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Hip-Hop Rumors: Tupac’s Family Calls Suge Knight A Liar!
A few weeks ago, former Death Row head honcho Suge Knight did a radio interview with Howard Stern, where he claimed that Tupac did not want to work with Dr. Dre because of his alleged sexual preference. Well, Tupac’s family is speaking out against Suge Knight and has told TMZ that Suge’s claims are “totally false.”
The source inside Tupac’s estate says that the rapper was not homophobic, and points to his close relationship with the late designer Gianni Versace, who lived his life as an openly gay man. Tupac was also a huge public supporter of Versace, and even walked in one of his fashion shows in Italy back in 1996.
So, there you have it. Do you think Suge Knight is making up stories about Tupac to stay in the limelight? Is his hate for Dr. Dre that deep that he is lying on a dead man to get revenge? This is some sick stuff!
EXCLUSIVE: Jimmy Henchman Comments On Trial ‘I Am The Perfect Scapegoat’
(AllHipHop News) Embattled Hip-Hop mogul James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond has issued a statement to AllHipHop.com in regards to his federal cocaine trial, which is currently taking place in Brooklyn, New York.
Rosemond is accused of running a $10 million-a-year cocaine operation, that operated in Los Angeles and New York.
Prosecutors claim that Rosemond used recording studios to receive drugs and money and overnight shipping services, to send millions in proceed back and forth, between both coasts.
“This will be my biggest test to date. I will have to endure the constant lies of liars and the pointing of fingers of those trying to make me their ‘get out of jail free’ card,” James Rosemond told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement. “I am the perfect scape-goat for a case like this. I am the tailor made defendant in the eyes of the prosecutor.”
Prosecutors claim that Rosemond, who managed acts like Game, Brandy and had businesses with artists like Queen Latifah, used his legitimate companies in entertainment as a front, to launder drug money.
A number of Rosemond’s former associates in the alleged drug ring are testifying against him during the trial, which is currently underway.
“A year ago I predicted this to you in my statement exactly how this would play out,” Rosemond told AllHipHop.com. “But in all I want you to pay attention of how this unfolds, who the government witnesses are, their motive and the ambition of the prosecutors.”
Check out the full statement issued exclusively to AllHipHop.com below:
This will be my biggest test to date. I will have to endure the constant lies of liars and the pointing of fingers of those trying to make me their “get out of jail free” card.
I am the perfect scape-goat for a case like this. I am the tailor made defendant in the eyes of the prosecutor. A year ago i predicted this to you in my statement exactly how this would play out. But in all I want you to pay attention of how this unfolds, who the government witnesses are, their motive and the ambition of the prosecutors.
They started a while back planting the seed that I am the evil of Hip Hop, the cancer of the music industry. But what happen to Dexter Isaac and his fake Tupac allegations, why havent i been charge for that and wheres all the other things Im constantly accused of.
But no, those were ploys to turn an industry I served for over 20 years to turn its back on me. You will see the government informants march up on the stand and tell lies after lies and although i knew a few of them most were hanger ons, wanna be’s and down right fakers wanting to be in the music industry.
Truth will knock out the brains of false hood unequivocally. So I envoke my God and my lawyers to assist me in my quest for my honor, my dignity and my freedom. I retreat no more.
Former 702 Lead Singer Meelah On Her “Green” ’90s, Her Man Musiq Soulchild & Why 702 Couldn’t “Get It Together”
The year was 1996. That’s when R&B group 702 was introduced on the scene, courtesy of New Edition’s Michael Bivins. After several notable hits, including “Steelo”, “Get It Together and their biggest “Where My Girls At?”, former lead singer Meelah decided to step out and is now finally ready to begin her solo career.
AllHipHop.com caught up with Meelah to talk new music, working with her partner, Musiq Soulchild, and why 702 just couldn’t seem to “get it together”:
AllHipHop.com: What’s been going on?
Meelah: Life has been going on since 702’s last album, which was in 2003, which I cannot believe was almost 10 years ago. We all just kind of went our own ways and did our own things, and I chose to keep hustling at this music thing. I ended up working with other artists, doing featured backgrounds, writing. I took a break to have a child, who just turned three. I have a son, so I’m a mommy now, but all the while I was definitely still in and out of the music industry. Just more-so behind the scenes. I’ve been blessed and fortunate enough to still be able to have that as my livelihood. Now, I’m ready to get back out there; I’m so ready to get back in front where I feel I belong, and do my thing. I’ve been in the studio currently recording solo material, and it’s really coming along great, I’m super excited.
AllHipHop.com: Why did you decide now. It’s been about 16 years since 702’s debut, almost 10 years since the last album. Why now?
Meelah: I feel like the industry has definitely changed immensely since 702 was first introduced on the scene. I think there’s just such a great opportunity these days, with social media and technology and iTunes. All this new stuff that allows you as an artist to just really get out there, promote yourself and do your thing. Why not take advantage? Also, because I really strongly feel in my heart, it’s just wide open. There’s a lane for R&B music, or R&B soul artists who are true vocalists. Those of us that came up in the game when it wasn’t about imagery. It wasn’t about selling sex. It wasn’t about getting raunchy and just having to be naked as a female artist. It was really about the music and the vocals. I’m a vocalist, I’m a singer, I’m a true singer. I’ve always been heavily into great music, great singing, as a child. I’ve always loved that, even before 702. The love of music has always been my passion. I just don’t feel right just sitting down on it. I feel like it’s a God-given gift and blessing, and I feel like it’s my purpose to keep it going.
AllHipHop.com: Right, so you think we haven’t heard the best of Meelah?
Meelah: Absolutely not! I think what you heard was a very young, gifted, but very green Meelah that was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of something that was great. I do feel that there’s even greater to come. I know that there’s even greater to come. I definitely feel like the world has yet to see Meelah at her full potential.
AllHipHop.com: Now, when “Where My Girls At?” came out, Destiny’s Child was out, Total was out, K-Ci & JoJo – it was a good time. And then all of a sudden, things stopped. Even though “Where My Girls At?” was the hottest track.
Meelah: Yeah. “Where My Girls At?” was huge. It was on the Top 100 for like 40-plus weeks; it did a special job. Unfortunately, after “Where My Girls At?”, I feel like MoTown dropped the ball. [laughs]. Straight up. I don’t know what happened. It was just like a lack of promotion after that. Because “Where My Girls At?” was doing so well and great on its own, the label just got excited, and I guess they were expecting the momentum to just continue, but we still needed that support. It didn’t happen for us that way. They released “You Don’t Know” as the second single. That song had auto-tune on it, so, we did the whole auto-tune thing before it even became..
AllHipHop.com: Right! Before T-Pain was out…
Meelah: Yeah! Before it became this infamous it-thing of the millenium. Actually, that song was huge overseas. Every time I travel overseas, people always mention that record. They love that record over in London. They dropped “You Don’t Know” second, we did a video for it, but there was no proper support. Things just kind of unraveled, slowly but surely. We even had a third single, but by that time it was completely dead.
AllHipHop.com: Had y’all broken up at that point?
Meelah: No, this was still the second album, we were still together, but the label had kind’ve fallen off in terms of in terms of living up to their end of the bargain. I’ll be honest, internally, we started going through some things as a group. That never helps anything. By this time, we were on a high, but we just didn’t know what happened with all those other singles. We just took a little break, a two-year break, and then we went back in and then we came back with another record. It took some time, but we came back out with a third album.
AllHipHop.com: Star?
Meelah: Yeah. Star, which pretty much bombed before it even came out.
AllHipHop.com: Noooo.
Meelah: There was definitely no support for that one. That one had zero support whatsoever, no promotion, no marketing, nothing, hardly. Very minimal.
AllHipHop.com: And that became the last record.
Meelah: We had some issues after the second album. We had some business issues, managerial issues, that we couldn’t agree on that ultimately led to our demise. There had already been some underlying issues amongst us, within the group. There was a lot of animosity and a lot of tension, and I think eventually those things got the best of us and we kind’ve just took its toll. We didn’t really talk about them much, but when we did, it just went in a direction that was never positive. It became toxic.
We were so young, we’ve been doing this together for years. We were growing up together, becoming young ladies together, we experienced our adolescence together. We missed senior prom. We were really still kids. Unfortunately, I don’t think the maturity level was there in terms of knowing how to deal with certain situations and it just went left. I ended up leaving the group because I just didn’t want to deal with any more of the drama. I felt like it wasn’t healthy for me to stay there, I felt like it didn’t make sense for me to be some place where I didn’t feel wanted, and I wasn’t happy. My sanity and my happiness made more sense than to stick around somewhere that was just dangerously negative.
AllHipHop.com: And when y’all left, we got 3LW.
Meelah: I know! Trust me, I saw it honey! [laughs]
AllHipHop.com: It’s pretty interesting, reflecting on it. That’s how it happened, really.
Meelah: I take that as a compliment. 3LW, they were cute. It definitely seemed as though there was a little group that tried to emulate 702. I look at it like they were paying respects. Naturi Naughton is doing her thing now, and it’s so awesome. It’s funny how things happen. After we had all our beef and all our drama, we were women enough to try again. I was approached by MoTown and the girls, and I said okay.
AllHipHop.com: Is it possible to get a 702 reunion one day? SWV just came back out, so we’re not giving up on girl groups.
Meelah: I feel like right now that’s not the space that I’m in, because my going back to do that third album, for me, was such a sacrifice. For me, that was the reunion. We went through a lot. I went through a lot. Times have changed. I’m sure we’re all in a way more positive space; we have no beef anymore. I love the girls, we’re cool and all, but I’m definitely in a different place and space in my life. Never say never, so who knows. I know the fans would love it. I think it’ll be a great album, I don’t know if it will be an enjoyable experience. [laughs] Sometimes, you’re better off as friends, than business partners.
AllHipHop.com: Now that you’re working on a new project, are you working with the same producers? Can we expect a Missy Elliot to come back and work with you in the studio?
Meelah: I have gotten back in the studio with Missy, but it wasn’t for my project. It was for some other things we were working on, so I hope, because we’re still in contact with each other, so I’m hoping she’ll bless me with something. We have great chemistry in the studio. I’m definitely reaching back out to all of those producers that I worked with in 702.
For me, it would an honor to go back in with like Pharell, Missy and Timbaland, and different people that we worked with, but I’m kind of just like starting over, to be real with you. Everything is new. I’m looking ahead of me. It would be great to go back with those that gave us hits, but I’m working with new people. I’m working with Musiq Soulchild of course, I’m working with Stevie J. I’m working with some up and coming producers out here in Atlanta, that are young, hungry and ambitious. It’s not even about the name. I’m working with people that are super excited about working with me and we have a great working relationship and we’re coming up with some awesome material.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve gotta let me in on you and Musiq Soulchild.
Meelah: Well, we’ve been together for three years.
AllHipHop.com: How did you guys end up deciding to work together? He just came out with an album last year. Do you see your music having that type of sound?
Meelah: It’s a new sound for sure. He has his lane; I know a lot of people are reaching for a Musiq Soulchild sound, but this guy is so versatile. As a producer, he’s not afraid to try different things and push the envelope, and do the unexpected. Great thing is, we started some stuff that is really cool. He’s such a musical dude – no pun with his name [laughs]. The song “Your Love” is just something we experimented with, just to do something together and see what we would come up with. That’s definitely a departure from what would be expected from my background and his. We do have those classic R&B songs, soulful songs. So, to say it would be a Neo-Soul sound, not really. We’re just trying to do quality, good songs. Songs that make you feel good.
Follow Meelah on Twitter (@ItsMeelah).
Signs The World Is Coming To An End: A Fake White Drake?
Whoaaaaaaaaa! There is this boy named Logic and this kid has a nice lil’ song with “Numbers.” The only problem is this kid sounds JUST like Drake! I played it for a few friends and told them it was a new Drake song and they liked it, and they never even noticed it was a White kid from Maryland, not a bi-racial guy from Canada.
One of the number one rules in Hip-Hop…is NO BITING! What do you think about this guy and the song?
In a way, I feel bad about giving it any shine, but we have to call people out when it is required of us.
Source: illseed.com
VIDEO: Sony Releases 4-Minute “Super-Preview” of “The Amazing Spider-Man”
With The Avengers breaking every imaginable record at the box-office, and most movie fans anxiously awaiting The Dark Knight Rises on July 20, it seems that The Amazing Spider-Man may have got lost in the shuffle of where the movie-going public has been focusing its attention.
Well, Sony Pictures isn’t having that, so after releasing a brand-new 3D trailer last week with The Avengers, they’ve decided to unleash what is being called a “super-preview” of Marc Webb’s reboot of The Amazing Spider-Man. According to an official plot synopsis, “The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets.
“As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.”
Check out the 4-minute “super-preview” of The Amazing Spider-Man below:
The Amazing Spider-Man hits theatres on July 3.
North Star: Raekwon Heads For The Border And Finds New Signee JD Era
Hip-Hop is multi-generational now. And thankfully, that means veteran rappers who have learned the in-and-outs of the game can pass on their wisdom to the next set of MCs.
With an all-important co-sign from Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon, one of the most respected (and still relevant) artists in Hip-Hop, Canada’s JD Era has already fought half the battle. 
The Toronto-born spitter, fresh off signing a deal with Raekwon’s Canada-based record label, ICE H20 Records, has recently released his first mixtape under the imprint, entitled No Handouts.
“It ain’t even one [American] rapper yet that really has taken it to that next level of setting up shop in another country, you know? I’ve done it,” says Raekwon to AllHipHop.com. “And I’ve done it in great faith, because I know that these places I go to, they got a lot of love…”
Rae and JD Era stopped by the AllHipHop offices recently to share the story of how they linked in the first place, and why – legendary co-sign or not – JD Era is the real deal:
Haven’t heard his new mixtape yet?
Download JD Era’s No Handouts HERE.
Follow Raekwon (@Raekwon) and JD Era (@JDEra) on Twitter.
T.I. Announces Release Date for New Album “Trouble Man”
(AllHipHop News) Atlanta rapper and self proclaimed “King of the South,” T.I. took to New York’s Hot 97 with DJ Drama at his side this week to announce the release date of his upcoming project titled, Trouble Man.
The album follows up T.I.’s New Year’s Eve mixtape called F*ck the City Up, and will be his eighth official release and first full length album since being freed from prison in late September 2011.
While on air with Angie Martinez, T.I. explained VH1’s plans for the upcoming season of “T.I. and Tiny’s Family Hustle“, as well as the expected his expected plans for Trouble Man.
“It’s coming [“T.I. and Tiny’s Family Hustle” on DVD]…Season Two premieres September 3, so right then, thats when you can go get Season One [on DVD],” T.I. explained.
“September 3 is the premiere of Season Two, and September 4 is the release of Trouble Man, the album,” T.I. told Angie Martinez on Hot 97. “Coincidence? I think not.”
Fans might assume that the title of the project stems from T.I.’s well-publicized criminal record, including seven felony convictions, but T.I. told Billboard in November of last year that the title was specifically derived from Marvin Gaye’s song, “Trouble Man.”
Rock The Bells Announces Bone Thugs Reunion With Massive Festival Line-Up
(AllHipHop News) The line-up for the 2012 Rock The Bells Festival was announced today and the cornerstone of the massive concert series is a reunion of Bone Thugs In Harmony.
On Tuesday, the organizers of the event suggested to AllHipHop – without revealing – that there would be a reunion of a rap act of gigantic proportions but didn’t indicate that it would be the multi-platinum Cleveland rap collective. Aside from their music, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are known for having continued internal conflicts with its members.
Bone Thugs will be performing their hit album E. 1999 Eternal in its entirety as will the other attendees of the roving festival.
But, the festival will also feature a reunion of The Hit Squad (EPMD, Redman, Keith Murray K-Solo and Das EFX).
Other performers include Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, Nas, J.Cole, Ice Cube, Mac Miller, The Diplomats, Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, Tyga, 2 Chainz, Missy Elliott and Timbaland, Prodigy and a bevy of others.
The whole line-up is below.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Rihanna’s Mother Moving In To Help Curb Her Wild Ways?
After being hospitalized last week for “exhaustion and dehydration” and then being dissed by Drake and Chris Brown, rumor has it that Rihanna is a few steps away from having a nervous breakdown or ending up in rehab. Rihanna’s mother is allegedly so concerned with her daughter following in the footsteps of her former crack addicted father, that she is allegedly moving in with her in her LA home.
In related news, Rihanna’s family is also stepping in to blast Roc Nation for overworking Rihanna. Her brother Rorrey told the Daily Star newspaper:
”I could see this coming. Her management have been working her 13-hour day’s. She’s been exhausted for months.”
Well, it looks like it’s a bunch of different things that are trying to keep Rihanna down. Glad to see that her family is stepping in to take care of her.
EXCLUSIVE: Jimmy Henchman Trial Day 2: Former Friend Cooperates, Reveals Drug Operation
(AllHipHop News) A former confident and associate of James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond took the stand today (May 15) and testified against his former friend.
Kahlil Abdullah, 38, is cooperating with the federal government in the case against Rosemond, who is accused of being the mastermind of a $10 million-a-year cocaine operation.
Abdullah appeared in court in a blue prison top and testified against Rosemond, who sat across from him in a neatly pressed blue suit.
During the testimony, Kahlil Abdullah laid out the structure of the drug operation, which was allegedly moving up to 100 kilograms of cocaine per week, from 2007 until 2011.
Abdullah walked through the Rosemond organization’s hierarchy, breaking down the entire structure for the jury.
According to Abdullah, the organizations’ employed “catchers,” who picked up packages of drugs and money and delivered them to Rosemond’s associates.
“Packers” packaged the drugs at stash houses for shipment and/or storage.
“Sellers” sold the drugs at prices allegedly set by Rosemond, while “managers,” such as Abdullah, coordinated shipments of cocaine and money.
“We had a business relationship,” Kahlil Abdullah admitted to the jury. “We sold drugs together. The money was packed in New York and sent to Los Angeles and picked up by the catchers, and vacuum seal bags to conceal the money.”
The drugs were then sent back to New York and distributed in Brooklyn, Queens, New York and other cities.
The operation sounds vast, but In total, there were 16 men who were named as being involved in the main hierarchy of the alleged drug dealing operation.
Abdullah said he met Rosemond while he was doing security for artists Rosemond managed, during a concert in Washington DC, over 12 years ago.
While their relationship started off strictly business, it soon turned to criminal activity.
“He [Rosemond] said he had money he needed to clean up, about $275,000,” Abdullah said, stating that Rosemond wanted a check in return for his cash.
Soon after the initial offer, Kahlil Abdullah said he began acting as a “catcher” for the Rosemond organization.
“He offered a chance to make money. We met in Harlem, he said there would be no headaches,” Abdullah testified. “He said ‘you can’t go to jail for getting caught with money’ and if I went to LA he would show me how.”
Abdullah was no gullible victim of schemes allegedly hatched by Rosemond.
Kahlil Abdullah’s criminal activity dates back to his teens and involved petty criminal activities, in addition more serious charges.
He even admitted that he and an associate shot a rival drug dealer, who made disparaging comments about him.
But Abdullah avoided prosecution after he paid the victim $25,000.
The victim then notarized a letter stating that Abdullah had nothing to do with the shooting, which allowed him to avoid prosecution.
Abdullah also hired the legal services of Jeffrey Lichtman, who allegedly represented a number of Rosemond’s associates, after they had been arrested with large amounts of cash or drugs.
While some shipments were intercepted as early as 2008, the government claims the organization still managed to ship as many as 60 kilograms of cocaine per-week, using overnight express courier services.
To achieve this, Abdullah told the jury that he created customized phony music crates, which had a double lining on the inside, that could store an average of $155,000 in cash.
The organization would also ship $500,000-$800,000 in drug proceeds in vacuumed sealed, mustard lined packages, to conceal the odor of the money.
The drug proceeds were then allegedly sent to Rosemond’s Los Angeles apartment, where it was counted and reinvested in drugs and expenses for fake ID’s, debit cards, encrypted Blackberrys and other tools of the trade.
Abdullah admitted that he was cooperating with the government and testifying against Rosemond, in hopes of receiving a reduced sentence.
Abdullah said that he is hopeful he will receive what’s known as a “5K1” letter, which will allow him to receive a reduced sentence, despite a federally mandated prison sentence that calls him to serve at least 10 years-to-life in prison.
Khalil Abdullah is formally charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and obstruction of justice.
Testimony will continue tomorrow.
VIDEO: Brother Ali Shares His Daughter’s Love For “Uncle Freeway”; Updates On Status Of Collabo Project
Last week, AllHipHop.com featured Rhymesayers Entertainment’s Brother Ali in an exclusive interview where he spoke on his last release, The Bite-Marked Heart, his upcoming album, Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color, the new music he’s created with Jake One, and a slew of other topics.
Today (March 15) we’ve got Ali speaking on his close friend and fellow rapper Freeway, who his daughter refers to as “Uncle Free” and when fans can expect their highly-anticipated collaborative project. Here’s a hint: it’s going to be a while.
The last time Ali spoke on the project was in early November when the MC from Minneapolis told HHDX, “The album with [Freeway] is still way too early to talk about. We’re definitely going to keep making that one but it’s way too soon to start talking about. I don’t like to start the excitement to try to get people excited about stuff way early because then it feels like, ‘Come on, you’re taking forever,’ and it’s like, ‘No, I’m just taking the time that I need to take.'”
Ali first hooked up with Freeway in 2008 on Jake One’s “The Truth” from the producer’s White Van Music, and the two MCs came together again one year later for “Best At It,” which also featured Joell Ortiz and was featured on Ali’s album Us.
Check out the exclusive clip below:
Follow Brother Ali On Twitter: (@BrotherAli)
REVIEW: DMX’s “The Weigh-In” EP
A lot of time has lapsed since DMX’s 1998 debut, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, and frankly, it is evident when listening to the Yonkers, NY native’s new mixtape. The Weigh In, which debuted at 2PM today (May 15), is a collection of new songs and mixtape joints.
One upon a time, DMX’s scattershot frantic, staccato style was a dependable anchor that held down just about any song he appeared on. But, when he’s on songs like “Where I Wanna Be,” he really sounds like a punch-drunk version of himself. He’s got the fight, but the sharpness really isn’t there like the late ’90s and 2000s. On “Sh*t Don’t Change,” Snoop Dogg joins his fellow dog for a remake of 2009’S “Boss Life.” If you didn’t know this was a regurgitation, it would be possible to enjoy the song, but this record was an old Dr. Dre-produced hit.
All is not lost. The song “Last Hope,”which came out last year shows the depth and reaffirms why we still love DMX:
Even though “Lost Hope” is a reworking of an obscure artist named Dizzy Dao, we’ll accept it into DMX’s repertoire of music. But neither “That’s My Baby,” which features Tyrese, a scant Lil Wayne blip, or “Wright or Wrong” help salvage The Weigh In from the recycle bin, sadly enough.
Lastly, the actual audio quality of The Weigh In seems to be severely compromised and suffers from a lack of funding. The mix-down sounds as if it was done in somebody’s bedroom lined by egg crates, not Quad Studios where It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot was masterfully recorded. The music sounds dated and, honestly, terrible. DMX represents, not only a successful legacy in Hip-Hop, but an era that has seen better days. Hopefully, those of us that are fans of the dog will be blessed with a work of art in his upcoming album, Undisputed, that really reflects his past, or a rich future in music is not promised in this era.
There’s no love lost for DMX, just disappointment. At least, all dogs to go heaven, no matter what.
Click here to listen to or to download The Weigh In.
T.I. “Like That”
[ahh_audio src=/5-15-12/TI-LikeThat.mp3]
Jhené Aiko Talks Signing With No I.D., Working With The Weeknd’s Producers & Why She Left Chris Stokes’ T.U.G. Camp
Los Angeles-bred R&B singer, Jhené Aiko, recently inked a deal with No I.D.’s Artium Records, a label partnership with Def Jam Recordings. Inspired by Tupac and a host of others that made California the place to be, this 24-year-old mom and former T.U.G. princess has been in the studio working on her debut album.
In 2011, Jhené released her first official mixtape, entitled Sailing Soul(s), a mixtape she reveals was her shot at the image-driven entertainment industry.
AllHipHop.com had a chance to chat with Jhené, and she dishes on her time with the Chris Stokes’ era, B2K, and her latest deal with No I.D.:
AllHipHop.com: I need to know how to pronounce your last name. I have no idea.
Jhené Aiko: It’s actually my middle name, and it’s Aiko. [I-e-ko].
AllHipHop.com: Awesome. I’ve been trying to pronounce it for like four years now.
Jhené Aiko: [laughs] I know! Everybody! They say Echo! I understand what they’re trying to say.
AllHipHop.com:Word is on the block that you signed with Def Jam. What’s happening?
Jhené Aiko: I signed with No I.D.’s label, Artium, which is a label under Def Jam. I’ve been recording just as much as possible. I write the majority of my music, so I really just like to take my time with the whole process. Just because anything forced just wouldn’t be right. I’m pretty deep into recording. I just need to get the right batch of songs together.
AllHipHop.com: How did you two link up?
Jhené Aiko: I have a friend that I’ve known for some time, and he’s worked at different labels for a while, interning and everything. Whoever he was working with, he would kind of put me in their ear. He started working with No I.D. His name is Noah Preston, and he just called me and my manager saying, “No I.D. wants to sit down with you and have a meeting.” We kind’ve thought it was about production; we didn’t really know that it was for the whole deal situation.
At the time, I was kind of skeptical about doing any deal with any label, but because he’s a creative person, he’s a producer, so he doesn’t have the same attitude as a label executive. He’s really about being creative, and about the art of it. It just felt really good, and it still does. It feels more like a partnership than “This is my boss!” type of thing.
AllHipHop.com: Why’d you feel hesitant at first?
Jhené Aiko: I was signed when I was 12, 13 to Sony/Epic, and it was just not a good experience for me, because I was so young, too. They could tell me how to dress; they were telling me what songs to sing and what image to have, and all that. It wasn’t a pleasurable experience. I just wanted to make sure that this time they know that I know who I am. I’m not a child anymore, so I’m going to have input in all aspects of my career. Really, they have to follow my lead, because I’m not one of those people that’s okay with just doing what people tell me to do, and just go on with whatever they think is right.
AllHipHop.com: And I did want to talk about that, too – your younger years, when you first got into the game, Chris Stokes, and that whole era of when people started to first find out about who Jhene was. How did you first link up with Chris Stokes and that whole camp?
Jhené Aiko: I’m the youngest of five. My older sisters did a lot of dancing since they were like five. They’ve always been into entertainment. My oldest sister was actually in their first video, in the “Da Munchies” video.
AllHipHop.com: Munchies? Oh, Immature!
Jhené Aiko: Yeah, she was in Immature’s first video, which was “Da Munchies”.
AllHipHop.com: That’s taking it back!
Jhené Aiko: Yeah! So, since then Chris approached my mom about working with my sisters, in a group, and they started working in different groups that he had. They were actually signed to MCA when they were real young, in a group called ‘Girl’. My family was around him, I was probably five or six when I first met him. I was always around him, and I was just sing just because my older sisters were singing. I just did the same thing. Whatever they were doing, I would just copy them.
One day, he heard me sing and was like, “Okay, well, when you’re old enough, let’s work with you!” I was into school and all that, and I was just like, “Yeah, whatever.” And when he did the deal with B2K, it was like a piggy back deal, like “Okay, well he signed them, I’ll also throw in her!” It was kind of like a thing that I didn’t really have to work for. They didn’t really showcase me or anything. It was that kind of deal. They didn’t really care. It was a good experience. I’m definitely glad that I didn’t pop, because it was totally not me. I wasn’t even an artist yet. I was just a 13-year-old.
AllHipHop.com: What did you learn from that situation?
Jhené Aiko: I learned what I won’t do in a situation, as far as with the label being able to just control your life.
AllHipHop.com: You don’t like that aspect?
Jhené Aiko: Not at all. I have an authority problem. Every individual is like you’re own boss, I feel like. Especially with being creative and being an artist, it’s like how can you really call yourself an artist if you are just following directions and being told what to sing and how to dress and really not being you. I was on the “Scream Tour 3”. I hosted it, opened and all of that. That was a really good experience to just get over stage fright and get used to being in front of a lot of people.
I have a daughter, she’s three. I would tell her to wait until she’s 18 to really start pursuing a career in entertainment if she wanted to, because I just learned that being a young teenage girl, especially going through the regular teenage girl stuff while you’re trying to be an entertainment, and you have label people telling you, “You need to clear up your acne!”, stuff that you’re already going to go through. It’s magnified. And, you shouldn’t have to worry about that. You just be going to school and being a kid.
AllHipHop.com: Why’d you decide to leave T.U.G.?
Jhené Aiko: It was only really about two and a half years when I was signed. They start dragging their feet, and I just really wanted to finish school. I called my mom, and I was like I want to sit down with everybody and just tell them that I want a release. A new president came to Epic, and she was not familiar with me. She kept putting me off, and I was like is there any way we can just get released? They weren’t going to drop me or anything; they were just going to shelve me. I knew what was happening. I was like let’s just get a release from all these people so I can just be in school. I just started doing music on my own with the producers I had met while I was signed. I was actually not with T.U.G. for that long.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve developed this fan base of folks who love you! Right?
Jhené Aiko: Yeah, I guess. [laughs]
AllHipHop.com: After that situation, you started making your own music, and how were you able to connect with your fans, garner those amount of people when you didn’t put out an album?
Jhené Aiko: The Internet is a crazy, amazing thing. I was home schooled, so I was always at home a lot, and just writing or staring at the wall. For me, that was just a great outlet to just write and be able to post things when MySpace got big. Then I started recording with my laptop on Garageband. Then I started experimenting with making my own beats. I would put the songs on MySpace and have them for download, and it was more of just a hobby. But there were still people there from the B2K days, and when I started really writing my own music, people were like “Oh okay. This is tight!”
I worked with a few producers that let me post their music also. It just kept people interested. I’ve always been big on the Internet, as far as just expressing myself, sharing poems, I had a blogspot where I would just post poems. I think that anytime a person is just transparent and just wants to themselves, and share what they’ve been through, then other people gravitate to it, because we all want to relate to each other and connect.
AllHipHop.com: How’d you end up linking with Kendrick Lamar?
Jhené Aiko: L.A. is a small place, especially if you do entertainment. A friend of mine ending up part of his management, and they heard the Drake, July thing that had leaked. He called me up like “I have an artist named Kendrick Lamar, he’s really dope, I think you guys are on the same tip and I think you guys should work together.” I hadn’t heard of him yet and my friend at the time had been listening to him. Then I felt blown away because I hadn’t really been listening to new music, even now I still just listen to ’90s music, or when I find an album that I love I just listen to that, I’m still stuck on things from like two, three years ago. We went in and immediately just vibed, and that song came out effortlessly, we just finished it really fast.
AllHipHop.com: Do you care about the mainstream, commercial fame?
Jhené Aiko: Honestly, I don’t. Of course, with a major label, there’s bigger outlets that I can be exposed to, but I’m just like I just don’t know if my music will translate to the people that listen to the mainstream. They’re going to want to see me do different things and more things. Even as a person, I’m just lowkey. I don’t really like going to the club, I don’t really like to do a lot. I’m lazy. [laughs] It could become mainstream, but it would have to be in a weird way. I’m not concerned with putting out this album and having it sell 10 million copies. I know that my fans are going to buy it, and they’re going to like it, and that’s all that matters.
AllHipHop.com: Who are you working with? You got No I.D., so I don’t know if you need to work with anybody else, but, are you?
Jhené Aiko: [laughs] One of the things with being with a label is I have so many more options with who I want to work with, and it’s gets a little overwhelming because I’m usually the type where it doesn’t matter whose beat it is. I got some tracks with people that work with The Weeknd, which are crazy dope. I got some beats from A$AP Rocky’s producer. Key Wayne, who is one of Big Sean’s producers. I just recorded some stuff to his track. It’s a lot. Whoever I tell them I want to work with, they’re like “Yeah! Here’s some tracks!” That part is a little overwhelming because I’m not used to having so much to work with. I’m like “Okay, wait a minute, let me get some subjects to write about!”
AllHipHop.com: Who else are you looking to work with?
Jhené Aiko: I really want to work with Pharell. I know he’s like super busy, though, so I would understand if that doesn’t happen. I think he has that sound. I really want to work with Kid Cudi. I know he produces a little bit, but he’s just so tight to me. I really want to work with with Drake’s producer, 40. He has that sound that I was always try to explain to people, and it would start off like that, and all this music would come in, and I’ll be like, “Noooo! I just want it be nice and mellow.” Now, No I.D. is going to do some stuff from scratch with me.
AllHipHop.com: When should we expect an album?
Jhené Aiko: As soon as possible. Of course, it’s different now with a label. I can’t just record a song and put it out like “New music! Download it now!”, which is killing me because I’m so spontaneous like that. I feel like when a song is hot, and I just recorded it, the momentum, I just want everybody to hear it. I understand there’s a contract involved now, so I can’t really do that. Definitely, they’re on the same page as me. They want to do everything as soon as possible, without rushing it. I’m pretty deep into the project. I feel like every song right now is a keeper. If they agree with me, then we should we done and have something released by the end of the summer, which is what I’m really pushing for, fingers crossed. If not, it’s definitely going to be worth the wait, because I really take my time with it. Not that I’m trying to compete with Sailing Souls, but I know that musically I’ve grown since then. It will be made clear in this album.
AllHipHop.com: What do you have to say to your fans?
Jhené Aiko: Right now, I would like to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for just connecting with the music and for having an open mind. I know I’m not the mainstream girl, I’m not the video vixen looking. There’s a lot of things that are not what you’re seeing now. I find it brave of my fans to stick up for me. It’s like a cult following, and sometimes I have to tell people on Twitter, “Don’t attack someone because they say they’re not a fan of me. That’s just their opinion of me.” I appreciate that because that means that they’re real true fans, and that they really are connected to me and my music.
I also want to thank everyone for being patient, especially in the internet age everybody wants everything fast. They want even the R&B singers to put out stuff like they’re rappers. I think a lot of my fans do understand that I like to take my time and make it right and all that. I definitely will stay on this path that I’m on. They don’t have to worry about me coming with a techno. I might be able to put something smooth on a techno beat, but it will still be me. I’ll never compromise. They’re always going to see me.
Hip-Hop Rumors: J.Cole Says Too Many Rappers “Fighting For Attention” On Twitter
Roc Nation artist J.Cole recently did an interview with Bootleg Kev of Las Vegas’ Hot 97.5, and has spoken out about his dislike for rappers over-sharing and “fighting for attention” on Twitter. Check out what he said below:
“I’m not on Twitter no more, I’m not doing it and I’m not going to. I’m sitting and on watching all these artists who I respect — some of them are big artists — on Twitter fighting for attention. Every tweet is like, I’m looking for attention. Retweet me! It comes from this place of fear, like I don’t want people to forget about me. But really your body of work speaks for you, so it’s doing work even when you’re not knowing it. But because people ain’t talking about you on Twitter or your mixtape ain’t trending, you feel a certain kind of way. But when it’s my time, I’m gonna load up all my clips and I’m gonna empty ‘em out.”
I think J.Cole may have a point.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Kanye West To Appear On Two Of Kim Kardashian’s Reality Shows
Get ready to see Kanye West on reality TV this season. E! Online has confirmed that Yeezy will make several appearances on both “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” (KUWTK) and “Kourtney & Kim Take New York”, and has already been featured in a TV spot for KUWTK.
Kim, who has been very outspoken about her relationship with Kanye, has said that she wants to show her life and Kanye is now a big part of it and so he will be on the show. “If we are having dinner and he does show up, I’m sure we’re not going to go, ‘Stop the cameras!” said Kim.
“I’m not going to be taking a bubble bath and drinking champagne or on a sex swing like Khloé [Kardashian Odom] and Lamar [Odom] do,” Kim added. “It’s not going to be like that.”
“Keeping Up With The Kardashians” premieres this Sunday, May 20 at 9 p.m. on E!. So, keep an eye out for Yeezy!
VIDEO: Bizzy Crook Has A Story To Tell And He Wants You To Hear It
“Eminem is the reason I rap,” was one of many revelations that Bizzy Crook proclaimed when he stopped by the AllHipHop.com offices recently. In addition to telling us about his background and come-up as a lover of all things Hip-Hop thanks to Mr. Mathers, the man with many homes spoke on his work with Jim Jones and AraabMUZIK, snatching a hook from Demi Lovato, and much more.
With the June release of his new mixtape, P.S. I’m Sorry 2, on the horizon, Bizzy is rapidly putting the finish touches on what he believes will be something that fans both old and new will always remember from the Good Luck rapper.
Check out our exclusive interview with Bizzy below:
For more information, visit ListenToBiz.com
Follow Bizzy Crook On Twitter: (@BizzyCrook)
From Local to Universal: “What Up Doe?”, The Origin of a Classic Catchphrase
If you are from Detroit and are in your mid-40s or younger, it was probably the first slang phrase you ever learned:
“What Up Doe?!”
If you are from outside of the Land of Mile Roads, you have probably heard the expression somewhere before. Ever wonder where it came from?
“What Up Doe?” is recognized on the website, www.UrbanDictionary.com, and defined as “a greeting amongst people in an urban setting. It can be used in several ways; it can express friendship, anger, or be used as a question. It is used extensively in the upper east of the Midwest, especially Detroit.”
A twist on the common “What’s Up?”, “What Up Doe?” became popular in the mid-’80s. Detroit transplant, Jae Barber, manager of rapper elZhi and producer Karriem Riggins, currently resides in Los Angeles traces it back: “’What Up Doe?’ initially was the way that drug dealers greeted each other because “dough” meant money, and they were making a lot of it. It’s a phrase my older cousins used a lot back then. Younger kids like me, took it, and ran with it.”
Detroit-based rapper, actor, and film director, Al Nuke, explains, “To my knowledge, ‘What Up Doe?’ emerged in 1983, and it had a lot to do with the Pony Down gang. AWOL was the first Detroit rap group to have a single called “What Up Doe?” which did well on the radio. It was a street code at first and then they burst it as Detroit lingo on a record. They made it a cool thing to say for everybody. Now, it is just the standard Detroit greeting.”
In the 1980s, Detroit gained notoriety as a murder capital and a major drug market, with criminal organizations like The Chambers Brothers, Young Boys, Inc., and later Black Mafia Family (BMF). Through their presence in Atlanta in the ’90s, BMF unknowingly introduced the signature phrase to mainstream rappers like Young Jeezy, whose usage has helped make the phrase universal.
Detroit rapper Tone-Tone memorialized the phrase on record – his song, “What Up Doe?” became a local classic. The film, 8 Mile, which is nearing its decade anniversary, further propelled the universality of the phrase as nearly every character used it incessantly.
Artist manager and AllHipHop.com contributor, Hexmurda sums it up best. “What up doe can mean a few different things. It can be a greeting, a challenge, or a phrase used to determine one’s origin or residency,” says Hexmurda. “It depends on the situation and voice inflection. Whenever a Detroiter hears that, wherever they may be, they know home isn’t that far away.”
Biba Adams is a Senior Staff Writer for AllHipHop.com, and a native Detroiter living in Atlanta. Tell her “What Up Doe,” on Twitter (@BibatheDiva), and send her your “Local to Universal” phrases from your hometown – it might make the site.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Toccara The Singer?
Is there more than one Toccara in the world? You know the model chick? The TV chick? The big-b####, sexy woman?
I’m just asking, because there is a new song with Lil Scrappy that features somebody named “Toccara.” Now this the Toccara I know (Rumor continues after pictures):
Anyway, click here to to listen to this song with Lil Scrappy.
Now, the singer sounds really good and that’s why its hard to believe its THE Toccara! I’m going to have to get one of the interviewer people here to get at her. Did I miss something here?
TOCCARRA, WE LOVE YOU!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHO: illseed
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, illseed.com, and Twitter.com/illseed/
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at kingillseed [at] gmail.com
– allhiphop rumors