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JR Writer “He’s A Killer”
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Hip-Hip Rumors: Did Drake Come Between Chris Brown And His Girlfriend?
Not even Rihanna could successfully break up Chris Brown and his ride-or-die chick Karrueche Tran, but it looks like Drake may have done just that.
According to TheUrbanDaily, Chris Brown found out about a secret business arrangement that Karrueche was organizing with Drake behind his back and ish hit the fan.
Breezy has allegedly deleted all of Tran’s photos from his instagram and Twitter accounts, and has been acting very much like a single man. According to reports, CB feels totally betrayed by Tran, who he feels “should know better” than to try to have a business relationship with his “sworn enemy.”
In related news, R&B star Brandy has recently stuck up for Brown, and says that people need to give him a break. Check out what she told Access Hollywood below:
“Chris Brown, at the end of the day, is a person and he is going through… his own struggles. I don’t think it’s anybody’s place to judge him. I just think we need to be a little more supportive of celebrities that are out there going through things in life.”
Brandy recently released a new single featuring Breezy called “Put It Down”. You can check out the track below:
That’s kind of hot!
Notorious B.I.G. Musical Writers Arrested In Bizarre Bookstore Incident
(AllHipHop News) Two men associated with the upcoming musical about the life of the Notorious B.I.G., were arrested for stealing books in Westport, Connecticut.
Writers Alfred “Paper Love” Green and Raheim Pope, producers of “Ready To Die,” were arrested on Wednesday (July 19) at a Barnes & Noble bookstore.
According to the Connecticut Post, Green, 40 and Pope, 37, were caught taking hundreds-of-dollars worth of books from the Barnes & Noble, and fleeing without paying for the merchandise.
Police later found the books in a nearby Jaguar and determined that they were taken by the men without paying.
The men initially denied owning the Jaguar, which had Georgia license plates.
But in a stunning turn of events, Green told officers that he had been arrested with Pope before and that the key to the Jaguar was in Pope’s rectum.
When police produced a metal detector and scanned Pope’s body, they found the key to the Jaguar hidden inside of his rectum.
He used the key to start the Jaguar.
The total amount of books stolen from Barnes & Noble was $888.
Both men were charged with 5th degree larceny and conspiracy charges, while Pope was hit with an extra charge of interfering with an officer.
Both men have been released on bond.
EDITORIAL: The Saturation of The Mixtape Game
The Free Mixtape/Street Album phenomena is killing the revenue flow in the Hip-Hop game. Artists are not getting paid, producers are not getting paid, etc.. I say, leave the MULTIPLE Mixtapes for the DJs, and the rappers should go back to giving out singles and samplers and creating quality EPs or Albums that they can market and sell.
Rappers have trained their audience to expect free music all of the time with the multiple releases of Free Street Albums…CRAZY!
Stop painting rap fans with a broad brush. Not every rap fan wants free throwaway music. Rap fans are not demanding this free clutter music; it’s being shoved on them. Many aspiring Rock & Roll, Pop, Country and R&B artists are building solid fanbases without giving away free albums. Rappers Take Note!
You can put out a free single or sampler, and still spark a lot of interest in your brand. Who told you that you MUST put out a FREE Street Album/mixtape?
Your fans must either want to be you or believe you. You must know your target market, and your music has to resonate with them. As an Artist, you must understand that your Fans don’t just buy your music; they buy your Lifestyle, your Brand, and your Movement as well.
You don’t have to keep putting out multiple free street album/mixtapes of original music to attract fans. You can release other free content from your brand like music videos, freestyles, video diaries, audio from radio interviews, video from concert performances, etc. Nowadays, it’s no longer just about selling CDs. It’s about selling or providing “Content” and conveying the mission of your Brand and your movement.
Try something different to build a fanbase. Look into the possibility of producing and starring in your own short films or long version music videos, and add your music as the score. Think outside of your circumference.
Give away a single or a sampler to attract fans, and then get them excited about buying a full length album or EP from you. Give them something to look forward to. When rappers constantly give away whole street albums of original music right out of the gate, it’s like a woman giving up everything on the first date. There is no momentum, no excitement, and no build up to what comes next – because she gave up everything on the first date. And it’s the same with artists.
Many upcoming rappers take the mystique and excitement out of their brand by giving away everything up front in the form of FREE Street Albums.
At least 70 percent of the independent rappers who put out multiple FREE Street Albums last year did not make a dime from their endeavors. FACT!
The crazy thing is that my next door neighbor’s 10-year-old daughter made more money selling lemonade last summer than many unsigned rappers made all year from their music endeavors – which included Free Mixtapes and Showcase performances. The little girl gave out samples, she advertised, did a raffle, and then she sold lots of lemonade drinks and ices. (Apply basic business principles to your music projects and watch your revenue grow by three-fold.)
The game plan for most unsigned rappers consists of giving away Free Street Album/Mixtapes and paying to be in showcases. And that’s it.
The average rapper spends $1,500 to put out his Free Mixtape/Street Album.. Who’s getting paid off of your FREE MIXTAPE/STREET ALBUM? LET’S SEE (Count With Me): The Studio, the engineer, the graphic designer for the cover, the CD manufacturer, perhaps the DJ you paid to host it, and perhaps the producers of the original tracks, the mixtape marketing company, and Datpiff or any other mixtape website that posts your mixtape in order to draw traffic to their site with the expectation of selling ads based on that traffic, etc.
I know an unsigned rapper who paid $2,500 to a well-known DJ to host the rapper’s FREE mixtape/street album. And the DJ didn’t even promote it. Next, the rapper spent $1,500 to get a collaboration on a song with a popular upcoming MC that went on the FREE mixtape/street album. Then, the rapper paid the studio and engineer to record and mix the FREE mixtape/street album, and he paid a graphic designer to design the cover. Then, the rapper spent $500 duplicating the CDs. And finally, the rapper paid $1,500 to a mixtape marketing company to promote the Free mixtape/street album.
At the end of the day, this rapper spent close to $7,000 on a Mixtape/Street album that he gave away for free. He got 12,500 downloads at the end of the day. Was it worth it? I say NO! Most independent rappers are just following Lil Wayne and Drake, and have no idea what they are doing.
Equally important, when you put a Free mixtape/street album on any mixtape site and generate thousands of downloads, do you know the demographics (Sex, Race or Age) of those downloading your mixtape? NO! Can you obtain the email addresses of those downloading your mixtape? NO! Do you know the location of those downloading your mixtape? NO! On these mixtape sites, you don’t receive any real stats, and thus, you don’t know who your potential consumers are. The only thing that you are doing is making money for the mixtape site. They use the traffic you draw to their site to sell advertisements.
RAPPERS WAKE UP! For many rappers, these Free Mixtape/street albums are just vanity projects and an expensive hobby. And many spend little money advertising the mixtape releases. Most rappers put out multiple free mixtape/street albums just to stroke their ego, but they have no understanding that, in many cases, they’re just throwing away money and cluttering up the already saturated Mixtape market.
And, some rappers are even going as far as to buy Mixtape Site downloads and manufactured stats.
Fake Downloads On Mixtape Site X + Fake Views On YouTube + Fake Followers On Twitter + Fake Fans On Facebook = FAKE MOVEMENT.
Just about every independent rapper has a FREE Street Album/Mixtape cluttering the market place. Try Something Different. Be Unique. Stand Out
It would make more sense to put the mixtape on your own website and draw traffic there. You can set it up so that people must enter a name and an e-mail in order to download it. Also, you can put a traffic tracker on your own website, and gather analytic demographic data of the unique visitors who visit your site. Moreover, you can also sell advertisements, bonus singles, merchandise, etc. on your own site, based on the traffic you draw there.
The bottom line is that many rappers are just following a trend. Instead of having a plan, most indie artists just make music, and put it out like they’re throwing darts against the wall hoping to get lucky.
If Lil Wayne comes out tomorrow and states that the Mixtape game is dead and he will no longer deal with it, then watch how many rappers follow his lead…SMH.
What worked for Lil Wayne, Drake and Wiz Khalifa as it relates to giving away Free Street Album/Mixtapes of original music will not work for every indie rapper out there.
Furthermore, if Rap Music Songwriters and producers understood the importance of publishing revenue and copyright ownership, they would not be giving their original music away for free so easily. Your music catalogue is an ASSET, and it has revenue generating potential. I can understand giving out free samplers or free singles. But CONSTANTLY giving away whole street albums of original music to try to build a fanbase doesn’t make sense.
ATTENTION INDEPENDENT ARTISTS: Are you receiving publishing Checks? Do you sell merchandise? Do you sell digital downloads? Are you getting paid from shows? Have you generated revenue by licensing your music? Have you obtained funds from Endorsements or Sponsorships? Do you get paid from doing features? Who is your target market? What is your distribution network?
Do you have a marketing plan and budget in place? Do you keep track of money you spend and money you take in regarding your music? Do you pay taxes based on income generated from your musical endeavors? How much did you earn last year from your music endeavors? How much do you expect to earn this year? How much did you invest in Promotion last year? How much do you plan to invest in promotion this year?
One hit single can generate millions for an artist via digital sales, publishing, paid shows, endorsements, ring tones, etc.
It is very important that every aspiring artist and producer know and learn the multiple revenue streams in the music business. Some of the Music Biz Revenue Streams include CD Sales, Digital Download Sales, Merchandising Sales, Tour Income, Licensing Revenue, Publishing Income, Ringtone Revenue, Endorsement Deals, and Sponsorship Revenue.
The key is to ATTRACT the masses to your music. Convert folks into fans and capture them by being unconventional. As an artist, you have to get out there and meet with the people, engage your supporters, hand out flyers, T-Shirts etc..
Don’t be a backwards hustler. What dude you know in the streets who gives away all of his product and is able to grow in the streets?
Big corporations give away free SAMPLES to attract buyers, but they also invest in advertising and marketing to sell the products as well.
PepsiCo is boosting its overall marketing budget this year by as much as $600 million. SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES INVEST IN PROMOTION. FACT!!
If you believe that nobody buys music anymore, then you’ve already lost. You’re just basically stating that you’re music career is a hobby.
There’s a big difference between FREE music and GOOD music, and some rappers confuse the two. Most Rap fans don’t want FREE music. They want GOOD music that appeals to their emotions. And they will pay for it if it’s marketed right.
Forget about putting out three (3) mediocre FREE mixtapes in a row, and concentrate on creating one (1) CLASSIC ALBUM that you can market and sell.
The music business is NOT the LOTTERY. That “Dollar and a Dream” mentality will not cut it. Get a Budget! Get a Plan! And, Get To Work! Do Remixes, Do Music Videos, Do Video Logs, Do Contests, Do Shows, Do Interviews, Get your own Merchandise, Connect with DJs and your fans.
There are millions of aspiring artists and producers. So how do you expect to STAND OUT if you look, talk and sound just like everyone else?
The music game is all “Smoke and Mirrors.” Don’t get caught up in the illusion and slight of hand. Study and learn the biz for yourself.
MONETIZE YOUR MOVEMENT AND MAKE YOUR MOVEMENTS MAKE SENSE.
Contributor Jesse Atkinson is CEO of Urban Threshold Inc. and founder of the Underground Music Awards and The A&R Power Summit.
Photo courtesy of EverythingEsteban.com
Hip-Hop Rumors: Will Dark Knight Lose? Nas And Fela! A$AP Arrested!
Will Batman Lose To The Avengers?
The word on the street is that Batman will “lose” to The Avengers in the box-office because The Dark Knight Rises is not available in 3D. The means they cannot overcharge millions of people and then ask them to recycle the glasses they just purchased. What kind of BS is that? Anyway, the reviews of Dark Knight are pretty good. But, theirs this other notion that not as many kids are going to be able to see it, because its a darker series. Both movies were rated PG-13, but The Avengers – and even Spiderman – were pretty light flicks with laughs. We’ll see!
Nas & Fela?
Word on the street is Nas went to see Fela! this week, which is a big deal. Nas has been promoting heavily his new album Life Is Good all over the place. But I heard he took the time to check out the Broadway play Fela, which recently made its return to New York City after a world tour. Other Hip-Hop people were in the place to be too, I’ve been told. So, I decided I am going to check it out before it stops running on August 4. For information, go here www.felaonbroadway.com/ and for tickets, go here. You can get a discount if you put FEDGM77 in the promo code.
A$AP Rocky Arrested!
Lookie what TMZ.com has learned.
Rapper A$AP Rocky was taken into NYPD custody tonight after he allegedly put the smackdown on 2 guys who took pics of him … TMZ has learned.
According to law enforcement sources … A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, had gotten into a verbal dispute with someone in downtown Manhattan, when 2 civilians started snapping photos of the incident.
We’re told A$AP and a friend quickly turned their attention to the amateur photogs … and a full-fledged fight erupted. Our sources say the two victims suffered cuts and bruises with one requiring treatment at a hospital.
We’re told responding officers arrested AR … and he’s expected to be booked for attempted robbery. It’s unclear, at this point, what he’s accused of trying to pilfer.
Rocky is a native New Yorker and member of the hip hop group A$AP Mob. He was nominated for Best New Artist at the BET Awards this year.
Daily Word: Break The Rules!! (Do It Your Way!!!)
Fearless Friday, my movers and shakers!!
Welcome to the the end of a great week, and the beginning of the new you! Today’s Daily Word is Anti-Conventional Wisdom! Today’s Daily Word is about Breaking the Rules, and Doing it Your Way! Conventional wisdom is cool, but sometimes, following what others say will close the door to your innovation!
Most of the time, when the old way stops working, it takes the guts and fearlessness of some rule breaker to find a better way! You know how the saying goes: “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.” This is your life, and if you’re going to make a way, it might as well be yours! Listen to people if you want, but when the fit hits the shan, it will be you holding the bag!
Rules aren’t made to be followed; they’re made to be broken! Rules are what keeps people in line and complacent!!! Cross that line, and do it how you see fit!! You only have one life to live, so make sure you are living it the best!!! Follow your dreams, live your own life!!! Have no regrets!! DO IT YOUR WAY!!!!!
-Ash’Cash
“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” -Katharine Hepburn
“To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution.” -Joe Cordare
“You don’t have to worry about burning bridges, if you’re building your own.” -Kerry E. Wagner
“The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.” -George Bernard Shaw
“You have to do it yourself, no one else will do it for you. You must work out your own salvation.” -Charles E. Popplestone
“The proverb warns that, ‘You should not bite the hand that feeds you.’ But maybe you should, if it prevents you from feeding yourself.” -Thomas Stephen Szasz
“Self-reliance is the only road to true freedom, and being one’s own person is its ultimate reward.” -Patricia Sampson
“Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.” -Unknown
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.
Monster DJs Big Tigger and More Reveal Why “Respecting The DJ” Is Hip-Hop’s Job Number One [Part 1]
What does it mean to be a Monster DJ?
It means that whatever your style – electro, melodic, trance, house, hip-hop – you are committed to killing the dance floor. It’s substance over style and the beat over anything. It’s knowing that the lifestyle is nothing compared to the music and the flow.
It’s remixing right down to the tiniest detail and pushing your mixer, your turntables, your headphones, your amps and cables to the absolute limit to get your fans off the wall with their hands in the air.
With that in mind, and as a follow-up to our month-long “Salute the Spin Doctors” series earlier this year, AllHipHop.com is featuring a number of Monster DJs – like DJ Mark Da Spot, Big Tigger, DJ Baby Yu, Amanda Seales and more – and asking them how they got their start, who their favorite spinners are, and why it’s so important to “respect the DJ.”
Check out Part 1 of our Monster DJs feature below:
DJ Mark Da Spot
I Became A DJ Because:
It ran in my family, and once I tried it out, I fell in love with it! It doesn’t hurt that I grew up on and love music; because of that music is my life.
My Favorite DJ’s Are:
Kid Capri and DJ Craig G because of their skills of mixing and MC’ing at the same time. They are what I call REAL party-rocking DJs! They don’t just play music they put on a show.
Why We Need To “Respect The DJ”:
The DJ is the party! The DJ is the one breaking the records, the DJ is an artist, and a DJ’s job is not an easy one. We work just as hard as the artist making the music; well, some DJs do.
DJ Qness
I Became A DJ Because:
I have always had the unique and amazing talent of being able to read a crowd at first glance, and be able to pick out what they can dance and move their body to, and this is what a DJ does. He takes a crowd he has never seen or been with before and just entertains. It takes him one glance to know the crowd, and that’s me. The thought of using music to control a crowd has fascinated me from day one, and up to this day, it continues to. Every time I play it feels like I’m playing for the first time, and yet, I’ve been in the game for years.
My Favorite DJ Is:
DJ Khaled. He may not be the number one DJ in the world right now, but I truly respect his hustle. He came into the game and gave hope to DJs like myself. He made it clear to us that we, too, are possible. Looking at his journey from his first album, to signing a deal with YMCMB, to reaching the point where he is right now to all the collabos and platinum records, I truly respect his hustle.
Why We Need To “Respect The DJ”:
Hate it or love it, DJs have become trendsetters. You may not like a record for the first time when hearing it, but the more DJs in the club pump it, the more they exercise their power to make the masses love or hate something. In that regard, a DJ needs to be respected as the success of a record almost entirely depends on them depending on how much they love it, and how many spins they will give it, whether it be in a club or on the radio environment.
DJ Shelly Flash
How I Became A DJ:
I am often mistaken for a DJ – the modern day “I’m with the DJ” shirt rocker. As a radio personality and event host, I have promoted, toured, hosted with, and rocked alongside several DJs in my career – gaining the moniker from many as “a DJ’s partner in crime.” I was bitten by the DJ bug early on since getting my start in radio as a mixshow coordinator and having an absurd vinyl collection.
My Favorite DJ Is:
DJ Irie because he makes memories through music; he is personable and not too Hollywood.
Why We Need To “Respect The DJ”:
Respect for both DJs and their craft lies beyond a 45, and in the fact that a DJ conducts the moods of many through music. They select the transition, the record, and the time to play it for a party of anywhere from one to several thousand. Music is the universal language, and the DJ is the ultimate translator.
DJ Shogun
I Became A DJ:
After seeing Jam Master Jay, Red Alert, Kid Capri, Eric B, Marley Marl, DJ Premier, Jazzy Jeff, and Pete Rock do their respective things. Inevitably, the turntables called me to them. The love of Hip-Hop, that boom-bap, it was just so undeniable. I had to be more involved, outside of break-dancing and doodling with graffiti. The power of moving the crowd and creating a vibe in a basement, club, or arena was MY calling. So one hot New York summer, I used funds from messenger work to purchase my first DJ set, and the passion took off and became a reality.
My Favorite DJ Is:
DJ Premier – although it’s hard to name just one. The head-banger tracks he produced alongside the magnificent scratching did it for me, and I have to say, in terms of the club DJ/Party-Rocker, Kid Capri is another favorite; the way he rocks a crowd is legendary. Those two, for me, each embody the many facets of the DJ.
Why We Need To “Respect The DJ”:
The DJ has to be respected because, without us, there’s no music being played properly in the clubs and on the radio. DJ’ing is a real art form for those that adhere to its “rules.” To be able to read a crowd, dictate how you want them to move, and create the “mood” for an event takes a skill that can’t be bought at your neighborhood music or electronics store. Going back to the Father of Hip-Hop, Kool Herc, the DJ is the starting point and backbone of Hip-Hop music.
People seem to forget that it was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, Eric B and Rakim, the list goes on. The DJ is the rock star, but celebrity DJs are popping up everywhere now, and I hope that all these “new jacks” will respect and honor the culture the way they should.
Funky Pharoah
I Became A DJ Because:
It is the most creative form of musical performance. The ability to blend in a range of different songs from different genres and make them something completely different and better than the original, and then viewing the look of surprise and appreciation on the face of your fans and listeners, is a better rush than any drug in the world.
My Favorite DJ Is:
DJ Chuckie, the lord of Dirty Dutch, because he has the magical ability to bring the worlds of Urban Music and Electro-Dance together, and make them gel harmoniously like no other person on this planet.
Why We Need To “Respect The DJ”:
Because he or she is the most important person in the music industry. We control dance floors, move people, make records, break records, and give the most honest and quickest feedback ever! If it ain’t monstrous, we ain’t approving of it!
DJ MLK
I Became A DJ Because:
It was a passed-down hobby, or you can say it was a talent I was born with. My dad was mobile DJ, so it was something I was around 24/7 growing up.
My Favorite DJ Is:
I’ve got a lot, but I’m going to say the first name that comes to mind is DJ Nabs. This guy has the complete package of an all-around DJ.
Why We Need To “Respect The DJ”:
Because we as DJs carve the path of the artist’s career.
Big Tigger
How I Became A DJ:
I became a DJ in the ninth grade because of my love for music, and because it was the thing to do growing up in the Bronx. I was a beatboxer and MC already, so I decided to learn how to DJ from two of my best friends.
My Favorite DJ Is:
It’s a tie between DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Scratch, and the late great Jam Master Jay. All three were pioneers in many regards, and have skills that have yet to be matched to this day!
Why We Need To “Respect The DJ”:
Respect is necessary because, even though technology has allowed a lot of people to “masquerade” as DJs, real DJs are unique individuals who not only make the party jump, but provide the soundtrack to memories for the rest of your life!
Check back next week for Part 2 of our Monster DJ feature.
For more information on Monster DJs, visit www.MonsterDJ.com.
Kendrick Lamar Teams Up With BET Music Matters For Fall Tour; Dates And Cities Announced
(AllHipHop News) Kendrick Lamar has teamed up with BET’s Music Matters campaign for an upcoming fall tour in support of his major label debut, good kid, m.a.a.d city, which is currently set for release on October 2 via TDE, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
“Kendrick is one the most prolific and phenomenal artists emerging today,” said Kelly Griffin, Senior Director of Music Programming at BET.
“His music, style and flow brings a fresh and important perspective to Hip Hop and we are proud to leverage the BET Music Matters brand to expose his amazing talents to the masses,” Griffin added.
The 23-city tour is set to kick off on September 7 in Norfolk, Virgina and hit cities throughout North American such as Baltimore, New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Seattle before coming to a close on October 18 in Pomona, California.
Check out a full list of tour dates below:
9/7 – Norfolk, VA
9/8 – Richmond, VA
9/11 – Charlotte, NC
9/12 – Baltimore, MD
9/13 – Philadelphia, PA
9/14 – Washington, DC
9/15 – New York, NY
9/20 – Detroit, MI
9/21 – Minneapolis, MN
9/22 – Milwaukee, WI
9/23 – Chicago, IL
9/26 – Tampa, FL
9/27 – Miami, FL
9/28 – Orlando, FL
9/29 – Atlanta, GA
9/30 – New Orleans, LA
10/8 – Denver, CO
10/11 – Phoenix, AZ
10/13 – Portland, OR
10/14 – Seattle, WA
10/16 – San Francisco, CA
10/17 – Los Angeles, CA
10/18 – Pomona, CA
For tickets and information, visit BET.com.
Life of Jam Master Jay Honored In Milwaukee
(AllHipHop News) The life and legacy of legendary DJ Jam Master Jay will be celebrated today (July 20) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, courtesy of his close friend Eric “Shake” James.
Shake was one of Jam Master Jay’s closest associates, up until the legendary DJ was shot and killed in his recording studio in Queens, on October 30, 2002.
Throughout the years, Shake has been involved in keeping Jam Master Jay’s name alive and today, he will host the first annual “JMJ Back To School Giveaway.”
The “JMJ Back To School Giveaway” is taking place at Three Stripes Barber and Beauty, the barbershop Shake owns.
Legendary group member DMC of Run-DMC, will be on hand to sign autographs in Milwaukee the community.
DMC will be joined by NBA star Josh Howard, and Atlanta Hawks’/Milwaukee native Devin Harris.
“A day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about Jay and miss him,” Shake told AllHipHop.com. “It’s difficult at times but we keep it positive and try to live our lives the way he would have continued to live his- by helping others. With this event I wanted to do something good for my community in Jay’s name. I want to honor his name and continue to keep his memory alive.”
Shake’s barbershop purchased a number of back to school supplies for children in the community, while Adidas has provided free clothing and sneakers as part of the Adidas’ “Show Us How You Represent” marketing campaign.
Adidas was one of the first companies to sponsor Run-DMC, and they continued to support Jam Master Jay through donations to his JMJ Foundation.
The first annual “JMJ Back To School Giveaway” will take place today from 12-4pm at Shake’s barber shop, Three Stripes Barber & Beauty located at 35 West Hampton in Milwaukee.
KRS Announces UK Dates; New Album
(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop icon KRS-One is releasing a new album, and heading to the UK and Europe to promote the release.
This summer, KRS-One is heading to Germany, the Netherlands and the UK to promote his new release The BDP Album.
The BDP Album is being produced by KRS-One’s brother, Kenny Parker and is being executive produced by 6.8.2. Records.
According to a press release issued by 6.8.2. Records, the 14-track album is “20 years in the making” and “commemorates the roots of Hip-Hop’s defining impact on the world.”
So far, only the dates for KRS-One’s appearances in London have been released:
July 23 – Jazz Cafe – London
July 24 – Jazz Cafe – London
A release date for The BDP Album was not available as of press time.
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Rick Ross Ft. Jay-Z & Dr. Dre “3 Kings”
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T.I. Rattles Off Upcoming “Trouble Man” Collaborations With Andre 3000, R. Kelly, Lil Wayne And More
(AllHipHop News) With the recent release of his eight studio album’s newest single, “Go Get It,” T.I. has revealed a number of other collaborations that listeners can expect when Trouble Man drops on September 19.
“I got a record entitled ‘Trouble Man” with R. Kelly… that’s dope,” T.I. told XXL‘s Shaheem Reid. “I got a record called “Wave Hello” with Cee Lo. I got a record called “Who Shall I Be Sorry” for with Andre 3000. I got another record called “Guns and Roses” with a surprise feature; it’s out the genre and it’s through the roof. That’s another dope record.”
Just last month, T.I. told Hot 107.9’s DJ Sense that he had recorded over 125 songs for Trouble Man, and was in the process of selecting which ones would make the album.
As he continued to rattle off collaborations to XXL, T.I. said, “I have records with Usher, a record with Lil Wayne song called “Ball.” A record with Trey Songz. I got to figure all these records out though… I got a record with Trae Tha Truth and Juicy J called “Fight Music,” produced by Mike Will.”
T.I.’s new album Trouble Man is set to be released on September 19.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Are the FEDS After Swizz Beatz?
Super producer Swizz Beatz may not be out of the woods yet when it comes to charges stemming from his involvement with Megaupload. If you remember, Megaupload was shut down in January of this year or piracy, with four of its employees seeing jail time.
According to The Source, “authorities are currently going after Swizz Beatz after being swindled out of a charge on the count that Megaupload was outside the United States’ jurisdiction.”
Swizz is now facing a 20-page motion filed by the feds – check out the paperwork here.
According to AP, all of the Megaupload employees are now being indicted for their contribution towards Megaupload and its file sharing. Back in January, the U.S. government seized Megaupload’s domain names, $50 million in assets, and got the New Zealand police to arrest four of the site’s top employees, including its founder, Kim Dotcom.
This sounds serious. Hopefully Swizzy will be cleared and can move past this.
The Megaupload worries haven’t stopped Swizz Beatz from making hot music. Check out Alicia Keys’ new single, “New Day”, produced by her hubby, Swizz Beatz.
BE THERE: 5 Artists To Catch At This Weekend’s Firefly Music Festival In Delaware
With the Firefly Music Festival less than 24 hours away, AllHipHop.com has decided to highlight five acts that you need to see if you plan on attending this weekend’s three-day event in Dover, Delaware.
Following up on our coverage of events like the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, The Bamboozle and Soundset, we’d like to put five performers on your radar that you may or may not be familiar with.
If you haven’t gotten them already, tickets for this weekend’s festival are still available at FireflyFestival.com.
Check our “5 ArtistS To Catch At This Weekend’s Firefly Music Festival” below:
5. Chiddy Bang
The Hip-Hop duo made up of producer Xaphoon Jones and rapper Chiddy, who is also a Guinness World Record holder for “Longest Freestyle Rap,” has been one of the greatest success stories to watch over the past few years. After numerous mixtapes and EP releases, Chiddy Bang dropped their debut album, Breakfast, this past February and have been touring the world ever since with their high-energy brand of “alternative Hip-Hop.” Chiddy Bang will be rocking The Backyard Stage on Saturday afternoon from 5:30 to 6:30PM.
[Follow Chiddy Bang on Twitter: @ChiddyBang]
4. The Knocks
Dubbed by NME Magazine as one of the “20 hottest producers in music right now,” the electronic production duo of B-Roc and JPatt have delivered top-notch performances at festivals and events around the world including a seizure-inducing (that’s a good thing in this case) performance down in Austin, Texas during South By Southwest (SXSW) this past March. The Knocks are at the forefront of the electronic music and dance scene right now, and their mid-afternoon performance on The Backyard Stage this weekend is surely one not to be missed!
[Follow The Knocks on Twitter: @TheKnocks]
Following their stellar cover of Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” (see above) and an early July performance of their song “Spottie” in front of a hometown Chicago crowd on Conan, Kids These Days are breaking down the classifications of musical genres and reconfiguring them to create something totally soulful, rhythmic and unique. The group’s debut album, Traphouse Rock, is slated to drop this fall and you can catch them on The Porch Stage tomorrow from 12:30 to 1:30PM.
[Follow Kids These Days on Twitter: @KidsTheseDays]
It’s an extremely rare feat to accomplish but after seven albums The Black Keys have gotten both better and bigger. Even the Hip-Hop community has embraced the Akron, Ohio, natives with many notable rappers like Mos Def, M.O.P., Raekwon, and Q-Tip contributing to their 2009 collaborative album BlackRoc, which was released under the guidance of Dame Dash. If you didn’t catch it the first time, it’s not too late to discover this extraordinary album, especially since they are currently planning on releasing a sequel in the near future. The Black Keys, who are one of Firefly’s headlining acts will be closing out the festival Sunday night from 9:30 to 11:00PM on the main stage.
[Follow The Black Keys on Twitter: @TheBlackKeys]
1. Lupe Fiasco
One of the biggest names in the music industry is also this weekend’s sole Hip-Hop headliner. Lupe has been delivering top-notch music for years, and with the forthcoming release of his highly-anticipated new album, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, set to drop on September 11, it’s not too late to see what exactly the Chi-town native has up his sleeve when it comes to performing live. You can catch Lupe doing his thing on The Backyard Stage from 8:00 to 9:15PM this Saturday night.
[Follow Lupe Fiasco on Twitter: @LupeFiasco]
If you’re interested in checking out what other must-see festivals are happening this summer, be sure to check out our “Be There” preview piece here.
EXCLUSIVE: Fred The Godson Speaks On New Project “Gordo Frederico” And Status Of “Beauty And The Beast” With Olivia
(AllHipHop News) Less than a year after dropping his DJ Drama hosted Gangsta Grillz mixtape City Of God, Fred the Godson is preparing to release his new offering in the form of Gordo Frederico.
“I’m telling you this mixtape is bananas,” Fred told AllHipHop.com. “I brought some friends out with me for [Gordo Frederico]. I got Jim Jones on there, Cory Gunz, Fat Joe, Jeremih, Lil Kim. It’s crazy.”
Gordo Frederico will be the first release from Fred since he signed his deal with eOne Music last month. After turning down a $1.3 million contract with a unspecified major label, Fred felt that what eOne offered him and his team would better benefit him in the long-run.
Speaking on the eOne deal, Fred said, “It’s mainly focused on the single “Monique’s Room” that we’re pushing nationally, so it’s going to be everywhere. Right now we’re just focusing on the single and whatever comes from that we’ll just keep rocking but the deal [eOne] offered was so good we had to take it.”
He added, “There’s going to be good things for Fred the Godson coming up.”
Lastly, Fred spoke on his Beauty and the Beast mixtape with Olivia that was set to drop in February, but has yet to see the light of day; however, Fred assures us that the tape is finished and on the way.
“We done, it’s just so hectic right now,” Fred told AllHipHop.com. “I got to put my out my mixtape and I just did the deal with eOne, and [Olivia’s] working right now, so we just got to find out when we going to drop it, but it’s crazy and it’s done.”
He continued, “All the music is finished, and it’s wrapped up real nice, but for me to speak on a date or when it’s going to drop would be premature.”
Fans can be on the lookout for both Gordo Frederico and Beauty and the Beast in the near future.
Check out a freestyle and exclusive interview with Fred the Godson below:
Nas’ “Life Is Good” Projected As Rapper’s Sixth #1 Album On Billboard Charts
(AllHipHop News) First-week projections for Nas‘ tenth studio album, Life Is Good, which was released on Tuesday (July 17) are predicting sales of over 115,000 units.
Athough concrete numbers for Life Is Good will not be coming in until next Wednesday (July 25), it is expected that Nas, who has released eight platinum albums consecutively, will secure his sixth #1 album on the Billboard 200, alongside previous releases like It Was Written, The Firm, I Am, Hip-Hop Is Dead and Untitled.
The news of Nas’ success comes a day after fellow Def Jam artist Frank Ocean secured the #2 spot on the Billboard charts.
Ocean’s Channel Orange sold over 130,000 units, despite it only being made available exclusively to iTunes for the first week, with physical copies now in stores. Projections for Ocean’s second week sales are currently around 50,000, according to Billboard.
Nas’ Life Is Good is available now both digitally and physically.
Exclusive Hip-Hop Rumor: Emo Overload? Is There A Drake/Frank Ocean Track On The Way?
Either this could be really amazing or really really corny. Our sources are telling us that Drizzy was so impressed by Frank Ocean’s recent sold-out show in Los Angeles earlier this week, that he has reached out to the rising star to collaborate on a song with him.
We already know that Drake can be very emo and Frank Ocean is equally as emo with his music – so what should we expect? Our source tells us that “Drizzy will be doing more rapping on the track” and will leave the singing to Ocean.
While at the show, Drizzy bumped into Odd Future’s Tyler the Creator, who took the opportunity to take a photo and gush on Twitter about how cool Drake is. Check out the photo Tyler tweeted below:
“Lmfao. Can Ya Woo Woo Woo!!!! – tweeted Tyler The Creator
In related news, Drizzy has officially purchased the seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom mansion that he was renting in Hidden Hills for $7.7 million. The spot has a grotto, tennis court, basketball court, movie theater, etc. He is truly living the lifestyles of the rich and famous!
Check out the MTV Cribs episode featuring Drake’s new digs as shown by its previous owners.
Congrats on the new purchase Drizzy!
Young Buck Ft. Mistah FAB “War Outside”
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Tyler The Creator “Hey You”
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