(AllHipHop News) This year will be the 10th anniversary of the release of Jay-Z’s seminal The Black Album. The names on the production credits for that LP read like a first-ballot induction list for a Hip-Hop Producers Hall of Fame. Timbaland, The Neptunes, Kanye West, Rick Rubin, Just Blaze, and DJ Quick all contributed tracks to what Jay presented as his “retirement album.”
There was also a relative newcomer that made the album as well, and since then North Carolina’s 9th Wonder has become one of the most sought after beatmakers in urban music.
Recently 9th sat down with Life+Times to discuss how he hooked up with HOVA and the process for making the R. Kelly sampled track “Threat” for The Black Album.
“‘A Woman’s Threat’ by R. Kelly is a very slow song,” says 9th. “I had to really challenge myself and say ‘ok how can I take this song and instead of time-stretching it, smush it and make it fit an upbeat tempo?'”
9th also talks about Jay requesting that he keep a “New York bounce” on the record.
“The New York bounce is when the swing is all the way up and it’s the boom-bap sound which was originated by DJ Premier and Pete Rock and Marley Marl,” explains 9th. “It’s kind of a derivative, or a play off of, or a descendant of ‘Impeach The President‘.”
Prior to working with Jay-Z on “Threat,” 9th Wonder was best well-known for producing Little Brother’s entire debut album The Listening that was released several months before The Black Album in 2003. 9th also produced every track on the Hip Hop trio’s (9th, Phonte, and Big Pooh) 2005 underground classic The Minstrel Show.
9th Wonder has also worked with Chris Brown, J. Cole, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar, and many others. In 2012 he released two collaborative albums- The Solution with Buckshot of the Boot Camp Clik and The Final Adventure with Los Angeles emcee Murs.
9th also released the remix album Black American Gangster in January. The 14-track project features Jay-Z’s vocals from the American Gangster LP over revamped soul samples from the 1970’s.
Hot off the presses. I got this straight from the boss Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur. He hosted a conversation with Joe Budden at the Apple Store this evening in New York. Welllllll….some stuff came out of that conversation and it was revealed that Joe Budden isn’t likely to revive his Mood Muzik mixtape series. You know MM is one of the dopest series ever for a rapper and it really kept Joe hot in the streets until things settled down at the label. No more of them? Its not looking good! (Continued below.)
Joe also documented how he averted a beef with Lil Wayne and YMCMB. That lead to the situation where Wayne appears on the new album, No Love Lost, with “Put It Down.” Cool beans. It would be cool to get a new Mood Muzik, but Joe said that all of his songs these days are Mood Muzik. So, cop that album!
(AllHipHop News) Nick Cannon might not have been old enough to drink milk alone when convicted drug kingpin “Freeway” Rick Ross was at his height, but now he will be able to see what is like to be a major dealer in a new film.
The charismatic comedian/rapper/actor/host will depict the street legend in the “real Rick Ross'” upcoming biopic, as well as being installed as Executive Producer of the movie.
While on the surface some may believe Nick Cannon seems like an odd choice to play a drug lord, the man born Ricky Donnell Ross believes it was perfect.
“I chose Nick based on a few factors. The role is 17-25 in age, many of our award-winning actors are much older than that range. Nick is a guy who captures my character when I was in custody in San Diego.”
More shocking than the fact that the former Nickelodeon star was Ross’ own choice is the fact that he made that choice over 15 years ago.
In a YouTube clip with him and Cannon announcing the partnership, Ross says he has wanted Cannon to play his role since 1996 when he was only 16.
Ross also said him and Cannon will be working together with his non-profit organization, Freeway Literacy Foundation. The film will be directed and written by acclaimed filmmaker Nick Cassavetes.
“Freeway Ricky Ross is a living American legend. A modern day street genius. To not know his story is to not understand our country, how it works, what it needs, and what it will do to get it,” Nick Cassavetes told AllHipHop.com in a previous interview. “From his modest Los Angeles beginnings to his meteoric rise to the top of the drug world, Rick’s ‘hustle’ was unparalleled in modern history….but when that government was done with him, it locked him up and left him as the fall guy responsible for the destruction of an entire community.”
The as-of-yet untitled biopic will detail Ross’ involvement in the drug trade of the 80’s, his incarceration and more. According to Ross himself, there will be no glorification of the drug trade and the lifestyle associated with it in an attempt to present an honest tale:
“This story will be real, and show how the War on Drugs took young kids and turned them into criminals and set them for prison practically over night. It’s not just an LA story my reach was across the nation into black, white, and all communities regardless of class. Our goal is to tell the truth, not a vanity piece.”
Ross seems to be determined to shed light on the inner workings and corruption of the drug trade as he also has a new documentary slated for release entitled Cracks In The System.
Directed and produced by Emmy award-winning documentarian Marc Levin, Crack In The System will delve into the mechanics of the old and new crack laws, the failed War on Drugs and even include commentary from Snoop Dogg, Warren G and more. Crack In The System is set to debut in the fall.
Check below for video of Nick Cannon and “Freeway” Rick Ross announcing their partnership for the biopic:
On February 12, Quadeer “MC Spice” Shakur, the Minister of Information for the Zulu Nation, sent an open letter to Lee “Q” O’Denat, the founder and CEO of the video streaming website Worldstarhiphop.com, contending that the content on WSHH does not accurately reflect the true principles of Hip-Hop culture.
Now Hip-Hop pioneer and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Grandmaster Melle Mel of the legendary rap group Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five has teamed with the Zulu Nation to pressure Worldstar to remove all references of “Hip-Hop” from their site.
Melle Mel and Shakur spoke with AllHipHop.com about the Zulu Nation’s ongoing petition and boycott of WorldStar and other items they view are misrepresenting the foundation that the culture of Hip-Hop was built upon.
“I think Worldstarhiphop has given young people a platform to exhibit horrible behavior toward other young people and toward the community at large, and they promote it like that has something to do with Hip-Hop,” says Melle Mel.
“They know for a fact just using the word ‘Hip-Hop’ is going to garnish some attention,” says the Zulu Nation’s Shakur. “They know exactly what they’re doing.”
The Universal Zulu Nation began in New York City in 1973 as a way to counteract the gang culture that had infested urban neighborhoods. Founded by Hip-Hop icon DJ Afrika Bambaataa, the Zulu Nation is now an international organization with branches in countries like France, Japan, South Korea, South Africa and others.
Hip-Hop as a culture was created by artists like Bambaataa, The Furious Five, Coke La Rock, and DJ Kool Herc to stop inner-city gang violence amongst Black and Latino youth. The culture is transmited around the world by the four basic elements of DJing, emceeing, graffiti art, and break dancing, and the fifth element of knowledge.
“Hip-Hop came out of gang culture into the culture of music,” says Melle Mel. “That’s the greatest thing that Hip-Hop brought to the black community. It brought us out of an oppressive situation.”
“People do know the difference between Hip-Hop culture and the word ‘Hip-Hop’ that has been loosely used,” says Shakur. “The only people who don’t know the difference unfortunately is the impressionable youth.”
Both Melle Mel and Shakur mentioned a recent video that was uploaded to WSHH as an example of the improper acts being exhibited by young people in the name of “Hip-Hop” that they feel are being promoted by WorldStar.
In the particular video, a teenager is forced to strip naked as another individual beats him with a belt. Other people in the background can be heard laughing and seen tossing water on the victim. Three people have since been arrested by Newark, New Jersey police officers and charged with aggravated assault and robbery.
Melle Mel believes that WorldStar should also take responsibility for perpetuating violence like the one displayed in the video of the young man being whipped by a belt.
In many of the videos posted to WSHH the individual filming can be heard yelling “Worldstar” as they videotape various violent attacks including staged bouts between teenagers.
“Worldstarhiphop is literally breaking the law on a daily basis when they’re showing assaults, and that could have been considered child pornography,” says Mel. “They’re just throwing it up there like it’s something funny. They are going to be held responsible as far as the law is concerned.”
Beyond arguing that WorldStar is contributing to illegal acts being committed by young people, Shakur also takes offense to the idea that the website in any way represents true Hip-Hop culture.
“WorldstarHipHop has no respect, as far as I’m concerned, for our people and our music,” says Shakur. “If it was in fact just a site for what we call ‘entertainment’ then let it be known at the bottom of your page. Put some kind of disclaimer that you are not in fact involved in or a part of real Hip-Hop culture.”
As a member of the Universal Zulu Nation, Shakur promotes the four spiritual principles of Hip-Hop culture – peace, unity, love, and having fun.
“Go to [Worldstarhiphop] and tell me if you can find any four of those at once,” urges Shakur. “If you are not abiding by the four spiritual principles, those are the core values of Hip-Hop culture, then you’re not a Hip-Hopper.”
“WorldStarHipHop has no more to do with Hip-Hop then FedEx has to do with the Federal Government,” adds Melle Mel.
WorldStarHipHop.com was started in 2005 by Queens native O’Denat, and has become one the most viewed video blog sites on the internet averaging between 1-2 million unique viewers every day. In March of 2012 it was ranked as the 269th most visited site in the United States, and reportedly earns over $2.5 million a year.
The website presents user submitted videos that include footage of fights, pranks, and comedy sketches as well as promotional videos from music labels and news clips from around the world. Music videos submitted by both established artists and independent artists are shown as well.
Grandmaster Melle Mel points out that the procedure for a user to submit music videos to WorldStar is different from the procedure to submit amateur videos of violent acts.
“If you call them and talk to them about a Hip-Hop video they’ll charge you to put that video up, but if you send them a video of you kicking someone’s ass or the booty videos, they’re throwing them up for free,” says Melle Mel.
“They are calling themselves Hip-Hop, and they’re not doing nothing for the culture except raping the culture in order to make money,” adds Shakur.
According to reports, a non-established artist has to pay $500 to submit a music video, $1,250 for mixtape/DVD trailers, and $2,500 a day for their video to be placed in the featured space at the top of the site.
While label-backed artists do not have to pay for their content to appear on Worldstar, the site does make a significant profit from corporate sponsored advertisements.
“[Corporations] understand that the culture can get a whole group of people to move,” says Shakur. “So our people are moved to shoot, kill, rob, and rape. Their people are moved to excel, excel, and excel all based on the premise of real Hip-Hop culture.”
A “video agreement” posted on WSHH states that once a user has submitted a video WorldStar has the right to use that video in form and to license it out to other parties:
By submitting the video, you hereby grant Worldstar Hip
Hop and its parent company, Worldstar LLC,("Worldstar")theirrevocable right and license to duplicate, broadcast,
exhibit, transmit and exploit the video, or to allow Worldstart to grant sublicenses to third parties to duplicate, broadcast, exhibit, transmit and exploit the video, on theinternet, television, mobile platforms or other media
throughout the world.You agree that Worldstar shall not berequired to make any payment to you or anyone else in
exercise of the rights granted in this Agreement, and
acknowledge that you shall receive valuable consideration in the form of placement of and promotion of the video.
Worldstar has faced legal issues concerning copyright infringement in the past. A March 2011 Vibe magazine exposé revealed that the site was temporarily shut down in January of that year after a user filed a copyright complaint because WSHH did not credit him as the video’s creator. Worldstarhiphop.com was then subsequently shut down by the site’s server for a time.
So far no one from WorldStar has responded to the Zulu Nation’s request to remove the word “Hip-Hop” from its name and its site, but the Zulu Nation plans to take further action if WSHH representatives do not respond to Shakur’s letter within 30 days, including reaching out to political leaders.
Shakur also says that O’Denat or anyone from WorldStar is welcome to attend the Zulu Nation’s upcoming 40th anniversary events to discuss what Hip-Hop culture is and what it isn’t. But until then Melle Mel and the Zulu Nation will continue its effort to recapture the term “Hip-Hop” from those using it to represent music, media, or actions that are going against the culture’s core principles.
“We are not going to let it go,” says Melle Mel.
“If it’s ours, let what’s ours be ours. And you just take yours and just do whatever you want to do with yours,” says Shakur. “Do it with yours, but don’t do it with ours.”
AllHipHop.com attempted to reach out to Lee “Q” O’Denat for a comment for this story. As of the time this article was published, he could not be located.
Watch a video of Quadeer Shakur addressing Worldstarhiphop.com below.
I think this would make Marvin Gaye have a heart attack while singing “What’s Going On?”. Well just a year or so ago, George Lucas created the movie “Red Tails” and all the Tuskegee Airmen were praised. They were praised last year at the BET Honors and they were praised this year the Inauguration of Barack Obama. But, I guess Detroit has gone full lawless or the kids just don’t know any better. Jesse Rutledge is a Word War 2 vet and an American Hero. But he got car jacked, despite being 88-years-young. “He said n*gga give me your keys, and he racked his gun back. They [was] little guys, they had the hood on. That’s when I really got upset,” Rutledge WXYZ, a local station. The boys were about 13. And they relieved him of his 1999 Jeep Cherokee. They must not know the concept of waiting consequences and repercussions yet. They will in due time. They were all caught and arrested.
Here is a weekend where Bro. Jesse was honored.
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.
(AllHipHop News) Eccentric rapper CeeLo Green has been a Dungeon Family member, a cross dressing golden crooner and now a Las Vegas showman alter ego known as “Loberace.”
This past Saturday (March 2), the man of many faces began his elaborate two month Las Vegas show called CeeLo Green Is Loberace at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
The 90-minute show consists of acrobatic female dancers, 3-D graphics and a flamboyant wardrobe that would make Lady Gaga blush. Along with covering songs from music greats such as Rod Stewart, the show also will feature dazzling renditions of tunes from his extensive catalogue including “Crazy”, “Bright Lights, Big City” and “F-ck You”.
CeeLo’s last album, the Christmas-inspired disc A Magical Moment had a lukewarm reception and has sold under 200,000 compared to his 2010 Gold-certified The Lady Killer. That does not deter one of the most prolific Hip-Hop/R&B artists of the past five years already has two albums prepared to see 2013 releases. The highly anticipated Goodie Mob album Age Against The Machine and his own solo offering, CeeLo Green Is…Everybody’s Brother.
Check out footage of one of CeeLo performing as Loberace in Las Vegas with a flaming piano:
(AllHipHop News) RZA has officially landed his first regular role on a TV series with his inclusion on Fox’s drama pilot Gang Related.
The show centers around Ryan Lopez’s character, a gang member’s planned infiltration of the San Francisco Police Department Gang Task Force and his struggle to balance both identities. RZA’s character, Cassius is Lopez’s best friend on the Gang Task Force and becomes a cop after the quiet community response to his love interest’s murder.
RZA joins an accomplished cast which include The Fast & Furious screenwriter Chris Morgan, 8 Mile producer Brian Grazer, uncredited Dead Presidents producer Allen Hughes and a variety of other big names.
RZA is not new to having accomplished co-workers, as he has had a recurring role on Showtime’s Californication, co-starred with Denzel Washington in American Gangster and recently released his directorial debut, The Man With The Iron Fist in November of 2012 which included Lucy Lui, Eli Roth and Russell Crowe.
While the RZA brand begins its expansion in film and television, its Hip-Hop foundation continues to thrive. Almost half a year after RZA initially told The New York Times that he has been trying to spearhead a Wu-Tang album to celebrate the group’s 20th anniversary, Method Man gave confirmation on its creation.
During a March 1st performance, Method Man to the Los Angeles crowd “We got the Wu-Tang anniversary album coming up, we’re working on that now.” This comes after fellow Wu-Tang cohorts Raekwon and Ghostface Killah confirmed their interest in the project with the former only agreeing to partake in the highly anticipated album if “the business is right.”
(AllHipHop News) The No Limit Family legacy continues on as Master P’s daughter Cymphonique has become heavily involved in Dance for Change Unite: A Day of World Peace.
The initiative is dedicated to world peace as professional dance choreographers and dancers come together with inner city youth.
In promoting world peace and education through their mutual love for the art of dance, hundreds gathered to experience the many cultures of dance from Bollywood to Hip-Hop, salsa and modern dance.
While she is only 16-years-old, Cymphonique acts as CEO of Prestige Performing Arts Academy. Her mission is to promote peace through dance and will take her across the country to cities like New York, D.C. and part of Florida.
“It’s an honor to be surrounded by so many people who share the same passion for dance as me. Dance unites people of all ages and cultures, it brings people together. Our mission is to help educate the youth, keep them off the streets, safe from violence and promote peace not war through dance. Today, together we truly made a difference. We started in California and we will tour New York, D.C., Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana,” Cymphonique said.
Kicking off February 24th in Los Angeles, CA kids and their families celebrated with face painting, and the infamous clown dance entertainers Lil Tommy and his crew, and their youngest krumper, 3-year-old “Lady Bug”.
For more information, go to www.DanceForChangeUnite.org
Now, that Frank Ocean may not be pressing charges, but it seems that guy has a way of being passive aggressive with his disses. See, there is this thing called Tumblr and it is a blog that’s sort of like Twitter. You can like blog posts or re-blog them. Well, Frank’s blog is popular and a lot of people follow it. So, people were a bit shocked to see that he had “liked” a picture of Rihanna after Chris Brown beat her up brutally. Nobody really knows if it is a fake or not, but right now they are taking it as real. I don’t know, but I could see dude harboring some angst against Breezy since he and RiRi have something in common. I don’t know. Peep the screen shot. More CB / RiRi Rumors below….
DAMN!
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
Rumor has it, Deelishis actually jumped out of a window to avoid the rage of her drug dealing ex boyfriend. Reminds me of the rumors about Erick Sermon.
In 5 years, Rihanna says she wants to have a baby with Chris Brown.
Rihanna has added new security. No, it has nothing to do with Chris Brown and everything to do with her crazy fans, one of which attacked her recently.
Idris Elba has left the acting game for a bit to focus on his music.
A reason not to get that tat so fast per Iggy Azalea.
(AllHipHop News) West Coast veteran rapper Murs and his new group, The White Mandingos have announced the release of their debut full length album dubbed, The Ghetto is Tryna Kill Me.
The White Mandingos project also includes the work of Bad Brain founder Darryl Jenifer and Ego Trip co-creator Sacha Jenkins.
The album is a concept record that is told from the perspective of Tyrone White, a rock band frontman from Harlem’s Polo Grounds housing project.
Production from Jenifer and Jenkins on the project blurs the boundaries separating Hip-Hop, hardcore punk, metal, and R&B as the album confronts the issues of race and identity.
“I think a lot of folks will be able to relate to Tyrone and his struggles,” Jenkins says. “He feels misunderstood- by his women, his friends, his people. And that misunderstanding sometimes affects who he is and who he truly wants to be. Should he not be playing this music because he’s black? And who the hell is in the position to tell him what to do anyways?”
The Ghetto is Tryna Kill Me is set to be released on June 11th via Fat Beats.
TO HEAR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE DAILY WORD **CLICK HERE
Happy Monday my warriors of light! Welcome to the day that you continue to do what has to be done in order to get what you deserve out of live! Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to living your life intentionally! Success or failure is never an accident! Success or failure is not by coincidence! Success or failure will never be about luck or about what cards you are dealt! Success or failure is about the actions you intentionally put out! Are you doing what needs to be done to be a success or a failure? Your actions or lack there of will be the main thing that seals your fate! Who cares about what you’re about to do… You are either doing it or not! Someone who intends to be great isn’t really on that path unless they are DOING what it takes to get there! Imagine you intend to win a championship but never go to practice! Imagine you intend to take a flight out of the country and never buy a ticket! Or what if you intend to get a new job but never send out your resume! My point is that if you want success, stop intending to do it and simply go out and do what has to be done! Success is yours for the taking…. the only thing you need to do is make the decision that you are going to take it! Live Life Intentionally Because NOTHING can Stop YOU but YOU!! -Ash’Cash“What one does is what counts. Not what one had the intention of doing.” -Pablo Picasso
“The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts – it gives you what you demand with your actions.” -Steve Maraboli
“If you intend to change, decide what you want and live your life accordingly.” -Steve Maraboli
“The best way to insure you achieve the greatest satisfaction out of life is to behave intentionally.” -Deborah Day
“Determine the thing that can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.” -Abraham Lincoln
“Success doesn’t come to you; you go to it.” -T. Scott McLeod
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” -Epictetus
“Live your vision and demand your success.” -Steve Maraboli
After making his New York debut performance at SOB’s, Rikki Blu sat down with AllHipHop.com to discuss how NYC received him, what trickery police used to arrest him and what’s next for the rising star.
Ab-Soul ran through joints from his extensive discography, including “Pass The Blunt” from Long Term 2: Lifestyles of the Poor & Almost Famous as well as songs off of 2012’s critically acclaimed Control System.
His TDE brethren Kendrick Lamar goes through a few of his own joints as well as a rare New York performance of his and Soul’s Control System collaboration, “ILLuminate”.
