AllHipHop

homepage

Lil Wayne To Perform With Genre Bending Group During Grammys

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

(AllHipHop News) Lil Wayne will join a diverse group of artists for a performance during a special segment of the 54th Annual Grammys this year.

Lil Wayne will join artists like Chris Brown, Foo Fighters, deadmau5 and David Guetta during a tribute to dance/electronic music.

The segment is the first ever Grammy spotlight on the Dance/Electronica Music genre of music, according for the organization.

The collective of artists will perform in a special outdoor tent adjacent to The Staples Center.

Lil Wayne is nominated for Best Rap Performance for “Look At Me Now” (with Chris Brown and Busta Rhymes).

He also has two nods in Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “I’m On One” (with DJ Khaled, Drake and Rick Ross) and “Motivation” (with Kelly Rowland).

Lil Wayne is also up for Best Rap Song for “Look At Me Now”; and Best Rap Album for Tha Carter IV.

Queens, New York rap legend LL Cool J is playing host to the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which airs on Sunday, February 12 at 8 ET.

Mixtape Review: Knowledge Medina & Numonics’ “Never Enough” [EP]

By: K1ng Eljay Updated Category: Features
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Rating: 7/10

Independently, you may have heard of both of the people responsible for Never Enough; Knowledge Medina is a battle rapper to the core and has several appearances on GrindTimeNow.net (videos of his handiwork are all over YouTube, if interested), while the Florida producer Numonics has silently crafted a name associated with quality Hip-Hop, working with the likes of Co$$, J NiCS, REKS, and more. It makes sense for the two Florida representatives to work together on an EP, and Never Enough should please a majority of Hip-Hop fans despite its flaws.

Numonics is rock-solid with his production throughout the EP, setting the stage perfectly for Knowledge Medina and friends to spit without having to worry about overpowering instrumentals. The duo channel Hip-Hop in almost every aspect, and it reflects throughout. It’s also notable to mention that Numonics created the title track while recovering from a near fatal heart attack. And, from Medina rhyming about his daughter on “Promise Me”, to the state of music on “DOA”, to just the typical posse cut on “Rhyme Over Reason”, the project showcases enough talent in its brevity (only nine tracks) to warrant respect for all involved.

However, the biggest issue with the EP is the fact that most of the guests featured seem to outshine the host MC. REKS destroys both of his features with ease on “DOA” and “Above and Beyond”, Co$$ delivers a stand-up verse on “Can You Let Me Be”, and J NiCs & Jon The Barber elevate their stock on “Rhyme over Reason.”

Due to his style and cadence when rhyming, it’s easy to become a little bored with Medina’s bars, even when they are well-constructed. Although this isn’t always the case (Medina’s verse on “Rhyme Over Reason” is one of my favorites featured), it’s a reccurring theme that sticks out like a sore thumb in comparison to everything else, and will surely bring up the question if battle rappers can truly make quality songs in the future.

All constructive criticism aside, Never Enough is still a well-executed project that aims for the Hip-Hop heads more so than the radio listeners. Depending on your side of the argument, that could be a good or a bad thing, but regardless of your perspective the Florida tandem adds another nice project to their ever-growing checklist of accomplishments. If you have a little time, give it a download and evaluate it for yourself.

Photo credit: ImageShack

Hip-Hop Shows Love to Big Pun Via Twitter on 12th Anniversary of His Death

By: JP DelaCuesta (@JPdelacuesta) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

(AllHipHop News) Twelve years ago today (February 7), Bronx native and Hip-Hop icon Big Pun died of a heart attack after battling with weight issues since his youth. He was 28 years old.

In the 12 years since his death, Pun’s legacy has lived on vibrantly through his music, and a number of Hip-Hop personalities chose to show some love to the late rapper with tweets like, “R.I.P 2 MY BROTHER THE GREATEST RAPPER EVER BIG PUN!!!! WE LOVE U AND MISS U!!! BIG PUN 4EVER !!!!!”, which came from Pun’s close friend, Fat Joe.

Juelz Santana and Cory Gunz respectively tweeted, “R.I.P BIG PUN 2day makes 12 years he’s been gone an has yet to be an there will never be another!! #wordplayking #gone2soon” and “We Miss You PUN … Rest In Paradise !!!”

A number of other Hip-Hop personalities posted messages about Pun, including Chuck D, DJ Khaled, Timbaland, French Montana, Cuban Link, Mystikal, Bun B, Just Blaze, and Q-Tip.

DJ Premier showed both Pun and the late producer J Dilla love by writing “Always rememberin’ the Greatness and Legacies of Big Pun and J Dilla!” As did Just Blaze, “RIP Pun. Thank u for everything. Much indebted to you.”

Monica and Brandy Reunite After 14 Years on New Rico Love-Produced Track

By: seandrasims Updated Category: Alternatives
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Fourteen years after their collaborative, Darkchild-produced hit, “The Boy Is Mine”, singers Monica and Brandy return as a duo on a new single.

“It All Belongs To Me” was produced and written by Rico Love, who has recently been thrust into the spotlight via his appearances on VH1’s popular “Love and Hip Hop” show.

According to Billboard.com, the Rico Love-produced single will appear on both Monica’s New Life and Brandy’s yet-to-be titled album, both slated for March. Check out the video for “It All Belongs To Me” below:

J-Dilla Remembered by Hip-Hop Fans Worldwide; Honored in Detroit with ‘Dilla Day’

By: Jake Crates Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

(AllHipHop News) It was just six years ago today that Hip-Hop lost one of its greatest producers of all-time, Detroit born and raised J Dilla.

“Dilla,” as his friends called him, suffered from Lupus and passed away at the early age of 32, after being hospitalized for pneumonia.

While battling his illness, J Dilla became widely regarded as one of the most influential and prolific producers of all time, staying busy amid his waning health conditions.

Producing for the Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson, The Roots, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, D’Angelo, and his own group, Slum Village, Dilla developed a cult-like, post-mortem following. His legacy includes production for some of today’s biggest Hip-Hop stars, as well as the release of the critically-acclaimed, 31-track “Donuts” album just after his passing.

In honor and in celebration of his mark on music, J Dilla will be remembered this Friday (February 10) with a concert at The Filmore in Detroit. Deemed “Dilla Day Detroit,” the celebration seeks to recognize the Detroit Hip-Hop pioneer’s musical legacy and will feature Busta Rhymes, Jay Electronica, Phife of A Tribe Called Quest, along with Phat Kat, Danny Brown, and the Nick Speed Orchestra.

While those are the confirmed performances to date, others are expected to be added to the bill as the the concert approaches.

“It’s going to be very special to have people right here in Detroit see his name up in lights and embrace his great legacy,” Dilla’s mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press back in December. “It’s very special that we’re doing it right here in his hometown. He loved his city.”

Portions of the proceeds from the concert will go to the J Dilla Foundation and Rebirth of Detroit, a new album of unreleased J Dilla material, scheduled for May through the Yancey Music Group.

For more info, visit www.jdillarebirthofdetroit.com and www.jdillafoundation.org.

Jay-Z Performs for a Sold-Out Crowd at NYC’s Historic Carnegie Hall

By: Jake Crates Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

(AllHipHop News) Last night (February 6th), Jay-Z put on what is being described by many as a legendary performance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall. Kicking off the show with his song “Public Service Announcement,” Jay-Z “reintroduced” himself to the sold-out crowd and pulled out all the stops for his fans.

In the first of a two-night set in New York City, Jay-Z stunned the crowd of 2,800 people by performing most of his classic songs and then bringing out surprise guest, Nas. Alicia Keys also performed with Jay-Z, getting behind the piano for thier hit, “Empire State of Mind.”

In addition, he later performed an ode to his newly born child with the song “Glory.”

Dubbed as a charity event, the concert’s proceeds were donated to the United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

Jay-Z, dressed in a tux and holding champagne in hand, rocked the crowd with a 36-piece orchestra that included ?uestlove of the Roots.

Other notable highlights from the show included Jay-Z standing on a seat in the balcony and performing “Money Aint a Thang,” and “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” along with approximately two dozen songs.

While celebs Liz Minnelli and Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia were said to be in attendance, the performance marked the only the second time that a rapper has performed at Carnegie Hall. In 2001, Wyclef Jean performed at the historic venue as well.

Jay-Z will perform again tonight (February 7) to a sellout crowd, despite the steep price of tickets ranging from $1,500-$2,500.

Mixtape Review: Gucci Mane’s “Trap Back”

By: Mos Jones Updated Category: Features
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Rating: 7.5/10

Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, Gucci Mane released his latest project, Trap Back, hosted by DJ Holiday. After a tumultuous 2011, in which he saw more time inside of a psychiatric hospital and jail cell than a studio, the controversial Atlanta rapper attempts to reach out to his core audience with a project that features Jadakiss, 2Chainz, and Future, as well as constant collaborators Waka Flocka Flame, Yo Gotti, and Rocko.

As expected, Trap Back features an exercise in excellent trap production as Lex Luger, Drumma Boy, Zaytoven, Southside, Mike Will Made It, KE on the Track, and Sonny Digital provide the sounds. So, production isn’t the issue for Gucci as much as the fact that, within the past year, his personal problems have allowed the rise of other Atlanta artists. Long-time fans will be happy to hear that Gucci Mane seems to be moving in the direction of a successful 2012.

The tape begins with a phone introduction from none other than incarcerated drug trafficker, and one of the founding leaders of the Black Mafia Family organization, Demetrious “Big Meech” Flenory. Although this may seem odd to fans as Big Meech has been known as a long-time affiliate of Young Jeezy and an on-again/off-again enemy of Gucci, the introduction sets the tone for a different project from Gucci Mane than we’ve seen in the last couple of years.

“Back in 95” begins the song portion of the tape with a rare look into Gucci’s past. Although critics complain of the lack of variety in his subject matter, it is clear that this is all Gucci has known his entire life (“Had a crush on your sister but I used to serve your mama, breaking fifties down to dimes was my job for summer”).  On “Plain Jane,” producer Mike Will Made It steals the show with a grimy, futuristic-like melody that sounds as if it was produced on the planet Mercury. Although Gucci and Rocko provide solid verses, the beat is so hypnotizing that it manages to stand alone above the other instrumentals on the tape as the clear best beat.

Surprisingly, as strong as the first half of Trap Back is, the second half continues the vibe as quality tracks such as “Thank You” and “Okay with Me” stand on their own. The latter features Gucci Mane providing an excellent hook, sending listeners on a flashback to 2009 when Gucci was at the height of his popularity and hook-creating ability. Although he may not be the most lyrical rapper to ever pick up a microphone, Gucci has an ability to put enough emotion and flair into his words that allow his choruses and ad-libs to float inside of your consciousness for days.

“Sometimes,” featuring buzzing Atlanta rapper Future, brings the finest out of producer Drumma Boy and Gucci Mane. The vibe created by the murky drum and piano sounds will have the listener feeling like the co-star of Drumma’s personal horror movie or as the passenger inside a car with others prepared to do no good. Gucci does not disappoint as he gives a small introspective into his mercurial consciousness, even touching on the passing of Bricksquad rapper Slim Dunkin:

“I know God can’t be mad at me because of all the blessings he gave me /

Riding around with my top down I’m looking up at the galaxy /

Lot of girls can’t stand me, they don’t really understand me /

Can’t get half of my phantom, you ain’t getting half of my mansion /

Lost my homie to gun fire, n*gga part of my empire /

Ever since that day, I been riding late like a vampire /

People say I’m an addict, got a lot of bad habits /

Love smoking that broccoli and I love stacking that cabbage” /

It may not be the greatest mixtape of all-time or even the best mixtape in Gucci’s catalog, but Trap Back is easily the strongest release from Gucci Mane since, possibly, 2008. On this project, Gucci sounds clear, concise, and back focused on his career. With supreme beats and an improved flow, Trap Back is a must-download for fans and might even introduce new fans into the world of trap music. Trappers rejoice – Gucci Mane is back and looking to claim the throne as “King of the Trap.”

Find Gucci Mane’s new mixtape, Trap Back, on Datpiff.com, and follow him on Twitter (@gucci1017). Mos Jones can be reached at [email protected], through his website www.onebrothertoanother.com, or on Twitter (@MosJones).