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Butta “Going Shopping”
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Hell Rell “Illin Freestyle”
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Rare Eminem Footage Featured In Detroit Hip-Hop Documentary
(AllHipHop News) Rare footage of rapper Eminem will be featured in a new documentary titled “The Untold Story of Detroit Hip-Hop,” which is nearing completion, according to the documentary’s director.
The documentary is being produced and directed by Brian “Champtown” Harmon, a fixture on the Detroit hip-hop scene, who helped or worked with several of the industry’s biggest stars in the early days of their careers, including Eminem, Proof, Insane Clown Posse, Kid Rock and others.
Although he was instrumental in helping to launch Em’s career, the filmmaker claimed that his relationship with the rapper has become strained over the years, for various reasons.
“A lot of people think that there is some animosity between Eminem and me, but they would be shocked to know that I was influential in his early life and career,” Champtown told AllHipHop.com in a statement released today (November 2).
“As a matter of fact, the first real recording studio that Em ever recorded in was with me at Prince’s Paisley Park in 1992 through my connections,” Champtown revealed.
“The Untold Story of Detroit Hip-Hop” is being narrated by legendary rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy.
According to Champtown, the documentary is broken down into two sections, covering from 1982 – 2000, and from 2000 – 2011.
Artists like Big Herk, Rockbottom, Street Lords, Chedda Boyz, Royce the 5”9, Slum Village, Kid Chaos, Trick Trick, Stretch Money, K Deezy, Verdict and others are highlighted in the Part 2 of the documentary.
“Even though some artist may have fallen out over stupidity, those issues should be put to the side for the historical accuracy of this doc,” Champtown said. “For instance, the falling out between Eminem and me has been hyped up by people trying to keep us away from each other. I mean in Hip-Hop, if someone disses you, you diss them back. It’s not about race or attacking someone because of their success, but more the nature of our art form.”
While the rare footage of Eminem is no doubt a selling point for the documentary, Eminem’s role is one of many that are examined in the documentary.
While Champtown personally extended personal invitations Kid Rock, Eminem and Insane Clown Posse, despite some tension with the latter two, the documentary will be released in the new year, with or without those artists.
“Whatever the case, I just hope we can all move forward and create a masterpiece. But, if any one of them decides not to get down with this documentary, it will be considered a smack in the face to the entire Detroit Hip-Hop community.”
“The Untold Story of Detroit Hip-Hop” is being executive produced by Alfred Smith III and Quomeini R.Adams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ciDSwEA3A
Daily Word: Occupy Struggle! (You’re Stronger Than You Think!)
Refuel your life with AllHipHop.com’s new “Daily Word” column from Ash’Cash!
Happy Wins-Day, my great people!!
Continuing on our “Occupy Wall Street” theme, today’s Daily Word is dedicated to occupying struggle! Realize that there is no such thing as positive or negative! Whatever happens in your life becomes what you perceive it to be!!! You can take what is normally the worst situation and realize that there is good to be seen! As you sit back and reflect on the struggles that are currently in your life know that life isn’t about learning how to avoid the storm but instead about how to dance in the rain.
Struggle builds strength, character, and prepares you for your victory! You can either sit down and complain, or you can take advantage of the power that struggle gives you! Occupy Struggle!! Embrace it and understand that everything happens for a reason!! All situations are here to make you stronger!! Positive or Negative is a choice!!! Choice to be victorious and choice to live the life of your dreams!! You are never given more than you can handle! The sooner you realize that fact the sooner life starts to make sense!! You are stronger than you think!!
-Ash’Cash
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” -Arnold Schwarzenegger
“For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real.” -Unknown
“Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win.” -Bernadette Devlin
“Always remember that striving and struggle precede success, even in the dictionary.” -Sarah Ban Breathnach
“Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.” -Orison Swett Marden
“Whatever the struggle, continue the climb. It may be only one more step to the top.” -Diane Westlake
“In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life.” -Albert Bandura
“Once all struggle is grasped, miracles are possible.” -Mao Tse-Tung
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
Hip-Hop Rumors: Fatman Scoop’s Wife ‘Shanda’ Confesses To An Affair!
This sounds like an episode of “Love & Hip Hop!” But the wife of world renowned DJ Fatman Scoop shared a secret to all of her YouTube fans…that she not only had an affair with a married man, but also fell in love with him! Shanda discusses the topic of what kind of woman becomes a mistress… [Editor’s Note: Shanda hit AHH up on twitter and said this was BEFORE her marriage to our friend Scoop! Click here for her message! ]
Wow! It takes a lot to put your biz out there like that! Is Shanda making excuses for herself or addressing this in a mature way? Sound off!
Hip-Hop Rumors: Mama Kardashian Denies to Sway that Kim Pocketed Money Off Wedding!
Someone’s got some splainin’ to do – to Uncle Sam!!!
Kris Jenner visited the Shade 45‘s ‘Sway In The Morning’ show to discuss a number of topics with hosts Sway and Devi Dev! She vehemently denied that Kim Kardashian made $18 million or even five cents off her wedding! Yeah…and she said this with a straight face!!
Hip-Hop Rumors: Yelawolf [Shady] Challenges Machine Gun Kelly [Bad Boy]
A FIGHT, A FIGHT! A WHITE AND A WHITE!
Yelawolf has let it be known! In a recent interview, let let Machine Gun Kelly have it…on the lyrical tip!
“Machine Gun Kelly, if you want it, come get it. Drop your verse, do whatever you want to do. If you want to take it there, take it there. That goes for anyone else out there. If you’re feeling froggy, jump motherf***er.”
Seems like MGK said a few things that got Yela up in a huff, including saying there were too many White rappers. But why would YW take that personally? Secondly, he apparently said that he was the first to do moshing in Hip-Hop. I think that’s absurd. To him, I present:
I wonder what Eminem is thinking over all this.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Rick Ross Explains Those Seizures!
RICK ROSS / JAY-Z COLLABO ON THE WAY! Yep! The Tweets have been talking all day about Rick Ross and Jay-Z working on a new song for Rozay’s new CD, “God Forgives, But I Don’t” or something like that. Anyway, Ross appeared on “106 & Park” and he let a lot of things known. He didn’t say much more than that regarding the collabo. But he did talk about the pair of incidents where he had a pair of seizures: “I came back totally healthy. It was a case of me not getting enough rest, not getting enough sleep.” “What it was was I was going about my business as every day. I boarded a flight, and on the flight, I had a seizure and when I snapped out of it, they told me what had happened. I was like, you buggin’, call a jet, we finna keep it moving. Because I understand me growing up and hearing about seizures, they can be violent, you bust vessels and bite your tongue up and this and that and in my case, it wasn’t none of that. I felt a little worn out, but I felt I could keep going and that’s what it was I boarded a jet and I had another seizure, and when I snapped out of that one, I woke up in front of a doctor and he asked me basically, ‘When was the last time you slept eight hours?’ and I said ‘It had to at least been five years.’ Being the fastest growing label in the game, it comes with a lot of sacrifices. And in my case, it was sleep. I would get two hours of sleep and keep moving, me being a hustler. And that has to stop.”
SOULJA BOY!
Dude said he wants to be the Steve Jobs of the music game.
OK.
[VIDEO] Big Sean “A$$” featuring Nicki Minaj
Akon Signs Gospel Rapper Mali Music to Konvict Muzik
2 Chainz: Reintroducing “The Humble Hustler”
2 Chainz, formerly known as Tity Boi, released his much talked about and anticipated mixtape, T.R.U. Realigion today (November 1). Coming off months of heavy buzz, appearances on awards shows, and hit remixes, 2 Chainz is ready to reintroduce himself to the Hip-Hop community and music industry as a force to be reckoned with.
After the success of Playaz Circles’ first albums on Ludacris’ Disturbing Tha Peace imprint, which 2 Chainz was and still is a part of, the talk about Tity Boi and Dolla seemed to fizzle out. In 2011, it seems people can’t get enough of the Tity 2 Chainz movement, and more importantly, the music.
AllHipHop.com got the opportunity to speak with the “humble hustler” on a number of topics, including his past with Playaz Circle, what kind of empire he is trying to build for himself now, his BET Cypher, and much more. Before his mixtape, T.R.U. Realigion, was released, 2 Chainz shed some light on his relationship with the mixtapes host DJ Drama, as well as artists like Wale, T.I., Ludacris, and even Kreayshawn. Read below to see what exactly was on the mind of the “Codeine Cowboy” also known as 2 Chainz:
AllHipHop.com: What’s going on, Chainz?
2 Chainz: What’s going on, brother?
AllHipHop.com: I heard you were just wrapping up a video. What were you working on?
2 Chainz: I’ve been doing a lot of promo stuff; it’s just been crazy with the media. There’s a lot of outlets, so I’ve been speaking to all of them.
AllHipHop.com: So first things first, and I’m sure you’ve been asked this a lot, but what happened to Tity Boi, and who is 2 Chainz?
2 Chainz: Tity Boi – nothing happened to him – and 2 Chainz is basically the same person. They are still the same humble, hungry person. The name change just came with experience. It’s crazy, I’ve been asked that question so many times. [laughter] Basically what happened was I was going by Tity Boi as like a family, household name. My mother called me that, my father called me that, and when it became time for me to rap and put music out, I couldn’t think of an MC name, so I just stayed with a name that people called me and I was comfortable with in my area. SO, when I started moving around and telling people my name was Tity Boi, some people thought it was derogatory; other people thought it was cool. But in all my raps, dating back to my second album, I was calling myself Tity 2 Chainz.
AllHipHop.com: OK.
2 Chainz: So, I think what happened was the way I delivered it made it sound friendly and made it easy for the kids to get out. Not to mention, I go hard as 2 Chainz.
AllHipHop.com: S0, just out of curiosity, as a pretty flashy guy, what are two of the favorite chains that you own?
2 Chainz: My plane chain is definitely one of them. I had that made for the Flight 360 album with Playaz Circle, and probably my “Duffle Bag Boy” logo would be the other one. That duffle bag logo is heavy as sh*t like a little midget.
AllHipHop.com: Nice! Since you just mentioned it, what is up with Playaz Circle? Are you still working together and signed to Disturbing Tha Peace?
2 Chainz: Yeah, I’m definitely down with Dolla [Boi] still. We have a studio together back home, and we’ve been working on future business and ventures, but for right now, I’d be a fool to ignore the type of buzz that I’m creating as 2 Chainz and the music I’m putting out on mixtapes. I’m just really trying to follow my dreams right now. I’m ready to be my own boss, and that’s something I’m prepared for.
AllHipHop.com: Definitely. I saw online that a week or two ago you had made a surprise appearance at Wale’s show in Chicago. What is your relationship with him like?
2 Chainz: Well, Wale stays in Atlanta. A lot of people don’t know that. Even before that, we were rocking with each other. We had a little rapport with one another, so it’s a situation where we talk to each other like once a week. He had invited me on the tour, not knowing what my schedule was going to be like, and I had to be in Chicago for a video shoot that I was doing for someone. We have a record together that’s not actually on his album, but has done well in the streets called “Globetrotter.”
AllHipHop.com: What about you and T.I.? That “Spend It” record is all over the place right now. What was it like to be one of the first artists to work with him when he got out of prison?
2 Chainz: It felt good, man. I got word that he was going to be coming out, and it was a pleasure when he actually came home. I had one of the hottest songs out in the area, so when he came home and was around for BET Hip-Hop Awards weekend, I put him on the remix, and it just blasted off. It worked out good for me as another reintroduction of 2 Chainz, formerly Tity Boi.
AllHipHop.com: You were one of the last minute additions to a BET Cypher this year, where you got to spit alongside Reek Da Villian, Busta Rhymes, and Ludacris. What was that experience like for you?
2 Chainz: Yeah, it was definitely last minute. I appreciated it, though. You just always have to be ready for things like that. I just had to grab some things and make it to the plane; I can’t really complain. It was dope to show off my skills in the Cypher.
AllHipHop.com: For sure. Let’s get into your upcoming project, T.R.U. Realigion that you have DJ Drama hosting. You were featured on two tracks on his recent album Third Power, and now he is hosting your mixtape. How did all of this come together?’
2 Chainz: Well, originally Drama reached out to do the “Oh My” remix before I had even heard the original song, and he has always been a part of my marketing strategy as far as how to win goes. Me not really having a co-sign, me not doing a Gangsta Grillz, it just made sense to get Drama on there. The anticipation for my mixtape, T.R.U. Realigion, is already high, and it gets an added value to it with the inclusion of DJ Drama.
AllHipHop.com: So, assuming the mixtape is done, what can the fans expect on T.R.U. Realigion? And how does Kreayshawn end up on a 2 Chainz project?
2 Chainz: Yeah, that’s my girl; we’ve built up a good rapport. One of her friends, who was a fan of my campaign, showed her what I was doing. She’s special and very entertaining, so since then, we’ve always had ideas and plans on doing something together. She reached out, and shorty was always down with it; so yeah, the track came out real good. It’s produced by C-Note and called “Murder.” I think I want her to shoot the video, too, so we just have some crazy stuff going on.
AllHipHop.com: What are the chances of her actually directing the video?
2 Chainz: Yeah, that’s what I want to happen. She actually wanted to shoot the “Spend It” video, and so that’s kind of how things started coming together.
AllHipHop.com: Well, that’s definitely a surprise that’ll be found on your mixtape. Are there any other big surprises other than the artists that have already been announced to be on T.R.U. Realigion?
2 Chainz: You’d probably want to know about this Meek Mill track, “Problems.”
AllHipHop.com: And who produced that?
2 Chainz: This producer by the name of G-Fresh. People that follow me know that I’m not really a fan of big name producers.
AllHipHop.com: That’s interesting, because I had seen something online that you were helping doing some A&R work for Ludacris’ new album Ludaversal. Tell me a little bit about that.
2 Chainz: That’s what I do. I just go around, and I might get a dude that still stays with his momma, but that doesn’t even matter as long as the beat is hot and on point.
AllHipHop.com: So beyond your A&R work you’re doing with Luda, is it safe to say that you’ll also end up on the album as a guest?
2 Chainz: Oh, yeah, definitely.
AllHipHop.com: You have, for the most part, been everywhere lately. You’re not a new artist by any means. You’ve been in the game for almost a decade now, but with all of the new attention and spotlight being on you, do you tend to look at yourself as a new artist? Are you starting fresh so to speak?
2 Chainz: Oh yeah. I definitely reinvented myself. This is my first time doing things like this as 2 Chainz – this is all me. It definitely feels new and definitely feels refreshing. I have to make the most of it. Every other time I went to Japan or Africa or somewhere, it was for another person, now it’s for me. It feels good. I feel reinvented.
AllHipHop.com: Not just your own material, but lately you’ve been making appearances on records with Bun B, T.I., Juicy J, Lil Scrappy, etc. Is this all attributed to a strong work ethic, or do you simply have a desire to just try and outshine everyone that you work with?
2 Chainz: It’s definitely a strong work ethic, man. I just work hard. If people give me something, I give it back within 24 hours or less. My turnaround is good, and I’m just a humble cat who can charge the sh*t out of somebody or can do it out of love, just depending on how I feel.
AllHipHop.com: And your consistency has been something to applaud as well.
2 Chainz: Thank you.
AllHipHop.com: As we finish up, I just want to ask you about some of the work you have done within your community. Do you plan on doing more work and helping with more initiatives for the city and kids, much like the literacy campaign you were a part of recently?
2 Chainz: Oh, absolutely. I always said that if I got to a certain point, that I would use my celebrity status to give back to the community. There will be a lot more stuff like that coming next year.
AllHipHop.com: So other than your desire to do more work within the community, what do you have in store for 2012?
2 Chainz: 2 Chainz will definitely be putting [down] a major label album, getting a tight grip on the game, and just working as hard as possible.
Download “2 Chainz – T.R.U. Realigion” Now!
Kid Cudi Releases Intense Short Film for “Maniac”
Rapper, singer, and actor Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi released a short film for his Man On the Moon II track, “Maniac.” The film, released appropriately on Halloween, documents “two serial killers,” played by Cudi and Chris “Cage” Palko in French mode, and “their exploits;” however, it does not actually feature music from the song itself. Instead, the film features a score created by Kid Cudi and frequent collaborator Dot Da Genius, along with direction by Shia Lebeouf, who has starred in all three Transformers films.
Cudi said the following upon the film’s release: “MANIAC is a short film inspired by the song. It is not a music video and it has no reference to the song content. It will be scored by Dot and I as a film with all new music. Directed By Shia Labeof for Grassy Slope and Ragin4Dayz Productions.”
Back in August, Cudi announced that he would be scrapping a previously announced mixtape, instead focusing on his next two new albums. The first, Wizard, is the debut of 2 Continnum, a rock band that Cudi founded with Dot Da Genius, and is set for release some time this winter, as is Cudi’s Man on the Moon III.
Daily Word: Occupy Distractions!
Refuel your life with AllHipHop.com’s new “Daily Word” column from Ash’Cash!
Happy Tuesday, ladies, gents, dons, & divas!
Welcome to the first day of November, and the first day of the rest of your life! Instead of waiting until New Year’s to make a resolution, start today to make a commitment to change your life in the right direction. Continuing on the theme of Occupying Wall Street! This week we will continue to occupy those things that are in our lives that we are sick and tired of being sick and tired of!! Those things that if were non-existent would immediately boost our productivity rate and get us closer to our dreams and aspirations! Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to Occupying Distractions!
One of my mentors once told me that the reason why most people don’t accomplish their dreams is because they allow themselves to be sidetracked by secondary activity! Somehow we believe that everything is important and give it the same focus and energy! Add to that the fact that many of us have more than one aspiration, so we have the tendency to try to do it all at once! Big mistake!! You can either give 20% to five things or 100% to one! Doing the latter will assure that you accomplish the one in the most effective manner possible and will nine times out of 10 yield the other four things with so much ease!! Life is not easy, but we do make it more difficult than it has to be!! It’s alright to have your cake and eat it, but make sure you’re not being greedy, stuffing your face, jeopardizing it all! Dream big, but focus one thing at a time!! -Ash’Cash
“No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined.” -Unknown
“The successful man is the average man, focused.” -Unknown
“Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.” -Wilfred Peterson
“Keep focused on the substantive issues. To make a decision means having to go through one door and closing all others.” -Abraham Zaleznik
“Our thoughts create our reality – where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.” -Peter McWilliams
“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.” -Anthony Robbins
“The jack-of-all-trades seldom is good at any. Concentrate all of your efforts on one definite chief aim.” -Napoleon Hill
“Concentrate your energies, your thoughts and your capital…. The wise man puts all his eggs in one basket and watches the basket.” -Andrew Carnegie
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 www.IamAshCash.com.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Ruff Ryders Reunion!?! Kanye, Tyler, and Weezy’s Halloween Spirit! Drake Releases New “Take Care” Cover!
Ruff Ryders Reunion Coming In December!? Looks like it…
So the flier below has been making the rounds online, and if the information is true, it would make for the first official reunion of the Ruff Ryders crew in quite some time! All of the “heavy-hitters” (sans Swizz) are expected to make appearances at the December 10 reunion, with confirmed performances from Cassidy, Drag-On, The Lox, Eve, and DMX, who will be headlining. Check out the show’s flier below, and fans living in the Chicago area can purchase tickets at www.CongressChicago.com.
Hip-Hop Halloween Pics:
Nothing like some down time dressed as Michael Jackson when you have a night off from the year’s biggest tour! His boy tweeted that not a single person recognized ‘Ye as he was walking the streets of New York City. That in itself is kind of shocking.
The next two pics are of Odd Future’s Tyler, the Creator doing his best impression of I don’t know what, along with Lil Wayne, who made an appearance during the OF tour stop in Miami dressed as a wolf:
Drake’s “Take Care” Cover Gets the Triple Treatment:
After recently confirming to Power 106 in Los Angeles that both Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, and The Weeknd (on “Crew Love”) will be making appearances on Take Care, Drake released the picture below – one of three different covers that will ship with the album on November 15…
Eddie Griffin or Tracy Morgan to Play ODB in Biographical Film According to RZA
(AllHipHop News) RZA, of the Staten Island based Wu-Tang Clan, recently told XXL magazine that either Eddie Griffin or Tracy Morgan would be playing Ol’ Dirty Bastard in an upcoming biopic about the fallen Wu-Tang Clan member.
“Eddie Griffin is down,” RZA told XXL. “Me and Eddie talked about it, laughed about it. Tracy Morgan, he wanna do it [too]. I said ‘Ya’ll both kinda can do it.’ ”
As ODB’s cousin, RZA appointed another cousin, Raeshawn to write the script, which has been in the works for at least two years according to the producer.
“[In fact] I think Eddie’s already signed on with a letter of Intent—I signed on, of course. So you know [Raeshawn] got my blessin’ to make it happen,” RZA revealed.
In addition to ODB’s movie, the RZA recently concluded shooting for the movie, The Man With the Iron First, his debut in the director’s chair.
The Eli Roth written script stars Russell Crown, Lucy Liu, Pam Grier and several others.
Wu-Tang Clan fans can also look forward to a Raekwon movie in the makings, as well in which Cee Lo Green will reportedly play Rae’s father.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Did Kim Kardashian Divorce For TV? Rick Ross Does First TV Appearance!
ALL FOR REALITY TV?????
Kim Kardashian dissed ol’ boy so bad. She’s back to work already. I think she just wants a brother again. Word on the block is that she already had lunch with Reggie Bush. Did son take an L to Reggie Reg? BUT, some of my semi-reliable sources are telling me that this is all good trash for reality TV and keeping Kim’s life interesting. I can’t call it, but it sure seems odd that it would just go kaput so fast. The dude Kris Humphries is all jacked up over it. I guess he’s gonna have to eat that L.
THE FIRST RICK ROSS APPEARANCE ON 106 & PARK
BET’s “106 & Park” had Rick Ross on – the show airs tonight at 6 p.m./EST – and this is his first television appearance since his medical challenges. Sources say, “He was in really good spirits. He did confirm the 2 seizures and went into details about what happened.” He was there to support the new Wale album which is in stores today click here for that interview with the DMV repper rapper!
Drake Ft. Lil Wayne “The Motto”
[ahh_audio src=/11-01-11/DrakeftLilWayne-TheMotto.mp3]
The Curious Case of Mr. Folarin
It was two years ago when GQ Magazine named Wale, Kid Cudi, and Drake their “Men of the Year.” Dubbed the “Gangster Killers of the Year,” the trio was lauded for their unique brand of Hip-Hop, which appealed to the mainstream. GQ wrote: “Have you been listening to hip-hop this year? If not, we’ve got good news: The gangster persona is finally dead, and these are the kids who killed it. One song at a time, they built a new era in which duct-taped kilos, exotic firearms, and freaky girls are out and real life is the focus.”
And yet, Drake went on to promote plenty of a*s-shaking with Young Money on songs like, “Bedrock,” and Lil Wayne’s “She Will,” and Wale…well, Wale was on “No Hands,” where he decided to cleverly rhyme “motherf*cker” with “motherf*cker.” The likely truth is that a White publication can’t pronounce the death of the gangsters, because gangsters don’t die, they just multiply.
Hip-Hop is an ever-fluid genre, and D.C. native Wale is a rapper who has proven that. Signed originally to Mark Ronson’s Allido Records, then Interscope, and now Maybach Music Group (MMG), every step has been a step forward for Mr. Folarin.
Now, with the release of his second album and highly-anticipated reintroduction, Ambition, Wale is with a label that isn’t trying to label him or categorize him. Ambition was crafted with the help of MMG A&R, Dallas Martin, and recorded primarily in Atlanta – a fact that added to the flavor, which is largely different from Attention Deficit.
Ambition features production by Toomp, Diplo, and Lex Luger, to name a few. The album also features appearances by Miguel on the popular, “Lotus Flower Bomb,” Kid Cudi, MMG signee Meek Mill, and even “The Bawse” Rick Ross himself, stops by twice. A tour-tired, Wale spoke to AllHipHop.com about Ambition, sex appeal, and his thoughts about the direction that Hip-Hop is headed in:
AllHipHop.com: So, how are you?
Wale: I’m good. Just working, touring, stressing, getting ready for the album.
AllHipHop.com: How did you shape Ambition?
Wale: I just went where my heart told me to go. [yawns] Excuse me. We recorded a lot of music, there were certain emotions that I had certain days where I knew I was gonna write certain songs, and we just put it all together, the best ones, and it just kind of shapes itself out. When you are around your people, and you got that energy, you kind of know what’s going where.
AllHipHop.com: I know you recorded a lot of the album here in Atlanta. It seems like every time I turned around, I was running into you somewhere. Did that influence you in any way?
Wale: The energy is good in Atlanta. It has really good energy, so yeah, maybe indirectly.
AllHipHop.com: How did you come to choose the title? I hate that question. It seems cliché, but there is always a good answer. How did you choose Ambition?
Wale: I mean, it’s just the way I’ve been living my life for the past two years now. I’ve been putting it all on me. Putting all my energy back into my project, putting it back into myself, and not waiting on nobody to do it for me. That’s what I did as soon as I left my last situation.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve been in a couple different label situations. Do you feel like you progressed at every step?
Wale: Yeah. I definitely feel like I progressed. I feel like I’m connecting with the urban culture, you know, significantly more than I was two years ago. A career is all about progression. As long as you’re progressing, you winning.
AllHipHop.com: That’s an interesting statement, to say that you feel like you are connecting more with urban culture more than on your last album. Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?
Wale: It’s just, I didn’t know who I was being marketed to. I was just making my songs, submitting them to the label, and thinking it was all going to work like that. [yawns] I was kind of being serviced to the Top 40 crowd the first time around. Now it’s like, the people that are at my shows now, are the people that I’ve always been talking to.
AllHipHop.com: I guess the new album and the new label situation is marketing to those same people?
Wale: It’s just allowing me to speak freely. And allowing my words to be heard by the same people who check in with DJ Khaled to see what’s going on, or the Ross fans. I’m talking to them, and it almost feels like I’m a new artist to them because the label that I was on before. This allows me to fuse them with the people who have been supporting me for the last four, five years.
AllHipHop.com: So do you feel like Ambition is a new direction from Attention Deficit?
Wale: Naw, it’s the same direction. It’s just that the muzzle’s off. I’m doing it my way, as opposed to trying to appease an office. [yawns, interviewer laughs] that wouldn’t understand that you want to put a poem with a rap song; that wouldn’t understand that you want to use a live band or something.
AllHipHop.com: Or make a song about Islam?
Wale: Exactly. It’s different now. It’s just different. I’m making my music. I’m not changing my style up.
AllHipHop.com: You’re very much known for your lyricism. Do you think that that’s something that is being infused a lot more into Hip-Hop?
Wale: Um, yeah. It’s in a different direction, and the direction that it’s in is perfect for lyricists…rhymers, people that really love the sport of lyrics.
AllHipHop.com: That being said, what do you think is missing from Hip-Hop?
Wale: Nothing… I mean, the knowledge is almost there. It’s really hard for me to say because I’m a player in the game. Rather than somebody that’s up in the stands watching. I think that’s up the fans. That’s a fan question.
AllHipHop.com: Getting back to the album, I have a 15-year-old daughter who wears out “That Way.”
Wale: [laughter]
AllHipHop.com: How does it feel to have songs like that, and know that it crosses age ranges and genders? Do you think about that when you’re writing?
Wale: Absolutely. I mean, I kind of slept on it. I just make sure that I talk to the people. For some people, it might go over their head. I think if you are connecting with the people, they are looking to understand what you’re talking about. It’s a process, too. It has a lot to do with the production. It’s just a vibe, too. It has a lot to do with the production and the confidence behind your words. I think a 3-year-old could like “That Way” and not know what it’s about. It’s just a vibe, and that’s the beauty of music right there.
AllHipHop.com: Thinking about that, I was reading the interview that you guys did in XXL, and Meek Mill and Pill were saying that you have this special way with the ladies. Do you think that’s true?
Wale: I don’t think so. They just be saying that. They were probably just teasing me.
AllHipHop.com: I mean, you are kinda popular with the ladies. Do you think you are reaching that sex symbol status?
Wale: Naw, man…I’m too fat to be a sex symbol. I got a gut. Maybe if I get back in the gym. I was in the gym all the time when I did “The Cloud” video. I’m just me, man. I’m just happy to be here. I’m happy the women are enjoying the words that I’m saying.
AllHipHop.com: What do you think about women…in the Hip-Hop industry? There aren’t a lot of female rappers in it, but a lot of records are still being made for women. What’s the role? What’s the place for women in the genre right now, in your opinion?
Wale: Um…I don’t know. It’s an ever-so-evolving genre. You never know. There may not be that many women in this motherf*cka, but the one that’s in it is the baddest motherf*cka in the game, male or female. So, that’s a lot to be proud of. There was a time we had all these women, we had a lot of women, Foxy, Kim, but we never had anybody on a 100% rap album do that.
So, props to Nicki or whatever, she’s definitely having an impact very similar to Lauryn Hill. Obviously, the music is 100 percent completely different, but she is definitely having a Lauryn Hill impact. She very well may win four Grammys. I admire her, everything, her movement, everything. She is just killing the sh*t. It’s something to her hustle and to the evolution of the game and how far women have come in the game. It may not be that many, but she’s the baddest. She’s up there with the Jay-Zs and the Kanyes, as far as how hot she is.
AllHipHop.com: Superstar status.
Wale: Exactly.
AllHipHop.com: So, I just wanna ask you a couple more questions. I’m not gonna hold you; I know you’re tired. I wanna talk about J. Cole and that first week that he had. I know you worked with him on Ambition. How did you feel about that? Do you feel that pressure a little bit, or no?
Wale: Naw… I can’t compete with Cole, man. But, I feel like we excited for each other. And I’m excited for the fans. You know how many people really love our music? Just for them to have those two albums. I remember what it felt like being 14, 15 years old and like, “Yo. I got the new Nas, I got the new Jay, I got the new Big.” It was a vibe.
That’s what it is now. I don’t know who I am to the kids, but I’m somebody they f*ck with… and Cole somebody they f*ck with, Wiz somebody the f*ck with, Drizzy somebody they f*ck with, Sean somebody they f*ck with… so, it’s an exciting time. Let them enjoy it. Let them have their moment so they can be like, ‘Remember 2011? Big Sean dropped, and Cole, and Wale, and Drizzy…’ It’s their time now; this is their run. This is our generation’s time, and we started that. It’s good, I think. You got all young guys with successful albums out. I’m excited for the fans. I’m excited for the culture.
Ambition is in stores now. For more information on Wale, visit: www.walemusic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Wale.
Biba Adams is a Senior Contributing Writer for AllHipHop.com (and a huge Wale fan). Follow her @BibatheDiva.
T.I. “Headlines Freestyle” [Radio Rip]
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