Ever since Kanye West signed African artists, D’banj and Don Jazzy, to his G.O.O.D Music label, the former friends and business partners have been at odds with one another.
In a recent interview, D’banj opened up about the ongoing feud between him and Don Jazzy, and mentioned that he would never cheat Don Jazzy knowing that JJC (of JJC and the 419 Squad) had cheated Don Jazzy in the past.
Well, JJC has caught wind of D’banj’s interview and is alleging that D’banj has committed credit card fraud, as well as talking about D’banj’s “419″ past and his escape from the police as the inspiration for his “Mobolowo won” video.
(AllHipHop News) A record store owner in Royal Oaks, Michigan, has recently unearthed what he believes are over 7,000 records from the late and great Hip-Hop producer J Dilla‘s personal collection.
The Detroit Newsis reporting that Jeff Bubeck, owner of the Royal Oaks record store UHF, discovered “crates full of records, numbering in the thousands. After digging through their contents, Bubeck learned he’d stumbled upon something special, the personal record collection of late Detroit hip-hop producer J Dilla.”
Bubeck acquired over 7,000 records from “an abandoned storage unit in Clinton Township last month that may have belonged to Dilla.”
“When first digging through the crates, amid the mountains of 94-cent Earth, Wind & Fire LPs, Bubeck noticed a box of cassette tapes, labeled in black marker as “Jaydee Beats.” There were also lyric booklets, along with magazines and pieces of junk mail addressed to James Yancey, as well as to his parents, Beverly and Maureen Yancey. The names didn’t ring a bell with Bubeck. But when he punched Yancey’s name into a Google search on a whim, two and two came together.”
“It was pretty shocking,” saids Bubeck to the Detroit News. “I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?'”
He continued, “Dilla was a notorious crate digger, scooping up albums by the caseload to scour for obscure beats and samples. So while many of the records in the collection are dollar-bin throwaways, there are some, including titles from 1970s Detroit jazz label Tribe Records, that have significant value.”
Once he is able to reach J Dilla’s mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, Bubeck says he planning to share sales proceeds with the J Dilla Foundation, although recent contacts have been “unsuccessful.”
“For now, Bubeck is still combing through the boxes of records, and UHF is putting them on sale several at a time. When Record Store Day was celebrated on Saturday, the first batch of Dilla records hit the shelves, and fans were excited to get their hands on them.”
The records are being sold in Bubeck’s Royal Oaks store and come with “yellow tags that identify them as part of Dilla’s personal stash.” One of the UHF’s owners, Scott Hagen told the Detroit News, “A lot of people were saying, ‘I just want one record that was his.’ They just want to own something that once belonged to Dilla.”
(AllHipHop News) Urban radio in New York has undergone a major transformation, as 98.7 KISS FM will merge with 107.5 WBLS.
The merger will end 30-plus years of KISS, which is owned by Emmis Communications, broadcasting to listeners in the New York/New Jersey areas.
“I extend my gratitude and deepest thanks to the many special people that created the memories and sense of community that KISS FM delivered for 30 years,” said Emmis’ New York SVP/General Manager Alexandra Cameron. “Emmis will be forever grateful. We are so very glad that a part of KISS will remain remembered through WBLS programming as they welcome beloved personalities like Shaila and Lenny Green.”
In the coming weeks, ESPN Radio will take over Kiss’ famed 98.7 frequency.
KISS is recognized as being the first commercial radio station in the United States to play Hip-Hop, back in 1983, with the addition of Kool DJ Red Alert.
WBLS responded by hiring Mr. Magic and the legendary DJ’s saturated New York radio with Hip-Hop music.
In addition to regularly playing rap music by future icons like Run-DMC, Whodini, Kurtis Blow, Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One and Afrika Bambaataa, KISS helped launch the career of media personality Wendy Williams.
Emmis Communications, which also owns Hot 97, bought KISS in 1994.
It switched to an all-R&B format in 1999.
“WBLS and WRKS have been the voice of the tri-state black community for 30 years and we plan to merge the best of both stations to create a stronger voice to deliver the best in R&B music while also super serving our community,” added WBLS VP/General Manager Deon Levingston.
All this weekend both stations will run programming celebrating 98.7 KISS FM’s role in shaping the urban/Hip-Hop landscape.
(AllHipHop News) In addition to upcoming performances at the New Orleans Jazzfest tomorrow (April 27) and LSU Parade Grounds on Saturday (April 28), Dee-1 has announced plans to embark on a nine-date West Coast tour with fellow rapper, Murs.
The “Ridin’ All By Ourselves Tour” will kick off on May 5 at the University of Nevada’s Wolfstock Festival and will hit other West Coast cities, including Sacramento, Fresno, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, Flagstaff, and Sante Fe.
After the “Ridin’ All By Ourselves Tour” concludes, Dee-1 will perform two shows in his home state of Louisiana: Baton Rouge Fairgrounds on June 16, followed by the Milestone Fashion Show in Alexandria on July 14.
Check out a full list of dates for the “Ridin’ All By Ourselves Tour” below:
5/5 – University of Nevada, Reno (Wolfstock)**
5/6 – Sacramento, CA (Harlow’s)
5/7 – Fresno, CA (Fulton 55)
5/8 – Santa Barbara, CA (Velvet Jones)
5/9 – Riverside, CA (UC Riverside – The Barn)**
5/11 – Las Vegas, NV (Aruba)
5/12 – Flagstaff, AZ (Green Room)**
5/12 – Santa Fe, NM (SOL Santa Fe)
[** Murs Only]
For tickets and more information, visit Dee1music.com.
Pittsburgh’s hometown hero, Wiz Khalifa, was recently in NYC doing a round of publicity for his new single, “Work Hard, Play Hard” from his upcoming album, O.N.I.F.C. and found himself caught in a media firestorm regarding an alleged beef with rapper Wacka Flocka Flame.
“It was kind of hinted at that, I guess, he [Wacka Flocka] had felt like I came at him a certain way on a song,” said Wiz. “If that is the case, I feel like he should have came to me and asked me like, ‘Yo, was you talking about me in your song?’ and I would have cleared it up like, ‘Nah, man, it’s cool; I don’t have no problem with you.’ Instead of all of this stuff going on.”
Check out our interview with Wiz Khalifa below, where he talks about his “beef” with Wacka Flocka Flame, whether or not he and Amber Rose ever argue, and how he deals with the pressure of being famous.
O.N.I.F.C. is scheduled to drop in August and features guest spots from Chris Brown, Cam’ron, Pharrell, and his Taylor Gang crew.
The Funkmaster, George Clinton sits down with What’s Trending’s Shira Lazar and talks is new doctrine degree from the University of Berkley, music and internet, givesadvice to up-and-coming artists and George’s financial issues. Full story at What’s Trending
Raekwon addresses Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Corey Booker with supreme frankness: “What’s up with the youth programs? Call up some of these rappers. We’re not against y’all.”
The virtual interaction between the two luminaries took place at the first-ever “Politics & Pizza,” a frank discussion with the leader of a tough-as-nails city on the rise. In this first segment, Mayor Booker talks with AllHipHop’s Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur, Seandra Sims, Gina Torres, and Grouchy Greg Watkins, along with Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon, about mentoring youth and how Hip-Hop artists need to step up.
Check out the first segment below:
“Politics & Pizza” is an ongoing series. Check back to see more from Mayor Booker’s conversation with AllHipHop.com.
Follow Mayor Cory Booker on Twitter (he loves followers! – @CoryBooker), and follow Raekwon, too! (@Raekwon)
(AllHipHop News) Event officials announced today (April 26) that both Jay-Z and Rihanna will be two of the headlining acts for this year’s Hackney Weekend, as part of the 2012 Olympic Games taking place in London this summer.
BusinessWeek is reporting that “The pair will star in the BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend 2012 (June 23-24) a month before the Games, said organizers of the Olympics cultural festival, releasing the program at a news conference today.”
Jeremy Hunt, British film director and Secretary of State for culture, media and sports spoke at the news conference this morning and said, “There will be absolutely something for everyone: from Beethoven to Jay-Z, from Shakespeare to Mike Leigh.”
According to BusinessWeek, “other headliners of Hackney Weekend — set to draw an estimated 100,000 fans — are Florence + the Machine, Jack White, David Guetta and Tinie Tempah.”
Hackney Weekend takes place on June 23-24, while the 2012 Olympic Games will kick off on July 27 and run until August 12.
(AllHipHop News) Earlier today (April 26), Chicago-bred, California-raised MC Paypa released his new mixtape, Henny On the Rocks 2: The Bottle, for free online.
The S.R.C./Universal lyricist drops his new project just six months after the first Henny On the Rocks was released, which featured Chris Brown, Marcus Manchild, Ya Boy, Malik Yusef, and Nipsey Hussle.
About the project and his creative state of mind while recording, Paypa told AllHipHop.com, “H.O.T.R. 2 was really easy for me to put together, because I knew where I wanted to go. I had so much bottled up, hence the name “The Bottle” – so much stuff that I wanted to say and wanted to talk about and get off my chest.
“There were things that bothered me and I just went in and elaborated on all of it.” Paypa continued, “I had a lot of time to think while I was out on the road and on tour and that was a huge learning experience for me. The last year has been such a year of growth and development and I just wanted to pour it all out.”
Paypa also told AllHipHop.com how he decides who he wants to work with on a song: “It all starts with the music for me, man. I go in the studio and just pick a beat and figure out what the beat is saying and how I want to approach it, and I come up with the record. Then I sit back and figure out who would sound good on it.”
“I choose to collaborate with people that I’m fans of and admire their work,” Paypa said. “I’ve got Emilio Rojas on this tape who is an up and coming MC who’s absolutely incredible. Raekwon’s on there who is an absolute legend, and who I’m just lucky to have the opportunity to have on my mixtape.”
It’s been almost nine years since Long Beach rapper and former Eastsidaz member, Big Tray Deee, was first incarcerated for an attempted murder for firing shots at rival gang members. In the almost three years since we last spoke to Tray Deee, he’s managed to write a new fictional book along with fellow incarcerated writer Anthony Barrow, entitled, “Streetz Gon Cry”, which is now available in paperback and e-book.
Tray Deee’s new novel tells the story of two gangs (the King Crips and the Vernon Boys) that share an on and off rivaly in their efforts to control the cocaine game in the streets of West South Central Los Angeles. AllHipHop.com had the rare opportunity to once again to chop it up with Big Tray Deee for an exclusive update on his well being and new book:
AllHipHop.com: First off, please let us know how you are doing.
Big Tray Deee: Thank you for asking. I’m wonderful. Allah has allowed me to grow in maturity and spirituality during these past nearly nine years of incarceration, so everyday that I wake up, I look at it as a fresh start to earn his favor and blessings. I’m humble, positive, optimistic, healthy, and strong. I’m very close to regaining my freedom, so I feel unstoppable.
AllHipHop.com: That’s wonderful to hear. Congratulations on your new book, “Streetz Gon Cry”. What made you decide to become an author?
Big Tray Deee: Thanks. Well, initially when my co-author/business partner and I were brought together, he wanted me to become the editor for our company, Ave Money Publishing LLC. After I began to edit “Streetz Gon Cry”during its developmental stages, I offered a few viewpoints here and there, and as Tony (Barrow) and I got deeper into the story, he invited me to assist in its completion. So, together, we went hard and did that.
AllHipHop.com: Please take us through the writing process for this prison-penned book.
Big Tray Deee: “Streetz Gon Cry”was born in the mind of Mr. Barrow, so there was already a storyline and a direction when the chapters began getting delivered to me, and after dissecting the plot, I would implement various twists for his approval and vice versa. Tony is a spectacular storyteller, and we both came up in the gang-infested streets where cutthroat, nefarious activities were the norm in hustling. Once we fine-tuned the fictional characters, the story basically told itself.
AllHipHop.com: Now that you’ve written a fictional book, do you have any plans to write an autobiography?
Big Tray Deee: Certainly, however I feel that I have much more to experience and accomplish in this life, so an autobiography from me at this time would be premature. But when I do decide to put it together, it should be an interested read and possibly as thick as an encyclopedia [laughter].
AllHipHop.com: Are you still writing songs?
Big Tray Deee: And you know this! God gave me the right gift to write lyrics, a love of music, and a distinctive voice. Plus, I know that there are tens of thousands of individuals who’ve lived or are living the lifestyle that I address when I spit. They could give a damn about a metaphor or a simile or about spending stacks on b*tches and bullsh*t. They just want to hear that rugged and raw gangsta sh*t – and I got that all day.
AllHipHop.com: Do you have a special message for all of your fans out there?
Big Tray Deee: Fa sho! I love all y’all for ridin’ with me and supporting me throughout my career, sincerely. I know the game ain’t the same as when I left, and it done got kind of watered down by perpetrators and imitators, but don’t trip. Once the General returns to the battlefield, I got some bombs to drop on they a** and make ’em salute!
For now, y’all can follow me on Twitter (@BigTrayDeee and @avemoneyllc). Peace and blessings to AllHipHop.com. Thanks for the shine and support.
