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Common Throwing Opening Pitch for Chicago White Sox; Hosting Annual Gala for Urban Youth

By: Jake CratesCategory: News

(AllHipHop News) South Side Chicago rapper, actor and philanthropist, Common, has a big weekend planned.

The rapper will throw the first pitch at the Chicago White Sox home opener at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday.

But the highlight of the rapper’s weekend will be later that evening, when Common hosts his yearly charity gala at the Ritz Carlton, in Chicago.

The proceeds benefit his Common Ground Foundation, which supports urban youth in need aged 13-15.

This summer, the foundation will host it’s annual Common’s Summer Youth Camp, at Camp Anokijig in Plymouth, WI.

The program at the summer camp is for 8th and 9th grade students from inner city Chicago and has an educational curriculum focused on life development skills and career opportunities in the music industry.

“I started the Common Ground Foundation because I wanted to help. Most of all help people to help themselves. I always believed that if we started with the youth then we would be planting the seeds for our future to blossom. Give the children a sense of hope, self-esteem, and love that will better the world,” Common explained on his website. “I think making a difference in the lives of others is life’s greatest purpose. I walk this path with faith knowing that the Common Ground Foundation will Change the World.”

While tickets for the event are sold out, space remains available for the after-party at the Chicago Illuminating Company.

The party wil feature music by long-time collaborators Twilite Tone and DJ Mark Fullaflava.

In the past few years the Common Ground Foundation has been recognized by CNN Heroes (2011) and the BET Hip Hop Awards (2010) as a philanthropic organization doing great work in urban communities.

To learn more about Common’s programs for his Common Ground Foundation, visit www.commongroundfoundation.org

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmYMHrki9KE?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

G-Dep’s Own Confession Could Ruin His Defense; Details Of Murder Revealed

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) Lawyers for G-Dep may have a hard time defending their client, due to his own videotaped admission to a 1993 shooting/murder.

G-Dep, born Trevell Coleman, is currently on trial for shooting a man named John Henkel during a botched robbery in 1993.

In December of 2010, G-Dep walked into the 23rd Precinct in New York and admitted to the shooting, as part of a drug rehabilitation program.

What G-Dep did not know, is that John Henkel died from his injuries.

G-Dep, who is currently on trial for Henkel’s murder, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

His defense lawyers claim that G-Dep did shoot somebody that evening, just not John Henkel, the man who died.

G-Dep’s lawyers claim that years of PCP use has clouded his memory.

But G-Dep’s confession was played to jurors during his trial yesterday (April 11).

A full copy of the confession hit the New York Post this morning.

The rapper said that he was 18-years-old and living with his grandmother when the shooting took place.

“I had a gun in the house and I brought it out one night,” G-Dep told police. “I got on my bike. My intent was to get some money and rob somebody.”

G-Dep said he saw a man standing on Park Avenue in Harlem, smoking a cigarette.

He approached the man with a .40 caliber handgun and demanded money from Hencle, who put his hands up.

Henkel attempted to grab the gun from G-Dep, who jerked the weapon away and shot him at point-blank range in the torso.

When Henkel attempted to grab G-Dep, the rapper jumped on his bike and rode away empty-handed.

Two days afterwards, G-Dep said that detectives in the area questioned him in passing, about the shooting.

Over 17 years later, G -Dep said a guilty conscience led him to confess to the shooting.

But G-Dep, who has pleaded not guilty to shooting Henkel, claims that he admitted to shooting someone else.

Prosecutors claim that G-Dep’s confession is too detailed and matches detectives records about the case.

G-Dep is facing 35-years to life in prison if he is convicted.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Nate Dogg Performing At Coachella From Beyond The Grave?

By: ginatorres27Category: Rumors

Fans at Coachella this weekend will be getting a very special visit from deceased rapper/crooner Nate Dogg at this years festival. Technology is allowing for a posthumous guest appearance from Nate Dogg on stage in the form of a HOLOGRAM!

Sources tell TMZ that Dr. Dre didn’t want to leave Nate out of his Sunday performance — so he’s incorporating his old friend using hologram technology … the same technology that broadcast Mariah Carey’s image across Europe last year … at 5 simultaneous concerts.

We hear an image of Nate will be projected onto the Coachella stage — alongside Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Warren G, and Daz Dillinger — to make it appear as though he’s actually performing on stage.

According to sources, Nate will perform several songs.

The singer passed away last March — just weeks before last year’s Coachella festival.

Daily Word: Keep Going Harder!!!

By: seandrasimsCategory: Lifestyle

Happy Thursday, my great ones!

Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to going harder! As I’ve said a million times before and will continue to say a million times over…. It’s always too early to quit! You do not become a failure by not reaching a goal; you become a failure by giving up!

As long as you have breath in your body, it is imperative that you continue to strive everyday to reach all of your goals! Those who give up are those who either don’t want their dream bad enough, or those who don’t believe that they can attain it!

Do not become any of these!! Understand that if you want something, then you have to work harder to get it! And at the moment you think you’ve given it your all…..give it some more! Everything you want in life WILL be yours if you keep going harder!!! As John Lennon once said, “Everything will be OK in the end; so if it’s not OK, then it’s not the end.”
-Ash’Cash

“If you’re not making waves, you’re not kicking hard enough.” -@IAmDiddy

“Chances are, if you have a plan B, you’re not working hard enough on plan A.” -Unknown

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.” -Napoleon Hill

“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” -Newt Gingrich

“Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working.” -Unknown

“If you work hard enough and assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires.” -Malcolm Gladwell

“Stay the course, light a star, Change the world where’er you are.” -Richard Le Gallienne

“If at first you do succeed, try something harder.” -Proverb

TO HEAR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE DAILY WORD – CLICK HERE.

Ash’Cash is a Business Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Financial Expert and the author of Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom. For more information, please visit his website, www.IamAshCash.com.

President Obama Says Kanye Still A “Jackass”

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

(AllHipHop News) President Barack Obama recently shared his opinion on his taste in Hip-Hop music and had some unflattering words for Kanye West.

President Obama was attending a fundraiser at Daniel, an upscale gourmet restaurant on Park Ave. in Manhattan, when a reporter for The Atlantic quizzed him on his Hip-Hop tastes.

According to President Obama, he prefers Jay-Z over Kanye West, “although I like Kanye,” Obama told The Atlantic. “He’s a Chicago guy. Smart. He’s very talented.”

But President Obama refused to backdown from comments he made about Kanye in 2009, while his microphone was live during an interview, without his knowledge.

In the new interview, The Commander-In-Chief has once again branded the Kanye West a jackass.

“He is a jackass,” Obama said in a new interview. “But he’s talented.”

President Obama also labeled the Grammy Award-winning producer/rapper a jackass in 2009, after he infamously interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Warren’s G-Funk: Possibly How The West Was (Re)Won

By: timsanchez818Category: Features

A year has gone by since we last caught up with Warren G, after the death of his longtime friend and collaborator, Nate Dogg. Over that period of time, Warren’s been busy laying down tracks and preparing for the release of the Warren G & Nate Dogg EP he spoke about in our last interview.

With the release of the EP nearing, AllHipHop.com caught up with Long Beach’s G-Funk maestro, for an update on all the music projects he’s been involved in, and even those erectile dysfunction pills that he was pushing last year. The G-Funk Era lives on!

AllHipHop.com: We spoke to you around this time last year after Nate Dogg passed away. How has life been for you since then?

Warren G: It’s been cool. I’m still missing my homeboy, but it’s been cool. I’ve been working in the studio doing a lot of production and working on the EP that’s coming. I released a new mixtape called No One Could Do It Better. I wanted people to hear some songs that they may not have heard before. I put together songs that me, Nate and Snoop Dogg did together just to give the new generation an introduction to the good music that we made. This way they are not asking, “Who is Warren G?”

AllHipHop.com: So this is just a collection of old tracks?

Warren G: No, some stuff is exclusive. Overall, I’m just putting it out to let people get that “good feeling” music that you can chill and smoke to.

AllHipHop.com: I can’t recall you ever putting out a mixtape before.

Warren G: Never. Actually, you know what? This is the second time that I have. I didn’t put it out myself, but I did one with a cat who’s name I can’t remember. Things didn’t turn out right so people didn’t really get it, but it was off the chain. I remade some of those records but I haven’t put those out.

AllHipHop.com: Do you have an update on the EP that you’re putting out with Nate Dogg?

Warren G: I’m just about finished. I’m waiting for Young Jeezy to put his 16 bars on. I’m pretty much done after that. The single is already mixed and ready to go. The date I’m looking to drop the EP is April 17.

AllHipHop.com: That soon?

Warren G: Yeah, that soon. I just want everybody to get ready because it’s going down this month, for real.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B3EgW5zvKU&w=560&h=315]

AllHipHop.com: You mentioned Young Jeezy. Are there any other guests on this EP?

Warren G: There’s Too $hort, E-40, Game, and Bun-B. That’s about it.

AllHipHop.com: That’s a nice little lineup. What’s the EP’s name?

Warren G: It’s called No One Could Do It Better, just like the mixtape. I’m releasing this independently via digital outlets. I may end up doing a physical deal for it also, but it’s going to be digital. People aren’t even going into stores to buy CDs. I know the ones that do love to buy CDs will be upset, but they have to understand that most of the records now are being sold digitally. I’m going to eventually make it possible for the ones that want to get it physically.

Right after that, I’m dropping Regulate – The G-Funk Era Part 2 – The EP. It’s going to be mainly me, but I will have some great appearances on there. I’m just doing the live music like I do it.

AllHipHop.com: G-Funk Era Part 2 is going to be an EP and not an album?

Warren G: It’s an EP, but depending on how well it does, I’ll do a sequel to that which will be a full album. My thing is that I go so hard and put my heart in to what I do. My first dealings as an Independent artist weren’t good. I poured my heart in to a lot of stuff and it didn’t get pushed like it was supposed to. I don’t want to go through that again, even though I’m more knowledgeable of how this goes now.

I’ve also got a bunch of young artists that I’m working with. I’m doing a compilation called The Westside Story. That album is going to be my Chronic. It’s going to be a display of my production with top notch artists and singers. I just want to do some great music. That’s what it’s all about for me. I want the music to make people feel good because that’s what it does for me. It makes me feel good to see an audience of people singing my song. That’s what I get out of it. I love it because they feel me and understand my story.

AllHipHop.com: When you are not producing, what is your life like?

Warren G: When I’m not producing, I’m with my kids. I’ve got three boys and two girls. I try to be with them as much as I can, because I’m out on the road so much. I do try to make every important event that I can. When I don’t, my wife takes care of that. I’m always out on the road too. You’ve got to provide. You can’t just sit at home. This is a job and you’ve got to be able to put food on the table.

AllHipHop.com: Which artists have you produced for lately?

Warren G: I just did Young Jeezy’s first single with Ne-Yo called “Leave You Alone.” I also did one with E-40 called “What Happened To Them Days.” I’ve also made tracks for Styles P and Tone Trump. Actually, I did five hot ones for Tone Trump’s new project. Let’s see, who else? I gave Young Jeezy some more tracks, and I sent some to Game too.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8N0LTBHFD0&w=560&h=315]

AllHipHop.com: I’m glad to see you so active. I don’t think we hear enough from you. What are you mostly doing? Samples or live music?

Warren G: I do samples and live music. I listen to records for different ideas.

AllHipHop.com: I’ve always enjoyed the basslines that you use. You really have an ear for that.

Warren G: To me, the bassline is the backbone of production. If the bass isn’t right, then something is wrong.

AllHipHop.com: Are you still a spokesperson for those Affirm XL erectile dysfunction pills?

Warren G: I’m still a part of it, although we are going through negotiations right now. The commercials were all comedy and fun, but it is about getting the product to those who need it. I don’t need it, but it works – I’ve tried it. It’s a great product, and I love it. People with diabetes need to use it. It’s safer than Viagra, and I’m not disrespecting Viagra. It’s more of an herb than regular, like, medicine.

AllHipHop.com: It’s sad to read all of the drama about Nate Dogg’s estate and people pointing fingers about his unpaid medical expenses.

Warren G: I don’t even listen to it. I’ve been there for him. I was right there with him! I don’t even know why all of that stuff is being put out there like that. A lot of that stuff isn’t real. It’s messed up because Nate isn’t here to defend himself. I don’t get in to all of that. They try to put me in that, but I’m not in to that stuff.

AllHipHop.com: Do you like any of the new “Ratchet” music that’s coming out of the West Coast?

Warren G: Some of it is cool, and some of it is bullsh*t. I’m not mad at anybody for trying to do what they love. I can’t be mad at them for doing music how they want to do it. Good luck. Keep doing that sh*t. It’s a job. It’s a love, but it’s also a job. You’ve got to feed your babies and your families.

Fans can keep up with Warren G on Twitter (@regulator) and via his official website, www.warreng.com

Beyonce Composes Ultimate Fan Letter to First Lady Michelle Obama

By: seandrasimsCategory: Lifestyle

While her husband JAY-Z boasts about not ever having to write anything down, BEYONCE does the opposite. Last night, Beyonce posted  a short but sweet, handwritten letter on her site Beyonce.com, thanking First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA for simply being – GREAT!!

We wonder if Beyonce thought about this idea while on her Easter family vacation in St. Barth. Well, whenever she did it, Beyonce sent her warm regards – in advance – for Mrs. Obama being one of the best role models that her daughter Blue Ivy will witness growing up. And, she also shouted her out and empathized with her having to deal with the spotlight every moment of her life, but continuing to remain level-headed.

Aww!! How cute! We couldn’t agree with Beyonce any more. Props to First Lady Michelle Obama for truly serving as an inspiration.

Take a look at the heartfelt, self-penned letter from Bey below:

Follow AllHipHop contributor Chantal Borgella on Twitter (@chantalborgella).

The Ever-Elusive Jadakiss Sheds Light On Upcoming “Wu-Block” Collaboration Album

By: ginatorres27Category: Features

Two of New York’s most respected rap crews, Wu-Tang Clan and D Block, have joined forces to create a joint group album called Wu-Block. Helmed by Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch, the album has been in the works for the past year and is very close to completion.

AllHipHop.com caught up with D Block’s Jadakiss recently in New York City, and he gave us an update on Wu-Block.

“I have about two or three more verses to complete,” said Jadakiss “And then they’re going to wrap it up and get it to the people.”

Check out the full interview with Jadakiss below, where he chats about how the Wu-Block album idea originated, as well as what the fans can expect from the upcoming joint project:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATDPQsAxmQs&w=420&h=315]