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Black Thought Teams with WNBA’s New York Liberty and Rappers, Singers For Newark Girls In Need
(AllHipHop News) The Roots frontman, Black Thought, has revealed some personal details about his life in recent months and years that seem to shed light on his desire to help others in need. Namely, as a youngster, he lost both his mother and father to violent crime.
AllHipHop.com will join Philadelphia’s Black Thought on April 26, along with his friends in sports and entertainment, to help promote the pressing issues of girls and women residing in Newark/Orange, New Jersey (GrassROOTS also hosts programs in Philadelphia and Greensboro, North Carolina).
Black Thought and the WNBA’s New York Liberty basketball team have assembled a star-studded host of supporters to raise funds and awareness for his GrassROOTS Community Foundation via the “Power Forward” Charity Concert, to be held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on April 26.
“Power Forward” will bring together business professionals, Essex County (New Jersey) city officials, activists, and philanthropists for a diverse night of music and advocacy, with performances from Black Thought, Maya Azucena, Paul Lowe Jr., and Nneka Best. In addition, a cadre of North Jersey rappers, including Rah Digga, Lords of the Underground, Hakim Green of Channel Live and others, will attend to show their support for hometown youth.
Hosting this year’s event is actress Regina Hall, best known for her roles in Think Like a Man, the Scary Movie series, Love and Basketball, and The Best Man.
According to “Power Forward” organizers, this event represents a strategic partnership between GrassROOTS Community Foundation and the New York Liberty WNBA team, who share a common goal of spreading awareness about women’s health and empowerment. Celebrity participants plan to use their names and influence to underscore the importance of using sports to increase physical activity and reducing obesity among impoverished women and girls.
Doors open for “Power Forward” at 8PM on April 26. Tickets to The New York Liberty basketball games and a subscription to Essence are included with the purchase of “Power Forward” event tickets. For more details or to purchase tickets, visit www.powerforward.eventbrite.com. Proceeds from this event will benefit the H.E.A.L. program.
In February 2012, GrassROOTS hosted a well-attended “Let’s Move It Philly” charity concert in Philadelphia to raise funds for local programs. Special guest performers included The Roots, Dice Raw, The Money Making Jam Boys, DJ Rich Medina, and more.
About GrassROOTS Community Foundation
GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) is a collaborative effort of Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, co-founder and lead MC of the Grammy Award-Winning group, the Roots, and sociologist, Dr. Janice Johnson Dias. The foundation is committed to contributing to the health and well-being of vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities. Merging the talents of socially conscious artists with those of a rigorous scientific research and creative team, GCF invests their energy into developing the capacity of community based organizations that offer educational and recreational services to disadvantaged women and girls. For more information, please visit www.grass-rootsfoundation.org.
About H.E.A.L. Program
H.E.A.L. is a family program that teaches parents and children about the joys and health benefits of yoga and cooking together. The program welcome parents with children (K-3rd grade) to practice Ancient Kemetic yoga to experience the benefits of increased focus, agility and higher energy.
AHH Stray News: Forbes Richest Rappers, GZA’s Orchestra, Cold 187um Signs With Psychopathic
(AllHipHop News) Forbes magazine has released a new list of Hip-Hop’s wealthiest moguls titled “The Forbes Five.” Sean “Diddy” Combs topped Forbes’s latest list of the richest Hip-Hop moguls, with an estimated net worth of $550 million dollars. Diddy’s wealth comes from a number of ventures, including his Ciroc vodka line, Bad Boy Records, and his Sean John clothing line. Jay-Z checked in at #2 two with a net worth of $450 million, Dr. Dre landed at #3 with a net worth of $270 million, Bryan “Birdman” Williams was #4 with $125 million and 50 Cent rounded out the list with a net worth of $110 million dollars. “One of my motivations in life is to be a billionaire,” Birdman told Forbes. “We’re going to keep working hard until we get our brand to be as big as possible. That’s the goal in life, that’s what I live for.”
Wu-Tang Clan member GZA will be one of several headlining acts during the 2012 Northside Festival. GZA has been tapped to perform his classic album Liquid Swords with Grammy-winning Latin Funk Orchestra Grupo Fantasma. The 2012 Northside Festival features eight-days of music with hundreds of groups, films, panels and showcases during the fourth annual event. Over 80,000 people are expected to attend the Northside Festival, which will take place at a 40,000 sq. ft. factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn from June 14-21.
Former Above The Law front man Big Hutch has inked a one-album deal with Insane Clown Posse’s record label Psychopathic Records. Big Hutch will assume his “Cold 187um” moniker from his Above The Law days, with a new twist. The rapper will drop his album The One Solution, which will introduce listeners to his persona “The Psychopathic Assassin.” Each track on the album will feature Cold 187um rhyming over previous released Psychopathics Records’ tracks. A release date for The One Solution was not available as of press time.
EXCLUSIVE: Producer D.Rich Speaks On Upcoming Young Jeezy Compilaton “It’s The World”
(AllHipHop News) Producer D.Rich recently revealed some details about Young Jeezy’s new compilation album It’s The World, from his CTE (Corporate Thugs Entertainment) imprint.
D.Rich has produced tracks for artists like Yo Gotti, David Banner, Rick Ross, Meek Mill and Young Jeezy. He came up under Shawty Redd, who discovered him on Myspace.com.
“Shout out to my brother Shawty Redd. He found me on Myspace, put me in Atlanta and I did that ‘Who Dat’ song that’s on the Recession, so salute to him,” D. Rich told AllHipHop.com.
According to D. Rich, Jeezy has lined up some heavyweights for It’s The World, which will feature Freddy Gibbs , Scrilla , J Dawg , Slick Pulla , while D. Rich, Justice League, DJ Toomp and Lody are confirmed producers attached to the project.
The first single from the It’s The World compilation album is titled “Ridin.”
In an interview with MTV’s RapFix last week, Young Jeezy discussed the project.
“We got the singles locked and loaded, we gonna shoot a couple of videos,” Young Jeezy said. “I’m on tour, so I’m in the middle of the tour, right before I get off I’m ready to go. Freddie Gibbs, the whole camp, we ready, we turned up.”
There is no official release date for It’s The World as of press time.
G. Dep Found Guilty Of 2nd Degree Murder
(AllHipHop News). G. Dep, former Bad Boy Records rapper, has been found guilty of second degree murder, for a shooting that occurred in 1993.
The rapper confessed to a shooting two years ago, to which police connected him to a murder.
G.Dep, real name Trevell Coleman, proclaimed his innocence in the murder case.
He faces no less than 15 years in prison in the sentencing phase, which is slated for May 8.
The jury came back with a verdict after three days of arguments and another two days of deliberations.
Dep confessed to the shooting in December of 2010, which was a botched robbery that resulted in the shooting death of a man named John Henkel.
Dep said at the time that he was wrought with guilt and stricken with drug addiction when he confessed.
“Trevell is a very courageous person, very different of people from this era: he has a conscience and a heart,” G. Dep’s lawyer Anthony Riccio said outside of the court room. “It’s probably one of the most powerful statements that a rapper has ever made, and that’s to be accountable. I told him not to regret his decision, and that God won’t abandon him.”
Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Ma$e Back?!
It looks like former Bad Boy rapper Ma$e has gotten back into the studio and is gearing up to release some new music! The last we heard from the rapper was back in 2004 when he released his comeback album, Welcome Back. His single, “Breath, Stretch, Shake”, was well received but Diddy put a damper on his comeback when he would not allow him to sign with G-Unit.
Yesterday, singer Omarion, who is allegedly signed to Maybach Music Group, posted the image to his Instagram account with the caption, “Ma$e &….. he’ll yeaaaa you already know.” Glad to see Ma$e back in the studio!
Ustream 6PM EST: YoungVoterLive.com Session with Former White House Advisor Van Jones
(AllHipHop News) AllHipHop.com’s civic engagement and voter education partner, The League of Young Voters Education Fund, will host a live-streaming discussion with Van Jones on YoungVoterLive.com tonight (April 17) at 6PM EST.
Van Jones, one of President Obama’s White House officials, is the first to release a book, entitled Rebuild The Dream, about his time working in the administration. The activist and provocateur will accompany the League of Young Voters Education Fund’s DJ Willie Shakes to discuss the resurgence of grassroots activism, the current political landscape, and what we can do to rebuild the so-called “American Dream.”
WHO: Van Jones, DJ Willie Shakes, League of Young Voters Education Fund
WHEN: LIVE Tuesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
WHERE: The interactive event will be broadcasted via Ustream here on AllHipHop.com and at YoungVoterLive.com. Viewers can also tune into the conversation by tweeting questions to @TheLeague99 using the hashtag #RebuildTheDream.
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ABOUT THE LEAGUE OF YOUNG VOTERS EDUCATION FUND:
League of Young Voters Education Fund empowers young people nationwide to participate in the democratic process and create progressive political change on the local, state and national level – with a focus on non-college youth and youth from low-income communities and communities of color. The League meets young people where they are, works on issues that affect their lives, and provides them with tools, training and support to become serious catalysts for change. Visit them at 99Problems.org.
EXCLUSIVE: Chamillionaire Talks Independence; Says ‘Poison’ Album Is Best Work To Date
(AllHipHop News) Houston rapper Chamillionaire checked in with AllHipHop.com to discuss the response he received from his most recent EP Ammunition, as well as his newly found independence, after severing ties with Universal in 2011.
Chamillionaire strategically wanted to see how his fans would respond to his work, after struggling with a major label (Universal) to agree on the direction of his music. The rapper opted out of posting the project on popular digital platforms like Amazon and iTunes and released Ammunition through his website, Chamillionaire.com.
“I came from independence and I feel like I worked my way to get everything that I have accomplished in my life, so I don’t look at life ‘you are a big star and you only have to do a little to be successful,'” Chamillionaire told AllHipHop.com. “I believe there is a lot that you have to do to be successful no matter who you are, you know? I am good at creating brands like ‘Mixtape Messiah’ and ‘Major Pain,’ all kinds of stuff that I have put out through the streets of Texas and the South.”
Ammunition is Chamillionaire’s first release of brand new, official material since his 2007 album, Ultimate Victory. Creative issues prevented the rapper from releasing new material, but in 2011, he parted ways with Universal, after over six years on the label.
“I wanted to create something new since its been a while since I put something out, so I created this Ammunition brand, and was like alright I’m going to start doing some stuff out on real beats now,” Chamillionaire said. “I have been working on the album [Poison] for the past two or three years, but I didn’t want to put it out yet because I feel like I need to get myself to a certain point.”
Chamillionaire sold Ammunition as a download for those who pre-ordered the release, while others had the option of purchasing the physical copy directly from the rapper.
Audio: Chamillionaire Explains Independent Grind
Chamillionaire also broke down his plans for his highly anticipated project Poison. According to Cham, Poison is the best work that he has recorded to date.
Unlike the Ammunition EP, Poison will likely be released through a major label.
“I’m not asking anybody for the money, I’m completely spending my own money…I’m shooting my own videos for everything,” Chamillionaire said. “I’m not talking about the cheap little 5D, 7D camera videos. I’m talking about real authentic videos for every song. Now people are going to judge me based off of what I am capable of, instead of what some A&R was trying to convince me to do, or what some label was trying to force.
“You have these people up in the offices trying to tell you what is cool. They are the ones forcing the single, a certain look and image. A lot of times that doesn’t gel with the artist. So instead of fighting with them, I don’t have a boss and I do it myself. I know its taking a long time and some people say that I am losing my buzz, but I don’t care, because I believe in quality…I believe it is some of the best material I have ever recorded.”
Salute The Spin Doctors!: Talib Kweli’s DJ Spintelect a.k.a. “The African DJ”
Editor’s Note: DJs carried the original torch for Hip-Hop – back when there were no MCs! AllHipHop.com is taking a little time out to “Salute the Spin Doctors” this month. Check back for more feature stories and editorials with some of the top DJs across the country.
As part of our series, we chilled with one of the dopest tour DJs to hit the stage! “The African DJ”, DJ Spintelect, took a few minutes to chop it up with AllHipHop.com about touring, Talib Kweli, and what’s going on with him currently!
AllHipHop.com: Hey, DJ Spintelect, let’s just go right to the beginning! How long have you been DJ’ing, and how did you get started?
DJ Spintelect: I’ve been DJ’ing for about 11 years, almost 12. I got into DJ’ing through my older brothers. They’re both DJs, so it was passed down.
AllHipHop.com: So, it’s a family talent! Dope!
DJ Spintelect: But I actually started producing on the MPC before DJ’ing first.
AllHipHop.com: We know you are doing your thing DJ’ing on the road. Who have you toured with in the last year or so? Any special show memories that you care to share with us?
DJ Spintelect: The past year I’ve been touring full time with Talib Kweli, as well as doing spot Black Star show dates.
AllHipHop.com: Nice!
DJ Spintelect: Also, by touring with Kweli, he often brings out a lot of special guests, so I’ve gotten the chance to rock with Bun B, Jean Grae, Pharoahe Monch, Schoolboy Q, Ab Soul and many more.
AllHipHop.com: We’ve seen you a few times in various places with Talib Kweli, and those shows are crazy high energy! What do you do to prepare for each show?
DJ Spintelect: I normally relax in my hotel room a few hours before the show, listening to music, getting in a zone, head to the venue in one hour or two to check out the crowd, listen to what the opening DJs/performers are playing because I usually spin for about 10-15 minutes before Kweli comes on to perform. And, it is up to me to bring the energy level to the maximum before Kweli comes out.
AllHipHop.com: Getting the crowd ready in advance always sounds like a good plan.
DJ Spintelect: Then about 30 minutes before showtime, grab a sugar-free Red Bull and a double shot of Jack and get ready to hit the stage. Ha!
AllHipHop.com: You guys were rockin’ stages all over the place at South By Southwest (SXSW). Was there any one show that stuck out as memorable for you at SXSW this year?
DJ Spintelect: This SXSW was a crazy one for me, going from doing a couple of showcases at last year’s SXSW to rocking over 10-plus stages this year in a matter of three days. So, this whole SXSW is gonna be the most memorable, because I rocked so many different stages and crowds, from shows with Talib Kweli to upcomer Alexander Spit, and then doing my own DJ showcases and after parties. This whole SXSW was memorable!
AllHipHop.com: So, you have also been doing some DJ gigs back home in California. What do you like to put in a set when you are able to just get open in the club, and who are you feeling right now?
DJ Spintelect: To be honest, I like spinning all kinds of music, ideally doing a three to four-hour sets are the best, because I get to go through a good amount of music. Starting off by playing smooth, vibing music into the club stuff, whether it be Top 40 music or Hip-Hop – because a lot of folks don’t know I’m a big fan of house music, like Bob Sinclair house vibes.
AllHipHop.com: Oh, wow! I bet they didn’t know that.
DJ Spintelect: The artists I’m really feeling right now have to be Big K.R.I.T, Schoolboy Q, Gibby & Sham, Yuna, 2 Chainz, and Chief Keef. That’s who I’m really listening to.
AllHipHop.com: So, what’s up next for DJ Spintelect?
DJ Spintelect: More mixtapes and bigger projects [that] I can’t quite speak on at the moment.
AllHipHop.com: That sounds intriguing! Thanks so much for your time, DJ Spintelect. We look forward to hearing what you are working on soon, and a little birdie told us that there may be an exclusive mix done just for AllHipHop.com!
Be on the lookout for DJ Spintelect coming soon to a stage near you. In the meantime, follow him on Twitter (@Spintelect).
Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller Announce “Under the Influence of Music” Tour with Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and Chevy Woods
(AllHipHop News) Rostrum Records labelmates Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller have teamed up to present the “Under the Influence of Music Tour,” set to travel across most of the U.S. this summer.
“I’m really excited for this tour, for the fans, and as a fan of music myself. It’s gonna be trippy!” said Wiz Khalifa, who is preparing to release the first single off of his sophomore Atlantic Records album, O.N.I.F.C., in the coming weeks.
Joining Wiz and Mac on the “Under the Influence Tour” will be Taylor Gang General Chevy Woods, as well as TDE’s Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q.
The “Under the Influence of Music Tour” kicks off on July 26 at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati with stops in Chicago, Toronto, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, the city in which both artists hail from.
“I’m excited to go on a tour like this because it brings a group of individuals together to move across the country as a unit to showcase great music,” adds Mac Miller.
Beginning on Thursday, April 19, fans that visit LiveNation on Facebook and RSVP to the presale will have early access to tickets. General admission tickets for the “Under the Influence of Music Tour” will appropriately go on sale at 4:20PM local time on April 20 at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.
Check out a full list of tour dates and cities below:
Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Hologram Tupac Going On Tour?
We are hearing murmurs that due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the Hologram Tupac at Coachella over the weekend, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are considering taking the hologram on tour!
Insiders are saying that Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are already planning a tour and are trying to decide between a stadium tour featuring Hologram Tupac and other rap superstars, or a smaller scale tour with just Dre. Snoop and Virtual Pac.
The makers of Hologram Tupac, Digital Domain, call the task one of their most difficult saying:
“To create a completely synthetic human being is the most complicated thing that can be done. This is not found footage. This is not archival footage. This is an illusion.”
This sounds like a revolutionary way to showcase artists, whether they are alive or departed.
Mystikal Violates Probation, Returning To Prison For Three Months On May 14
(AllHipHop News) After being a free man since 2010, Cash Money rapper and Louisana native Mystikal will be returning to jail for three months on May 14 due to a violation of his probation.
Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was released in 2010 after serving a six-year prison term for sexual battery and extortion.
As reported by The Advocate, “State District Judge Tony Marabella added the extra time as a condition of the 41-year-old Tyler’s five-year probation in the extortion case because he was arrested in February on a misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse battery in Ascension Parish. Prosecutor Sue Bernie said Tyler stipulated to being in violation of his probation, which called for him to remain arrest- and conviction-free.
“Tyler’s attorney, Roy Maughan Jr., said Marabella ordered Tyler to spend another 90 days in jail but is giving him credit for the nine days he was detained after his Feb. 22 arrest.
“Tyler pleaded guilty in 2003 to forcing his hairstylist to perform what a judge called “continuous sex acts.’’ The victim in that case accused Tyler and two bodyguards of making her perform oral sex after accusing her of stealing $80,000 worth of his checks. The woman denied stealing any money.”
Mystikal, who is currently still set to headline an upcoming concert at S.O.B.’s in New York City on May 1 and perform at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, will be returning to jail on May 14 to begin serving his three-month sentence.
Is “KimYe” a Match Made in Fashion Heaven?
From our friends at Vibe Vixen
Are they on, or are they off? We’re not sure right now, but after Kanye West confessed his love for reality star, Kim Kardashian on “Theraflu,” – a.k.a. “Way Too Cold” – the media and fans went crazy. ‘Ye and Kim K are two of the most popular and visible people in popular culture, a fact that is reaffirmed on the cover of every magazine at a grocery checkout line.
Whether or not the KimYe phenomenon is meant to last, the relationship will probably result in more good music, and it will keep the tongues of fashionistas around the world wagging as they are both known for their unique fashion sense.
Kanye is an icon of men’s fashion, and Kim is known for her smoldering beauty and amazing body that compliments everything she wears. Kim was spotted in Paris earlier this spring in the front row of Kanye’s fashion show rocking the rapper’s $6,000 Guiseppe heels that models were complaining about walking in. Who knows if KimYe is true love, but, it is definitely truly entertaining.
Read more about Kim and Kanye’s passion for fashion here at Vibe Vixen.
Daily Word: Stop Waiting!!!
Happy Tuesday, my blessed and highly favored!
Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to waiting for life to happen! Out of all of the 7,003,019,800 people living on the earth today, it is a fact that 90% will die without fully living out their dreams…. Well….. maybe not 90%, and maybe it’s not a fact. But, truth be told, many people live life everyday waiting until that magic day where they can finally begin to live.
The sad thing is that as they wait, life is just pasting them by and one day, they will wake up and realize that they’ve waited for nothing! The great news is that you don’t have to be this person…
Right now, where you are, you can make the decision to live life to it’s fullest TODAY!
Life isn’t about a perfect moment…. Life is about making the best out of every opportunity you have! As soon as we realize the power we have to create circumstances, then we will understand that when we wait, we wait in vain! Stop waiting for life to happen, and happen to life! Anything you want in this world is already yours!! Create it and make it happen!!
-Ash’Cash
“Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves – or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth.” -Ayn Rand
“Too many people go through life waiting for things to happen instead of making them happen!” -Sasha Azevedo
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” -Napoleon Hill
“Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait. The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply don’t count.” -Dr. Robert Anthony
“Kiss your life. Accept it, just as it is. Today. Now. So that those moments of happiness you’re waiting for don’t pass you by.” -Unknown
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” -W. M. Lewis
“The trick is to make sure you don’t die waiting for prosperity to come.” -Lee Iacocca
“Things may come to those who wait…but only the things left by those who hustle.” -Abraham Lincoln
***BONUS*** “Don’t become a victim of yourself. Forget about the thief waiting in the alley; what about the thief in your mind?” -Jim Rohn
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.
Nas “Another Black Girl Lost”
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B.o.B. [BGA] “So Hard To Breathe”
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Beanie Sigel Ft. Young Chris and Freeway “Ready For War”
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Cam’ron Ft. Sen City “T#### Attack and Tears”
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A$AP Rocky “Goldie”
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HEATER OF THE DAY: P2 the LA Ft. Gucci Mane “Standin On The Couch”
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