Welcome to the beginning of the best week of your life! First and foremost, congratulations to all the winners of the Academy Awards and a special congrats goes to my fellow Harlemite, Shawn “Diddy” Combs, for winning an Oscar
for the documentary, Undefeated!
Today’s Daily Word is dedicated to becoming Undefeated! Og Mandino once said, “Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough” This is the key to life! I will continue to say this until my face turns
blue!!! YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE WHEN YOU FAIL YOU ARE A FAILURE WHEN YOU GIVE UP!!
Stop being afraid to try something because of the possibility of failing! Life is only a series of lessons… The more you attempt at life, the more you learn and the more you are equipped to win!! Becoming undefeated isn’t about never losing – it’s about never giving up! When the going get tough, you must keep your same enthusiasm and keep going until you win!
Any defeat is temporary, so keep that in mind as you climb to the top! Don’t worry about what people say…those who don’t understand the process of wining will always count you out when you seem to stumble!! KEEP GOING NO MATTER WHAT!! THE WORLD IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING!!!
-Ash’Cash
“Failures are expected by losers, ignored by winners.” -Joe Gibbs
“It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits.” -Ben Stein
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” -Maya Angelou
“If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.” -Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event.” -Brian Tracy
“Winners never quit and quitters never win.” -Vince Lombardi
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.
AllHipHop.com co-hosted a youth town hall meeting at the 82nd gathering of the Nation of Islam during its Saviours’ Day 2012 celebration in Rosemont, Illinois. The discussion, entitled “Our Generation Accepting Responsibility,” included participants such as rappers Jasiri X and Cormega, Wu-Tang Corporation CEO Divine, award-winning singer/songwriters Raheem DeVaughn and Mary Brown, and more.
Focused on education, Hip-Hop as a tool, and pathways to success for young people in today’s modern world, the discussion was attended by several hundred youth and young adults from within the Nation of Islam, as well as the surrounding Chicago area.
During the town hall meeting, AllHipHop.com met a talented young artist named Demont Peekaso who creates on-the-spot artwork of people, places, and events as they’re happening. Take a look at the commemorative piece he painted ON HIS SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE cellphone while listening to the good advice from the star-studded panel (AllHipHop.com’s own Grouchy Greg is to the far right of the painting, depicted with his infamous beard):
For more information, or to purchase artwork, visit Demont Peekaso’s website at www.demontpeekaso.com.
“What do you believe in Heaven or Hell ?/ You don’t believe in Heaven cuz we’re livin’ in Hell”
-“Heaven or Hell”, Raekwon and Ghostface Killa
While making a surprise visit to WLTI 144FM, last week, Platinum-selling artist, Emperor Nero D, was asked for the millionth time about the rumors that he was a devil worshiper. Obviously annoyed, the artist vehemently denied the accusation and flashed his $50,000 golden cross necklace to prove his point. However, on his way out he tagged the station’s celebrity graffiti wall with “666,” winked at the DJ, and faded into the New York night…
Although the issue of Hip-Hop and Spirituality has been discussed over the last couple of years, Nicki Minaj’s “exorcism of Roman” performance at the last Grammy Awards show has once again sparked the discussion.
Has Hip-Hop lost its soul?
Since its genesis, Hip-Hop has had a strong link with Spirituality. As far back as the early ’80s, Melle Mel was preachin’ that “God is smilin’ on you/ But he’s frownin’, too” on “The Message,” and RunDMC told Hip-Hop kids to “stop playin’, start prayin'” on “It’s Like That,” so the spiritual connection has always been there.
During the mid to late ’80s, Hip-Hop began to embrace other forms of spirituality outside of the traditional “Western” theologies, when Boogie Down Productions put sections of Ella Hughley’s book “The Truth About the Black Biblical Hebrew-Israelites ” into lyrical form on “You Must Learn.” Also various groups like Brand Nubian started teaching the doctrines of the 5% Nation of Islam (NGE) and Jaz-O and others embraced the “Factology” of the Nuwaubian Nation. Even Jay Z was, at least, exposed to Factology as evidenced by his appearance in Jaz-O’s video “The Originators.”
Hip-Hop has also had a darker side. As early as 1991, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony were playing with Ouja Boards, and in 1994 The Gravediggers introduced “horror core” into Hip Hop. However, it was not until Snoop Dogg’s “Murder Was the Case,” that same year, that the notion of rappers selling their souls to the Prince of Darkness become believable.
The next year, the group Three-six Mafia was accused of devil worship because of its name and song lyrics. However, when properly understood, people who rep 666 (or according to some scholars, 616) are actually paying homage to to the Roman Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD) who the early church thought was Nero reincarnated according to James Efird’s book “How to Interpret the Bible.” Also, Dr. Hugh Schonfield in “Those Incredible Christians” wrote that those who did not wear the Emperor’s stamp (the Mark of the Beast) on their right hands or foreheads would not be able to buy or sell.” (Kinda like if a rapper doesn’t have tattoos and saggin’ pants, he won’t be able to get a record deal.)
The reason why the dark side has been able to dominate Hip-Hop today is that we have been trained to accept half truths and lies with questioning them.
According to Alan Watts in his book, Myth and Ritual in Christianity, “Christian mythology involves problems of interpretation because it is a strange confusion of two types of knowledge metaphysical (beyond nature) and science.” Much of the discussion about Hip-Hop and religion has dealt with metaphysics which cannot be proven nor disproven, so we must deal with it as a science, which can.
In his book, The Origin and Evolution of Religion, Albert Churchward wrote that all religions derived from either the ancient Stellar, Lunar or Solar cults thousands of years ago. So all religions have a common origin.
Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan in his book, African Origins of the Major Western Religions, argues that the traditional religions of the “indigenous African people” are the forerunners of the “Nile Valley Religions” which produced the mystery systems from which Judaism, Christianity and Islam are derived.
However, the “Euro-Christianity” that was introduced by Portuguese missionaries was not a spiritual practice, but a tool to colonize and later enslave Africans. Also, it must be noted that during chattel slavery, it was illegal for Black people to read the Bible so, they had to accept the slave owner’s version as the Gospel.
This has caused a confusion regarding religion that has been inherited by the Hip-Hop generation.
Although America prides herself as being a “Christian” nation according to Anthony Browder in his book, Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization, the founding fathers of this country were not only slave owners but also deists who believed that man could know God through reason and refinement of intellect,” even though they were well aware of the power of African culture. (Just look on the back of that dollar bill in your pocket.)
As Erykah Badu sang on “On and On,” “Most intellects do not believe in God, but they fear us just the same.”
So, this country has a tradition of reppin’ a religion that it never truly practiced. (Just like the rapper who wears a Jesus piece but has never set foot in a church.) And the masses have accepted myths as reality.
It must be noted that the Western concept of “Devil” and “Hell” are taken from a combination of Greek myths and Dante’s “Inferno,” but the real power of the Luciferian doctrine lies in “deception,” and since the oppressed have been robbed of the knowledge of their spirituality, they can be easily deceived – so much so that Jay Z, can reportedly say that he “believes in God but not the Devil,” and people accept this without question. Even though it defies all laws of physics. And Nicki Minaj can perform a ritual on stage, and people accept it as Hip-Hop.
Spirituality is a major part of any civilized culture, and without it the culture spirals downward into absolute chaos – the type that is present in Hip-Hop in 2012. With all the mayhem going on around the planet, it is imperative that Hip-Hop gets back in touch with its spiritual side.
As Craig Mack said on “When God Comes,” “I hope the subject won’t turn you away/ But the whole Hip-Hop generation needs to pray.”
Amen.
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is “This Ain’t Hip Hop,” a column for intelligent Hip Hop headz. He can be reached at in**@*****************ed.com or on his website, www.NoWarningShotsFired.com Follow him on Twitter (@truthminista).
Sixteen-time Grammy Award-winner and new mom Beyonce Knowles-Carter, along with her mother Tina Knowles, are just two of 27 designers who have created unique apparel in support of President Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential re-election as part of the Runway to Win initiative.
The initiative, which is one of the top Obama fundraisers in the country, was crated by Anna Wintour who is an editor at Vogue. The idea was to bring 27 designers together and let them create their own items for “sale” such as T-shirts, bags, hats, and more, all with images and logos from Obama with all profits going to the re-election campaign for the current President of the United States.
On behalf of Runway to Win, bags were created from designers like Tory Burch, Vera Wang, Derek Lam, Marcus Wainwright and more. A variety of t-shirts were designed Jason Wu, Rachel Roy, Marc Jacobs, Russell Simmons, Sean John, and of course, Beyonce and Tina Knowles. All of the items for sale are priced between $40 and $95.
Check out the full “Runway to Win” store and purchase any of the items created here.
(AllHipHop News) As of this past weekend, fans, passer-bys, and anyone interested in purchasing a piece of Hip-Hop history can view the infamous Maybach used in Jay-Z and Kanye West’s music video for “Otis” off of their Platinum-certified album Watch the Throne.
The “customized” 2004 Maybach 57, which is currently up for auction and estimated at a value between $100,000 and $150,000, is residing at 450 Park Avenue in New York City until Wednesday, March 7. The auction will take place on the following evening of March 8.
Auction host and chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company, Simon de Pury said, “Jay-Z and Kanye West are towering figures in contemporary culture. They have greatly contributed to the artificial barriers between art, music, fashion and cinema to come down. Their video for ‘Otis’ became an instant classic. The Maybach they have transformed for it has the starring role.”
A good portion of proceeds from the auction will go to Save the Children which is “the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need around the world.Save the Children has helped 2.5 million children and families in the Horn of Africa through feeding, water trucking, healthcare and education.”
Those interested in seeing the car can stop by the Maybach’s current residence from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday thru Saturday and from noon until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Just three years after the infamous altercation between the two Grammy Award-winning singers took place, both artists have reunited on remixes of each other’s singles, while rumors have also been swirling over the past few weeks (months really) that these two are back together and are officially an item.
According to RadarOnline, a source very close to the “situation” has gone on record to say, “Jay was absolutely disgusted by what Chris did to Rihanna. Jay doesn’t understand how a man could ever lay hands on a woman; it just goes against who he is and about. Chris is absolutely dead to Jay, he wants nothing to do with him ever. Now that Rihanna is hooking up with Chris and recording songs with him, Jay is deeply disappointed in her actions. He can’t fathom why Rihanna is doing the things she is doing.”
And if you’re wondering what Jay thinks about how these collaborations and the “reunion” could possibly hurt Rihanna’s career and fan base, keep reading … “He understands the need for forgiveness, but he is adamant that Rihanna shouldn’t forget what Chris did to her. Jay wonders what kind of message this is sending to Rihanna’s young female fans.”
The debate rages on via Jay-Z!! Is this a good or bad thing for their careers? Only time will truly tell, but in terms of the music itself, they sound good on the tracks together!
(AllHipHop News) Over the weekend NBA players, fans and Hip-Hop artists alike swarmed the city of Orlando, Florida to celebrate the best of the best in the NBA.
Things got started Friday night with the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, as J.Cole’s East team beat Common’s West team, 86-54, and Kevin Hart took home the MVP Trophy.
Known for a weekend of big parties, NBA All-Star Weekend didnt disappoint this year.
Some of the more popular parties included the Carmelo Anthony and Fabulous party, the Diddy event with live performances by The Runners, Clinton Sparks and the J Cole and John Wall hosted event.
J. Cole made his rounds at several parties, while Lebron James, Floyd Mayweather and Kevin Hart, hosted a party that also included special guests Chris Paul, and Jay-Z’s official DJ, Young Guru.
Dougie Fresh also held an event, with Biz Markie, while Drake and Lil’ Wayne also made their way to several parties to host and perform.
Saturday’s festivities included the Skills Challenge – won by Tony Parker of San Antonio, the Three Point Competition – won by Kevin Love of Minnesota, and the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest – won by Jeremy Evans of Utah.
Hip-Hop fans enjoyed a new twist on The Slam Dunk Competition this year, as Diddy assisted Chase Budinger of the Houston Rockets, who dressed as Woody Harrelson’s character in “White Man Can’t Jump,” Billy Hoyle.
Chase flew over Diddy for a perfect score, but didn’t come out with the victory, despite the Bad Boy hype.
Unofficial host Dwight Howard the hometown All-Star – rumored to be traded in the coming weeks – hosted his share of events as well.
Howard held one event with Floyd Mayweather and several others as the headlining celebrity in his hometown.
On Sunday, Nicki Minaj kicked off the NBA All-Star Game pre-show, performing several of her hits from Pink Friday in between the announcers introduction of the players for the East and West teams.
Mary J Blige also sang the national anthem giving fans her own soulful rendition of America’s beloved song
In addition, Chris Brown, Pitbull, Neyo performed during the half-time show, to Charles Barkley’s critical acclaim.
The MVP of the NBA All-Star game was a toss up between Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Kevin Durant, but Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder took it home after the East lost in the final seconds.
Lebron turned the ball late in the game, helping the West take the victory.
Houston will play host to the 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend next year, from February 15th-17th.
Check out some pictures below:
CHASE BUDINGER FLEW OVER DIDDY IN THE SLAM DUNK COMPETITION, CHECK OUT WHAT ELSE WENT DOWN NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND!
Fabolous at Hennessy party
Love & Hip-Hop’s Emily B.
Rick Ross getting his groove on at Hennessy party
All-Star weekend
All-Star weekend
Ladies at Hennessy All-Star Party
All-Star weekend
All-Star weekend
Lil Jon keeps the party crunk
Fubu’s Daymond John gets a big Shark birthday cake
Fubu’s Daymond John gets a big Shark birthday cake
Fab and DMC Repping
DMC repping for JMJ and adidas at Dwight Howard All-Star party
(AllHipHop News) Last night the Academy Awards were held in Los Angeles, California as Oscars were given to actors, producers, directors, and others involved in the creation of the Academy’s chosen films of the year.
Taking home best documentary was the film “Undefeated,” executive produced by Diddy, about a high school football team from Memphis, Tennesee that undergoes the struggles of life in a rough Memphis area.
The film marks the first time an African American director has won an Academy Award.
Overcome with excitement director T.J. Martin accepted the award accidentally dropping the word, “f**king” in his acceptance speech, a feat that was not a first for Academy Award show speeches.
Directed by Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, the film follows a volunteer coach, Bill Courtney, as he resurrects as a high school team and its players after continually putting together losing seasons.
Miraculously in the film, the Manassas Tigers of North Memphis, who had never won a playoff game in their 110-year history, win a playoff game and learn a great deal about life at the same time.
“Congrats to Oscar Winning FilmMakers @dan_lindsay@TJMckayMartin !!! And Coach Bill Courtney!! #Undefeated LET’S GOOOO!!!” Diddy exclaimed via Twitter. “And special Congrats to @TJMckayMartin-Hes the 1st African American director to win an Academy Award!!! #UNDEFEATED !!!! RT!!!”
Also at the Oscars, viewers heard singer/producer Pharrell Williams and popular drummer Sheila E play to the award show audience in and out of commercials
Pharrell also worked with famed composer Hans Zimmer on several of the songs during the Academy awards according to an interview with MTV over the last week.
“You know, Hans called me and he said that [Oscars Producer] Brian Grazer had asked him to come on as a consultant and effectively score the music or whatever,” Pharrell explained to MTV News. “And Hans was like, ‘I can’t do that. … I’d do that if like I had, like, Pharrell.’ [Grazer’s] like, ‘OK, get Pharrell on the phone.’ That’s the story he told me. I got the call from Hans and he told them he wanted to do it with me, and so I pleasantly accepted and we’ve just been working ever since.”
A complete list of the Oscar winners is below:
Best cinematography – Robert Richardson, Hugo
Best art direction – Hugo
Best costume design – The Artist
Best make up -The Iron Lady
Best foreign language film – A Separation
Best actress in a supporting role – Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best film editing – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best sound editing – Hugo
Best sound mixing – Hugo
Best documentary feature – Undefeated
Best animated film – Rango
Best visual effects – Hugo
Best actor in a supporting role -Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best original score – Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Best song – Man or Muppet, The Muppets
Best adapted screenplay – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash, The Descendants
Best original screenplay – Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Best live action short – The Shore
Best documentary short – Saving Face
Best animated short – The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore
Best director – Michel Hazavanicius, The Artist
Best actor in a leading role – Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best actress in a leading role – Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
(AllHipHop News) Petey Pablo has started serving a three-year prison term, for being caught with a loaded gun to an airport in North Carolina. The rapper was busted on September 11, with a loaded c in hit carry on luggage. According to TMZ.com, Petey Pablo is serving his time in a medium security prison in West Virginia. While he is incarcerated, the rapper must undergo “intensive substance abuse treatment, vocational training and educational opportunities.” Petey is due to be released on July 17, 2014. New Orleans rapper Juvenile has issued a statement regarding an arrest warrant issued for him for unpaid child support. Police are allegedly seeking to arrest Juvie for owing over $160,000 in back child support. “With reference to recent allegations made against me, I would like my fans to know that such accusations are completely false and my legal team is currently at work to prove so,” Juvenile said in a statement. “In the meantime, I stay positive. I will continue to focus on my work and I look forward to the release of my upcoming album.” Justin Bieber is teeming with alternative hip-hop Far East Movement on the new track “Live My Life.” The track was released to radio today (February 25). “Live My Life,” which was produced by RedOne, will be featured on Far East Movement’s upcoming album Dirty Bass. “We’re thrilled to have Justin be a part of Dirty Bass,” exclaimed Kev Nish. “FM has always focused on unexpected collaborations and mashing up musical genres which keeps making music exciting. ‘Live My Life,’ is a song we think both FM and Bieber fans will enjoy together.” “Live My Life” has an additional Party Rock remix version with Redfoo of LMFAO.
I recently received an email from a young lady asking me what recourse she can take if she believes she was scammed. She received a letter stating that she had won a foreign sweepstakes for US$1,000,000, accompanied with a check made payable to her for $4,000. The letter stated that before she could get the prize money, she would have to deposit the check in her bank account and wire the $4,000 to cover the taxes. She did just that, and now she has yet to receive her prize money, the bank has returned the check, closed her account, and reported her to collections.
As we continue to see high rates of unemployment, foreclosures, and bankruptcies, a lot of people that are under financial restraints fall victim to these types of scams. One moment you are wondering where your next meal is coming from, the next moment you receive a letter that will almost fix your problems instantly. Unfortunately, once you fall prey to this there’s really nothing anyone can do. You are 100% responsible for everything that is deposited or withdrawn from your account, unless it is a bank error. In my 11 years in banking, I can’t begin to tell you how many unsuspecting people fell victim to this. The reason this scam is so successful is because it relies heavily on
your emotion to get out of your situation. Even though it sounds too good to be true, the possibility seems worth the shot. Well, you know the saying…”If it sounds to good to be true, then it probably is.” So here’s how this scam works:
1. The Scammer obtains your personal information. There are many ways scammers get your personal information. It could be from something you signed up for online, a sweepstakes, survey, mail that’s improperly disposed, newspaper clippings, or magazine subscriptions.
2. The scammer sends you an e-mail or letter. Through today’s technology, scammers are able to create websites, e-mails and letters that look like they are coming from legitimate sources. They send this fake correspondence stating that you are the grand prize winner of a sweepstakes or lottery, and give you instructions on how to claim the prize.
3. The scammer requires you to send them money. You would’ve either received a check in the original letter, or you are sent one via mail after the scammer contacts you. Either way, they will be requiring you to deposit a check into your bank account, and once the check clears, they will need you to withdraw and wire the funds to someone via Western Union or MoneyGram in a foreign country. This should be a dead giveaway that it is a scam, but again, most people are making this decision based on emotion.
4. Your bank returns the check and charges your account. The scammers know that if you deposit a check in the bank, by law, it must clear within 1-7 business days, depending on where the check is drawn from. The check that the scammer gives you is drawn off someone else’s REAL account, but they’re betting that by the time the REAL owner realizes that their account has been compromised, that you would’ve already sent them the money (which is virtually untraceable via Western Union or MoneyGram). The REAL owner contacts his/her bank to inform them of this fraudulent check and, in turn, their bank contacts yours, your bank returns the check as fraudulent, and because
you sent the money via wire transfer already, your account is now in the negative.
5. Your bank reports you to Chexsystems and Collections. With a negative in your account and no way to pay it back, your bank closes your account and reports you to **ChexSystems (**Chexsystems is reporting agency that banks use in deciding whether to open a new account for a consumer. The report contains banking irregularities such as check overdrafts, unsatisfied balances, depositing fraudulent checks, or suspicious account handling that other banks have reported in the past five years). With this record in Chexsystems, you will not be able to open another bank account anywhere else until you pay off the balance. You are also reported to a collection agency that will attempt to collect the funds, but will report you to the three credit bureaus (Transunion, Equifax, Experian).
Obviously, all of these issues are a big inconvenience and can add stress to anyone already going through hard times. As a general rule of thumb, if you did not buy a lottery ticket or sign up for a sweepstakes, then you did not win!! No matter how tempting it may sound, you must understand that in order to win a game, you actually have to
have played and if you’re going to use the excuse… “maybe I forgot,” then you must think you were born yesterday! You know that if you entered a sweepstakes for $1,000,000 or $1, you would not forget.
Don’t let your circumstances allow you to become vulnerable and naive to the scammers out there who are waiting to take advantage of you. This goes for all types of scams! If your name is attached to it, then the chances are that there are going to be some type of ramifications to you personally. Nothing + Nothing = Nothing! There isn’t any replacement for old-fashioned hard work. If you want something in life, then you have to put in the work. Nothing in life is free.
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.
Since 2007, Richard “Outasight” Andrew has gradually been taking the music world by storm. With the recent release of his seventh mixtape Get It Together, Outasight is giving listeners an opportunity to rediscover the music he’s been creating for the past five years.
Hailing from Yonkers, New York, Outasight has been blazing through the charts with his Gold-certified hit, “Tonight Is the Night.” Before his recent sold-out show at New York’s Gramercy Theatre, AllHipHop.com got the low-down on his background, his influences, his creative process, and what fans can expect from his debut album which is tentatively set for release later this year:
AllHipHop.com: How you feeling today?
Outasight: I’m doing great. Thanks.
AllHipHop.com: I want to ask you about your background first if you don’t mind. I know your parents heavily influenced you with the music they surrounded you with when you were growing up. Can you tell me about those experiences?
Outasight: Well, I mean I just grew up around a lot of music. My mom was a big-time with collecting records, so there was always a lot of music in the house, and my dad played guitar so he was a musician. Not by trade, it wasn’t his main job, but he did play the guitar and when he was younger, he was a player in a band. So I just always saw music around me as a kid, and it always just brought a different kind of feeling that was just different you know? It just sparked something in me.
From a young age, I kind of realized that there was something special about music and the feeling that it brought, so it really started there just in terms of me saying, “I think I want to do this.” You start having those dreams as a kid, and your imagination kind of goes with it, and then as you continue to get older, you start figuring out how you’re going to do it. It has to start somewhere, so it really started just from hearing it at home whether it was The Beatles or Stevie Wonder or Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, you know, there was so much stuff. Michael Jackson, Prince, whatever.
AllHipHop.com: You just listed off a whole bunch of different and classic artists and icons, but do you remember what genre you first heard that really struck a chord within you?
Outasight: Well, the first CD I ever bought, actually I got it through my Mom’s Columbia House ‘cause I was eight years old, was A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory. I was eight and I saw the “Scenario” video as a kid, and I just thought that was the dopest video ever. Just being a kid, that video was so much fun. It was like a huge party and everybody looked like they were having a blast. I remember sitting there and watching MTV and saying “this is amazing.”
After that, I think it was Black Sheep’s A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing ‘cause “This and That” was a huge record at the time, but as a kid I loved everything, and I’ve always been a huge music and pop culture junkie. So growing up, I was listening to Punk Rock, Hip-Hop, Drum and Bass, Alternative Rock, R&B, everything, all the classics, and I just loved it all. I think that’s what kind of helped me as an artist just kind of broaden my horizons and become more eclectic.
AllHipHop.com: I definitely hear you on that. Outside of the artists you just named, who are some of your other favorite artists from the past and present that you find yourself listening to on a daily or more frequent basis than others?
Outasight: Jay-Z, Kanye West. I was a huge Mos Def fan during the Rawkus period, just a huge, huge fan. Marvin Gaye, D’Angelo’s Voodoo is my favorite album of all time. The Roots, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, f*cking so much stuff. The Clash, Elvis Costello…
AllHipHop.com: Damn, man.
Outasight: [laughter] I told you, man, I go across the board for sure. Everyday sparks something different. I love Beck and LCD Soundsystem. I mean, there’s just so much good music out there, so I definitely try and appreciate as much as I can.
AllHipHop.com: Well, I can certainly appreciate that. Since you’ve surrounded yourself with all this great music and based on the music you listened to when you were younger, I’m curious how you would describe your style and sound musically?
Outasight: My style right now is definitely Pop, with a hybrid of Hip-Hop, Soul, and Rock. I definitely, even from my earliest work, was trying to perfect the idea and craft of the hook. I’ve always set out to nail the hook. So there was always that wanting to continue to get the melody and the hook, and just make those kinds of records that are just catchy no matter what the production was sounding like. It’s interesting, ‘cause it’s always rooted in some Pop, but you know, I definitely have a hybrid of everything I would say.
AllHipHop.com: From what I’ve noticed, being that the first time I saw you was performing at last year’s Governor’s Ball Music Festival in the summer and have been a fan since…
Outasight: Yeah, thanks so much, man. That was fun. We rocked that one out.
AllHipHop.com: …Yeah that show was great. But I’ve seen this tendency since I went back and listened to your older stuff, and I noticed that lately, the music you’ve been creating and putting out has more of a singing style to it then some of your past music where there was a move evident Hip-Hop style and sound. Is there anything to that?
Outasight: I think it really depends just what you’re listening to. It really goes on like a song-by-song basis. I mean, “Tonight Is the Night” is melodic, but “Stay the Same”, I’m rapping and “Figure 8”, I’m rapping. “Life Or Something Like It”, I’m rapping. I think it really depends. It’s funny because I don’t really think about it ever, and I just kind of create and feel what’s right at the time, you know what I mean? There’s never been a point in my life when I’m in the studio and said “I need to sing this song” or “you know what, I’m singing too much; I need to rap.” I just kind of go with the flow and feel it out, and that’s the beauty of music is that there’s no boundaries to even try and fit you in. If you can do it, just do it. So I just enjoy the creative process and go for it.
AllHipHop.com: I understand. Now back in ’09, a huge milestone in your career happened when you signed with Warner Bros. Records and Asylum. At the time, based on the music that you were creating and releasing, why did you feel that signing with Warner was the right move?
Outasight: Well, I originally signed with Asylum and Todd Moscowitz, and then it basically got me out of a small indie deal. The label was patient enough to work with me and make sure that I was able to get out of a kind of nasty situation, and they were always there and believed in the music. So, I just knew that I had somebody that was definitely going to work with me and try and develop me as an artist and really work to meet the goals of getting more listeners and getting certain things going.
It just felt right and when the guy who signed me became the C.E.O. of the company, basically, I just went to Warner Bros. Records. It’s a process with a new artist, and so when they had the change over at the label, that took a lot of time and amazingly enough, it just worked in my favor, because the guy who signed me ended up becoming the CEO, so I was put in a really good situation of having people who believe in me still there. And so, when it was time to go and they pressed the button, everything started working, and they’ve just been so supportive of everything I’ve been able to do. It’s just been a great working relationship.
AllHipHop.com: Well, that’s great, man, and I’m glad that you’re happy with your label situation.
Outasight: Yeah, I definitely am. Thanks.
AllHipHop.com: Now I want to get into the music itself. Like I said before, I’ve gone back and downloaded and listened to your older mixtapes and EPs, but I want to know about the album. What can you tell me about your Warner Bros. debut?
Outasight: Well, I continue to work on the music always and am always trying to get better, and it comes to a point where I’m still growing an audience. Now that we have a gold record with “Tonight Is the Night”, we’re starting to get different exposure opportunities, we’re planning on putting it out this summer. You just never want to rush it just to say you did it and f*ck it up, you know what I mean?
AllHipHop.com: For sure.
Outasight: We’ve had to really grow this from the ground up, and it takes time, and I still have a lot of growing to do. So the music is really good, and there are certainly some real songs with depth there, and it tells my story and it feels really good. But you want to be able to share that with as many people as possible. That’s why we’re just continuing to fill that audience. Right now, with everything continuing to grow, “Tonight Is the Night” has just been a great launch pad for me on the commercial side of things, so that’s just something we’re continuing to go at.
AllHipHop.com: As a fan and listener, it really is great to hear that an artist wants to take their time with creating the best album they can and isn’t trying to just get it out there and capitalize. So that alone speaks leaps and bounds for you and your character.
Outasight: No doubt. You’ve just got to take pride in what you do. I love making music, I love performing, so I just want to make sure that when it’s all said and done, I can look back and be proud of what I did.
AllHipHop.com: Regarding the people that you’ve worked with in the past like Asher Roth, Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs, Naledge, will any of those guys be appearing on the album?
Outasight: Right now my album is collaboration-free.
AllHipHop.com: I like that.
Outasight: I just kind of want my album to be my story, and I’m always down to collaborate, so it’s not like I’m saying “no” to people. But I think there’s a time and place for each collaboration. Like I just did a song with Don Trip, so I am open to doing collaborations with dope artists. But for my album, I’ve really kind of kept it to myself, not to be selfish.
You know, the same way I write my own songs and I’ve been able to start and be successful, is the same way I want to do my album and be successful. I want to do it my way.
AllHipHop.com: I hear you. Is there any plan to drop another mixtape or EP before the album’s release or are you 100 percent solely focused on finishing that?
Outasight: I’d love to. You know, that’s something I’ve really got to talk to my team about. I’ve got a lot of material so once I get off the road – I don’t know when that is – I’ve got a little bit more time in March in New York, ‘cause I’ve been on the road for two months straight now, so I haven’t really been able to sit in the studio and get it all together. Every time I’m in the studio I just bang out a song, and I keep it moving.
Putting out a mixtape before the album could definitely be a possibility. I’ve been thinking about it, I just got to figure out the details so I don’t know yet.
AllHipHop.com: Well, I hope you do. I just want to say that I’ve definitely noticed your sound evolve and mature over the past couple of years, at least based on what I’ve heard from you. Where do you see you music and sound heading in five years from years now?
Outasight: I’m constantly just trying to get the sound bigger and bigger. Not even on a commercial level, just like sounds and the idea of making music that can take over a stadium, you know what I’m saying? There’s a part of me that’s just jonesing to make anthems and make music that people will listen to for a very long time. That’s what I’m going to continue to try and get better and better as an artist; everyday I’m trying to get better.
I listen to myself and I’m very critical of myself. I know what I want to do and how I want to take it there so I’m just continuing to improve as a person and artist and just kind of make music that, like I said, some people can listen to for a very long time.
AllHipHop.com: We can’t wait to hear the new music for sure. Is there anything else you want the fans or readers to know before we part ways?
Outasight: If any readers are unfamiliar with my work, they can download the Get It Together mixtape, which was like a compilation of work over the past year and some new stuff. It’s a free download, and it’s hosted by DJ Benzi, so everybody who doesn’t know who I am can get familiar with it.
AllHipHop.com: OK, great. Thanks for your time, man.
Outasight: Thanks a lot, JP.
For more information, visit www.IAmOutasight.com. Follow Outasight on Twitter (@Outasight).
