BMF head honch, Big Meech, has sent a message from behind bars, slamming the wanna be reality show “BMF Wives.” Big Meech reached out to his mama and told her to get the word out that these so called “BMF Wives” are all frauds. Check out Mama Meech’s tweets below.
I see Big Meech’s beef, but do any of the “wives” shows have actual “wives” on them anyway?
Dawn Richard was one of the standout participants on Diddy’s “Making The Band 3.” It was clear to viewers – and apparently Diddy – that she actually had talent and possibly the ambition to see her dream through to reality.
For her efforts on the show and once her short-lived Danity Kane days were over, Richard was rewarded with a spot as one-third of the Diddy-led group, Dirty Money. Their Last Train To Paris brokered several hits, possibly giving her the credibility she needed to be seen beyond the reality show sphere.
These days, Richard’s video for “S.M.F.U. (Save Me From You)” has Twitter and other social media all abuzz. It may be because the first release from her upcoming GoldenHeart LP represents one of the first glimpses fans will get of the New Orleans native/Hurricane Katrina survivor (outside of her popular 2011 mixtape, A Tell Tale Heart). And, minus her all-girl group members from Danity Kane and the other boisterous, two-thirds of Dirty Money – Diddy and Kalenna Harper – Richard seems to be able to stand on her own.
Check the video for “S.M.F.U.” below, which Richard premiered on yesterday’s (January 5) episode of “106th & Park,” to see what the buzz is all about:
Visit Dawn Richard’s website at http://dawnrichard.tumblr.com or follow her on Twitter (@dawnrichard).
2011 will be remembered as a strange year from a Hip-Hop perspective. Some considered it a terrible year, where there was very little redeeming music from the young (or old emcees). Others will claim that it was a wholly transformative year, and that those aforementioned cronies are merely dinosaurs on the verge of extinction. But, perhaps it is time to call 2011 what it truly was: THE GAYEST YEAR IN HIP-HOP HISTORY.
No, no rapper publicly came out of the closet, so GLAAD and other groups will not have a lyrical champion just yet. There won’t be a great hope – on the levels of an Eminem-esque great, White hope – to get on the mic and shred your favorite rapper to smithereens as millions of gays quietly, joyously cheer…not yet.
Still, what happened in 2011 was overt. It was so close to gay, I am almost sure the gay community could taste it! It really took shape as the spring broke, in what seemed to be a late April Fool’s Joke. Mister Cee – the legendary DJ for Big Daddy Kane and The Notorious B.I.G. – was arrested for receiving oral sex from a man and purported cross-dresser. But, Cee never admitted to being gay. In fact, he tweeted that it was a “mistake.” (He would later plead guilty to loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense.) If Cee were gay, or maybe openly gay, surely he would have fessed up after this incident, but he didn’t.
While that was the doozie of the year, there were other not-so-overt ways that Hip-Hop showed more openness to homosexuality. Lil B, a rapper from the Cali, did the previously unthinkable, naming his album “I’m Gay.” Now, with a title such as I’m gay, coupled with the fact that the Bay-area rapper calls himself a “princess” and a “pretty b***h,” a voyeur would conclude that “this guy is gay for sure.” No. Lil B said that the title was a mere statement for how damn happy he was. His fellow rappers Pac D## even defended the move, citing The Flintstones who were known to “have a gay ol’ time.”
There were other hints that Hip-Hop was quickly backing away from the anti-gay, blatantly hateful stance of old. After being chided for using the F-word as slang, Tyler from Odd Future softened his stance saying, “I don’t f*cking hate gay people. I’m probably one of the least homophobic rappers in the world.” In the same Spin magazine, Tyler appeared to have his hand on his homie’s “hind parts.” (That’s Southern for booty.)
Hip-Hop – through the years – has been like many other testosterone-fueled movements – very homophobic. But, the mentality of the younger artists in particular is changing and, as any artsy mirror to reality, Hip-Hop reflects that shift in sexuality. Obviously, most of the artists like Cee or the “lipstick rapper,” were looked upon and rebuked for their actions through social media. But other more trivial matters made it through the filter. Like Kanye West’s leather kilt. Or Lil Wayne’s jeggings. Cee-Lo dressed like Patti LaBelle in 2011. In his hardcore way, Ray-J threatened to have Fabolous gang raped by a crew of gay thugs. The comments are no longer unanimous on social networks and message boards, and people now spar over philosophy as it pertains to these statements that look and feel gay.
But this trend isn’t really new.
It’s a slow, creeping shift, like the tectonic plates of the Earth. When Lil Wayne and Baby kissed on BET, and it didn’t end their careers, the wheels were clearly in motion at that point. One of my favorites, Andre 3000, used to don a blonde wig, and it simply didn’t matter nor was it even an afterthought. Nicki Minaj has flirted – literally – with her “Barbs” for quite some time. In the aftermath of the Mister Cee debacle, author/scribe dream hampton even revealed that one of The Notorious B.I.G.’s best friends was gay. Biggie was not, she said, but his ride-or-die was. Change gonna come, like it or not.
Clearly, there is a distinction between receiving sex from a man in a car, and the bold fashion statements of an eccentric artist. So, the lines are drawn…but are still unclear. For now, some of us who aren’t gay have gotten used to laughing our uncertainty away with a simple “pause” or “no h###.”
In 2012 and beyond, well-represented will be those who vehemently denounce homosexuality, those who accept it as a sign of the times, and those that who waffle amid tolerance.
So, how will Hip-Hop handle it? How will you handle it?
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This editorial caused a furious discussion within the AllHipHop offices. What truly constitutes homosexuality? Have attitudes within Hip-Hop really changed? Are artists just creating “shock” moments and fashion statements? And more!)
Rating: 7 / 10
The stirring horns on the intro set the stage perfectly for the king of the South to make his return. Legal woes have plagued T.I. throughout his entire career and put a halt on any kind of momentum the rapper has gained; and at some points, he had garnered quite a bit. But hopefully, that’s all behind him and we’re back to business as usual with his latest mixtape, F*ck Da City Up.
The entire mixtape is filled with features, like the title track featuring Young Jeezy. Being that it’s the first song on the project, it sets the tone for the entire project: ball on everybody and anybody in sight. “Loud Mouth” features the brash 2 Chainz and has an equally cocky instrumental to go with it. Meek Mill makes a solid appearance on “Who What When,” and seemingly out of nowhere, Nelly appears on “This Time of Night” over a smooth guitar loop.
The whole tape has sort of a 2007-2008 feel to it, with the anthem-style songs, synth-heavy beats, and T.I. seeming to be on top of the world, but it works. One thing that does remind you that you’re now in 2012 is the B.o.B feature on “P###’n On Your Ego.” This Grand Hustle one-two punch is becoming of the strongest combinations in Hip-Hop, and this arrogant cut shows both in top-form, especially Bobby Ray who lets loose more than one quotable in his verse (“Got a drunk b*tch on my mattress, doing backflips, gymnastics”). In the same sort of rapping-just-to-rap style, Pusha T makes a visit on “I’ll Show You”– the only sample-based instrumental here. He too makes his presence felt with his lyrics (“I over-cane, I’m novacane, I Frank Ocean that fish scale”).
But the biggest collaborations come in “Pimp,” and “Popped Off.” The first features the late Pimp C, and he’s the initial voice you hear on the song. It’s a bit eerie, and posthumous features are always risky, but this one does more good than harm. The latter is produced by, and features Dr. Dre. The triumphant beat utilizes warm horns and heavy slaps and is good, but not great. The collaboration figured to be a bit bigger than what actually materialized.
After everything you’ve read, it would seem that F*ck Da City Up was an extremely successful project. But the mixtape has 19 songs, and is packed with filler material. Tip could have heavily trimmed the fat here; “Hot Wheelz”, “On Purpose”, and “In a Nutshell” are all forgettable. “Harry Potter” and “I See Ghosts” are both plagued by yawn-inducing features and “Oh Yeah” features Trey Songz and a surprisingly pedestrian beat by Just Blaze. The intro and outro don’t do anything and the interlude with Young Jeezy hollering for two minutes makes this whole project drag on, and that’s the biggest problem. In addition, most of the songs are over four minutes long, and the subject matter never changes. If the mixtape was six songs leaner, it would be great.
All critiques aside, T.I. did exactly what he intended to do here – garner a buzz. There are more than enough quality cuts here to get people excited about his upcoming album, as T.I. has proved that he still has enough flare for this game (not to mention it’s better than his last mixtape).
Motown Philly is back again!
Boyz II Men, the iconic, influential and talented singing group was bestowed with one of the most distinct honors an entertainer can get: a star on the Walk of Fame. The group has sold an astounding 60 million records, making them one of the most – if no the most – successful R&B acts of all time. The group, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Michael Sean McCary (no longer with the group), and Shawn Stockman, catapulted into the stars with their penchant for lush ballads, effortless harmonizing and a flood of hits. They have broken records from Elvis and were named the most successful musical act of the 90’s. Below is the ceremony, which included producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Michael Bivins.
Someone took DMX’s infamous line, “Get at me, Dog,” a little too literal! Last night in Long Beach, while X was performing at Café Sevilla, a deranged fan jumped on stage and tried to choke DMX out right in front of the crowd! The man held DMX by his throat for a few seconds before security jumped in and put the man into a choke hold of their own and yanked him off stage.
The music came to a halt as security hauled the man off stage, and DMX hollered out, “We don’t stop music for sh*t!!” That man is lucky DMX didn’t spazz out on him. TMZ has it all on video, check it out below.
In a breakthrough debut performance, Adepero Oduye reprises the role of “Alike” in Pariah, Dee Rees’ timely coming-of-age drama. Initially introduced at Sundance as modest film short, the full-length treatment encouraged Oduye to embody the spirit of her character with a level of ease as if it were her own. In acknowledgement and praise of Oduye’s talent and dynamic portrayal, the Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC) bestowed the actress with its “Rising Star” Signature Award.
While promoting Pariah’s theatrical release [limited – December 28, 2011 – New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco; nationwide – January 2012], Adepero Oduye caught up with AllHipHop.com Alternatives to reflect upon the abandonment of her pre-medical studies, discovering her voice, and the inspiration she drew from Robert Duvall’s performance in The Apostle:
AHHA: When you reflect on the Pariah experience, is there a particular moment during its shooting that made you feel that it had transcended the generic bounds of a “short movie” and elevated into a full-length feature film?
Adepero Oduye: Oh, yeah – now that the film is done! [laughter] When you shoot a film, you’re in a bubble. Sundance is when I could really see firsthand how people responded to it instantly. And just afterwards, talking with people, because at Sundance in all the Q&As you have the rare chance to talk to people who have just seen your film. People were sharing their stories, just openly sharing. Just sharing their personal connections to this story. I remember thinking: “Oh, my God. This is the power of film happening right before my eyes.” A story so sophisticated is so universal.
AHHA: Focusing on your character’s name, “Alike” (pronounced ah-lee-kay), I happened to make a connection with the word “alike.” In what ways has your involvement with this film changed or influenced your perspective on life and the diversity within it? Have you made any new revelations in deciphering the ways in which we are all alike?
Adepero Oduye: Yes. With this film, I’ve seen people just become more aware of different things. About their children. About LGBT issues. It really shows people that we are more alike than we are different. Just because somebody is gay or younger or whatever; we all can relate to each other. In this movie, it’s very specific; a young, Black, lesbian girl from New York City. But you don’t have to be Black. You don’t have to be gay to appreciate or identify with the story. It has proved that we’re all more similar than we are different.
AHHA: As you embodied the mind and spirit of Alike, are there any elements of her life or life story that resonated deeply with you?
Adepero Oduye: I related to her finding her voice through writing. For me, it was writing and then eventually acting. Having a teacher who encourages you and pushes you. That I can relate to. Finding that voice and discovering your voice in that way. And just that outsider feeling growing up. Parents. The child of immigrants. Growing up in Brooklyn. Just knowing what it feels like to not completely belong. Straddling two worlds in my case, and multiple worlds in Alike’s case.
AHHA: Your father’s untimely death played a major role in trajectory of your professional career. What else do you view as a major influence in fostering the pursuit of your acting career?
Adepero Oduye: Watching Robert Duvall in The Apostle. That was pretty poignant, because it was the first time I had seen a film. I got lost in it, and it kind of solidified why I wanted to be an actor, and what kind of work I wanted to do as an actor.
AHHA: When you reflect upon your acting experience and your impromptu transition from your pre-medical studies, what life event – or series of events – do you feel best prepared you for this moment in time?
Adepero Oduye: I feel like just in general, it’s the process of becoming an actor. The process of just growing up and being an adult. I feel really grounded in who I am now. I feel like I know what it means to love myself or begin that process. I’m glad it’s happening now as opposed to five years ago. I know that my self-worth is not determined by any outside source. It starts from me. And if I’m comfortable, and I accept myself and I love myself, then that’s all that I really need and I don’t need to get that from anything. I don’t need anything outside of myself to validate me. Life, in general, has kind of prepared me for all of this that’s happening. Just talking to different people and the situation that I’m now finding myself in. It’s really great. It’s surreal. It’s awesome. But I know it doesn’t inform anyone who I am or it doesn’t determine my worth in this world.
AHHA: Did you find a particular scene challenging to film, due to its level of intensity?
Adepero Oduye: The most challenging scene was the scene with Audrey (Kim Wayans) and Alike at the end, when I say, “I love you.” I hadn’t discussed that scene with Dee or Kim. The first time I saw Kim that day was when I walked in the scene and I sat down, so she didn’t see the scar or any of that. It was very tense, as it would be in real life. Just to put myself in the space where I open myself up, and in spite of all the violence and that has transpired. When I say “I love you” to my mother, and she can’t give it back. That’s painful.
AHHA: In many ways, the film has been a gift to you. What do you hope is the overall effect and impact that this film has for others?
Adepero Oduye: I just want all different kinds of people to see this film. The most important thing is to get that it’s okay to not check a box. It’s okay to love yourself. It’s okay to just be who you are, because who you are makes you unique. Hopefully you’ll become aware. If you’re not familiar with the LGBT issues or anything like that, now you just become more aware in general.
For more of Clayton Perry’s interview exclusives, visit his digital archive. He can also be followed via Twitter [@crperry84].
TGI….Everyday!!
Welcome to the end of a great beginning! As we wrap up the first week of what’s going to be the best year of your life, we are dedicating today’s Daily Word to knowing your worth!
It is absolutely impossible to truly get what you deserve out of life if you don’t know or realize what that is! Last year, you were on sale! You didn’t get all that you deserved, because you were selling yourself short! Your price point was too low, and I have a feeling you knew it!! This year, you must take what you deserve!! No more not knowing your worth!! Matter of fact, no more not believing in your worth!
You are a diamond in the rough! Rare! Unique! One of a Kind! Precious! Priceless, and all of the above! It is no longer acceptable to allow other people to place their opinion of your worth upon you! To get what you deserve you have to first believe that you deserve it!! Enough is Enough!!! The World is absolutely yours!!!!
-Ash’Cash
“The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.” -Dr Sonya Friedman
“If you put a small value on yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.” -Unknown
“Other people’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” -Les Brown
“Self-worth comes from one thing – thinking that you are worthy.” -Wayne Dyer
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.” -Benjamin Disraeli
“If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can’t accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” -Rosalyn Smith Carter
“You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.” -Brian Tracy
“Accept everything about yourself, I mean everything. You are you and that is the beginning and the end, no apologies, no regrets.” -Clark Moustakas
TO HEAR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE DAILY WORD – CLICK HERE.
Ash’Cash is a Business Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Financial Expert and the author of Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom. For more information, please visit his website, www.IamAshCash.com.
Rapper Nicki Minaj continues her run of success, this time in the world of social networking. The popular rapper is now the most followed Hip-Hop artist on twitter, with a following of 8,194,350 followers as of press time. The previous record was held by Eminem, who was announced as the most followed person on Twitter in July of 2011. As of press time, the race to be the top rapper on Twitter is very close, with Eminem at 8,177,381.
Hip-Hop star Rick Ross will make his first appearance in the Midlands in the UK this March. Rick Ross is slated to perform a one-off show at the Birmingham Ballroom on March 22. The show is being promoted by Tyson Leon, of We’ve Got Entertainment, who told local media that the show with Rick Ross would be one of the biggest of the year. “This will be one of the biggest gigs of the year in the Midlands because Rick Ross is a huge star in America and is known to all UK hip hop fans,” Leon said in a statement. “We are delighted to be bringing him to Birmingham and I know hip hop fans from across the Midlands will be looking forward to the gig.” For more information visit www.birmingham-ballroom.com.
A new beatboxing orchestra will make its professional debut in new Delhi, with the launch of Voctronica. Voctronica is a beatboxing ensemble that was created through a series of workshops held in India and Britain. The beatboxing orchestra features 10 of the best beatboxers from around the world, who will be guided and overseen by Shlomo, who is in the Guinness World Record books for human beatboxing. “Beatboxing is all about rhythm and how well you combine sounds to produce a unique tune. It crosses genres as it borrows from every culture. It is relevant in India because of Indian percussion which is mostly played on the tabla. We’re exploring similar sounds and beat with beatboxing,” Shlomo told IANS.
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The list started out with 5: Herman Cain, DJ Mister Cee, Kreayshawn, Kelly Rowland, and Drake…
You know the winner…KREAYSHAWN!
Kreayshawn is here, and now her success is cemented in stone as “Illseed’s Person of the Year” for 2011. This distinct honor now places her in a special, pointless place with the luminous likes of Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, MC Hammer, George W. Bush, Will Smith, and some other great people.
If you can properly pronounce her name, Kreayshawn will evoke an intense scorn or adoration from the recipient. She’s White, yet as colorful as a rainbow in The Village. She knows no Black or White. She’s winning.
For those that lived under a rock with the grubs, Kreayshawn rose to prominence in the Oakland underground unbeknownst to most of us. When she did surface – after traveling through the viral universe – she emerged with a hit record, “Gucci Gucci.” Believe it or not, I liked the song for quite a while, whereas others will eternally hate it. All of that doesn’t matter now, because Kreayshawn is here to stay.
Why?, some of you may wonder. Well, allow me to explain what is about to happen to you (and your nerves if you hate Kreayshawn).
1) The Movement. – She has the White Girl Mob, which includes V-Nasty (more on her later). And then there is the mob behind the mob. Now that posse is a seemingly endless group of millions that retweet her, like her on instagram, watch her videos on Youtube, and re-blog her Tumblr. Yes. This is a movement. Men like, women lie, social media doesn’t.
2) The Media. – In 2011, Kreayshawn was nominated for a VMA in the “best new artist” category. We all know this honor shoulda, coulda and woulda been nominated to any number of others in entertainment. But lets face it, Kreayshawn – in 2011 – became a force that had yet to be fully realized. Nobody was going to chance her becoming the next great White hype and be left out in the cold. MTV made a bold move, most likely in an effort to stay in good. Or, perhaps they had an agenda for this young girl. Either way, everybody covered KreayKreay. Even AllHipHop.
3) The Hate. The Beef. – At the very end of the year, Kreayshawn’s magnificent year ended off as most soon-to-be-smashing-successes do. The real hate came in. Sure, she had more than her fill of hate from the names, anonymous faces on social media, but Lil B solidified it. Apparently, after they worked together on videos, he snubbed her in her face –dissing her. But, this is the course that most future beasts take to the top. Somebody has to get upset.
See, Kreayshawn is a part of the new music and entertainment game. You have to have all the bases covered twice. She does videos, she’s got fashion SWAG (yes, “swag” isn’t dead yet), she’s got charisma, and remains and all around interesting human being.
Do I love her? Do I hate her? It doesn’t matter. All of this matters not, when hate translates in to success as much as love does, you have arrived. Think about the uproar over her homegirl V-Nasty’s use of the N-Word. Kreayshawn denounced it, but didn’t denounce V-Nasty. V kept saying it and people kept hating/loving it, and she went on and did an album with Gucci Mane with no problem. See? It doesn’t much matter about your or my love or hate. As much as there was an uproar over just about everything she did, Kreayshawn emerged as one of the top trending topics of the year.
So, here we come to the conclusion:
Kreayshawn hit the bullseye with “Gucci Gucci,” but the fact is, there hasn’t been much more traction in the music department. If there has, it hasn’t reached anything or anybody that’s reaching me. But, does that really matter? Does it matter that Kreayshawn doesn’t have bars? If she did, she may give Nicki Minaj a run for her tutu. If she even had the skill level of say a Iggy Azalea, she might get the powers-that-pull-strings to give her the crown next to Eminem.
Blasphemy?
Maybe, but stranger things happened in 2011. And you know that.
So, at this time, I toast to Kreayshawn.
Continued hate/love/beef/music/fashion and whatever else gets you to whatever you are about to do. Whatever that is at this point.
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