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50 Cent Opens Up About Long Island House Fire
Months after his Long Island home was destroyed by fire, rapper 50 Cent is speaking out on the circumstances leading up to the blaze.
During an upcoming interview with Access Hollywoods TV One Access, the G-Unit frontman revealed his home went up in flames, just days after his ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins was ordered to leave the residence.
The courts told her she had to leave, 50 Cent told TV One Access correspondent Quddus. Its kind of more like, If I cant have you, you cant have it. When asked if Tompkins set the fire in response to the order, the rapper declined to specifically name the single mother and deliberately became vague.
Well, I dont want to say that dont try to make me say something I dont want to say, 50 Cent stated. But the circumstances to it might seem that way.
The TV One Access interview is the latest development in the aftermath of the homes destruction, which occurred in May.
According to reports, Tompkins and 50 Cents son, Marquis, were among the six people taken to a hospital and later released, after suffering smoke inhalation following the incident.
In a lawsuit filed earlier this year against the rapper, Tompkins claimed the rap star had promised her a house more than a decade ago.
A war of words resulted from the suit as Tompkins lawyer Paul Catsandonis alluded to an extremely dangerous incident between the parties in question in his Manhattan office, just days before the fire.
Catsandonis further noted that 50 Cent signed an agreement that would give Tompkins half of all his earnings as a Hip-Hop superstar.
Everything thats his is hers, everything thats hers is his. He memorialized in an e-mail that he intended to give her the house, the attorney told the Associated Press.
TV One Access interview with 50 Cent is scheduled to air in its entirety at 7 p.m. on January 4.
ALBUM REVIEW: Anthony Hamilton – The Point of It All
Quite possibly one of
the most slept on vocalists of the past ten years, Anthony Hamilton is a guy
who makes music from the heart for the heart. With his two official studio albums
(Comin From Where Im From and Aint Nobody
Worryin) offering a vintage outlook with a new age twist,
soul music found a new hero,.
While there have been
tasters in the form of Soulife and Southern Comfort,
the anticipation for another official Anthony Hamilton LP has been enough to
send the real soul heads off to rehab. Well its time to draft up the release
papers for those incarcerated because The Point Of It All (Sony/So So Def) is
here and is as close to perfection as todays ungratefully hard-to-please
audience will allow.
On The News, an
inspirational piano lick is absorbed by an overtly funky drum riff, giving an
up close and personal education on some ill street blues. Immediately following
this darkened gem is the David Banner featured Cool. While not actually
produced by the Mississippi mad man, his feel-good bars compliment Hamiltons
sincere attempt at informing his lady that as long as shes cool, nothing can
put a dampener on their relationship.
Slowing things down,
Diamond In The Rough, with its heart-warming hook, is actually a diamond in a
jewelry store; there are no surprises here. The contents of The Point Of It
All are of the highest quality so theres no reason to
look hard for a gem. Souls On Fire has an epic build-up in a musically
cinematic kind of way. Hamiltons painful lyricsdepicting him having
difficulty breathing because his soul is on fire embeds a play-by-play
set of image stills in your brain.
There really was no need
to worry about Hamilton delivering the goods because even his unofficial
releases hold more credibility and swagger than most other artists official
releases. Just be sure to pick this up for your lady this Christmas and
guaranteed shell be thanking you until the next.
Turntablist DJ Rob Swift Reveals Secrets In ‘As The Technics Spin’
Hip-Hop turntablist Rob Swift is making good on his vow to give back to the art of DJing with his upcoming DVD, As the Technics Spin.
The DVD, which was directed by Eljay Williams, offers a glimpse into Swifts creative process as the X-ecutioners member creates his classic battle/showcase sets and reveals the origin behind his style of Djing.
According to Swift, As the Technics Spin falls in line with his goal of expanding his musical reach among fans.
“When I decided to break out of my bedroom and expose myself to the DJ community, I had one main goal: to give back to the art form, Rob Swift told AllHipHop.com in a statement. A lot of upcoming DJs strive to emulate those they look up to. I worked towards being different from my influences because, in order for me to have an impact on the DJ world, I had to figure out how to birth a new approach to DJing. I achieved this by thinking outside of the box and challenging myself to incorporate the various forms of music [predominantly Latin and Jazz] I was introduced to as a youngster by my father and older brother.”
As the Technics Spin is the follow-up to Swifts first DVD, As the Tables Turn.
The Jackson Heights, Queens native is noted for his appearance in the DJ Documentary Scratch, as well ass collaborations with various artists like Fat Joe, Cypress Hill, Blue Man Group, Herbie Hancock, Bob James, Linkin Park and Good Charlotte.
This year, Swift became the first Hip-Hop DJ to be invited to perform at the Savannah, Georgia Jazz Festival.
An up-close look at Swifts creativity is not the only thing found on As the Technics Spin, as the video highlights behind the scenes footage of Swift’s involvement with aspiring DJs at the Scratch DJ Academy in New York City.
Fans will also be privy to the disc spinners method behind selecting his records and deciding what sections to manipulate as well as the development of his actual routines.
DJ Rob Swifts As the Technics Spin is slated to hit stores on March 10, 2009.
To coincide with the DVDs release, the turntablist will embark on a series of tours between February and June 2009 in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Hip-Hop Rumors: The Dream And Rihanna!? Rapper Disses Jeezy? Max B vs. Jim Jones!
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 DAILY TWO CENTS
All my people that saw something and said something, thanks! See this fight below. I love how “change” is in the air.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING – al*************@***il.com.
Lets go!
NO BEEF WITH WAYNE AND CURREN$Y
Just so everybody is up to speed, Curren$y’s manager Mousa of Street Customs Mgmt hit me up and let me know there there is no beef. He made it clear that the rumor about Curren$y and Lil Wayne is just that. No truth to it. In fact, he said that no such show has ever occurred and Lil Wayne and Curren$y have no ill wishes toward each other. I think I know who is up to this one.
Mousa of Street Customs Mgmt. told AllHipHop.com, “Just to clear up any rumors concerning Curren$y, there is no beef brewing between Curren$y and Lil Wayne. Curren$y has not performed at any venue where the audience has chanted “F**k Young Money” Curren$y has actual been in the studio recording on his upcoming album and negotiating a label deal for his self.”
MURDER INC IS OVER?
Irv Gotti and Ja Rule have been doing their thing for quite some time. But now, I am hearing things are coming to an end, like all good things. From what intel I have received, as a company, Murder Inc will cease to exist as of January 2009. There was a strong push to change direction and they are still seemingly active. For example, they are still pushing rock/rap group T!Katz. Also, they have a new group called The Guap Boyz, which showed a lot of promise with Ja Rule at the helm. Their mixtape was pushed back. Anyway, Ive never hated Murder Inc or Ja even when 50 Cent was tearing them down. So, check out this song with Newz and Ja Rule. Pretty good:
PERSIA NUDE?
You know, I like ’em thick! I
heard Persia from the White Rapper jawn is really doing her thing on
the net. I heard she is doing her thing so much that she has nude
pictures on the net. I’m not fully aware, but I heard this from a
fairly reliable source. Anyway, you know she has pending gun charges.
She’s trying to wriggle out of it, but I don’t know. Homegirl might be
jammed up. I hope she gets out of this one though, especially since she
was reportedly fearful of an abusive boyfriend.DOUG E. FRESH!
The Recession is really starting to do a number on people. I hope that Doug E. Fresh can bounce back. The legend is being sought by about three banks looking to foreclose on his three Harlem homes. They are looking for about $3.5 million total. There is a number of other creditors looking to get paid. I hope Dougie can just seek some form of protection over his assets.
SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END
DAYUM! In Senegal, the people are way gangster. According to reports, a Senegalese man in his 70s pulled out a jammie and shot four members of a rap group because he thought they were making fun of him. They have a song called “Angry Old Man,” and he mistakenly thought they were making fun of him. So, he busted his gat and even hit another women not in the group. WOW!
50 CENT SPEAKS ABOUT EMINEM
I think this is from MTV, but Im not sure.
“I’m a loyal person. I’ll always be down with Em, regardless to what the scenario is. My album requirements will actually be done, and it’ll be time to renegotiate. So if things work out, I’ll end up staying with Em and Aftermath/Interscope. If the negotiation doesn’t go right, then I’ll go elsewhere. It won’t change our relationship, because Em’s so rich it doesn’t matter. That’s why he’ll just take off for two or three years, and you don’t hear nothing or see nothing from him and then he comes back, because he can afford to do that.”
EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY
Most Epic Fails tend to be funny, but this one is funny if you are a twisted f**k. The irony priceless. An American renowned as an anti-kidnap expert has found himself kidnapped in north Mexico after teaching the Mexican police how to deal with a rash of kidnappings. I hope he taught them well, because hes going to need it. Felix Batista, 55, works for ASI Global and has been helpful in this industry working in Houston. He was outside a restaurant when he was taken, but he was doing non-work related work. He might have been working too hard and some of those gangs ended up taking him out. Kidnappings are big business down there in Mexico and I saw all about it in Man on Fire. Maybe they need to find Creasy. Good luck.
I AM THE FAIL OF THE WEEK
I am the Epic Fail of the Day. I am posting this allegedly scrap between Max B and Jim Jones. I FAILED.
30 Guerrillas? I would have made a run for it. LMAO.
JIM JONES IS A ROCK STAR
KENYON MARTIN LOVES TRINA TOO MUCH!
Kenyon Martin gets Trina lips tattoo on his neck?
RANDOM QUOTES
John McCain was a popular guy and he still is, but Sarah Palin can forget about that 2012 endorsement. Mickey said (CNN):
I cant say something like that. Weve got some great other young governors. I think youre going to see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party.
Im co-signing Clint Eastwood on this quote to Esquire magazine.:
We live in more of a p***y generation now, where everybody’s become used to saying, “Well, how do we handle it psychologically?” In those days, you just punched the bully back and duked it out. Even if the guy was older and could push you around, at least you were respected for fighting back, and you’d be left alone from then on.”
Terrence Howard speaks on Heath Ledgers Joker vs. Jack Nicholson’s Joker.
How do you step into Jack Nicholson’s shoes? How do you do that and stretch that? He stretched Jack Nicholson’s shoes.
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
Shout out to my homey Ryan, from Big VA
Tom Brady is out for the season, not the year.
Lil Wayne has a new song. Click here for that!
Did anybody hear that Lil Wayne said that he was better than Tupac? Gotta be a bad rumor!
Why is La The Dark Man dissing Young Jeezy? Wasnt he down with Wu? I thought he was godbody. Click here to listen to this supposed diss.
Madonna will be paying Guy Ritchie almost $100 million to end their marriage. Now thats a recession success story!
Click here for a parental fail. Texting your Daddy about your first time? WOW.
JAY-Z IS COMING IN 2009
Here is a report by the New York Post on Jay-Z activities as he prepares for the new album.
Jay-Z spends so much time at his recording studio, he needs to keep a bed in there. Sources told us Hova hit up BoConcept on Madison Avenue and 30th Street to find furniture for his Manhattan “office.” We hear his purchases included a sleep-sized sofa, a bar table, bar stools and a glass coffee table, and that he dispatched his assistant to collect the goods. No word as to whether Beyoncé had any say in the decorating decisions.
THE DREAM AND RIHANNA?!
The Dream might have been dreaming when he said this, but he suggested that something was going on with him and RiRi. In his dreams? Check it!
THIS WEEK WITH JASIRI X!
Shout out to Sym on the beat. Illseed records coming soon! Shout out to Jasiri X! Hip-Hop has a mind and that mind is intelligent!
BEYONCE: RANDOM QUOTE
“My goal is to become a successful actress in dramas that don’t involve singing. I’ve been comfortable in singing roles, but I don’t want to be comfortable. I want non-singing roles that will challenge me. I want to open the door for black female entertainers and show them they can do anything.”
HOL’ UP, T-BOZ!
LOL I admit, I love the ladies of Essence, but I didn’t read that entire interview with T-Boz. She does have a foreclosure on her record, BUT she charges that it is a property that ex-man Mack-10 PUT IN HER NAME. Well, I see .uhm Here is the quote:
“No, I’m not homeless. During my last marriage [to Mack 10], I had a bunch of things that were put in my name. If one of those properties is going into foreclosure then I don’t know. Although I’ve been divorced for five years, there are still a lot of things I’m dealing with on getting straight in that regard. All I know is that the house I live in with my daughter is not. When you pull up my name, my real house doesn’t show up because it’s not in my real name, because I enjoy my privacy and I’m not trying to have people be able to find me that easily.”
Somebody get Mack-10 on a phone!
J-HUD’S HOOD BROTHER-IN-HATE DID WHAT?
I straight jacked this off eurweb.com, but peep it:
*A birthday gift given to Jennifer Hudson’s sister Julia by an alleged boyfriend may have triggered her estranged husband to go on the shooting spree that killed her mother, brother and son, prosecutors allege.
Julia, according to People magazine, celebrated her 31st birthday on Oct. 23 with a cake and small party at home. The next morning, police say, her estranged husband William Balfour booted last February from the house on Chicago’s South Side where they lived with Julia’s mother and 7-year-old son showed up and spotted a gift he believed came from another man.
Prosecutors allege it was jealousy over that gift that led Balfour, 27, to return to the house after Julia had left for work and shoot her mother Darnell Donerson, 57, Jennifer’s brother Jason, 29, then take Julia’s son, 7-year-old Julian King, and later kill him as well.
50 CENT’S NEW BUSINESS MOVES
Is this new or am I late? I don’t know for now, for me, it’s a rumor. I am hearing that 50 Cent has locked in on a new music venture. According to rumor, 50 Cent is currently building a team of young beatmakers & producers to spear-off his new hitmaking team ntitled G-Unit “ProjectHitSquad,” a partnership with EMI publishing. From what I understand, the first producer signed to the team is Baltimore native Calvo Da Gr8, who happens to catch two placements on 50’s new “Before I Self Destruct” album. Dude also co-wrote Ciara’s “Like A Boy” record. I wonder how he feels about that Beyonce song. Anyway. 50 Cent reportedly dissed Kanye West recently by laughing at his new CD. 50 Cent needs to make sure his own album pops off in 09.
JASMINE SULLIVAN COMES A LONG WAY!
Check this out! Jazmine Sullivan now breaks windows out of cars, but at age 11, she was singing a different tune. Here she is performing “Accept What God Allows” at the world famous Apollo Theater in NYC.
MY DOG EARL
This is so WRONG, that I am ashamed to actually feature it on the rumors page. Its also quite funny. Sorry for posting it.
SHELZ AND HER 4 AM RUMORS!
Shelz and I are both up late, but she’s emailing me stuff at 4 and 5 am. Illseed is sleep by 5 am on his BEST day. The only time I was up that late was with my first girlfriend like “You hang up, no you hang up you hang up ”
You May Know This Story, You May Not
Shouts to D-Nice. I absolutely love what he’s doing these days.
Here It is
Cameraman for B-More “Stop Snitchin” Video Gets 30 Years
Yeah, this is news not rumor. But the 30 years, as far as I can tell, was sentencing based on a program called Project Exile, created just for felons with guns. 30 years on an illegal gun charge. 30 Federal years. It seems like this dude had a lot of other charges, but the press up in Baltimore are reporting the sentence was just for the gun. The Baltimore Police Department has also been passing out flyers with his mug shot and his sentence, letting folks know that this could happen to them. Oh and they also “exiled” him to PA so his folks have to put on their skates to come visit. Wow .
Are You Interested in Jacki-O’s Life?
Then you are in luck. She is apparently writing an autobiography and has ambitions of making it a film. The working title is Relentless. I knew you wanted to know that.
Jamie Foxx Clowns Terrance Howard
I like Terrance Howard, but this is funny.
For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed
DOUG E. FRESH, 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 al*************@***il.com.
– allhiphop rumors
Bun B., Timbaland Assisting Ginuwine On New Album
As he prepares his long delayed return to the R&B world, singer Ginuwine has enlisted the help of two Hip-Hop heavyweights, one a long-time collaborator.
The singer, who rose to superstardom in the late 90s following the success of his debut single Pony, is currently in the studio with producer Timbaland working on his sixth studio album, Asylum Records revealed today.
The New Beginning will be Ginuwines first since in four years.
It will be released via Notifi Records, with distribution through Asylum.
“I have been touring and working on various projects the last couple of years and pondering what I wanted my next moves to be, the multi-platinum artist reveals. I didn’t want to rush into just doing what a label told me to do but rather take time to be creative and find music and projects that I have creative control over. Notifi is giving me the support and creative freedom to record the sounds I think best represent me.”
Assisting Timbaland on production duties are Bryan Michael Cox and Warren Oak Felder, who is responsible for Chris Brown latest single, Superhuman featuring Keri Hilson.
Ginuwine has also tapped RL of the group Next, writing team The Clutch and Johnta Austin as songwriters for the project.
But so far, only one guest appearance has been confirmed: that of Southern Hip-Hop legend Bun B.
The New Beginning is due out during the second quarter of next year.
Sneak(er) Peek: Kobes New Jawns, Adidas get UNDRCRWNd & Eminems Jordans
Much kicks to get into, so here are some of the kids favs
and most interesting from the most recent crop of releases.
Kobe dropped his new shoes, the Nike Zoom Kobe IVs. These
sport a low profile and carriy over elements from the Nike Hyperdunks (i.e. Flywire) while
looking way better than his last signature pair that were on some “hi-tech if
Spider-Man played hoops” ish. At 11.6 ounces its the lightest Nike shoe
ever. Kiddies, they drop Jan 1,
09; Kobe, tape those ankles kid.
UNDRCRWN, a lifestyle brand based out of Phillyword to
Beans, the Roots, Gillie and all those dudeshas collaborated with adidas
Basketball for three imited edition pair of kicks called Team Signature Command
+ Create x UNDRCRWN: The Brand for Champions Series. Thats a lot, but the
kicks are easier to keep track of. All three shoes will retail for $125 and
will be at select outlets and of course www.undrcrwn.com.
TS Creator x UNDRCRWN: Championship rings
TS Creator Low x UNDRCRWN: of the Gilbert Arenas variety
TS Commander x UNDRCRWN: its Christmas time, in Hollis,
Queens
Eminem dropped a collab with Brand Jordan (rhyming has its
perks, ya know). In this vid from Nicekicks.com he and designer Jason Mayden
offer insight on their creation. Only 313 pairs made and available at the
Jordan Brand website’s Flight Club.
These buttery hi-top take on Stan Smiths (first dropped in
65 and rocked by the fashionable ever since) and Americanas (the official shoe
of the ABA, when the NBA wasnt only game in town) are part of the adidas
Originals House Party campaign. You dont have to go too far to find them since
they should be readily available at Foot Locker for about 70 to 80 beans,
respectively.
What Are Your Kids Listening To?
I was dropping my wee one off at school a few mornings ago and the young man in the car in front of mine caught my attention. He opened up the door and the music flooded out with him. I didn’t recognize the song, but I did recognize the four letter words streaming loudly from his speakers. The
staff at the door stood back, watching and listening as he slowly
helped his first grader out of the back seat and into the doorway of
the elementary school cafeteria. The wide eyed
stares of the principal and gym teacher obviously didn’t register with
this gentleman as he returned to the driver’s seat without turning down
the music and drove away.
I have seen this more than I care to recall; especially in the spring. It’s not quite hot enough to crank the fake air. Folks are glad they can roll down their windows for the first time in months. It’s
a glorious time. The trees are blooming. The sun is shining. The
bass is pounding and the babies in the back seat are slowly losing
their hearing as they sing along to “Doo Doo Brown.” Your little one screaming, “Face down, ass up” in the sand box amuses you? I’m horrified.
I understand we have gotten away from the village raising the child. We are all little villages of three and four who fight fiercely for our parental independence. In
other words, no one is interested in some stranger telling them how to
raise their kids. I also understand that these kids have an
easy access to information that no previous generation could have
dreamed of and Hip-Hop is but a morsel of that.
You
can’t shelter them like the children you see in those comedy movies
who have lived underground in a bomb shelter until they are 18. There
has to be some slow drip information IV administered or they will be
overloaded once turned out into the real world. However, I think it is
within the parental acceptance of inappropriate material that the problem arises. It’s not in the introduction of the topic, but how the
parents explain said topic that makes all the difference.
I remember being a kid and sneaking to hear Just-Ice’s “That Girl is a S###.” That song was so vulgar; my little mind couldn’t comprehend it. We would giggle at the lyrics we did understand and try to decipher those we didn’t. I
don’t think that affected me negatively as a person, but the difference
is my mom and dad would have never played that music in my presence. I
knew that they would not have approved, so I knew it wasn’t suitable.
Some of these new millennium kids haven’t been taught that and they are
not going to be able to figure it out on their own.
I search for Hip-Hop my son can listen to. I
regularly sit for 90 minutes checking out some CD I would have never
purchased on my own accord just so I can locate something to put on his
mp3 player. It’s work. I know. The
censoring on those Wal-Mart approved albums and radio edits is so
transparent, anyone can sing straight through them word for word. So
what’s a parent to do? Especially when that kid sitting next to your
baby in the lunch room can prattle off tales of beating the bush all
night while he’s sipping sizzurp and puffing that purp, leaning sideways
better than he can recite his times tables.
Its
not lil’ Mikey’s fault that he has been bombarded by all these images
and any parent will tell you it’s damn near impossible to shield your
children from all of them. But isn’t part of parenting laying out that path, whatever path we chose, and easing them down it? All forms of media can be awesome baby sitters, but we shouldn’t be using them as such. And
when your kid does pull something rank from the media pit, it is your
job to bring them to terms with it gently and within their realm of
understanding.
Now I don’t want any of you to misinterpret. There
are songs I know from jump to fade that I love to death, but would
cringe to hear coming out of my kid’s mouth. There is definitely a time
and place for the music. I just don’t think that
time and place is 7:45 am in front of an elementary school or anywhere
within earshot of your mini me for that matter.
AHHA’s Best of 2008: Brandy Part Two
Original Post Date: October 8, 2008Brandy’s road to the top didn’t have its fair share of bumps along the way. In Part Two, we learn about her sticking together with brother Ray J when the media gets brutal, her planning for her ’30s and her rap career that never was, and a “Boy Is Mine” Part Two? AllHipHop.com Alternatives: So what would you say youre looking forward to the most in your 30s coming up?Brandy: They say 30s are the new 20s, huh.AHHA: Yeah, amen.Brandy: Im so glad Jay-Z said that cause where would we be in our 30s? AHHA: What are you looking forward to in your 30s that you might not have been looking forward to in your 20s?Brandy: Im still trying to get to the place where I am looking forward to my 30s. As much as Ive heard about how great the 30s are and how its this great life and youre just gonna have fun, youre a lot wiser and youre just gonna do your thing, I am still trying to get to the place, okay, lady in about five-six months you are about to be 30. You are never gonna be in your 20s again. I am holding on to this 29 as much as possible. I am still trying to get to this place for sure. Im happy to be alive for sure. AHHA: Your brother Ray J went through a period of time where he was Brandys brother and now he really came into his own. How does that make you feel?Brandy: I am so thankful for that because honestly just to see him go through that, I wasnt able to enjoy everything that I had accomplished because I didnt feel like I could share that with him because thats what everybody said that he was in my shadow and hes just Brandys brother. You know, Ive always seen him not just my brother, hes a talent, hes an artist; hes an incredible artist at that. Hes an individual, and Im just so thankful that he was able to pull through that and now is doing his thing and people have come up to me and said, Yo thats Ray Js sister and Ill be like I love that, I love that. I love that we can both do our thing without people just saying that hes Brandys brother or thats Ray Js sister or whatever it is. Its just were able to do our own thing, and thats dope because I can enjoy what Im doing and he can enjoy what he does in peace and thats a beautiful thing.AHHA: When the media gets stupid, do you guys pull together? Brandy: Absolutely. Me and Ray have stuck together through it all through all the media negativity we have been there for each other and thats what familys all about, and I know I have a friend in him. Hes my best friend and hes one of my favorite favorite people in the whole world. And Im just so thankful hes my brother. I couldnt have asked God for a better brother; hes dope. When I have a weak moment Im calling Ray J for sure, moms first, then Ray. AHHA: How did it make you feel to see Shar Jackson as a rapper now.Brandy: She is?AHHA: Shar J.Brandy: Shars a rapper. Are you serious?AHHA: Yeah, did you see her, she won Celebrity Rap Superstar. Shes got a single out called “Let It Blow.”Brandy: Are you serious? Oh my God, I didnt know that. I did not know that.AHHA: She went toe to toe with Countess Vaughn rhyming on the show.Brandy: Countess is rapping too?AHHA: Yeah Countess rapped too, it was on the show. Brandy: Okay, well now I feel comfortable with letting AllHipHop.com know my secret.AHHA: You rap on your album? Brandy: I didnt rap on the album, but Im never gonna say it anywhere else. Im saying it to you guys and you guys can tell everybody you know. I can rap too. I feel so comfortable saying that if my girl is rhyming, if Shar is rapping, Countess is rapping, Brandys rapping. Im like this is it.Let me tell you how I discovered it; its such a cute story. I was in the car and I was just outside had the music blasting, my cousin got me all of these beats from a kid in Mississippi where Im from. They didnt have any music on them, like no lyrics or nothing. It was just a beat; it was a track. And you know Ive been rapping with Eminem and 50 and Jay and Kanye for a long time. I can spit all of their lyrics, Lil Wayne too. And Ive always wanted to rap, and all of a sudden in the car Im starting to flow off the top of my head, Im like no wait a minute am I flowing with no paper, no pen, no nothing? Im on some Jay-Z ish, Im like this is crazy, right.So I go in the house and Im like, Oh my god, Ryan! Ryans my cousin, and Im like, Ryan I think I can rap, G. I think I can go. So I spit it for him, he was like, Oh my God B you might be onto something, you might be onto something. This is actually good this is actually good. I called Ray, he was like, B, Ima take you to the studio. So Ray took me to the studio and I did a song and everything. I did, but what happened was is that I think it was so dope and Im only saying this because I dont think Im gonna have a rap career, but I think it was so dope none of my people believed it was me. They thought that I took it from someone else; they never believed I wrote it. They said, B no one would ever believe you wrote it, no one would ever believe that that was you. Forget about it, get back to singing. Thats what they told me, so now when I go back to try to flow at the top of my head, it doesnt come to me anymore because I let them get into my head. AHHA: Howd you let them shut you down?Brandy: They shut me down, and its just I think if I really tried again it would happen, but Ive tried a couple of times and it just didnt happen.AHHA: So the one that you did do in the studio was good?Brandy: I have like ten songs.AHHA: You should release one of them.Brandy: Nah, Im too scared that people wont believe its me. It was so dope to me, like it was so good to me. I really felt confident in my rap career. I really thought that I was gonna come back as Young B, as Young Bran. I thought I was gonna come back, but you know my family they said that the fans would be very disappointed. My mom and everybody was like the fans would be very disappointed if you started rapping and no one would believe you. Lets have a moment of silence for my rap career. [pauses] I have it if you want to hear it, we can set up a leak situation.AHHA: You should. Brandy: I actually did a song called Vibrant Thing. Obviously it was a remake of Q-Tip Vivrant Thing and I played it for Lil Kim and she wanted to get on the song with me.AHHA: What? Brandy: I was like you should just do the song. So Lil Kim wanted to get on the song with me, I was like no Lil Kim you should do it by yourself you can just cut me 50 percent, its all good. You get on it, you do it, shes like, No I wanna do it with you and that right there made me feel so confident in my rap career.AHHA: And then what happened?Brandy: I dont know happened, but I got the whole vibrant thing down.AHHA: Well in the video for the I Wanna Be Down remix, you were doing the Hip-Hop bob and weave through the whole song, so it was probably always in you.Brandy: It probably was, but now I dont know where it is because I got discouraged because everybody said no one will believe you. I was like no thats because yall think its too good, its too good. Thats my way of feeling better.AHHA: Do you have any plans to work with other artists? Your collaboration with Esthero is so perfect that you wouldnt of thought about it you know?Brandy: Absolutely, I would love to work with a lot of different artists. A dream come true would be to do a duet with Sade and also back to the rapping, I would love to do a rap with Lil Wayne. Itll probably never happen, but I would love to do that on a mixtape or something I just wanna see if I can just flow with them guys man.AHHA: Lil Wayne jumps on things, that could happen.Brandy: I wanted Ray to send him some of mine, because Ray is a good friend of Lil Wayne. I wanted him to send him some of my rap music. Never did.AHHA: Carter IV, Brandy. So the wrap up question: ten years ago you and Monica went toe to toe for The Boy is Mine. Ten years later who won?Brandy: Ten years later who won the boy? I think we both stopped liking the boy. I think we just dont like the boy no more. I actually reached out to Monica awhile back and I said, Monica we should get back together and do another song, we should do like The Boy is Mine 2. she said, Girl I aint about to be fighting over no boy, Im too grown for that. So I got a kick out of that. I really wanna work with her again, Im so glad shes coming back out so maybe we can tour or something together.AHHA: Was there a real life rivalry between you two?Brandy: A real life rivalry I think that our camps tried to make us dislike each other and I never had anything against Monica, and I was so happy that she was a part of The Boy is Mine. It wouldnt of been as big as it was without her. I think you know how camps are, they try to make us compete, and the industry tried to make me, Monica and Aaliyah compete and we were all doing our thing, and we were all successful at what we were doing.Honestly, thats one of the reasons why I wanted to do the duet with her to cut down the rivalry, but at the same time we were fighting over a boy [in the song], so I just fed into [it] even more but no thats my girl. Im just mad that when I call her she dont call me back. I pick up the phone, but shes a momma with two beautiful babies, so I understand. But call me back Mo. Call me back.AHHA: Its hard to believe that there are some young people who mightve never heard the music of Brandy. How do you plan to reach them?Brandy: I think for the new fans the music will sell itself, you know what Im saying? You know seeing me on the television and really connecting with me, thats whats gonna get them to connect with me. Its interesting I went to Fashion Week here in New York, and it was these young kids they just gathered around me as if theyd been following my music forever. They were blowing me kisses and kissing me on the cheek and all sorts of things, so I feel like my presence is definitely a sweet presence. I think that people will embrace me just because Im gonna embrace them and Im somebody you can reach out and touch. Im a big sister, a friend, a godmom, whatever and I think thats whats gonna connect the new fans to me, and I look forward to meeting them. I look forward to seeing them at my concerts. But at the end of the day, Im destined to be here. Im here on purpose, and I have to take care of my responsibility and thats giving music to the world and showing people that Im a living example to be whatever you want to be through it all no matter what. Youre only a failure if you stay down.Check out Part One if you missed it.
Gorilla Zoe Added To Lil Wayne’s I Am Music Tour
The star-studded I Am Music Tour gained a little more wattage yesterday (December 14) as Atlanta rapper Gorilla Zoe announced his last minute addition to the line-up, just hours before the first stop on the tour at Miamis American Airlines Arena.
Zoe joins the Gym Class Heroes, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole and T-Pain as part of a crew of in-demand artists joining Lil Wayne on his biggest tour since the June 10 release of the critically acclaimed Tha Carter III.
Just one week after announcing the tour dates, Lil Wayne was nominated for eight 2009 Grammy nominations, more than any other artists in any genre.
Tha Carter III, which, at 2.7 million copies sold, is the most commercially successful album of the year and is up for the coveted Album of the Year.
Gorilla Zoe is set to remain on the I Am Music Tour through its January 19 conclusion, just two months before the release of his sophomore effort, Dont Feed Da Animals.
The follow up to last years Welcome to the Zoo will be available on March 17 on Bad Boy South/Block Entertainment. It features the single Lost, Zoes collaboration with Lil Wayne.
The video clip for the song is set to debut on BETs The Deal this Tuesday (December 16), where it will enter into heavy rotation.
On December 1, Zoe announced a 12-week Dont Feed Da Animal weight-loss journey, in which he is challenging himself and his fans to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
During the weeks leading up to the release of his album, Zoes goal is to drop 40 pounds, bringing him to a leaner weight of 190.
Big Block and Diddy both understand the importance of having the right image, he said of his endeavor. I want to make sure my growth musically is also reflected in my new body.
He has made his progress available to the public through video diaries viewable online at www.dontfeeddaanimal.com.
Zoe has dropped five pounds in the first two weeks of the challenge.
Junior Reid Ft. Lil Wayne
“Ghetto Youths Rock”
Busta Rhymes Ft. Ron Browz, Spliff Star, Rick Ross, N.O.R.E., Red Cafe and Reek Da Villian
“Arab Money Remix Pt. 2”
Kid Cudi Ft. Collie Buddz
“Day N Nite Remix”
Rick Ross Ft. Lil Jon
“Guitar Hero Part II (Snippet)”
Jakki The Motamouth Ft. Copywrite, and Shattastar
“Supacats”
Young Swift Ft. Kurupt, Gail Gotti, and Spider Loc [Heater Of The Day]
“Get It”
Uncle Murder
“Brooklyn Go Hard Freestyle”
Ransom Ft. Mistah F.A.B.
“Federal Reserve”
Nefu Da Don Ft. Wiz Khalifa
“Real Stack Money”
Core DJ’s Launch International Syndicated Radio Show
The Core DJs have launched an internationally syndicated radio show, which made its debut two weeks ago.
The new show has already been picked up by close to 20 radio stations so far, including affiliates in Belgium, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria.
The show, which follows an urban/rhythmic format, is assembled at the top of the week by a crew of approximately eight members of the Core DJs organization, with Vice President Derek The Bigg DM Jurand serving as Program Director.
Holding the position of host is Uncle Woody, an on-air personality from Charleston, WVs 98.7 The Beat, joined by Dallas duo DLyte and Ebony, better known to K104 FMs listeners as the On-Air Divas.
The Core DJs Radio show is distributed to affiliate radio stations every Wednesday of the week.
The feedback weve gotten so far is excellent, Core DJs Founder and CEO Tony Neal told AllHipHop.com. [The] first week, five stations aired it; this past week, eleven. Next week looks like it will be 17 or 18 plus overseas. We also have a few internet stations that [also] want to air the show.
The Core DJs Radio show can currently be heard on stations in Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North and South Carolina, and West Virginia. It also airs on Sirius/XMs Shade 45 on Sundays at 1pm.
While the playlist is very hit driven, Neal says that The Core Djs Radio Show will continue the Core DJs mission of breaking new music, thus giving up-and-coming artists, both in the US and overseas, the opportunity to obtain commercial airplay in various markets.
Once the Core DJs Radio Show has become well established across the board, the organization plans to launch a similar Urban Adult Contemporary show called The Lesson, which will play a variety of R&B and Old School music.