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Breeding Ground’s King Russ: Reaching For The Crown

Not many new artists have mentors to show them the ropes through a tough and sometimes ruthless industry. Hip-Hop MC King Russ is blessed with the opportunity to have legendary Grandmaster Melle Mel in his corner and is ready to take the crown. Creating a heavy buzz from a Twitter-inspired song called “Twerk Song”, King Russ talks to us about his relationship with Grandmaster Melle Mel, how Twitter has helped his rap career, and how his lyrics and charisma will help make him a star:

AllHipHop.com: Why do you want to be an MC?

King Russ: I live for this, honestly.It’s not that I even want to be; it’s a calling. Some people cant deny the talents that they were blessed with, and that’s one of them I just couldn’t run from.

AllHipHop.com: First record that you listen to that made you fall in love with Hip-Hop?

King Russ: I cant really say. I could say one of the most inspirational records that had an effect on me was “The Message”.  My father was a DJ, and that was one the records he played the most.

AllHipHop.com: You’re connected to Hip-Hop royalty, being managed by Grandmaster Melle Mel. What does that mean to you?

King Russ: Honestly, it’s a honor to have legend in my corner .It definitely means a lot to me. I just feel like we could do it alone from one legend to another. It’s just a honor.

AllHipHop.com: Working with him, do you feel some type of pressure?

King Russ: Actually, I have a lot to prove. I always felt like I did, even before Mel. Just being a young, Black male, you have a lot to prove anyway. Then the fact everybody wants to be MC nowadays, you have more to prove. Then when it comes to Mel, having a legend in my corner has definitely made me step it up 10 notches. So he definitely was a boost to my career and plays an effect on the music I make nowadays.

AllHipHop.com: Your single “Twerk Song” – how did you come up with that?

King Russ: I try to make music for everybody. I stay up on the trends and whatever is happening in the world to stay relevant.When the twerk dance became popular, I said let me do this and it just started hitting numbers

AllHipHop.com: How important has Twitter been for you career?

King Russ: I’m not even going lie – Twitter helped my career a lot. It might be one of main reasons I got as far as I have so far. Marketing-wise, I recommend that to everybody. Learn how to network. Networking is the key to success . After I started really taking the music thing to heart, I stopped running in the streets and I spent my time on the computer. I have had about 30 Twitter accounts suspended off of heavy promotion. I’m 22,000 followers strong. You feel me?

AllHipHop.com: Speaking of your career, your mixtape is called Punch 4 Punch. Explain the tittle and process.

King Russ: I stepped out the artist zone. I wouldn’t say that’s my best music. I would just say it’s exactly how it sounds – punch for punch. When I started writing, I was just like let me show you how lyrical I am. Let me show you I’m a beast and that I can really do this.

AllHipHop.com: So Punch 4 Punch is the official mixtape?

King Russ: Punch 4 Punch is out, but I make music everyday so it’s kind of old to me.

AllHipHop.com: Anything you want me to know?

King Russ: It’s definitely a takeover in process. Expect to see me on top. I shall soon be crowned best.

Follow King Russ on Twitter (@TheRealKingRuss).

Exclusive: Yelawolf Talks Touring, The Slumdon Bridge EP and Performing on Letterman

(AllHipHop News) AllHipHop.com recently caught up with Shady Records artist Yelawolf at a recent tour stop in Dallas, Texas.

The Alabama bred artist spoke about his recent tour, his newest EP The Slumdon Bridge and his recent appearance on David Letterman’s Late Night Show.

The rapper said that since the release of his debut effort Radioactive, his fan base has been growing in both age and the types of people who attend the shows.

“We did this same run over a year ago and coming back, we sold out all the same venues, so it’s a great feeling. I feel like the crowd is getting to know the records and the fans that come out are like the real core,” Yelawolf told AllHipHop.com.

“Not only that, I see the fans keep going up in age and down in age. I’m seeing s**t man, 15 year olds and going up to 35 year olds and s**t, of all colors and all styles,” the rapper revealed.

Over the past few years, Yelawolf has toured extensively in nearly every major city in the United States.

He has also made his way overseas to perform at dates throughout Europe, which was chronicled on his popular YouTube vlog called, “YelaVision.”

“I had a blast in Europe man, I really just went over there for the first time for the Hove festival, and I went to Norway, and then I went back on my tour. The first stop was London. We did really well and we went to all the other cities and we did festivals and all that s**t. Then I went back with Wiz on the last trip and it was just incredible man,” Yelawolf explained to AllHipHop.com.

A byproduct of Yela’s excursions across the pond is a new EP with Ed Sheeran titled The Slumdon Bridge, a play on Yelawolf’s popular use of the Slumerican concept and the world-famous London Bridge.

“What happened with Ed Sheran was I got hit up and they said ‘Hey this kid Ed wants to do an EP.’ I was like, ‘Whats up with his music?’ I listened to his music and I was like, ‘Damn this kid’s music rips, but I don’t know.’ I didn’t really know how the music was going to come out and I just didn’t really know, but I was just like ‘F**k it, lets just get in the studio and see what happens,'” Yelawolf explained.

“I literally pulled into LA and did the whole thing in one night. We just vibed man, that kid is something else, he plays guitar and sings like fool, you know, and he raps. He’s only 21 or 22 and its amazing that some people just get it so young. He’s just going to flourish as an artist, there’s no telling where he’s going to be in 10 years and he’s doing classic s**t right now,” Yelawolf continued.

Lastly Yela explained his recent performance on David Letterman with Kid Rock, and labeled the appearance a milestone for the “Bama” artist.

“Me and Kid Rock, we vibe really well man, he’s the OG man and you can’t reinvent the wheel and nothing under the sun he hasn’t done musically, and as far as growing from Hip-Hop, into rock n’ roll into country, he’s a legend man. So it’s an honor to share the stage with him man – thats one,” Yelawolf explained about his historical performance.

“Two being at Letterman – there’s two things that I think as far as talk shows or just television shows go, as far as performances that are pivotal for someone’s career – one is Letterman and two is SNL [Saturday Night Live]. I just remember being like, ‘Peppers are on Letterman!’ or ‘Snoop is on Letterman!’ or ‘Eminem is on SNL!’ I remember Eminem when he did one of his performances on SNL. So I think it’s one to check off, you know my Mom called me super emotional and my Uncle buddy, my management. It was a moment I will never forget you know and I vibed out and enjoyed myself which is the main deal, and hopefully someday I can go back and do another record someday. So another one in the books.”

Yelawolf will be touring at select dates across the U.S. going forward and will also be performing with his Slumerican label mates at SXSW in Austin, Texas during the second week of March.

YelaWolf Radioactive Tour: Texas from Scoremore on Vimeo.

Jennifer Hudson & Ne-Yo Release Video for “Think Like A Man” Soundtrack

Grammy-winners Jennifer Hudson and Ne-Yo, along with “The Bawse”, Rick Ross, have joined forces once again to bring the title track off the Steve Harvey adapted film, Think Like a Man. The video features a cameo from one of the film’s stars – the hilarious Kevin Hart.

Think Like A Man stars Taraji P. Heson, Michael Ealy, Morris Chestnut, and singer Chris Brown, while the video features Kevin Hart trying hard to win the heart of Hudson, while Ne-Yo steps in as the smooth criminal. Let’s see who wins!

The film’s soundtrack is available on April 10. Produced by Rainforest Films in Atlanta, Think Like a Man opens in theaters on April 20.

 

Daily Word: Think Bigger!!!

Happy Take-Over Thursday!

Welcome to the first of the month and the day that you continue to take-over your life! Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to thinking bigger! I’ll keep this short and sweet! You are what you think about the most! If you keep concentrating on the things in life that don’t matter, that is exactly what is going to continue to be presented to you!

Those who want to achieve great things have to occupy their minds with great thoughts! All of the petty thinking is a complete waste of time! Those who ever achieved greatness did so by consuming their thoughts with what greatness would look, feel, and smell like! Stop worrying about what other people are doing, because it does nothing to further your cause!! The energy you are using up right now to conjure up the little things is the same energy it takes to conjure up great things! Go all out!! If the universe is willing to grant you any wish, then why waste it? Think Bigger!! The World and Everything in it is Yours if you want it!! NOTHING CAN STOP YOU!!

-Ash’Cash

“Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness.” -François de la Rochefoucauld

“Excellence is a process that should occupy all our days.” -Ted W. Engstrom

“As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.” -Donald Trump

“Life isn’t worth living unless you’re willing to take some big chances and go for broke.” -Eliot Wiggington

“Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success.” -David Joseph Schwartz

“Everyone has to learn to think differently, bigger, to open to possibilities.” -Oprah Winfrey

“Your greatness lies in the power of your thoughts.” -Blaise Pascal

***Bonus*** “If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done much today.” (Keep pushing) -Lou Holtz

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.

Mr. Sure Thing Miguel Releases “Art Dealer Chic”

Mr. “Sure Thing” himself has released his three-song EP entitled Art Dealer Chic Vol. 1, and it’s one of three he plans to give out – for free.

On the meaning behind the visual, Miguel says: “The visual for “Adorn” is the projection of a dream I recently had. I wanted to use simple creative elements in a symbolic way to communicate the intense desire to understand its meaning.”

In 2010, Miguel released his debut album All I Want Is You, which spawned two charting singles – the J.Cole assisted “All I Want Is You” and “Sure Thing”.

Listen to “Gravity” off of Art Dealer Chic Vol. 1 below and download the EP here: