RZA told VladTV that one of the holdups with Wu Tang Clan’s 20th anniversary album A Better Tomorrow is Raekwon’s unavailability. According to RZA he has not had a chance to talk to The Chef, a claim that Raekwon calls a “bold-faced lie”:
I don’t know why he said he didn’t speak to me, because he did speak to me. We spoke about two weeks ago. It was me, him, his brother and business partner Devine and we talked about why I’m not there right now. They know where I’m at and at the end of the day, him saying he didn’t speak to me is a bold-faced lie.
Throughout the interview, Raekwon stated that one of the biggest reasons for his unavailability is his displeasure in the music that is being made for the album. After Rae alleges that other members of Wu Tang Clan feel the same way, he specifically discusses his displeasure with the latest single from A Better Tomorrow, “Keep Watch”:
I hate it. I hate it. I don’t hate s###, but I hate that f*ckin’ record. It ain’t the gunpowder that my brother is spitting; it’s the production. And I ain’t sh*tting on the producer because he’s one of our soldiers. But if it ain’t where it need to be… It’s 20 years later. We talkin ’bout a whole new generation is sitting here representin’ and making fiery s### and you telling me that we comin out with some mediocre s###? That ain’t part of our plan.
An additional, and possibly primary, reason for Raekwon’s lack of involvement in the new project is because he feels his contract is not satisfactory. While not intentionally attempting to holdup the project, Raekwon states that until his contract his renegotiated, he’s “on strike”:
It’s the same as being an athlete. I don’t give a f*ck if it’s Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant. They will not touch the floor if their managers or lawyers are saying, “Listen, sh*t ain’t right.” So therefore, I’m in a limbo situation. So yeah, you’re right. I am on strike.
An surprisingly revelatory aspect of the interview is Rae’s allusion that A Better Tomorrow being Wu Tang’s final album was RZA’s idea and not a general consensus amongst the group members:
RZA’s saying this is Wu-Tang’s last album? OK. Cool. That’s what it is? You the Abbot? It’s the Abbot show? Aiight, then it’s the last f#####’ album. I’m cool with that. But at the same time, you’re not going to have me be attached to something that’s broke. Because if it’s already broke, why fix it?
Raekwon later stated that RZA is “not the top producer no more” and should be open to inviting more producers into the project’s production.
(AllHipHop News) Chris Brown definitely did not do this for the ‘Gram. Yesterday (April 16th) Chris Brown’s mugshot pictures from his arrest in connection with his D.C. assault case, were leaked online.
Brown’s trial for the October 2013 assault of a man outside the W Hotel in Washington, D.C. is set to start next Wednesdsay (April 23rd). Brown’s bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, started his trial earlier today and is expected to be completed within “one to two days” according to ABC News.
Apparently there is a industrial, gymnastic shower rod that exists and Mimi and Nkkon have made it in huge demand.
TMZ got the real deal:
Demand is going through the roof for gymnastics-strength shower rods — all thanks to “Love & Hip Hop” star Mimi Faust’s sex tape acrobatics — and Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, and Walmart are struggling to keep up.
We called employees at each of the major retailers (from Georgia to Cali) and we’re getting the same story — ever since the trailer for Mimi’s sex tape came out, people have been racing to purchase their own super-strong shower rods to recreate the Mimi experience.
And supplies are running out — a customer at one Home Depot in Georgia tells us, they were totally sold out of Mimi-strength shower rods.
This is a real thing — a Twitter search for “Mimi shower rod” shows an endless list of people trying to get their hands on one. There’s even a Twitter account dedicated to it (@MimiShowerRod). And don’t even get us started on the Vine videos.
We reached out to officials at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Target — no word back so far.
Here is a video of a man going to Home Depot.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
