(AllHipHop News) Hitmaker Mike Will Made It has been drafting tracks for some of music’s biggest superstars lately, but perhaps none have been as big as Hip Hop legend Jay Z. Will worked with Jay on the song “Beach Is Better” off his latest album Magna Carta Holy Grail.
The song got a lot attention partly because of how brief the track is, and it left some listeners wondering if a full version is stashed on someone’s computer somewhere. Mike Will spoke with Revolt TV about whether fans can expect to hear more “Beach Is Better” verses, and he also shares his experience offering different tracks to Jay.
“Folks weren’t ready for that whole song,” says Mike.
(AllHipHop News) The February 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman has led to rallies, tribute songs, and economic boycotts. Now, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, is leading the charge to force legal changes across the country to hopefully help prevent another tragic situation like the death of Martin.
“The killing of Trayvon Martin is a heartbreaking tragedy, but his death must not be in vain. Trayvon’s Law will serve as the foundation for community advocates as they work to remove laws that contributed to his death and create new laws that with prevent future tragedies,” said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous in a statement.
Trayvon’s Law is a set of bills that will work to end racial profiling, repeal stand your ground laws, form effective civil complaint review boards to provide oversight of police misconduct, improve training for community watch groups, mandate law enforcement to collect data on homicide cases involving people of color, and address the “school to prison pipeline.”
The NAACP plans to push these bills at the local, state, and federal levels. The organization’s Florida State Conference will begin working to enact Trayvon’s Law in Florida immediately.
“We will not rest until Trayvon’s Law is fully implemented in our state,” added NAACP Florida State Conference President Adora Obi Nweze. “From a civilian oversight board of police to best practices for community watch volunteers, we will demand that the Governor and our legislators move quickly to adopt these principles before we are faced with another tragedy.”
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of AllHipHop.com
2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the Wu-Tang Clan. A vital act in the East Coast’s Hip-Hop resurgence of the mid-90s, the nine-man collective was a creative force to be reckoned with. The group’s ability to combine their kung-fu fascination and street life experiences over raw soundscapes was nothing short of extraordinary.
And as a result of the group’s prosperity, individual members also embarked on solo careers. After the success of projects by Method Man and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, along with Ghostface Killah, dropped Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… on August 1, 1995. Hip-Hop hasn’t been the same since.
As if Rae and Ghost’s rhymes over RZA’s board work, a purple cassette tape, and dialogue from The Killer isn’t already enough to make the release remarkable, the project is a concept piece about two people’s adventures in the underworld and their one last job before they get out. Cuban Linx is a crime epic that’s just as vivid as anything Carlito’s Way projected on a movie screen, and the power of it is still being realized. From the hustling themes of Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt to Kendrick Lamar’s narrative-driven good kid, m.A.A.d city, the influence of this 18-track collection can be found on those LPs as well as many others.
In recognition of Cuban Linx’s 18th birthday and the Wu’s 20th, I wanted to acknowledge what is, in my opinion, one of rap’s greatest albums. Even after two decades in the game, the Wu-Tang Clan still ain’t nuthin’ ta f**k wit and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… is one of the reasons why.
I love lyrics. And this album surpasses most in terms of its quality of organized words. There are so many I could quote, but a few in particular really stand out. Nas, Cuban Linx’s only guest emcee outside of the Wu, drops a stellar verse on “Verbal Intercourse” and leaves a lasting impression with his rhyme about how some women transport drugs. “Rooster heads profile on a bus to Riker’s Isle/Holdin’ weed inside they p***y.” However, it is during “Incarcerated Scarfaces” when Rae goes, “Me and the RZA connect, blow a fuse, you lose/Half-a** crews get demolished and bruised,” that a rap really says so much with so little.
Production-wise, it is some of Robert Diggs’ best work. Where Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers has a stripped down element to it, Cuban Linx clearly shows growth in RZA’s skills as a producer by comparison. The strings on “Knowledge God,” the Eddie Murphy sample on “Ice Cream,” and the violins on “Wu-Gambinos” are just a few examples of how the Wu-Tang sound had evolved. The music became more advanced. Where RZA’s beats were once suited for ciphers, it was on Cuban Linx that his instrumentals became capable of scoring cinema.
Conceptually, this recording does play like a movie too and that is what takes the album beyond just beats and rhymes. It is this cohesiveness that makes Cuban Linx a masterpiece. From the opener, “Striving for Perfection,” which sets up the plot to the album to “North Star (Jewels)”, the flawless closer that concludes the story with perils of wisdom from Papa Wu, everything is perfectly sequenced. While other rappers before Rae had told tales of the streets (most notably Kool G. Rap), Cuban Linx goes beyond storytelling, and has a screenplay quality to it that to this day remains unmatched.
This album is a document that extends beyond the 36 chambers. The music takes listeners on a journey of two hustlers who address all the dangers of the hood with as much potency as the drugs they are slanging. It’s a rough road traveled, and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… chronicles every bump along the way.
Respect due for one of the most complete albums in all of Hip-Hop history.
What do you think? Is the album a classic? How does it stack up against other Wu-Tang releases? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
Last year, our son Trayvon Martin was stalked, chased down and killed by George Zimmerman, and Zimmerman received no punishment whatsoever. That’s in large part because Florida is one of at least 21 states with some form of ‘Stand Your Ground’ law which enables people like George Zimmerman to claim self-defense.
‘Stand Your Ground’ was never meant to give aggressors the opportunity to get away with murder, but that is what happened when our son Trayvon was killed. After Trayvon’s death, law enforcement used the law as an excuse to refuse to arrest George Zimmerman. Even worse, the jury in the case was instructed to think of what Zimmerman did as self-defense, even though Zimmerman ignored instructions from the police and instigated conflict with our son, who was just trying to get home to his father.
We are shocked and heartbroken by the jury’s decision to allow our son’s killer to go free. Despite our despair, we must honor Trayvon’s legacy by doing all that we can to protect other young people from being targeted, pursued, and senselessly murdered.
We are not the only ones calling for ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws to be reviewed. President Obama spoke out on the need for review, and prominent Republicans like Senator John McCain have joined him. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it’s not ‘black’ or ‘white’ issue, it’s a wrong and right issue.
This is a matter of making sure that no other family will ever have to go through what we have been through. No parents should ever have to know what it feels like to watch your child’s killer walk free.
Our hearts broke on the night of February 26, 2012 when George Zimmerman killed our son — and we were stunned and devastated when the police refused to arrest Zimmerman. We petitioned for Zimmerman’s arrest on Change.org, and after more than 2 million people joined our call, Zimmerman was charged with our son’s murder. We felt so much closer to justice for Trayvon, and so grateful for the support of those who signed our petition.
But on July 13, 2013, our hearts broke again when the jury set Zimmerman free. Our hearts broke because it is so hard to accept that we can’t protect Trayvon anymore. But we can fight to make sure that this never happens again.
We want to say thank you to all of you who have stood up for our son. Because of all your efforts, Trayvon’s life is celebrated all over the world. Please continue to stand with us as we fight to ensure that his legacy is to leave behind a safer and more peaceful world for all our sons and daughters.
This is crazy as a mug and I wasn’t going to write about it, but the streets are hitting me up to mention it. Bossip broke this one, as far as this exclusive interview with G-Star. Here we go….she details the whole thing. And it sounds very true.
According to G-Star, Foxy was pressed to get her hair done for Summer Jam (where she never performed)
Here is the story direct from the Gen as told to BOSSIP:
SHE LOVED HER HAIR. She danced in the mirror and twirled around in circles like a child. She kept giving me hugs and telling me she would be taking me on tour when she drops her album. She told me this was the best weave she ever had and couldn’t believe how flat the braids were. She said I was an Angel with an amazing gift and that I had a wonderful spirit. She loved the fact that I was an out lesbian and said I will always stand out because of how open I am.
So after 30 minutes of the nonsense and twirling she went to the bathroom. I sent a text because to her she took her hearing aid out. I asked her how did she want to settle her bill.
She came out the bath room and started acting all erratic. And said that she couldn’t pay right there on the spot because she had to meet Jay Z at the Barclays Center. (I told her) “Every one told me you weren’t going to pay me”. She said “No I’m not doing anything. Just send the invoice to my management”. I said to her who is your management? -Why didn’t your management make your appointment then? You walked in the salon like regular customer. She said just Google the info for them and send the invoice. I said no. YOU need to pay me. She said gstar you’re a nice girl and I don’t want to embarrass us. Just send an invoice. I said no I want my money now Foxy. She grabbed her friend and started walking out the store. I followed her. I kept saying PAY me for my services.
I let her go because I didn’t want to cause a scene on the street.
I further contacted her to get payment as you can see from the photos I kept getting the run around.
This past Thursday I went to the corner store by the salon and saw her in there (St. Marks and Flatbush in Brooklyn, NY) I confronted her. And then I recorded the confrontation.
I then went back to the salon and finally filed a police report with the 78th pct. The report is for theft of services.
Take a look at the texts between Gen and Fox that led to the angry confrontation!
So Foxy is biting using Nicki Minaj’s hairstylist too?
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.
Justin Timberlake (and the Tennessee Kids) shakes off the controversy and releases the video for “Take Back The Night”, the first single from his second installment in the 20/20 Experience.
For this video, JT mixes street performances, club scenes and clips from him performing the song at Yankee Stadium while on his and Jay-Z’s Legends of the Summer tour.
(AllHipHop News) DMX seems to have hit a low point in this career with him filing for bankruptcy yesterday (July 29th). However, the 42 year old Hip Hop legend says the bankruptcy was to solve restrictions he’s had on obtaining a passport in a statement sent to AllHipHop by DMX’s publicist Domenick Nati:
“DMX’s financial strains have been inhibiting his career for several years. Poor financial management by prior representation have caused him to be ineligible to retain a passport. The purpose of this bankruptcy filing is for reorganization so he can perform for his fans oversees. We are currently planning a tour in Europe and Africa for the fall of 2013.”
DMX was set to embark on a European tour last year in promotion of his seventh studio album Undisputed.
