Drake is not shy about sharing his love and affinity for late R&B singer Aaliyah. He even has a tattoo of her face etched on his back and sampled her on one of his albums. Well, we hear that Drizzy may be working on a joint album with the late star. Check out what he said about the possible collabo:
“Some special things. Great things man. Great things for music, period.
“You know it’s hard for me to ride around to a female singer because at the end of the day, you’re a man, but she always kept it so G with the writing and the melodies. It was something to ride to, especially when it was chopped and crewed. That’s when I used to love.”
Earlier this month, producer, Jeffery “J. Dub” Walker of The Hitmen tweeted that a posthumous Aaliyah album could be on the way.
“Just got great news today; the smash unreleased song called “Steady Ground” I produced on #Aaliyah is gonna be on her upcoming album:)” he wrote. There has been no confirmation from Aaliyah’s label, Background Records (distributed via Interscope) that the album is being produced.
It seems as if Drake is hell bent on doing a joint album with somebody… Rihanna, Weezy, or Aaliyah. Which one would you be checking for the most?
Last week in Los Angeles, BMI sponsored and hosted the “Next Fresh Thing” show out at the infamous Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard. Rising young talent, Casey Veggies, was tapped to headline the show, which included other outstanding artists such as AllHipHop.com’s Breeding Ground Artists Skeme [BGA], the new collective known as Jon MCXRO [BGA], and rapper Alkatraz from Glasses Malone’s “Brown Division.”
The crowd was a little “too cool” to get in to the music, but that didn’t stop any of the artists from having fun and providing great music. Casey Veggies was definitely the star of the night, as he displayed a supremely polished performance which is surprising when you consider his very young age. Inglewood rapper Skeme showed his diversity and range, going from Hip-Hop to Club tracks. Skeme, being a featured AllHipHop.com Breeding Ground artist, is definitely an artist that you shouldn’t sleep on.
Jon MCXRO (pronounced John McEnroe), a group formed from The Stereotypes production crew, brought the most fun and energy on the stage. The trick for this group is going to be translating that fun and energy from the stage to their recordings, but with established hitmakers in the group, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Alkatraz is the true newcomer out of the bunch and had the always-difficult task of opening the show. The crowd was pretty much dead, even with the headliners, so you can imagine the difficulties that Alkatraz experienced. However, the young Inglewood artist, who’s now aligned with Cash Money rapper Glasses Malone, did a standup job and has the potential to develop into a more seasoned artist.
AllHipHop.com caught up with the acts outside of L.A.’s Viper Room to get a few words on camera. Watch below for our exclusive interviews:
In 1985, Aaron Dontez Yates, was born in rhyme. The Kansas City native’s Hip-Hop journey started with a single step. Merging movement with rhyme, the B-Boy added lyricism to his creative cache. Three years later, Walter “Black Walt” Jefferson and a Guns & Ammo magazine helped to christen the MC that became Tech N9ne.
Time is a relentless b*tch. His odyssey has been an arduous one. An eccentric appearance baffled mainstream media. They ostracized Nina. Possessed by pain, many of his early recordings beautifully tell the story of a tormented angel. Baptized in his personal hell, Tech N9ne bore his soul. Exorcizing inner-demons in the booth, Tech N9ne’s musical genius allowed him to convert misery into triumph. The truth resonates.
Having partnered with Travis O’Guin in 1999, Tech N9ne co-founded Strange Music. He never looked back. Humility, hard-work, and a stalwart F*ck The Industry attitude has lead Strange Music to platinum-earned success. Today, Tech N9ne has become one of the most beloved MC’s. His supporters propelled him to launch the Hostile Takeover 2012 tour. 90 shows within 99 days is a historic Hip-Hop endeavor. Immortalized in rhyme, time continues to champion his story. While on the road, AllHipHop.com was granted an exclusive invite into the Tech N9ne experience. Upon his tour bus, which has become his second home, we begin:
AllHipHop.com: Congratulations on Klusterfuk.
Tech N9ne: Thank you, baby. Six songs—[quickly slaps hands together] like phueng! That’s crazy; you know what phueng means? Phueng, that’s like over the top.
AllHipHop.com:I love sound effects.
Tech N9ne: [repeatedly slaps leather seat and laughs] You like sound effects?
AllHipHop.com:Absolutely.
Tech N9ne: No, doubt.
AllHipHop.com:As it stands, where are you emotionally, musically, and physically?
Tech N9ne: Totally oneness with God, baby. Like, everything is aligning; you know what I’m saying? Everything is lining up. Now, if I could just pay off this IRS, I’d be perfect.
AllHipHop.com:Right, get Uncle Sam out your back pocket.
Tech N9ne: [laughter]
AllHipHop.com:How is your mom doing?
Tech N9ne: She’s better. She’s a lot better; she just got out the hospital a couple of days ago.
AllHipHop.com:Oh really?
Tech N9ne: [nods head] Yeah.
AllHipHop.com:I respect you as an MC, because you have the power to make words fit. As a corporate guy you’ve helped to make Strange Music a successful label. How do you feel about the 360 deal?
Tech N9ne: I mean, if that’s what they want to do. If they [artists] want to give them [record labels] everything; that’s on them. I don’t feel it. I think a muthafu*ka should have all their publishing. I feel like a muthafu*ka should own some percentage of their merchandise. Not all—I don’t think a label deserves to have all that.
AllHipHop.com:So, you don’t put it on your artists?
Tech N9ne: Nah.
AllHipHop.com:That’s what’s up. With you living on the road, and moving the amount merchandise that you do, I was thinking it could go either way. Is he a buzzard, or does he still look out for the artist?
Tech N9ne: No, I’m not with that—especially if I ain’t help do the work. Come on, man. You sign an artist and take everything that they build?
AllHipHop.com:Let’s talk sobriety. From what substances do you abstain?
Tech N9ne: Well, I stopped smoking weed in ’98. It made me paranoid. It made me feel like I’m not Superman. I gotta be Superman. That ain’t no jab at nobody who smokes weed, because some people need weed to function. It just makes me feel like everything is impossible. ‘Oh, my God; I gotta do this interview! Oh God, I gotta write this verse! Damn, everything is closing in on me!’ That’s what weed made me do. I can’t be like that. I gotta be like, “Everything is possible through Christ that strengthens me!”
I stopped doing Ecstasy like five years ago. I loved it. The love in that pill drove me crazy. I got a lot of love in my heart already. So, it was just me amplified. I was going to kill myself on it. Every once in a while, I’ll have a drink. I love to have a drink. I drink Cadillac margaritas. I drink K.C. Tea. On occasion, I drink Caribou Lou. It’ll have you do stuff that you won’t remember. But, I can’t drink before a show.
AllHipHop.com:No?
Tech N9ne: No, I gotta be 100 up there. I gotta be a 100% all water. For what we do—it ain’t like we’re just up there holding our nuts. Like at the beginning of this show I say, ‘Are y’all ready for this workout?’ Because it’s a workout; we don’t sit down! We even be working out the most on the party songs, don’t we?
Tech N9ne: [Krizz Kaliko approaches] Don’t sit on my sandwich.
Krizz Kaliko: [sits down next to Tech] Yeah, we sure do.
Tech N9ne: We get it going up there; so, we can’t have no substances [in us]. You know what I’m sizzlin’?
Krizz Kaliko: I did drink some Crown [Royal] before the show the other night.
Tech N9ne: [throws back head and laughs]
AllHipHop.com: What happened?
Krizz Kaliko: I was just on a little edge. My mom was sick that night. She was in the hospital. I just needed to take the edge off. [Big] Scoob had some Crown XO and I hit it.
Tech N9ne: It’s all Jesus.
AllHipHop.com:Anghellic is one of my favorite albums. Last year, I remember listening to “Cursed.” It finally dawned on me that you were talking about Hip-Hop. With words you have a gift. What I want to know from you is, have you rediscovered a track or album that’s had a more poignant presence in your life?
Tech N9ne: Yeah, “Cursed.” I’ve been writing so much stuff, baby. It’s hard to say. Everything I write is like that. In school, when I stole those psychology books, they taught me how to think differently. You know what I’m sizzlin’; I’m always going there. Recently, I got a song on Klusterfuk called “D.K.N.Y.” It ain’t talking about Donna Karan New York—different kind of n*gga you. I was trying to tell them that I’m not the same type of n*gga that goes down. I go up; I’m a different kind of n*gga. So, I’m always thinking to the left. I hope I answered your question.
AllHipHop.com:Almost.
Tech N9ne: [laughter]
AllHipHop.com:Your Hostile Takeover 2012 tour is underway. Given that you have an extensive body of work, how do you decide which tracks will become a part of your set? Once you get on the road, how often do you modify it?
Tech N9ne: I don’t really modify it at all. We do ours [live shows] a lot differently. We go into the studio, and we put it together into a computer and it runs. We set up where it’s going to stop; we got everything planned out. [The period] after the music stops, that’s the only time that it’s spontaneous. We’ll get to talking, or joking, and stuff like that. That’s all improv; but other than that, I’m a robot. We put it all together. Krizz always wants me to put newer stuff on the show. He’s always pushing me. So, if there’s anything new on the show it’s because he said it. I like to have the crowd moving.
AllHipHop.com:How long did you have to rehearse to prepare for something this extensive?
Tech n9ne: Oh my God, we’ve been trying to prepare for like a month, right? [looks at Krizz Kaliko]
Krizz Kaliko: We’ve been trying to prepare for like two weeks.
Tech N9ne: Yeah, but we’ve been shooting videos and shooting album covers. And sh*t like that. It’s hard to keep it going. We only missed two rehearsals.
Krizz Kaliko: But, for real, we’ll lock in [the stage performance] within a day or two.
Tech N9ne: [stomps feet] We’ll put the key in the door and lock that thang down! [erupts with laughter]
Krizz Kaliko: [laughing and stomping feet] And lock that thang down!
AllHipHop.com: [laughter] Y’all funny. Where is Brotha Lynch Hung? Why is he so ducked off? When is he going to come on the road?
Tech N9ne: N*gga’s supposed to be on this tour right now.
AllHipHop.com:What happened; is he locked away in the lab?
Tech N9ne: I hit him the other day like, ‘Man, you’re way too talented to be sitting at home.’ He’s supposed to be on this tour. I can’t remember, man. There’s so much stuff. I’ve been trying to get him out on tour; he’s reclusive though. He likes to stay in the house. It’s crazy. He’s good though.
AllHipHop.com:Is he making any new material?
Tech N9ne: Uh huh.
AllHipHop.com:Is it true that you plugged Kendrick Lamar with Dr. Dre?
Tech N9ne: No, I dunno why Nardwar said that. Put it like this, when I saw the interview, they said that Dr. Dre called after we did the show. I didn’t know nothing about where they went after we did the show in L.A. Maybe he was just connecting—you were doing a show with Tech N9ne—and maybe Dr. Dre called him that day or that night. It could be the only connection, but I ain’t never met Dr. Dre. Hell nah, I ain’t never did nothing with Dr. Dre. I’ve been wanting to work with Dr. Dre for years. I might work with him on this album; if he’d have me. Kendrick Lamar did that on his own. He’s a talented muthafu*ka! And Dre wants to be with the most talented muthafu*kas. That means that he’ll be seeing us real soon.
AllHipHop.com:It’s been announced that TDE’s Kendrick Lamar and Black Hippy have aligned with Aftermath/Interscope.
Tech N9ne: I heard that. I wasn’t sure if it’s real. Is it real?
AllHipHop.com:That’s why I’m asking you.
Tech N9ne: I don’t know.
AllHipHop.com:How does this movement affect your professional and your personal relationship with Jay Rock?
Tech N9ne: It’s all good. We want Jay Rock to elevate. Jay Rock’s on TDE/Strange Music. Black Hippy is another entity. I think it’s a beautiful thing. I think they’re the new N.W.A. I want them to elevate. Go n*gga, go!
AllHipHop.com:You’re still working with him within the Strange Music collective?
Tech N9ne: Totally.
AllHipHop.com:Would you ever consider going on tour with Snoop?
Tech N9ne: We’ve been trying to do it for years.
AllHipHop.com:What’s going on with that?
Tech N9ne: We were supposed to do six weeks, but our schedules won’t align. We’re supposed to a show in Kansas City, [Missouri] on July 7. But he’s already scheduled to go to Europe. That’s my homeboy; we’re going to do it.
AllHipHop.com:It’s something we can look forward to?
Tech N9ne: Totally.
AllHipHop.com:Will you bring Lynch?
Tech N9ne: I hope so. Why, ‘cause they Crips?
AllHipHop.com:[laughter] Why are you giving me the blues?
Tech N9ne: Why, why, Lynch? Why couldn’t it be Jay Rock?
AllHipHop.com:You donkey, leave me alone! [laughter]
Tech N9ne: It’s all good. We got love for Crips.
AllHipHop.com:Until the next time, is there anything else you would like to share with the good folks at AllHipHop?
Tech N9ne: Yes, I would like to share this with AllHipHop. ¡MAYDAY!’s album just came out. On Twitter, TakeMe To Your Leaderhas been trending like a muthafu*ka. It’s a beautiful album; I can’t stop playing it. I’m not just saying this because they’re on my label. Before, I’ve had some sh*t on my label that I wouldn’t play for sh*t.
AllHipHop.com: Then why was it on your label?
Tech N9ne: Sometimes we do favors.
AllHipHop.com: Well, if that’s the case. I—
Tech N9ne: We don’t do favors no more. [laughter] We’re done doing that punk sh*t. Sorry. Take Me To Your Leader, I stand behind it. Krizz Kaliko, I stand behind Kicking and Screaming. On May 15, it’s going to be a murderous album. Kutt Kalhoun is doing his tour right now. Book that n*gga! We’re moving, baby. And, I’m looking for beats for my album that’s supposed to come out on October 30.
(AllHipHop News) Veteran Hip-Hop group The Artifacts are back together and have released their first official single together in over 15 years.
The group has just dropped their new song “Easter,” featuring original group members El da Sensei, Tame One and DJ Kaos.
The Artifacts’ newest single “Easter” was produced by The Away Team’s Khrysis with cuts by DJ Dutchmaster.
“This is a special day (pop bottles lol) for us as Artifacts,” El da Sensei told AllHipHop.com. “I been waiting for this day and to do it now in this climate, only proves how many people still wanna hear us AND over a Khrysis beat.”
The Newark, New Jersey-based group debuted in 1994 with their album Between a Rock and a Hard Place, which contained their best known single, “Wrong Side of the Tracks.”
The Artifacts circa 1995
By 1997, The Artifacts had split amicably, shortly after the release of their second album That’s Them.
Both rappers in The Artifacts stayed busy in Hip-Hop circles during their 15-year hiatus.
Tame One joined critically acclaimed Hip-Hop group The Weatherman, while El da Sensei released a variety of solo albums and collaborations.
“I appreciate everybody and understand what the mission is and what people want from us as a group,” El da Sensei told AllHipHop.com. “[We are] not a 90’s era or throwback group, just two emcees and a DJ that brings that s**t you love to hear.”
Check out The Artifacts new single “Easter” below.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was on hand in New York City yesterday as Nike unveiled 32 new team uniforms for the upcoming NFL season.
The “fashion show” of sorts was held at a Brooklyn film studio, where uniforms for all 32 NFL teams were on display and were shown off by an individual athlete from each team, such as Victor Cruz from the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions, Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons, and Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens.
Nike is the NFL’s new official partner, taking over gear and uniform design from Reebok who previously handled all of the league’s past athletic gear.
Although there are no substantial changes to the uniform’s’ appearance there are a number of new features to assist players with better movement, mobility, and comfort. ESPN contributor Paul Lukas had the following to say about the new uniforms: “The biggest change I noticed was the collars. A lot of the teams have a two-tone collar which allows for the (Nike) Flywire design. But off the top of my head, the Packers look like the Packers, the Chiefs look like the Chiefs, the Bills look like the Bills, etc.”
When asked about the lack of change in the new uniforms Lukas said, “NFL team owners are some of the most conservative businessmen in America. They call the shots. They don’t just sign off on what somebody else does. They ultimately make the decisions. It’s their property, their teams. The notion that Nike, or any company, could just walk in and change everything unilaterally is (wrong). I think a lot of fans misunderstand how that works. It does not work that way.”
Flywire Technology: eliminates layers, reduces weight, and provides lockdown fit
Zoned Mesh Ventilation: cooling zones for optimal thermoregulation
Zoned Strength: high tenacity, stretch material for light weight lockdown strength
Mobility Cut: 4-way stretch, hydrophobic materials helps increase range of motion, wet or dry
Stretch Twill Numbers: 4-way stretch even on numbering system
Deflex Padding: lightweight, flexible impact protection incorporated directly into the pant
Aluminum D-Ring Belt: aircraft-grade D-ring belt reduces weight
Nike Vapor Game Sock: advanced zonal cushioning system relieves cleat pressure
Hyperstrong 4-Pad Top: provides defense in high-impact areas without sacrificing mobility
Hyperstrong Compression 3/4 Pant: built for speed and engineered for impact protection
Nike Vapor Talon Elite Cleat: forefoot traction for pin-point grip, hyperfuse construction for strength and stability, molded carbon fiber insert delivers lockdown with seamless fit, dual-pod collar and carbon fiber shank plate for explosive first step
All apparel will available for purchase closer to the start of the NFL season at Nike. For more information and additional coverage of yesterday’s event, visit ESPN.com.
West Coast rapper YG is now adding “actor” to his resume’ as he stars in the upcoming Mario Van Peebles film, “We The Party,” as the troubled but misunderstood “C.C.” AllHipHop.com caught up with YG to get a few words from him as he was promoting the movie at a special screening in Burbank, California last night:
AllHipHop.com: I’m digging that new song of yours, “I’m A Thug,” produced by DJ Mustard. I was at the video shoot in Compton for that song where those gunshots were fired. Y’all had me running down the alley for my life! [laughter]
YG: [laughter] You was there?
AllHipHop.com: I was there! I just barely escaped the police who were detaining everybody that they could.
YG: My bad, bro. The police was trippin’.
AllHipHop.com: The music was so loud, that I didn’t even hear the gunshots. Did you?
YG: Yeah, I heard them. They sounded like fire-crackers at first. Everybody’s straight, though, and the video is now out.
AllHipHop.com: You’re in this new movie, “We The Party.” Tell us what role you are playing.
YG: I play this dude named C.C. He’s 20 years old and in high school still. He has a baby, and all that. All of the students at school are afraid of him. He doesn’t talk much, and he’s always showing up with band-aids on his face. Snoop Dogg plays my big brother in the movie. After some situations, my character starts to open up as a person and vibe with other people. It’s basically a story about not judging a book by its cover.
AllHipHop.com: This is your first role ever, right?
YG: Yeah, this is my first role. I’m going to do more movies. I’m working on trying to land some more right now. This one was a little bit of a challenge for me, because it’s my first movie. Once the filming started, and I was able to remember my lines, things got easier for me.
AllHipHop.com: Did Snoop Dogg give you any acting tips or advice?
YG: Not really. Mario Van Peebles was the one that was on me. He wasn’t really on me, but he kept telling me how surprised he was that I was able to come in and do my thing.
AllHipHop.com: Let’s talk about your music. You just released a new mixtape.
YG: It’s called 400 Degreez, and it’s out right now. I’m working on an album right now, but we’ve got the “400 Degreez Tour” that we’re doing all of the way to June. Me and Nipsey Hussle are working on something. I’ll be dropping lots of videos in the meantime. I’m working and grindin’.
AllHipHop.com: To me, your music is like a cross between Gangsta rap and what they are now calling “Ratchet music.”
YG: I’m just doing me, bro. I’m not trying to combine anything. I’m just rapping on DJ Mustard beats – and that’s the outcome. They call it Ratchet, so I guess I’m Ratchet [laughter]. You feel me?
We also sat down with Mario Van Peebles and his son, Mandela, for an in-depth interview that we’ll be bringing you very shortly, as well as a review of the movie. “We The Party” hits theaters on April 6.
By now, you may have heard the news – Beanie Sigel’s back, with new music on the way via an upcoming mixtape and studio album entitled The Classic. Before our interview in the studio in Brooklyn recently, he asks for a few minutes to listen to what his engineer Vince DiLorenzo has mixed down. He’s in work mode, happy to give the interview, but clearly eager to get back to business.
Business for Beanie Sigel has expanded beyond the street hustle and the music these days. For those of us on the outside, it might seem as if a light bulb has finally gone off in the head of the multi-talented “Broad Street Bully.” His skills are marketable. Labels will step to a level-headed, visionary businessman. And most importantly, the fans will support him performing in other mediums – like TV, movies, books, and a cooking show??? Yes.
AllHipHop.com got a lot of exclusive scoop out of Beans during our visit – but he saved some cool, little tidbits for nearly the end. While serving his latest, heavily-publicized prison stint in 2011 for tax evasion, he began crafting a book concept without even realizing he had done it at first. The airy title refers to the way papers float through the air when inmates pass them to one another between floors in the prison cellblock. Pretty clever, Beans.
Fellow inmates started depending on Beanie Sigel to help connect them with their loved ones through his gift for wordsmithing. What resulted just might appear on the bestseller’s list in the near future – watch the video:
Beanie Sigel was in a sharing mood. Come back for even more of our great interview with him later this week. Follow Beanie Sigel on Twitter (@BeanieSigelSP).
AllHipHop and Bizzy Crook are offering readers and tweeters a pair of headsets from Sol Republic as promo on the group’s latest digital release, the Good Luck EP.
Sol Republic offers their Tracks HD Headphones, which featuring the distinctive V10 High-Definition Sound Engine™ speakers, switchable cables and nearly indestructible “Sound Track” headbands made of the company’s proprietary FlexTech™ polymer. Unlike other brands, these headphones offer superior comfort, style and sound.
(AllHipHop News) New Orleans’ “Jet Life” ambassador Curren$y is releasing his newest project The Stoned Immaculate via Warner Bros. Records June 5.
The Stoned Immaculate boasts the lead single track “What it Look Like” featuring Wale, which has an accompanying video that will premiere on MTV2’s Sucker Free on April 8.
The video will then air as MTV Jams’ Jam of the Week, before making its way to iTunes on April 10.
Curren$y has also conjured up a tour called “Jet Life: The Stoned Immaculate Tour,” which kiss off April 19 Houston.
Fans eager to pre-order the album can do so beginning on April 20 at CurrensySpitta.com.
Just last year Curren$y released his critically acclaimed projects Weekend At Burnies’and the Alchemist produced album Covert Coupe.
It has already been a busy 2012 for Spitta, who has released his Verde Terrace mixtape with DJ Drama, a five-song free EP titled Hereand most recently an EP collaboration with Yonkers rapper Styles P titled #The1st28.
(AllHipHop News)THRreports that Anchor Bay Entertainment has acquired the rights to release Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa’s collaborative movie, Mac and Devin Go To High School, which both artists will support on their respective tours.
The Hip-Hop comedy, directed by Dylan Brown, stars Wiz Khalifa as an “academic overachiever struggling to write his valedictorian speech because he realizes he has little life experience.”
Snoop Dogg stars as a “senior now going on his 15th year of high school who has a thing for the new substitute teacher. The two find inspiration in each other and team to achieve their respective goals.”
Mike Epps, Affion Crockett, and Andy Milonakis all have roles in Mac and Devin Go To High School, which also features a cameo by “Like A G6” trio, Far East Movement, and narration from recent YMCMB acquisition, Mystikal.
The deal for Mac and Devin Go To High School includes rights for the United States, New Zealand, and Australia however excludes rights for Video On Demand (VOD) subscription services.
The film soundtrack was released on this past December 13 and included the hit single “Young, Wild and Free” which featured Bruno Mars.
There is currently no official release date for the film, although it is expected to be released this spring.
Nicki Minaj has tons of star-studded features on her new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, but she recently revealed that she was unable to secure Lauryn Hill for the track “Champion”, featuring Nas, Drake, and Young Jeezy. Check out what she said about it below:
“I wanted to get her on ‘Champion’,” she told Funkmaster Flex. “That would have been crazy, right? She was my fave.”
Although Nicki has never met Ms.Hill, she says that Lauryn is a “goddess.”
“I’d love to meet her. I’m pretty sure she’s heard me talk about her a billion times,” Nicki said.
Check out the “Champion” track below. Could you hear Lauryn Hill on this?
In related news, during the interivew, Nicki Minaj gave props to other female rappers, including Remy Ma.
“Remy at one time brought back this energy that was almost palpable,” she said of the incarcerated MC. “When the ‘Ante Up’ verse came out, if you ain’t know her, you knew her then.”
Foxy Brown was another one of her influences. “She was one of my faves. I had connected with her a lot just because she’s Trini and I’m Trini, and I always thought if I meet her, she would understand me. Foxy Brown was my friend in my head.”
Nicki also shouted out MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Left Eye, Missy Elliott, and Da Brat during the interview.
Drink F*ck Sleep is the title of Karrine Steffans new anthology of stories from novice writers. But, we think the title could also allude to how she spent many of her nights with some of your favorite rappers. The former video-vixen turned author is now the owner of her own, Steffans Publishing, a venture that will release books from authors other than Steffans herself.
The first release from Steffans Publishing is Drink F*ck Sleep, described as a collection of essays depicting regrettable sexual experiences wherein alcohol was involved either before, during, or after. With gripping, personal accounts of tragic, heart-wrenching, sexually boundless, ultra-erotic, emotionally numbing, mind-thrilling, and scintillating experiences, the featured writers narrow the divide between what people project and what they protect.
Steffans released the cover and short excerpts from the book on April 1 via her blog, www.Karrineandco.com. The cover features a naked, laughing Steffans lying on what appears to be a hotel room floor. Steffans plans to support Drink F*ck Sleep with a publicity run and a tour.
Steffans Publishing is accepting pre-orders for Drink F*ck Sleep on her website and via Amazon. Orders placed via Steffans’ website will be autographed.
Could it be that Hip-Hop is entering into a new “Golden Age?” It was just a few short years ago that people constantly complained about the lack of creativity and ingenuity in Hip-Hop. But, recent years have seen an influx of creative new artists who have added value to the landscape. One of the crews leading the pack is the G.O.O.D. Music roster led by Kanye West.
With a crew that includes the veteran Clipse MC, Pusha T, actor/rapper/weird guy, Kid Cudi, and newcomer, Detroit heartthrob, Big Sean. Add West, and G.O.O.D Music has more than enough spitters on their team. Sprinkle in production from Hit-Boy, and you have a good start. Then, the industry was surprised and intrigued when West added veteran hitmaker, Mannie Fresh, who compares G.O.O.D. Music to a “hit factory.”
“There are so many talented people that are on G.O.O.D. Music that it’s nuts,” Mannie Fresh glows. “You have so many people that you are working with that it’s unlimited. I can’t say what it’s structured around. It’s more so a music factory.”
Mannie Fresh created classic hits with Cash Money, the parent of the still-hot YMCMB that is serving up music with Drake and Nicki Minaj on its roster. He states that he has known Kanye since his days at Cash Money,” I’ve been knowing dude forever. Kanye knows what I’m about.”
Originally released in 1976, Sparkle became a cult classic, and the trailer for its remake has now been released. The updated version stars the late legend, Whitney Houston, and American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks.
Unlike its 1976 predecessor, which was set in 1950’s Harlem, the new film is set in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1960s Motown era. The film takes inspiration from real life group, The Supremes, which produced the iconic legend we know today as Diana Ross.
With music written by R. Kelly and appearances by Mike Epps, Derek Luke, Cee-Lo, and more, this film is sure to be a classic. Sparkle is scheduled for release this summer. Watch the trailer below:
A couple of days ago, we reported on Diggy Simmons releasing a diss track against J.Cole for subliminally mentioning that he had sexual relations with his big sister, Vanessa. Diggy continued to defend his sister’s honor yesterday during his interview with 99.1 KGGI in California. Check out what he told them in the video below:
“A little over a year ago, my sister told me he (J.Cole) was saying he did this, that, and the third with her ’cause they went to the same college, but they didn’t even really know each other so it wasn’t like that.
“It was just me sticking up for my family.”
As far as his dad Rev. Run, Diggy says,“He already heard the track. He’s like, ‘Family over everything. That’s your sister.’ He wasn’t mad about it at all.”
And if J.Cole should respond?
“I don’t really care,” Diggy adds. “That’s not my focus.”
Rev. Run justified Diggy’s retaliation via his Twitter yesterday and revealed that the diss was actually a leak.
“J Cole.. Puts out 2 records Dissing family & Diggy & nobody cared.. Some1 leaks a old Diggy record & there’s a problem,” Rev. Run tweeted…
…while Vanessa chimed in to tell her side of the story.
“Ok enuff with the fu*#ery on my TL now. Our brothers r protective ova us CUZ guys stay LYING. MORE IMPTLY that ish NEVER HAPPENED,” she said.
(AllHipHop News) Grammy Award-winning rapper Killer Mike a.k.a. Mike Bigga is planning to release his new album R.A.P. Music this May.
Killer Mike teamed up with Brooklyn Hip-Hop legend El-P, who handles all of the production for R.A.P. Music.
R.A.P. Music features Killer Mike touching on a number of issues, including economic discrepancies and racism in America.
According to Killer Mike, R.A.P. Music acronym for “Rebellious African People’s Music.
Killer Mike draws inspiration on ““Don’t Die,” from the recent murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Killer Mike said he recorded “Don’t Die” “so we never forget Fred Hampton, Oscar Grant, Sean Bell and other good men killed unjustly by police in this country. R.I.P. Trayvon.”
R.A.P. Music is due in stores on May 15 on Williams Street Records.
Tracklisting is below:
1. Big Beast (feat. Bun B, T.I. and Trouble)
2. Untitled (feat. Scar)
3. Go!
4. Southern Fried
5. Jo Jo’s Chillin
6. Reagan
7. Don’t Die
8. Ghetto Gospel
9. Butane (Champion’s Anthem) (feat. El-P)
10. Anywhere But Here (feat. Emily Panic)
11. Willie Burke Sherwood
12. R.A.P. Music
Is Soulja Boy expanding into the world of greenery? Well, according to this tweet below, it looks like he may be getting one named in his honor in LA. Check out the tweet below:
Although we don’t know if that’s a confirmation from Soulja Boy or not, we don’t think it’s that far fetched. The guy does allegedly have a vending machine full of different types of ganja at his crib. See the photo below:
In related news, Soulja Boy just released a new video for the track “Nu Religion”. Check it out below:
(AllHipHop News) Maybach Music Group ringleader Rick Ross recently spoke about his plans for his upcoming projectGod Forgives, I Don’t, on his Rich Forever European Tour.
The Miami bred rapper explained that the project will drop this summer.
According to Rick Ross, he attempted to give the project the feel of a Martin Scorsese film.
“God Forgives I Don’t, you know that will be dropping this summer. First and foremost, the title, I wanted to approach it how Scorsese approaches a film,” Rick Ross said. “I wanted it to be a bold statement, a dark statement and have music to tell that story behind it. So it should feel like film or a motion picture when you got through listening to it. That’s the type of detail that I really put into it and that will be dropping this year,” Rick Ross explained to French website Booska-P.com.
The project features a host of highly anticipated collaborations with heavyweights like Jay-Z and Dr. Dre.
“You know, the big homie Jay-Z on the album, I got to to collaborate recently with Dr. Dre, and thats something that I thought would never happen at one point,” Rick Ross said. “So just to see how the tides are changing man, I’m excited for the end result and what people are going to ultimately get.”
When asked about his recipe to staying successful and progressing with every album, Rick Ross explained that it’s about putting in more and more work every time.
“I think it’s just me really – you just spend more time with your craft. No matter what you are doing, I think if you a photographer, or if you edit, if you film, I think the more time you do it, instead of spending four hours to edit, this time you spend 20, I think its going to be huge difference and thats just the way I approach my records,” Rick Ross revealed. “You know, I could put a record together pretty quick, but its also about what coming after that and whats before that and what’s in between that. I just pay attention to the smallest details now.”
Rick Ross’ mixtape Rich Forever is currently available online, while his artist Stalley recently released his project Savage Journey to the American Dream and will be performing at SOB’s tomorrow night in Manhattan, for an album release party.
