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Spike Lee To Premiere Michael Jackson Documentary “Bad 25” At Venice Film Festival In August

By: JP DelaCuesta (@JPdelacuesta) Updated Category: MOBILE
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(AllHipHop News) Spike Lee will be premiering his Michael Jackson documentary, Bad 25, this August at the 2012 Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy which begins on August 29.

“I’m more than just a huge fan of Michael Jackson,” Lee said in a press statement. “Having the chance to actually know him and work with him, I deeply care about his legacy.”

Bad 25 was collaboratively created by Lee, as well as both the Jackson Estate and Sony Music, and is said to focus entirely on Jackson’s iconic album and the world tour that accompanied it.

He continued, “With this Bad project, I was able to uncover just what made this such a huge, important coming of age in his career and unearth compelling stories surrounding the making of the album, the long awaited follow-up to Thriller – the best selling album of all time – the short films and the tour that may have never seen the light of day.”

Spike Lee’s documentary comes just in time for the 25th anniversary of the Bad album, “which will also be celebrated with the September 18th release of Bad 25, a deluxe package featuring three CDs, two collectible booklets, and features the first-ever authorized DVD release of a concert from the record breaking “Bad” tour,” as reported by IndieWire.

Check out a snippet of the documentary below:

For more information on the 2012 Venice Film Festival, visit Labiennale.org.

DVD REVIEW: Mario Van Peebles’ “We The Party” with Snoop Dogg and YG Hits Store Shelves

By: seandrasims Updated Category: Lifestyle
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No doubt about it – We The Party is for the teen/college set. It’s an every-color-kid, posse film set against a suburban, Black family with what seems like not many “real” problems.

But, despite the Disney Channel feel of the film, acclaimed actor/director Mario Van Peebles doesn’t spare any of the reality of how teens really interact. They curse, they think about (and have) sex, they plot, lie, steal, have dysfunctional families, fall in and out of puppy love, and party – a lot. This movie has all of the standard ingredients of an older, raunchier film – without a lot of the raunch.

We The Party starts slowly, with the necessary introductions to the main and side characters taking a bit longer than necessary, possibly making the viewer forget the plot in the meantime. There is a little bit of everyone represented: every sub-class of Blacks from ‘hoodrats to homies, heavy-accented Latinos, geeky and Black-acting White boys, and even a gay high schooler. For the sake of convenience in these types of movies, they all somehow end up being in the same class.

Mario Van Peebles plays a knowledge-dropping teacher (think a softer version of Larry Fishburne in Boyz In The Hood), and it’s clear from the start that he will be the moral fiber that threads the young people together when the inevitable trouble comes. His opening scene in the classroom is poignant and on point; while, it’s crazy formulaic, it’s still nice to see a diverse mix of kids onscreen help convey a lesson. (And the Dad shows that exes can co-exist as he works through parenting issues with the timeless Sally Richardson, who plays Mom.)

Malcolm Van Peebles makes a decent showing as character/freestyler, “Obama” – the younger Van Peebles doesn’t have nearly the charisma of his dad, but his good looks and massive head of curly hair make him a standout, nonetheless. His brother Mandela may be the true heir to the family acting ability, as he holds down the lead role of “Hendrix” with relative ease.

On the star power side, rapper YG shows up as “CC,” the hoodied, rapping class thug, with Snoop Dogg as the big, bad older brother. Cue the (stereotypical) trouble.

Truthfully, We The Party’s theme is all over the place (the other part of the trouble). Is it about family and friends drama? Is it about getting good enough grades for Prom? Or, is it merely about the daily, adventure-filled lives of teens? It’s all of these, and yet none of them very convincingly.

Possibly the best thing represented in We The Party is the endearing father-son interaction between Mario Van Peebles and his real-life children, which gives the film a warm authenticity in many scenes.

Goodness knows our young people need less “party” and much more of that.

Rating: 6.5/10

We The Party is available on DVD online and in stores on July 31. Watch a snippet below:

Nemo Achida [BGA]: Welcome To Nemo’s World Where Things “Pan Out Perfectly”

By: seandrasims Updated Category: Breeding Ground
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Kentucky-raised, New York-inspired MC Nemo Achida brings more to Hip-Hop than just dope beats and rhymes; he brings emotion. After releasing numerous mixtapes and EPs this year alone, Nemo knows that hard work pays off.

Fresh off the drop of his most recent effort, Conversations with Myself, Nemo Achida is starting to see the fruits of his labor, receiving placement on numerous top Hip-Hop sites and getting recognition around the country.

What separates Nemo from others, however, is his ability to incorporate emotion into his work, something that’s given him success up until this point.

“I try to make in character and inspirational music these days because everything else is already out for your pickings,” Nemo said. “I want to fill out that as being looked over, which is in the minds and hearts of human beings.”

AllHipHop recently sat down with Nemo Achida before his show in Columbus, Ohio, as he discussed his most recent work, what inspires him, and being a Kentucky kid with a New York bent:

AllHipHop.com: I love the last two mixtapes you put together first with Nemotional, and then with Goodbye Brooklyn. Can you expand on how those came together, and the progression you’ve made during the creation of them?

Nemo Achida: I would say that Nemotional is one that came out of a self-production series I was doing that started with a bunch of EPs, which is Vibrations and Northstar, which was actually named after a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio (because I love Columbus so much). And then Nemotional was just for me to show that I have many different characteristics to my music, and that my music was diverse. And then I did the Goodbye Brooklyn project, which was just an ode to learning my New York roots, ’cause my mom and everybody is from New York. I went there and I lived there, explored there, and learned their singing and culture, and that was my tribute to them, almost, and my life in general.

AllHipHop.com: Right, your family is rooted in New York, but you’re originally from Kentucky. What is the Kentucky Hip-Hop scene like, and how does that have an affect on your creative process?

Nemo Achida: The Kentucky Hip-Hop scene that exists is really just like a family, community-based type thing. It’s kind of like Columbus (Lexington) in the sense that it’s a college town, so you get those crowds that come in and out every year like you do – freshman and sophomores and students that want to get into the local scene, so it’s basically made up of like friends and family supporting it, and then just college students that dig it.

AllHipHop.com: Conversations With Myself is the new project. What all is entailed with that?

Nemo Achida: All of it is self-production. I made everything, I made all of the beats, and pretty much the songs are just about life struggling and getting past your mountains. I try to make in-character and inspirational music these days, because everything else is already out for your pickings. I want to fill out that as being looked over, which is in the minds and hearts of human beings, you know what I mean?

AllHipHop.com: I’ve noticed that you use a lot of orchestral instruments in your music, whether it be violin or abstract percussion. Is that something you go for? I also hear the New York inspiration as well in your beats. So, what do you look for when putting a track together?

Nemo Achida: I’m a musician. I started out as a drummer, so along with playing the drums, you get to the height that you like to play in bands, and you understand the roles that different instruments play in emotion and in feeling. And I feel like strings is the most emotional and dramatic instrument out there, so I use that. And all the orchestral instruments are usually really dynamic and big so you just, you know, you can make bigger sounds, and you just shoot for that – because people don’t understand that those instruments automatically trigger out feelings and emotion.

AllHipHop.com: You’re with Locksmith Music. Tell me about them, and how you got to that association.

Nemo Achida: Yeah, 88-Keys is dope. Pretty much, the other guys, we pretty much all met by him, and he put us all together. We really didn’t know each other before, and those guys are cool, too. 88-Keys is the man, though. He has a good line and a good heart, and he’s creative as ever. Even in his older years, he’s still hip and on it.

AllHipHop.com: A classic question for newcomers to the Hip-Hop game: what made you get into Hip-Hop music?

Nemo Achida: My mom wrote my first rhyme ,but my uncles and cousins – I had uncles from Kentucky who used to listen to, like, Too Short for the bass and all that, and I had uncles in New York that would listen to like Wu-Tang and Nas so. And, of course, the MTV era, BET era; it made me love Hip-Hop, but music as a whole is my thing, and I like all genres.

AllHipHop.com: What are some of those artists that you listened to growing up that maybe gave you some inspiration?

Nemo Achida: Um, Kanye for sure, he’s definitely an inspiration, A Tribe Called Quest, my sister was a big Tribe and Mobb Deep and Queens rapper fan, so I got a lot of dosage with that. Even other artists, like really random artists, like Sting. When I was younger, I got this DVD that was called Bring On The Night just ’cause it looked cool, and I didn’t know what it was really, but it was a live movie about the making of an album that Sting made. And I just randomly bought it, just because I had some money and that album inspired me musically crazy. Prince, Purple Rain soundtrack is crazy. D’Angelo and then Radiohead are all good.

AllHipHop.com: So what’s next for Nemo Achida? You doing more shows? Another project?

Nemo Achida: Yeah, we doing more shows, and we got a new project. Pretty much trying to move up to getting toward the money basically, and we gonna keep creating regardless. That’s the fun part, and that’s what we do for our passion and our love, but it’s time to get paid, too, right?

AllHipHop.com: Have you started to see your fanbase building at all?

Nemo Achida: Slowly but steadily, it’s starting to build, and it’s because I got out here and shook hands and I’m building with people organically.

And I can’t lie, it’s going to pan out perfectly.

Jay-Z Named As Executive Producer Of 2K Sports’ “NBA2K13” Video Game

By: JP DelaCuesta (@JPdelacuesta) Updated Category: MOBILE
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(AllHipHop News) It was revealed in a promotional video released earlier today (July 30) that Jay-Z will serve as the executive producer of 2K Sports’ upcoming NBA 2K13 game, which is set for release on October 2.

With his Roc Nation and Barclays Center endeavors at full steam, Jay-Z has added “Video Game Executive Producer” to a constantly expanding resume that also includes multi-platinum selling rapper, minority owner of the Brooklyn Nets, Director of the Brooklyn Arena Firm, and owner of the worldwide 40/40 nightclub chain.

Although the full extent of Jay-Z’s involvement with the game is unknown, NBA 2K13 will feature NBA superstars Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose on the cover.

In addition to his involvement with NBA 2K13, Jay-Z will be opening the Barclays Center in late September with a string of sold-out concerts. He is also currently at work on his untitled 12th solo studio album.

Check out the promo video below, courtesy of Life+Times:

NBA Star Stephen Jackson Planning New Album “Jack of All Trades”

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: MOBILE
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(AllHipHop News) NBA player Stephen Jackson will release his album Jack of All Trades on his independent label Secret Society Entertainment.

In 2012, the San Antonio Spurs guard dropped mixtapes like “What’s A Lockout” and “TRILLmixes Vol” under his moniker Stak5.

Reps for Jackson told AllHipHop.com that Jack of All Trades will be hosted by veteran personality DJ Scream, while a clean version, family friendly version, minus the DJ tags, will drop via iTunes.

Jackson just dropped a video for his single “Save The Day” from Jack of All Trades, which will feature guest appearances by Game, Paul Wall, Jim Jones, Young Chris, Lloyd, Scarface Bun B., 2Win and others.

Check out “Save the Day”:

http://youtu.be/L2QSqlZfaUg

Hip-Hop Rumors: Does Yeezy Have Something To Confess To Kim Kardashian?

By: ginatorres27 Updated Category: MOBILE
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Yesterday’s NY Post, Page Six gossip section printed a blind item that sounds an awfully lot like it may be about Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. Check out the blind item below:

Which male musician isn’t telling his high-profile girlfriend that he previously had a gay affair with a well-known male fashion designer?

Yikes! Could this blind item be about Yeezy and Kim? If not, who are some of your guesses?

Dwele Returns With “Greater Than One”; Raheem DeVaughn and Lalah Hathaway Lend to His Soul Journey

By: @KareemTaylor Updated Category: Alternatives
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In a well-lit penthouse studio overlooking the skyscrapers of New York City, R&B singer Dwele held a listening session to offer industry insiders a taste of his fifth studio album, Greater Than One.

As champagne traveled around the room, Dwele introduced the album track-by-track, while also mixing and mingling with the crowd, managing to explain motivations behind certain picks on the LP. Dwele keeps the momentum going with Greater Than One, sporting the classic neo-soul sound and feel that made him a talent to watch in the first place.

What makes Dwele one of the best at what he does is that he stays true to what he does well, and his loyal fans have remained at his side all along the journey. It’s soul music – and singing about love never hurt anybody.

In 2007, Dwele appeared on Kanye West’s Graduation hit, “Flashing Lights”, and fans again were seduced by the smooth sounds of this crooner. Though he mentioned during the evening that he’d love to collaborate with Kanye again, nothing has been set in stone. His new album, however, features appearances from Raheem DeVaughn on “What You Gotta Do”, along the “first daughter of soul,” Lalah Hathaway.

It’s not the first time DeVaughn and Dwele collaborated, as he lent his vocals on 2010’s “Dim The Lights”, a fan favorite, which is what brought them back to the studio again.

As the night progressed, tracks were played without many introductions, as Dwele became entrapped in the moment of attention, and industry attendees chatted, laughed, and enjoyed the complimentary open bar provided by Red Bull.

There’s a track titled “Obey”, where Dwele admits, “I haven’t read the book, but someone listened to this song and said it reminded them of 50 Shades of Grey“. At least here, you don’t have to read the book to enjoy the song – “Obey” is the audio book report.

The takeaway is that Dwele’s “Old School” sensibilities and musicianship are sorely needed on the modern, R&B scene these days. Thankfully, his Greater Than One is set for release on August 28.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Did Chris Brown Make Homophobic Comments About Frank Ocean?

By: ginatorres27 Updated Category: MOBILE
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Drama just seems to follow Chris Brown everywhere he goes, doesn’t it? Breezy is in the headlines again today for making what some have reported to be homophobic comments about Frank Ocean. While in Cannes, France over the weekend, a paparazzi asked him his thoughts on Ocean coming out of the closet. Brown responded with, “Man, no h###.” Those in Hip-Hop know that the catchphrase that is popular right now and is not meant to be homophobic.

Unfortunately for Brown, the international press has run with it, and linked his comments to his beef with Frank Ocean last year. If you guys remember, Brown and Ocean got into a Twitter beef when Brown gave Frank a back-handed compliment. Frank then went on to compare Breezy to Sisqo and Ike Turner. The beef quickly turned real when Ocean and members of Odd Future were reportedly chased down in a car by alleged members of Breezy’s camp.

Anyway, Brown responded on Twitter and clarified his feelings on Frank Ocean and his sexuality. Check out what he tweeted below:

“My opinion on the whole Frank Ocean subject is…love who you want to love,” Brown tweeted today. “It’s your decision. People stop searching for BS.”

The 23-year-old went on to chastise judgmental people on the social networking website.

“Everyone is so quick to point the wrong fingers at each other,” Brown tweeted. “Ask yourself…Am I doing everything I can to help the world?”

The singer told his close to 11 million followers about the importance of individuality.

“The world is so bent on social acceptance that we’ve forgotten what makes us special,” Brown tweeted. “Our individuality! #I’mdone #readabook.”

In related news, we are hearing rumors that Chris Brown may be receiving the pink slip from his record label RCA if his new album Fortune doesn’t live up to their expectations. According to a label insider, RCA is planning on “trimming the fat” from its label, which means underperforming artists will be getting the heav-hoe.

RCA inherited recent Grammy winner Chris Brown after they merged with Jive Records three years ago. They were intimidated by his “tarnished image,” but wanted to see if he could produce stellar album sales. Since the merger, Brown’s only record to go Gold was F.A.M.E., and his personal life continues to be an issue for the label.

The label is allegedly giving Breezy until the end of this summer to see if his new album, Fortune, does real numbers. If not, Breezy could find himself without a label home. Breezy’s new single, “Don’t Judge Me”, the fifth single from Fortune was released over the weekend. You can check out the track below:

Hip-Hop Rumors: Did Eminem Sign Another White Rapper?

By: Chuck Creekmur (@ChuckCreekmur) Updated Category: MOBILE
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Earlier this year, I came down pretty hard on a kid named Young Sinatra! Well, he did a song where he sounded JUST like Drake and it was a big thumbs down. But, after listening to a bit more of of his music, he’s pretty darn talented. Well, rappers of a lighter shade are all the rage now. Eminem seems like he’s got favor with White America. Yelawolf seems to be working out OK in the underworld. But, I think Em and crew are looking for another face to represent Shady 2.0 and that’s Logic. Its heavily rumored from my sources that Eminem is looking to sign the dude. And for good reason…he’s lighter content than Yela and Em and that’s what’s poppin’ with the teens and the tweens. Right now, I’m hearing they have Logic in “training” for the bigger picture.

[READ: EXCLUSIVE: Yelawolf On Why There Is No MGK Beef]

On the flip side, I’ve heard some grumblings that Yelawolf is not all that happy with his situation at Shady. I hearing that he’s not very happy that he’s sort of on the sidelines. Publicly this has been mostly directed to Interscope, but there’s also a bit of perturbness to Eminem. Not sure what is being expected of him, but I think people, Yela included, thought Eminem meant a slam dunk into the commercial world. Didn’t happen. Yela has a new project coming out. We’ll support it, because he’s dope. Hopefully, everybody else will too.

[READ: Yelawolf Sets The Record Straight On Upcoming Releases; Says “Psycho White EP” Is Complete]

EXCLUSIVE: Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Johnson Inspired By Pac, B.I.G.

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: MOBILE
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(AllHipHop News) The 2012 Olympic Games commenced on Friday (July 28) in London, with an epic opening ceremony featuring a number of famous musicians, including rapper Dizzee Rascal.

During the first weekend of the Games, AllHipHop.com caught up with U.S. Olympic champion, Michael Johnson, who competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and won four gold medals.

During the Atlanta Games in 1996, Johnson created a new world record in the 300 meters and 400 meters which he still holds. Johnson famously broke the world record by wearing a pair of golden shoes and sprinting with an upright stance.

After the Atlanta Games, he went on to partner with Nike to release his golden shoes. In 2004, Johnson was elected to the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame for his 200 m performance at the 1996 Olympics.

According to Johnson, when he is training, he listens to a variety of music.

“My musical influences are pretty much anything R&B,” Michael Johnson told AllHipHop.com. “Sixties and 70’s R&B, a little bit of Hip-Hop, probably some Jazz. [It’s] a very eclectic mix of music.”

When he was actually competing in the Olympics for his gold medals, Michael Johnson revealed that it was the music of Tupac Shakur and Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace that inspired him the most.

“The Hip-Hop I listen to is mostly 1990’s, 2000, Tupac. I’ve gotten too old for new music,” Johnson laughed. “But it was mostly Tupac and Biggie,” who revealed that his favorite song by Tupac is the rapper’s 1993 classic “Me Against the World.”

Michael Johnson is currently in the UK covering the London 2012 Games for the BBC.

Check out the exclusive clip below:

Daily Word: Celebrate The New Day!!!

By: seandrasims Updated Category: Lifestyle
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Happy Monday, my Movers and Shakers!!

Welcome to a new day and a new opportunity to do it the best you possibly can!! Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to celebrating this new day! Everything that has happened in the past means nothing! Every obstacle you have ever faced has really no bearing on what you do right now! Sure, the past is what got you here, but it’s absolutely what you do this very moment that will
decide your happiness!

Right now, as you read these words, you have everything you need to live out your wildest dreams! Each new day comes with it the strength and energy you need to get wherever you would like to go… Don’t waste that energy dealing with nonsense!! Stay laser-focused on exactly what you want out of life!!

Under no circumstances should you ever give up on your dreams! Each and every day, you must make a commitment to do better than before!! There is no competition!! You are the only thing standing in the way of your greatness!! Get over You, and the rest is smooth sailing!! It’s a New
Dawn and a New Day!! Feel Good and Make Great Things Happen!!!!!
-Ash’Cash

“Each new day greets us with no rules except for the rules we place on it. Greet this new day with open arms and endless possibility.” -Steve Maraboli

“Happiness consists of living each day as if it were the first day of your honeymoon and the last day of your vacation.” -Unknown

“Resolve to make each day the very best and don’t let anyone get in your way. If they do, step on them.” -Ivan Benson

“Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life. The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.” -Douglas Pagels

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

“GOD is making a way for you. Your night is expiring, your new fresh day is coming. The miracle you expect It’s going to happen.” -Justice Cabral

“Treat every day as a gift, because it is one. Never take life for granted.” -Unknown

“Today is a new day. Don’t let your history interfere with your destiny! Let today be the day you stop being a victim of your circumstances and start taking action towards the life you want.” -Steve Maraboli

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.

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Atlanta’s International Music Conference With Drumma Boy, Green Lantern and More

By: seandrasims Updated Category: Events
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AllHipHop.com has teamed up with The International Music Conference to give away five (5) pairs of tickets to the star-studded four-day conference, to be held from August 8-11 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Key music professionals, radio personalities, DJs, executives, artists, managers, producers, songwriters, booking agents, and promoters from around the globe will gather in Atlanta for panel discussions, workshops, closed-door meetings, and networking opportunities.

This year’s event will feature a stellar panel featuring DJ Green Lantern, as well as Grammy-award winning producers J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Chuck Harmony, Drumma Boy, and Kane Beatz.

The International Music Conference offers attendees prizes that include a trip to London, England, the opportunity to work with a chart-topping act from Europe, and one-on-one meetings with executives and VPs from Sony Records and Atlantic Records.

Atlanta-based fans ONLY – tweet us on @AllHipHopcom with the following message: “I want to attend The International Music Conference with @AllHipHopcom #IMC2012” for your chance to win tickets to the event.

So get on Twitter and tweets us NOW for your chance to win! The deadline is Friday, August 3 at 8PM.

For more info on The International Music Conference, click here.

Drake, Tupac and Cam’ron at 25 Years Dope: We “Ain’t Mad at Cha”

By: Jake Crates Updated Category: Features
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Editor’s Note: Hip-Hop has been referred to as a sport for the young. Even a rap legend or two will tell you that Hip-Hop – the music and the culture – are rooted in the trends, slang, and follies of street-oriented youth.

Make no mistake. “Generation Next’s” influence can be seen all over rap music. From A$AP Rocky to Chief Keef to Pac D## in Cali, the 18 to 30 crowd (and sometimes younger) is driving Hip-Hop and Pop culture today. But what’s old is new, and rappers are great at every age. Continuing this week, AllHipHop.com ponders the “Age Effect” on Hip-Hop, both then and now.

A quarter of a decade. What does that mean to the average youth? You got two dimes and nickel, you’ve made it a quarter of a century, so you’re too old not to know, but just young enough that you’re probably still going to make a bunch of mistakes. You’re not quite 30, you may or may not have kids,  and there’s not too much of an excuse for being a virgin at this age. You definitely don’t want to hit 40 like the one movie, 40 Year Old Virgin – that was messy.

Either way – you may have even finished college at this point, you may have a career underway, or you may still live at home with your mom (don’t worry, we won’t judge). But all jokes aside, 25 is an age that’s well-rounded and has a lot of potential.

As we take a look at rappers at 25, it’s interesting to note where exactly they were in their careers at that particular age. Some rappers may be well into their prime; some may be just getting started and releasing their debut project. The rap game is crazy, and you never know when or what time you are gonna get a break, but these rappers here stick out at 25 for having wrecked the game at that age and left an indelible mark on Hip-Hop music forever:

Drake

This Canadian raised crooner/rapper got his big jump into the game with a few underground mixtapes that had the Internet going crazy. The buzz peaked with a trip down to Houston via J Prince Jr. and the Young Money Entertainment camp, and the rest was history. Now, Drake is platinum multiple times over and he’s, yes…. only 25. How many envious 30-year-olds are out there today wishing they gave singing melancholy rap a go before they threw in the towel?

All by himself, his career is illustrious, but alongside his Young Money team with Lil’ Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, Birdman, and others, his movement is almost unprecedented in rap. Has there ever been a rapper at a greater peak at 25? Aside from the tabloid talk with Rihanna, Chris Breezy, and Meek Milly, Drake’s career was virtually blemish-free until the bottle incident. Well, not completely. Let’s not forget about Common’s “Canada Dry” diss…. Eh, we take that back, but maybe we will “Thank Him [Me] Later”. It’s been a good run for Drizzy thus far. #HYFR.

Drake – “HYFR” ft. Lil Wayne

Cam’ron

At 25, Cam was a menace to the game. He had already achieved a respectable level of popularity with the hit songs, “What Means the World to You” and “Horse and Carriage”, off his first two projects, but he was just on the verge of doing some real damage to the charts with “Hey Ma,” and “Oh Boy”.

By his quarter-century mark, Cam had just inked a deal with Roc-A-Fella, and it reportedly came with a huge advance, one that would eventually help fund the whole Dipset movement. At that time, for all you young buggers out there, Dipset was the most popular street movement of that era, and it was just starting to take shape as Cam was leaving Epic Records and his former A&R, Lance “Un” Riviera of UnTertainment Ltd. What would follow next is history – from the beefs with Jay-Z and his charcletas, to the “Stop Snitching” campaign, Cam’ron at 25 was a PROBLEM.

Cam’Ron – “What The World Means To You”

2Pac

What more really even needs to be said? ‘Pac died and became an instant icon. Already a mega figurehead in Hip-Hop at the time of his death at the age of…25, the murder of Tupac Shakur to this day is still unsolved. Some say Suge did it; some say it was gangs tied in with Death Row; and some say the LAPD had something to do with it. Just recently, we found out that Jimmy Henchman was behind the Quad City Studios shootout with ‘Pac in New York, that eventually led to all the beef that started the East Coast vs. West Coast saga.

We know where we are without him. It’s just amazing to think about where we would be with him, and what he would have accomplished to this very day. In the end, he was passionate about acting, invigorated by the life of Hip-Hop, and in general, a person making self-changes to better the community. 2Pac had a lot planned; it’s just too bad he didn’t ever get to see his dreams completely come to fruition. 25 is far too young to die – especially when your greatness was apparent already. Hologram Tupac at Coachella this year was a glimpse of what might have been, but we will never know. #RIP2PAC

2Pac ft Danny Boy – “I Ain’t Mad at Ya”

Old Schoolers, have no fear. We’re not done considering “The Age Affect.” Like fine wine, some just get better with time – check back this week for more!

Why There’ll Never Be Another PE: What Really Happened to “Real” Hip-Hop?

By: seandrasims Updated Category: MOBILE
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“Any artist can battle for glory/ but to kick a dope rhyme to wake up/ your people’s another story…” – “Rappers RN Dainja” -KRS One

Once upon a time, he was known as “Militant Mike,” leader of the Mau Mau, the most feared rap crew of the ’80s. Now, he’s simply known as Mr. Jackson, the grumpy old dude who bags groceries at T-Mart. Catch him on a good day, and he might take a break from sweepin’ the floor and drop some science about the good ol’ days of Hip-Hop, and how his music was gonna change the world. But if you ever ask him the obvious question – what happened to those good ol’ days? – all you’ll get is a cold stare followed by awkward silence….

The history books are full of stories about the Civil Rights/Black Power Eras, and how thousands of young people took to the streets to fight for their rights. However, as for the “Conscious Hip-Hop Era,” the story ain’t never been told.

Why?

Like the song says, “What’s too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget.”

For many of us the “Conscious Hip-Hop Era” (1988-92) was our Civil Rights movement. But although it is often thrown in with the so-called “Golden Age of Hip-Hop”, as they say, “all that glitters ain’t gold.”

Let’s be clear. When I use the term “real Hip-Hop,” I’m not talking about a rapper saying some witty, juvenile punchlines to make you giggle. I’m talking about (to borrow from Eric B and Rakim) songs that will actually “move the crowd” to do something.

Like all forms of history, Hip-Hop is subject to revisionism. People would like to believe that, for a period in American history, there was a time when everybody was fightin’ the power and wearing Red, Black, and Green African medallions. This isn’t true of the Black Power Movement Era, and it’s definitely not a true reflection of the Conscious Hip-Hop Era.

Although it is true that many people in the ‘hood were suffering from the effects of ’80s “Reaganomics,” just like today, everybody wasn’t sufferin’, nor did everyone identify with “the struggle.” Some people were living good in the ‘80s and swore that “we had already overcome.”

Although some of us gravitated towards Spike Lee films and X Clan cassettes, there were others who were just as comfortable watching Molly Ringwald movies while listening to the non- political Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.

The Conscious Hip-Hop Era came about at the exact time when Black outrage was not only a necessary evil but also profitable. And groups like Public Enemy were able to slip through the small crack in the impenetrable fortress of Capitalism.

Capitalism is not without its flaws, and militant rap groups like Public Enemy were able to capitalize off of the major c#### in its armor – greed. It has been said that Capitalism will sell you the rope to hang yourself.

But the major strength Capitalism is its ability to adapt and to absorb opposition. So, a radical movement for change was transformed into a cheap fad.

Freedom does not come without a price. It never has and never will. But for a brief moment, rap was the soundtrack of a revolution that the networks would not televise.

But for the artists who dared to speak truth to power, there was a price to be paid.

For those who argue that rap is “only music,” tell that to the soldiers who survived the rap wars.
Just read the books of rap artists from that period, like Professor Griff’ s Analytixz or Ice T’s autobiographical Ice, as they reveal some very interesting war stories that many people would like to forget.

Although Ice T has been quoted as saying that he is waiting for the next PE, I’m not sure that Ice T would even want to be “the next Ice T” if you study all of the drama that surrounded his song “Cop Killer”, which was eventually removed from store shelves. Like he wrote in his book, “You don’t know what heat is until you’ve had the President of the United States say your name in anger.”

See, everybody isn’t built for that kind of stuff. There is a reason that one of the most powerful voices ever in Hip-Hop, Sister Souljah, went from rappin’ about “360 Degrees of Power” to writing romance novels. Like she said in her book, No Disrespect, “the question is easy to ask. The answer is hard to find. But the search is essential.”

Ask anybody who has done more than send out an angry tweet in all caps, and he will tell you “these cats ain’t playin’”, and the oppressors ain’t gonna let the oppressed go without a fight.

In Russell Myrie’s book, Don’t Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin’, he wrote that once during the Conscious Hip-Hop Era, “Someone was trying to get a number of rappers in one location so they could detonate explosives and do away with trouble-some Hip Hoppers…”

Most people like the “idea” of revolution, but facing the consequences of revolutionary actions are beyond their scope of comprehension.

Truth is, although many people make “murda music,” few are willing to make “martyr music.”

Today , besides the Jasiri Xs and Immortal Techniques, many of this new generation of rappers want consciousness without the confrontation.

Times have gotten so tough that even activists have been forced to pick up the mic to bring back “real Hip-Hop.” In fact, Chicago activist, Chairman Fred Hampton Jr., recently did a revolutionary remix of Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like”:

Just like it was during the Civil Rights era, it’s much easier to turn on (get high) and tune out. Why risk your life trying to change the world, when “a 40 and a blunt” will make the world go away for a few hours?

It’s one thing to get into a beef with another rapper, but it is another thing to go against Bill O’Reilly and get tagged “an unpatriotic pin head.” That kinda stuff doesn’t add up to increased CD sales anymore.

Despite all the revolutionary rhetoric, the real reason that there will never be another Public Enemy is because nobody wants to go through the hell that they went through.

Like ASAP Rocky would say, “everybody plays the tough guy till some stuff pops off…”

TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is “This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip-Hop headz.

He can be reached at in**@*****************ed.com, on his website, www.NoWarningShotsFired.com, or on Twitter (@truthminista).

Talu Green: “Fela!” Play’s Percussionist Talks Fela’s Hip-Hop Inspiration and Busta Rhymes’ Invitation

By: seandrasims Updated Category: MOBILE
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(AllHipHop News Feature) The current Broadway production of the play Fela! has been supported by thousands of theatergoers over the past few years, and notably, it has received some all-important co-signs from the Hip-Hop community.

From Jay-Z to Busta Rhymes and Questlove and beyond, rappers and Hip-Hop musicians are singing the praises of the onstage depiction of the revolutionary life of the late African civil rights activist, Fela Kuti.

Principal to the nightly spectacle they’ve beamed over is percussionist Rasaan-Elijah “Talu” Green, a four-year veteran of Fela!, who, from his onset, brought an essential rhythm to the story of Kuti.

“At the time, [Fela! directors] weren’t specifically looking for a Djembe drummer; they were looking for a percussionist who could also move with it, an athletic kind of thing,” said Green in a recent interview with AllHipHop.com. “With the musical director, it was kinda like trying to mesh the style that I play – which is a traditional West African style or Djembe – with this “Afro-Beat” style that was created by Fela Kuti.”

“Talu,” as the native New Yorker is less formally known, is a former student of Long Island University whose pre-Fela! experiences include the Afropop Worldwide Gala, Russell Simmons’ Diamond Empowerment Fund Benefit, Dance Africa, National Black Arts Festival, the Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, and more.

LISTEN: Questlove Speaks On How Fela! Has Impacted Him

That rap resonates with Fela! is no wonder to Green, who explained, “If you think about it, most times, history repeats itself. A lot of what Fela was talking about back in the ‘70s, as far as the social injustices and the corrupt government and just all those sorts of things that were going on back then throughout Africa and throughout the world, I mean, it’s kind of repeating itself today.

“That connection with rappers? That’s the same kind of thing they rap about; those who are conscious enough about what’s going on, they talk about that stuff in their lyrics, so I think that connects it,” Green adds. “And also, just the sound – they like those horns blasting and, you know what I mean, just the rhythmic patterns. Any person who loves music would want to be connected to that.”

Green notes that Fela!’s popularity and Hip-Hop’s embrace have afforded him some meetings he may not otherwise have had. He has spoken with Questlove backstage, and just last week after a show, received an invitation from Busta Rhymes to record together in the studio.

About the usefulness of Fela Kuti’s legacy for himself and the Hip-Hop generation, Green proclaimed, “Just stand up and let your voice be heard, no matter what your instrument. That’s what Fela stood for. He didn’t want to let anyone take him down; he knew what he believed in was right, and he wasn’t going to let anyone tell him otherwise.

“That’s the biggest thing for an artist or musician…just do what you have to do. Everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but the biggest thing is standing up and believing that what you know as right is right for you.”

Fela! continues its run on Broadway this week, then moves on to the next city. For info or tickets, visit www.felaonbroadway.com.

Watch the trailer for Fela! below: