[ahh_audio src=/1-12-12/Mario-FallingDownSnippet.mp3]
homepage
Skyy Walker “The Traphouse Bunkin”
[ahh_audio src=/1-12-12/SkyyWalker-TheTraphouseBunkin.mp3]
J Bar Ft. Planet VI “We Gone”
[ahh_audio src=/1-12-12/JBarftPlanetVI-WeGone.mp3]
Hip-Hop Rumors: Yelawolf Knocks Out Fan At Show in California?!
Fan Gets What He Deserves At Yelawolf Show in Santa Ana, CA!
What happens when you try and get on stage from the floor at a concert? You get pushed off.
What happens when you try and get on stage a second time and tackle Yelawolf? You get your *ss kicked!
Don’t be an *sshole. Enjoy the show.
Ludacris and Usher to Reunite for “Ludaversal” Album
(AllHipHop News) 2012 looks to be a year of achievements for Atlanta rapper/actor Ludacris, who will reunite with R&B singer Usher for his forthcoming album, Ludaversal.
According to Ludacris, the offering is “in the “beginning stages” at this time. Ludaversal will mark the first official studio contribution from Ludacris since the release of his 2010 album, Battle of the Sexes. The rhymesayer released a mixtape, 1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time in November 2011.
“I get the beats together and I put out my ideas, so I’d say we’re maybe about 40 percent done,” the rhymester told Billboard.com. “I’ve pretty much collected about 80 percent of the beats that I need, and I’ve started writing ideas on them. First I have to love the beat, absolutely love it.”
Usher is the latest collaborator to come aboard for Ludaversal. Hitmaking production team, The Neptunes, were confirmed by Ludacris last year as being part of the project, which the rapper admitted to being set for release in May.
As for Usher’s involvement, Ludacris acknowledged their past work together, while teasing about other things fans can look forward to with his newest release.
“Usher is one person that I’ve already worked with and in terms of other artists; you can say that there’s going to be a lot of surprises on here,” said Ludacris.
The duo first aligned with each other on the number one hit “Yeah!” The Lil John-assisted track was followed by another success as the trio joined forces again for Lil John’s “Lovers and Friends.” The first single from Ludaversal will be released “probably within March,” the lyricist revealed to Billboard while providing a glimpse of what will be addressed on the album.
“It’s been a minute since I’ve been away from music, and there is just so much to talk about,” Ludacris shared. “So [the album] is mostly about my personal life, my travels, my experiences, rumors, gossip – you know, everything coming together in one.”
Usher’s inclusion on Ludaversal comes on the heels of a business victory for Ludacris, who announced last week the opening of a new restaurant, Chicken & Beer, in Atlnata’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Georgia.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Has Common Recorded “The B***h In You” Part 2 For Drizzy Drake?
IS COMMON PREPPING “THE B***H IN YOO” PART TWO FOR DRAKE?
Some of you kiddies are too young to remember when Common and Ice Cube had beef. Basically, Common caught flack for his song “I Used To Love H.E.R.” and Ice Cube and them didn’t like it. Well, they did some response that I don’t remember but it prompted Common to do the now classic diss song “The B****h In Yoo.” Got it? This was 1996.
In 2012, Common is beefing with Drake. This is all fun and lyrics even though some people are trying to suggest it could turn into something more. Well, I am hearing rumors that Common has braced for a Drake reply and recorded (or will record) “The B***h In Yoo” Part 2 for Drake. If this is true, I am assuming it is under the anticipation that Drake may return with a diss. Based on what Baby of Cash Money recently proclaimed, I don’t see Drake having much more to say. Also, I think quiet as kept, people realize that this could be a brand problem for Drizzy, not a Hip-Hop one. IF “The B***h In Yoo” Part 2 comes out do you think it would measure up to the original? Based on “Sweet,” I think so. Maybe Drake should take the beat first and run with it!
Here is the original 1996 “The B***h In Yoo.” (This version is fast, because of the youtube bs rules. All the rest are blocked.):
And for Drake, here’s the original Pete Rock instrumental just in case.
Daily Word: Stop Being Realistic!!!
Happy Thursday, my Talented Trailblazers!!
Welcome to another opportunity to make it better! Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to not being realistic! Reality is not a fact, it’s an opinion! If your reality says that life is difficult, then life is difficult! If your reality says that life is abundant, then life is abundant!
The simplicity or complexity of your life is all based on your thought process and what you believe to be true or untrue! Society will have you believe that reality is one way, and if you go against it, then you are crazy! Well….. It is better to be crazy and happy than realistic and miserable! Reject reality!!
Understand that you are the designer and architect of your life, and the quality of it is all based on what you deeply desire enough to make happen! Anything is possible for those who believe!! Be real by stopping being real!! Allow your imagination to soar higher than the highest mountain, then do everything in your power to make that your reality!! Life is for living, so live it the absolute best way you can possibly imagine!! NOTHING CAN STOP YOU!!!!
-Ash’Cash
“You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say, ‘Why not?'” -George Bernard Shaw
“People who urge you to be realistic generally want you to accept their definition of reality.” -Unknown
“Reality is for those who lack imagination.” -Unknown
“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.” -Douglas H. Everett
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” -Albert Einstein
“I believe in the imagination. What I cannot see is infinitely more important than what I can see.” -Duane Michal
“You have all the reason in the world to achieve your grandest dreams. Imagination plus innovation equals realization.” -Denis Waitley
“Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.” -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.
Rapper Nicki Minaj Lands First Grammy Performance
(AllHipHop News) Grammy nominated rapper Nicki Minaj has been announced as the first performers during the 54th annual Grammy awards.
Nicki Minaj would join artists like Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift as performers during the event, which will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Nicki Minaj’s performance is the first time she’s ever performed live on the Grammy stage.
This year, Nicki is up for four Grammy awards.
The Young Money rapper is nominated for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for Pink Friday, Album of the Year as a featured artist Rihanna’s album Loud, and Best Rap Performance for her hit single “Moment 4 Life.”
The Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The show will be broadcast on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m.
Taylor Gang’s Cardo Talks ASAP Rocky, Mikey Rocks & Curren$y; Updates Fans on New Wiz Album
(AllHipHop News) When Wiz Khalifa released Kush and Orange Juice for free online on April 14, 2010, Wiz called on Taylor Gang producer Cardo to produce several eventual fan favorites including the hit songs, “In the Cut” and “Mesmerized,”
Now, nearly two years later, Cardo’s success with Kush and Orange Juice has catapulted him into a slew of projects, including work with Dom Kennedy, Big Sean, Curren$y, The Cool Kids, Mac Miller, Nipsey Hustle, Smoke DZA, and the A$AP Movement, to name a few.
More recently, Cardo’s songs with Wiz were featured on the Mac & Devin Go to High School Soundtrack, getting placement on the tracks “World Class” and “That Good.”
“I’ve just been creating new sh*t and trying to experience some new sounds and think outside the box, doing stuff thats not in my lane, some different sh*t,” the Taylor Gang producer told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. “I have work coming out with the A$AP crew. Curren$y, of course, we working on the Stoned Immaculate album. Me and Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish are actually getting in the studio next week, and me, Nipsey Hussle and Burn One are getting in the studio next week out in LA, too.”
Cardo also let fans know he has several projects in the works with Mikey Rocks of The Cool Kids.
“Me and Mikey [Rocks] got two projects that we are working on,” an excited but busy Cardo explained. “We got the Premier Politics 2 thats coming out, and me and him and Chuck Inglish are doing a Jacuzzi series. Its gonna be something crazy, and we gonna have that done in a week or so, we gonna have it done in no time.”
The Taylored producer also had updates for Wiz fans who are eagerly anticipating his sophomore release titled, O.N.I.F.C., and preceding mixtape titled, Taylor Allderdice, an homage to Wiz’s high school in Pittsburgh.
“Me and Wiz got a lot of sh*t coming out. We just dropped the “California” track. Wait til you hear the other sh*t, we got like 10 or 11 tracks done, we working on everything. Chevy Woods project, Gangland, and the Wiz project, the mixtape and album, me and Sledgren are both on there. Wiz went a whole another direction with the last project [Rolling Papers], and of course it was like get that check. But people thought we weren’t a part of Taylor Gang and sh*t. We Taylor Gang for life; that’s family. We had to just wait our turn – not saying it wasn’t then, but Wiz wanted to do something different, so we respected that. People aren’t going to be disappointed by this album [O.N.I.F.C.]. I already heard some of the joints off there; that sh*t sounds crazy!”
With all the projects Cardo has coming out and in the works, the Minnesota raised and now Dallas-residing producer is thankful for all his success and gravitation towards his signature sound that utilizes the 808 cowbell drum.
Now operating on FL Studio, Cardo humbly remembers his early days and how he first started making beats from home.
“It keeps me humble, and it keeps me doing what I’m doing, I started making beats on MTV Music Generator on the PS1, me and my brother. That sh*t was just the start of everything of producing, ’cause we were rapping at first and we couldnt afford beats from our favorite producers, so it was like make beats or give up rapping all together so we got our dad to get this game for us and then we got a CD recorder and we hooked the auxiliary cords, the rest was history.”
Wais P Dissects His DJ Premier-Produced “Premo Pimpin” Track-By-Track For AllHipHop.com
Brooklyn MC Wais P stopped by the AllHipHop.com offices for the new year to break down his ambitious and well-rounded mixtape, Premo Pimpin, which was the third project he released in 2011.
Wais has a very simple motto and work ethic: “If you not working, you’re not relevant. If you not here to work and put out, as well as quality, a nice body of work, then you’re getting left behind.”
The former Da Ranjahz member’s mixtape features, not just beats from the legendary DJ Premier but, a co-sign from him as well. All of the 11-track tape’s production comes from Premier’s Beats That Collected Dust (Vol. 2).
When asked about how the project came together, Wais said, “I want people to know this is just not me snatching a bunch of unreleased Premo beats and rocking over them. I got the call from Fat Gary and the go-ahead from Premo; it was actually their idea.”
Wais P breaks down tracks two, four, and six from Premo Pimpin: “Multiple Sclerosis,” “Money In the Yard,” and “Lessons,” in the video after the song clips below:
“Multiple Sclerosis”:
“Money In the Yard”:
“Lessons”:
In the second part of AllHipHop.com’s interview with Wais P, he talks about the project’s last three songs: “Come Back To Collect,” “When the Cops Come,” and “Amphitheater.”
“Come Back to Collect”:
“When the Cops Come”:
“Amphitheater”:
Dowload Wais P’s “Premo Pimpin” Now!
Follow Wais P on Twitter: @WaisTheP
Hip-Hop Rumors: Blue Ivy Carter Becomes the Youngest Person EVER on the Billboard Charts!!
Man, little Blue Ivy Carter came into this word with a bang, and she’s already breaking records! Billboard has just announced that the spawn of Bey and Jay, is now the youngest person ever to be credited with gracing a Billboard Chart.
B.I.C, as she’s credited as on her daddy’s track, “Glory,” burst onto the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs Billboard chart this week at #74 at just 2 days old. “Glory” was also the week’s highest new entry, with 1.7 million audience impressions on 54 radio stations, according to Nielsen BDS.
Following in the foot steps of musical genious Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z recorded his precious girl’s first seconds of life – her breathing, cries, and coos – just as Wonder did on his iconic song “Isn’t She Lovely,” written for his then-newborn daughter, Aisha. Aisha never received the honor, because she was never officially credited on the song.
In related news, 50 Cent is feeling a little left out and lonely due to all of the Blue Ivy Carter talk, so he decided to draw some attention to himself by tweeting the hilarious picture below with the caption, ‘Yal play to much congratulations to JAYZ and Beyonce BABY #BlueIvyCarter IS GEORGOUS
I’m sure Baby Blue Ivy IS gorgeous! 50 stop hatin’!!!
Hip-Hop Rumors: Church Claims Baby Blue Ivy is Satan?!
Some people are just plain old CRAZY! Some nut bag in North Carolina vandalized a sign outside a church to read “Beyonce had her baby, Satan is on earth.”
According to TMZ, the pastor at Beulah Hill Baptist Church in West End, NC said that he discovered the vandalism yesterday after receiving numerous complaints from locals — and removed it immediately. The pastor insists, the church had nothing to do with the apocalyptic message … it was simply the victim in a random act of mischief.
In related news, Beyonce’s sister Solange is tired of people calling her sister a liar and has taken to Twitter to expressed how p’ed off she is. Check out her rant below:
“It has really gotten out of hand. I’ve been doing my best at keeping my mouth shut….but the ignorance is really sad and upsetting. We are supposed to be super human and watch people we love get slandered, lied on, and ridiculed. It is one of THE hardest things to accept.
In any other workplace…if someone directly tells your mother or sister is a liar and a fake ect…you would naturally express yourself. However, the pure happiness and joy I’ve witnessed and experienced helps me to keep my mouth shut.”
While I do feel sorry for the sister, scrutiny is the price of fame. And they are being paid quite handsomely!
Twitter Ticket Giveaway at 6PM TONIGHT (WEDS.) for Red Cafe’ at Webster Hall
[WE HAVE A WINNER! THE TICKET CONTEST IS CLOSED AS OF 9:05P.M.]
Bad Boy artist Red Cafe’ is set to perform music from his Hell’s Kitchen mixtape on Thursday, January 12, at New York City’s famous Webster Hall.
The rapper, whose “Motto” and “Fly Together” track (featuring Rick Ross and Ryan Leslie) drew praise in recent months, is working on an upcoming Bad Boy release entitled Shakedown.
AllHipHop.com is giving away a pair of tickets to the Webster Hall show tonight (January 11) at 6PM EST on Twitter. Be the 25th person to retweet the phrase below and win!:
“RT & #WIN a chance to watch @RedCafe live @ Webster Hall & check out his new mixtape #HellsKitchen available #Fridaythe13th”
Red Cafe’s mixtape, Hell’s Kitchen, will be released on the historically superstitious date, Friday, the 13th.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Rick Ross Disses A Wrestler?!
Rick Ross really seems like he has a great sense of humor. The rapper was recently at a pay-per-view wrestling event and totally played a wrestler who was on his way into the ring.
The wrestler tried to be all cool and give Ross some dap, but the Bo$$ was having none of that. Check out the old school move Rozay pulled on the wrestler:
Rejected! Ross must have been rooting for the other guy!!
Beyonce and Jay-Z’s Daughter, Blue Ivy, Being Showered With Only The Best
(AllHipHop News) Blue Ivy Carter, the newborn daughter of Beyonce Knowles and Sean “Jay-Z” Carter, is having one heck of a first week. Before leaving Lennox Hospital in New York City late last night (January 10), baby Blue was given one of the most thoughtful and original gifts imaginable, the song “Glory,” by her father Jay-Z.
Now comes the real gifts, though, which are being given to the family by members of the industry, close friends and relatives, acquaintances, and fans.
Some of the more talked about gifts have come from the likes of Oprah Winfrey, who has given Blue Ivy a trunk full of her favorite children’s books, while Beyonce’s close friend and Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland was seen shopping at a children’s boutique in New York City a couple of days ago purchasing a Bob Marley onesie for Blue Ivy.
Entertainment Weekly also reported that Rowland gave the couple a Swarovski crystal bathtub for the Baby, priced at about $5,200 while dad Jay bought his baby girl a $22,000 Posh Tots Fantasy Crib (pictured below).
Other celebrities, such as Diddy, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, and more have all reportedly showered the newborn with the finest brands in baby accessories and clothing.
In addition to the crib that Jay bought, both he and Beyonce are said to have shelled out over $1.5 million on baby gifts. This would include a $600,000 golden rocking horse and a $15,000 Swarovski high chair.
Adult Swim Set To Premiere Odd Future TV Show, “Loiter Squad”, In March
(AllHipHop News) Cartoon Network announced via press release today that the live-action Odd Future sketch show, “Loiter Squad”, will premier this March as part of their late-night Adult Swim programming block.
The 15-minute show all feature “sketches, man on the street segments, pranks and music from Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. The cast, featuring the Los Angeles collective of rappers, artists, and skateboarders, channel their multi-faceted creative talents in this off-the-wall showcase.”
Viewers can expect most of the Odd Future crew to participate including Tyler, the Creator, Left Brain, Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis, The Internet, The Jet Age of Tomorrow, Mike G and Frank Ocean.
News of the collaboration between Adult Swim and Odd Future first broke in September of last year, when the network announced that it had given the OFWGKTA crew the green light to create a pilot episode:
“Loiter Squad is being produced by Dickhouse Entertainment—the Hollywood production partnership of Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze who have been the creative power behind hits including Jackass, Nitro Circus, Rob & Big, Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory and Wildboyz.”
Jay-Z Becomes Investment Partner and Spokesperson For Duracell Powermat
(AllHipHop News) Rapper, mogul, and newly anointed father, Jay-Z, has signed a multi-year deal with Duracell to be the face of their new product, the wirelessly charging Duracell Powermat JV.
The announcement was made earlier this week in Las Vegas, where the 2012 International CES Tradeshow is currently taking place and Duracell, alongside Powermat, are debuting their new line of wireless products.
Jay-Z said in a statement released yesterday, “I believe in the future of wireless energy, and I believe that Duracell Powermat is the company to bring on the revolution. I’m partnering with Duracell Powermat because they’re providing the solutions for the future.”
CEO of Powermat Technologies, Ron Poliakine, said the following about the deal they brokered with the rapper: “Jay-Z is power personified. He inspires millions of people all over the world on a daily basis with his music and his story. There is no better face or voice that can move people to adopt a new paradigm in power delivery.”
Jay-Z will not only be the company’s new spokesperson; he has signed on as an investment partner of the company as well.
Exclusive: 2 Chainz Talks Recent Solo Success, Bidding War for Debut Album in 2012
(AllHipHop News) Industry vet and one of the most talked about artists from the South, 2 Chainz, recently spoke with AllHipHop about the recent success of his T.R.U. Realigion mixtape and his plans for 2012.
Despite the fact that many fans first became accustomed to 2 Chainz in the 2007 hit “Duffle Bag Boy” featuring Lil’ Wayne, 2 Chainz has been in the industry for years.
As Tity Boi, he worked with Ludacris’ in his early days with DTP and spent time on tour with Young Money/Cash Money.
Now after being featured on a host of singles, 2 Chainz is finally getting respect and the success he has prayed for all these years.
“Just trying to stay busy, basically continue to grind, doing my feature thing, knocking out solo songs and staying busy and creative, starting off the year with some viral videos, so it should be a good summer,” 2 Chainz told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. “It just feels good, it feels like the hard work that I have done paid off and it feels like a lot of the prayers that I had, have been answered.”
According to 2 Chainz, he never changed his original name, but admitted that good timing helped when he released his hit single “Riding Round, Getting It.”
“I think its just a timing thing and I think its just where we are as far as people getting interested in new kinds of music,” 2 Chainz explained to AllHipHop of his recent success and name switch. “When it came to my turn, it was something that people picked up on and on my recent verses I say it before my verse comes on, but it was really just timing and people being silly. For me it was just natural and someone told me I was brilliant for it, and I was just like ‘I didn’t do anything.'”
While the recent success is largely due to years of diligence and persistence, waves of fans came to respect and know 2 Chainz after his critically acclaimed documentary Codeine Cowboys was released last summer, which detailed 2 Chainz’ life behind the scenes and his relationships with Ludacris and Lil’ Wayne.
“With making that documentary I just wanted to put together a small summary of my relationship with Ludacris, my relationship with Lil’ Wayne aka Tunechi and of course my relationship with the Duffle Bag Boys, and wanted to show my relationship with all three and how they help me become who I am now through experiences with them.”
The year 2012 looks to be a highly successful year for 2 Chainz, as he sits amidst a bidding war of labels trying to lure him in, with lucrative offers for his yet to be titled debut release.
But don’t think 2 Chainz is content just basking in the light of his success.
“Im looking forward to my debut album, you know hopefully this year I get a nice little deal and I get to put out a real album for the masses for distribution, I’ll be excited especially if I can do some good numbers out the gate,” 2 Chainz explained of his potential for an upcoming deal and debut release. “I don’t know much about it, it just depends on a deal, and we will just go forward from there, for now I’m still moving as an independent so its a non-discussion. I can’t tell nothing right now, just working hard right now basically.”
Blue Ivy Carter: What’s In A Name??
Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s bouncing bundle of joy isn’t even a week old, and the Internet has already bombarded her and her parents on everything involving her. To be honest, Blue Ivy Carter has been under attack since Beyoncé made the announcement that she was pregnant at the 2011 MTV VMA’s. Some of the questions I saw on social media and the blogosphere were:
“Is it a publicity stunt?”
“Is that baby bump real?”
“Will the baby look like a Camel?”
Now that Baby Blue is here, everyone has something to say about the way she came into the world. Some are upset that Jay and Bey decided to occupy an entire floor of the hospital for privacy and security reasons. They also did not allow any cell phones on the floor to make sure there were no unauthorized pictures of the baby.
Are these things that I would do for my wife and child? Not really. But I’m not Jay-Z. I do think it’s excessive, but if he felt like that’s what he wanted or needed to do, who are we to judge?
Everyone also has their own opinions as to whether or not Blue Ivy is a good name for their child, but the most important thing that people forget is that it’s THEIR CHILD! No one is coming to your house and criticizing for naming your child “Sharquavia”, “Kevionika”, “Da’Quill”, or “Lotus FlowerBomb Jenkins”…all because you want to be different.
It’s not like Blue Ivy Carter is going to have to worry about getting a job and being disqualified for employment for having a “ghetto” name. It’s not like she’ll be the victim of the lackluster public education system. It’s not like she’ll be shunned in any way because of her name. She’ll grow up a child of privilege, while most of your kids won’t.
Now before you think I’m defending Beyoncé and Jay-Z because I’m a fan, I’m here to tell you that I’m not. I have been praying that Beyoncé would take a break so that I don’t have to see her every five minutes, bombarding me with rushed, lackluster music that hasn’t moved me since 2003. When it comes to Hov, I like him, but I was disappointed with Watch The Throne.
I’m simply stating that while they are public figures, and they signed up to be critiqued, picked apart, and downright, hated on, I think that there’s too much going on in our communities that needs to be addressed to spend so much time, energy, or effort on someone’s name (or baby) who we don’t know and have never met.
But who am I to judge? My name is Tazz Daddy. SMH
David “Tazz Daddy” Anderson is a Nationally Recognized Media Personality, Motivational Speaker, Author, and AllHipHop.com contributor. His latest book, Common Sense Ain’t Common, is available at http://TazzDaddy.com or wherever books are sold. Follow him on Twitter (@TazzDaddy).
Breeding Ground Spotlight: Ekko AKA Young Ancient
Ekko AKA Young Ancient is a gifted rapper currently residing in Reading, PA. Ekko has officially become known as the “Showcase Killer.” He has performed in 4 major music industry showcases over the last 6 months and he has won all four them including the illustrious A&R Power Summit Showcase. His showcase wins have resulted into Ekko receiving meetings with some of the top music executives in the game. In addition he has been featured in XXL Magazine (Tupac Tribute Issue) and he did a live freestyle on Shade 45 Sirius/XM radio that folks are still raving about. Equally important Ekko was nominated for a UMA award and was profiled in the Indie Hype Section on The Source.com
AllHipHop.com: What is it about you that makes you a cutting edge artist?
Ekko: What makes me cutting edge is my ability to remain unconventional yet consistently relevant no matter what the current state of Hip Hop is. Originality and exclusiveness with a new type of sound equals ”cutting edge” in my book. One thing for sure is that I am capable of bringing a new sound and voice to Hip-hop. Hip-Hop used to be about skill and craft but for some reason simple gimmicks are over powering raw talent now-a-days.
AllHipHop.com: When did you first discover Hip-Hop and what does it mean to you?
Ekko: I first discovered Hip hop when I was 6 yrs old. I was listening to one of Onyx’s greatest hits ”Slam.” The block that I was raised on in Brooklyn NY would go nuts every time it came on. Now Hip Hop is a part of life for me. During the Biggie and 2pac wave is when Hip Hop really became an everyday matter to me. Asking me what Hip Hop means to me now is like asking what my past means to me. I might have left some things behind but one thing that always stuck with me along the way is my love for Hip Hop.
AllHipHop.com: Which artists have inspired you?
Ekko: Big Punisher and Jay-z are two of the most inspirational artists I’ve had the pleasure of studying. Other than them I get inspired by any artist who dares to challenge the normal confines of Hip Hop. When an artist breaks boundaries and goes above and beyond his/her limits, it really motivates me.
AllHipHop.com: What Project are you currently pushing?
Ekko: I own my own indie label called Ancient Muzik, and I am currently set to release my 4th project entitled ”EDII” (The Ekkodemik 2). This project will feature my signature raw and untamed style. It will also contain features and collaborations with Wiz Khalifa , Mista FAB and production by the Bakaboyz and So so Def’s Own Mike Kalombo plus many more.
AllHipHop.com: Who does your production?
Ekko: My production is handled by Cras Bangaz, Franchise, Hazardis soundz, The Cowboys, Mike Kalombo (of So So Def), BakaBoyz, Pook Blaq, By-Nee’Che Fattah, and Jay Nari just to name a few..
AllHipHop.com: What is your website? How can people get in contact with you?
Ekko: The best ways to connect with me would be via Facebook: Ekko Ekkodemik, EkkstreamTeam, Twitter: @Youngancient and the Youtube Channel is EKKO1.
Follow me on Twitter and I WILL follow you back.
AllHipHop.com: Any final words?
Ekko: Yes, among my many notable accomplishments, I have performed at 4 major Industry Showcases over the last 6 months, and I won all 4 in a row; that’s an all time record! Thanks to the many promoters, Media, Judges and fans that supported me and made that win streak possible, Eric Beasley-Asylum/WEA, Riggs Morales-Shady/Interscope, Success-A&R of Atlantic Records, Dipstick Magazine, Jesse Atkinson/Urban Threshold, Kevin weeks-Thisis50.com, Geter K-VP of Maybach Music Group, XXL Magazine (Tupac Issue), Yoraps.com, Shade45, and many others…Stay Ancient!