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Isaac Hayes Funeral Set; Family Speaks
The life of award-winning composer/musician Isaac Hayes will be memorialized next week during a funeral service in Cordova, Tennessee.
The service, which will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday (August 18) at Hope Presbyterian Church, comes as the music world and fans mourn Hayes, who died Sunday (August 10), after family members found him lying unconscious on the floor near a treadmill at his home in Memphis.
Paperwork filed by Dr. David Kraus, Hayes family physician, listed the cause of death as a stroke, according to Sheriffs spokesman Steve Shula, although no autopsy on the entertainer has been performed.
Hayes family is well aware of the affect the singer/actor had on the public as they addressed the tragedy with an admission of being “overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and love from Isaac’s dear friends, colleagues and fans from every corner of the world, and we thank each and every one of them for their kind thoughts and prayers.”
“While he was an iconic figure to many, to us he was husband, father and friend,” the family said in a statement. “We will ever miss his love, wisdom, humor and the familiar comfort of his voice.”
News of his fathers death triggered memories from the Grammy-winners son, music producer Isaac “Ike Dirty” Hayes, III, as he recounted a memorable conversation with his namesake.
“I spoke to my father just recently about working on his album, and he was excited as though this were his first project,” Ike Dirty told AllHipHop.com. I want people to remember my father for the creative, soulful, inspirational force that he was to music and African American people. He was legendary and shared his genius with the world. I also want to thank all of my peers and music industry colleagues who have reached out to express their love and prayers.”
Hayes musical influence isnt lost on Ike Dirty, who has carved his own niche by producing songs for Lil Scrappy (“Money in the Bank”) and the Ying Yang Twins (“Drop”).
The beatmaker is also noted for his work with various artists such as Redman, Keith Murray, Chamillionare, KeKe Palmer, Too Short, Blaque, Ruff Ryders, Black Coffey and Raz-B.
Ike Dirty further expressed his feelings on losing his father, admitting to having a mixture of emotions.
“Im sad, Im angry, Im happy all at once right now. I have so many memories of being my fathers son. Little things that make all the difference,” Ike Dirty said.”Things that help me maintain right now. I cant be too sad though. My father did great, great things as a musician, humanitarian, a father and a Black man.
In lieu flowers, the Hayes family asks fans to celebrate Hayes support of the Stax Music Academy and his Stax Records Legacy, by sending donations to the Academy that are made out to Soulsville, 926 E. McLemore Avenue, Memphis, TN 38106.
Please specify “In memory of Isaac Hayes.”
Maino: Say Hello
Mainos rep on those Brooklyn streets is thorough. But while it may garner him a certain level of credibility (he speaks on that below), it doesnt have anything to do with making hit records. A few years back on the strength of Rumors, a brash, industry gossip smackdown of a song, Maino caught a deal with Universal Records that only managed to make his buzz stall out. Now riding with Atlantic Records and his Hi-Hater singleand now the prerequisite remix with Swizz Beatz, T.I., Jadakiss, Plies & Fabolousbeing a certified smash, its looking like Mainos musical output may soon match and eclipse his block infamy. All good for Maino since establishing a legal legacy for his peeps is one of his stated goals. His debut album, If Tomorrow Comes , drops September 23 but despite the title, his future is looking bright. Say hello. AllHipHop.com: You served ten years in prison, when did you go in?Maino: The early nineties, 93AllHipHop.com: That said you werent out when say Biggie and Lil Kim first got real popular. Being on the inside how was that for you?Maino: S**t, any cage is hard. But I grew up there and I made the best of the situation.AllHipHop.com: Youve mentioned many times that you got started rhyming inside, about what year was that? Maino: Oh man, I started after B.I.G. came out, Ill say about 95 or 96, around that time.AllHipHop.com: And before that you never really thought about it?Maino: Not at all.AllHipHop.com: Is there anything you did growing up that might have hinted to that ability?Maino: No just an being an avid fan. I grew up listening to the greats, like any other kid in the street, no different. I listened to Hip-Hop, that was mainly what I did. Im from the ghetto and Hip-Hop, that was a part of my life. But I never wanted to be a rapper, I never aspired to be one and never thought about being one. I never thought I would write rhymes, I never thought I would do any of that until I went to jail.
Kay Slay was the first person to really put me on the radio, put me on his mixtape and I went from there. I was aggressive about it, I just wanted to meet the DJs. I didnt want to get out and try to shop a demo. I was trying to get my music directly to the street.
AllHipHop.com: At that time when you realized you had that talent, was there a certain point when you thought, you know what, I could really do this?Maino: Yes, because that was just my hustlers instinct kicking in. I figured like I grew up hustling, I grew up in the streets, I figured maybe I could use rap to be an addition to what I was doing in the streets I could give it run. Im about money, lets see if I could make it work, to see if I could grab opportunity and get out there on the streets and put my best foot forward and make it possible. I didnt know if it was going to work but I said, I might as well try, what could I lose? But if it dont work I can always fall back on the street anyway. AllHipHop.com: So when you got out in 03, what was the first thing you did?Maino I jumped right into the mixtape circuit. I met Kay Slay he was the first person to really put me on the radio, put me on his mixtape and I went from there. I was aggressive about it, I just wanted to meet the DJs. I didnt want to get out and try to shop a demo, that is not what I was trying to do. I was trying to get my music directly to the street. Before I even got out of prison because Im such a strategist that my thoughts were premeditated before I got out. I had formulated, I had people out in the streets so my mans was in a position to help me. So by the time I got out all we had to do was go see the lawyer, incorporate the paperwork and the nameregister the name Hustle Hard Entertainmentand we were on our way. AllHipHop.com: You doing well on the street mixtapes, is that how you managed to be a ghostwriter on Lil Kims album?Maino: Who ever said I was a ghostwriter, who said that? I never said that.AllHipHop.com: You didnt say that, but its just the word Maino: Oh, its just speculating. Well, I am not going to run with that. I have never supported that idea of me being a ghostwriter for anybody. People are going to speculate because that is just the business. People are going to speculate that Kim dont write her rhymes. That dont have nothing to do with me though. AllHipHop.com: Your song Rumors was popping off and you signed to Universal, it seemed liked things stalled, though. Maino: Well, we live and learn. At that point, I dont think they understood where to go with me, as far as me being a New York artist. I dont think I was ready either honestly. I dont really think I was ready as I am today. Right now Im 100 percent sure, Im ready, Im on deck. So, it was cool for both of us because I was able to get some on the job training. It was a learning experience, sort of like college. Now Im really in the work force. Maino “Rumors”AllHipHop.com: Looking back is there anything you would have done differently specifically?Maino: Well it is all about my creativeness, as far as making certain records and just growing as an artist. Where I am today, as far as that, I dont think I was there, then speaking directly at growth as an artist.AllHipHop.com: So correct me if Im wrong, would it be safe to say that wouldnt have made a Hi Hater with Universal?Maino: Right, I dont know if I was capable of doing it, because first and foremost, its my mentality. I didnt understand the game the way I do now. Everything takes time, I had to go through that period get here – so that portion of my life was well needed. If I didnt go through the situation with Universal, I dont think I would be able to make Hi Hater because I actually made the record right after I was released from Universal. It was right after I was released from Universal and right before I signed with Atlantic. AllHipHop.com: I see you got credit as co-producer, what did you do to get that credit?Maino: Because the whole record is my idea. My man Mista Raja, I called him up and told him I got this idea, I want to use this particular record. We used the beat that [Mary J. Blige] had, we found that beat, shout out to my man, DJ Unique, for getting the instrumental to us. What I did was Mr. Raja, he looped it, and I rapped to it. So, Im getting my Diddy on. Maino “Hi Hater”AllHipHop.com: Did you know you had something when you finished the song did you realize it would blow up?Maino: Well at first I wasnt fishing for it, saying Yeah, Im looking for a hit record. I was just being myself. In doing the record I was like, Oh its coming out good. But it wasnt until people were walking in the studio and started dancing, oh man immediately. It was like a reaction off of impulse. So I was like, Wow Im holding a bomb right here. so I finished the record and everybody loved it and I held it. I held the record for a year.AllHipHop.com: Why, because you were waiting for that right time?Maino: I had just got out of Universal and I was negotiating with Atlantic. My deal with Atlantic wasnt done yet and I did the record right in the middle of that. So now I was faced with the option of either release the record on my own or holding it until after my deal is done, waiting until Atlantic was going to be able to get behind it. It was a couple of times I wanted to leak the record on my own, this record could have actually came out last summer. But I dont think it would have been as big as it is today, because my deal wasnt done. I needed the machine behind it.Hi Hater Remix – Maino f/ t.i., swizz beatz, plies, jadakiss, fabolousAllHipHop.com: Whats your relationship with T.I. like? Maino: That is my brother man. Hes a very real dude. Grand Hustle is family. Im not actually signed to the label but we family. Those are my allies, those are my brothers.
That is some industry s**t. What is street cred? What is that, where does it come from? I dont know these dudes for being anybody so how can they have street credibility?
AllHipHop.com: You have mentioned before the difference between street cred and respect. Can you speak on that? Maino: What is street cred? That is some industry s**t. What is street cred? What is that, where does it come from? I dont know these dudes for being anybody so how can they have street credibility? I dont know these rappers for being a fixture in the ghetto. I am and I was who I was before rap. Ive been well respected where I came from, been known in my immediate area of Brooklyn, as well as in prison. So I believe thats just the industrys term to solidify a couple of these guys that may wear bananas and their pants hanging. So I dont buy into the street credibility, I dont even know what that is. Respect on the other hand is the greatest of everything because without respect what do you have? I grew up in an era where if you wasnt respected, you couldnt have your chain on. If you wasnt respected you couldnt wear that watch and bracelet. If you did you would have to hide it, because n****s are on your ass for that. That is a guaranteed fact. So if you had that respect and that was the greatest thing in the hood because nobody was going to touch you. You could bring a girl from another project to your hood. She didnt have to worry about girls jumping on her because you were respected.Im not saying you had to be the most gun-slinging, gangster in the hood, but for different reasons men are respected. I just happened to be of the ones who was really respected way before I even picked up a thought of rapping. AllHipHop.com: For you what is the greatest part of being an MC? Maino: Being able to provide for my family, take care of my son, legally. You dont understand I never done anything legal in my life. I came out my house I was in the street at a very early age, I went through so many trials and tribulations being a pre-teen, a teenager and going to jail for a long period of time, getting out and going directly back to the streets and making the transition from being a street dude to being an artist. This is the first time where I have ever been in the position to provide for my people with a legal foundation.AllHipHop.com: The situation with Lil Cease, is it squashed, or a case of it is what it is?Maino: It is what it is. That is not even a thought in my every day process because that was just a situation I needed to address and I addressed it. I dont have a problem addressing anything I feel like I need to. He couldnt watch his mouth, so I gave him a reason to watch his mouth. He will never disrespect me as long as he lives. And anybody who is affiliated with him will never ever get out of line again. AllHipHop.com: Being that your status is elevated, that means that eyes are going to be on you. How do you deal with the fact that there is always going to be an idiot out there just itching to test you?Maino: What I am doing right now, is I stay kind of pulled back a lot on the beefing with a lot of dudes. I try to hold back and just let the music speak for itself, because it was a time when people only judged me and people only noticed me because of controversial issues I was through. So Im not even focused on these other dudes. Im just focused on my trying to make good music and go to the next level. However, I dont think that anyone is just going to step out of line for the sake of doing it. I would be a fool to keep trying to look for that, I wouldnt be a true blue hustler to get all the way here and to constantly do things that are going to chase the money away. That is what you call being counterproductive, how can I get all the way into a corporate environment, get a record that is moving all around the country and do s**t that is going to take away from that. That wouldnt be smart at all and I am nobodys dummy.AllHipHop.com: After somebody listens to the complete album, If Tomorrow Comes , what are they going to get out of it?Maino: Hell of a lot more respect for me as a person. I think they will love me as a man and not just as some MC. I stay away from all the MC s**t, the rapper s**t. Its just real talk and real situation in life. Even if you look at Hi Hater, its not really about me being a rapper, its about a situation everybody can relate to. So I try to make my music to where certain other people can take something out of it, not just listen to some ill metaphor or something. That is not what I am in it for.
I didnt learn anything in jail as far as preparing me to be a regular upstanding citizen Real talk, its designed to just leave you in there and you got to wing it and take it upon yourself to pick up something. They give you a vocational training, you can get your GED but is that really going to prepare you for the world? You have to have it in you, to want to do something.
AllHipHop.com: Any track that stands out? Maino: There is a couple. There is a record called Floating that I love. Its about loss, its about losing homies to death and jail and how do you cope with that. I say, I dont want to feel sober, I want to feel numb, I dont want to feel sober. So with most people arent going through they say they drink and get high and that is kind of what the story is about. Man it feels like Im floating on the clouds. Im high, because I dont want to face the word alone. Because when you are going through these things you want to ease your pain. You dont want to think about what is making you hurt, that is what the record is about. AllHipHop.com: I saw this video on the Kay Slay show and you mentioned how they’re building of all of these jails but not building schools. Do you feel that jail rehabilitates people at all?Maino: No it doesnt. I didnt learn anything in jail as far as preparing me to be a regular upstanding citizen, honestly if it wasnt for rap I would go back to the street. Real talk, first and foremost its not designed to be that way, its designed to just leave you in there and you got to wing it and take it upon yourself to pick up something. They give you a vocational training, you can get your GED but is that really going to prepare you for the world? You have to have it in you, to want to do something. You got to say, I got to take this time and Im going to use it to perfect whatever craft I want to get into, whatever field I want to get into. It just gives you time to think, its just all on you, though.
Hip-Hop Rumors: The Game Ready For War Wth Jay-Z? More Great Illseed Rumors!
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!
ARE WE HEADING FOR BEEF WITH JAY-Z AND GAME?
I could be wrong, but it seems like The Game has been rather quiet recently, but I am hearing a recent interview might changed that and put him head to head with the biggest thing in rap. No, not Lil Wayne, young bucks. Im talking about Jay-Z. Do you remember the story I offered you on my blog? [Click here for the classic Jay-Z story.] Well, my boy JP finally met Jay and said he didnt know anything to say to Jigga so he just asked him about The Game. I cannot verify, but JP said he said, When you gonna go at The Game and Jay just laughed and said, We aint even f**kin with him we gonna let him commit suicide. At this time, The Game was on magazine covers with a gun to his head and talking a lot about suicide and stuff. I heard that this story has gone from JP to illseed to The Game and The Game is really mad. So, now I sort of believe The Games new song Superman, clearly a Soulja Boy diss is also a slight at Jay-Z. Remember, on Kingdom Come, Jay-Z was rapping as Superman returning to save Hip-Hop. Well see!
LIL KIM TO POSE FOR PLAYBOYEEEEEE!
There are renewed talks that perhaps Lil Kim will appear in Playboy magazine. First let me state that I dont care what any of you say: I WANT TO SEE THIS! You can talk all you want about her body this and all that. Ive been waiting since her first album cover to see that thangy. Anyway they say back in the day she was offered a mere $200,000 to strip. I think she did the right thing to hold out for whatever she is now getting! Time is ticking. If she is going to do it, shes got to do it FAST!
HOUSTON POLICE JUST RAIDED THE OZONE AWARDS?
Shout out to H-townzack and he gave me some information on the Ozone Awards. I was off on a few things regarding the show. For some reason reason, the Houston police bumrushed the event. Im still not sure why it was broken up in that way. The platoon of HPD officers came ready with batons and plastic handcuffs. So something was definitely about to go down. Also, the freestyle master that mentioned Mike Jones was named ESG and hes a member of the Screwed Up Click. My fault! Rumor has it, Stephen Jackson of the NBA was arrested at the show for some piffery, but some friends in high places get them released without incident.
BUGSY ARRESTED?
My homey Jacob Lachey of 512FilmDpt interviews a lot of artists. Yesterday, he was in Houston, TX wrapping-up an interview Bugsy, when things went kind of bad, really fast. They were at his Marriott Hotel preparing for an interview when hotel security bursts into the door for a “noise complaint.” You know that means about nothing! But, they didnt open the door and then the levels allegedly were raised to the Houston Police. According to my sources, Bugsy, his management and some other dudes were allegedly hauled off for unregistered weapons, some pills and some piff. Now, I heard that the production of the video crew was creating some sort of noise to alert the security. I heard that some affiliates of Bugsy are possibly going to sue the hotel for racism or discrimination.
NEW KANYE VID CHAMPION
FOXY MISSES DATE WITH BIG DADDY KANE?
We arent sure if this is correct and correct me if I am wrong. I am not from New York, but I am hearing that Foxy was slated to do a big show with Big Daddy Kane, Spragga Benz and some others like Roxanne Shante and the show was supposedly cancelled. It was supposed to go down this Thursday, but I heard they are going to reschedule it. From what I understand, the fans at foxboogie.com are quite upset, even though I admit, I havent seen the comments. Hopefully this is just bad jibber jabber from the haters, which I am NOT.
THE PIMP C TRIBUTE
Brandi Garcia is my new girlfriend, because she sent me the Pimp C dedication from the Ozone Awards. Check her out at 97.9 The Box!
Too Short, David Banner & Big Boi represent..
Here is the Bun B part.
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
Click here to see a concert performance of Lil Wayne and Kanye Wests Lollipop remix.
Word? I am hearing Da Brat might get as much as 10 years in jail for that alleged bottle bashing event.
Now, Bun B is definitely the big homey, but I am hearing that Pimp Cs wife is not happy that she wasnt able to grace the stage at the Ozone Awards with some of Pimps other kids. Not sure where this is going.
I heard a rumor that Prodigy of Mobb Deep was somehow killed or died in jail, but I know that cannot be true.
LADY DRAMA THE RUMOR REPORT NOT TO MISS!
Lady Drama is back in full effect and she is weighing in on quite a bit. Im not going to edit her. I havent even read it yet and I am going to say she speaks for her boisterous self! I love Julia B and the Ozone Movement. Rick Ross and Trae’s on the current cover. Shout out to Zro!
He Said… She Said… The Real Story on the Mike Jones Scuffle!
So I was privileged enough to be in the right place at the right time and boy did I get some juice for you loyal AHH readers! Now as my boy illseed had laid out via clips and source to source info some Houston folks don’t seem to have too much love for who… Mike Jones… who…. Mike Jones as it came to a die hard Houston rappers attention that Mike hadn’t been reppin Houston hard enough! Trae, a Houston rapper, felt that Mike Jones was feeling a bit too froggy and full of himself at the Ozone awards compared to his normal behavior when the flashing lights die down! Mike Jones felt like he was entitled to do it big at the Ozone Awards in Houston since he felt he helped to put Houston on the map! Trae didn’t feel the same way and thought it was about time Mike Jones got put in his place! One thing leads to another and Trae approached Mike Jones in a calm matter as if to spark a convo and with the blink of an eye Mike Jones gets a clip to the nose!
Now with all the chaos that took place over the course of the day it was pretty hard to gain any valid information on why it went down officially or what previous events could have caused it… that’s what research is for and I’m on it! But one thing we do know is 100 percent true and that’s the fact that Mike Jones left the Ozone Awards with a bloody nose and nothing to show for it! Mike did appear to try and reinvigorate his gangster by coming back on stage and trying to get some love by doing his signature who Mike Jones thing.. but it was very lackluster as everyone knew what happened! Along with Mike Jones DJ Khaled and others tried to make light of the situation by joking but, much too little too late 😉 So I guess back then we didn’t know him and….. we still don’t! For more check out AHH’s all out exclusive Ozone Awards round up!
Let me add that Mike Jones wasn’t the only one partaking in squarish activity during the weekend but I won’t bite the hands that feed me! LOL 😉
Speaking of the Ozone Awards not…… we got to do better!
Now you all know I try my best to keep it real and also keep my job but something’s can’t be overlooked! I was fortunate enough to attend the Ozone Awards this year but I must say I wasn’t too impressed! Aside from some of rap’s greatest artists, new upcoming talent, and huge legends the whole experience lacked substance to me! But the one thing one can get from the Ozone experience is great networking and memories that will last a lifetime… If it’s worth $300 for a weekend pass and $29.50 for a ticket is your call but don’t say I didn’t warn you! I would love to charge the Ozone Award staff to strive for better panels next year with in depth outlooks and perspectives on other things that effect hip hop such as politics, licensing, the hip hop culture and how it effects our communities etc. I would also like to see panelists use more than four letter words to express themselves! I know their vocabulary is much larger than that! I’m pulling for you guys to prove me wrong next year! But thanks for the southern hospitality it was much appreciated!
Now on to the fluff…….. Cassie Has Pierced Nipples… Stop Playin
I knew there was some reason Diddy couldn’t keep his hands of Cassie! In a current issue of Complex Mag Cassie went into detail about how she got her nipples pierced to take a stand against breast cancer! Read below it’s pretty interesting:
Sexy R&B star CASSIE had her nipples pierced to help her keep breast cancer at bay. The pretty 22 year olds mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor and the singer was recently tested to make sure she was free of the disease. After the check-up, Cassie had her nipples pierced in a bid to show cancer she was a fighter. She says, I got my piercings before I got my results, like positive energy I think its sexy. Im proud of them. But she admits the decision to get pierced would have backfired on her if medics found the cancer gene. Cassie adds, Im sitting there with my parents, my moms sobbing after she finds out that I dont have the gene, and Im like, `Guess what, mom and dad, I got my nipples pierced. It was nerve-racking because I was like, `My moms going to kill me if I have this gene and I got these things.
Lady Dramas Food For Thought:
Michelle Williams may be firing Matthew Knowles as her manager… what the hell took so long?
Speaking of failures….. Beyonce’s House of Dereon Line is in the shi**er! It took long enough! I didn’t think they would last this long!
Fellas what turns you on more the fact that Cassie has her nipples pierced or the fact that she did it for a great cause?
So after Mike Jones got his face handed to him…. what’s next maybe an album? As I always say any publicity is good publicity! You gotta strike it while the irons hot boy! Get in where you fit in!
Go Hard or Go Home
RANDOM QUOTES ABOUT ISAAC HAYES
For a while, I am going to just be running random quotes from artists about Isaac Hayes. Starting off, here is Ike Dirty, a member of the Hip-Hop nation. Thats right! Sr & Jr were on the same accord.
This is hard. I wanna thank everyone who has called, e-mailed or texted me in the last day. It means a great deal to me and my family. So many things are going on in my head right now its kind of hard to think. I wanna write though. I know this will help me. This is gonna be kinda jumbled. Im sad, Im angry, Im happy all at once right now. I have so many memories of being my fathers son. Little things that make all the difference. Things that help me maintain right now. I cant be too sad though. My father did great, great things as a Musician, Humanitarian, a Father and a Black man. Im so happy he touched and inspired so many people in a positive way. I am more proud of my father than anyone could know. Im so messed up right now that hes gone too soon for me but his life was a good one. He lived! Traveled the world. Followed his dreams and was extremely ! blessed and successful. I will no longer take another second for granted in my life and work towards all my goals with renewed drive and purpose. I do it for my dad. I do it for me. This blog included. Hug the ones you love right now. I didnt get to hug my father before he passed. Let go of silly things that have you at odds with the ones you love. Life is short. Live.
BOW WOW TALKS:
About his girlfriends:
He talks about Yung Berg and model chicks that hes been associated with:
HELP SOULJA BOY GET PIZ-AID!
Im not a hater! I want to see Soulja Boy do well in life. Keeps him and his boys out of trouble! In a couple years, those two guys on the side are going to be p#####! Anyway, I decided to post this video because he claims that he gets paid 2 15 cents every time you grace his youtube page. See for yourself.
YESTERDAY, 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 ah*******@***il.com.
– allhiphop rumors
SCREENSHOT: Too Human
Developer: Silicon Knights
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Canadian developer Silicon
Knights is known for its small but rapidly growing number of behemoth
titles, which include Eternal Darkness: Sanitys Requiem
and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. The company will be diving
into its latest digital saga, Too Human, with Microsoft in August.
Too Human chronicles
the journey of the cybernetic god Baldur as players battle against forces
that threaten all mankind. When an ancient machine puts the galaxy in
danger, Baldur is charged with utilizing his powers to protect the world
from monstrous beings that are hell-bent on destroying any and everything
that stands in their way.
Too Human is an action-adventure
RPG, similar to Mass Effect and Champions of Norrath.
Players will be able to customize their character by leveling up and
obtaining different types of equipment through Baldurs travels. While
the game starts out with five classes, Silicon Knights has announced
that they will be adding more via downloadable contentment. They also
hinted at additional quests that will eventually be available for download,
lengthening the games replay value. Skill classes, customizable characters,
cybernetics, and item hunting all await players in the fictional world
of Too Human.
Silicon Knights knows that
players love connecting and joining forces over the internet, so they
made sure to include an online 2 player co-op mode via X Box Live that
will allow players to meet and adventure together to search for rare
items and complete quests.
Here are some things gamers
can expect from Silicon Knights upcoming release:
Thrilling action-RPG gameplay.
Unlike some games that may force players to choose between two genres,
Too Human combines all the creative economy features and social
experiences of a typical RPG, such as collecting loot and leveling up,
while maintaining the excitement of an action game. With a wide array
of weapons, armors, cybernetic implants and skills, players have an
unprecedented level of customization with their characters.
Explosive melee and firearms
combat. It will take more than brawn and raw strength to supplant
the machine hordes. Using a sophisticated blend of seamless melee and
high-tech weapons combat, players have the power to vanquish foes near
and far. Witness the fluid grace of heroes and enemies in battle as
enacted by the acclaimed motion-capture group Full Action Stunt Team
(FAST). Feel each punishing blow through advanced visual effects made
possible through the power of Xbox 360.
The birth of an icon.
Fight as Baldur, a powerful cybernetic god battling his way through
enemy armies to become one of gamings renowned iconic heroes. From
weaponry and armor to combat techniques and combos, players can fully
customize Baldur to become the best possible hero.
Advanced cinematic presentation.
Characters and environments come to life with amazing visual fidelity.
Experience the full excitement of combat through a dynamically driven
presentation system that portrays the combat with cinematic quality.
Survive pulse-pounding battles against hordes of on-screen enemies set
against the vast landscape of the Too Human world. A sweeping
orchestral score sets the mood for heartbreak, anger and blood lust
as each tune encapsulates the gamer within the immersive gaming environment.
New level of accessibility
through intuitive combat. Perform Baldurs elaborate and complex
combat maneuvers, and chain together rapid-fire attacks and combos with
ease. Through the use of an intuitive combat system, Too Human
delivers gameplay that is easy to learn and rewarding to master.
Shared experience. Conquer
the world of Too Human alone or with friends in advanced, online
two-player co-op gameplay through the Xbox LIVE service. Online co-op
play requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership.
Modern take on classical
Norse mythology. In a world ruined by centuries of war, Too Human
chronicles the epic story of Baldur, favored son of Odin and one of
a group of humanitys protector, the Aesir. As Baldur, you must destroy
the ancient war machines that threaten the world, but to do so you must
balance your sense of duty and honor against your lust for revenge
perhaps even sacrificing your humanity in the process.
City Of Men (DVD Review)
City Of Men, a coming of age story set in the bubbling favelas of Rio de Janeiro, is the tale of slum-beautiful redemption that City Of God should have been. The follow-up to Fernando Meirelles 2003 Academy-Award winning classic stars best friends Acerola (Douglas Silva) and Laranjinha, a.k.a. Wallace (Darlan Cunha) days away from eighteen.
The films theme is fatherhood; for Wallace, it comes in the form of a labyrinthine search for his father that leads him through soccer fields, local restaurants, and the prison system. For Ace, the fatherhood falls on the opposite side of the branch as he reconciles responsibility of his newborn son.
Mireille captures the same tropical gangbang culture that transformed City Of God into an instant cult classic. We see more of the peculiarity of Brazilian hoods where gangsters bust their guns in broad light, take a nice dip at the beach, and play barefoot soccer all on the same day.
City Of Mens conflict derives from two set mates turned bitter rivals who divide the town into a violent clash for territory. Ace and Wallace are caught in the middle with entangled alliances to both sides. Their friendship faces the ultimate test, however, when the two discover a dark secret about their own fathers pasts.
City Of Men still suffers from the spell of excessive violence and limited character development in the villains. Still, each characters struggle to escape the gang-ridden drama is genuine. Aces girlfriend is whisked away with the opportunity to make thirty thousand dollars and migrates miles away from home, leaving Ace to bring up a child by himself in the belly of the beast.
Wallace and Aces extenuating issues with fatherhood keep each other in check; Ace urges Wallace to visit his fathers government subsidized one-room flat, and Wallace, in turn, dissuades Ace from walking out on his own son. With strength of their camaraderie, they begin to break the circles that plagued their own childhoods.
Only the gangbangers in City Of Men dont get much of a fair deal. Viewers dont get a clear understanding of depth or motivation of these menacing hoodlums. We dont know why they are driven to violent territorial conquests or even if they feel remorse for the mayhem they cause.
Yet, the films two young protagonists emerge from the fray and grow from neglected children to optimistic adults. So, City Of Men closes with the favelas spitting out the seeds of slum dissent that grow into two youngsters fertile promise for a better life.
City Of Men Trailer
The Death of Black Soul
Play this before or while you read this. Trust me.
Isaac Hayes was deep. Musically deep. Rich in both composition, arrangement, and social relevance. Many times in these situations we are forced to find some way to connect a loss of this magnitude to our lifestyle and our constituents. With Isaac Hayes there is no reach; there is no winding road to connection. His music supplied the fuel for some of Hip-Hops many classic beats. That Stax-supplied, Memphis-bred soul. The soul that survived the crash that killed Otis Redding. The soul that took Burt Bacharach to the mud. Black Soul.
We try to separate race from many things in this era of political correctness. We strive in the interest of objectivity to eliminate race from classification. But there is no other way to describe the music of Isaac Hayes. Black Soul. Mirroring the struggle of Black people, Hayes compositions were rarely quick hitting pop records. Isaac Hayes, who interestingly replaced the chains of the slave with the gold rope chains, was certainly no slave to convention.
His compositions went as long as twenty minutes, grabbing the listener and forcing them down into musical melancholy. Towering organs, melodic strings, and orchestral arrangements, long before Barry White altered mood and took you on an emotional journey. He told a story without words, but by mastering mood and emotion and pitch, drawing you into the Black experience.
Isaac Hayes most notable moment came as a result of his narrative ability. In an era of buffoonery, and at a time when Hollywood decided to bank its fortune on the black dollar, Isaac Hayes was given the responsibility of crafting the musical landscape of the movie Shaft. Shaft differed from the other blaxploitation movies of the era in that it had a real budget, and the lead character a non charlatan. John Shaft was strong, masculine, uncompromising.
A private eye with an edge and one of the few non-emasculated examples of that era. Directed by the immortal Gordon Parks (also a first for a major motion picture), Shaft needed a backdrop amenable to conveying that Black masculinity to audiences unfamiliar with that on film. Isaac Hayes brought that original Black superhero music. Subsequently, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song , the first non-acting Black Academy Award given out.
Hayes role as musical tour guide through the realm of Black Soul gave the world a front row seat into our collective expression. Bold and ambitious, he took innocuous songs and darkened them. A prime example of this process involved Dionne Warwicks classic rendition of Walk on By. A musical pop landmark in its own right, Hayes totally obliterated the original mood and made it hauntingly compelling by opening with booming organs and airing it out with string instruments before settling into the groove that would go on to power Biggies warning. Two songs that are entirely the same word for word, yet the power of Hayes makes his version an emotional experience.
It is this talent of Isaac Hayes among all of his prodigious ability that makes this loss such a tragedy. The ability to talk without words. The power to control emotion and to draw in people of all backgrounds to an understanding of pain. We will miss Isaac Hayes. Because before Stevie and Marvin, Isaac was socially conscious. Before Barry White brought love unlimited, Hayes was orchestrating. Before Hip-Hop was sampling and repurposing ideas from all over, Isaac Hayes was colorizing Burt Bacharach.
Sometimes when you are first, you dont reap the rewards. I imagine the great, great, great grandkids of the Wright brothers are down in the Carolinas angry with the price of plane tickets like the rest of us. Other times you are revered. Other times your legacy is cemented and the world is a different place because you chose to go left. Isaac Hayes went left; to the Black Hand side. And his indelible mark on Black Soul and the landscape of music itself will live on. You Daaaamn Right.
Below are just two examples of the difference between Isaac Hayes and pop standards. Same songs word for word. But listen to the stark contrast. R.I.P. Please learn our music. We are losing soul faster than we can replace it. Peace
Judge Issues Bench Warrant For Rapper DMX
A Phoenix, Arizona judge has issued an arrest warrant for rapper DMX for missing a scheduled court date today (August 12), AllHipHop.com has learned.
DMX, born Earl Simmons, is accused of visiting the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona to receive treatment for an illness and using someone elses identity, in order to avoid paying the bill.
The rapper, 37, was also due supposed to attend a pretrial conference pertaining to marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession charges.
According to the Associated Press, Commissioner Phemonia Miller also raised DMXs bond to $25,000.
The judge is holding an arrest warrant until 4 p.m. on Tuesday (August 19), in order for DMXs attorney to disclose the rappers whereabouts, as well as the reason he missed todays hearing.
Brandon T. Jackson: The Funny Man’s Thunder
Going from stand up comedy to movies is not every funny mans forte, but budding actor Brandon T. Jackson is making a new page for himself in the book of Hollywood success stories. Jackson got it in as an extra in movies like Ali and 8 Mile before landing his breakout role in 2005s teen favorite Roll Bounce. In 2008, hes co-starring alongside Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black and Ben Stiller in the highly-touted comedy Tropic Thunder, and with Wilmer Valderrama in the gang-themed drama Days of Wrath.Its not easy being popular, but Brandon is more than ready for the spotlight. We grabbed a few moments of his time to discuss what it was like working with Robert Downey Jr.s character (who plays in the movie in blackface), his career growth and new ventures. AllHipHop.com: Tropic Thunder is a very anticipated movie. When you first started your career did you ever envision getting to this point where youd be working with these types of people? Brandon T. Jackson: Yeah, but at the same time you always pray for it and then when it happens its definitely breathtaking. I cant say yeah with that much confidence, but I can say yes to the belief that anything is possible. Its definitely a great experience. AllHipHop.com: You went from doing stand-up and bit parts in movies to having your own show and working with Wayne Brady and other comedic actors. What have you learned throughout your career, and what have been some of the highlights as far as learning experiences? Brandon T. Jackson: When I did Roll Bounce with Bow Wow, that was my first big movie. I learned so much in that movie about how movies were made and different things. That was the first movie I had ever done, and to go from that to [Tropic Thunder] is just definitely one of those experiences that you could learn from and breathtaking, I just learned so much on the set from Robert Downey and just being there. Each step was a learning experience. AllHipHop.com: In terms of going on the road on a comedy tour versus being on a movie set, which do you like better and what do you enjoy about each experience? Brandon T. Jackson: Its like two legs, I like both of my legs. If a rapper does an album hes gonna go on the road, and if he does movies hell do movies. I really love the feeling when Im doing movies, but then when I’m doing movies Im missing stand up, so its kind of like I enjoy both situations. AllHipHop.com: With the previews and movie posters for Tropic Thunder, a lot of people saw Robert Downey Jr. was going to be playing a character who was playing a character who is essentially in blackface. Going into the movie did you have any qualms or worries that were put to rest once you got in the situation? Brandon T. Jackson: Yeah, because he did it so good. Now if he was doing like C. Thomas Howell in Soul Man then we all would have all went to hell. He did it so good to the point where my mom got to the set and she thought [Downey] was Don Cheadle. AllHipHop.com: I saw you on The Jimmy Kimmel Show and you were saying that Robert Downey Jr. never got out of character. Were there any funny moments with that where you weren’t acting and he did something crazy?Brandon T. Jackson: We drunk Kool-Aid together, had Kanye West marathons and I took him to my family’s barbecue and we went to vote for Barack Obama together in the polls. I’m just playing, but it would be cool if we did. [laughs]AllHipHop.com: In Tropic Thunder there are a lot of action scenes. Did you do any of your own stunts?Brandon T. Jackson: I did most of them, my stuntman Kofi did a lot of them too, but I really did most of them. There was so much more in there that got cut out with the action because the movie would have been way too long.AllHipHop.com: The special effects look very impressive. Were you amazed with how it actually turned out with the finished product?Brandon T. Jackson: I was very impressed with a comedy that had this much action. Ben Stiller pulled off some Steven Spielberg type of stuff – he’s like the comedy Spielberg.AllHipHop.com: Going from a gangster type movie [Days of Wrath] to a comedy role to a serious type of role, how do you prepare and how do you feel it rounds you out as an actor?Brandon T. Jackson: Look at Will Smith’s career, he doesn’t do one thing. He can do drama and comedy and I want to do both sides. The way I prepare is to just psych my mind out the old fashioned way, where if I was to do something like become a race car driver that’s all I would be and I’d become one. I just brainwash myself into becoming one, so you just stay focused and learn what they do like you’re doing a report. You learn everything, get all your references and learn how to do it.AllHipHop.com: What’s coming up next for you?Brandon T. Jackson: I have some scripts that I’m chasing right now, I just got off a Coca-Cola tour with Lupe Fiasco. I did a movie called Rogue’s Gallery that I just finished, and I’m pretty much just being smart about my next decision as far as movies. But I’m definitely always doing stand up.
Third Annual Ozone Awards Recap
The Third Annual Ozone Awards and TJs DJs Tastemakers Only Music Conference came to a successful and peaceful close in at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston last night (August 11), despite a pair of attention grabbing altercations and a late start to the four-day weekends marquee event.
Celebs and fans came together to recognize the best and brightest in Southern and West Coast Hip-Hop, continuing Ozone Magazines tradition of spotlighting those artists – established and up-and-coming – who are often overlooked by the mainstream media.
Following the now infamous altercation between Houston rappers Mike Jones and Trae The Truth, which created a need for increased security measures backstage and an extensive delay, comedian DeRay Davis kicked off the Ozone Awards.
The Ozones honored winners in 32 categories selected by their fans via online ballots.
Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled tied for the most wins, walking away with two awards each, with Wayne capturing the titles of Best Rap Artist and Best Lyricist and DJ Khaled taking the DJ of the Year and TJs DJs Hustler Awards.
High profile awards were also presented to Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince, David Banner, and T-Pain.
J. Prince took home the Living Legends Award which was presented to him by the Geto Boyz, David Banner won the Pimp C Award presented to the Trillest Artist, and the TJs DJs Tastemaker Award was presented to T. Pain for his trendsetting music and fashion sense.
Banner deferred his win to Scarface, creating one of the most memorable moments of the evening.
But by far the highlight of the show was a moving tribute to fallen Port Author pioneer Pimp C, performed by several of his contemporaries and the artists he inspired and signed to his label, Trill Entertainment.
Rappers like Hezaleo, Eightball, Too Short, David Banner, Big Boi, Webbie and Lil Boosie all took the stage to perform some of the legendary rappers best known verses.
Bun B addressed the crowd, while paying homage to his partner in rhyme through minor technical difficulties, urging the crowd to value their loved ones and their time on earth.
I want to thank everybody, he said from the stage. When your time comes, make sure that you right.
Pimp Cs eldest son and mother took the stage to a standing ovation, closing the tribute as pictures of the late rapper flashed on a monitor.
Immediately following the Ozone Awards, Mike Jones spoke to Greensboro, North Carolina radio personality Waleed Coyote about the earlier incident with Trae the Truth.
The incident resulted in minor onsite medical treatment for Mike Jones, as well as a brief police detention for his assailant Trae the Truth, who was recently honored by the Mayor of Houston for his work in the community.
Mike Jones, who appeared on stage as planned during the Awards to present the nominees in the DJ of the Year category, explained that he felt the attack was a publicity stunt.
Everybody seen it was the perfect time to do this, and they aint gotta pay for advertising and promotion and they did that, Mike Jones explained. Dude came and shook my hand. And I guess he was mad [that] I call myself The President, cause I am the president of H-Town. I run this city. So after he shook my hand and we had our words, he went his way, I went my way. Next thing you know, he snuck up from behind me and he tried to swing at me. But I still got up there at the Ozone Awards and kept it playa and kept it G. Because what happen in the street is supposed to stay in the street.
While he would not address his nemesis by name during the brief on air interview, Jones did send him a direct message.
Tell him I said when you sell two million your first time out, when your name is known worldwide, then you can talk, he said of Trae, who was eventually allowed to return to the venue and accepted the Mixtape Monster Award. Get your resume up [and] get your staff up before you come holla at me.
Ozone Award Winners
BEST RAP ALBUM Rick Ross Trilla BEST RAP ARTIST Lil Wayne BEST R&B ARTIST Chris Brown BEST RAP GROUP UGK BEST LYRICIST Lil Wayne BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST Shawty Lo BEST RAP/R&B COLLABORATION Usher f/ Young Jeezy “Love In This Club” CLUB BANGER OF THE YEAR Webbie f/ Lil Boosie & Lil Phat Independent MIXTAPE MONSTER AWARD Trae MOST SLEPT ON ARTIST Z-Ro PIMP C AWARD (TRILLEST ARTIST) David Banner TJ’s DJ’s HUSTLER AWARD DJ Khaled TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKER AWARD (Trendsetter in music, fashion/style, etc.) T-Pain BEST VIDEO UGK f/ Outkast International Players Anthem DJ OF THE YEAR DJ Khaled BEST MIXTAPE / STREET ALBUM Tie: B.G. & DJ Drama – Gangsta Grillz: Hood Generals Chamillionaire Mixtape Messiah 3 BEST PRODUCER Polow the Don BEST RAP ARTIST (WEST COAST) The Game BEST RAP GROUP (WEST COAST) DPG (Dogg Pound) BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST) Snoop Dogg Ego Trippin LIVING LEGEND AWARD J Prince PATIENTLY WAITING: FLORIDA Brisco PATIENTLY WAITING: GEORGIA B.O.B. PATIENTLY WAITING: TEXAS Lil Will PATIENTLY WAITING: MISSISSIPPI Lil C PATIENTLY WAITING: ALABAMA Jackie Chain PATIENTLY WAITING: LOUISIANA Mack Maine PATIENTLY WAITING: TENNESSEE All Star PATIENTLY WAITING: CAROLINAS Snook Da Rokk Star PATIENTLY WAITING: KENTUCKY Hurricane PATIENTLY WAITING: CALIFORNIA The Jacka PATIENTLY WAITING: ARIZONA Willy Northpole
Album Review: Janelle Monae – Metropolis: The Chase Suite
Dont call her Ms. Andre 3000, or the female equivalent to Prince. Janelle Monae and her imaginative special edition EP Metropolis: The Chase Suite is the furthest thing from industry bells and whistles or any other dimension of todays urban music. However, the reality surrounding the artistic soul of Janelle Monae is simply her world of cyborgs, fascist dictatorships and social awareness with a stunning voice. Although her subject matter is more commonly found in a H.G. Wells novel, the EP itself is a true testament to multi-generations of rock and soul music in the age of Hip-Hop.Sprung from Kansas City, Kansas Monae was first featured on Big Bois Purple Ribbon All-Star’s Compilation Got Purp? Volume II, with her 70s Michael Jackson-inspired dancetrack “Lettin’ Go.” Then, aligning a feature on OutKast’s 2006 Idlewild soundtrack, solidified Monaes alliance and influence with the Atlanta rap duo. Although EP tracks like Violet Stars Happy Hunting and Smile are completely left field for Big Bois lady protégé, the old school mesh of soul makes perfect sense. Her work with The Wondaland Arts Society seeps through onto every track as inventive concepts and varieties of genres. Creating an aura of futuristic Afro-punk on Many Moons, Janelle Monae may be different but damn sure proves that lyrical sustenance can be incredibly nod-worthy. However, the EPs shining point is on the socially conscious love letter Sincerely, Jane. With blaring operatic horns and a Hip-Hop backbeat, Monae croons with beautifully toned vocals, about the way we live. The track mixes classical, Hip-Hop and 60s soul like nothing else ever produced, mixing a soulful break evocative of Stevie Wonders Superwoman (Where Were You When I Need You). The only downfall in Metropolis, which befalls Monaes beautifully crafted set of sounds, is her bizarre vision stifling the mass attraction. Luckily for her, she plans to release other Suites, which will hopefully center the style of this new school out the box songstress.
Ace Hood: Royal Flush
If you have had your ears anywhere close to the street within the last six years, you can hear DJ Khaled influence with artists like Plies, Rick Ross, Flo Rida, and T-Pain; all owing some of their success to the Miami music staple. It shouldnt have surprised anyone when Def Jam Listennned and gave Khaled his own imprint, We The Best Records. His first move, go back to South Florida to sign an ambitious MC, Ace Hood, to add fresh blood to the Florida movement and start his label off on the right foot.Ace Hood, a young Broward county rapper went from rapping at Khaleds Birthday Bash to getting on the path (his upcoming debut is titled Gutta on We The Best/Def Jam) to hopefully seeing his name alongside some of the aforementioned stars from the Sunshine State. Only time may tell, but his confidence, along with seemly statewide support have Ace Hood primed to be the next rap batter up.AllHipHop.com: Ace Hood is a pretty catchy name. How did you come up with the moniker?Ace Hood: Basically, first it was Ace, ace always represents one, you feel me, pretty much where I went with it, Ace represents one, I always felt like I was an Army by myself. I always felt like I could hold myself down in any situation. I am a man of my own so me being from the hood and me being from the streets thats basically what I did, I Just attached hood to it. So I just came up with Ace Hood.AllHipHop.com: What gives Ace Hood his inspiration?Ace Hood: One of my inspirations of course is my Mom, she inspired me to do what I do feel me, being that she was a hard worker, working three or four jobs just to survive she was a hard working woman. As far as the inspirations with the music I had a couple of people I listened to coming up of course I listened to the Trick’s and stuff coming from my area, like the TIs.AllHipHop.com: That was a bold move, performing in front of Khaled on the street. What was your thought process behind that, and did you think a deal could come with it?Ace Hood: I wasnt even in that situation to get a deal; I was just there to actually perform at his birthday bash. I had no intentions in my head; my mind was basically focused on it. I mean I was like second guessing like, Yo I was going to get a deal and what if this or that or what if he was going to sign me, or anything like that. I had a couple thoughts like that on my mind but I had no intentions on getting a deal or anything like that. I just waited the process out. I just wished to perform at his birthday bash and it ended up being something more than that.Ace Hood f/ Rick Ross & T-Pain “Cash Flow”AllHipHop.com: What is the feeling of being the Ace signing for Khaleds new label, We Tha Best?Ace Hood: I mean being his first artist is definitely a big look its definitely a blessing of me being the face of We The Best music. Its a lot of people riding on me know what Im saying, a lot of people riding on Ace expecting Ace to do this and Ace to do that. A lot of expectations on what people expect from me,. I just got a lot to live up to so we going to do it though. We working hard.AllHipHop.com: Khaled said that he liked your image, and that was a big reason why he signed you. What do you think that image is?Ace Hood: That image was straight streetness, I guess he saw a vision. The situation with me and Khaled when Lil Wayne was younger backed by the biggest cats in the game, when he [was] backed by the Hot Boys and BG and all the big names like that, basically thats what he saw in me being that I was young and doing what I was doing. He saw that image, he saw that same mentality for me, thats what led to him signing me. Being that the kid Ace he got it, hes dope, he can spit, whatever, but hes backed by the biggest cats in the game and hes young and hes the future. He feels that streetness that guttaness. Theres always something about somebody that is going to make you want to get to know him and whatnot, its that streetness and the guttaness.AllHipHop.com: Cash Flow is getting some good spin. What was the process behind that record?Ace Hood: The record cash flow, we wrote that record last year but it came out this year. The Runners came up with the beat, crazy beat. KC one of the Runners artists ended up writing the hook. Basically we sought out Rick Ross, then I did my thing to it and what not. It was already a hit but to take it over the top we got at T-Pain. Its actually a different look for T-Pain being that its a street look or whatever. Its a different sound. People hear it and it has a different feel on it. They arent used to T-Pain sounding like that. It was definitely a big record.AllHipHop.com: Lets talk about your debut Album, Gutta.Ace Hood: Gutta due to drop September 23rd its going to be a big album, a classic album. Got a lot of big people on the album as you know of course, like Plies, Flo [Rida] , Trick, its definitely going to be a big album. Got Trey Songz, producers like Tha Runners, Cool & Dre, The J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, a lot of big names like that, got the second single out Ride or Die featuring Trey Songz, that album Gutta, coming out September 23rdAllHipHop.com: Now youre at the point that your able to work with stars from around your area, discuss how thats like?Ace Hood: It seemed like it happened over night. It definitely was a big thing. It wasnt easy for me to get where I was. I worked my whole life to get into this situation. Nothing was given, I definitely proved myself to this point. Meeting the big names is crazy, to be one day watching these cats on TV, and then being seen with these guys and being mentioned with these guys when they mention anything thats great coming out of Florida, Ace Hood is one of those names. Ace Hood is definitely one of the names being put into that category especially towards like the newest artists and the hottest thing thats poppin right now, know what Im saying. Its definitely a big look.Ace Hood f/ Trey Songz “Ride”AllHipHop.com: Florida artists seem to not just hit the scene, but stay relevant. Discuss that, as well as how you plan on staying relevant?Ace Hood: How do they stay on, they just stay on, I feel you just have to make hot music. Like you said you have to stay relevant to whats going on nowadays. If you stay hot youre going to win always. You have to put out music thats relevant, thats catchy, that people love. Me staying hot, relevant in the game, I am just gonna continue what Im doing, just putting out hit records and records that are big in the street, big across the country, number one bangers thats just what we do. We just go hard, thats basically what it is you just have to stay relevant. Like Wayne, he always stayed relevant, had records back to back to back. You have to incorporate mixtapes always in the streets. Get radio, features, all of it definitely counts.AllHipHop.com: What is Ace Hoods Future? Ace Hood: The future is that Gutta, Gutta comes out September 23rd. Hopefully there is a lot more albums a lot more touring and stuff like that, flood the city a lot more videos, stuff like that. People going to see a lot more ace hood, feel me. Im definitely going to move myself to [be] the peoples superstar. Definitely going to keep putting out hit records and this great music for the people just to keep them loving me. Got the mixtapes I have a lot of stuff in store for me. Hopefully you will see more.
Rapper V.I.C. Rides Success Of ‘Get Silly’ With New LP
After making a name for himself with the debut single Get Silly, rookie rapper V.I.C. is set to release his debut album Beast on August 26.
Born to a New York mother and an immigrant Ghana father, V.I.C. began making music when he was ten years old.
With a diverse family tree, V.I.C. promises his album will be a testament to the strength he witnessed in his fathers struggle to make a name in America.
Most immigrants come to this country with unbeatable determination, V.I.C. explained to AllHipHop.com. This is my way of showing my perseverance and tenacity; this is my Beast!
Get Silly obtained a peak chart position of number five on Billboards Hot Rap Tracks and number thirteen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Due to the first singles popularity, V.I.C.s debut was pushed up from a January 2009 release to capitalize of the momentum.
Beast features appearances from E-40, Jermaine Dupri, Polow da Don, Bun B, Hurricane Chris and Soulja Boy.
The Mr. Collipark produced second single Wobble was released digitally on July 15th. The song has now been added to playlists for MTV, BET, MTV Jams and MTV2.
The third single is the Hurricane Chris assisted We Ridin, which celebrates cars with customized Lamborghini doors.
Also included are By Faith, a song inspired by V.I.C.s faith in God, and Bop, Bop, Bop, which utilizes the sounds and rhythms made popular by many Southern college bands.
Beast is scheduled for release on August 26 through Warner Bros. and Collipark Records.
Jay-Z Produced By Kanye West
“Jockin’ Jay-Z”
Busta Rhymes Ft. Show Money and Reek Da Villiain
“Give A Damn”
Crooked I Ft. One 2
“The Signs”
Ruin Ft. Lil Bossie
“Southside Superstar”
Robin Thicke: The Magic of Sex and Music
Last summer Robin Thicke reached, what seemed, the top of a mountain. His album had gone platinum, Lost Without U was a certified hit, and he was performing at the 2007 BET Awards. There he appeared less like a crossover sensation due only to race and more like an incessant music maker set on proving music was universal, as he swayed his hips back and forth to Lost Without U the latin-bolero version at an award show honoring Black music. Even his career before he bathed in spotlights foreshadowed this, writing for Pink, Mya, Christina Aguilera, and Marc Anthony.It seemed Robin came out of nowhere sneaking into individual musical landscapes through Lil Wayne features and Pharrell co-signs. What made him the listeners choice for breakthrough artist of 2006 was his ability to appeal to the lovers of pure R&B untainted by voice coders and glitz.Robin sits in his living room before a European promo tour and speaks with AllHipHop.com about choices hes made pertaining to his new project titled Something Else, the 2008 race for the White House, and his not so surprising choice of activities for a perfect day off.AllHipHop.com Alternatives: Were you able to rest at all after last years whirlwind? Robin Thicke: Umm, I was actually. I took a couple months to spend time with my family and my friends, and then I went right back to work and the music just poured out and now were ready to put it out there. AHHA: Where did you pull from to make this album? The prior album consisted of songs that dealt with being a newlywed.Robin Thicke: Well there are always so many places to pull from. Really I pull from how many people I saw out there that [have] given up on their dreams in some way and you just realize how beautiful we all are and how much greatness there is in all of us and how much people beat it out of us. But I just wanted to make an album that just brought people relentless positivism and joy. AHHA: When artists sell 1.5 million and theyve been struggling before that, the part that comes right after that is that they start dabbling with all these different producers. You stuck with producer Pro J. Why is that?Robin Thicke: Because, I mean I never the only song Ive ever done with another producer was the Pharrell song Wanna Love U Girl. I just always felt that I had enough to express musically. We just like our music the way it is. AHHA: What was the main difference between recording this album and The Evolution of Robin Thicke? It must have been different.Robin Thicke: Yeah, no its very different than the last album, and yet it keeps the soul of the last album; the heart you know. I think its more about I wanted to bring the celebration cause I was performing every night and I had to entertain people. I think this time the album is more entertaining. I shouldnt say more entertaining, it just kind of is alive, so I dont know how to explain it. I guess you have to hear it. AHHA: Artists write these songs in the darkest moments and Can U Believe is as desperate as someone can get at a time when theyre really low. What was it like singing that song every night?Robin Thicke: I was broke, I was alone, my wife was miles away and the album was being pushed back. I was fighting with family members, I was hitting rock bottom you know, and the song I was all by myself, and I sat at my piano and wrote it one morning. AHHA: Do you relive that moment when you perform that song, night after night? Robin Thicke: Umm, sometimes you do, sometimes you dont want to go that far because you dont want to lose [it]. There is a balance that any performer or artist where you want to fall into it, but you cant let it take over you either. AHHA: What was the Beyonce tour like? Its got to be interesting, to be part of that machine. What was the crowd like?Robin Thicke: The crowds are great. We had a great time. Beyonce is the ultimate performer and me, and my band we were living the good life; just enjoying the opportunity to play our music for that many people every night. AHHA: Did performing for an audience that was there to watch an ultimate performer like Beyonce influence you to make a more up-tempo album?Robin Thicke: Yeah you might be right that I wanted to make sure that I was able to represent the energy that I have in myself. You know because its not a thing if it wasnt real I could do it, but because I am a high-energy guy too, it was very easy for me to make high-energy music too. AHHA: Your last album you married Paula [Patton] and it carried half personal and then the other half was really sexual. You know it was just so romantic, and I always wonder like percentage wise, whats the importance of sex, whats the percentage of that?Robin Thicke: Its pretty much half and half, most of the inspirational songs we [had] written during the period when we had already been married for a year. The album and my financial state and the record company and everything was getting more and more difficult, and my wife was away because she was filming, even though that was a wonderful success for her and me as a team. It was very difficult to be away from her when I was struggling so much. AHHA: But it carried this longing Robin Thicke: Yeah well Lost Without U was written a year and a half before we got married or maybe two years before we got married. AHHA: In terms of a relationship, in percentage, how important is sex?Robin Thicke: 99% Really there are so many things that go into a relationship, you cant make a pie out of it. What I will say is that it makes it a lot easier to make up when you continue to be sexually attracted. AHHA: The last album was what propelled you to stardom. Whats the main intent, the main mission for Something Else?Robin Thicke: Uh just really to make everybodys day brighter and better to help them believe in themselves and people around them and vote for Barack Obama AHHA: Whats your take on the state of things, politically and financially?Robin Thicke: I think its all a mess because if you know the president and his team, I mean the whole things a mess. Katrina still, nobody has a home, nobody has a school, nothings been done, so the whole things is completely wrong. Gas is going to be seven dollars by the end of the year, so we need somebody like Barack Obama who actually cares about the rest of the people. AHHA: What was the moment where you realized that this was the guy thats going to make it happen?Robin Thicke: I had a feeling about it when I read an article in a magazine about a year and a half ago before he even said he was going to run. I read this article and everything he was saying and the way he was saying it, so real and honest. Nobodys perfect, but its nice to know that somebody can be honest to you after all these lies we faced for eight years. AHHA: This is probably a redundant question, but did you ever go through some sort of discrimination being a white guy who was in soul music?Robin Thicke: I still face it all the time, its still always White this Black that, Black not this, White not that and your wife this and who gives a f**k? It doesnt make my food taste any better.AHHA: Youre kicking back, its a day you have nothing to do, youre not at the recording studio, its a day you wake up and you have it completely open, what do you do? Robin Thicke: Just a completely open day? Who knows, I guess you, smoke a jay, watch some movies, put on some steaks on the BBQ, have a beer and enjoy your day and watch the sunset. AHHA: Right now musically, what CD can you pop in and say, Wow, this is inspiring?Robin Thicke: Uh, Lil Wayne is the only one. Hes the only one pushing the envelope, taking chances, putting the people first, ahead of his pocket. AHHA: What was it like collaborating with him?Robin Thicke: Its sort of like two boxers in a ring, two lions out in the jungle. You just have to be ready, and hes going to roar. AHHA: You produced the track that you collaborated with him on?Robin Thicke: Yeah I had the song done when he showed up, cause I wrote the song right after Katrina, and he came to the studio a month after Katrina. I think he loved the song and he wanted to do it, but I dont think he was ready yet because it was so personal to him. So he said, Im going to put that on my next album. Two years later he called me up and was like, Yo can I get that track? I want to put my part on it. AHHA: How was it producing a rapper? One of the biggest rappers of the moment.Robin Thicke: Oh, you dont produce Lil Wayne. You just maybe if you have an idea like you should double that or you should say that twice maybe, or something like that, you know what I mean? But really, you dont get into Lil Waynes way. And the great thing about Lil Wayne and the reason he is so good [is] he has great taste, like he doesnt step on my parts when theyre hot. He just knows. He has great taste. AHHA: So its one year from now, lets just take it to kind of a wishful place. Where do you want to be and what do you want to be doing?Robin Thicke: I want to be performing Tie My Hands with Lil Wayne on the Oscars. Cause he wrote it for his movie that hes got coming out this year, and I want to perform it on the Oscars. You got to dream big.Check out Robin Thicke’s new video for “Magic”
Hip-Hop Rumors: The Ozone Awards Edition! Trae Speaks About Bussin’ Mike Jones! Mike Jones Goes Berserk On Vid!
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.
OZONE AWARDS THE GOOD
AND THE GOODER!
First of all all the people that I talked to told me that
the women at the Ozone Awards were off the chain! I dont have all that many
pictures, but feel free to send me any pictures from the Ozone Awards ah*******@***il.com. I just heard that the ladies were top notch!
Go ladies! I heard the dudes were on their grind too and the cars were hot too.
Well, I dont know where to begin with the Ozone Awards. Let
me just say that I heard it was simply crazy as an event. I heard the legendary
Willie Dee was outraged at the treatment he got as one of Houstons finest. He was apparently all jammed
up at the door like he was just some regular Joe shmoe! Willie went on to
present J. Prince with an award, but not before going through hell.
I dont know much about what happened with Trae and Mike
Jones. I mean, you
can read the news story about the Houston rappers scrap right here. And
you can actually listen to Mike Jones talk about the fight right here.
Other than that, I heard there was a lot of blood in the back from Mikes nose.
I heard that he might have lost his chain or something. Nevertheless, Mike made
it back to the stage later in the night. From what I heard, he actually made
the crowd laugh when he yelled Mike Jones after DJ Khaled said, We Best!
My sources told me that something went down with Bun B and
the Houston
police, BUT I have been re-educated on that. There was nothing going on with Bun and the cops…probably just a lil’ chaos back there. The police were very, very thick. I
heard they even had the ghetto birds in the sky. They had the Mounties on their
horses! And they reportedly had an army of cops with hand cuff right there.
Mya was there! She actually showed up to the Ozone Awards
and I heard she was looking good. At the end, I heard she was rushed out too.
I heard the Fire Marshall was continuously trying to shut
the event down for a variety of reasons.
I heard a certain member of the AHH team might have started
drinking that drank in a big Styrofoam cup! I cannot say who, because that
person might not want to be revealed. My sources are strong.
I heard Rick Ross was there crazy deep and nobody had
anything to say about anything controversial to Mr. Ross. He rocked it quite
bit with Khaled and T-Pain.
I heard that certain members of the H-Town rap community
were openly complaining about what seemed to be a lack of H-Town love. Some
people reasoned that nobody in Houston
is killin it like a Rick Ross/Glasses Malone/or whatever. I dont know about
all that, but they did have an excellent and heart felt tribute to Pimp C. I
heard people like Too Short, Big Boi and David Banner recited Pimps lyrics
Bun B rapped in front of a whole choir and it was supposedly real emotional.
Damn, I wish I was there for that.
I FOUND OUT that my own Lady Drama was totally stolen from
me and she was actually at the Ozone Awards working the red carpet! How did
that happen? Anyway, I can accept that since I am sure she has all the inside
rumors.
Overall, I heard it was messy at first and dope once you got
inside. Im just an outsider that gets lil bits and pieces to piece together
for half the story. I guess we shall see what else pops up. (Thanks twitter
buddy, Diva, Jose and all the others that gave me info! Drama get at me on what happened!)TRAE THE TRUTH SPEAKS!
Check out what he says about the scrap with Mike Jones! He also reveals that there WAS a Houston set, but they didn’t get to do it. There goes that rumor.
MIKE JONES SPAZZES OUT AFTER HIT IN THE NOSE!
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
Tony Yayo is reportedly trying to get his mother out of her Queens home, because it got shot up. She seems to want to
stay though.
Did you know that Steve Harvey and Bernie Mac had beef? I
just saw Steve Harvey talking so nice about Bernie. SMH.
Rumor says, Pharrell and N.E.R.D. arent getting a long so
well.
Some freestyle dude cracked a joke on Mike Jones on the
stage. I heard he rhymed South with mouth as it pertained to the Trae
punch.
Rumor has it; Jody Breeze has been locked up for probation
violation. Wow, dude!
SHELZ GOES IN ON EM!
Sean Paul Busted
So there are all kinds of wild rumors reporting that Sean
Paul (the reggae one) was arrested in Sweden over the weekend for
possession of marijuana after performing at the Uppsala Reggae Festival.
Wow the Swedes are doing the damn thing huh? But anyway, the situation is a
mess in different stories. I heard no one was arrested. Then I heard 50
people were arrested. Then I read 300 people were arrested with about 10 of
them being performers; one of whom was actually caught with the Gunja red
handed. I even read somewhere that the police there sent drug sniffing
dogs to check Sean Paul’s room. We will se what happens, but how do you
invite a ship load of reggae artists to perform in your country and then arrest
them for smoking weed? Sounds like a set up. Oh, the lovely Swedes
also had Lil Kim and N.E.R.D. over there this weekend too from what I
understand. Go Sweden.
Get Busy. It’s your birthday.
Bang ‘Em Smurf
Deported? Guess He Needed Slick Rick’s
Lawyer.
Whoa at folks re-appearing from The Fog. Bang ‘Em Smurf got in contact with the folks
over at DX to say hey and let everybody know what he’s been up to. It seems he was just released from prison a
few months back. Did you know he was in
Sing-Sing? Neither did I. He also said that the immigration folks sent
him packing and he’s been deported back to Trinidad. Did y’all know he was West Indian? Me neither.
But he’s still working on some project with some guy named
Domination. Have y’all ever heard of
him? SMH I guess I will give up on
this article now. Just assign it to the
“First to Bite the G-Unit Dust” files.
Dark Butts Rejoice
It has not been a good last few days for our buddy Yung
Berg. Actually, backing it up a bit, I’m
thinking it hasn’t been a good month or so. Are we getting a front row seat to
a downward spiral? I mean kid gets arrested in New York after being mean to his limo driver
and getting caught with some smoke. Now
we all know this is nothing new for the Bergster as he got tossed in the patty
wagon during the Sexy Can I Video shoot for smoking that ish. I’ll be honest, when I heard he had been
hauled away, I thought it was from tossing that nasty testicle sweat drenched
rag at those folks in Carolina during his show, but I guess they didn’t mind.
And doesn’t his album come out today?
Hope he outsells Khia.
Dead Prez Still
Fighting the Good Fight
Dead Prez say they are coming with Information Age in
November. After Rock the Bells they also
told Semex that they are planning to stay independent. They loved Untitled and hip hop is definitely
changing and going to be bringing a new more thoughtful swag in the coming
years. When asked about Obama they said
just having a black President in this country is not enough. They have not changed their opinions of our “imperialistic”
society and power needs to be put back in the hands of the people. Of course, we would expect Dead Prez to say
nothing less. They also took a couple shots at Sony. Check em out.
My Snooty-Meter is
A-Clicking
I recently read an interview with one of Bill Cosby’s
daughters Evin. The angle was the
opening of her new and obviously very posh clothing store PB and Caviar in
Tribeca. Nice to see the rich and
famous’ offspring doing something besides lying around spending the ‘rents
money, but she touched on a few non-clothing issues too when asked by the NY
Daily.
“My own people used to say to me, ‘You speak like a
white woman What does that even mean, anyway? Everyone has their way of
speaking and living their life. No one should be judging and assuming that
because I’m black, I have to speak in that hip-hop way. That’s something I
prefer not to do I always went to private schools – Bank Street elementary,
Columbia Prep – so I was surrounded by people like me. Not so much
African-American, but privileged. I don’t really have a connection to other
people who didn’t have my lifestyle.”
Ooookay. Well as long
as her Daddy is doing what he’s doing in Philly and across the rest of the
nation, I guess she gets a pass. For
now. Oh, by the way, the top selling
item so far in her boutique are high heeled shoes for babies. Funny.
LIL WAYNES WORKING WITH KEYSHIA COLE?
What a Sucka……..Lisa Raye Sticks By Her Man! Seems like Lisa Raye has decided to stick with her cheating husband and work it out! Read this via page six:LisaRaye has changed her mind. The All of Us actress was planning to divorce Turks and Caicos Premier Michael Misick, but now shes moved back into his mansion. Its not that she would miss him, she would miss her position, said our source. Shes grown accustomed to the lifestyle – the gifts, the cars, the status. The two have had problems since they wed in 2006. LisaRaye has been linked to former NBA star Gary Payton. In April, Misick was accused of raping one of LisaRayes friends, a claim he denied. Damn cash rules everything around her huh! Caan’t say that I blame her, with her lack of strong work lately Island boy may be her best bet to stay paid! Sorry Rosci kick rocks ma and move on to the next sucka! Baby Mama Drama… The Rick Ross Edition Looks like Rick Ross is being sued by his 2 year old child’s mother Tiallondra Nicole Kemp for unpaid child support! According to the Kemp Rick Ross has not offered any financial support to raise their child, William Leonard Roberts, III. And before Rick can even say he wants a paternity test, Kemp has already went to a Florida court to prove the paternity of the child. In addition she is requesting maintenance payments as well as shared responsibility for the child. Looks like Rick Ross may not be the only BOSS huh! A Tuesday Hangover….. Oh No It’s Just Lil Kim: Kim was in Sweden over the weekend performing! I would go in but I’m so tired of roasting this chock about her appearance! What more could I say! Check out the pics and use your own imagination! Lady Drama’s Food For Thought: I heard Da Brat might take a 10 year plea deal in her assault case…… I know she’s more than happy to get to all that free _______ on deck in the pen! No h### but don’t say ya’ll don’t feel the same way! Can Rick Ross catch a brick oppppss I mean Break! Can’t be mad at him any publicity is good publicity even if you go from a CO to a no good father! The Ghetto Grammys aka The Ozone Awards went down over the weekend and I was there to join in on the action! Good Look to everyone who took care of me…. NOT like that… get ya’ll mind out the gutter it’s only Monday! Go Hard or Go Home!
YESTERDAY, WE LOVE YOU!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!-illseedWHO: illseed.comWHAT: RumorsWHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseedHOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at ah*******@***il.com.– allhiphop rumors