This is starting to get interesting! Ricky Rozay has released the official video for “Stay Schemin” featuring French Montana and Drake off of his new mixtape “Rich Forever”. On the track, Drizzy seems to be throwing shots at someone. Drizzy raps:
“It bothers me when the Gods/get to actin’ like the broads”
“That’s why I see no need to compete with n*ggas like ya/I just ask that when you see me/ you speak up n*gga that’s all”
“Shawty wanna tell me secrets bout a rap n*gga/I tell that b*tch it’s more attractive when you hold it down”
Whoah! I’m feelin’ Drake’s tough alter ego. Take a look at the video below and perhaps Common sense will tell you who Drizzy’s target is.
http://youtu.be/E_10tfbfO94
Serena, you done started something now! You and that donk of yours have a lot of explaining to do!
Common and Serena Williams may be rekindling their romance….on the set of his new music video! The two exchanged flirty tweets on twitter today, that began with Serena professing her love for his song “Lovin I Lost” off of Common’s latest album The Dreamer/The Believer. Common reciprocated by asking Serena to star in the music video for it. Aww, how cute! The song IS all about Serena and his love for her…why wouldn’t it be her favorite?! Dude sounds soooo sprung on this track! On the track Common raps:
“How could someone you talk to each and every day/ that you about to marry/ be on they merry way.”
No wonder Common got all emo on Drake, he wanted to marry Serena, where as Drake just wants to hit it and write a song about it. Take a listen to “Lovin I Lost” below and check out the tweet interaction between the two former flames.
(AllHipHop News) Earlier today (January 6), it was announced that the new 2012 Dodge Charger, which is set for release in the first quarter of this year, will include an exclusive Beats By Dre audio system.
This marks the second time Dr. Dre has collaborated with Chrysler – the first being last year’s Chrysler 300 models.
Next week, the new Dodge Charger will make an appearance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit before hitting the floor at a dealership near you.
Dr. Dre
President and CEO of Dodge, Reid Bigland, confirmed by saying, “Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine have built their careers on revolutionary and forward thinking decisions that formulate trends in music, popular culture and technology.”
He continued, “our goal in partnering with Beats by Dr. Dre is to integrate their recording-studio quality audio experience for our Charger enthusiasts to feel and hear their favorite music as it was intended – all while heightening the street performance and technology assets of the new 2012 Dodge Charger.”
The audio system is set to include the following:
Three 3.5-inch speakers located in the instrument panel
Two 3.5-inch speakers located in the rear doors
Two 6 x 9-inch front-door woofers provide bass
Two 6 x 9-inch speakers and a center-mounted 8-inch speaker located in the rear-shelf area provide full-range audio
An 8-inch Beats Audio trunk-mounted dual-voice coil subwoofer with sealed enclosure delivers tight, powerful, punchy bass
The rapper, producer, and all-around mogul has been expanding the Beats By Dre imprint alongside Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine since its inception in 2008.
Last summer, electronics manufacturer HTC claimed a 51 percent stake in the rapidly growing company, with a $300 million investment.
Connecticut native and AllHipHop.com Breeding Ground artist Chris Webby closed out 2011 with a bang at one of New York City’s most famous venues, Irving Plaza, where AllHipHop.com had an all-access pass to his sold-out show.
Webby is no stranger to selling out shows in NYC, as his rabid fan base has been packing venues like Webster Hall, Highline Ballroom, and now Irving Plaza for over two years.
AllHipHop.com caught up with Webby in his dressing room before he hit the stage to perform an hour-and-a-half set packed with tracks that spanned a majority of his projects. Fan favorite’s like “Webster’s Lab,” “Bounce,” “Off the Chain,” and “Skyline” are just a few of the over 15 songs Webby performed that night.
Backstage, we talked about his newly released project There Goes the Neighborhood, his favorite album of 2011, what he plans to purchase with his first check, and where he’s headed in 2012.
Check out AllHipHop.com’s backstage interview with Chris Webby below:
(AllHipHop News) Today (January 6) at 3:05 PM EST, Rick Ross dropped his new mixtape Rich Forever. The project is the precursor to Ross’ anticipated new studio album God Forgives, I Don’t which is set for release sometime in the first quarter of this year.
Rich Forever, which contains a total of 19 tracks, features appearances by Diddy, Drake, Nas, French Montana, 2 Chainz, Future, Pharrell, and MMG members Wale, Meek Mill and Stalley.
Production on the mixtape was handled by a number of top-tier producers like J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Boi-1da, Lex Luger, The Incredibles and many more.
Check out a visual for the Rich Forever track “Stay Scheming” which features Drake and French Montana and download the mixtape below:
BMF head honch, Big Meech, has sent a message from behind bars, slamming the wanna be reality show “BMF Wives.” Big Meech reached out to his mama and told her to get the word out that these so called “BMF Wives” are all frauds. Check out Mama Meech’s tweets below.
I see Big Meech’s beef, but do any of the “wives” shows have actual “wives” on them anyway?
Dawn Richard was one of the standout participants on Diddy’s “Making The Band 3.” It was clear to viewers – and apparently Diddy – that she actually had talent and possibly the ambition to see her dream through to reality.
For her efforts on the show and once her short-lived Danity Kane days were over, Richard was rewarded with a spot as one-third of the Diddy-led group, Dirty Money. Their Last Train To Paris brokered several hits, possibly giving her the credibility she needed to be seen beyond the reality show sphere.
These days, Richard’s video for “S.M.F.U. (Save Me From You)” has Twitter and other social media all abuzz. It may be because the first release from her upcoming GoldenHeart LP represents one of the first glimpses fans will get of the New Orleans native/Hurricane Katrina survivor (outside of her popular 2011 mixtape, A Tell Tale Heart). And, minus her all-girl group members from Danity Kane and the other boisterous, two-thirds of Dirty Money – Diddy and Kalenna Harper – Richard seems to be able to stand on her own.
Check the video for “S.M.F.U.” below, which Richard premiered on yesterday’s (January 5) episode of “106th & Park,” to see what the buzz is all about:
2011 will be remembered as a strange year from a Hip-Hop perspective. Some considered it a terrible year, where there was very little redeeming music from the young (or old emcees). Others will claim that it was a wholly transformative year, and that those aforementioned cronies are merely dinosaurs on the verge of extinction. But, perhaps it is time to call 2011 what it truly was: THE GAYEST YEAR IN HIP-HOP HISTORY.
No, no rapper publicly came out of the closet, so GLAAD and other groups will not have a lyrical champion just yet. There won’t be a great hope – on the levels of an Eminem-esque great, White hope – to get on the mic and shred your favorite rapper to smithereens as millions of gays quietly, joyously cheer…not yet.
Still, what happened in 2011 was overt. It was so close to gay, I am almost sure the gay community could taste it! It really took shape as the spring broke, in what seemed to be a late April Fool’s Joke. Mister Cee – the legendary DJ for Big Daddy Kane and The Notorious B.I.G. – was arrested for receiving oral sex from a man and purported cross-dresser. But, Cee never admitted to being gay. In fact, he tweeted that it was a “mistake.” (He would later plead guilty to loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense.) If Cee were gay, or maybe openly gay, surely he would have fessed up after this incident, but he didn’t.
While that was the doozie of the year, there were other not-so-overt ways that Hip-Hop showed more openness to homosexuality. Lil B, a rapper from the Cali, did the previously unthinkable, naming his album “I’m Gay.” Now, with a title such as I’m gay, coupled with the fact that the Bay-area rapper calls himself a “princess” and a “pretty b***h,” a voyeur would conclude that “this guy is gay for sure.” No. Lil B said that the title was a mere statement for how damn happy he was. His fellow rappers Pac D## even defended the move, citing The Flintstones who were known to “have a gay ol’ time.”
There were other hints that Hip-Hop was quickly backing away from the anti-gay, blatantly hateful stance of old. After being chided for using the F-word as slang, Tyler from Odd Future softened his stance saying, “I don’t f*cking hate gay people. I’m probably one of the least homophobic rappers in the world.” In the same Spin magazine, Tyler appeared to have his hand on his homie’s “hind parts.” (That’s Southern for booty.)
Hip-Hop – through the years – has been like many other testosterone-fueled movements – very homophobic. But, the mentality of the younger artists in particular is changing and, as any artsy mirror to reality, Hip-Hop reflects that shift in sexuality. Obviously, most of the artists like Cee or the “lipstick rapper,” were looked upon and rebuked for their actions through social media. But other more trivial matters made it through the filter. Like Kanye West’s leather kilt. Or Lil Wayne’s jeggings. Cee-Lo dressed like Patti LaBelle in 2011. In his hardcore way, Ray-J threatened to have Fabolous gang raped by a crew of gay thugs. The comments are no longer unanimous on social networks and message boards, and people now spar over philosophy as it pertains to these statements that look and feel gay.
But this trend isn’t really new.
It’s a slow, creeping shift, like the tectonic plates of the Earth. When Lil Wayne and Baby kissed on BET, and it didn’t end their careers, the wheels were clearly in motion at that point. One of my favorites, Andre 3000, used to don a blonde wig, and it simply didn’t matter nor was it even an afterthought. Nicki Minaj has flirted – literally – with her “Barbs” for quite some time. In the aftermath of the Mister Cee debacle, author/scribe dream hampton even revealed that one of The Notorious B.I.G.’s best friends was gay. Biggie was not, she said, but his ride-or-die was. Change gonna come, like it or not.
Clearly, there is a distinction between receiving sex from a man in a car, and the bold fashion statements of an eccentric artist. So, the lines are drawn…but are still unclear. For now, some of us who aren’t gay have gotten used to laughing our uncertainty away with a simple “pause” or “no h###.”
In 2012 and beyond, well-represented will be those who vehemently denounce homosexuality, those who accept it as a sign of the times, and those that who waffle amid tolerance.
So, how will Hip-Hop handle it? How will you handle it?
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This editorial caused a furious discussion within the AllHipHop offices. What truly constitutes homosexuality? Have attitudes within Hip-Hop really changed? Are artists just creating “shock” moments and fashion statements? And more!)
The stirring horns on the intro set the stage perfectly for the king of the South to make his return. Legal woes have plagued T.I. throughout his entire career and put a halt on any kind of momentum the rapper has gained; and at some points, he had garnered quite a bit. But hopefully, that’s all behind him and we’re back to business as usual with his latest mixtape, F*ck Da City Up.
The entire mixtape is filled with features, like the title track featuring Young Jeezy. Being that it’s the first song on the project, it sets the tone for the entire project: ball on everybody and anybody in sight. “Loud Mouth” features the brash 2 Chainz and has an equally cocky instrumental to go with it. Meek Mill makes a solid appearance on “Who What When,” and seemingly out of nowhere, Nelly appears on “This Time of Night” over a smooth guitar loop.
The whole tape has sort of a 2007-2008 feel to it, with the anthem-style songs, synth-heavy beats, and T.I. seeming to be on top of the world, but it works. One thing that does remind you that you’re now in 2012 is the B.o.B feature on “P###’n On Your Ego.” This Grand Hustle one-two punch is becoming of the strongest combinations in Hip-Hop, and this arrogant cut shows both in top-form, especially Bobby Ray who lets loose more than one quotable in his verse (“Got a drunk b*tch on my mattress, doing backflips, gymnastics”). In the same sort of rapping-just-to-rap style, Pusha T makes a visit on “I’ll Show You”– the only sample-based instrumental here. He too makes his presence felt with his lyrics (“I over-cane, I’m novacane, I Frank Ocean that fish scale”).
But the biggest collaborations come in “Pimp,” and “Popped Off.” The first features the late Pimp C, and he’s the initial voice you hear on the song. It’s a bit eerie, and posthumous features are always risky, but this one does more good than harm. The latter is produced by, and features Dr. Dre. The triumphant beat utilizes warm horns and heavy slaps and is good, but not great. The collaboration figured to be a bit bigger than what actually materialized.
After everything you’ve read, it would seem that F*ck Da City Up was an extremely successful project. But the mixtape has 19 songs, and is packed with filler material. Tip could have heavily trimmed the fat here; “Hot Wheelz”, “On Purpose”, and “In a Nutshell” are all forgettable. “Harry Potter” and “I See Ghosts” are both plagued by yawn-inducing features and “Oh Yeah” features Trey Songz and a surprisingly pedestrian beat by Just Blaze. The intro and outro don’t do anything and the interlude with Young Jeezy hollering for two minutes makes this whole project drag on, and that’s the biggest problem. In addition, most of the songs are over four minutes long, and the subject matter never changes. If the mixtape was six songs leaner, it would be great.
All critiques aside, T.I. did exactly what he intended to do here – garner a buzz. There are more than enough quality cuts here to get people excited about his upcoming album, as T.I. has proved that he still has enough flare for this game (not to mention it’s better than his last mixtape).
Boyz II Men, the iconic, influential and talented singing group was bestowed with one of the most distinct honors an entertainer can get: a star on the Walk of Fame. The group has sold an astounding 60 million records, making them one of the most – if no the most – successful R&B acts of all time. The group, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Michael Sean McCary (no longer with the group), and Shawn Stockman, catapulted into the stars with their penchant for lush ballads, effortless harmonizing and a flood of hits. They have broken records from Elvis and were named the most successful musical act of the 90’s. Below is the ceremony, which included producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Michael Bivins.
Someone took DMX’s infamous line, “Get at me, Dog,” a little too literal! Last night in Long Beach, while X was performing at Café Sevilla, a deranged fan jumped on stage and tried to choke DMX out right in front of the crowd! The man held DMX by his throat for a few seconds before security jumped in and put the man into a choke hold of their own and yanked him off stage.
The music came to a halt as security hauled the man off stage, and DMX hollered out, “We don’t stop music for sh*t!!” That man is lucky DMX didn’t spazz out on him. TMZ has it all on video, check it out below.
In a breakthrough debut performance, Adepero Oduye reprises the role of “Alike” in Pariah, Dee Rees’ timely coming-of-age drama. Initially introduced at Sundance as modest film short, the full-length treatment encouraged Oduye to embody the spirit of her character with a level of ease as if it were her own. In acknowledgement and praise of Oduye’s talent and dynamic portrayal, the Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) bestowed the actress with its “Rising Star” Signature Award.
While promoting Pariah’s theatrical release [limited – December 28, 2011 – New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco; nationwide – January 2012], Adepero Oduye caught up with AllHipHop.com Alternatives to reflect upon the abandonment of her pre-medical studies, discovering her voice, and the inspiration she drew from Robert Duvall’s performance in The Apostle:
AHHA: When you reflect on the Pariah experience, is there a particular moment during its shooting that made you feel that it had transcended the generic bounds of a “short movie” and elevated into a full-length feature film?
Adepero Oduye: Oh, yeah – now that the film is done! [laughter] When you shoot a film, you’re in a bubble. Sundance is when I could really see firsthand how people responded to it instantly. And just afterwards, talking with people, because at Sundance in all the Q&As you have the rare chance to talk to people who have just seen your film. People were sharing their stories, just openly sharing. Just sharing their personal connections to this story. I remember thinking: “Oh, my God. This is the power of film happening right before my eyes.” A story so sophisticated is so universal.
AHHA: Focusing on your character’s name, “Alike” (pronounced ah-lee-kay), I happened to make a connection with the word “alike.” In what ways has your involvement with this film changed or influenced your perspective on life and the diversity within it? Have you made any new revelations in deciphering the ways in which we are all alike?
Adepero Oduye: Yes. With this film, I’ve seen people just become more aware of different things. About their children. About LGBT issues. It really shows people that we are more alike than we are different. Just because somebody is gay or younger or whatever; we all can relate to each other. In this movie, it’s very specific; a young, Black, lesbian girl from New York City. But you don’t have to be Black. You don’t have to be gay to appreciate or identify with the story. It has proved that we’re all more similar than we are different.
AHHA: As you embodied the mind and spirit of Alike, are there any elements of her life or life story that resonated deeply with you?
Adepero Oduye: I related to her finding her voice through writing. For me, it was writing and then eventually acting. Having a teacher who encourages you and pushes you. That I can relate to. Finding that voice and discovering your voice in that way. And just that outsider feeling growing up. Parents. The child of immigrants. Growing up in Brooklyn. Just knowing what it feels like to not completely belong. Straddling two worlds in my case, and multiple worlds in Alike’s case.
AHHA: Your father’s untimely death played a major role in trajectory of your professional career. What else do you view as a major influence in fostering the pursuit of your acting career?
Adepero Oduye: Watching Robert Duvall in The Apostle. That was pretty poignant, because it was the first time I had seen a film. I got lost in it, and it kind of solidified why I wanted to be an actor, and what kind of work I wanted to do as an actor.
AHHA: When you reflect upon your acting experience and your impromptu transition from your pre-medical studies, what life event – or series of events – do you feel best prepared you for this moment in time?
Adepero Oduye: I feel like just in general, it’s the process of becoming an actor. The process of just growing up and being an adult. I feel really grounded in who I am now. I feel like I know what it means to love myself or begin that process. I’m glad it’s happening now as opposed to five years ago. I know that my self-worth is not determined by any outside source. It starts from me. And if I’m comfortable, and I accept myself and I love myself, then that’s all that I really need and I don’t need to get that from anything. I don’t need anything outside of myself to validate me. Life, in general, has kind of prepared me for all of this that’s happening. Just talking to different people and the situation that I’m now finding myself in. It’s really great. It’s surreal. It’s awesome. But I know it doesn’t inform anyone who I am or it doesn’t determine my worth in this world.
AHHA: Did you find a particular scene challenging to film, due to its level of intensity?
Adepero Oduye: The most challenging scene was the scene with Audrey (Kim Wayans) and Alike at the end, when I say, “I love you.” I hadn’t discussed that scene with Dee or Kim. The first time I saw Kim that day was when I walked in the scene and I sat down, so she didn’t see the scar or any of that. It was very tense, as it would be in real life. Just to put myself in the space where I open myself up, and in spite of all the violence and that has transpired. When I say “I love you” to my mother, and she can’t give it back. That’s painful.
AHHA: In many ways, the film has been a gift to you. What do you hope is the overall effect and impact that this film has for others?
Adepero Oduye: I just want all different kinds of people to see this film. The most important thing is to get that it’s okay to not check a box. It’s okay to love yourself. It’s okay to just be who you are, because who you are makes you unique. Hopefully you’ll become aware. If you’re not familiar with the LGBT issues or anything like that, now you just become more aware in general.
For more of Clayton Perry’s interview exclusives, visit his digital archive. He can also be followed via Twitter [@crperry84].
Welcome to the end of a great beginning! As we wrap up the first week of what’s going to be the best year of your life, we are dedicating today’s Daily Word to knowing your worth!
It is absolutely impossible to truly get what you deserve out of life if you don’t know or realize what that is! Last year, you were on sale! You didn’t get all that you deserved, because you were selling yourself short! Your price point was too low, and I have a feeling you knew it!! This year, you must take what you deserve!! No more not knowing your worth!! Matter of fact, no more not believing in your worth!
You are a diamond in the rough! Rare! Unique! One of a Kind! Precious! Priceless, and all of the above! It is no longer acceptable to allow other people to place their opinion of your worth upon you! To get what you deserve you have to first believe that you deserve it!! Enough is Enough!!! The World is absolutely yours!!!!
-Ash’Cash
“The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.” -Dr Sonya Friedman
“If you put a small value on yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.” -Unknown
“Other people’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” -Les Brown
“Self-worth comes from one thing – thinking that you are worthy.” -Wayne Dyer
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.” -Benjamin Disraeli
“If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can’t accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” -Rosalyn Smith Carter
“You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.” -Brian Tracy
“Accept everything about yourself, I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and the end, no apologies, no regrets.” -Clark Moustakas
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 continues her run of success, this time in the world of social networking. The popular rapper is now the most followed Hip-Hop artist on twitter, with a following of 8,194,350 followers as of press time. The previous record was held by Eminem, who was announced as the most followed person on Twitter in July of 2011. As of press time, the race to be the top rapper on Twitter is very close, with Eminem at 8,177,381.
Hip-Hop star Rick Ross will make his first appearance in the Midlands in the UK this March. Rick Ross is slated to perform a one-off show at the Birmingham Ballroom on March 22. The show is being promoted by Tyson Leon, of We’ve Got Entertainment, who told local media that the show with Rick Ross would be one of the biggest of the year. “This will be one of the biggest gigs of the year in the Midlands because Rick Ross is a huge star in America and is known to all UK hip hop fans,” Leon said in a statement. “We are delighted to be bringing him to Birmingham and I know hip hop fans from across the Midlands will be looking forward to the gig.” For more information visit www.birmingham-ballroom.com.
A new beatboxing orchestra will make its professional debut in new Delhi, with the launch of Voctronica. Voctronica is a beatboxing ensemble that was created through a series of workshops held in India and Britain. The beatboxing orchestra features 10 of the best beatboxers from around the world, who will be guided and overseen by Shlomo, who is in the Guinness World Record books for human beatboxing. “Beatboxing is all about rhythm and how well you combine sounds to produce a unique tune. It crosses genres as it borrows from every culture. It is relevant in India because of Indian percussion which is mostly played on the tabla. We’re exploring similar sounds and beat with beatboxing,” Shlomo told IANS.
