“Life At Last”
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DJ Kay Slay: Beats, Beef and Business
AllHipHop.com: How does it feel to be four albums deep in the game?
DJ Kay Slay: I mean at the end of the day its a blessing. Lot of cats cant get one out. AllHipHop.com: You have an all-star line up on this, Drake, Mr. Fab, San Quinn, Papoose, Ray-J and a lot of others. How did you get so many varied artists? DJ Kay Slay: My whole MO is to try and help brothers on the come up. Pretty much down the line, they get successful, they pay homage back. Most artists came through my lane at some point or another. So when I reach out, I really dont have the same problems most people might have. I never turned nobody away, even if Its an artist I dont agree with. One mans trash is another mans treasure. I might not like it but somebody else might. AllHipHop.com: Well how do you decided what goes on. Theres a vary good representation of Hip-Hop on the album, from the East Coast, to the West coast and down South. DJ Kay Slay: I listen to who can spit. This is what I do. Im not so big on who can make a big record. Them dudes might not be talked about 10, 15, 20 years from now. They could be one hit wonders. Im more interested in the dudes that are gonna go down in the history books. Dudes like Grandmaster Caz. Caz and the Cold Crush brothers had hot joints, but they never had big big records like Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash and them. But theres no way you won t mention his name as one of the greatest MCs. So I go for the brothers that can spit. I listen to the vocals and how a cat handles a beat. I normally give a cat a New York beat, like a Jay-Z joint. And ask them to freestyle. That will bring out their talent to see if they can spit, or if their one of them create a record guys. AllHipHop.com: So this coming through E-1. How is it working with them? DJ Kay Slay: I mean as long as you understand what the essence of what independence means, you good. As long as you know it means do it yourself, youre good (laughs). Dont think that you got a million dudes operating for you and making moves, you have to make them moves yourself, you gotta push yourself and they will meet you half way. They have some of the best radio guys, like Shadow Stokes and Dee [Sonaram]. If you show and prove, then they gonna do what they gotta do. Im good with them over there, I aint got no complaints. AllHipHop.com: The album was delayed a few times, it was supposed to drop in October, but its just getting to stores today. Was that because Plies refused, or couldnt be in the video? DJ Kay Slay: See me being a real n**ga, I dont want to sit here and whine and cry and say Plies f**ked anything up. He did alter my moves. It was the five weeks I spent waiting for him to do what he said he was going to do. Then I had to hit Yo Gotti and that took a week to get on and shoot the video. But me blaming him, nah. Whatevers gonna happen is gonna happen. That comes with the atmosphere. AllHipHop.com: But you took him off the album too. Hes not on it right? DJ Kay Slay: Mos def, I put Yo Gotti. Why wouldnt I when he came and put his verse down and did the video? But like I said, I aint gonna sit here and b**ch. He did what he did, I said what I had to say, and good luck to that brother. AllHipHop.com: But wait, he put out that track Letter to the Industry right after your statement. It sounded like he was talking about you. DJ Kay Slay: Tell me one line where he was talking about me. AllHipHop.com: Where he said he wasnt scared to come to New York to shoot the video with security. You said in the interview that he needed all that security, so it seemed like he was replying. DJ Kay Slay: The police protection, I think he was more or less talking about another situation with another artist. There was never a situation about plies coming to New York. He was shooting his video in Tampa, and his people requested from the label that he needed police, not New York. SO it was never a threat to me and I didnt take it offensive. I wasnt even going to be there when Plies was going to the part in Tampa. Atlantic said he was real particular about the area, and if there area wasnt safe, then he would not gonna do it and he preferably liked armed and uniform police and that was through Atlantic. I had love for Plies, I wasnt a threat. Thats how I knew it wasnt direct to me. AllHipHop.com: I get it. But theres another part, where he says another n**ga want me on his album and paperwork, seemed like it was aimed at you. DJ Kay Slay: Im glad you say this so I can clear it up. Another reason why I wasnt offended, is because Plies was cleared for the album. The record was spinning on the radio and we were doing the video. I could have kept him on the album if I wanted. But I keep it real, I was showing him love on my show. Time to clear the record, Atlantic cleared it. I know you know [Michael] Kyser. It wasnt about the money, they just stopped answering the phone my dude. Thats how that whole situation went. But I am past that. But just to clear it up, he was good for the album, thats why I didnt take any of it personal. If I did, I would have had Papoose go at him and show him what rhyming is really about. But for some reason when Im right, s**t always spins around and looks like Im wrong or the troublemaker or bully. Im almost 44 years-old. Im not gonna be squabbling with some kid. If he ever needs me, the love aint gonna be there just like it wasnt there for me and thats that. AllHipHop.com: Well theres no doubt that Big Lou, from Camden has been going hard at you too in songs and interviews. He claims your blackballing him. DJ Kay Slay: This is all Im going to say to him. He came to me for help, he lied, had another record deal. The guy sent cease and desist letters to me Hot 97, my lawyers and everybody, for me to stop playing his music or participating in any kind of activities with him or I would be in court. If you want all that for your site, I have it all. After that I had to leave it alone. Blackball him? Blackball what? He wasnt honest. I had love for him, but he had another deal. AllHipHop.com: How are you handling your business on this album? I see there was a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against you over your Streetsweepers Volume 2, because of the sample in the G-Unit song Angels Around Me. DJ Kay Slay: To be exact, I bought a record from G-Unit. Sha Money. I guess they produced the track. The DJ Twinz produced that track. I cant get sued. I never paid these artists, Sony did. Even if they paid Sha Money for the track, they are still supposed to make sure the samples are cleared. My name is mentioned because its on my album. At the end of the day, I didnt do nothing to them n**gas. All I did was bought the track, it was a finished song. A lot of these little bulls**t situations I found myself in, the s**t could have always been resolved through a phone call. That album didnt do more than 200,000 units. It has 90 something artists and around 18 producers. AllHipHop.com: Business wise, you are doing a lot on your own. How is Straight Stuntin doing? DJ Kay Slay: Everybody knows me, my whole career, I like to give a platform to new cats trying to get on. The majority of rappers that get on are male. There really isnt a platform for women to do anything. And in the hood, every n**ga wanna be an athlete, a rapper or a big time drug dealer. Not to many n**gas wanna be doctors, lawyers or firemen. Sorry to say, we do need them, but thats not it. The women want to be models, an actress, or the wife of an athlete or a big time drug dealer. I figured the modeling thing would be simpler if I gave them a platform to show their talents and It would be good to come through a magazine. Its female DJs, rappers, models, adult entertainers. No requirements, just come correct. Everything is run right like any other magazine you see. AllHipHop.com: Why did you decided to do a magazine. Has technology impacted the way you do business? DJ Kay Slay: I didnt do an online magazine because thats how you lose. This downloading s**t f**ked up the whole music industry. The last thing you want to do is put it online cause people wont purchase it. You cant bootleg a magazine. The time that it takes to do it and the money, a n**ga aint gonna take the chance to do it. The only way you could lose if you did an online version. I dont care if you have to pay for it, a motherf**ker will figure out how to get that s**t for free. Its a gift and curse.
DJ K-Slay’s More Than Just A DJ is in stores now.
Bishop Lamont Ft. Paul Wall
“Money Over Everything”
AHH Stray News: Akon, Ludacris, Paul Wall
(AllHipHop News) Akon has signed one of Ghanas most popular rappers to his Konvict Music Africa imprint. Hiplife artist Sarkodie is the newest member on the roster and will release his sophomore album Rapaholic via the new deal. Konvict Music Africa is also slated to operate in South Africa and Nigeria, in an attempt to find new international talent. In related news, Akon will host a new weekly show on Londons Capital FM starting next weekend. The show will air every Saturday night on 95.8 FM, starting on February 13th. “Akon has worked with legendary performers such as Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston and Eminem and his brand-new show on Capital will be awesome,” Program Director Paul Jackson said.
Hip-Hop will be represented at a new motorcycle exhibit that opens this weekend at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A tricked out bike owned by Ludacris is among the classic motorcycles featured in the exhibit. The rappers wheels are showcased next to legendary bikes owned by actors like Clark Gable and Steve McQueen. Additionally, the exhibit features bikes from movies like Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Wild Hogs and G.I. Joe. The exhibit closes on March 14. Rapper
Paul Wall has a reality show in the works with his wife Crystal Slaton, according to reports. The show will revolve around Paul Walls family life and his profession as a world famous rapper from Houston, Texas. The show came about after the rappers wife Crystal made an appearance E!s popular Hip Hop Wives special. Paul Wall is working on his album Heart of a Champion and preparing for a high profile concert on March 17th at SXSW in Austin, Texas, with Chamillionaire.
Hip-Hop Rumors: New Beef For Drake? The Game Goes Home! Hoopz’s New Men!
DISCLAIMER:
All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.
LIL WAYNE’S OFF TO JAIL…BUT…
He had a magnificent party! Click her to see the images!
DRAKES NEW BEEF???
I got half a rumor and I am not sure what is up with this one. So I am asking for you all to help me. Let me begin. There is a song called “Mambo” by a dude named Fito Blanko. And the song features Drake. I can’t lie. I never heard this damn song even though its been on the blogs for a while. Apparently, Drake has caught some hell because some of the lines in that songs popped up in other Drizzy songs. It seems like this Fito dude actually held the Drake verse…as Drake grew into the megastar you see today. The track was definitely old though, according to rumors. Now I am getting word from a very lil’ bird that there is some friction with regard to Fito now using this song. But, that is all I know…can anybody help me?!
THE GAME IS OFFICIALLY BACK ON AFTERMATH!
I think I said this already, but I am going to say it again. The Game is back on the Math. I want to personally take some credit for this. Why? Because through my powerful rumors, I TOLD Dr. Dre that there was no way he could complete DETOX without The Game. Its 360, back to Compton! Plus every album has had some primary rapper to anchor it. There was Snoop, Eminem and The Game. Where does this leave 50 Cent, I have to ask? It just seems strange across the board. Something is going on, but I cant quite put a finger on it.
ILLSEED’S QUICKIES
R. Kelly is doing another damn Trapped In The Closet. Spare me!Kanye West is about to launch another blog.
Amanda Bynes is actually in love with KiD CuDi? Heard she used to like Drake before that.
Anybody out there heard anything about Chopper from Da Band getting arrested?
EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY
I got this from my homey Q-Wreck. He just happened to be taping a crackheadish person with no shirt on and he managed to punch the lights out of another crackhead-looking person. WOW.SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!
According to the Associated Press, a strip club in Ohio has raised about $1,000 for the people of Haiti in a promotion deemed Lap Dances for Haiti. WOW! They did it on Saturday and they donated a $10 cover charge to the Earthquake relief! Isnt that nice?
They gave the money to a group that gives food and clothing for Haiti. The strip club wanted to change the perception of strip clubs and wanted to do good things for the people of Haiti. Here is the plug Marilyn’s in Toldeo, OH. Pause.
HIP HOP & FOOTWEAR
Rapper endorsed shoes haven’t always been as big as their other ventures but I guess with the success Kanye had last year in the footwear industry they’re willing to give it a shot. Snoop Dogg and Swizz Beatz debuted their sneakers with ADIDAS and Christian Louboutin respectively. Are you ready to camp out to get a pair of these???
Swizz’s Louboutin’s:
HOOPZ NEW MAN???
Flavor Flav’s original TV squeeze, Hoopz, has done a pretty good job holding onto her 15 minutes. She was down in Miami this weekend celebrating with her alleged new man, Gotti, a rapper out of Chicago. And apparently they were all over each other the whole night. I’m not up on him so IDK how big he is but I know he’s got him a “niiiiiice lil baby” *Plies voice* if this is true.
P.S. Where’s that Hoopz sex tape??? Streets NEED that ASAP.
She also caught up with Ocho Cinco…wonder how Gotti feels about this???
USHERS NEW GIRL A PROBLEM???
Usher’s new album “Raymond vs. Raymond” has been pushed to a late March release because the label fears there is “chaos in the camp”. Apparently his manager/mother walked away from the project after Usher’s girlfriend, a former Def jam exec started getting to involved in the project. He told the label he would manage himself, but they are demanding he find someone a little more competent. Word is he’s in talks with Randy Phillips who has also managed Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton and Lionel Richie.
CONSPIRACY????
It seemed like some higher power was definitely trying to take Reggie Bush off his game this past week. First Ray-J reminds the world that Reggie’s main jawn used to “blow it like birthday Kush.” Then his jump off, Carmen Ortega, the woman who caused him and Kim K to break up last year decides she wants to post a video tour of his house while she’s there alone. Folks on the net are saying her and her friend shot this right after having a threesome with Mr. Bush. It didn’t seem to mess up their celebration last night though:
Meanwhile Reggie’s mom took some time to talk to Wendy Williams the other day and let her know what she thinks about her soon to be p### star daughter-in-law:
I’M JUST SAYIN’I didn’t know LMFAO was Berry Gordys son and nephew…I dig their tunes.Nicki Minaj was supposed to receive $30,000 to host a party at Club Ole in New Jersey…with no album out she’s doing her thing.
Sade’s album is amazing … I downloaded it cuz I NEEDED to hear it but I’ll get my hard copy tomorrow you should do the same.Beyonce and her mother are being sued by a Chinese company who manufactures their clothing…they claim they cheated them out of $500,000…the weird part is they filed under the RICO statute, created to help prosecute violent criminal organizations.There’s a rumor floating around that Reggie Bush proposed to Kim Kardashian at a dinner with their families Friday night.Wayne is off to Rikers tomorrow … MTV caught up with some insiders to find out what he can expect:
CAPTION THIS!!!!DJ Khaled and Trina … what’s going through his mind???
GLASS HOUSEThank god Barack Obama won otherwise this would have been our VP. Sarah Palin gave a speech this weekend where she was very critical of the President and even accused him of insincerity because he uses the teleprompter a lot. Lo-and-behold she took the Jr. High route and wrote her answers on her hand.-PEACE – CHANCECDR @ TWITTER FACEBOOK & GMAIL
—
LIL WAYNE, WE LOVE YOU!!! HANG IN THERE LIL BUDDY!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHO: illseed.com
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].
P.Miller Discusses New Orleans’ Victory; Announces School In Haiti
(AllHipHop News) New Orleans rap mogul P. Miller is hopeful The Saints victory over The Colts in Super Bowl XLIV will help the city overcome the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The city is celebrating their first Super Bowl victory in history, Mardi Gras and for some, the election of a new mayor, Mitch Landrieu the citys first white mayor since 1979.
The Saints winning the Super Bowl was more than a game for the people in New Orleans; it gave hope to a Who Dat Nation and other nations that are dealing with tragedy, Miller told AllHipHop.com in a statement. This is a city that strived a long time to rise above poverty, crime and racism. For over forty years, our people have joined together through this one team representing the colors of black and gold, hoping to experience the sweet taste of victory.
According to P., born Percy Miller, the city now recognizes the value of team work, rebuilding and never giving up.
Just seeing the smiles on the players and the fans faces made me proud to be a native of the city of New Orleans, knowing that all of my life Ive been the underdog and overcame adversity, Miller said.
The former head of No Limit Records said that despite a disaster that practically washed the entire city away, the world has continued to embrace New Orleans culture, music, songs, food, and world famous Mardi Gras.
The city that was washed away by a hurricane was brought back together by one of the greatest football teams of 2010, Miller said. The same hope that we could give to other cities and nations that have been devastated by a natural disaster like Haiti. I realize that even as we celebrate this victory, not too far away kids and their families are still dealing with tragedies. And we as people should team up and help.
And Miller is putting his money up to make a difference as well.
The mogul is in the process of building a school in Haiti to help the impoverished nation recover from a massive 7.0 earthquake in January.
My Super Bowl victory party wont begin until the building of our school in Haiti is complete, Miller promised.
For more information visit: http://ihearthaitikids.org/
Hip-Hop Rumors: More Plies & Trick! Danger Outta Mental Hospital! Fantasia To Jail?
DISCLAIMER:
All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.
PLIES AND TRICK DADDY
Well, I heard that wasnt too, too big a deal. I heard it was simple. Apparently, Trick Daddy went over to Plies to give him a handshake and one of Plies bodyguards shoved Trick back. After that, a huge argument reportedly ensued, but nobody actually got into a fight my sources say. Now, being that Trick Daddy is one of the kings in Florida, I personally cant say I visualize him going up the Plies like that, but I trust my sources. Well see what else comes out of it.DANGER GETS OUT TODAY
Here is the latest on Danger. She is reportedly getting out of the mental facility today. You all know that she was taken in by the cops after she tried to burn her own house down. She was supposedly given all the tests for being mentally incapable of living among us and passed. Sooooo she gets released. But what about the fact that she tried setting her own place on fired? They are saying it was all an accident and that was proven. So, whats the need for the psyche test in the first place? Questions, questions, questions!
[Source]
KANYE DISPELS RUMORS
I thought this was old, but people are still reporting on it. Kanye refutes the rumors that he threw a tantrum on a plane. I never reported on it in the first place.
I feel bad that people believe this kind of stuff or any random rumor that is taken as fact because its on the internet. This rumor is particularly ironic because I was actually happy with a business class seat and was offered a seat in first class. A friend of mine was sitting in coach so asked if they could bump him up to business instead of putting me in first. There was absolutely no altercation in any way. Theres been many a time where Ive given someone in coach my business or first class seat in order to sit next to a friend I bumped into. I really could care less about where I sit on the plane. Its hard to deal with the rumors sometimes. As a good person with a warm heart, it does bother me. Im not bigger than feeling pain, embarrassment, stress and worry. Have you ever been lied on??? How does it make you feel??? You wanna tell everybody its not true right? Thank you to all my fans who still love and support me even though its not the trend right now! Im sleeping in the studio and I wont let you guys down!
LIL WAYNE GOES TO JAIL
I thought I would take a moment to comment on Lil Wayne going to jail.
My comment?
Damn shame.
FANSTASIA GOING TO JAIL?
I didnt really hear that Tasia is going to jail, but I heard something similar. One of my favorite sources told me that Fantasia is running a serious risk of getting sued by a fairly obsure law called the Jump Off Law. I know it cant be called the Jump Off Law in the legal system, but here is a rundown of it.
Married women in North Carolina can sue their husbands mistress and receive money if the other woman is proven guilty of being a co-conspirator in the act. Fantasias about to get sued. They passed the law a few years ago when this lady was found to be stressed emotionally because her husband was cheating with this other woman.
Now, any Legal Eagles are welcome to tell me if this is real or not. But, Tasia has COOK tatted on her shoulder region and COOK is a married man! OH BOY and SMH at the same time.
BEYONCE TAKES A SPILL!
You know this stuff gets people talking. Beyonce falls. People talk.
THEY REMINISCE OVER YE
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
Tiger Woods has reportedly left sex rehab. Nice, Tiger .
Usher left his momeger and came back. Now, his mother Jonetta Patton has quite again, because she reportedly does agree with his new gal Grace Miguel. What about Chilli?
In more Usher yap, his new CD has been delayed.
Beyonce and Alicia Keys are all set to do a video for “Put It In A Love Song” tomorrow in Rio De Janeiro. Swizz Beatz will reportedly direct the video.
Did Key Key Cole have that baby?
EPIC WIN OF THE DAY!
I saw some people dissing Rihanna and her Super Bowl get up, but I think her new suit is rather snazzy. J
RIHANNA’S HALF-SUIT, WE LOVE YOU!!!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHO: illseed.com
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].
Faith Evans Announces Reality Show, New Album
(AllHipHop News) Faith Evans has inked a deal with E1 Television and E1 Music to launch a reality show and new album it was announced today (February 8).
The reality show Its All About Faith will chronicle Evans return to the recording industry after a five-year hiatus, in addition to juggling a home life with her husband/manager Todd Russaw and their four children.
Evans 6th album will be released on her own imprint, Prolific Music Group, which is distributed by E1 Music .
“2010 is shaping up to be an amazing year for me, Evans told AllHipHop.com in a statement. To be in a place where I have grown from an entertainer to an entrepreneur is truly a blessing. I am excited to share this incredible experience with my fans and the world.”
Faith Evans is the wife of the late Christopher Notorious B.I.G. Wallace and the first female singer to sign to Sean Diddy Combs Bad Boy Entertainment. She released three platinum albums with Bad Boy, including Faith, Keep The Faith and Faithfully.
In 2004 Evans left Bad Boy. The following year, she released The First Lady and A Faithful Christmas for Capitol Records.
“Working with Faith on her new highly anticipated album and this compelling reality series is a perfect example of how E1 Entertainment is implementing its strategy of utilizing its three business pillars Television, Film and Music,” stated John Morayniss, CEO of E1 Television. “Were excited to be able to offer artists working in multiple creative fields and disciplines the opportunity to partner with E1 in all of our complimentary businesses. Ultimately, this allows us to help them reach the largest possible audience around the world.”
E1 Television, E1 Music, Faith Evans and Ten2One Entertainment are producing the series, which will air later this year.
TOP 5 DEAD OR ALIVE: Tech N9ne
Hip-Hops growing pains are
a necessary part of its living legacy. Today there are too many expiration-date
rappers who only spew Dr. Seuss rhymes. Thankfully there are still MCs,
like Tech N9ne, who are committed to preserving the craft. He is one
of Hip-Hops heroes; his lyricism cripples times exacting hands.
Just as Tupac and Biggie have been placed into AllHipHop.coms Top
5 Dead Or Alive Hall of Fame, Tech N9ne offers his opinion of Hip-Hops
top wordsmiths.
Big L
Tech N9ne: He had style, he wasnt just rapping [and] he flipped it often. He really had flow and he really had style; I love style. I love n****s that can get on there and style and show you that they can flip it; but, still rap. L was hard. I heard a lot of his freestyles. I heard him through Grant Rice [a Kansas City, MO MC]. What he played me made me say, Gaddam, I wish I had got a song with this n****! You know what Im saying, there arent too many motherf*****s that can make me say that. This n**** had flow. I heard a lot of his freestyles on some mixtapes that were coming out of New York. I was like, gaddam! Not too many m############ can do that.
Eminem
Tech N9ne: His wordplay cant be matched. If you listen to him; its sick! Its ill, it has cancer [and] it has AIDS; thats how sick it is!
Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne: I love Tech N9ne; because, Tech N9ne is everything combined! Its f***ing filled with sadness, gladness, everything combined! Its confused, its sexual, its sing-songy [and] its hardcore. Its not apologetic.
AllHipHop.com:
What one track would you recommend to a Tech N9ne novice?
Tech N9ne: If it was
back then I would tell them This Ring. But, if its right now,
I would tell them on the second CD of Killer, theres a song
called Cant Shake It. In that song youd understand Tech
and that he has flow as an MC. You can hear it, you know what Im
saying, Tech N9ne is incredible to me; because, its like its not
even me. But it is. Ill listen to the music and be like, wow, where
did that come from?
The
D.O.C.
Tech N9ne: D.O.C. was f***ing dope! D.O.C. was the final nail in the coffin that [made me say] okay Im going to rap. There was always Public Enemy and NWA and BDP [Boogie Down Productions] and Rakim and all of them; but [after listening to] D.O.C. I said, Yes, I got to do me some mother***ing music! Hes a lyricist. He even wrote for Snoop, on his album [Doggystyle]; because, he [D.O.C.]
didnt have his voice anymore. Go get his first album No One Can
Do It Better. So, D.O.C.s my fourth.
Brotha Lynch Hung
Tech N9ne: My last one gotta be Brotha Lynch. Swear to God, if you listen to Dinner
And A Movie first release on Strange Music youll see why. That boys a gaddam lyricist! I dont give a f**k how many people hes eaten, how many abdomens hes torn out, how many hostages hes taken, the boy cannot be f***ed with, lyrically. He does it like no other.
–
The Sidebar
AllHipHop.com: How do
you feel about ghost-writing within Hip-Hop?
Tech N9ne: I dont
like it! I mean, you know, maybe for R&B and stuff like that, or
Pop, yeah! Go ahead and do what you like; but, rappers and s***if
you cant write it, maybe you shouldnt do it. I dont know. I
mean, it works for some people; but, it wouldnt work for me.
AllHipHop.com: If you
cant write it maybe you shouldnt do it!
Drake Launches Eco-Friendly ‘Home Away From Home Tour’
(AllHipHop News) Grammy nominated Canadian rapper Drake has announced his first ever North American solo tour with the launch of The Away From Home Tour.
Drake will hit the road for 25 dates with fellow Canadian rapper K-Os and New York City based synth-pop band, Francis & The Lights.
The 25-date tour will kick off on April 5 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois and will wind down May 8 in Plymouth, New Hampshire at a private location.
Drake has teamed with Reverb, a non-profit environmental organization, to make the tour eco-friendly , by greening the tour using biodiesel fuel in his tour bus, in addition to using biodegradable and recycled products on his tour bus and backstage.
Drake will play a variety of festivals on the tour, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and The Bamboozle festival.
The tour is Drakes first official tour since wrapping up the Lil Wayne headlined, Young Money Presents: The Americas Most Wanted Music Festival Tour dates are listed below:
Date City/State Venue 4/06/2010 Charleston, IL Eastern Illinois University 4/07/2010 Columbus, OH Private Location 4/09/2010 State College, PA Penn State University 4/10/2010 Boston, MA Private Location 4/11/2010 Lock Haven, PA Private Location 4/14/2010 East Lansing, MI Michigan State University 4/15/2010 Rochester Hills, MI Oakland University 4/16//2010 Morgantown, WV West Virginia University4/21/2010 Orlando, FL University Central Florida 4/22/2010 Greenville, SC Furman University 4/23/2010 TBA 4/24/2010 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 4/26/2010 Kansas City, MO University of Missouri Kansas City 4/27/2010 Lexington, KY University of Kentucky 4/29/2010 Lowell, MA University Mass Lowell4/30/2010 Syracuse, NY Private Location 5/01/2010 Boston, MA Private Location 5/01/2010 East Rutherford, NJ Bamboozle Festival 5/04/2010 Worcester, MA Holy Cross 5/05/2010 Towson, MD Towson University 5/06/2010 Cheney, PA Cheyney University 5/07/2010 Ithaca, NY Private Location 5/08/2010 Plymouth, NH Private Location
Pioneering Rap Group Whodini Plots Summer Return
(AllHipHop News) Pioneering Hip-Hop group Whodini is in the studio with hopes of releasing new music this summer, according to group member Grand Master Dee.
Whodini, which features original group members Ecstasy, Jalil and Grandmaster Dee, is currently on the Fresh Fest tour.
The Fresh Fest is a re-creation of the original groundbreaking tour, which was the first successful mega-tour in Hip-Hop history to play large arenas.
Their first album Whodini (1983) contains the rap classic Magics Wand, an often-sampled dedication to the late DJ John Mr. Magic Rivas.
Whodini’s second release Escape (1984) contained tracks like The Freaks Come Out at Night, Big Mouth and Friends.
Their third album Back in Black (1986) also sold over a million copies based on the single Funky Beat and One Love.
We’re going to come back out, we really feel we need to do another album, Grandmaster Dee told The Riverfront Times during a stop in Saint Louis at the Chaifetz Arena, on the Fresh Fest tour.
I don’t want to leak too much out yet, but we’re trying to put a single out at least by the summer, Grandmaster Dee revealed. For now we’re just sharing the road with [Big Daddy] Kane, Doug [E. Fresh], Slick [Rick] and Salt-n-Pepa, doing what we do.
According to Grandmaster Dee, the Hip-Hop scene is bigger now than it ever has been.
I look at the scene like hip-hop is bigger than ever right now, but everybody’s doing the same thing, Grandmaster Dee stated. There’s not a lot of people being different. That’s not knocking them; like I always say, they do what they do and we do what we do. But if you’re not out here in fifteen years, still eating, then you know you done something wrong!
No release date is available for Whodinis upcoming single or album.
Lil Wayne Talks Haiti Vs. New Orleans; Heads To Jail Tomorrow
(AllHipHop News) Lil Wayne recently discussed how the massive 7.0 earthquake in Haiti on January 12 impacted his life.
In an interview with MTV News, the rapper revealed that he had numerous Haitian friends who lost family members in the earthquake, which left over 200,000 dead and over three million people displaced.
I live in Miami, so I have a few Haitian friends, Lil Wayne told MTV News. So it impacted me seriously, because some of them lost some of their kids and I had to help out with those situations.
And although the New Orleans Saints are celebrating a Super Bowl victory that will surely boost the citys spirits, the rapper noted that the conditions in the city are still dire.
Before I go I think its amazing whats been for Haiti, but I also think its amazing what hasnt been done for New Orleans, Lil Wayne told reporters.
Tomorrow (February 9), Lil Wayne will start serving an one-year jail sentenced on New Yorks Rikers Island for a felony gun charge possession in July of 2007.
This is Lil Wayne going to jail. Nobody I can talk to can tell me what thats like. I just say Im looking forward to it, the rapper told Rolling Stone Magazine.
Lil Wayne is planning the release of Tha Carter IV, shortly after he is released from prison.
Kid Cudi On Acting Career, New HBO Series ‘How To Make It In America’
(AllHipHop News) HBOs new series starring Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi How To Make It In America will debut next week.
The series centers around three twenty somethings who are attempting to find themselves and their careers in downtown Manhattan.
The comedic series is executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, who also served as executive producer of HBOs#### series, Entourage.
Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi, plays Domingo, the party animal of the group. He recently spoke about his role with cast member Bryan Greenburg.
We dont know what Domingo does, but hopefully we will find out next season, Kid Cudi explained of his character. I feel like this acting thing is me starting over and I have a lot to prove. And I like that. I understand my position. Greenburg (Boston Public, One Tree Hill) stated that he was thrilled to work with Kid Cudi, who was impressed with the rappers acting skills.
When were rehearsing a scene or talking about a scene, hell be like telling me my lines before I even know them, stated Greenburg, who stars as Ben. Im like dude you read the scripts, Greenburg said.
You really read the scripts. He comes up with all these ideas and as an actor thats all you really want youre just like what can we do in this scene to make it pop? And Kids always coming to the table with something.
How To Make It In America debuts on HBO on February 14th at 10:00 PM.
Hip-Hop for Educational Change: We Are the Ones Weve Been Waiting For
[This piece comes in lieu of Tolu Olorundas weekly column. He returns next week.]
The current public school system in America is in a state of emergency. Federal programs like No Child Left Behind, aimed at improving schools through standards-based reform, have caused many schools to focus on teaching the limited sets of skills required to show academic growth on annual standardized tests. As a result many teachers, particularly those in urban school districts, are reduced to having to teach to the test, for fear that their schools will lose funding and resources for not meeting their annual goals for academic progress. The real cost of being labeled a low-performing school and losing funding is the total omission of the many arts, music and physical education programs that offer students opportunities for creative expression, a more well-rounded educational experience, and an outlet to demonstrate other intelligences not normally validated in the typically stringent school setting.
An even more disturbing trend involves the herding of many young Black and Latino students (mostly males) into special education programming. This placement (often times for factors such as cultural bias and total ignorance of the individual social-emotional needs of the student) unfortunately marginalizes students as special needs, which in many cases gives teachers a green light to essentially dumb down the curriculum in order to meet their lower-than-acceptable academic expectations.
As both an educator and an emcee of 13 years, I have enjoyed many successes and also endured many pitfalls in working with schools. Over the years, I have learned that in order for schools to be effective and to truly do right by our children, we must encourage students to make real world connections to the content presented in the classroom. We must train teachers to culturally connect, and to be equitable with all students they serve, regardless of race or socio-economic background. We must also allow genuine opportunities for students to experience hands-on learning that promote critical thinking and assist in articulating and advocating (both in written and verbal forms) their needs and interests whenever necessary.
In other words, it is no longer enough to simply teach a man (or woman) to fishwe must teach him (or her) how to distinguish between the various types of fish, the difference between saltwater and freshwater, how to prepare the fish as food, and even how to sell the fish they catch as a source of income (if they so choose). A proper education is a guaranteed pathway to liberation, to escaping the trappings of hood-living, to creating a better reality for ourselves and for generations to follow.
Committing to educational success as a means of getting out of the hood is also a more realistic option than rapping or playing professional balleverybody cant do it!
Rappers today are unique cultural ambassadors to the entire world. We are the primary generators of a billion dollar industry. Many artists have even taken the time to expand upon their importance and value, and have become business owners, label heads, and part-time executives in the aims of ownership and increased wealth. At the same time, its no wonder that many artists tell stories of having a poor educational experience while growing upthat same insight and creative intelligence that we know and love them for was most likely misunderstood and stifled within their respective low-quality schools, which are filled with poorly trained teachers and lacking basic resources. Still, these artists made it through in true Hip Hop fashion: they made a way out of no way. These against-all-odds success stories are a reflection of the reality many of our children are up against, and serve as inspiration to those who strive to persevere and endure whatever hardships come their way.
Taking advantage of this huge influence that Hip Hop artists have, I have created the Hip Hop Educational Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.), which is a series of reading workbooks specifically designed to HELP improve student literacy by examining the lyrics of artists like Rakim, Kanye West, Nas, Lauryn Hill, T.I., Common and many others for vocabulary development, comprehension and, most importantly, critical analysis.
One of our workbooks utilizes the lyrics of Mos Defs New World Water to not only teach language arts concepts like metaphor and personification, but also science and social studies themes like environmental awareness, water conservation, and global weather phenomena; examples of which include Californias brush fires, the Asian Tsunami of 2004, and Hurricane Katrina. Kanye Wests Diamonds from Sierra Leone exposes students to the concept of blood diamonds and one mans conflicts with the costs of the blatant materialism within Hip Hop culture. T.I.s No Matter What explores cause and effect, good vs. bad decision-making, resilience in dealing with hardship and loss, and finding redemption for our mistakes.
Whether we like it or not, Hip Hop artists are a dominant influence on the youth who love us and support our music. What we say and do is under 24-hour surveillance of the public eye. The key factor that serves as a basis for the Hip Hop education movement and resources like H.E.L.P. is the richness of content that quality artists provide. Hip Hop artists are professional literates. Think about it: they get paid to know how to read, write and publicly speak.
Unfortunately, many of the youth who contribute to our nations current 50% high school dropout rate are reading and writing way below their age or grade level. This reading deficiency is further compounded by subpar schools and living conditions, and plays out in the rising rates of youth incarceration, teen pregnancy and unemployment. Hip Hop artists can H.E.L.P. create solutions in the communities we directly reflect onthe very same communities that many of us come from and survived.
Several artists are working to bring real solutions through their respective non-profits and community foundations, and this is great. We need more of it. As for me, I plan to continue my work of upholding our culture and remaining an agent of change in the worldwide community. This is an invitation to the entire Hip Hop family, artists and labels alike. I am looking forward to working with you all to continue to bring about change and to make a difference in the lives of our youth.
We are the ones we have been waiting forand it is time to be the change we want to see.
For more information on H.E.L.P., please visit www.edlyrics.com
Educator and Peabody-Award winning MC Asheru is founder of H.E.L.P. and Guerilla Arts Ink, LLC, a community arts organization. He can be reached at [email protected]
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith Claim No Blame Over Unsuccessful Movie
(AllHipHop News) A dispute over a failed movie involving rapper/actor Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, is at the heart of a new legal situation between the power couple and a financier for the feature.
Legal papers filed Friday (Feb. 5) in L.A. County Superior Court, note claims by the Smiths that David Grasso is threatening to sue them over what he believes to be allegations the pair “guaranteed” a return on his investment in the film, titled The Human Contract.
Written in 2007 and directed by Pinkett-Smith, the feature centers on a relationship between a successful but unhappy businessman (Jason Clarke) and a mysterious, free-spirited stranger (Paz Vega) who tempts him into exploring reckless love.
In addition to Pinkett-Smith, Idris Elba and Ted Danson are featured in the movie, which was executive produced by Will Smith and marked his spouses directorial debut. The Smiths disputed the Grassos claims, saying they are not to blame for the failure of The Human Contract and “made no such representations” regarding the film.
In light of the drama making no money and going straight to DVD last year, the couple confessed, it is unlikely that it will ever make a profit.”
Although the Smiths are not interested in suing the Grasso for money, TMZ.com reports the pair wants a judge to declare that they are not liable for the money lost by the investor.
A representative for the couple addressed the issue while telling the site that “although we normally shun this type of controversy, we felt compelled to respond to the baseless threats and absurd allegations put forth by Mr. Grasso’s counsel.”
Black History Month Fashion Tribute:Grace Jones
Grace Jones was a triple threat in her heyday – a model, actress and singer.
Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, she modeled in New York and Paris during the 70s, and soon after began her singing career.
While she already possessed an eye-catching look, she began working closely with stylist Jean-Paul Goude who helped her develop an extreme androgynous image.
As odd as her look may appear, along with the over-the-top ensembles, it is difficult to deny that Grace Jones is an overall stunning work of art.
She has clearly influenced huge artists of today, from Lady Gaga to Rihanna.
Her performances were like spectacles – check out a few of her outrageous onstage outfits from the late 70s and 80s:
Grace caught the eyes of famed artist Andy Warhol, whom she accompanied many times to Studio 54 while disco was at its peak. She also appeared in his portraits:
Grace played major roles in films such as Boomerang with Eddie Murphy and played a Bond girl like no other in A View to Kill:
Just last year, Grace made a comeback with a new album, Hurricane, and at the age of 60 appeared on the cover of V magazine – looking the epitome of fierce:
“I’ve always been a rebel. I never do things the way they’re supposed to be done. Either I go in the opposite direction or I create a new direction for myself, regardless of what the rules are or what society says.” – Grace Jones
Rick Ross Ft. Lil Wayne And Birdman
“Veterans Day”
Emilio Rojas Ft. Styles P and Asher Roth [Heater Of The Day]
“Bold And Arrogant Remix”