(AllHipHop News)Cipha Sounds’ Take It Personal Hip Hop Improv Show has provided some of the best unheard Hip Hop stories this summer. Jim Jones almost was killed by Farrakhan’s minions, DJ Premier had oral sex with a chick at the same time and in same room as Notorious B.I.G. and so much more. This past Friday (August 23rd) Trinidad James stopped by the show and filled the packed crowd in on a recent run in with the law that ended quite hilariously.
Trinidad has Green Card issues but that was the last of his worries during a recent tour stop in Canada for the Under The Influence tour.
Cipha Sounds’ Take It Personalis held every Friday at 9pm at the UCB Theatre which is located on 153 E 3rd St in New York City.
Check out Trinidad James explain how his sh*t ended up in the hands of narcotic-searching French Canadian police officers:
“Middle America packed in/Came to see me and my black skin.”
(AllHipHop News) In the matter of 48 hours, Miley Cyrus has twerked on a man in relationship on national television, caused ABC to report on the “science” of twerkign and according to reports, has helped out a Black Skin Head.
According to The Daily News’ Page Six, Miley Cyrus’ reps state that the 20 year old singer bailed on her own MTV Video Music Awards afterparty at No. 8 to head to a “top secret” collaboration. Rumors have been swirling that Miley’s top secret collaborator was none other than Kanye West who was noticeably absent from Jay Z and P. Diddy’s VMA afterparty.
The two reportedly recorded a remix to West’s abrasive rock-rap “BLKKK SKKKN HEAD” off of his latest album, Yeezus.
The remix will reportedly appear on a remix EP from Kanye West which may drop later this year.
(AllHipHop News) Nearly 75% of the United States prison population is made up of black males (1.5 million people). Philadelphia native and The Roots associate Dice Raw is making an effort to support some of those black men after they have served their time in prison and help prevent other black boys from becoming future inmates by establishing August 29th as “M.I.A. (Mass Incarceration Awareness) Day.”
Dice partnered with Black Male Engagement (BMe) to create the Philly event being held in Mayor Michael N#####’s Reception Room at City Hall. There will be a panel discussion focusing on lessening the overwhelming number of African-American men that are sent to prison each year.
“The purpose of the event is to minimize the negative conversations about Black males and the prison system and to maximize the positive conversations about Black males who were in the prison system and are now dedicating their life in making a difference for the next generation,” read a statement about M.I.A. Day. “Panel organizers hope to help the community stop talking about issues and begin the conversation around existing solutions.”
Panelists confirmed to appear include:
Mike Gross (Master of Ceremony) Tayyib Smith (Moderator) Shaka Singhor (Guest Speaker) Author, BMe Detroit Winner, Founder of The Atonement Project Will Little (Guest Speaker) Poet, and Founder of Poetree N Motion Dice Raw, Producer/Performer for the Grammy Award-winning Hip-Hop band, The Roots. Joseph Douglass, Mentor, Employment Coordinator for Impact’s Ex-Offender and Parenting of Services Dept. Aja Beech, Author & Board Member, Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Biz Porter, Marketing Guru & Hip-Hop Historian; Ex-Felon Reuben Jones, Founder and President of Frontline Dads KDot, Performing Artist; Ex-Felon
Dice Raw will also screen his documentary Jimmy’s Back: The Men Behind The Music at M.I.A. Day.His upcoming album Jimmy’s Back will feature appearances from several rap artists that have been incarcerated. The project was inspired by Michelle Alexander’s book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
(AllHipHop News) While the dance now known as “twerking” has been a part of rap music’s vocabulary for years (ie the Ying Yang Twins’ 2000 hit “Whistle While You Twurk,” the ultimate ass shaking anthem Juvenile’s 1999 classic “Back That Thang Up,” and almost every song ever recorded by Luke & 2 Live Crew) it took a former Disney star for twerking to officially go mainstream.
Miley Cyrus’ much talked about VMA performance over the weekend and her viral videos that took over the internet earlier this year have made the pop star the face of “twerking” for Middle America and apparently Great Britain as well. The British Oxford Dictionaries Online has added the term to its database after the word has become more visible on major media outlets and social media over the last 12 months.
twerk (v.): to dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance
“There are many theories about the origin of this word, and since it arose in oral use, we may never know the answer for sure,” said Oxford Dictionary’s Katherine Connor Martin. “We think the most likely theory is that it is an alteration of work, because that word has a history of being used in similar ways, with dancers being encouraged to ‘work it.’ The ‘t’ could be a result of blending with another word such as twist or twitch.”
Twerk will be joined by other new entries like “selfie,” “digital detox,” and “badassery.” While under the same umbrella, Oxford Dictionaries Online is not the same as the more traditional Oxford English Dictionary. The OED is historically based as opposed to modern-day usage.
(AllHipHop News) First he played the man who broke professional baseball’s color barrier in 42, and now Chadwick Boseman will star as another legend in a James Brown biopic. Producer Brain Grazer has been trying to get a film about the Godfather of Soul off the ground since 2001. Several actors have been attached to the project in the past including Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes, but it was Boseman that was finally tapped to play Brown, one of the most sampled artists in Hip Hop history.
The untitled movie will follow the “I Got You (I Feel Good)” singer’s career from his childhood in Georgia to international stardom. The script was written by Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. The Help‘s Tate Taylor will direct, and rock icon Mick Jagger will serve as a producer. The entire movie will be filmed in Taylor’s home state of Mississippi.
Before Chadwick played Jackie Robinson in 42, the 31-year-old actor starred in the television series Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown as well as guest roles on Cold Case, Castle, and Fringe.
(AllHipHop News) John “Illa J” Yancey and Frank Nitt, collectively known as the Yancey Boys, are planning to release a new LP titled Sunset Blvd, but what makes this album special is that all the production on the project will be covered by Illa J’s legendary brother J Dilla.
The beats for Sunset Blvd are taken from Lost Scrolls, a collection of Dilla’s records and tapes discovered by a record store owner after his death. The Yancey Boys recruited T3 of Slum Village, Posdnuos of De La Soul, and SlimKid3 of The Pharcyde for the project. The first single “Quicksand” features Common and Dezi Paige.
(AllHipHop News) Drake and long-time production partner Noah “40″ Shebib spoke with Rolling Stone magazine about the Young Money rapper’s upcoming album Nothing Was The Same.
Nahright reports that in the RS feature 40 and Drake give some insight into a couple of tracks like “Tuscan Leather” the opening cut on the LP. The song contains a Whitney Houston sample that 40 flipped three different ways. 40 says fans will be getting a new vibe from Drake on his third LP.
“It’s a huge change in tone. Before, Drake was a nice guy. Here, he’s stepping up the attitude and playing hardball,” said 40.
Drake further adds to the impression that his rap skills on NWTS will be stellar. According to Drizzy the song “Paris Morton Music II” is a track that even had one of his rap peers in awe.
“That track excites me from a rap standpoint, just getting off bars and different flows,” said Drake. “I played it for J. Cole, on some rap buddy-buddy sh*t, and he was like, ‘Damn!’”
Drake has already released the singles “Started From The Bottom” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home“. It has also been announced that Jay Z and Lil Wayne will appear on the album as well.
Jay Z and Diddy came together to promote D’usse and Ciroc Amaretto, at PhD at Dream Downtown. A bunch of celebrities turned out to support the event, including Rihanna, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Pharrell, Machine Gun Kelly, Meek Mill, Russell Simmons and a bunch of others.
Diddy grabbed the mic and toasted everyone who attended the event, and wished a happy birthday to his girlfriend, Cassie.
(AllHipHopNews) J. Dilla’s uncle, Herman Hayes, known to fans as “Uncle Herm” is opening a new doughnut shop in Detroit this fall. The new shop, Dilla’s Delights, will serve the legendary producer’s favorite snack, along with coffee and tea. Uncle Herm is a former baker and brother of Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, Dilla’s mom, and the founder of Yancey Boys Music Group and The J. Dilla Foundation.
Dilla’s Delights is located on the ground floor of the Ashley, formerly known as the Milner Hotel, where Dilla lived briefly as a child. The 800-square foot space will serve doughnuts that use all organic ingredients. Dilla’s Delights will also feature vinyl spinning of songs produced by Dilla, and the artists he sampled.
The shop will feature 20-plus varieties of doughnuts whose names pay tribute to the Dilla’s legacy, including, the Conant Gardens Glaze, the Fantastic Fritter, and McNasty Macaroons.
Donuts was the title of J. Dilla’s final album produced and recorded from the producer/rapper’s deathbed. “I want to honor my nephew in the right way, and this is a good way to do it,” Hayes says. “Not by putting out another album, but putting a sustainable business with his name on it that I plan on being in Detroit long after I’m gone. It’s just what I can give back to him for giving us that music.”
Dilla’s Delights is scheduled to open in October or November.
(AllHipHop News) Producer Mouse on the Track is planning the next level of his career, now that he is out of his recording contract Trill Entertainment.
While Mouse and Trill Entertainment seem to have parted ways amicably, the producer left the label due to “bad business” practices.
“I signed as an in-house producer, but a contract can be perfect and everything can be all good and fair,” Mouse told AllHipHop.com. “What’ll make a contract go bad is when somebody doesn’t abide by it. I’d say I did about 90% of it, pretty much everything that was on the charts and radio was pretty much me but all the money didn’t reflect that.”
It was Mouse’s production that helped craft the sound of Trill Entertainment.
Mouse on the Track spent over 10 years with Trill Entertainment as the in-house producer for the label, producing hits like “Wipe Me Down,” by Boosie and Webbie,”Independent B***h,” and a variety of hits by Bun B., Pail Wall and others.
“I wouldn’t just put myself in a box, but the sound that I made popular is that Baton Rouge bounce, with the layered synths, intense high hats, rich key boards, hits and stabs along with heavy drum patterns, that fun club gangsta sound in one mix.
“It’s a mixture of Lil Jon, KLC, a big mixture of Mannie Fresh, some Pimp C, all the stuff I grew up listening to, all combined and that’s pretty much what all producers do is take music they’re fans of and put their own twist on it,” Mouse continued. “It even has a little soul from the church I guess, it just sits well with people because they can feel it.”
Mouse on the Track is working on new music with Juvenile, Rocko, Kevin Gates, Lil Cali and others.
I hope Judge Joe Brown knows better and wasn’t driving. Whatever this dude was drinking I need some. He has some bad ass babes with him, LOL! If we were on the street, I don’t know if I’f recognize him until he started speaking. And speak he did while drinking a DOUBLE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE!! Judge Joe Brown grabs up to FINE jawns and proceeds to talk all kinds of PIMPIN’!! You won’t believe it, so here are the Top 5 quotes from his craziness.
1. When a bystander says “Not guilty Judge..” “F**k that s**t. I did that s**t 20 years ago. I do not do that bulls**t anymore.”
2. “You talking about an olllld man, who’s a baadddd motherfu**er”
3. After hugging two women…”Make an old man feel like a goood motherfu**er”
4. Tells a girl she’s bonafied “LTYJ” a “luscious. tender, young, juicy.” “Pretty women are insecure…like this one and that one..”
5. On if he would look a bystander out if he was his judge: “I aint playing a judge. I am playing his fu**ing lordship. Come forth peasants…”
While Hip-Hop fans wait for the highly anticipated Get Home Safely by Leimert Park’s own, Dom Kennedy, this past week Dom took time to celebrate his birthday in epic fashion at WILDLIFE in Hollywood with his OPM family. Dom’s birthday celebration included a special guest DJ set by Scoop Deville. Resident DJ’s Morse Code, Dre Sinatra, WaldoRules, Mark Marcelo & Gark all spun hit after hit in what is an additional private venue inside the widely popular club Sound in the heart of Hollywood’s nightlife scene.
(AllHipHop News) Maybach Music Group’s compilation album Self Made 3 is set for release on September 17th, and the Atlantic Records imprint has now released the official tracklist for the LP.
MMG members Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Gunplay, Rockie Fresh, Stalley, and Omarion will all make appearances. The set will also include features from J. Cole, Pusha T, Birdman, Fabolous, French Montana, Lupe Fiasco, Hit-Boy, Yo Gotti, and more.
(AllHipHop Features) Many Hip Hop fans have been looking forward to the reformation of the Grammy winning group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. As one of the culture’s most influential acts of all time, Bone Thugs have made a mark on music that cannot be denied. All five original members are set to hit the stage in their hometown of Cleveland on August 28 and will also be joined by a virtual version of their mentor Eazy-E at this year’s traveling Rock The Bells Festival.
AllHipHop recently chatted with Bizzy Bone to talk about various topics related to Bone Thugs like whether a full reunion album is on the way, their mission to make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, rumored issues between the members, and more.
AllHipHop.com: You guys have the Rock the Bells Festival coming up, and you’re performing with a hologram of Eazy E. Have you had the chance to rehearse with the hologram yet?
Bizzy Bone: That’s what we’re gonna be doing two weeks prior to the first performance. It’s going to be monumental.
What’s the status of the Bone reunion album?
Right now we’re really doing a single thing where we put out our singles, the first one “Everything 100″, and we have a site for just putting out some really cool stuff. We’re really just hitting YouTube, hitting the airwaves. Seeing if it works. We don’t want to say we’re gonna do something and not do it. Let’s just see if it works. Let’s see if we still have what it takes to do another great record together. Not being locked in. That’s the mind state. Besides that the five-year plan to get to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That’s what we’re focused on right now as far as a unit and a team. We have a goal. That’s Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s goal for the next 4-5 years, and see if something materializes in the studio, because we’re there. We’re around each other more now. Something’s bound to happen.
Speaking of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Like you mentioned you guys have five more years until you’re eligible. That same year you have a few other Hip Hop acts that’s going to be eligible as well like Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop. Why do you think voters that select who’s going to be enshrined in the hall should cast a vote for Bone Thugs?
They got to know that each one of the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members are so humble. That the we carry ourselves is mainly “If don’t nobody want you. We do anyway.” So it’s all in friendly competition with all of our peers. Some of them older, some of them younger. We’ve sold a ton of records, made a lot of money. That’s where we stand on that issue in my view.
That competitive nature in Hip Hop had been gone for a while. Do you feel like that competition is needed in the game?
If it’s friendly competition.. I mean with Jay Z and Nas, them dudes made it okay to go at it, battle and not kill each other, so I think it’s okay. Depends how you call somebody out. If you calling somebody out like Pac did Biggie or Biggie did Pac, okay then that’s a different thing, or if you calling out somebody out like Jay Z called out Nas. It was clearly I want to battle rap you on wax. That was clearly what Jay Z was saying to Nas. Now we’re smart enough to know don’t kill one another.
We need that kind of calm vibe out here for these kids to be honest with you. We need brothers up there in friendly competition and not really gunning for each other. Getting these kids to enjoy that on a clean level. It’s like playing football.
Bone had the chance to record with both Biggie and Pac. I believe you guys were the only ones?
I think back in our time we were the only ones, and then I think later on people where able to get verses from them for different stuff. Like Eminem did stuff with them afterwards. When it first happened, yeah.
Where you guys actually in the studio with them when you did those recordings?
Definitely, to see Pac perform phenomenal. To see Biggie watch us do our thing and then do that project afterward, phenomenal. These guys were phenomenal artists and people. Let’s not get in twisted. They’re not just stars in the sky or whatever anybody may think of them now. These were actual cool people, just really good guys in general. Just a phenomenal moment. Talent beyond you could ever expect or imagine from other artists. All of our generations have those, and those two are definitely legends, along with Big Pun. Just that whole school of people. You noticed how it was all the good artists that got taken?
Do you have any plans to do another solo album?
I’m always working, but I want to be group oriented first. If the group ain’t really doing anything I talk to the group and say, “Hey, this my music out here. Who do you guys know that I can talk to as far as who I can get for a record or mixtape if you’re not working with them? Give me one of your contacts to see if I can do something phenomenal.” That’s kind of like how Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is. We share all of our contacts that we have with people that we need. We’re family, but people don’t know that. And you know what, they don’t have to, because at this point we just want to give them great music.
You have to hear the rumors about tension in the group…
It’s five brothers from the Midwest. It’s gonna be some tension. It’s gonna be some fighting. It’s just gonna be that without alcohol. Just normal business. “I don’t want to make this move. Well I do.” You’re gonna get stuff like that. It’s up to us to hash all that out, or separate for a couple of months, because we’re p##### off and then meet back up. “Look I still wanted to do that deal.” The next guy says, “well I didn’t.” Alright, well let’s go and find something else. Its’ kind of like that. It ain’t as drastic as people are thinking. It ain’t like this big explosion where everybody gets mad. Nah, a brother go to his own house for a couple of months and get things out and meet back up like okay let’s go find something else. So that’s how men of Bone gets things accomplished.
Well, I’m glad you cleared that up because every so often you hear things like “they’re breaking up again” or “they’re fighting and such-and-such is not happening now.”
You got to understand when you have major deals on the table and major money on the table, and you have one of your brothers who could possibly help you make that deal even better decide not to do it, it’s always gonna be a sit down like “Why don’t you want to do this?” and [their response is], “I just don’t want to right now. That’s not where my mind at.” So those are the kind of conversations that we have with things that happen in business. A lot things don’t get accomplished, but a lot of things do.
From some of the mistakes some of us may make as far as not taking this deal or that deal, we learn from that. Sometimes we make a big decision by not agreeing, plus we’re not doing it anyway if we don’t agree. That’s how we get down. People got to understand that. We’re like true brothers that made it together. So we always come back to each other.
We’re always on the road. We’re trying to work half of the year, so we can keep things together for the children. That’s what we’re on the road for to get things moving. Why the f*ck sit down and not make something of yourself? Why sit down on publishing? We’re trying to get up and get it moving for people to see us again, enjoying what we doing. That’s where we are.
A couple of months ago Krazyzie said that you guys are working with Kendrick Lamar and Wiz Khalifa. Have those tracks been finalized?
Krazyzie Bone finalizes all of his stuff. That’s one thing that Krazyzie Bone is known for in the group. He does remarkable guest appearances and when it’s going through one particular member they usually request another member through that member. We just kind of wait for it to see when those guys… Personally, I haven’t heard anything from them as far as that. As far as Wiz, he’s a really cool guy. I had the opportunity to meet him, but Kray Bone has to be leading that charge right there. But of course if it’s good music I’m with it. If it’s a hot twelve lines or something I can do to compliment the song I’m cool with that too. Besides that I haven’t heard anything personally.
Does each member have their own niche in the group that they take on as their role?
The coolest dynamic of our group is that simple with all five of us with any contacts we get outside of each other we bring back to the table. So just imagine the number of contacts and business people, all different from five different directions. That’s sort of how we do it. We just help each other. Each and every time if it’s a way for each other to make more money, that’s just what we do. Why have two of us when you can have all of us? That’s how we get down.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will be performing at Peabody’s Concert Club in Cleveland on Wednesday, August 28 and at the Rock The Bells Festival this fall. For more information visit www.ticketmaster.com.
