(AllHipHop News) The assault case for Chris Brown’s bodyguard Christopher Hollosy is set to being today in Washington, DC.
Hollosy and Brown were both accused of attacking a man outside a hotel last October, but the security guard later stated that he struck the alleged victim Parker Adams, and not the R&B singer.
Brown is being tried in a separate case set to begin later this month. His attorney recently requested that a judge dismiss the case on the grounds that the prosecution improperly used a grand jury. Hollosy’s trial is expected to last about 2 days.
(AllHipHop News) One scandalous rumor can apparently lead to the collapse of a music artist’s career. According to St Louis rapper Chingy that is exactly what happened to him.
In 2010, the “Right Thurr” performer was accused of being in a relationship with transsexual Sidney Starr. A photo of Chingy and Starr sparked talk that the two were sexually involved. Starr claimed a relationship did take place before eventually admitting that she lied about the affair.
“It goes to show you that that person, who nobody knew, had that much power to come out and say one negative thing about me, and a whole mass of people just instantly took to it. And they didn’t have not one piece of evidence, a clue, nothing,” said Chingy. “I still was good, but everybody else was taking to it. It injured my career a little bit. I watched it happen. I lost a deal because of that.”
Despite the damage to his career, Chingy says he has forgiven Starr for spreading lies about him.
“Just because that person choose to be evil don’t mean I have to be evil right along with them,” said Chingy. “I’m gonna stay good-natured.”
(AllHipHop News) The opening monologue on “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2” could cost Drake and his label money. According to TMZ, the rapper is being sued by the estate of jazz musician Jimmy Smith for illegal use of copyrighted material.
The plaintiffs claim a sample from the track “Jimmy Smith Rap” was used on the Drake record without permission. The Smith estate is apparently seeking $300,000 from Drizzy and others.
“Pound Cake,” which features an appearance by Jay Z, was included on Drake’s third album Nothing Was The Same. The liner notes from the project state that “Jimmy Smith Rap” was properly licensed.
(AllHipHop News) Jay Z has always been one to take old concepts and spin them in a new way. His latest unprecedented big business move is to hold his annual Made In America Festival on two different coasts at the same time.
Rolling Stone reports Jay announced at press conference yesterday (4/16) that the 2-day concert will be heading to Los Angeles for the first time this year. Philadelphia will once again host the event as well. This makes Made In America the first festival to take place on both coasts simultaneously.
“A music festival that blurred those lines of genres that all walks of life and all people can come, and it’s in the city. Not some far-off place that you can’t get to. No disrespect to any other festivals, no shots,” said Jay at the press conference. “Look how beautiful this park is, it’s accessible to everyone. It’s inclusion, it’s not exclusion.”
“On Labor Day weekend we’re going to celebrate our ‘golden state of mind’ right here in L.A.,” added Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti.
No performing acts were revealed yet, but it was announced proceeds from Made In America will benefit The United Way in each city. The festival is scheduled for August 30th and 31st at L.A.’s Grand Park.
(AllHipHop News) For months speculation surrounding whether Raekwon will appear on the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan album A Better Tomorrow has been unending. Rae has spoken about his issues surrounding the financial side of the situation, and now RZA has added his thoughts on the matter.
In an interview with VladTV, RZA explains why he thinks A Better Tomorrow may not have any contributions from The Chef.
“I haven’t had a chance to really talk to him about why not. All I see is the press going back and forth,” said RZA. “But I would say that maybe creatively we on different paths. I’m creatively different than I was in the ‘90s. I’m a different man.”
RZA reveals that Raekwon will appear on the other Wu project Once Upon A Time In Shaolin. Only one copy of the album was created, and interested collectors have bid millions of dollars to purchase the LP.
“I haven’t had a chance to really talk to him about why not. All I see is the press going back and forth. But I would say that maybe creatively we on different paths. I’m creatively different than I was in the ‘90s.”
“I haven’t had a chance to really talk to him about why not. All I see is the press going back and forth. But I would say that maybe creatively we on different paths. I’m creatively different than I was in the ‘90s.”
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Christ Bearer (born Andre Johnson) was taken to a Los Angeles hospital after he reportedly cut off his penis and jumped from the second story of his apartment building. According to TMZ, police suspect Johnson’s actions were a suicide attempt.
Johnson was critically injured when he landed on the sidewalk outside the building. Officers arrived on the scene around 1 am. Friends claim there were no hard drugs found in his apartment.
Christ Bearer was a member of the rap group Northstar along with Meko. The duo released Bobby Digital Presents Northstar in 2004 under the tutelage of Wu-Tang’s RZA.
(AllHipHop News) Old wounds die slow. During an interview with the New York Times, Kelis spoke on a few misconceptions about Nas’ Life Is Good cover as well as her feelings on his latest music.
Nas has stated in numerous interviews that the dress he’s clutching on the cover for his 2012 album Life Is Good is the same dress Kelis wore on their wedding day back in 2005. According to the eccentric singer, that is mostly incorrect:
It’s not even the dress. The joke behind that is that it’s the slip to the petticoat to my dress. I think when I moved out I just left it. That’s all he had, poor thing.
A few months after Kelis filed or divorce from Nas in April 2009, she sent tweets from her personal Twitter account implying that Nas cheated on her. In the New York Times interview, she slams Nas’ music by stating “I don’t really listen to his music anyway.”
A few weeks ago it was reported that The Game had been involved in an altercation with fiancé Tiffney Cambridge, which resulted in her nose being broken, and she has taken to steps to file charges.
Well more details are starting to spill out about just how down and dirty this fight may have been.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Cambridge says that a was table broken during the brawl, injuring the couple’s kiddos. Their 3-year-old daughter yelled for help because her leg was bleeding, and when she went to help, this infuriated Game that much more.
Cambridge claims Game told her “move the f*** out the way” called her a b#### and continued the brutal assault tearing her clothing and beating her to a pulp.
“I will end it all,” he reportedly said.
Cambridge is stating that after the fight, Game told the children that if the police were called both mommy and daddy would go to jail, and we not allow her nor the children to leave the house.
Eventually they were allowed to leave and Cambridge went to the hospital to find out that her nose was broken.
The new season of ‘Marrying the Game’ is set to start up May 7th on VH1.
We wonder how this season will play out or if Game will be out to catch the season finale…
(AllHipHop Interviews) In the latest edition of “5 & Done” AllHipHop.com spoke with buzzing emcee Euro League. The Bronx native has excited the blogosphere with songs like “Social Network,” “Magazine Vs Magazine,” “Do You Believe Me Pt. 2,” and “Gold Chains In a Dungeon.” The tracks are precursors to Euro’s upcoming Euro Trip: Continuum EP.
Euro (which is an acronym for Enlighten Under Rule & Oppression) first started his turn as a writer by composing poems. He later converted his love for English composition into rap lyrics. The personal connection created by albums like Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Nas’ Nastradamus served as inspiration for Euro’s own take on Hip Hop.
About two years ago the 24-year-old indie performer reconnected with childhood friends MP Williams and Doley Bernays to form ReeLife Music Group. Euro describes himself as the business director/artist of the team. MP is the creative director, and Doley brings the street sound. The crew is looking to expand their company beyond just rap music. ReeLife is working to become an all-encompassing entertainment brand.
Discover more about Euro League and ReeLife in AllHipHop’s exclusive interview.
What can fans expect on your upcoming Euro Trip: Continuum EP?
This new EP is the second installment to this series I’m doing. It’s going to be a very cohesive project – something that’s pushing boundaries in Hip Hop. We’ve crafted our own sound with certain techniques that we use. Everything is going to be customed to the sound that we’re doing. I’m going to be doing a lot of lyrical s**t, a lot of metaphors, a lot of bars, and a lot of thought-provoking beats. It’s going to be crazy beats with different formats.
I haven’t secured too many features yet. I got my boy Doley on there. I know I got singer James Ashli from ReeLife Music Group on there. It’s something very refreshing for a New York artist, especially coming from The Bronx. It’s going to be something people haven’t heard from a New York artist in a very long time.
There’s a YouTube video of you freestyling for Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q, and you worked with Skyehutch, who produced Kendrick’s “Sing About Me,” for your “Gold Chains In A Dungeon” track. Could a Euro and TDE collaboration possibly happen in the near future?
We don’t have it in the works yet, but who’s to say it won’t happen. I definitely think both of our crews’ sounds complement each other. I think we both have lyrical elements about our music, so I definitely think that could happen in the future.
The way I hooked up with Kendrick, he was shooting a video a couple of years ago in New York, and I just happened to go to the video shoot. I pulled him to the side, and I rapped for him. He actually liked the music to the point where he told Schoolboy Q to come listen to me rap. That was dope. He’s in the middle of a video shoot, and he’s telling other people to listen to me rap.
From there I met Willie B – the producer of his “Rigamortis” track. Willie B shared the word throughout the whole TDE camp about us over here on the East Coast. They took a liking to the music. That’s how all the connections came about.
On your “Social Network” track there’s a line talking about guys wearing tight jeans to fit in. What’s your opinion on rappers wearing outfits like leggings and dresses?
That’s a bar from my boy Denzil’s verse, so you would have to ask him about it. But I’ll give you my outlook on it. I’m not into all of the crazy tight s**t. I think that certain fitted looks is okay for certain people. As fashion transforms, people have to adapt to that, especially the artists. They have to build that image, and they have to look like they’re in style and up to date. So I do understand them doing that as far as the fitted look.
I don’t agree with all the too tight stuff, the skirts, and all that other stuff. But I do understand where they’re coming from when they do it, because I do understand the fashion world to a certain degree. For me, I don’t do it, but I don’t knock anybody that does it.
You address gun violence on “Magazine Vs Magazine.” What do you think can be done to combat the ongoing street violence in many inner-city communities?
I believe that certain artists that do come from urban areas should really give back more, but not just monetary, also their own efforts to create programs or build certain facilities that’s based on a positive outcome for the youth.
I understand that if you come from a crazy place, and that’s the content in your music, and that’s what you know then that’s what you’re going to talk about. You’re telling people what you know, so I can’t knock them for saying what they know. But I do expect them to realize when they get to a certain level that they can help other people, then it’s kind of their duty to do that. You’re going to help someone else come from the area you’re from to be successful.
I just really feel like the successful people that come from the ghetto should come back and build programs and a message with those programs about positivity. I think that’s the thing that is really going to make the most impact.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
In five years, I would like to be the most prominent music production company in the music business. Not just the Hip Hop genre, but all genres overall. I would like to build this ReeLife Music Group brand to be one of the most unique music production brands in the music business. Not just music production. We’re going to do video production and short films. We’re going to get into the fashion area as well. It’s a very unique brand built by a couple of young kids from The Bronx.
I’m going to be doing so many different business ventures, but in the sense of music in five years that’s where I see myself – ReeLife being a global music/entertainment brand. I’m only 24 right now. By the time that happens I’ll be 30-years-old, so imagine the kid being 30 running the most influential music production company. That’s a big statement to make. People don’t start doing things that early, especially running your own company and building a vision for that. So that’s where I see myself in five years.
ReeLife Members Euro League, MP Williams & Doley Bernays (photo credit: Christopher Gabello)
(AllHipHop News) When people take their job too seriously, others tend to get unfairly treated. This past Sunday (April 13th), an aspiring gay rapper from Florida was kicked out of a rec basketball game after it was discovered he was HIV positive.
According to The Orlando Sentinel, Dakota Basinger is a 21 year old aspiring rapper whom spoke on being HIV positive on his personal Facebook account a week prior to the Kissimmee rec basketball game. During halftime of the playoff game, after playing in the league for eight weeks, Basinger was removed from the game by a worker at the recreational center, allegedly at the request of the city:
The guy from Kissimme Park Recreation, he basically came up to me and was like ‘are you HIV positive?’ I said ‘Yeah, I’m HIV positive. Why? What’s going on?’ He said ‘Well, you are no longer allowed to play. The City told us that you are no longer allowed to play.’
Hours after the ejection, Basinger took to his personal Twitter account to voice his frustrations:
Just got through out of a basketball game for being HIV+
A city spokesperson informed the Orlando Sentinel that Basinger was removed by a part-time whom “acted independently and without supervisor approval.” While the city has “taken corrective action to ensure this does not happen in the future” and Basinger is allowed to play at the rec center again, the part time employee still works at the center as well.
Basinger is an aspiring rapper whom contracted HIV by having unprotected sex with another man.
Check out Basinger’s interview regarding the incident:
On April 21, Adult Swim’s The Boondocks will kick off its fourth and final season. After enduring some pretty incredible—and incredibly hilarious—adventures over the past three seasons, this final one promises to take Granddad Freeman and his two roguish grandsons, Huey and Riley, to new comedic heights with their exploits. To celebrate the show’s fantastic run, a number of its very talented fan/friends got together to curate a Boondocks-inspired mixtape. Hosted by DJ Drama and the Aphiliates, the mixtape features some amazing up-and-coming artists from across the country, including Two-9, Lil Herb, Skeme and Troy Ave., as well as the new single The Boonies, written and performed by Killer Mike and produced by Alchemist.
(AllHipHop News) According to Snoop Dogg, “the coolest game in the hood” is first person shooter Call of Duty: Ghosts. Today (April 16th) it was announced that Snoop Dogg’s legendary voice will be downloadable on the game.
Exclusively for XBOX and XBOX 360, the Snoop Dogg voiceover pack will feature Snoop Dogg quipping such lines as “homie’s out the joint. It’s party time.” during multiplayer gameplay. According to Snoop, Call of Duty is hood approved:
What interested me most about the project is that my voice could be connected with a game that’s so hip, that’s so hood.
The Snoop Dogg voiceover pack will be available for download on April 22nd for $2.99 and will be joined by Blunt Force Personalization Pack.
Check out Snoop Dogg record some of his voiceover and speak on his involvement below:
(AllHipHop News) A dropout speaking to the graduates. P. Diddy is set to give the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony at Howard University.
In addition to giving the commencement speech, Diddy will be given an honorary doctorate in Humanities. Diddy will receive his degree over 20 years after he dropped out of Howard University in 1990 with a business major.
The Howard University commencement is set to take place on Saturday, May 10th starting at 10 A.M.
