Look what we have here. If you all follow VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop”, you know that cast member Emily B’s story line has been her constant battle with Fabolous not claiming her in public. Well, the two had a coming out party at the Hennessy NBA All Star Takeover event at VAIN nightclub in Orlando, where we are told the two were very affectionate.
The two also walked the red carpet together at the “Think Like A Man” premiere. Check out the photos below.
Maybe this appearance will turn into Fabolous appearing on “Love & Hip Hop” next season. Hmmm, you never know!
President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama received a soulful group of performers at the White House recently, and one that stood out was new Warner Bros. signee Gary Clark, Jr., with his stirring performance.
Hosted by President and Mrs. Obama, the evening paid homage to the great figures of the Blues and their influence on the cultures of Soul and Rock ‘n Roll. The performance touched close to home for the Obamas because the concert honored the musical form that flourished in the Westside of Chicago. Check out the video below:
Clark has played all over the country at festivals, charity events, and his latest gig at the White House. His latest project, The Bright Lights EP, was released in 2011. Check PBS.org for more info.
(AllHipHop News) Meridian, Mississippi’s own Big K.R.I.T recently sat down with AllHipHop.com on a recent tour stop during his 4eva NA Day Tour.
K.R.I.T. took time to speak about his upcoming “Campus Consciousness Tour” with J. Cole, which starts April 11th at the University of Rhode Island, and concludes at a private location in South Orange, New Jersey on May 4th.
“He’s really like the homie man,” Big K.R.I.T. said of J. Cole in an exclusive interview with AllHipHop. “He’s been doing his thing man and he reached out cause the album finna come out, ‘Live from the Underground.’ He was like, ‘Yo come on out here,’ so I was like, ‘S**t hell yea,’ you know. It’s gonna be a lot of places I haven’t been before and its gonna be some fan bases I haven’t reached, so to be up out there before the album drops will be a blessing.”
Big K.R.I.T also expressed excitement about performing his new material on 4eva NA Day at SXSW in Austin, Texas, where he has five shows this year.
“Ah man, we gonna rock out and we gonna have new material out, 4eva NA Day will be out before SXSW. So being able to go out there and do that, I think we gonna be on some different platforms this time,” K.R.I.T. explained to AllHipHop about his SXSW plans.
“Last year we did eight shows and this year we are doing five, but those five, they are key shows I didn’t do last year,” K.R.I.T. continued. “I’m really just going out there having fun and wildin’ out on stage man, it’s about having fun at the end of the day, I’m just blessed to be here.”
K.R.I.T. also gave an update on his debut release on Def Jam, Live From the Underground that will be released in June.
“Its like surreal, my one album was supposed to come out September 27th,” Big K.R.I.T. explained about his project. “I couldn’t sample as much, so I had to create songs, or create the kind of music that sounds like a sample. It has the same K.R.I.T. feel, the same vintage feel, but it was actually original. For one – a lot more singing, a lot more content, features from people that a lot of people wouldn’t expect me to feature. It’s a different take on my music.”
When asked if the project will be more radio friendly, K.R.I.T. summed it up in simple terms.
“Na man, it’s still just as country as ever.”
Below are Big K.R.I.T.’s Tour Dates with J. Cole for the “The Campus Consciousness Tour”
4/11/12 – Kingston, RI University Of Rhode Island @ The Ryan Center
4/13/12 – Babson Park, MA Private Location
4/14/12 – Waterville, ME Colby College @ Wadsworth Arena
4/15/12 – Amherst, MA Private Location
4/17/12 – Champaign, IL University Of Illinois @ Assembly Hall Theatre
4/18/12 – Dekalb, IL Northern Illinois University @ Convocation Center
4/19/12 – Lexington, KY University Of Kentucky @ Memorial Coliseum
4/20/12 – Johnstown, PA University Of Pittsburgh Johnstown @ Sports Center
4/21/12 – Greensboro, NC UNC Greensboro & North Carolina A&T @ White Oak Amphitheatre
4/23/12 – Springfield, MO Drury University @ O’Reilly Center
4/24/12 – Cedar Falls, IA University Of Northern Iowa @ McLeod Center
4/26/12 – Bloomsburg, PA Bloomsburg College @ Nelson
4/27/12 – Morgantown, WV West Virginia University @ WVU Coliseum
4/28/12 – Philadelphia, PA Temple University @ The Liacouras Center
4/29/12 – TBA
5/3/12 – Durham, NH University Of New Hampshire @ Whitmore Center Arena
5/4/12 – South Orange, NJ Private Location
Mike Epps’ 18-year-old daughter, Bria Epps, filed a claim with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department yesterday claiming that the comedian threatened her and promised to “f*ck her up.” The argument allegedly stemmed from Mike ‘s recent appearance on “The Wendy Williams Show” where he gave a shout out to two of his kids, but didn’t mention Bria.
Bria, who is Mike’s daughter from a previous relationship with his wife, tells TMZ that she called her father to express her disappointment, and they got into an argument. That’s when things went left, and Bria threatened to “air some family drama” to the media. According to the police report, Mike didn’t take too kindly to that and threatened to “f*ck her up” and “’cause her and her mom and grandmother problems.”
Between us, we hear that the “family drama” that Bria is threatening to dish to the media is that Mike allegedly had a daughter with a stripper while he was married! Scandalous! ALSO, we hear she was trying to extort Mike a few months back or she would go to the media with his alleged crackhead past. Whaaaaah! We thought Cousin Day-Day only smoked pot. That sh*t cray!
Well, hello, rumor readers. I thought it was about time to introduce myself. My name is Sydney Lace, and I have been the one feeding your need for rumors for the past few months (along with some from others on the staff). I hope you have been thoroughly entertained by my postings, or at least partially tickled. While I have your attention, I’d like to address the pink elephant in the room.
I’ve read some of your comments, and I am fully aware of some of your grumblings regarding your beloved illseed. Among your comments on some of the postings, I’ve seen sprinkles of “We want illseed” and “Where is illseed”. Well, to answer your question, I don’t know where illseed is. No one does! After being a staple at the site for 10 years, illseed has up and disappeared, and it’s actually kind of embarrassing for us to admit that. He didn’t leave a note, no forwarding address, and has not reached out to anyone in our camp to inform us of his whereabouts or if/when he is going to come back.
My only guess is that your constant criticism in the comment section drove him off the deep end. I kid, I kid. But seriously, illseed is on the lam, and if you see him, tell him to come back home.
In the meantime, the Rumors section lives on, and Sydney Lace is here to stay! And yes, I did just refer to myself in third person. I hope you enjoy the daily rumors, and if not, PEACE!
After her passing, both the legacy and music of the beloved Whitney Houston lives on. This week, Houston became the first singer to have three albums simultaneously chart in the Top 10. Whitney’s Greatest Hits(RCA) came in at #2 after selling just under 170,000 copies in the past week while the soundtrack to The Bodyguard(RCA) came in at #6 and had a 284 percent sales increase from the week prior. Lastly, coming in at #8 is her self-titled album which increased 79 percent and sold an estimated 31,000 copies
Young Money’s Tyga debuted at #4 with his sophomore studio album Careless World: Rise of the Last King (Cash Money/Universal) which sold 64,742 units, despite having a number of physical copies removed from major retailers after a clearance issue regarding a Martin Luther King Jr. sample arose just as the album was scheduled to hit stores.
Chiddy Bang’s official debut Breakfast (I.R.S/Virgin) charted at #9 after one full week in stores. The album moved 30,866 copies, which may be attributed to the success of the duo’s single “Ray Charles”.
Drake’s Take Care (YM/CM/Universal) and Rihanna’s Talk That Talk (Def Jam) claim the #13 and #14 spots respectively. Drake’s platinum-certified sophomore album moved just over 25,000 copies, a 18 percent decrease from the previous week, while Rihanna’s new album moved 23,043 copies.
Coming in at #25, one spot up from last week, is Young Jeezy with his Gold-certified album TM103 (Def Jam), which moved 16,056 copies. The Throne, a.k.a. Jay-Z and Kanye West, charted at #30 this week with their Watch the Throne (RocNation/Roc-A-Fella) album landed at #25 this week selling 14,308 copies. The duo recently revealed plans to embark on an international tour beginning this week.
Dropping This Week (2/28/12)
Maino released The Day After Tomorrow, the Brooklyn rapper’s second studio album, which contains the singles “Let It Fly,” “That Could Be Us” featuring Robbie Nova, and “Gangstas Ain’t Dead” featuring PUSH! Montana and Mouse. Other guests on the album include T.I., Meek Mill, Mista Raja, and Roscoe Dash. Production on The Day After Tomorrow comes from Mista Raja, GQ Beats, Chris Styles, and more.
Ja Rule, who is currently serving time in prison, released the follow-up to 2001′s triple-Platinum album, Pain Is Love, entitled PIL2. The seventh studio album from Ja was entirely produced by 7 Aurelius and features Leah Siegel, Jon Doe, Kaleena from Dirty Money, and many more.
(AllHipHop News) Wu-Tang member and Ice H20 founder Raekwon has just announced dates and cities for the U.S. leg of his “Unexpected Victory” tour.
The tour, which is named after the rapper’s New Year’s Day released mixtape, Unexpected Victory, kicks off at the Gargoyle Club on Wednesday, March 7th in St. Louis, MO and wraps up a month and a half later on April 20th at Ziggy’s in Winston-Salem, MA.
The 28-date tour will take Raekwon across the United States and even have him perform at this year’s SXSW Conference in Austin, TX on March 14th and 15th and at the Paid Dues Independent Hip-Hop Festival on April 7th in San Bernardino, CA.
In addition to Raekwon and his Ice H2O family, Gary, Indiana native Freddie Gibbs will be trekking across the country with “The Chef” as the tour’s opener.
Currently, Raekwon, Ghostface, and Cappadonna are putting the finishing touches on their collaborative project with The Lox titled Wu-Block, which is set for release later this year.
Check out a full list of tour dates and cities below:
3.07.12 – St. Louis, MO – Gargoyle Club
3.09.12 – Pontiac, MI – Crofoot
3.10.12 – Steger, IL – Another Hole In The Wall
3.12.12 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
3.13.12 – Chicago, IL – Cubby Bear
3.14-3.15.12 – Austin, TX – SXSW
3.16.12 – Dallas, TX – Prophet Bar
3.17.12 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
3.18.12 – Oklahoma City, OK – Kamps
3.20.12 – La Jolla, CA – Porter’s Pub
3.21.12 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory
3.22.12 – San Francisco, CA – 103 Harriet
3.23.12 – Reno, NV – Cargo
3.28.12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Club Elevate
3.29.12 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theatre
3.30.12 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
3.31.12 – Denver, CO – Casselman’s
4.01.12 – Sioux Falls, SD – Vault
4.02.12 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans
4.03.12 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Hall
4.04.12 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
4.05.12 – Jacksonville, FL – Brewster’s Pit
4.06.12 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
4.07.12 – San Bernardino CA – Paid Dues Festival
4.13.12 – Baltimore, MD – Sonar
4.14.12 – Poughkeepsie, NY – Vassar College
4.19.12 – Portland, OR – Port City Music Hall
4.20.12 – Winston-Salem, MA – Ziggy’s
The rumor mill is churning, and it is saying that Beyonce was spotted breastfeeding her daughter Blue Ivy Carter at a public restaurant last weekend. The source told US Weekly that Bey and Jay-Z were having lunch at Sant Ambroeus in NYC, and Beyonce pulled out her breast and began breastfeeding her 7-week old daughter right there at the table.
Um, okay, here are the reasons why I don’t believe this happened the way they are selling it:
1) There are plenty of cover-ups mothers can buy now that will cover her lady bits while breastfeeding in public.
2) Why wouldn’t Beyonce just walk outside and go into her custom nursery on wheels aka the black Mercedes Benz Van she gets whisked around town in?
3) Where’s the picture? For sure, someone would have snapped a photo of the breastfeeding mommy!
Anyhoo, in related news, Gwyneth Paltrow just can’t seem to keep her trap shut about baby Blue Ivy. She recently gushed to Hollywood Life that BIC is going to be dropping it like it’s hot on stage somewhere like her momma when she gets older.
“For sure, she is going to be an entertainer. She just has this glow around her like her mother … Beyonce is doing great. She’s just a natural at being a mom.”
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Cee Lo Green has confirmed a one-of-a-kind residency at Planet Hollywood resort and casino in Las Vegas.
This summer, the genre bending rapper will star in “Cee Lo Green Presents Loberace,” which is being described as a “unique show” designed exclusively for Cee Lo Green and Planet Hollywood.
“Cee Lo Green Presents Loberace” will take fans through legendary moments in music, from Prince, to Blue Magic, to the Rolling Stones.
According to organizers, the production combines Cee Lo’s stylistic flair with over-the-top technology, magic, “sexified” showgirls, larger-than-life wardrobe and advanced stage design.
The 28-date residency begins in August and runs in the month of September, November and December at Planet Hollywood’s 1,400-seat showroom.
“Planet Hollywood was established by fellow artists, actors, entertainers, my peers; and they’ve proven to know a thing or two about the art of being an entrepreneur,” Cee Lo told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “I am very fortunate to have Planet Hollywood as a partner, allowing me to further extend and embellish on the brand that is Cee Lo Green.”
The “Loberace” concept was hatched by Cee Lo’s long time manager Michael “Blue” Williams, who is also serving as producer of the residency at Planet Hollywood.
According to Planet Hollywood’s President David Hoenemeyer, there is major buzz around Cee Lo’s upcoming residency.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cee Lo to the Planet Hollywood family, where ‘fame sets the scene’,” Hoenemeyer said. “There is no one hotter today than Cee Lo. The excitement is everywhere throughout the property, from our team members to our guests and partners.”
Check out the performance schedule for “Cee Lo Green Presents Loberace”:
August 29, 30 and 31
September 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29
Three years ago, music fans were ecstatic to hear that Jay Electronica, Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def, and Curren$y were forming a supergroup called Center Edge Territory. After only a few collaboration records between the three MCs, we still don’t have an album.
Super producer Ski Beatz revealed in an interview with VIBE that the Center Edge Territory album may never come to fruition because of “scheduling issues.” Check out what he said below:
“I don’t know if the Center Edge Territory is going to happen. But the combination came across because of all the cats being in the Dojo at the same time,” he recalled. “I was working with Currensy at the time. Mos Def was always around. Jay Electronica would come through a lot. They just kind of sat down and said they wanted to do a group. But now with all the political stuff going on, it may be kind of hard to do that. I know Jay Electronica is in London. Mos Def is Mos Def. Currensy’s all over the place.”
That’s too bad. This album would have been great for Hip-Hop!
Hip-Hop is ours. Often, it is easy to forget that it was born from our community expression. There was a time when our MCs’ lyrics concentrated on uplifting and inspiring, rather than ridiculing. Dollars have diluted our once-precious art. Many have witnessed the profound shift from the meaningful lyrics reflecting our purpose to immature lyrics mocking our existence. Corporate wRap is trying to kill our Hip-Hop heroes.
Our emerging artists are forced to take a stance; they may choose to become part of the inane minstrel show, or they may become part of Hip-Hop’s reformation. Propain, a Houston, Texas, artist is prepared to share his creativity to improve our current state of Hip-Hop. Pro ardently believes his skills are, “very musical, very lyrical, and very conceptual.” In his AllHipHop.com debut, he discusses his influences, his message, and his negotiations with the majors:
AllHipHop.com: How do you view Hip-Hop as a culture, as part of your extended community, as an art? When you think about Hip-Hop, what comes to mind?
Propain: I mean, it’s a lifestyle, you know what I’m saying? I grew up on this. I look at it like it’s an everyday thing in my world. From fashion to sports, everything is in tune with Hip-Hop.
AllHipHop.com: Albums can be viewed as time capsules. These musical exclamation points are tied to different important memories. Is there a certain album or a certain MC whose message has served a significant impact to your life?
Propain: Most definitely—Nas, Joe Budden—of course, Jay-Z, and Andre 3000.
AllHipHop.com: So, you appreciate lyrics. When you say, Nas, which of his tracks or albums resonate with you?
Propain: I always rapped [ever] since I was little. I rapped and played basketball. But, after that Stillmatic album, I knew that [pursuing music] is what I wanted to do. That’s the way I wanted to rap. Nas, has a song called “Rewind” where he tells the whole story in reverse. That sh*t was amazing. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do; that’s what I’m going to be.’ Nas’ wordplay and the way that he’s a poet—I feel like nobody can do it like he can do it. The storytelling, the way he played with the words—all of that was big to me.
AllHipHop.com: There are many things that you could be doing with your time. Why do you choose to invest into pursuing a Hip-Hop profession?
Propain: Sh*t, the love. I feel like this is what I was born to do. I don’t feel like it’s about the money. This sh*t is real to me; it’s therapeutic. Plus, I feel like I’m pretty good. I feel like there’s a purpose in everything that I do. I feel like my music has a voice for a lot of people.
AllHipHop.com: What is your truth that you hope to share?
Propain: You can have it [and] anything is possible. You can go from nothing to something. Life’s not about [buying] jewelry, or [purchasing] cars, or no sh*t like that. Especially where I come from, I want to show it’s hope and always a way out. I want my music to be an everyday symbol that you can make it from there even if you ain’t got sh*t. You can always preserver.
AllHipHop.com: Being a Southern artist, a lot is demanded for you to stand out. Given that you’re from Houston, why’d you decide to hook up with Unauthorized Entertainment?
Propain: They saw my movement and saw what I was doing. I felt like they could do something for me, and that I could do something for them. More so, it was like a partnership, you know what I’m saying. On my part, it was a real strategic move.
AllHipHop.com: What does it feel like to earn a co-sign from a legend like Bun B? Did you have to pay him some money to get that, or did it happen naturally?
Propain: [laughter] Hell, nah! The crazy thing about that—from Bun, to Z-Ro, to Chamillionaire, Slim Thug—I’m never the one to go reaching for attention, or to ask for a co-sign. When I was doing my thing they saw it and it earned them more respect for me. Every time I jumped on a song with the Bun’s or the Slim’s, it was approached to me. They saw me doing my own thing in the city and coming up, they f*cked with the movement. They like where I was going with it. I respect them to the death for that, because it was big for my career. Man, you got some people who rely on a co-sign. But, with me, I was doing my own thing. They noticed it and they respected it. Honestly, I feel they look at me as someone they can feel comfortable with representing the Houston culture, and the Houston name. So, they f*ck with it and they get behind it; they support it.
AllHipHop.com: Z-Ro and Chamillionaire are raw lyricists. How do you mentally prepare to get on a track with an MC of their caliber?
Propain: At this stage in my career, it comes naturally. Even when I’m on a track with a Z-Ro or a Slim Thug, it’s just like a basketball game when you know you’re going against somebody that’s good. There’s an adrenaline rush. It’s almost like a given. I know I gotta come with it, because my competition level is dope. It’s going to make me excel. It’s just like when you’re in the gym. You run faster, you jump higher when there are a lot of people in the gym. Every time that I’ve been on a track with them, God-willing, I was able to do what I had to do to get some notoriety. So, I feel like there’s never any pressure; it’s more like a respect factor. I’m not going to come weak, because I know I’m on a track with legends. That’s the beauty of it. I always feel like I step it up when I get into the same building with these dudes.
AllHipHop.com: It’s evident that you’re grinding, because you have the streets talking. It’s being said that you’ve gained the attention of some major labels. Are you at liberty to give us the exclusive on if you’ve signed to one?
Propain: A lot of labels have been calling, but at this point we haven’t made a decision of what we’re going to do. I want to make the best decision for Propain. As an artist, until that deal is presented to where I feel it can take me to the next level; I’ll continue to working [the independent route]. We’re not forcing nothing. We’re not settling for anything. But, we have been in a lot of talks with a lot of labels. Right now, we continue to build the brand, and we’re building the movement. I’m sure they see it. Man, we’re just going to keep going. One way or another, we’ll make it to the next level. If the right situation presents itself, we’re definitely going to take it.
AllHipHop.com: What’s essential for you to feel comfortable signing to a major?
Propain: For both parties, I want a reasonable deal. Of course, I still want to be able to be myself and put out real sh*t. I want to be able to present my message. I don’t want to become a puppet, you know what I’m saying. I want something reasonable to where my brand will be able to grow. Not just locally, or regionally, or nationally; I want to do it [share my music] globally. At the end of the day, I want to be heard by the world.
AllHipHop.com: That is a huge goal. What are you willing to sacrifice to manifest your dream?
Propain: At the end of the day, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. That sums it all up right there. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, you know what I’m saying? But I wouldn’t sacrifice my character or what I stand for, nothing like that. At the end of the day, I won’t get rewarded if I don’t take a risk. I’m willing to put it all on the line.
AllHipHop.com: To those who would like to learn more about you as a man and as a musician, what would you like to share?
Propain: Check out the music. It’s Southern, but it’s something different. When people think of Houston, they think of a certain type of music. I’m everything but that, you know what I’m saying? When people get in contact with my music, there’s so much to it that you don’t normally hear from a Houston artist. It’s way different; there’s a different movement. This is something that more people can gravitate to. This is for the regular Joes and the have-nots and people on the come-up. It’s not about the drank and the candy-paint. Not saying that’s not where I’m from; that’s my culture. But, I’m an artist all day. When you think of your real artists you think of Nas, Common, Jay-Z, and everybody else who has came up and made a movement. They’re real artists; that’s what I’m trying to present for Houston.
I’m trying to be that artist that Houston got. You know, the Scarface, the Bun B, you feel me? Some sh*t like that. When you’re having conversations with people from other states, I want to be that one that you’re proud to call his name. They scream out, ‘Well, we got Biggie, we got Jay-Z.’ I want for them to be like, ‘We got Scarface, and we got Propain!’ For Houston, as a whole that’s what I’m trying to do. I want to be that artist. Not to knock no other artist that’s coming up out of Houston, because I feel like everybody’s doing their thing. At the same time, there’s nobody in my lane. The ones that are in my lane, I don’t feel like they’re doing what I’m doing with it. In that aspect, I want to be [viewed] as the best artist from Houston. Not the one with the best song, or the best beats—I want to be seen as, ‘He is the artist; he is the one that can go!’ That’s the brand that I’m trying to bring [forth] for Houston. Not just Houston, but Texas, period. I want to be that for Texas.
