If this were a classroom, and I asked how many people have a “side hustle,” I can guarantee that almost everyone would raise their hands. When I say “side hustle,” I mean something that you love doing that gives you extra money, but is not your main source of income. It can be DJing, promoting parties, your Hip-Hop blog, or selling your mixtapes on the weekend.
We all have our “side hustles,” and if this were a perfect world, our “side hustle” would be the main. But why isn’t it? Starting a business is not an easy task, but with the right preparation, dedication, and focus, you can free yourself of that dreaded job you hate so much. All action isn’t created equal, so it’s important that you follow certain steps so that you can increase the chances of your endeavor being successful.
Starting a business should be done in an effective way, instead of just doing it for the sake of just doing it. The following are a few steps to take in order to start a business effectively:
1. Find Time – First you need to put aside at least two to three hours a day to focus on your business. No matter how crazy you may think your life is, I can guarantee you that with proper time management you can find two to three hours.
2. Set Goals – Once you’ve flushed out all of your ideas and have come up with a strategy to execute them, make sure you set goals for you and your business so that you have something to be held accountable to. Make sure that your goals are S.M.A.R.T., which stands for Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Realistic – & Time-bound. They should also be broken up into short and long term.
3. Take Care of Legal and Administrative Stuff – Now that you know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there, you have to search for and create a business name. Once you find an available name, go to either Dreamhost.com or GoDaddy.com to register it and create your website. Complete forms on Legalzoom.com or WeThePeople.com to legally set up your business as a sole proprietorship, Corporation, LLC, DBA, or LLP. Lastly, you need to go to the IRS and get a Federal Tax ID number. It’s free, and you can print it out in seconds by visiting IRS.gov.
4. Learn More about Your Business – There’s never a such thing as too much knowledge. Whenever you have some free time, preferably on the weekends, make sure you are taking online classes, workshops, and seminars pertaining to your business.
5. Launch and Spread the Word – Now you’re ready to start making some money! Once you launch your business, it’s imperative that you tell your friends, family, co-workers, church congregation, classmates, strangers, and whoever else you run across.
6. Stay Focused and Committed – Now that you’re officially a business owner, you have to remember one thing; not all days are going to be the same. Some days, business is going to be great and others not so great. The important thing is to work your plan and stay committed to your success.
Congratulations!! You are truly a boss! Keep grinding and make those dreams become reality! Again, NOTHING CAN STOP YOU!!! THE WORLD IS YOURS!!! -Ash’Cash
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.
The name DJ Folk should certainly ring some bells within Hip-Hop. But just in case it doesn’t, Folk helped craft Young Jeezy’s Trappin Aint Dead, assisted in the development of a young artist back in ’05 that some of you may know, named Big K.R.I.T., and was the Production Coordinator on Lil Wayne’s Platinum-certified album, Tha Carter IV.
The man who has worked on some of your favorite’s rappers most memorable projects took some time to speak to AllHipHop.com from the airport as he headed back to Atlanta to finish working on Lil Wayne’s I Am Not A Human Being 2, along with the compilation album, CTE World with Jeezy and his CTE crew.
Folk talked about becoming a DJ, aligning himself with winning camps like CTE and Cash Money, how some of his biggest mixtapes came together, and what he has in store for listeners in the near future. Check out AllHipHop.com’s exclusive interview with DJ Folk:
AllHipHop.com: So, for the readers that aren’t familiar with you, tell me a little about your background and come-up within the industry.
DJ Folk: Basically, my come-up was that I started interning with Grand Hustle with T.I., and them when I came out of North Carolina A&T back in ’03-’04, I interned with them for a little while. It’s funny how I got on with them, though, ‘cause I was doing mixtapes out there while I was in school, and I was one of the biggest mixtape hustlers out there in the area. I sent them a package showing what I could do, and I didn’t think they’d ever reply back, but they did with open arms, and so I went over there. That’s kind of how I came into the game, and then I met [Young] Jeezy while I was an intern at Grand Hustle, and just built a rapport with him and ended up going over to work with him.
AllHipHop.com: How exactly does someone become involved with mixtapes, at least in the capacity that you first were?
DJ Folk: Well, my father was a DJ when he was in college, in the same area of North Carolina A&T and everything, so I was brought up with music. And then back in the days, The Source used to run ads for Upstairs Records, and they would sell a DJ starter kit so I got that for Christmas one year, and then I just started f*cking around and putting what I was doing on tape, and that’s how it was born.
AllHipHop.com: What would you say was the first mixtape you put together or were involved with that really solidified who you were and “put you on”?
DJ Folk: Well, the first ever mixtape that I ever did was the mixtape I did in ’01 or ’02 called So What You Saying. I had got that Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel record called “So What You Saying,” and I put a little mixtape together. I sold probably 200-300 of them, just starting out. But the first mixtape that put me on the map all the way nationwide was probably Trappin Aint Dead with Jeezy in ’09.
AllHipHop.com: Speaking of Jeezy, you’ve been responsible for some of his dopest mixtapes, as well as ones from Big K.R.I.T., Slick Pulla, CTE, Rick Ross, and Lil Boosie. You recently put out Birdman and Mack Maine’s Billionaire Minds, so I have to ask, where do you even find the time to take a breath, man?
DJ Folk: Well, I try to balance it out and pace myself when it comes to my work schedule or whatever. People that know me know that I can sit in my studio and listen to beats for 12 hours straight some days and still have time to work out for two hours a day and then try to get like six hours of sleep a day somehow.
AllHipHop.com: You said before that Trappin Aint Dead was the mixtape that “put you on” and solidified who you were, but of all the projects you’ve worked on and released, which is your personal favorite?
DJ Folk: Trappin Aint Dead, Deep N Da Game 1 with Boyz N The Hood, that one was monumental. From The Trap To The Stroll was the first tape that anybody heard Big K.R.I.T. on; that one came out with Papa Smurf back in ’05, I think, and that one was huge.
AllHipHop.com: Would you then consider yourself as the man who discovered K.R.I.T., or at least the man who helped take his career to the next level?
DJ Folk: I would say that I helped him probably more development wise, because I used to be with K.R.I.T. doing “audio jackings” where you would freestyle over other peoples beats, so I used to always give him all these different beats to rip. You can see the potential in any of his first freestyles. Of course, Trappin Aint Dead got me all types of critical acclaim, and everybody wanted to know who I was and where I came from, just off of that tape. And then, I came right back with The 25th Hour with Boosie. I appreciate that so much more now because I see what kind of impact it had.
AllHipHop.com: How does it feel to be someone who worked with so many artists in the “development” stage, and then see the success that many of them have achieved throughout their own careers?
DJ Folk: It’s kind of a validation that I know what I’m doing as far as discovering talent goes. Like with me and K.R.I.T., people don’t understand, I’ve seen what was going on with him in ’05 when I heard his music. I just knew he needed development. We’re in an era where there’s no more true artist development like there was in, say, the earlier part of the decade or the late ’90’s.
AllHipHop.com: So, to transition to your other work, I know you worked closely with [Lil] Wayne and Birdman on Tha Carter IV and you co-hosted the Billionaire Minds project. How exactly did that mixtape come to be?
DJ Folk: Well, a lot of people don’t know that Bigger Than Life was the original title for his mixtape that we started on after he dropped Priceless in ’09. This is the craziest story, ‘cause I actually went to the studio with a beat from The Olympicks. I gave him like eight beats, he picked one and turned it out and rapped on it, and that one track led to all the stuff with Cash Money. That one moment of me f*cking with Birdman changed everything. Him and Slim are full of knowledge, so I’d have conversations with them all the time about the game, and I really appreciate them and everything they’ve done for me.
No matter where I am in the world, I try to help them to make their projects the best projects ever. So that “Stunna” placement led to me sending beats to Wayne’s engineer, and from that, I ended up working on the I Am Not A Human Being project, which led to me working on Tha Carter IV.
AllHipHop.com: Now, what was your actual title on Tha Carter IV?
DJ Folk: I was the production coordinator.
AllHipHop.com: What exactly does that entail? Is that more of an A&R thing?
DJ Folk: A lot of times when people send beats to people, they might not listen to them or pass them on; the difference between me and them is that I listen to every beat, and I know what fits with where Wayne wants to go sometimes. That “Mega Man” record, a lot of people don’t know, that Mega Man sent that to me in June and when I heard I knew it was for Wayne. I sent it over to him and within two to five days, Wayne’s engineer hit me and said they wanted to hold it, ’cause he really liked the record and then, of course, the record came out crazy. So it’s kind of a middleman of getting beats to artists, but I consider it more A&R’ing.
AllHipHop.com: Okay, I got you. Do you produce records as well?
DJ Folk: I used to when Fruity Loops first came out. I used to mess with that, so that’s why I think my ear for production is a little bit more advanced than a lot of people. I’m there a lot of the time with certain producers like The Olympicks and Mega Man in the studio and just give them some input or I might find a sample and send it to somebody to flip.
AllHipHop.com: If you don’t mind me asking, why did you stop producing?
DJ Folk: Man, I was doing too much. I was DJ’ing, producing, I was doing everything, and I had to just find my niche in this business and find out where I was going to be able to be productive and have a career. It took me a while to figure out what my niche was in this between doing mixtapes, A&R’ing, and artist development, which was more my niche, so that’s what I stuck with.
AllHipHop.com: You mentioned before that you are working with Birdman on his upcoming album, Bigger Than Life, and Wayne’s I Am Not A Human Being 2. What roles are you playing in those projects, and what are your thoughts on what you’ve heard so far from both of them?
DJ Folk: I’m doing pretty much the same thing as what I got credit for last time. Birdman’s been working on Bigger Than Life for two years. Everyone sees Wayne doing this and him doing this, but they really work, man. They’re in the studio like 10 to 12 hours a day. I’ve given them a lot of new producers’ beats, so you’re going to hear a little bit of a different sound on Bigger Than Life. I don’t know how far they are with I Am Not A Human Being 2, as far as what records they’re going to keep, but I know they’ve hit me for about six beats for Wayne. I’m guessing that out of the six, that probably two will get on there, and you’ll see my name in the credits for those records on that.
AllHipHop.com: You said earlier that you get sent a ton of beats on a daily basis. What catches your ear about some of the stuff production-wise that you listen to? How do you know that ‘this is the record’ for ‘this person’?
DJ Folk: It’s got to be original. I hear a lot of people’s stuff trying to sound like what’s going on and what’s coming out now. It can’t sound like anything else, and it has to be incredibly dope. I would say that in an average week, I got 1,500 beat submissions and out of those 1,500, I would say maybe only 80 to 100 of them are quality. [laughter] It’s bad out here.
AllHipHop.com: [laughter] I guess everyone thinks they can be a producer nowadays, just like everyone thinks they can be a rapper.
DJ Folk: Yeah, man, it’s like the NBA. There’s all these kids playing basketball across the country, and there’s only really, on average, with the draft ,there’s like 65, so you might have 15 undrafted free agents. So that’s like 75 out of 2,000-3,000 people are going to make it.
AllHipHop.com: Yeah, I hear you on that. So we talked about Young Money and Cash Money; now I want to know about the work you’re doing right now with Young Jeezy and CTE, and what your current role is within that label and brand.
DJ Folk: Well, you know, he’s always going to need a street A&R to always know what’s going on, and I probably bring him more stuff, between me and his other guy, probably bring him most of what he raps on; unless of course the producers bring it straight to him. He’s got a lot of good relationships with big name producers, but they’re working on the CTE World album, and then I think he’s really going to start sitting down and coming up with the concepts for his next album, because this last album [TM103] took too long, and he doesn’t want to take off too much time right now. He feels like he has to come right back.
AllHipHop.com: I know that TM103 was just certified Gold in the past couple of weeks, and that’s definitely something for all of you involved to be proud of, so congratulations.
DJ Folk: Yeah, man. Thanks. We knew what it was going to do, and we knew how high the anticipation was and that everyone would love it once they got it, so we’re all happy for now. I wouldn’t be surprised to be honest, if sooner than later, he drops a new mixtape to keep everybody happy. But that may or may not be true so don’t hold me to that; I think he will.
AllHipHop.com: Perhaps Trappin Aint Dead 2?
DJ Folk: I mean, that’s what the people want, but I don’t know where he is on it or what he wants to do with it.
AllHipHop.com: Fair enough. We got to talk about a lot already, but is there anything else we didn’t discuss that you want the readers and listeners to be looking out for?
DJ Folk: Yeah. Me, Birdman, Mack Maine and, I think, DJ Khaled are doing Billionaire Minds 2. I also got a huge deal to announce soon, involving The Olympicks, just can’t talk about it right this second. And you might be seeing me in one of these label buildings over here in a minute. I’ve been taking a lot of meetings and talking to a lot of people, so you never know what’s going to happen with me, that’s why you’ve always got to stay tuned in with me.
AllHipHop.com: Well, I’m definitely looking forward to what you’ve got coming out and to hear about all these big things you have in the works. Thanks for your time, Folk.
(AllHipHop News) The story of rap vet Ice-T and his buxom lady Coco will be told next week on E!
“Ice-T and Coco: True Hollywood Story,” will take an intimate look into the Hip-Hop power couple’s lives, as well as their 10-year-marriage.
In addition to telling Ice’s backstory, the special will reveal little know facts about Coco, whom Ice met on the set of a video shoot.
“You’ll definitely learn so much more about us and you get to hear the whole entire story about me before I met Ice and life now with Ice,” Coco told AllHipHop.com.
The news of the show comes as Ice-T continues a full court press on the television and film industries.
In addition to the E! special, the 53-year-old actor is preparing for the debut of his reality show, “Ice Loves Coco,” which debuts February 19 at 10:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Ice-T will make his directorial debut this June, when the documentary “Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap,” premieres.
“The Art of Rap,” which features Eminem, Kanye West, Nas and other famed rappers, focuses on each artists’ songwriting technique.
“Ice-T and Coco: True Hollywood Story” is slated to debut on Sunday (February 12).
William Calhoun, better known as WC, has been puttin’ in work for the West Coast rap scene for well over two decades now, and he’s not out to slow down anytime soon. Starting out as part of the group Low Profile with the legendary DJ Aladdin, Dub (as many refer to him as) has put together an impressive catalog over the years as a solo artist and with his groups Tha Maad Circle and later, The Westside Connection.
Since the break-up of Westside Connection, WC has remained busy touring with his younger brother DJ Crazy Toones and longtime friend and collaborator Ice Cube. The trio remain to this day one of the most enjoyable concert acts just on the strength of their performing abilities, the back and forth chemistry and the long list of classic Ice Cube songs.
As the crew prepares to once again hit the road, WC took the time to chat it up with AllHipHop.com to talk about their concert show, his little brother Crazy Toones, childhood friend Ice Cube, and other things on his mind:
AllHipHop.com: I’ve seen you perform with Ice Cube several times, and there’s an amazing amount of fun, energy and chemistry that you two have together on stage. Do you attribute that to your long time friendship?
WC: It plays a part in it, but mostly it’s because we are both students of the game. We both love Hip-Hop, and we came in when it was pure and when an MC had to have a complete package in order to make it.
Not discrediting rap artists that are getting down now, but at the time we came in to the game, it was more than just having a record out. If you didn’t have a good show, the fans would boo you. Fans weren’t as lenient as they are now. Me, Cube and my brother Crazy Toones have always agreed that we were going to give 150 percent, and we weren’t going to be cats just walking back in forth on stage just rapping. We’re going to give a complete show. As you’ve seen yourself, we go in.
AllHipHop.com: That’s something that you’ve been saying as far back as your “Pay Ya Dues” song with the Low Profile group.
WC: You’ve got to give the crowd what they want. They want to see a real show. That’s why we can still go and get down to this day and give the current artists with number one records a hard time. With the catalog that we have, we can give it to them. Toones goes off on the wheels, and me and Cube go back and forth on the mic, and we get the crowd involved. We can get down at any place in the entire world.
AllHipHop.com: You mentioned your brother Crazy Toones. He’s been with you since The Maad Circle days. What’s it like having your brother work with you?
WC: That’s my little brother, and he’s been with me since day one. It feels good because I know that he’s genuinely got our back. He’s not up there just for a check. We could do a real dope show and then go back to the dressing room, and he’ll tell us how we need to do a certain song or which ones to add to the show.
One time we did a show for about an hour and some change. and by the time we finished the encore, it was two hours. After the show, Toones still got at us about adding this or that song. Cube was like, “God d*mn, man. You’re not running around the stage with us!” [laughter] That’s just the kind of cat that he is. He’s genuine, and he’ll give his input. We listen to him because he’s family, and he’s not back there being yes-man. We all push each other to the limit.
AllHipHop.com: How was it going up with Crazy Toones? We’re you the big brother knuckling his head a little bit?
WC: Yes, I was, but Toones was a special case. He was always a big kid. When he was in Elementary school, he looked like should’ve been in Junior High. He stood above everybody else. There wasn’t too much jumping on him. That’s my little brother, and I love him to death. There wasn’t any punkin’ going on.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve known Ice Cube since high school or beyond that?
WC: I’ve known him since elementary school. We lived right around the corner from each other. That’s how far me and O’Shea go back. We played Pop Warner football and all that sh*t. We just don’t brag about that or tell people about it. We go back to elementary, and that’s why our friendship is so genuine. We can get in an argument and be like, “F*ck you! You’re trippin’.” And then a month later be like, “Where you at?” [laughter] It’s genuine.
AllHipHop.com: Who started rapping first between yourself and Cube?
WC: I don’t know. I think we started around the same time. In our neighborhood, you were either gang-banging full-fledged, playing ball, or doing music. We both had our share of dabbling in all of that, but we were fortunate enough to just to become affiliates of the neighborhood and not cats with crazy jail records. We got a chance to get in to this music right here, and we love the support of our neighborhood because everybody saw our struggle and knows our struggle.
AllHipHop.com: Did you two ever have any friendly rap battles back in the day?
WC: We always did. He always came around to the house and couldn’t close the garage fast enough. We used to go in there and rap for hours. Cube was always good at putting visuals in to his word play. Of course, Dr. Dre knows that, which is why he scooped him up.
AllHipHop.com: You guys have another tour coming up?
WC: We’ve got some shows in Switzerland coming up in March on the 11th or the 12th. Then in April we will be in Australia. While that’s going on, Cube is working on his new album, and we’re trying to have that out soon. I’m working on my album as well. We’ll be dropping my album shortly after his. Then we’ll be back on the road again.
AllHipHop.com: Nice! Another Ice Cube album, and another one from you!
WC: Why the f*ck not? [laughter] Is it because we’re old school, and we have catalogs? I think we need to go and do it for all of the cats that don’t get a chance to hear our records on the radio or see our videos 24/7 anymore. We continue to give them good music. We applaud Hip-Hop for still going on, and we support Hip-Hop.
We see the Lil Wayne’s and everybody like that, and we give them dap because they always show us love and respect. I’m just happy to see everybody out there still doing their thing and not letting Hip-Hop slide away, regardless of what people say that the music is now. I’m loving the fact that it’s still here – we’re still blessed to get down and still have fans. We’re going to continue to put records out.
AllHipHop.com: How long are you going to keep going?
WC: Until the fans say that they don’t want it anymore.
AllHipHop.com: Do you already have a title for the new album?
WC: I have quite a few titles but I’m not going to say anything yet. N*ggas still be biting out here. If I throw it out there, someone might run with that motherf*cker.
AllHipHop.com: Do you still have your Big Swang record label?
WC: Yeah, that’s what it’s coming out under. I don’t know who I’m going to use for distribution yet. It might be E1 again. I’m also putting out my favorite MC – my young candidate, Maylay. He’s got a mixtape and a digital album coming out this summer. The mixtape is called Hog Tied & Duck Taped. Anybody who hasn’t heard of him yet can hear him on Ice Cube’s last album. He was on the “Too West Coast” and “Y’all Know How I Am.” He’s nice with it.
AllHipHop.com: He was the lead character in the GTA: San Andreas video game.
WC: Yeah, that’s CJ!
AllHipHop.com: You mentioned that he was your favorite young rapper. Who else is on that list?
WC: My favorites are Maylay, Bad Lucc, and OMG. I like a lot of cats getting down, but those three are my favorites.
AllHipHop.com: OMG is Cube’s son. Do you ever give him pointers and tips on rapping?
WC: All of the time. Any time they come to me to ask me what I think, I let them know. I would be wrong to not speak my mind. That would be selfish of me. OMG has the whole package. I’m not worried about him. He’s got a new mixtape coming out too.
AllHipHop.com: I was at the KDAY concert where you embraced Mack 10 in the press room. That was a cool thing.
WC: I walked in the room during the middle of his interview, and I wanted everybody to see that there wasn’t any bad blood or anything that people have been speculating about. I wanted people to see that just because we all departed and gone our separate ways that I don’t have a problem with Mack 10. I’m a real n*gga. That wasn’t something that I had to do. It wasn’t planned. It was something that I chose to do and I wanted to do it in front of the whole world. That’s real, man.
AllHipHop.com: Do you have any parting thoughts or something on your mind that you wanted to share?
WC: To all of the upcoming MCs and DJs, don’t let anybody tell you what you can’t do. We’re all stronger together than separate. Even though it might seem like we don’t support each other on the West, it starts with ourselves. When we as artists make up our minds in what we want to do and what we want to say, we don’t worry about who’s going to step in and assist us or not.
I think the main people that we need to look at are our local radio stations – our disc jockeys that and lie by saying that they support us. F*ck telling me to my face that you like my music and all that – show and prove. I’m not saying this for myself because I’ve been blessed. I’ve had my records on the radio stations, and I still get my songs thrown in the mix. But to all of the upcoming MC’s and Producers – don’t get frustrated and tap out of the game because you feel like it’s a no-win situation. Keep going hard and eventually it will break through.
I also want to say that just because you get a verse from Snoop, myself, Cube, or even a beat from Dr. Dre – that doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to get your video or record played. You’ve got to keep working hard. Don’t bite your tongue – we got to start screaming on these b*tch a** DJs who are not supporting what we do.
It’s not about WC, but it’s about all of us. There’s so much talent out here that deserve to be heard. It’s f*cked up because they can’t get played or they don’t fit in to the format of the radio station. I don’t even call them “radio stations” out here because radio stations play music that the public wants to hear. It’s all just all programmed now.
(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop group The Bodega Brovas are set to embark on a European tour that includes stops in France, Ireland, Germany and the UK.
Group member HeadKrack is from the nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley Show.
He is also one-third of the Bodega Brovas – along with emcees Travil and Keynote.
The three rappers have earned their keep over the last year, being featured as one of AllHipHop.com’s Top 25 Underground Groups of 2011.
Joined by Tanya Morgan, Souls of Mischief and the Artifacts, “The ‘MoDega’ Europe 2012 Tour” kicks off at the top of next month and winds its way through Europe with a grand finale show in Paris, France on March 13th.
“2011 and 2012 so far has been an amazing year for The Bodega Brovas,” HeadKrack told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement. “From signing with HipNott, to a string of successful shows in Germany, Europe and the US, it’s been a non stop ride. Our Pre Album Fancy Anthrax has produced a #1 record (“Now or Never”) at college radio and there still plenty of life in the project.”
HeadKrack is excited for the group to take their talents across the pond.
“We are excited about heading back overseas for our shows with Souls of Mischief, Tanya Morgan, and The Artifacts (on select dates). The love we receive abroad is so surreal because we rock a lot of spots where English isn’t even the main language. But we go out there and they know the songs and they have seen our vids online. We about to wild out and create the magic again and bum-rush Tesco’s!! – The UK version of Wal-Mart.
The Bodega Brovas project, Fancy Anthrax: Pre-Loaded Guns & Alcohol is available now.
Their full length debut album, LGA: Loaded Guns and Alcohol, drops on May 22 on HipNott Records
Check out their upcoming tour dates below and watch their documentary, “American B-Boys in London,”
which follows the group on their last trip to Europe.
The “MoDega” Europe 2012 Tour feat. Tanya Morgan & The Bodega Brovas
3/2 Dublin, Ireland
3/3 Galway, Ireland
3/4 Cork, Ireland
3/5 Norwich, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief)
3/6 Ipswich, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief)
3/8 Manchester, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief)
3/9 Penzance, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief)
3/10 Aachen, Germany
3/11 Darmstadt, Germany
3/13 Paris, France (w/Artifacts)
Jay-Z and Beyonce have gone a different route and instead of selling photos of Blue Ivy Carter to the highest bidder, they have released intimate photos of themselves and B.I.C. on a tumblr page. The baby is absolutely adorable and Jay-Z and Beyonce are beaming with happiness in the pictures, which seem to have been taken at the hospital shortly after B.I.C’s birth. Check out the photos below and the special note from “The Carter Family”.
Blue Ivy Carter is just gorgeous! To me, she looks like alot like her mother Beyonce, and her Grandmother, Tina Knowles. Look at all that hair on that baby’s head and her little hands. Just precious! If these photos are the real deal, the Carters get mad respect from me for not cashing in on the pictures and sharing them with their fans for free.
We’ve been hearing rumors that Gucci Mane has been looking to expand his 1017 Brick Squad Records, Inc. label with the additions of Yung Joc and Gorilla Zoe. Gucci recently sat down for an interview with HOT 107.9 in Atlanta and didn’t fully confirm the rumor, but he didn’t deny it either.
Check out the interview below. Do you think Yung Joc and Gorilla Zoe would be a good addition to Gucci’s label?
According to one of Nate Dogg’s close associates, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, and many of Nate’s high-rolling friends turned their back on the singer and refused to pitch in any money to help with his medical bills.
TMZ is reporting that Nate’s estate, along with his business partner David Michery, have lost a $300K lawsuit filed by CareMeridian, the medical facility where Nate lived from 2008 to 2010 after suffering a massive stroke. According to David, “none of Nate’s so-called rapper friends” are stepping up to the plate to help.
“I was the only person who would come forward because I didn’t want him to die. Me and Nate have 20 years history together and I did what everyone should have done and tried to save his life … not let him get kicked out in the streets and die.”
David says he intends to pay the costs by releasing several never-before-heard Nate Dogg tracks that he claims he owns.
Warren G, who famously recorded “Regulate” with Nate, told TMZ:
“I rode with Nate ’til the end … I did what I could do for him with other things financially.”
“If I was able to pay for his hospital bill, I would have. I made several calls to numerous people for help. I love Nate … he’s my brother.”
So far, Snoop Dogg has not responded to the claims. I hope Snoop can step up and help Nate’s family out. It sounds like they are in a lot of financial trouble.
(AllHipHop News) As he does each year, President Barack Obama recently signed a proclamation commemorating February as “African American History Month.” This year, the Obama Adminstration has decided to celebrate via the theme, “Black Women in American Culture and History.”
The White House recently issued a special video message from one of the country’s most successful Black women – the First Lady herself, Mrs. Michelle Obama. Check out the video below where she talks about the “heroes” among Black women:
Read an excerpt of the First Lady’s message below, and visit the official White House blog HERE:
“This is a time when we honor the rich legacy of African Americans throughout our nation’s history, and this year, our national theme focuses on the unique contributions of African-American women.
They’re heroes like Sojourner Truth … Harriet Tubman … Dorothy Height … Rosa Parks … Maya Angelou. They’re women who fought against slavery … stood up for women’s suffrage … and marched in the streets for our civil rights. They’ve broken boundaries … stirred our souls … and opened our hearts.
But we all know that you don’t have to be in a history book to make a contribution to our country. So we’re also celebrating the women we call mom or grandma. We’re celebrating our aunts … our best friends … all those women who live each da with a spirit that is uniquely their own, and who continue to write our country’s story every single day.”
Denzel Washington, the G.O.A.T.? He just might be after his performance in Universal Pictures’ newest flick, Safe House, where he transports viewers back to his villainous role as in Training Day. Featured alongside Ryan Reynolds, Denzel delivers a classic performance as a rouge CIA agent, Tobin Frost, that was recently captured in South Africa and taken to a “Safe House” (a safe location for international criminals while they are extradited to the United States).
Holding secrets to the government’s deepest secrets on a microchip, Denzel challenges Ryan Reynold’s character, who must bring Denzel into the secure hands of the United States government. Chock full of action-packed scenes reminiscent of Matt Damon’s The Bourne Identity, viewers will tip their hat to the fighting choreography showcased in this film.
While we won’t give up too many of the details in the film, we can tell you that you will be surprised by the ending, and to add, we never knew that Ryan Reynolds could be tough.
From car chase scenes to Denzel running through roof tops in small shanty towns of South Africa, this will go down as one of the top Denzel films ever. Glory, Devil in a Blue Dress, Training Day, The Pelican Brief, Crimson Tide, and Deja Vu’ are all given a run for their money in this one as Denzel once again proves that he is, in fact, one of the greatest actors of our time. And yes, he does “the walk,” in this movie.
Might this be yet another Academy Award for Denzel? To answer that question with a question, as Jadakiss so eloquently put on his song, “Why” featuring Anthony Hamilton: “Why Denzel gotta be crooked/ before he took it?”
Go see this. You will not be disappointed! Check out Denzel and Ryan Reynolds prepping for the fight scenes below:
(AllHipHop News) Fort Myers, Florida rapper Plies has announced he is releasing a new mix tape titled “On Trial.”
The rapper will release the mix tape to coincide with NBA All-Star weekend, which is taking place in Orlando Florida.
“Lot going on in a ni**a life, and a n#### feel like honestly, most ni**as out for real, ni**as lives are on trial every day. I think a ni**a can never escape they past for real and that’s smoething I been talking to my brother about…the past follows you forever.”
“On Trial” will be Plies last mixtape, before he drops his official album which will be titled Purple Heart.
“This mixtape is so different for me, because I was able to allow myself to go back and really pour my heart out for the first time in a long time, about s### that I felt like was important.”
He said that actually being “on trial” was an eye opening experience.
“I’ma touch on certain aspects that I feel like allow you to really understand how I think for real. Being a street ni**a that comes from Ft Myers and never had s### for real, but also to have been blessed to play with financial means that a ni**a never dreamed of in my opinion, I think it’s important to me. I wanna open up and do s### I never did before.”
The rapper will release the “On Trial” mixtape on Friday, February 24 at 3:00 PM.
(AllHipHop News) Bay Area rapper Too $hort has announced that he will be featured in 10 new videos from famed filmmaker and documentarian Joslyn Rose Lyons.
The video series is directed and produced by Lyons’ company Jog9 Productions and is meant to promote Too $hort’s upcoming album, No Trespassing, due out February 28th on EMI,
Lyons’ company has developed quite a resume since releasing her first feature documentary “Soundz of Spirit” (SOS) in 2002.
The first in the series is the song “Double Header” featuring Wallpaper.
“I wanted to showcase another side of Too $hort. I wanted to explore a more story-driven and cinematic theme to his songs,” Lyons told AllHipHop.com. “I hope these videos will be inspiring, something different from what we might expect to see.”
In 2002 Lyons’ critically lauded film (SOS) explored the spiritual connection between Hip-Hop emcees and how they create music. The flick featured Common, Andre 3000 and Cee-Lo Green among others.
Joslyn Rose Lyons has also directed and produced original content for Current TV, BET Networks, Discovery Channel, PBS and HBO.
“I made a deal with Joslyn to shoot 5 videos and it went so well I decided to shoot 5 more with her…Next, I wanna do a movie,” Too $hort said of the prolific director.
Directing Def Poetry Bay Area, a pilot for Simmons Lathan Media Group and HBO, and producing segments for BET Networks including the Top Ten Countdown with Bone Thugs N’ Harmony and Hip Hop Chess with RZA of Wu-Tang for Rap City, Joslyn has been cutting her teeth on the film side of rap for years
In 2008 she went behind the scenes with Erykah Badu, while recording the New Amerykah Part II album.
Lyon’s has also tried her hand at directing music videos, putting together nearly a dozen music videos including four from Brooklyn, New York emcee Talib Kweli.
With his sophomore album The Day After Tomorrow set to drop on February 28, New York’s Maino has dropped his new mixtape I Am Who I Am, which is being called “the album before the album.” The statement is solidified by album-quality type tracks opposed to throwaways, in addition to features from the likes of Meek Mill, Lloyd Banks, Jim Jones, and Wale. Hosted by DJ Green Lantern, the majority of the tracks on I Am Who I Am features the “unstoppable” Maino rapping about his come-up and struggle to survive in Brooklyn.
DJ Green Lantern provides the introduction before Maino begins on the track “Rare Breed.” He lets us know his attitude immediately (“You know it’s hustle hard“), and he spends time shouting out more than a handful of people presumably from his Bed-Stuy neighborhood. He closes after stating that he’s a “rare breed,” ending it with a short sample from his popular single, “All The Above.”
The theme of grinding and coming-up continues on the next song, appropriately titled, “Last of the Mohicans” and features Push! Montana. Both MCs bring it on this energetic drum and guitar filled track as the tape’s intensity continues to rise as they rap about their past. Maino raps, “Any night could be my last night / out here scuffin’ up my damn Nikes” and that he was down to do anything to survive, whether it be robbing a bank or selling drugs. Although Maino’s music has helped push his life in a positive direction over the past few years, Maino is sure to remind us that he is “still grindin’” on one of the mixtape’s stand-out tracks.
On “Cream,” Maino announces he “Finally touched my first mill“, and takes the time to share that grindin’ pays off (“Diamonds drippin’ / parked the Bentley down in Fort Green”). The hook features a Rick Ross sample that loudly raps: “I’m about cream,” fitting perfectly with not only Maino’s verse, but guest verses from T.I. and Meek Mill as well.
As the tape goes on, bangers carry a solid mixtape that features Maino at his finest with his “hustle hard” mantra on full display. From the remix to “Let It Fly” (which features Ace Hood, Meek Mill, Jim Jones, and Wale), to the title track, “I Am Who I Am,” Maino’s lyrical content and delivery allow him to deliver bangers that not only sound great, but also motivate one to “hustle hard” and be “unstoppable” like Maino in their own life.
Welcome to the end of a great week and a great cause for celebration! According to various sources, on average, 146,000 people die worldwide each and every day! To put it in context, that’s a total 5,986,000 people gone so far in 2012. If you are reading these words, then congratulations… you were just given another opportunity to do it better!
There are people who whine and complain about the most trivial of things and don’t realize how ungrateful they are being! Know that life is a bonus! Everyday that we are given the opportunity to take another breath is another day that we must show our appreciation by being the best that we can be!
Don’t take life for granted! Any moment can be your last so make sure you are using your time wisely! Celebrate life! Appreciate your friends, family, and significant others!! Know that what has happened yesterday has no power over you! It’s what you do today that matters most! Stop being ungrateful, and live life to the fullest! You only have one….. so do it the best!!
-Ash’Cash
“Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.” -Unknown
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” -Greg Anderson
“Get excited and enthusiastic about you own dream. This excitement is like a forest fire – you can smell it, taste it, and see it from a mile away.” -Denis Waitley
“Life becomes precious and more special to us when we look for the little everyday miracles and get excited about the privileges of simply being.” -Tim Hansel
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” -Oprah Winfrey
“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” -Thomas J. Peters
“Celebrate the happiness that is all around you, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!” -Amanda Bradley
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” -John Fitzgerald Kennedy
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.
(AllHipHop News) Although President Barack Obama is a self proclaimed Hip-Hop fan, this year’s presidential playlist does not contain a single rap song.
The White House released Obama’s 2012 playlist last night (February 9) and while there are a number of R&B, Rock and Jazz acts, not a single Hip-Hop artist made Obama’s list.
Artists like Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire, Raphael Saadiq, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Hudson and Darius Rucker made the 29-song list, which was created using music discovery service Spotify.
It is a surprise that not a single rap song made President Barack Obama’s playlist, since he has had a unique relationship with the genre of music over the past four years.
The President has personally invited artists like Jay-Z, Common and DMC of Run-DMC fame, while he is admitted to listening to artists like Lil Wayne, Nas, The Fugees and others.
President Barack Obama even name checked Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. during his presidential dinner in which he joked on rival Donald Trump, who was in attendance.
Checkout President Barack Obama’s Hip-Hop free playlist below:
Raphael Saadiq: “Keep Marchin'”
Noah And The Whale: “Tonight’s The
Kind Of Night”
Bruce Springsteen: “We Take Care Of Our Own”
Zac Brown Band: “Keep Me In Mind”
Aretha Franklin: “The Weight”
U2: “Even Better Than The Real Thing”
Ricky Martin featuring Joss Stone: “The
Best Thing About Me Is You”
Dierks Bentley: “Home”
Ray LaMontagne: “You Are The Best Thing”
Earth Wind & Fire Experience featuring Al McKay Allstars: “Got To Get You Into My Life” (Live)
Booker T. & The MG’s: “Green Onions” (Single/LP Version)
Wilco: “I Got You”
The Impressions: “Keep On Pushing” (Single Version)
