Nicki Minaj is ready to take over the world! The Queens cutie will take her act overseas at the end of February to promote her upcoming album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. Nicki, along with Roman, will be hitting up London February 19th-25th, Paris on the 26th-27th, Berlin on the 28th, and then to Tokyo March 1-4th.
Get ready, blokes! Roman is coming to town!
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/LolaMonroe-StayScheminFreestyle.mp3]
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/SignatureMeanroe-ChoCho.mp3]
That would be a resounding YES! You can add Nas to the list of the many rappers that Breezy has collaborated with since his reign began as one of the top R&B/Pop acts in the nation. The two talents were in the studio yesterday collaborating on a new song for Chris Brown’s upcoming album. Check out Breezy’s tweet about the session below:
“NAS ft on the album!!! In studio right now workin!!! Amazing!”
This is quite unexpected! I wonder what the track will sound like?
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/Dee-1-ImOnItRemixFeat.LilChuckeeandFiend.mp3]
R.Kelly is back to his diva ways!! Our sources tell us, Kellz was booked to perform and celebrate his birthday at the Hennessy VS MLK Weekend event at the King of Diamonds in Miami last weekend and he arrived 2 hours late to the gig! To add salt to the wound, Kellz also refused to perform and would not leave his dressing room the whole night!
This isn’t the first time R.Kelly showcased the diva within. Two weeks ago, we hear he pulled the same stunt at a nightclub in Fort Lauderdale, FL. This guy should be happy people are still booking him to shows, considering his disturbing history. Get it together Kellz!
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/Knwledge-CoSigner3.mp3]
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/FredTheGodson-RackCityFreestyle.mp3]
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/KnowledgeMedina-YouDontReallyCare.mp3]
(AllHipHop News) Legendary R&B singer Etta James has died at the age of 73, it was announced today (January 20).
The singer died from complications related to leukemia, in a Riverside, California hospital.
Etta James was discovered by R&B pioneer Johnny Otis, who recorded James’ first hit “Dance with Me Henry.”
She was later signed to Chess Records by Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows, where she recorded classic sides like “Something’s Gotta Hold On Me,” “Tell Mama,” “All I Could Do Was Cry,” and her best known song, “At Last.”
Etta James’ career was turbulent at times, due to an addiction to a variety of drugs, including heroin, alcohol and prescription painkillers.
Etta James won her first of three Grammy awards in the 1990s and in 1993, she was inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
“Three-time Grammy winner and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Etta James leaves behind a dynamic legacy spanning six decades,” Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow said. “Her music knew no boundaries as she explored diverse genres including blues, soul, R&B, rock and roll, gospel and jazz. She will forever be remembered for her timeless ballad “At Last,” and a powerful voice that will echo around the world for generations to come. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends, fans and all who have been stirred by her soulful songs and passion for music.”
Etta James’ music has been sampled by a number of Hip-Hop artists throughout the years.
Common sampled Etta James’ “Something’s Gotta Hold On Me” for his song “This Is Me,” while Kanye West sampled “My Funny Valentine” on his 2005 track “Addiction.”
Jay-Z’s wife, Beyoncé Knowles famously played Etta James in the movie “Cadillac Records,” which also starred Mos Def as Chuck Berry.
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/Stalley-GENTLEMENSQUARTERLY(P###.SkiBeatz).mp3]
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/YoungScooterftGucciMane-77Birds.mp3]
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/Twanée-LessonLearned-302.mp3]
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/Range-BlackHoleSun.mp3]
[ahh_audio src=/1-20-12/Riot-SmokingWeedXDrinking.mp3]
(AllHipHop News) In the three-plus years since the 2008 Election, the top issues affecting many Americans – unemployment, insufficient healthcare, poverty, and lack of adequate educational resources – have been heavily thrust into the spotlight. And, among the mostly urban Hip-Hop community, the problems that plague us are front and center, according to rapper Dee-1, the so-called “one-man army.”
In this pivotal year for collectively raising voices and finding solutions among “The 99%”, there are some who report that they don’t plan to vote. To that end, on January 24, AllHipHop.com will partner with The League Of Young Voters Education Fund and Rock The Vote for the second annual #BarackTalk, a State of the Union roundtable discussion and watch party. 
Panelists include rappers Dee-1 and Rhymefest; Goldie Taylor, leading news correspondent at TheGrio.com (MSNBC); Chuck Creekmur, influential urban entertainment journalist and co-founder of AllHipHop.com; Andreas Hale of TheWellVersed.com; Shaheem Reid of Editor-At-Large of XXL; and Michael Skolnick, Political Director of GlobalGrind.com.
Join the movement on January 24, and watch the video clip below, as Dee-1 and Goldie Taylor talk the importance of voting and the 2012 Election with everyday, concerned young citizens:
(AllHipHop News) Houston, Texas hip-hop artist, Chingo Bling, widely known for his unique marketing campaigns that proudly display his Mexican-American roots, announced that he will be attending Park City, Utah’s Sundance Film Festival.
Widely regarded as one of the most prolific independent film festivals in the world, The Sundance Film Festival will play host to Chingo’s newest movie, Filly Brown, a movie about an L.A. street poet.
The flick also stars Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips, while Youssef Delara and Michael Olmos handle directing duties.
“I got a call back in November 2010 from my good friends on the West Coast, Edub and Khool-aid of Pocos Pero Locos. They said that there was a film they were involved in as producers and would love to have me be a part of it. So naturally I’m like hell yea!” Chingo told the Houston Press.
“I play a character named Rayborn Ortiz. He’s a fast talking Damon Dash like character, full of clichés and a little comic relief. A legend in his own mind. He is Filly Brown’s manager,” Chingo said of his role in the movie.
When asked about his development as an actor and about his overall understanding of the movie business, Chingo said being an independent artist helped him.
“Luckily, my career took me on a path where I have created a following, so I’m used to being on camera, and people know who I am,” Chingo explained. “I produce a lot of my own content so I have a feel for directing, editing and improv. All of that experience helps when producers are trying to cast for a movie. In 2011 I had to pass up a few roles that were offered to me because of scheduling conflicts, etc. This year I want to really dive in and take advantage of more opportunities and land more roles.”
Below is the Sundance Trailer for the film Philly Brown.
“I shall…proceed…and continue to rock the mic.” – Black Thought, “Proceed” (1995)
Either Black Thought was a fortune teller, or he already knew back in 1995 that he had something special that would allow him to dominate his rap opponents for years to come. In fact, at the time “Proceed” was released, The Roots spitter had already been part of his gifted rap band for nearly a decade (his “Illadelph Half-life?”), and he seemed to know in advance that the best was yet to come.
Flash forward to 2012, and you’ll find out that Black Thought was right. He’s still rocking mics and crowds, from Toronto to Tokyo and everywhere in between, recording epic albums, and then getting right back to work on the next one. Hip-Hop has been good to him, too – artifacts from his world travels adorn shelves and tables in his home. Countless photos of music legends grace the walls, but Black Thought is posing in very few of them. Perhaps a voyeur, he comes across as a keen observer who is not full of himself – at least not outside the booth.
AllHipHop.com recently hung out with Black Thought before he took the stage at an intimate show with the legendary singer/xylophonist, Roy Ayers, in New York City. In the back of the house, he has “blinked himself away” in a corner VIP booth – listening, laughing, and very obviously enjoying doing nothing at all. It was a great time to be a keen observer of the keen observer – check the video clip below for insights about the swell life and times of The Roots’ founder:
Did you miss out on “Black Thought Week?” Be sure to catch up on our week of exclusives with The Roots frontman:
– Black Thought Reflects on MLK’s Dream
– Black Thought Deconstructs the undun Album
– Black Thought: Don’t Ever Call Him “Underrated” Again
– Black Thought Births the New “Sound of Philadelphia” Via The Wurxs
Naughty By Nature vets Treach and Vin Rock share their thoughts on being “Legends of HipHop” in this exclusive filmed in Baltimore, Maryland. Salt-N-Pepa’s “Legends of Hip Hop Tour” put the iconic lady MCs front and center, and was inspired by a few one-off concerts stemming from their reality show, “The Salt-N-Pepa Show.”
Salt-N-Pepa brought together pioneers like Kurtis Blow, MC Lyte, Kool Moe Dee, Dougie Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, and more for a nationwide tour with the roster rotating in each city. As you’ll see in the clip below, for racking up 20+ years in the game, Vin and Treach are still as energetic and amped on stage as ever:
Rating: 7.5/10
Is it finally Schoolboy Q’s time to shine? After the monster year Kendrick Lamar had, Q is looking to use his affiliation with Top Dawg Entertainment to launch his own career. The anticipation was certainly there, as Habits & Contradictions built buzz up until release. It’s always a positive step in an artist’s career when they make the transition from a ‘free download’ to ‘available for purchase on iTunes’- but does Schoolboy Q have the legs to stand on his own on this big of a stage?
The California representative has gained a reputation for his aggressive, almost angry, rapping style, and there is no shortage of that here. “Raymond 1969” sounds like something out of a horror film, with Schoolboy riffing about endless violent acts. The horror theme follows on “Nightmare on Figg St”, where Q makes a play on last year’s biggest hit, “What 50-grand to a m*thaf*cka like me/ Can you please remind me?/ Sh*t, I’ll remind you.”
Two of the best tracks on the project come in the same brash manner in “Sexting” and “Druggys With Hoes Again”. When the album first leaked, many versions were missing the first of the two – which is a shame, as the lust filled flute-like sounds on the instrumental set the tone for Q to spaz on. The same goes for the latter, which features Ab-Soul and an insanely catchy, bouncy bassline. Violence and hoes – not the most articulate of ideas, but Schoolboy Q excels at what he’s good at.
However, when he does delve a bit deeper, he does it with success. The first song on the album, “Sacrilegious”, is a spacey introduction with introspective lyrics; the same kind of lyrics that are featured on “Blessed” (a Kendrick Lamar sighting) over the stuttering bass thumps. He’s quoted as calling these songs the “title tracks” to the LP, and it’s easy to see why.
“My Homie” is a tale about friends and snitches matched up with a cerebrally tranquil Alchemist beat, and “My Hatin’ Joint” tells about cheating on another man’s girl; more looks into the several facets of Schoolboy Q’s still-growing style. Coming off as a rough, thug type, Schoolboy does a great job of giving the listener an inside look of the trials to that lifestyle.
Habits & Contradictions is filled with a bunch of cool joints. Aside from the ones mentioned above, “Grooveline Pt. 1” is a smooth track with Dom Kennedy and Curren$y, “Hands on the Wheel” is yet another head-banger with A$AP Rocky, and “How We Feeling” acts as a needed break of melody. What makes this project work is the fact that it doesn’t get boring. Whether it be the guest features, subject matter, or Schoolboy Q himself, it keeps the listener attached.
At the same time, though, most songs will come as good with one listen, but just average on a few others – with exception to the few exceptional tracks. Inevitably, anything he does will be compared to that of Kendrick Lamar – not in a competitive sense, but more of an expectation one. And, this is not a Kendrick Lamar project, but it’s a damn good, refreshingly hard album that shouldn’t be overlooked.
