[ahh_audio src=/5-15-12/Calliko-Loungin.mp3]
homepage
Murda Mook “Baselines And Cars”
[ahh_audio src=/5-15-12/MurdaMook-BaselinesAndCars.mp3]
Rolling Dolo, Brown Bag AllStars Alum Koncept Says It’s Time To “Awaken”
AllHipHop.com caught up with Brown Bag Allstars’ (BBAS) own Koncept, and while he may be known for being a lethal lyricist with his BBAS brethren, he’s been out in the Hip-Hop streets rolling solo lately as he promotes his new album and rocks numerous stages to support it.
But make no mistake, his BBAS Crew is represented on every song! Check out our interview with the BBAS Alum, Koncept:
AllHipHop.com: Thanks for taking out a few minutes to speak with AllHipHop, Koncept. We see you’ve been getting it in with the solo thing for 2012. What have you been up to the last few months?
Koncept: Thank you! I really appreciate your love and support. It means a lot. I dropped my official debut album, Awaken, on Soulspazm Records. We also dropped an EP for the project on wax titled, Watch The Sky Fall. Been pushing the album and having a great time!
AllHipHop.com: That’s dope! So talk to us about the new video. What was the concept (no pun intended) behind the video, and who was involved in the direction and production?
Koncept: We just dropped the J57 “Pulp Fiction” video. It was directed by our homie, FreshPres. We wanted the video to have a real raw feeling to it. J57 and I both grew up in New York listening to that real raw authentic sh*t (excuse my language), and that’s what we wanted the video to reflect.
AllHipHop.com: Ah, ok, that’s what’s up…
Koncept: I am also proud to let you know that my video for “Aspirations” is now in rotation on MTVu, which features Soul Khan and is also produced by J57. This was produced and directed by Hyer Ground.
AllHipHop.com: So then, we can expect to see some Brown Bag Allstar cameos in them both?
Koncept: You can catch J57. It’s actually his record; I’m just the featured guest on it. This was the first video for his EP(s) dropping later this month (May 2012). Every project that we do, even solo, is always a Brown Bag AllStars record. For instance, my album, Awaken, is my solo debut, but it is still a BBAS record. J57 produced the majority of it with The Audible Doctor. Soul Khan is featured on the album. Deejay Element does scratches on it. Then I have some of our other brothers on it. We keep it in the family.
AllHipHop.com: Oh wow, very nice! I saw that you are about to go out on tour with Those Bodega Brovas and Tanya Morgan. When does all of that kick off, and what are you looking forward to the most?
Koncept: The tour starts in Chicago on May 23. Honestly, I’m really excited about it all. It doesn’t get much better than being able to travel around, rock new places, and do what I love. Making money while doing it is always great, too! [laughter] I’m gonna get on stage and smash it every night. I just got back from touring the UK with Soul Khan, too. I’ve been having a blast!
AllHipHop.com: Sounds like fun! So what’s next on the horizon for Koncept? What can we expect to see coming up from you in the near future?
Koncept: Right now, I’m working on an EP all produced by my Brown Bag brother, Deejay Element. You can expect that to drop sometime this summer, along with a bunch of fly videos.I am working on my next full album, but I can’t talk much about that yet. [laughter] We also got a Brown Bag Allstars EP dropping soon. It’s in it’s final stages now. There’s no official date just yet, but it’s sounding crazy! You can stay up on everything at www.iamkoncept.com. Thank you for your support! Again, it really does mean a lot.
AllHipHop.com: Thank you, Koncept, for speaking with us, and we look forward to hearing more in the near future.
“106 & Park” Launches New Freestyle Segment “The Backroom”
(AllHipHop News) BET’s#### countdown show “106 & Park” will launch a new segment during the show, dedicated to the art of rapping.
“The BackRoom” section will feature rappers freestyling and dropping verses over exclusive beats.
This segment is similar to “The Booth,” which was featured on “Rap City,” which BET canceled and ask of why.
“The BackRoom is the place where freestyle will reign,” said Stephen Hill, president of music programming and specials, BET Networks. “Truth is, we’ve missed having a place like ‘Rap City’s’ ‘The Booth’ and now we’ve got it. In The Backroom, it doesn’t matter if you’re famous or not. You just have to be a skilled emcee.”
Def Jam recording artist 2 Chainz will be the first rapper to be featured in “The BackRoom.”
The new segment will launch this Friday (May 18) on “106 & Park.”
Audio Push [BGA] Shed Light On Their Hit-Boy Deal, Talk Debut Album, and the Gift of “Jerking”
Hip-Hop duo Audio Push has a lot on their minds, and even more in their musical arsenal. The pair from California, made up of Oktane and Pricetag, saw a great deal of success back in 2009, when they inked a deal with Interscope Records and released the single “Teach Me How to Jerk” which flooded airwaves across the country.
Fast forward a few years to 2012, and Audio Push have aligned themselves with close friend and chart-topping producer Hit-Boy and his Hits Since ’87 imprint to deliver their brand of creative music and energy to fans worldwide. Following the release of their most recent mixtape, Truth Be Told, which dropped in March, Audio Push’s efforts have been focused on regrouping and determining the right lane and path for their future musical endeavors.
AllHipHop.com spoke to Audio Push about this “regrouping,” their deal and relationship with Hit-Boy, whether “Teach Me How To Jerk” was a gift or curse, and much more.
AllHipHop.com: Outside of both being from California, can you tell me how the two of you first linked up and started creating music together?
Pricetag: We’ve known each other since I was like 12 and Octane was like 13. We were in middle school, playing basketball and just hooping, and then we started chopping it up and realized that we both like to rap. It just kind of blasted off from there. We were rapping together in school, but then we got to like 16 or 17 – we started actually recording together and performing together, but we used to perform as two solo artists, and when we did shows, we would be each other’s hype man.
The chemistry was always crazy, and all the records and shows were good, and then people started saying we should be a group. And Hit-Boy was actually the first person that really took it serious and was like, “If you’re a group, then you need to be a group,” and it’s just kept going from there.
AllHipHop.com: And I know you guys are signed to Hit-Boy now, but how far back does that relationship go?
Oktane: We’ve known Hit-Boy forever. I was the first person to rap on a Hit-Boy beat when I was like 14 and he was like 16 and started making beats, so we’ve known him forever. This isn’t some recent thing that just happened.
AllHipHop.com: So, let’s get right into the music then. I know Truth Be Told dropped at the end of March, so let me ask you how the response from your core fans has been since they got to hear the project?
Oktane: The response from the fans has been crazy, but that’s not necessarily my biggest focus. The response from people who have never heard our music has been the craziest thing, like all of these blogs and sites have been posting it, and just knowing that people are out there downloading, hearing, and trying it out is what’s been the craziest thing for me. Everybody is just enjoying the music and really just accepting the fact that we can really make good music. That’s the dope thing to me.
AllHipHop.com: You guys had all different kinds of tracks on Truth Be Told, from the club and more upbeat stuff, as well as some of the more lyrical and gritty stuff. But what do you guys personally enjoy creating the most?
Pricetag: For me, and I think I can actually speak for both of us, it’s really about whatever just feels the most natural at the time. We’re really big on not forcing music; if it’s not fluent, then we just scratch it, ‘cause that’s how music is for us to create, because it’s our passion. It’s really whatever we’re feeling at the time, and we enjoy making music that feels good and I enjoy doing it all. Of course making the club records is easy for us you know what I mean?
AllHipHop.com: Well, that’s been proven.
Pricetag: But definitely making records where we can just snap and showcase our rapping ability. I like to do whatever is coming natural.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve both worked with an impressive amount of well-known artists and musicians, but there’s a specific collaboration from Truth Be Told that I specifically want to know about, and that is how you guys linked up with Casey Veggies.
Pricetag: I actually met Casey at the studio with Chase N. Cashe and the whole Surf Club team at Record Plant, and this was before he was even buzzing or anything, and he was just real cool. And from there, we just stayed in communication back and forth, and he wanted some beats for his mixtape ‘cause I produce, so we were just chopping it up.
I did this record, and I just knew he’d be dope on it, and when we were picking features for our mixtape, we were trying to do features that wouldn’t outshine us. I mean that in the sense that we weren’t trying to build our mixtape off of crazy features, so we were trying to get people who were popping – but not so popping that you’re only rocking with it because someone else is on it. But we love Casey, man, and the song came out crazy.
AllHipHop.com: And what exactly did DJ Ill Will bring to the table in regards to Truth Be Told?
Oktane: We’ve been rocking with Ill Will for a minute, and the relationship is just organic. Price is just known for reaching out whenever he feels a connection needs to be made, and getting with Will was the perfect situation for the project.
AllHipHop.com: Tell me more about Hit-Boy and your situation at his label HS87 (Hits Since ’87). Are you still signed to Interscope as well?
Pricetag: Well, we were on Interscope, but we got off of them like two years ago and just regrouped and started working on us, and reworking our music and our lane, and pleasing the fans. And now, we have the HS87 situation with Hit-Boy, but we have another major dealing the works that we can’t speak on just yet.
A lot of people are going to be surprised, and it’s an amazing deal. Things are about to be incredible, and that’s coming soon, but right now we’re pushing this HS87 situation, which is going to be our own YMCMB and MMG brand. We got the best producer in the world behind us, so we can’t lose.
AllHipHop.com: So Truth Be Told was you guys’ sixth mixtape, but there is yet to be an official album release from Audio Push. When do the fans get that in their hands?
Pricetag: Very, very soon. That’s what we’re doing now. We might have one EP that comes out before that, ‘cause I know we’re going to have a million new songs to choose from for this album, but yes, it’s definitely coming.
Oktane: I want to go out and say that I think it will be out by this time next year, as far as a real major release, but it’s not like we’re just going to drop an album on iTunes on our own. But for sure, the fans will be getting an album sometime soon, regardless of what label it comes out on, because they deserve it and we deserve it.
AllHipHop.com: What can you tell me about the EP that you just mentioned? I know there was no Hit-Boy production on the mixtape, but will he be actively producing on the EP?
Pricetag: Most definitely. From here on out, he’ll be on every project we put out. We just wanted to do us on the last one. Everyone was expecting that it would be fully Hit-Boy produced, but he just wanted us to do us. But everything that we’re doing right now involves going in with him. We’re all about to just build a really organic sound.
AllHipHop.com: Is there ever some friendly competition going on between you and Hit-Boy since you are an active producer as well?
Pricetag: [Laughs] To be honest, he’s the greatest producer ever, and I’ve been saying that forever. There is never even a competition. We’ll work with each other like on club records; I’ll ask him to add a snare on this or an 808 on that. But when he’s in there making a beat, I’m just a student taking notes like it’s college. There is no comparison or competition. That man has thousands and thousands of beats that all sound different. I don’t want to step on those shoes, and no producer in the game right now has more beats then that man.
AllHipHop.com: Let me just ask you guys one more thing as we wrap up, and you had to know it was coming whether you like it or not. Looking back, is “Teach Me How to Jerk” a blessing or a curse in your honest opinions, based on where you’re at now in your careers?
Pricetag: That’s a dope question, but for me I feel like it was a gift at the end of the day. There’s a lot of people who do outrageous records to try and get their foot in the door, and all we did was what we were generally doing as kids. We were just doing what we liked to do, and got recognition for it. It’s not a curse. It’s a gift to me because all we have to do now is just work harder.
It wasn’t handed to us, and it gave us time to come back and perfect our craft and our lane. There is just a chemistry with each other that we have now that we might not have had back then if it wasn’t for that record. We made a nice amount of money and toured the world off of it, so we feel like it’s definitely a gift and not a curse at all.
AllHipHop.com: Sounds like a gift to me. Thanks for your time, and I appreciate the honesty and openness. Is there anything else you want the fans and readers to be on the lookout for?
Audio Push: I just really want people to check the tape out. If you’re reading this and wondering if you should check it out, definitely do it. We appreciate you, man, as well and thanks for taking the time to chop it up with us.
AllHipHop.com: Thanks again.
Audio Push: Peace.
Follow Audio Push On Twitter: (@AudioPush)
SNEAK PREVIEW: Track Leaks and Cover Art from DMX’s “The Weigh In”; EP Drops at 2PMEST
(AllHipHop News) Rapper DMX will release his awaited The Weigh In EP today (May 15), just as his cover artwork and tracklisting for the project are also revealed (see below).
Fans have been offered a sneak preview in the way of two leaked singles from the EP – the Dr. Dre-produced “Sh*t Don’t Change” featuring West Coast rap veteran, Snoop Dogg, and “That’s My Baby” featuring R&B singer and actor, Tyrese (audio below).
“S### Don’t Change” featuring Snoop Dogg
Shit_Don’t_Change_Ft_Snoop_Dogg
“That’s My Baby” featuring Tyrese
The 11-track project, including intro, skits and interludes, also touts appearances from Lil Wayne, Big Stan, and Andreena Mills. In addition to Dr. Dre, DMX has assembled a team of producers such as Rich Kid, Niam Son, and Wayno.
The Weigh In EP will be released at 2PMEST today (May 15). Visit AllHipHop.com for more info and a download link.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Did Usher Sleep With Two Of His Ex-Wife’s Bridesmaids?
R&B star Usher Raymond is currently in the middle of a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, Tameka Foster Raymond, over their two young children together. Although the proceedings are supposed to be private, Hip-Hop Enquirer has exclusive coverage, and has revealed all of the scandalous details being spilled in court.q
Among the accusations are that Usher has allegedly slept with two of Tameka’s bridesmaids. Damn, that’s messed up if it’s true, but what does that have to do with a custody battle? Tameka should have brought that up in their divorce hearings.
Usher has estimated that they have ran through about 11 different nannies who all eventually quit because of Tameka’s unbearable ways. A few of the nannies have also testified that Tamika spends all day locked in her room and they believe that she is “depressed.” They have also testified that there is rarely any food in the house, and shared a story revealing that Tameka once left the house to go to the movies and did not return for 2-3 days. They also testified that she is “neglectful” to her children and leaves them alone to be supervised by their 10-year old cousin. This is crazy.
You can read the full play-by-play of the court proceedings here
DMX “Sh*t Don’t Change”
[ahh_audio src=/5-14-12/DMX-ShitDontChange.mp3]
Illseed’s Quickies: Jay-Z’s Blue Break, Kanye’s Wedding Plans, Lauryns’ Loss!
Whoa! Whoa! Jay-Z is going to put his music career on “hold” in order to hang out with Blue Ivy. How cool is that. The only thing is, I’m wondering how many years does the man have? Here’s what he said today to Billboard: “I thought I would be more inspired to have all these new feelings to talk about, but I really just want to hang out with my daughter. I want to enjoy this time for what it is. I’m sure that bug to get back in the studio will come back at some point.”
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are working on new music, says a gaggle of cackling pigeons. No, seriously she’s going to have him on her reality show and he has already reportedly written a rap where he dreams of “wedding bells.” He apparently raps: “Now she back in the club in a tight dress with dreams of someday wearing a white dress/ Even though I met you in the club in a tight dress/At first sight I could picture you in a white dress.” WHOA, PAW, DRIVE SLOW!
The FBI looks to charge George Zimmerman with a hate crime, according to reports.
Looks like Lauryn Hill’s ex Rohan Marley didn’t love the Hip-Hop Queen enough to marry. Dude is now engaged to another woman…son looks crazy in love happy.
Lauryn had like 30 kids from homeboy too! Damn!
On to another “Lauren.” I didn’t know Trey Songz and Lauren London were even a couple, but it seems they have broken up. Love is love.
A number of “video vixens” are moonlighting as actual call-girls or escorts, which is a fancy word for prostitute…which is a nice word for h#####.
Check out Dr. Dre and his wife Nicole out happily shopping! He looks pretty happy and not too concerned with Suge Knight. Well, restraining orders will put a man or woman at ease so they can shop in peace.
Waka Flocka Signs Haitian Fresh, Preps EP With Wyclef, B.O.B. and Roscoe Dash
(AllHipHop News) Waka Flocka has added Haitian Fresh to his growing roster of artists after the signee was an upstart with former Fugee Wyclef Jean.
“Haitian Fresh is up next,” said Waka Flocka, who heads up the Brick Squad Monopoly. “He’s got a new EP and a hot new single about to drop. He’s definitely earned it, and we’re excited to welcome him to the group.”
With Flocka, Haitian Fresh will release Face the World EP which will feature Waka Flocka, Wyclef, B.O.B., Young Money’s Shanel and Roscoe Dash. Fresh has been in the industry for several years and the self-proclaimed “King of Grind” has had several high-end affiliations with acts like Busta Rhymes.
“For Fresh, failure is not an option. With the Brick Squad Monopoly at his back support of Grammy-nominated Wyclef Jean it’s truly his time now, said brand manager Miss V.
Teyana Taylor Signs To Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music With 2012 Release
(AllHipHop News) Former Neptunes protégée Teyana Taylor has found a new recording home with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music and is expected to release a new album later this year.
The singer/dancer has long been rumored to be signed to West, but the gossip became reality with a joint announcement from Island Def Jam/ G.O.O.D. Music.
Last month she released The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, an album procurer that featured Fabolous, and Wale.
The 21-year old Harlem native Teyana Taylor started her career as an artist under the Neptunes’ Startrak/Interscope label and the union yielded one album From A Planet Called Harlem in 2008.
Since her debut release she has worked as a performer/song writer with the likes of Chris Brown, Kanye West, Willow Smith, Cam’Ron, Jim Jones and others.
Taylor has had a number of acting and modeling gigs as well.
Travis Porter [BGA] Ft. Fabolous “My Team Winning Remix”
[ahh_audio src=/5-14-12/travisporterft.fabolous-myteamwinningremix.mp3]
Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Bobbi Kristina Performing At The Billboard Awards?
Bobbi Kristina, the late Whitney Houston and singer Bobby Brown’s only child together, is rumored to be performing at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards. Bobbi is participating in a tribute for Whitney Houston, and we hear that she is adamant about performing one of her mother’s hits for the show.
Bobbi Kristina seems hell bent on becoming a star and will be starring in a new reality show called “The Houston Family Chronicles” that will air on the Lifetime channel. The show will center around Bobbi Kristina recording her first album and will include appearances from her grandmother, Cissy Houston, as well as her aunts, uncles, and cousins. No word on whether her step-brother and rumored lover, Nick Gordon, will be on the show.
Check out the video below of Bobbi Kristina singing Adele’s####, “Someone Like You”. Do you think she has the chops to become a successful singer?
The Roots Release Poster for Historic 5th Annual Picnic; Rakim Added to Jam-Packed Bill
(AllHipHop News) Today (May 14), The Roots officially announced the full lineup for their 5th Annual Roots Picnic.
In addition to the previously announced array of artists, The Roots unveiled a poster detailing all of the acts that will be included on the bill for the Picnic.
The poster features a Native American theme, with a totem pole featuring each of The Roots members etched in the totem. Black Thought and ?uestlove grace the top of the totem, holding a microphone and drumsticks respectively, while the totem is also adorned with Philadelphia’s historic Liberty Bell, as well as musical notes and speakers.
In addition to The Roots, Kid Cudi, De La Soul, Rakim, James Murphy DJ Set (DFA/LCD Soundsystem), Wale, Major Lazer, Dice Raw, Diplo, St. Vincent, Tune-Yards, OCD: Moosh & Twist, Danny Brown, Shabbazz Palaces, Flosstradamus, Mr. Muthaf***in’ eXquire, DJ Afrojak, and more are scheduled to perform.
This year’s Roots Picnic takes place the weekend of June 2-3 at the Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, PA.
Tickets for The Roots Picnic can be purchased as a 2-day pass ($80) or for each individual day ($50). All tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.
See below for the official Roots Picnic Poster.
Ask Ash Cash: What Can You Do To Reduce Credit Card Debt?
AllHipHop.com’s resident Daily Word guru and all-around inspirational guy, Ash Cash, is back with his latest installment of “Ask Ash Cash.”
Watch the video below his response, as he offers more sound advice to readers:
Hello Again!! Today’s installment of Ask Ash Cash comes from Nicole….
Dear Ash Cash: What can I do to reduce credit card debt?
There is a myth going around that says you should pay off the debt that has the highest interest rate first in order to get out of debt quickly. While that isn’t completely a lie, the truth is that you
should pay off the smallest debt first in order to gain momentum in your debt repayment program.
As I discuss in my book, Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom, it is imperative that you get your mind right in order to get your finances together. I believe that by paying off your smallest debts first, you gain some quick wins in order to stay excited about getting out of debt completely. This method is called “s##########,” which means that you stop paying
everything except minimum payments and focus on one thing at a time.
Here’s an example of how it works from Wikipedia:
(This example does not add in the accruing monthly interest of the credit cards and loans, which make the balance amounts higher and payoff time longer.)
A person has the following amounts of debt and additional funds available to pay debt (the debt is listed with the smallest balance first, as recommended by the method):
Credit Card A – $250 balance – $25/month minimum
Credit Card B – $500 balance – $26/month minimum
Car Payment – $2500 balance – $150/month minimum
Loan – $5000 balance – $200/month minimum
The person has an additional $100/month which can be devoted to repayment of debt.
Under the debt-snowball method, payments for the first two months would be made to debtors as follows:
Credit Card A – $125 ($25/month minimum + $100 additional available)
Credit Card B – $26/month minimum
Car Payment – $150/month minimum
Loan – $200/month minimum
After two months (presuming the person has not added to the balances, which would defeat the purpose of debt reduction), Credit Card A would have been paid in full, and the remaining balances as follows:
Credit Card B – $448
Car Payment – $2200
Loan – $4600
The person would then take the $125 previously used to pay off Credit Card A and apply it as additional payment to the Credit Card B balance, which would make payments for the next three months as follows:
Credit Card B – $151 ($26/month minimum + $125 additional available)
Car Payment – $150/month minimum
Loan – $200/month minimum
After three months, Credit Card B would be paid in full (the final payment would be $146), and the remaining balances would be as follows:
Car Payment – $1750
Loan – $4000
The person would then take the $151 previously used to pay off Credit Card B, and apply it as additional payment to the car loan balance, which would make payments as follows:
Car Payment – $301 ($150/month minimum + $151 additional available)
Loan – $200/month minimum
It would take six months to pay the car loan (the final payment being $240), whereupon the person would then make payments of $501/month toward the loan (which would have a $2800 balance) for six months (with the last payment at $234).
Thus, in 17 months, the person has repaid four loans, with two of them being paid in a mere five months and three within one year.
Again, paying down your debt this way will give you some psychological advantages and will keep you motivated to keep going!!! Mind Right, Money Right!!! That’s the only way!!
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.
Boobe: From The Trap To The Clouds [Interview]
Learning the struggle & background of up & coming artists as important as learning about a Major Artist. Establishing if their heart is in the right place and/or if they are in the rap game as a quick meal ticket is important to know; allow me to introduce you to Boobe, CEO of OY Boys Records. Invested 8 years to the Hip Hop scene, he felt it was important for DC to be on the map in a positive light within the Hip Hop Community. In an industry where friends come & go, Boobe’s support runs 10 years strong – they are in it together. Stepping out as a solo artist for the first time & finding success in his newest single, “Don’t Text Me,” in this interview you will learn that success is destined for this young man because his heart is in it for the right reasons; giving back.
AllHipHop.com: Were you born & raised in DC?
Boobe: I’m from Washington, DC – South east DC; born & raised later moved to outskirts in Maryland.
AllHipHop.com: What was it that lead you to thinking of becoming a rapper?
Boobe: I was 14, playing around & free-styling and I didn’t take it serious til I was 18 or 19. I used it to stay out of trouble, too be honest. I would it get the booth & it would be something positive going on and that I was doing.
AllHipHop.com: What was it like putting together your first project? Who contributed?
Boobe: The first project was called, “One way up.” I was in a group – Boobe & The Young Farmers & that was the name of our first project. My City had not been represented in the Hip Hop community so I felt as though I was the one that could make it happen so I chased that dream. I didn’t know that it was going to be 8-9 years later that it started paying off.
AllHipHop.com: So you guys started your own label?
Boobe: Yes, I’m the CEO & it’s called One Way Records but I had a problem with trade marking the One Way after like 3 years, so we changed it to OY Boys Records. We took the beginning of the O in One & the end of Way, the Y and made it OY Boys. It’s a quick little saying that we say at shows & the crowd will “OY” right back at us; it’s real fun & we like playing with it!
AllHipHop.com: Are the Young Farmers still around?
Boobe: The people on my label are people that I met like 10 years ago and it’s been cool every since – it’s like a Family. The Young Farmers are still around. I’m just doing my solo thing right now because I found that people like a solo act more than a group. Not to mention it’s a lot easier for me to travel with just me & one other person verses me and five other people.
But, my homie Mac Milli is doing something solo & I got an R&B act that is doing something solo – she’s doing her thing. I also got some Youngsters coming up that are putting something together. Right now I’m just waiting to kick the door in so that I can let all of them in. I’m not trying to rap forever so I have to make my mark for about 4-5 years.
AllHipHop.com: What additional projects were worked on along the way that contributed to where you are now?
Boobe: A lot of it was with the group & we did about 4 or 5 mix-tapes and albums. DJ Khaled hosted a mix-tape called “We Shittin On N*ggas”. DJ Funky, out in Atlanta, hosted a mix-tape, “The Streets Most Wanted Vol 1”. DJ Cee-Lo hosted “The Streets Most Wanted Vol 2”. Paul Wall hosted a mix-tape for us – I forgot the name of it because it was a while back but we’ve just been moving & putting in work.
AllHipHop.com: How did the putting together of “Don’t Text Me” come about?
Boobe: I put a call out to my homie, C#### Santana from Murder Inc, I got him to come down from New York to DC & he put the beat on & instantly I wrote the song real quick & I just knew right then that it was going to be a good single. Next thing you know, we put our money where our mouth was at and we were on the road meeting up with DJs, going back and forth to Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Chicago – we were just on the road pushing it & it worked. It’s paying off!
AllHipHop.com: What additional success are you currently seeing with the progression of “Don’t Text Me?”
Boobe: I’m getting a lot of paid shows, here at home, in the Carolinas, Virginia & getting requests for features. The radio play – I’m getting a lot of love there and it’s just a beautiful thing. Of course I am getting some criticism but it comes with the territory and I just let it motivate me. I’m actually in the studio every day & I believe I have songs bigger than “Don’t Text Me”.
AllHipHop.com: Will this song be featured on your next album?
Boobe: “Don’t Text Me” is on the Gangsta Grillz & can be found on my website (www.onewayboobe.com). I’m working on my album now but I don’t have a title for it just yet – I’m trying to get my catalog up right now.
AllHipHop.com: What is the fan base like for you in DC?
Boobe: Actually its beautiful. DC is known for a lot of hate & lack of support but honestly, I don’t see it – we get a lot of love. My single, “Don’t Text Me” is doing really good right now throughout the Nation & I’m getting a lot of love. It was on 106 & Park – it seems like the stars are lining up together.
AllHipHop.com: You mentioned 106 & Park – what other things have come your way with this record?
Boobe: I’ve got a Gansta Grillz mix-tape with DJ Drama called “Boobe Trap” – “Don’t Text Me” can be found on there. I also got a mix-tape with DJ Cannon. I’ve been networking with Raheem Devaugh, Paul Wall, Scarface, Lloyd – I’ve worked with a few people. I haven’t been too big on features lately though, I’ve been trying to do me & have people hear what I have to put out. I don’t want any features to take over the record & take from the Artist.
AllHipHop.com: What’s next for you?
Boobe: Either get in a situation (sign to a label) or blow up independently. No matter what I accomplish, I always feel that I can do a lot more. I’m just trying to get my name out there and brand the company; staying hungry & staying focused. I want to open up the doors for other Artists coming out of my City. I feel as though I am in a position to where I could be a Master P or a Puff, coming out of DC. I’m surrounded by a lot of talent and a lot of people look up to me & I know once I get my shine & get in the industry like I plan to be, I can look out for those behind me.
AllHipHop.com: Are you looking to sign to a major record label?
Boobe: If it were set up the right way where I can have control & have the right budget, I would love to work with a major label. I’m used to spending my money the way I want & as long as a major isn’t trying to put a cap on to anything, it should be good. If a major feels that they could invest in me & put trust in me & we work together, I believe it would be successful with the moves I’d like to make. But yeah, I’d love to get with a label – you can only spend your own money & get so far. The major can throw some game on the fire and make it that much bigger – that is the ultimate goal. But if I could stay independent & get the same results, believe me, I would.
AllHipHop.com: What else are you working on?
Boobe: I’m in my first movie. A movie called “Recognize” which is directed by my homie T-Miles, he works for No Limit Films so its going to be a No Limit Films. He has me in there as the co-star, he is the main star in it & I play a cat named Ray – I’m in there all wild. It’s a good look and I really enjoy shooting it – we’re in Atlanta filming now. I have about two days left of shooting & we will be wrapping soon. I think it’s going straight to DVD so it should be dropping in the Fall sometime.
AllHipHop.com: Where can you be found on the web?
www.Faebook.com/onewayboobe, www.twitter.com/onewayboobe – I don’t remember my Myspace (laughing) and then I’ve got www.onewayboobe.com, www.oyboysrecords.com & that’s about it.
Chris Brown, Cee-Lo and Usher to Perform at 2012 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas
(AllHipHop News) Chris Brown has officially been added to a lineup of over 10 performers who will grace the stage at next weekend’s Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
The 2012 awards show, which is hosted by “Modern Family” stars Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen, is set to include performances from the likes of Justin Beiber, Usher, Cee-Lo Green, LMFAO, Linkin Park, and more, with additional acts to be announced in the coming days.
Brown’s performance will come a little over a month before he releases his fifth studio album, Fortune, on July 3. The Grammy Award-winning singer is savoring the success of the album’s current single, “Turn Up the Music,” which currenly sits at #2 on “Billboard’s R&B and Hip-Hop Songs Chart”.
In addition to perforning, Brown will be up for four Billboard Music Awards, including “Top Male Artist,” while singer Rihanna has been nominated in 13 categories this year. Lil Wayne is up for 10 awards, and the duo of Bad Meets Evil are up for “Top New Artist”, along with Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, and Foster the People.
Tickets for the 2012 Billboard Music Awards are currently available at Ticketmaster.com. ABC will air the show live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on May 20.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Did Jay-Z Give Freeway The Cold Shoulder At The “Made In America” Press Announcement?
Today, Jay-Z was in Philadelphia holding a press conference with the Mayor of Philly to announce his upcoming Made In America concert series. The two-day music festival will be held on Labor Day Weekend and is sponsored by Budweiser.
While making the announcement, former Roc-A-Fella artist and Philly native, Freeway, was welcomed on stage…or was he? From the looks of the photos, Freeway was shunned out of the group photo opportunity with Jay-Z and the organizers, and he awkwardly stood by the end of the stage with his hands folded across his chest….damn!
But, pictures can definitely be deceiving. Freeway later posted the photo above of he and Jay-Z at the conference, so I guess it’s all good. But the photos of Freeway on stage like a stepchild are mortifying.
EXCLUSIVE: Opening Statements Begin In Jimmy Henchman Cocaine Case
(AllHipHop News) The trial of Hip-Hop mogul James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond began today (May 14) in Brooklyn Federal Court.
Rosemond, who at one point managed artists like Game, Brandy, Akon and others, is accused of being the head of a $10 million-year-cocaine ring.
Authorities accuse Rosemond, who appeared in a court today in a crisp, pin-stripped suit, of organizing a conspiracy to distribute cocaine imported from Los Angeles, to New York.
Prosecutors claim Rosemond used FedEx and other overnight shipping companies, to send cocaine from Los Angeles to New York, where the drugs were distributed, in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and other boroughs.
The Prosecution
A multiracial jury made up of eight women and six men listened to opening statements from prosecutors early this afternoon.
Prosecutors said Rosemond headed up the cocaine empire from 2007 until 2011.
“The whole system ran like clockwork,” Assistant Prosecutor Una Dean said. “For a time business was good. He [Rosemond] had a lot of money and lived a life of luxury. But he didn’t just have money, he had cash, so he could continue to build his drug empire.”
Prosecutors accused Rosemond of using his management company, Czar Entertainment, as a front, to launder his drug proceeds.
The Assistant D.A. said that on three separate occasions, police intercepted massive amounts of cash in bundles of $400,000 $600,000 and $800,000, respectively.
Prosecutors claimed that Rosemond created hundreds of front companies, and used thousands of money orders to pay for various luxury items
He even used the money orders to pay one lawyer $300,000 in attorney fees.
When Rosemond began to suspect authorities had infiltrated his drug empire, he started using other methods of sending drugs back and forth between California and New York.
Police said that after Rosemond stopped using FedEx, he began shipping cocaine in music crates, to various recording studios in New York and sending the drug proceeds back to Los Angeles.
After some of those shipments were seized, Rosemond started shipping luxury cars stuffed with drugs, to New York and Los Angeles.
The Defense
Gerald Shargel said that there were four major flaws with the government’s case against Rosemond.
He said the government witnesses were liars, questioned their motives, said the evidence seized was flawed and that Rosemond’s reputation was strategically damaged by journalist Chuck Philips.
“I’m going to make a bold statement. The prosecution’s case against Jimmy Rosemond can’t be trusted,” Gerald Shargel told the jury. “The witnesses they are relying on want to be paid with the price of freedom. These witnesses have an eloquent history of lying. I don’t mean simply insignificant lies, I mean lies that hit to the heart of this case.”
Gerald Shargel said that most prosecution witnesses had a motive to lie, since that was the only way to have their federal sentences reduced, under federal guidelines.
Some of the witnesses testifying against Rosemond face sentences ranging from 10 years, to up to life in prison for drug dealing and other crimes.
Shargel said that he would also question the evidence in the case, as well as the corroboration of the evidence the government will present.
Shargel said that Rosemond was the manager of several popular Hip-Hop artists, including Game, Akon, Mario Winans and others.
According to Shargel’s opening statements, Rosemond’s duties as a manager accounted for the large amounts of cash he frequently possessed.
Prosecutors began to object when Gerald Shargel laid out the final point of Rosemond’s defense, which was his reputation.
Gerald Shargel pointed to an infamous article published in the Los Angeles Times by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Chuck Philips.
The article claimed that Rosemond was behind the 1994 shooting of Tupac Shakur, at Quad Recording Studios in Manhattan.
When a document in the article was found to be fabricated, the Los Angeles Times was forced to publish a retraction, fire Chuck Philips and settle a defamation of character lawsuit with Jimmy Rosemond for $250,000.
A man named Dexter Isaac eventually confessed to be being the trigger man in the 1994 Quad shooting, allegedly on orders of Rosemond.
With the exception of the fake “302” documents cited in the article, Chuck Philips has always maintained the article was accurate.
“This motivated people to go along with the government’s story,” Gerald Shargel told the jury. “When they cooperate, the mandatory minimum no longer exists. You will find that plays an important role, because the article motivated people to testify against Jimmy Rosemond, who was labeled a snitch.”
According to Gerald Shargel, the former Hip-Hop mogul attempted to cooperate with the government seven different times, but they were not satisfied with the information he provided to them, but he also admitted to the jury that Rosemond deliberately lied to prosecutors each time a deal was on the table.
“What about Game? You got any dirt on Sean Combs, or anything on 50 Cent? Who killed Tupac Shakur?’ Those were some of the questions the government wanted Rosemond to answer,” Gerald Shargel said.
Testimony continues in the trial all this week.
“The Avengers” Crosses $1 Billion At Global Box Office; Development On “The Avengers 2” Begins
After 10 days of release, Marvel and Disney’s The Avengers has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box-office, a feat that is certain to be added to the long list of records the film has broken since last week’s massive $200+ million dollar opening weekend.
If you’re one of the eight people left in the world who has yet to see The Avengers, do yourself a favor and get to a theater near you as soon as possible. You won’t be disappointed and, in fact, will be treated to one of the most entertaining, enjoyable, and all-around bad-*ss films ever put on screen. 
If you really need more than the notion of seeing your favorite superheroes team up to take down a global threat on an epic scale unlike many other summer “blockbusters,” check out “AllHipHop.com’s 10 Reasons to See The Avengers.”
The Avengers second-weekend U.S. haul of $103.2 million has helped place the film at #11 on the “All-Time Worldwide Grosses List,” behind films like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Avatar, Titanic and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Analysts expect the film’s worldwide total to increase exponentially over the next month or two, suggesting that The Avengers could end up in at least the top 5 when all is said and done
In related news, THR has reported that Disney CEO Robert Iger announced during a recent conference call with analysts that development has begun on the highly-anticipated follow-up to what should surely will become this summer’s biggest movie.
Before fans and the general movie-going audience gets to feast their eyes on The Avengers 2, though, Marvel will be releasing Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 next year, as well as Captain America 2 and a currently unrevealed new Marvel film in 2014. In other words, don’t expect The Avengers 2 to melt your brain until 2015 at the earliest.
And now, for the question on most people’s minds: how will The Dark Knight Rises fare come July 20?