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50 Cent Reveals Details On ‘Blood on the Sand’ Game
Rapper 50 Cent is returning to the world of video games with the release of his second offering, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand.
The THQ game, which will be released for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, is the follow-up to the G-Unit leaders first game 50 Cent: Bulletproof.
According to 50, Blood on the Sand provided an opportunity to personally make an impact behind the scenes.
“I was really involved with the process of making this actual game. Early on, we went and sat down. They showed me stills of where they can actually make the environment look that way and I had my own ideas and input,” 50 Cent revealed. “The way it actually operates, the things are actually happening, is it feels like a virtual action film where you get a chance to be in the film yourself playing as 50 Cent, or as Tony Yayo, or as Lloyd Banks or DJ Whoo Kid.”
With Blood on the Sand, gamers will not only get a chance to play 50 and G-Unit, but can also choose a soundtrack comprised of the rapper’s music, from the last five years as well as new tunes specifically made for the new game.
“You got hit music from the Curtis album, which was my last album. And that’s with me and Justin Timberlake, me and Robin Thicke, me and Mary J. Blige, me and Akon, me and Dr. Dre, me and Eminem,” 50 Cent said about the presence of well-known material. “Hit music from the last five years is optional for them to play. These tracks are like the greatest hits.”
The release of Blood on the Sand comes as 50 shows no signs of abandoning his war of words with Miami-based rap star Rick Ross.
Over the last few weeks, the rivals have voiced their apparent dislike of each other through a series of diss songs, insulting videos and cartoon shorts.
50’s Cent’s latest cartoon, titled “Everybody Hates Chris,” follows the rapper’s previous animated spoofs in poking fun at Ross’ former employment as a corrections officer.
In addition to Ross, the cartoon takes shots at R&B singers Chris Brown and Rihanna while featuring DJ Khaled and Foxy Brown.
Photos of Khaled in makeup and a female wig have been seen in videos posted by 50, who recently filmed one of the clips at the home of the DJ’s mother.
After making a reference to Brown on the song “Try Me,” Brown vowed to handle 50 “Brooklyn style” if he didn’t retract the reference within 24 hours.
To date, no response from Brown has come to light.
50 Cent’s Blood on the Sand is due in stores on Feb. 24.
Is It Time To Remix Black History Month?
I guess at this point, we are all basking in the gawd-awfulness that has been the month of February thus far. Chris Brown channeled his inner Goldy and showed Miss Ri Ri what happens when you get out of pocket, allegedly. DMX learned exactly how dark it really is when he was tossed into the hole with a pack of day old hamburger buns, a canteen and some state issued pink drawers. Suge Knight gets beaten up and sent to the hospital – AGAIN. And Rick Ross took his war of gangsterism with 50 Cent way out into left field with the most creepy h######### cartoon I think I’ve ever seen. Scratch that. The only one I’ve ever seen and now I know why.
February has been loud and obnoxious. But if we lower the volume for just a moment, we can probably hear our ancestor’s praying for our drama hungry a#### and asking for a bit of attention. Yes, we are going to take a brief respite from the shock theatre known as urban music and recognize Black History Month.
I recently read something, somewhere, sometime about the possibility of Black History Month being canceled considering we are all part of this post-racial America I keep hearing about. I find that term, post-racial, amusing in itself. Like I’m going to wake up tomorrow and American will be a race instead of a Nationality. But that’s neither here nor there. Nor is it a good explanation of what we should be moving towards.
Considering most people tend to be reminded of Black History Month when those George Washington Carver tribute commercials pop up between Cops Marathon episodes; I think the way we recognize the month needs the drop, not the celebration itself. Hearing about how lucky we are to have peanut butter (no salmonella) pales in comparison to the media tweaked vision of Black youth running amok in the inner cities for some, I’m sure. In that study of opposites, it’s likely the point of the 30-second history lesson will be lost during bathroom breaks and trips to the kitchen.
No disrespect to the usual suspects we are reminded of every year, but what about Black History Month, the Remix? It’s not a question of relevance, as knowing the first heart surgeon was a Black man will always be a signal to Black children that achievement at that level is possible. Why don’t we have a little forethought with our recollection though? Not only some reflection, but some creation as well? Figure out ways to remind ourselves that not only should we learn our history; we should be our history.
Save a dollar for everyday of the month. Go to your little cousin’s t-ball game instead of hanging out with your friends one Saturday. Plant a tree. You don’t think these small contributions are historic? That $27.00 could lead you to a path of retirement comfort. Your little cousin might continue to a college scholarship just because his favorite big cuz believed in him. And that tree might one day serve as the greatest tree house ever; not to mention could do its small part to kick out clean air for the inhabitants little lungs. Yes, every action we take as individuals is documented as our personal history. And all of those actions combined create community history.
There are so many things that define us as a group. And yes, I know many of you are not black. However, as Hip Hop continues to cross any and all lines of demarcation, the fans are adopted into the nation and exposed to everything that makes us… us. That includes the past, present and future contributions of Black Americans; not only to Hip Hop, but to the world. So there you go. Get up. Get out and get something. Do something. Create something. Well, except more of those G-Unit work out cartoons. I don’t think I can take any more of those.
Serani: Big Tings
Dancehall music has
made a major impact on pop culture in the past and continues to do so today
with veteran DJ’s like Beenie Man and Elephant Man, as well as newer artists
like Mavado, Busy Signal and many others. There’s always one breakout leader of
the newbie pack, however, that garners massive attention with crossover singles
that stay in constant radio rotation. This year producer turned singer Serani,
one of the founders of Jamaican production team Deseca, takes on that role with
ease. Serani is responsible for many crossover Jamaican artists’ hit singles
including Sean Paul, Tony Matterhorn and Mavado to name a few. Here Serani
discusses his career’s early beginnings, how becoming a singer was in the back
of his mind and why he’s trying to get all the girls on his side.
AllHipHop.com
Alternatives: How do you feel
about the mainstream recognition you’ve been receiving lately?
Serani: Well, I have mixed feelings, because the kind
of songs that I make, I make them with the intentions that they’re gonna
crossover to the mainstream. And at the same time come on, my song is playing
on Hot97 [laughs]. That’s like wow you know? I expect it, but at the same time
it’s a dream come true.
AHHA: Who were some of the artists you listened to
growing up?
Serani: Countless – Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman,
Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men. Everybody that’s good basically. As
far as Jamaican – Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Barrington Levy, Ini Kamoze,
Snow. Anything out of this world where you’re like “what the hell is that?”
AHHA: Tell us about Deseca and how it came about.
Serani: Deseca was formed when I told my partners
[Craig and David] that I wanted to start a studio. I guess the whole thing came
about because I’ve been playing piano from when I can remember myself. And I
never stopped loving it. I was obsessed in a sense. Basically, anybody that I
knew that was playing piano when I was a kid, they stopped and I never did. I
knew them when I was nine, but we became real friends in ’98. Music just never
stopped trying to take me over. And in 2001 we started the crew.
AHHA: What were some of Deseca’s big hits?
Serani: “Anger Management” Riddim, which is what buss
out Mavado with “Dreamin,” “Dying,” “Bad Man Place,” Tony Matterhorn’s “Dutty
Wine.”
AHHA: What separates Deseca from other production
sounds?
Serani: I’m gonna speak for my partners; they don’t
like to say that they make Dancehall Reggae, they just make music. I would say
obviously we have a Reggae influence, but just making music for the world is what
we’re trying to do. We try to make music in a way that anybody around the world
can relate to, feel, enjoy and dance to.
AHHA: Which song produced by Deseca are you most
proud of?
Serani: Between “Anger Management” and “Dying.” “Anger
Management” is what got us our name; made us hit producers. We went from
nothing to something. “Dying” was a big breakthrough for Mavado and me you
know.
AHHA: Tell us about the Alliance and how you became
affiliated.
Serani: Julian, Bounty Killer and Mavado’s manager, at
one time was Busy Signal’s manager; he’s now my manager. He buck-up on me as a
good musician. We started doing business together, and then over the years we
became friends. I said to him that I wanted to start a band. I used to play for
Wayne Marshall in 2002 and I told him that I wanted to start a band for ‘Killer
because ‘Killer was in band trouble.
After a while I
started pressuring Julian to let me do this. So really and truly that’s how it
happened. ‘Killer recorded an “Anger Management” beat and then in 2005 I
started playing for him. It was automatic the kind of love that ‘Killer gave us
on the “Anger Management” beat; even when we did the video him came there and
he stayed for like almost the whole shoot and basically it was an Alliance
video. When he supported us, everybody followed because you know he’s the
leader of the Alliance.
AHHA: How do you feel about your role in Mavado’s
mainstream success? Particularly with “Dying.”
Serani: Everything that I’m doing is what I want
Mavado to do. When we did the “Dying” track, I knew what was gonna happen. I
knew it was gonna be a song that could cross over. But I don’t know exactly
what happened or why they didn’t push it anymore. I do know that it was
accepted and well received. When it didn’t move any further, I was p#####. I
was like f*ck that sh*t.
It just got me more
upset because with Jamaican music, producers not making any money unless you
crossing over and unless the record is really big outside of Jamaica. The
artist is whose gonna make the money. I did the Sean Paul “We Be Burnin’” song
and that did a lot for me financially. And I’m looking at that like how am I
gonna keep up with that? How am I gonna continue?
AHHA: When you choose to work with an artist, someone
who may be known in Jamaica but not necessarily in the States, what do you look
for?
Serani: Somebody that can do Jamaican music, but can
be a pop artist. I have no time to waste making dumb-ass sh*t that’s not gonna
make no money. I’m trying to make money for the business; I’m trying to make
Dancehall music world music. That’s my ultimate goal.
AHHA: Has singing always been an interest of yours?
Serani: Back-door in the back of my mind. I thought
about it, but not for any time. I used to be upset sometimes that I wasn’t
singing from earlier. I had a formula from a long time, and I knew that it
could work. The more and more I produced, the more and more I mastered my
formula. I think timing was perfect.
But it definitely
wasn’t something in the front of my mind. “Dying” had a big part to do with it
because that was me fooling around. I was making a beat, I wanted a vocal like
a sample kind of thing and I said “let me do something different” ‘cause I’m
always trying to do something different.
So I went in the
voice room and started doing some sh*t, listening back to the beat and said “this
beat is crap.” So I started playing another beat around the sample. The sample
was the first thing really and then I made the beat around my voice. And when I
sit down in front of the speakers and pressed play, I was like damn. Who better
to call than Mavado? So I called him and started fooling around with it; he
didn’t know it was going to be that big.
After time I
realized it was my voice that made the song and the beat was just the baddest
beat. So playing with the idea, making beats and trying to come up with hooks,
by no means never see myself as a writer. Craig and David my partners were even
better at it than me. In May of 2007, that’s when God just threw the talent in
me [laughs].
AHHA: Of the songs you’ve recorded so far, which
song is your favorite?
Serani: I have four favorites: “Mama Still Hungry”
because that’s my story in a sense. “No Games” because its exactly what I wanna
do in terms of the direction I want things to go. “She loves Me” and “Naked.”
The three girl songs are party songs and I’ve touched on the topic of love and
sex.
AHHA: If you can work with any Hip-Hop artist or
producer, which ones do you think will compliment your sound best?
Serani: T-Pain, Akon, R.Kelly…
AHHA: T-Pain, really?
Serani: Yeah he’s the best…right now. He has the best
hooks.
AHHA: So if he came on your track with the Auto-Tune…
Serani: That’s just him, but he’s gonna hit and I have
no doubt about that.
AHHA: So just strictly people that are gonna bring
hits?
Serani: Yea, why would I record with somebody who’s
not gonna bring a hit? That’s a waste of my time. I don’t have time to buss
something that’s not worth bussin’. Because I see myself as a hit, so what’s
the point? If somebody’s not gonna hit that means they shouldn’t be doing
music.
AHHA: You’ll be surprised; there’s a lot of people
putting out music just to put it out.
Serani: Yea exactly I don’t have time for that.
AHHA: So you seem like a pretty easygoing guy.
However there’s a track on The Future album called “Not A Badman”.
Serani: I knew you were gonna talk about that
[laughs].
AHHA: Have you had any confrontations?
Serani: No, “Not A Badman” is straightforward; I’m not
a bad man. In other words, leave me alone or I should say leave me the f*ck
alone. I’m not coming at you, I’m all about girls, but at the same time don’t
mess with me. I’m just trying my best to avoid situations I’m an easygoing
dude. I’m really and truly saying that I’m not a bad man, I’m not evil, mi no
buss gun and kill people. I go as far as telling I’m an uptown kid. That says a
lot, but it’s real to me. That song was so easy to write.
AHHA: You did an interview recently and you were
asked if you can choose to be any type of superhero, what would your name be? And
you said “Get Girl Man.” Care to elaborate more on that?
Serani: [laughing hysterically] I don’t believe I said
that. Mi a idiot ya know? That’s just me keeping it real. It sounds along the
lines of my thoughts; but to me violence and this whole bad man front don’t
make no sense and it’s a waste of time. It only gets you killed and you make
less money. Girls to me, that’s where the money is in the music business.
AHHA: They buy more albums…
Serani: Right, so I’m all about getting the girls on
my side. So I guess that’s what Get Girl Man means…what? What were you thinkin’?
AHHA: Nothing at all…anything else you want to add?
Serani: All of ya’ll haters, all of you people that
don’t like Dancehall music, we got something coming for you. It’s not just Serani,
it’s Jamaica.
**To get the latest AllHipHop Alternatives Features, follow us on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/AHHalternatives**
MC Hammer Reality Show Coming To A&E
Rapper/preacher MC Hammer will star in an upcoming reality series for A&E titled Hammertime.
The half-hour series is described as a reality version of The Cosby Show and will follow Hammer, his wife of 23-years and five children throughout 11 episodes.
Hammertime also focuses on Hammer’s future as opposed to his past success, which was overshadowed by his excessive spending and subsequent bankruptcy in 1996, despite earning $33 million dollars in 1991 alone.
Hammer, who resides in Oakland and has released 10 albums to date, was recently featured in a high-profile Super Bowl advertisement with Ed McMahon for Cash4Gold.
“It will be good stuff,” Hammer said of Hammertime. “I have some great kids. All ‘hams’ and entertainers.” Hammertime is slated to premiere this year in A&E.
Hammer Time is slated to premiere this year in A&E.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Chris Brown And Rihanna Had Significant Phone Activity That Night?
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.
TODAY’S RUMORS!
THE TRUTH IS IN THE TEXT and PHONE RECORDS
I start this entry off saying that Keshia Chante has denied that she had anything to do with this fracas. The direct quote was “She was nowhere near Rihanna or Chris Brown. She had nothing to do with any of that.” Also, they maintain that she barely knows Chris. I have told you what I have told you from sources that maintain they are close to the matter. So, here is the latest on what illseed presents. I have sources that have information related to phone records.
Here is a summation of what I recieved.
This is all from about 11:30 pm to 1:00 am the night of the alleged “incident.”
A lot of the numbers were repetitive and were used with texting and incoming/outgoing phone calls
Rihanna’s account made an outgoing call to a Melissa Forde (in doing research, I found this to be her assistant and friend), which was made around 12:15am. This was the first call outgoing call and answered incoming call that Rihanna made that evening.
Then around 12:40am short outgoing calls were made to a company called Rebel One Management (Rihanna’s managers) According to our source, these outgoing calls lasted between 8 seconds to 15 seconds each. Voice mail?
The next outgoing call was instantly made after the Rebel One Management company call to another person named Marc Jordan.
PEEP THIS: this is illseed. I’m chill right now. Please believe…check it, I am going to put some more to this through the whole week. Stay-freakin-tuned.
OJ DA JUICEMAN GOT ROBBED?
Rumor has it OJ Da Juice man got robbed at Patchwork Studos. Sadly, I heard OJ got beat down pretty bad. The thing is, his guys did show up with a lot of guns but it was too late. The jackers allegedly took his chain and ran off. I don’t know how true this is, but I got it from several sources.
PARIS HILTON SPITS!
I didn’t want to put this mess up, but I had to.
M.I.A.’s BABY!
It looks like any other baby to me, but its Mia’s!
ILLSEED’S QUICKIES
Thanks to everybody that gave me the sccop on what Kimbo Slice is doing these days. I love how Kimbo haters act like he can’t knock people out! He’s not an MMA traditional fighter, but he puts butts in seats!
Marlon Jackson is a partner in a company that will be offering slavery themed park based in Nigeria. In some strange way, they will incorporate Jackson 5 memorabilia. Was Motown that bad?! I KID!
Lil’ Wayne has been sued for a cool $1.3 million after the rapper a missed New York concert date.
Aubrey O’Day has reportedly and rumored to be a bi-sexual woman. You know what? Good for her! Her playboy pics weren’t bad at all.
The dudes that beat up Suge Knight were tasered to save the Death Row mogul from that beatdown.
Raz-B is at it again. Dude posted pics of his Johnson on the internet. SMH at this sick display.
RANDOM QUOTES
Kanye West is talking in Details:
“Put this in the magazine: There’s nothing more to be said about music. I’m the f**king end-all, be-all of music. I know what I’m doing. I did 808s in three weeks. I got it. It’s on cruise control. . . . Man, we talked about music for God knows how long! Now let’s talk about how my f**king sweater didn’t come back right from Korea. That’s what’s interesting me.”
50 Cent revealing the good part of Rick Ross:
The only cool thing that he can have on his resume of things that he’s done is sleep with Foxy Brown. She jumped off with the officer…
SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END
A woman has pleaded guilty to reckless homicide for basically exercising her 73-year-old husband to death. Christine Newton-John, 41, was caught swimming with her spouse in a swimming pool and refused to let him leave the water. This was all caught on tape. Now, on the tape, she pulled James Mason in the water by his arms and legs. She also stopped the elderly man from leaving the pool, even though the vid shows him gasping for air. The man went on to have a damn heart attack from being overworked. Newton-John now faces about 5 years in jail for this. There wasn’t enough evidence to convict on murder. They said that she was after the loot. But, here is the kicker, if you read this far down. The old MAN was with a MAN in that pool. That right, when James Mason met Christine Newton-John he was named John Vallandingham. He had himself turned into a woman in 1993 and changed her/his name in honor of Olivia Newton-John, the singer/actor. The got married in 06 and she killed him in 08. SMH.
EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY
This is THE fail of the year, I think. A married Chinese businessman thought he was the man. He was the man, because, in addition to being married, he had five mistresses on the side. The man realized – thanks to this global recssion – he could no longer afford five mistresses. He decided to hold a competition to decide which one of his hoecakes to keep. The man’s least favored mistress got eliminated by the judges in the first round. Well, this business man apparently decided that they would all leave the contest together. The loser drove the car. The loser drove the car off a cliff and killed herself. All the others survived. But, all the mistresses left the man. The wife left the man. And the man lost his business. FAIL!
FAIL 2:
Movado got a feel, but the feel felt him too.
Also, click here if you like a lil White reggae. LOL.
OBAMA SIGNS THE STIMULUS BILL INTO LIFE
SLOW DAY!
Maybe I will give you the rest of the Chris and RiRi stuff. I don’t know.
I’m out.
I’M BACK IN: THE NY POST OFFERS THIS TASTY BIT OF RACISM!Al Sharpton has already offered his comments. Tell me yours. JD: HELP THIS KAT OUT! KRISS KROSS’ CHRIS!This is a damn shame right here! This boy used to have HIT RECORDS AND NOW THIS? Kriss Kross was the original Lil Bow Wow with their song “Jump.”
JUMP JUMP!
Email me at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com …tips, information and other stupid stuff.
For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed
OBAMA, WE LOVE YOU!!!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com.
Ludacris: Back to Basics
Long before Hip-Hop seemingly gave way to its vices – misogyny, violence, and drugs – there were The Elements. These cultural fundamentals still are DJing, B-Boying (aka Break dancing), Graffiti, and Emceeing. The climate of Hip-Hop, much like Rock and Roll before it, scared those who didn’t understand the intensity of the expression that resulted in a revolutionary movement.
Ludacris is one of the heavyweights that are pushing this expression and giving a mighty voice to a group who felt like they had no voice. The emcee has voiced the views, opinions and the turmoil delivered in songs like “The Message” and albums like Fear of a Black Planet while celebrating the neighborhood with block party after block party.
Luda remembers and lives the spirit of Hip-Hop and is thirsty to keep it alive. The DTP front man has joined forces with Common to headline the Hip Hop 101 Music & Arts Festival. The festival designed to bring the focus back to the essentials for the purpose of uplifting and motivating through creative expression. With a stellar lineup of Grammy winning artists on one stage, Hip Hop 101 Music & Arts Festival (www.hh101.com) will celebrate Black History Month with Ludacris, Common, and turntablist Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys on Saturday February 21st at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Singer/ songwriter Keri Hilson and Grammy-nominated alternative Afro-Punk singer Janelle Monae are also on the bill for the event.
AllHipHop.com chatted with Ludacris about the importance of bringing it all back to the basics and moving forward at the same time.
AllHipHop.com: The purpose of this event is to provide a platform for embracing Hip-Hop’s culture and unity through the expression of music, graffiti, visual /performing arts and lyrics. Would you say that what’s being expressed in Hip-Hop currently provides a positive and or accurate portrayal of what the culture is about?
Ludacris: I can’t really speak for anyone else, but I know with the whole “Theater of the Mind” album I kinda went toward the true Hip-Hop theme more than I have with any of my other albums, especially the last half of it. That’s the kind of state of mind I’m in right now because of where I’m at. I’m just trying to inject the industry with the things that I feel are lacking, that’s kind of where I come into play and that’s what I think about “Theater of the Mind,” it just gives more of that Hip-Hop feel and I’m glad to a part of that.
AllHipHop.com: I know you said you were inspired by the likes Ice Cube as far as how he painted such a vivid picture of what was going on in society through his music, when people look back 10 years from now what types of visuals will “Theater of the Mind” paint about the current state of Hip-Hop?
Ludacris: As far as the current state of Hip-Hop, I feel there needs to be more people that are trying to paint pictures and creating more complete albums. I think we need to have more people being able to artistically do what they want to do versus listening to record labels manufacturing their songs. Its basically about coming back to the essence and that’s what I feel like Hip-Hop 101 is all about. When I say the essence I mean its really just the passion and heart, you can hear the passion and the heart in certain peoples music, it just comes across and that’s what I tried to do.
AllHipHop.com: What is a component of the culture that you would like to see expressed more in the current climate?
Ludacris: Storytelling. I think the art of storytelling has gotten lost in translation.
AllHipHop.com: Do you think having our new President co-sign his love for certain Hip-Hop artists will open some folks up to the idea of giving Hip-Hop a chance?
Ludacris: Most definitely, I think it will also make some artists a little more conscious about some of the things that they say as well.
AllHipHop.com: If you had to put together a Hip-Hop stimulus plan, what area would you say deserves the most attention?
Ludacris: That’s a good question, I gotta think on that because every artist is different so I don’t want to generalize so we gotta come back to that because I really want to think about what part needs it the most because sometimes Hip-Hop can be as simple as two-turntables and a mic.
AllHipHop.com: I know you do a lot of work through your Ludacris Foundation. So how important is helping to bring funding back into the schools for music and arts programs?
Ludacris: It’s extremely important, I’ve been practicing that from day one. I think one of the most important things Barack said was he can’t do it on his own, so if everybody takes responsibility and does something like volunteer or what have you, then I think we’ll be well on our way to rebuilding not only Urban America but America as a whole.
AllHipHop.com: How do you as an artist balance the level of responsibility in your lyrics vs. being true to who you are in your music?
Ludacris: I think life is all about balance and I would go crazy if there was a lot of monotony in my music, so I think its extremely important to be multi-faceted and show different subject matter to show people there’s different sides to Hip-Hop and there are different sides to me. Humans all have different sides and I think its important to reflect that in my music.
AllHipHop.com: Do you think a lot of artists miss the boat on using the power of Hip-Hop to become brands vs. just wanting to become mere rap stars?
Ludacris: I think some of them did but its never too late. I think its more about people trying to capitalize off of their names and their power, as of now it’s a better time for that than its ever been.
AllHipHop.com: Why is Theater of the Mind your favorite Ludacris album to date?
Ludacris: Theme wise and song wise, as well as the artists I worked with. I feel like there was a certain level of competition on each song and I feel like I was very competitive on each one. I definitely feel like I met my objective of delivering that true Hip-Hop essence, especially on the last half of the album.
AllHipHop.com: How did you come to hook up with Common for the Hip-Hop 101 College initiative concert?
Ludacris: I’ve always been a fan of Common, but actually the promoters approached me about it so I guess my objective of trying to display some real Hip-Hop on this album paid off because I would really have to attribute that to them wanting me to be a part of the concert and I feel real good about that.
AllHipHop.com: This year Black History Month has a special meaning for a lot of folks, what makes it special for you?
Ludacris: This whole year is important for me, but Black History month in particular being that we are witnessing history in the making with our President. It’s a time when everybody should be motivated and we shouldn’t have anymore excuses about what we can’t do.
AllHipHop.com: Obviously he’ll have many obstacles along the way but do you think Blacks will rally together in the name of change?
Ludacris: I think a lot of them are, I can’t say that for everybody, but I do think the ones that are stepping up should reach out and motivate those who aren’t or can’t.
AllHipHop.com: How do you feel about Lil Wayne getting Rap Album of the year at the Grammy’s?
Ludacris: I think he deserved it, he worked extremely hard for that.
AllHipHop.com: Do you think his personal trials should have affected that result?
Ludacris: With all due respect I can’t even say.
AllHipHop.com: What other projects do you have coming in 09?
Ludacris: I have a movie called The Game with Gerard Butler coming out in the Summer and my next album also dropping in the Summer called the Battle of the Sexes featuring Shawna on a lot of tracks. We’re giving that male vs. female perspective not yet done on one Hip-Hop album. Also look out for Playaz Circle, Willie Northpole(sp) the Block Exchange and Shareefa all set to drop this year.
Tabi Cab Confessions Pt. 1
Gak City speaks with Tabi Bonney. Learn about this hot MC from this taxi cab interview in Washington D.C.
Luke Campbell Locked Up Over Child Support Bill
Miami mogul/rapper Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell was arrested in Miami for failing to pay child support.
Campbell was taken into custody just after 6:00 pm today (February 17), for allegedly failing to pay over $10,000 dollars in child support.
According to the Miami Herald, the rapper will be released from prison when he pays the full amount due in child support to Shakera Morgan, the mother of one of his children.
Morgan has a paternity case against the 48-year-old mogul, a founding member of the pioneering rap group, 2 Live Crew.
In July of 2008, Campbell married his girlfriend of two years, Kristin Thompson, in Dallas, Texas.
Def Jam Names Chris Hicks As VP Of Def Jam
Christopher Hicks has been named the new Executive Vice President of Def Jam Recordings it was announced earlier today (February 17), by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group.
As Executive Vice President, Hicks will be responsible for the acquisition and development of new talent, overseeing producers and guiding the creative vision and brand of the label.
Reporting directly to L.A. Reid and Steve Bartels, President & COO of Island Def Jam Music Group, Hicks will be based out of New York and Atlanta, like his predecessor, Shakir Stewart.
“Chris has a musician’s ear for talent and hit songs that has brought him huge long-term success in the industry,” said Mr. Reid. “His track record in Atlanta has resulted in breaking some of the biggest names in Urban and hip-hop out of that city over the past decade. We look forward to the next quarter-century of history with Def Jam as we welcome Chris aboard.”
Hicks’ previously held the Senior Vice President of Urban A&R at Atlantic Records and Senior Vice President, A&R and Head of Urban Music for Warner/Chappell Music positions.
Prior to his joint positions, Hicks was Vice President of Urban A&R of Warner/Chappell since 2004 where he significant role in publishing agreements with Lil’ Wayne, T.I. and other artists.
Hicks was also involved in re-signing Dr. Dre in 2005 as well as acquiring Timbaland’s catalog in 2006.
Hicks replaces Shakir Stewart who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his apartment early November of 2008.
Mark Curry: Bad Boy B.I.
Beef with Bad Boy Entertainment is nothing new in Hip-Hop.
From Loon to the L.O.X., to Suge and Shyne Po, various cats have been
disgruntled with Diddy’s movements at one point or another over the years.
Mark Curry, however, is a different case. The rapper/producer
has written a new book, Dancing With the
Devil (NewMark Books), outlining the good, bad
and ugly of his eight years on Bad Boy’s roster before leaving in 2005. Here he shares with AllHipHop.com his
thoughts on “superstar A&R’s,” Diddy’s Making
the Band franchise and why the pen is much mightier than the sword.
AllHipHop.com: Is the Dancing With the Devil a tell-all or a
cautionary tale?
Mark Curry: It’s not a tell-all; it’s
more like a handbook. It’s just the truth. It’s a story about two men and their
differences; just that struggle.
AllHipHop.com: When you say that struggle do you mean a clash of
personalities, a difference of ethics or both?
Mark Curry: Both. It comes down to right and wrong. There’s a fine
line between heaven and hell and that’s why the book is entitled Dancing with the Devil. It’s not a
pretty picture but it takes a strong person to survive. The book is
inspirational to youth as well. I lost a lot of things chasing a dream. If I
could go back and put the dream aside, I’d spend more time with my mother, my
family, just real life instead of on the road.
AllHipHop.com: A lot of artists on Bad Boy (past and present) have
expressed discontent with both the label employees and Puff. What were your
specific problems that led to this outcome?
Mark Curry: First I can’t stand for a man to wrong me. If I treat
someone good, I want the same in return. I expect what I put into something. Me
thinking that I was creating songs I felt was good enough and no matter how
high I would reach, they’re saying it’s not good enough. I felt like I was
being made [to] look like a fool; I refused to keep jumping to reach whatever someone’s
holding over my head. Whatever you’re holding over my head I don’t want
anymore. I wasn’t gonna let my life go on and not let anyone know
about this experience.
Also, you got superstar employees
or like a superstar A&R who feel like just ‘cause they P.Diddy’s A&R,
they’re better than the artists. You got superstar people working in the
office. You could be calling about your check and they’ll be like, “You gonna have to wait until we get
back to work on Monday,” but they got they check on Friday. You (the Artist)
made it so that they could even have a check. It seems like the purpose in the
industry is to break your spirit. Now that’s evil to break someone’s spirit.
Once they break your spirit then they call you a lost soul. Once it’s like that
you take on negative or positive energy depending on what kind of person you
are.
Think about it: Why is an artist
always the last one to get paid? You go in the studio and the engineer gets
paid, but you don’t. It’s not like you can charge yourself for showing up to
the studio. They don’t want you to have money and be a star because if you have
both you gon’ be outta
control. They make you a star and don’t give you any money so you can always
have something missing.
P. Diddy f/ Black Rob &
Mark Curry “Bad Boy 4 Life” Video
AllHipHop.com: What message are you trying to get across with Dancing With the Devil?
Mark Curry: I lost so much that no matter how much I win it can’t
amount to how much I lost. My Lord told me to never let another man stand in
the way of my dreams or my purpose. At first I thought my purpose was to be a
great rap artist. But I’m kind of glad I didn’t become one the greatest rap
artists because all the greatest got killed. But what I did become was a book
author. With music you’re limited; everything has to rhyme. But in books the
truth doesn’t have to rhyme.
That’s my message; speaking the truth on a real life situation. There was a
time when I asked Puff to discuss the effect of what was going on, how it might
cost me ten years down the line that you (Puff) may not see because you livin’ good. He never wanted to talk about it. You can’t be
my brother if you don’t want to talk to me about something that means so much
to me. When he didn’t want to talk that’s when I knew.
AllHipHop.com: Was that when things went sour?
Mark Curry: That’s when I knew. A person like him they like to keep
you chasing ‘em. That’s called evading; running from the truth. You can’t say
I’m lying. He wants to buy champions every year to make the team better instead
of training his teammates to be stronger. He wants to play on the championship
team. He’s like the Lakers; he wants to buy into a victory. But then you get on
MTV and tell five individuals you gon’ help them be entertainers when you ain’t
finished helping me. Life is too short. A man can’t tell you he’s sorry for
making you work the rest of your life. It’s more than music; I had fun when I
did it. But I’m not mad about the past.
Blast Off – G. Dep, Mark Curry & Loon
AllHipHop.com: What’s
your relationship with the following people from Bad Boy: Harve “Joe H#####”
Pierre, Black Rob, G-Dep, Loon and E-Ness and Babs
from Da Band?
Mark Curry: “Horse
Power” aka “Joe H#####” aka Harve Pierre, that’s always gon’ be my partner. ‘Cause when no one else believed in me, Harve stood by me. Harve knew what it was, so I’ma always respect Harve. But
it’s just a line that’s been drawn between friends and I can’t really be with a
person that straddles the fence. A person that straddles the fence is
dangerous. I don’t dislike anyone or have negative energy toward anyone.
I talk to Craig Mack. Ness, he calls me sometimes and I
appreciate that. But my roots with Bad Boy run deep; I talk mostly to the
street team like June Balloon and Sam the Butcher. Those are really my friends.
The people I chose to be friends with was like that; I was never a groupie
trying to drink champagne with Puff. I’d rather do it with somebody who’s
thirsty. Not somebody who can have it everyday. Thirsty people want something.
AllHipHop.com: With Wolf being dead, Shyne locked up, etc., are you
worried about any potential backlash? [link to book
Mark Curry: Nah. Everybody I talk about in the book is dead. You
live by the sword you die by it. Look at Wolf; that’s my friend I love ‘em to
death. That’s why the message in the book is so powerful and it is what it is.
He got into a wolf confrontation and he went out like a wolf. It’s more than just
Wolf in the book; you got Cooley in the book, you got a whole bunch of soldiers
who walked around with their sword and they died with their sword by they feet.
So you know what the moral of the story is? Be careful of the sword you keep.
If you find yourself walking around with a sword put it down and find something
you can live by.
AllHipHop.com: What can we expect with the music readers get with
the book?
Mark Curry: The
music you get with the book is the music Puff said wasn’t good enough; I’m not selling
it, I’m giving it away. Now if you listen
to it and you feel like it’s corny then Puff had a point. But if you say it’s
good then you’ll be like, “Puff is crazy.”
AllHipHop.com: What do you say to people who dismiss you as a
scorned rapper?
Mark Curry: If I’m a rapper scorned then I’ll say this: if you looked
at Puff and you saw other successful individuals around him then you’d have a
point. Maybe a person just wasn’t good enough. But if you look at him and you don’t
see anybody else around him doing good, then what I’m telling you is the truth.
Common Speaks on New Clothing Line “Softwear”
Last year, Chicago emcee Common announced plans to partner with Microsoft and create an innovative new line of t-shirts called Softwear.
After several months, Common has unveiled the first Hip-Hop centered products from the brand, with the best being aptly titled “The Creator: The Code of Hip-Hop.”
The all-black shirt features the full lyrics of Common’s 1994 classic “I Used to Love H.E.R.” written in 80s computer font.
In addition, the acclaimed Chicago emcee has designed three other shirts showcasing throwback styles in phrasing, dress, and social courtesy.
As the line’s official spokesman, Common explained that the fledgling brand is “very fly and progressive,” and he expects it to garner a solid audience once more shirts are introduced.
“I’m very enthused about it,” Common stated. “No matter what size, it’s gonna look right on you…Stay up and check out the Softwear.” A
s a brand, Softwear retains a distinct 80s flair, meant to conjure images of Microsoft’s early days before it became an industry giant.
According to Microsoft, the brand’s motto is to “tap the nostalgia of when PCs were just starting to change our lives.”
Currently, consumers can also select “classic design” shirts featuring Bill Gates’ mugshot and a retro MS-DOS font logo.
A full list of available shirts can be viewed at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/softwearbymicrosoft/story/
Kanye West Tapes Storytellers; Plots Move To Paris
Grammy Award winning Chicago rapper Kanye West recently taped an episode of VH1 Storytellers last week, which will reveal how the eccentric artist made each of his hit albums.West, who taped his episode at Sony Stages in Los Angeles, gave exclusive performances of a number of his hit records from each of four albums, including his latest, 808’s & Heartbreak.Additionally, West explained his thought process behind creating each record, in accord with the Storyteller’s format.In the upcoming March issue of of Details magazine, West, who is featured on the cover, gave readers a glimpse into how he created 808 & Heartbreak and reiterated his claim to be retiring from Hip-Hop to focus on fashion.”There’s nothing more to be said about music,” the 31-year-old artist told Details. “I’m the fu**ing end-all, be-all of music. I know what I’m doing. I did 808s in three weeks. I got it. It’s on cruise control. Man, we talked about music for God knows how long! Now let’s talk about how my fu**ing sweater didn’t come back right from Korea. That’s what’s interesting me.”According to the article, West, who recently launched a line of sneakers with Louis Vuitton in Paris, is serious about his move to the fashion capital of the world to pursue a career in fashion.”I’m moving to Paris and I have a relationship with Louis Vuitton, and it’s like, Look how far I took that relationship to the biggest record label, and look where I took it in music,” said West, who earned over $40 million dollars in 2008.VH1 Storytellers: Kanye West is slated to premiere Saturday, February 28.
T.I. Road To Redemption: 45 Days To Go [Sneak Peak]
T.I. surprise Trey, one of the kids T.I. is trying help out in his new TV show.
La The Darkman Ft. Lil Wayne
“I Got”
Styles P Ft. Agallah and Tre Williams
“Street Life”
OJ Da Juiceman Ft. Gucci Mane and Cam’ron
“Make Da Trap Say Ay (Remix)”