Red Bull Music Academy held a special concert in New York City a few days ago featuring the Duck Down Records family, along with a panel discussion with label founder Dru Ha and rappers Buckshot and Skyzoo.
Duck Down’s head honcho and his partners spoke on the label’s creation, and shared some funny and crazy stories about their ties with Tupac Shakur right before his tragic murder. (LIKE…Mama Shakur started labeling his soda with a “Do not drink Pac’s soda” sign after the ravenous Duck Down gang nearly ate and drank them out of house and home!!!)
After the lively Red Bull chat, fans got it in with questions – one of which was about the possibility of all of those good stories being turned into a movie based on the history of Duck Down.
Without hesitation, the ever-eager Buckshot answered:
“You know what, real soon. Hopefully. It’s like Dru [Ha] said with the music, although we want to do things and we see it happening tomorrow, it does have to be organic and it has to be real. A lot of times we get scripts and we get movie opportunities but it just might not necessarily be stuff that fits Duck Down at the time. We’re not just going to do no fake sh*t just so we can be in a movie. We’re going to wait for the right opportunity.”
“It would be a good movie. We’ve got it in our minds,” Dru Ha added.
Would you want to see a Duck Down movie? Can’t you just see Sean Price playing himself as no one else could?? Sound off !
Hasbro, who is creating the upcoming toy line for the film release on June 29, displayed figures for a number of the film’s characters, such as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Roadblock, Channing Tatum’s Duke, Bruce Willis’ Joe Colton, and RZA’s Blind Master.
The 3.75-inch action figures, which will be released this summer along with others based on the film, are sculpted to match their on-screen counterparts and will be priced at $7.99.
G.I. Joe is the brand that practically invented action figures back in 1964 when the company, along with toy producer Hasbro, released the original 12-inch line based on the different branches of the U.S Armed Forces.
RZA’s Blind Master character is a martial arts sensei and part of the Arashikage ninja clan that also includes other popular G.I. Joe characters Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.
The 2012 Toy Fair, which attracts over 1,000 annual, worldwide exhibitors showcasing their upcoming product lines, is currently taking place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
Check out the full image of RZA’s action figure below:
During an interview with Fuse last night on the Grammys red carpet, Common spoke on the highly publicized “beef” he had with Drake. Well, it’s all over now, according to the Chicago MC.
Before presenting the award for Best R&B Album with actress Taraji P. Henson to Chris Brown, Common told Fuse correspondent and journalist Toure about the status of the “beef.”
The talk starts at the :30-sec. mark in the video below:
(AllHipHop News) The President of the Catholic League has issued a statement denouncing Nicki Minaj’s performance at the 54th annual Grammy Awards last night (February 12).
Catholic League President Bill Donohue was offended by the religious overtones in the performance, which included a mock exorcism, a confessional skit, choirboys and monks dancing.
“Nicki Minaj, fresh off looking like a fool with Madonna at the Super Bowl, showed up last night on the red carpet at the Grammys with a guy dressed like the pope,” Bill Donahue snapped. “This was just a prelude of what was to come.”
During the performance, the song “Come All Ye Faithful” was sung, as a fake Bishop walked on the stage.
Nicki Minaj then apparently became possessed during the skit, which Bill Donohue labeled irresponsible.
“Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy,” Bill Donahue said. “Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam.”
“Roman Zolanski” is Nicki Minaj’s alter ego, who is reportedly a gay male, apparently inspired in part by gay filmmaker Roman Polanski.
Roman Polanski himself was a lightning rod for controversy, after he was arrested and charged with the abuse of a 13-year-old girl in 1977.
To avoid sentencing, he fled to France.
In 2009, Polanski went to Switzerland to accept an award, where he was arrested at the request of U.S. authorities.
He was in custody for almost two months, but he was released from custody in July of 2010 after the Swiss refused to extradite him.
Charges against him remain pending in the United States.
As for Nicki, she was performing “Roman Holiday,” the first single from her upcoming album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
According to Bill Donohue, Catholics are already facing a hostile administration in Washington, D.C., due to President Obama’s new contraception proposal.
“It’s bad enough that Catholics have to fight for their rights vis-à-vis a hostile administration in Washington without also having to fend off attacks in the entertainment industry,” Bill Donahue continued. “The net effect, however, will only embolden Catholics, as well as their friends in other faith communities.”
(AllHipHop News) Just days after Rick Ross hailed him “the West Coast’s finest” on MTV, Los Angeles native Dom Kennedy has announced dates and cities for his upcoming “This Is Dom Kennedy Tour.”
Kennedy, who is currently working on the follow-up to last year’s album, From The Westside With Love II, will embark on the 23-date tour beginning on March 21 in Houston, Texas, and ending on April 21 in Tempe, Arizona.
Dom also responded to recent rumors that he signed to Ross’ Maybach Music Group imprint while speaking to XXL:
“Me and my relationship with Ross I would say is more like a younger homie older homie type of thing. He’s one of those people, you’ll find in rap music when you’re coming up certain people will help you for the benefit of themselves and there are other people who will genuinely help you to just keep the rap game alive. They’ll give you info that other people might even charge you for. He’s just one of the people that has reached out to me to work, to give me advice, to let me see his grind.”
Check out a full list of dates for the “This Is Dom Kennedy Tour” below:
This post is a collection of behind-the-scenes videos released over the past few days, containing exclusive access to video shoots, recording sessions, tours, and more, with the likes of Young Chris, J. Manifest, Wacka Flocka, Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Fred the Godson, Jim Jones, 2 Chainz, and Kreayshawn!
Whitey Houston’s death has cast a shadow over the music industry, but there are beams of light that continue to peek through. One such light is a recent, heartfelt soliloquy by Wendy Williams, who had a now legendary interview with the legendary singer, who died suddenly February 11. On her show, Wendy tearfully explained her relationship with Whitney, even though the pair never met face to face. Wendy, who served for years in radio, managed a contemptuous interview with Whitney. In this moment, she explains the parallels with Whitney including their love of parents, New Jersey and substance abuse. See it below.
Here is the legendary interview between Wendy and Whitney in January 2003.
(AllHipHop News) A father and son team of promoters that were kidnapped in Angola, Africa over a failed Nas concert are still being held more than a month into the ordeal.
Patrick Allocco and his son Patrick were taken captive in Angola in early January, after Nas and R&B singer Jemiah Jah failed to board the airplane to make a New Year’s Eve concert in Luanda.
In an exclusive interview with the New York Post, the man explained the events that led up to their capture, as well as the conditions they are being held in, 44 days into the situation.
Twenty men armed with AK-47’s who were associated with local promoter Henrique Miguel’s company Casa Blanca Entertainment accosted the men, as they attempted to reach the U.S. embassy in the country, after they realized the show was not going to take place.
The men smashed Patrick’s head into an SUV, before taking them to a local motel, where they are being charged astronomical sums to eat and have lodging.
The Allocco’s were interrogated by police and their passports were taken.
Both men placed the blame squarely on Nas and Jemiah Jah, claiming that although Nas has returned his $300,000 advance, Jemiah Jah is refusing to relinquish her advance, even though she never made the performance.
“He put us in real harm, in real possible danger,” Allocco said. “This is the closest thing we came to someone up and running with the money.”
The men are being held until they come up with another $75,000 that Henrique Miguel is demanding.
The U.S. Embassy is refusing to intervene in the matter.
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, who has a personal relationship with the President of Angola, is threatening to bring the matter to the attention of President Barack Obama, if the matter cannot be resolved.
(AllHipHop News) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania rap star Wiz Khalifa has been tapped as the headlining act for SUNY Cortland’s campuses Spring Fling this April.
Over 3000 tickets will go on sale for the Spring Fling concert, with students receiving first priority.
A limited number will be sold to the public.
The rapper, who is known for his love of marijuana and other drugs, was picked based on his popularity with students at SUNY.
“Last year’s student surveys came back and said that students wanted to see him,” said Delvin “D.J.” Johnson, one of the co-chairs in charge of lining up music acts for the College’s Student Activities Board. “So this year, we took a chance on trying to get him and he accepted.”
Tickets to see Wiz Khalifa go on sale Saturday, March 24, starting at noon.
They will be sold until all tickets are gone.
SUNY Cortland students are allowed to purchase one ticket with their college ID, and will not be allowed to purchase tickets for friends.
This is due to the fact that the tickets to see Wiz are in high demand.
“He has some huge fans here and we knew it would go over pretty well with students,” Johnson said. “People are excited about it.”
SUNY Cortland’s Spring Fling takes place on Saturday, April 28 at Cortland’s Park Center.
Throughout the history of Bad Boy’s Records, there has been a host of artists that were thrust into the spotlight alongside Diddy. From Biggie to Black Rob, from Shyne to Making the Band, and more recently from MGK to Red Cafe to French Montana, Diddy keeps a roster of artists primed to make it to the big time. Now after taking rapper Los under his wing just a few weeks ago, Diddy hopes to turn one of Baltimore’s finest into his next shining star under the Bad Boy imprint. While many fans may not know that Los and Diddy go back to ’05, Los explains to AllHipHop.com how the two are coming back together after parting ways for non-musical reasons.
Los also breaks down the Hip-Hop scene in Baltimore, Maryland, and answers questions about the “Baltimore Club Music” phenomenon, known for its fast-paced beats and dance style of music popular among the youth and even some of the toughest characters in the city. But, while Los tells AllHipHop.com he has a new tape in the works with Bad Boy behind it, his current project circulating the streets, The Crown Ain’t Safe, is getting rave reviews as it’s hosted by DJ ill Will & DJ Drama. Featuring all original music with appearances from DMX, XV, Twista, Lola Monroe, Jazze Pha, Phil Ade and Sean Hayz, Los laces the production from Jahlil Beats, Battleroy, Lifted, The Loft, J Oliver and others on this most recent effort.
Read ahead for AllHipHop.com’s introspective look at Diddy’s newest signee, and find out why Mr. Combs had to go back and re-up on Los!
AllHipHop.com:Los, what’s good, sir?
Los: Everything. It is coming along great, man, just a lot of work, just doing a lot of shows from the mixtape.
AllHipHop.com: I know everyone has questions about the recent Bad Boy signing, so let’s get right to that. Can you speak on how that came together?
Los: Of course. It’s going great, man [laughter]. It’s a great experience, man.
AllHipHop.com: [laughter] That’s great, man. Talk about your relationship with Diddy and how he signed you.
Diddy Announces “Los” As The Newest Member Of Bad Boy
Los: Well, we basically… You know I had a relationship with Puff from the past. In 2005, I was signed to Bad Boy and things didn’t work out. Non-musical factors affected us, and we went our separate ways, and I just continued to work and build my brand and put my own thing together. It just so happened I started to get the attention of the masses. And, we had a vested interest and he gave me a call, and we just started talking and communicating and we re-built the friendship and we just sat back and saw where it would go. It all ended up coming full circle, and here we are now, you know?
AllHipHop.com: That’s a beautiful thing that you guys can work out your differences and come back together. It’s been a big deal any time Diddy signs someone, but it really seem like, as of late, the artists he’s working with are really taking off. Do you have plans to work with MGK or French Montana and any of the other artists on the line-up?
Los: Oh yeah, MGK, French [Montana], Red [Cafe], everyone is extremely talented and cool. I definitely have plans of working with all of them. Cassie has a lot of stuff going on right now with her project she’s working on, King of Hearts. We are all kind of figuring out our direction as individual artists, but we come together when we can to help each other. But me, of course I’m just getting my feet wet, but we will definitely all come together.
AllHipHop.com: Do you guys ever all get to come together in person?
Los: At 106 & Park was the first time I was with everybody; I didn’t come out [on the show], though, because it wasn’t announced yet. Then there was New Year’s at Puff’s crib.
LOS – The Crown Ain’t Safe (Official Trailer)
AllHipHop.com: What can you tell me about Baltimore aside from what everyone thinks goes on because of HBO’s TV show, The Wire?
Los: I mean, to be honest with you, it’s not far fetched, you know, The Wire. It’s a tough place you know…. It’s a tough place, man, it breeds people that are survivors, and you know, it embeds the hustle and it instills strategy, and everything. Because just surviving in Baltimore is like an obstacle course, and when you go through the things that just growing up there naturally puts you through, it just prepares you for the rest of the world – if you can make it there. That’s just basically the way I can sum it up. Baltimore is like boot camp; it conditions you for life, but at the same time, you can’t let the elements go over you man and you just have to persevere. When we love we love hard, when we fight we fight harder. When we don’t like something, we are very expressive. It’s like we have our own little world, and it’s governed by our own rules.
AllHipHop.com: I know there are a couple artists that are coming up out of Baltimore. Are there any other artists from Baltimore you think the world should be checking for?
Los: I mean, I feel like every artist from Baltimore has at least a story, because it’s not your typical situation. Like I said, it’s tough and musically, it’s even tougher because you are trying to make it with no outlets and people are fighting. Times is hard. It’s like you can’t just get on with good music, it’s so much more.
You got Bossman, you got Smash, you got D-Boy, you got Caddie the Don, he’s doing really good. You got Star, you have Hundred Grand, but he just got locked up. It’s like you still can’t escape the elements. No one’s doing completely music. Some dudes might be in the streets hard core, but hit the studio to record, or some guys might be working a full time and then record when they can. So the struggle is real, so shouts out to every artist that’s doing it from Baltimore. Mully Man went down to Atlanta and started getting things going for himself. He grinds, and he’s a really cool guy.
AllHipHop.com: Yeah, we are definitely familiar with Mully Man. Speaking of Baltimore music, you guys had a unique sound for a while, that has a real dance style, “Baltimore Club Music.” Have you done songs like that?
Los: It’s a sound that represents the foundation of the city. It represents a sound that kind of pioneered the Baltimore night life, and it kind of goes way back to house music and you know clubs like Odell’s and The Oak Tree and Silver Shadows and the clubs that my mom went to back in the day. House music and DJs like DJ Red and DJ Sean Marshall, DJ Boobie, Frank Ski, DJ Spen, Doo Doo Brown [a popular drum break on the Baltimore Club Scene] , it’s part of the history and part of the culture, and it transformed throughout the years. I’m taking you back.
It went into a different sound, but the grassroots of it is the house music and the Baltimore Club Sound. Rest in Peace to K-Swift. You got artists like Ra-Ra; she’s from Baltimore and kind of uses that sound. DJ Rod Lee and Miss Tony, and Miss Tony was one of the people that branded it, but it’s always popular with the youth. We just have a history so it will always be around, so when you get to a certain age you may detach from it, but it still lingers and it’s there.
AllHipHop.com: That’s crazy that you know your history like that. That’s impressive given you didn’t grow up in a time when it was more popular.
Los: It kept a lot of people out of trouble, too. What happened was people formed dance groups, and it’s something that I think died out a little bit. I think its something people need to re-visit, because it’s fun and it’s a break from everything that’s going on and you just get to dance. It kept a lot of people out of trouble, and when kids where doing that as opposed to other things, it was a much better time. When the kids were focused on forming dance groups, when that was being promoted, it was a better time.
AllHipHop.com: People might pop a move on each other instead of fighting, huh?
Los: Yeah, well, it was a ton of that going on, but really hardcore people were dancing. Like hardcore dudes you would see and respect in the streets, you would see them dancing in the club, and they were still respected. It was crews, it was real. You had the Horsemen, The Almighty Mickeys, the Park Heights crew. They had their own dance called the Park Heights Strut. It was the coolest sort of Diddy-bop type thing that you could do. It was really going down. It was a big part of growing up as a teenager.
AllHipHop.com: That’s great man. So more about your music, man. What’s up with your mixtape?
Los: I just dropped The Crown Ain’t Safe, I’m ’bout to drop the “King Los” video, and I’m working on the new Bad Boy mixtape. I’ve been working with Justice League, one of the more elite production teams, from “Aston Martin” music to work with Jeezy and Ross. They are just incredible, so I worked with them. Just look forward to greatness, man. I’m under Puff wing, and I’m just a young billionaire in training.
AllHipHop.com: Yeah, that’s dope. What’s the number one piece of advice that Diddy gave you that you will hold on to throughout your career?
Los: To be honest, it’s just he’s a very straight forward person, and it’s always stuff that’s basic and stuff that we would normally overlook. It’s not really some technical or intricate thing; it’s just like, “Yo, yo just relax.” You know? He’ll tell you something like that, where you won’t even think or know that you’re hype like, “Just relax, take your time, it’s ok.” He says things like that, and it just takes you back to functioning properly and then you’re like, “Ok, ok, ok, I’m back.” He’s just a great coach. Of course, he has a tremendous amount of knowledge and wisdom in this game, as well as in life, and I think that he’s mastered the art of Black excellence, and the hustle. So it’s like, why would you not listen to anything that he has to say?
(AllHipHop News) In what is widely regarded as an unexpected turn of events, New York Knicks breakout star Jeremy Lin now has a rap song about his rise to the forefront of the sports world, as well as New York Knicks fan’s hearts.
As one of the few Asian basketball players in the NBA, Jeremy Lin regularly makes Sportscenter’s highlight reels.
Now, accompanying his athletic performances, is a rap song dedicated to the Harvard graduate that has been averaging over 25 points and 8 assists per game.
The rap song, performed by a Harvard student named Mega Ran, is a dedication to Lin, who is the league’s first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent.
After starting the season on the bench, Lin has made his way to the starting line up with three straight 20 point games. Last week, he scored 38 points against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Take a look at Mega Ran’s dedication to Lin below:
First and foremost, rest in peace to the queen, Whitney Houston, who passed away this weekend! We lost a legend who will forever be missed! Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to showing appreciation NOW!
The only guarantee that we have in life is that we are all going to die! Whether we want to accept it or not, this reality is one that we cannot escape. While it is important to live our best lives, it is equally important that we live in harmony with those we care for and love! The world has always been a cruel place, and because of social media, that cruelty has found a faster outlet to rear it’s head.
It was sickening to see that after one’s death people would really use that time to crack jokes, criticize, and judge, not having any regard for those who were truly hurt by the loss. In the same breath, it was equally disturbing to see how many people had great things to say but only did so after death! SAY IT NOW!!!
If you love someone, say it! If you miss them, show it! If you care, then
do something! Whether people show it or not, everyone is dealing with
some type of battle, and a word of encouragement can go a long way! Instead of staying quiet or criticizing, give people a fine reputation
to live up to. Instead of holding your admiration inside, let people
know how much they mean to you! It means more than you even realize!
Starting immediately, make sure you pay at least one compliment per day! Whether it’s someone you know, or someone you don’t! Make it a habit to make people feel good! SAY IT NOW!! It goes a long way!!
-Ash’Cash
“Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don’t keep it a secret.” -Mary Kay Ash
“When it comes to life; the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” -G. K. Chesterton
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” -William Arthur Ward
“Silent gratitude isn’t very much to anyone.” -Gertrude Stein
“We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” -Sam Keen
“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” -William Arthur Ward
“Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it.” -Swedish Proverb
“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.” -William Arthur Ward
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) Black Eyed Peas founder will.i.am hosted his TRANS4M conference last week at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
The first annual TRANS4M conference was an invitation only event, that featured 250 attendees from various industries.
will.i.am served as the curator, while a variety of speakers were featured on panels throughout the day.
Speakers like Katy Haber, M.B.E., (co-founder of the Compton Cricket Club), Robert Appleby (particle physicist at the European Organization for Nuclear Research) Angela Ahrendts (Burberry CEO), Andrew Hessel (co-chairman of Singularity University’s Biotechnology Department) and others discussed a number of topics, mostly revolving around the future of science and technology.
“TRANS4M is about finding intersections between what you do and what we can do together,” will.i.am said. “Here in the room are brands, businesses, innovators, community organizations, educators and scientists. Sitting next to you are donors, philanthropists, scientists, technology leaders and people who understand how to talk to youth.”
The conference was put together through a partnership with will.i.am and Intel and is part of will.i.am’s overarching goal to transform the Boyle Heights neighborhood in lost Angeles, where he grew up.
The rapper recently launched i.am boyle heights, a new effort for transformation of the East Los Angeles community.
