(AllHipHop News) Kxng Crooked (fka Crooked I) is making the media rounds to support his latest solo project Sex, Money & Hip-Hop and upcoming TV show One Shot. The Long Beach, California emcee spoke with MikeTrampTV, and the conversation included Crooked reflecting back on one of the craziest things that happened to him on tour.
The flashback involved a fight between his crew and a few police officers. Crooked said:
We got into a brawl with some off duty cops who were saying and doing things just to get a reaction out of us. They did. I won’t say when or where it was, but when I see these bad cops killing these unarmed black men on the news, I crack a smile at the memory. I know there’s cops out there who do a good job and I’m an entrepreneur now so it might’ve went down differently today, but back then the unarmed black men got some revenge! [Laughs]
As one-quarter of the Hip Hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, Crooked regularly trades bars with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Royce da 5’9″. He was asked what other rhymer would he like to see be officially added to the SH lineup. Kxng Crooked suggested his Shady Records boss as the fifth part.
He said:
Eminem would be a perfect fit since we’re all developing a crew chemistry when we create together. Could you imagine Eminem in Slaughterhouse? That would be CRAZY. And touring?? Game over.
(AllHipHop News) One minute you have the biggest viral rap video of the summer, the next minute you’re in handcuffs facing gun and drug trafficking charges. That is the current case for Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda.
The creator of the “Shmoney Dance” was arrested in New York City this week, and now supposed video of Shmurda being led out of Quad studios by the police has made its way to the Internet.
The 20-year-old rapper is denying any involvement in the gang shootings and drug trafficking investigation that led to his arrest. His attorney states that Bobby is innocent on all charges.
“Does it make sense that he would resort to committing crimes when he has the world in the palm of his hand?” said a lawyer for Shmurda. “It’s ridiculous.”
With 2014 coming to an end, it seems like a fitting time to reflect back on the year’s Hip Hop releases that left an enduring mark on the musical landscape. While award show nominations like the Grammys tend to recognize the rap albums that were more mainstream accessible (see Iggy Azalea’s The New Classic), professional music critics usually have a more accurate finger on the pulse of various works’ artistic value.
With that in mind, AllHipHop.com made a list of the best reviewed Hip Hop albums based on scores from Metacritic.com. The website calculates a ratings percentage by giving weighted averages for reviews from top print and online publications. A review score between 61-80 is labeled as “generally favorable” and a review score of 81-100 is labeled as “universal acclaim.”
Not a single rap LP crossed the one million sales mark in ‘14, but according to the Metacritic Scores (MS), there were at least 12 Hip Hop albums released this year that were viewed as instant creative achievements by nationwide critics. Check out the top reviewed Hip Hop albums of 2014 below.
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Run The Jewels 2 – Killer Mike & El-P
Metacritic Score: 90
What The Critics Said:
The sequel takes the simplistic thrills of the debut and expands the duo’s natural chemistry. With Killer Mike grounded at the album’s emotional core, El-P is free to indulge in his intrepid production tendencies. – The A.V. Club
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Cadillactica – Big K.R.I.T.
Metacritic Score: 88
What The Critics Said:
Many worry that the Cadillactica theme might go over the heads of some and alienate fans but rest assured, at the core of it all, there’s still the 808 bang, jazzy, soulful music and the same Big K.R.I.T. that so many have come to know, respect and love–on second thought, he’s better. – RapReviews
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What Goes Around – Statik Selektah
Metacritic Score: 84
What The Critic Said:
All told, the LP stands as a convincing counterargument against those who claim hip-hop’s ’90s golden era can’t come back again. – Boston Globe
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There Is Only Now – Souls Of Mischief
Metacritic Score: 84
What The Critics Said:
Fresh, crisp drums, creamy keys, luxuriant strings and timely flute and horn flourishes, each held together by a series of mood-defining bass lines, work to soundtrack this production, an inspiring foil that the record’s MCs make certain not to waste on this grand testament to Souls’ skill and staying power. – Exclaim
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PRhyme– Royce da 5’9″ & DJ Premier
Metacritic Score: 84
What The Critics Said:
PRhyme can be closed off to the Rap of today, but their rendition of the Rap of yesteryear will always have a place in any era. – HipHopDX
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Dead – Young Fathers
Metacritic Score: 83
What The Critics Said:
Young Fathers have quietly constructed a strange and intoxicating musical universe that feels entirely their own, while no one else was paying attention. – The Guardian
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Cilvia Demo – Isaiah Rashad
Metacritic Score: 82
What The Critics Said:
No song strays too far from the narrative or the occupied soundspace, and with each passing breath, Isaiah Rashad becomes a viable threat to leave an indelible mark similar to the one’s left by the southern rap Gods he follows so devoutly. – XXL
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Piñata – Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Metacritic Score: 82
What The Critics Said:
Startling numbers like the block-rockin’ then dissolving “Real” crop up throughout the album and make this project even more than a sum of its parts, and with the track list flowing smoothly as attractive guests (Danny Brown, Raekwon, Scarface, Mac Miller, and the list goes diversely and gloriously on) come and go, Piñata winds up excellent overall. – All Music
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Lese Majesty – Shabazz Palaces
Metacritic Score: 81
What The Critics Said:
Like floating from level to placid level in Monument, listening to this record prompts your imagination and encourages discourse and reflection. Not the academic kind, but the kind of communal discovery people have been doing for ages. – Spin
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Honest – Future
Metacritic Score: 80
What The Critics Said:
Future’s lyrical sensitivity wouldn’t work without the album’s pitch-perfect production. The sonic palette on Honest leaves behind most of the synth-bathed extravagance of Pluto as Mike Will Made It, Metro Boomin, Nard & B and company push the boundaries of the trap template, from the sinister gurgle on “Move That Dope” to the acoustic guitar melody on “Special.” – FACT
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My Krazy Life – YG
Metacritic Score: 80
What The Critics Said:
YG has grown mightily as a rapper, and because DJ Mustard, who produced more than half of the album, has found a way to make his sketches theatrical without sacrificing their urgency. – The New York Times
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Hell Can Wait [EP] – Vince Staples
Metacritic Score: 80
What The Critics Said:
Even a casual listener could hear the spark–Staples’ first fame came from getting the best of known mic terrorist Earl Sweatshirt–his production values have finally caught up enough to push him past the scrappy sidekick division into the big leagues. – Pitchfork
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Other Top Reviewed Hip Hop Albums Of 2014:
Ohio – Stalley (MS: 79)
Lord Steppington – Step Brothers (MS: 79)
Oxymoron – Schoolboy Q (MS: 78)
So It Goes – RatKing (MS: 78)
P.T.S.D. – Pharoahe Monch (MS: 78)
Nobody’s Smiling – Common (MS: 78)
If There’s A Hell Below – Black Milk (MS: 77)
Broke With Expensive Taste – Azealia Banks (MS: 77)
Cellar Door: Terminus Ut Exordium – The Underachievers (MS: 76)
Directors of Photography – Dilated People (MS: 75)
Free Base [EP] – 2 Chainz (MS: 75)
Perfect Hair – Busdriver (MS: 74)
10 Summers – DJ Mustard (MS: 74)
36 Seasons – Ghostface Killah (MS: 74)
Gravitas – Talib Kweli (MS: 73)
Good To Be Home – Blu ( MS:73)
CLPPING – Clipping (MS: 73)
Under Pressure – Logic (MS: 72)
The Pinkprint – Nicki Minaj (MS: 72)
Southsiders – Atmosphere (MS: 70)
The Infamous Mobb Deep – Mobb Deep (MS: 70)
…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin – The Roots (MS: 70)
Nehruviandoom – Bishop Nehru & DOOM (MS: 70)
These Days… – Ab-Soul (MS: 70)
2014 Forest Hills Drive – J. Cole (MS: 70)
*All Metacritic Scores (MS) listed are the official calculations as of press time. Scores are subject to change as more reviews are published for recent releases.
Sam Scarfo drops the official video for “Itz Yours” featuring rapper / actor Rick Gonzalez, produced by Ski Beatz. This track appears on Volume 2 of Sam Scarfo’s 5 Million Stories, a collaborative effort with producer Ski Beatz on Infamous Records.
The iTunes version of Sam Scarfo’s 5 Million Stories Vol. 1 & 2 is a double album, and also features appearances from Smoke DZA, Rick Gonzales, Con-Air, Ne-Yo, Yo Gotti, Fabolous and many more. Purchase 5 Million Stories Vol. 1 & 2 here.
(AllHipHop News) Yesterday Azealia Banks was back to launching rocks at Eminem on Twitter. After blasting Slim Shady last month for his lyrics aimed at singer Lana Del Rey, AB had more words for the Detroit emcee. This time Banks called Em out for what she sees as his tendency to lyrically attack women but refuses to beef with male entertainers.
While Banks acknowledged that Eminem did have issues with The Source magazine’s Benzino, she failed to point out the Shady Records head also had public disputes with other males like Ja Rule, Canibus, Everlast, Cage, and Insane Clown Posse.
The “Chasing Time” performer has had her fair share of feuds as well. Her hit list includes Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, T.I., Tiny, Lil Kim, Jim Jones, and Angel Haze.
If you had fake followers on Instagram, the truth has been revealed! Damn! People lost varying degrees of followers from the trolling going on Instagram but damn MASE! Made lost 1.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS!
So what does Mase do? He deletes the entire page! First that flop show overseas and now this. Damn.
(AllHipHop News) Hip Hop legendNas addresses social issues in his music and through public appearances. The Queens native continued speaking on the important topics facing the nation in an interview with Time. During the discussion, Nas made a comparison between the appearance of the current racial divide in America to the battles over the institutionalized segregation in pre-1990’s South Africa.
“It’s not cool to look like Apartheid South Africa 1988. How are we going to be the free world or the most powerful country when inside this country we’re fighting because of skin color? That’s just embarrassing,” said Nas. “I’m one of the guys that’s out there saying, ‘Listen, it has to stop.”
Nas was marched alongside protesters at the recent Eric Garner inspired “Millions March NYC”. He was joined by mogul Russell Simmons and music executive Kevin Liles as well.
The creator of the rap masterpiece Illmatic later discussed the importance of African-American youth knowing the history of Black people that started with civilizations on the African continent. Nas also expressed his belief that the American public has the ability to come together.
“There’s a lot of healing that needs to come onto this country,” stated Nas. “America, we are really smart enough to figure it out, but I guess it’s safer to hang out and be ignorant, be hateful, and think that one person is better than the other.”
(AllHipHop News) Actress Stacey Dash has become more well-known in recent years for voicing her political views on Fox News than her movie roles. According to the star of Clueless, the decision to publicly present her conservatism has caused her to be ostracized from her family – including from her cousin, Hip Hop mogul Dame Dash.
In an interview with Edit Magazine, Stacey revealed:
My family and I have not spoken. My cousin Damon [“Dame” Dash] and my brother [Darien, CEO of DME] were role models to me because they were great capitalists. Now we’re not really talking because they were the ones who told me to keep my mouth shut.
When I get hateful tweets, I just re-tweet them. And then my fans pile in and attack the haters while I sit back. They felt that I should do certain things because I’m black. Certain friends don’t speak to me any more either. But you know what? In the street I get [approached by] so many people of every color saying: ‘Thank you so much for standing up and being so brave.’ I thought it was time to have a black president and that it would unite us in such a profound way. But as a country, I don’t think we’ve been so divided since the Civil Rights Movement. I mean, isn’t it extraordinary that we are even discussing race in 2014?
CITY ROMINIECKI teams up with his OnDek labelmate Quilly to tell a gritty tale of Quilly’s life growing up in the “Strange Land” of Philadelphia. The Chop Mosley-directed video could be considered a Quilly biopic, visually reminiscent of the cold, harsh realities of his hometown. CITY ROMINIECKI adds a gruff and memorable hook to a song destined to be a banger.
“Meanwhile Off Mack” is the debut single taken from JR & PH7 x Chuuwee’s collaborative full length release, The South Sac Mack, which is set to drop early 2015, via Below System Records.
(AllHipHop News) The W Hotels Of New York is hosting a unique musical experience next week. Veteran DJs Afrika Bambaataa and Arthur Baker will face off at the “W Gangs of New York – Holiday Special.”
The Bambaataa versus Baker battle is the finale of the W’s year-long music series “W Gangs of NY.” The sound clash events were inspired by the 1979 cult classic film The Warriors. Previous participants of the exploration of New York’s musical scene included Grandmaster Flash, Redman, Yeasayer, and The Virgins.
The “W Gangs of New York – Holiday Special” featuring Afrika Bambaataa and Arthur Baker is scheduled for December 22 at W Times Square Living Room.
Watch a promo video for “W Gangs Of New York”and highlights from the 2013 events below.
Nicki Minaj paid a visit to Power 105.1 to chop it up with the Voice of New York Angie Martinez. During their sit down, she spoke about her rumored beau Meek Mill, who appears twice on her latest album The Pinkprint. She didn’t address whether their relationship was more than platonic, but she did compare him to DMX.
“I think he’s amazing,” said the head Barb. “I love what he represents for dudes that think like him and act like him and live like him. I told him before, like ‘you’re so important to our culture.’ We always need that type of guy, like DMX. When I was growing up I needed to see a dude act like that.”
The Queens rapstress also opened up about her recent breakup with her longtime boyfriend Safaree Samuels, which led to her shedding tears and having to go off camera.
“My relationship was based off of love and there’s still nothing but love there. This is somebody I grew up with, like I don’t even know how I’ going to function without this person in my life. I’ve never lived my life as a famous person without him.”
When she said that sometimes she still wants to pick up the phone and call him, she got emotional.
According to tax documents obtained by Life & Style magazine, the Queen Bee owes $126,725.12 in back taxes to the federal government. She was hit with a federal tax lien back in September for failing to pay in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Kim is no stranger to money troubles, though. The Hardcore rapper was also slapped with a lawsuit back in August by her former legal team at the law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf for not paying them for five years worth of legal representation. The judge ordered Kim to pay them the $186,217.93 she owed plus interest.
The release of his first single, “Stand For,” is a sign that Ty Dolla Sign’s debut album, Free TC is on the way.
RapUpTV caught up with the Taylor Gang crooner and got some details on his upcoming LP, which is set to have production credits from Diplo, DJ Mustard and Ty’s production team D.R.U.G.S. He said that it is expected to drop in March or April of 2015 and revealed a few of the album’s star features. The “Paranoid” singer said he was able to snag the legendary R. Kelly for a collabo on a track called “Actress.”
“It’s definitely a jam and I can’t wait to see what it does out here in these streets,” said the L.A rep.
Other features include Jagged Edge, fellow LA native Kendrick Lamar, his TGOD captain Wiz Khalifa, Brandy, YG and more.
Since the Sony hack revealed some distasteful emails between Sony Pictures Entertainment executives Amy Pascal, Scott Rudin, Clint Culpepper and Michael Lynton, no one has come to their defense, until now. Film director John Singleton penned an essay for The Hollywood Reporter where he defended his friends and said he was able to see the humor in their comments.
Pascal’s and Rudin’s comments in the hacked Sony emails are troubling, but from my perspective they don’t read as “racist.” These two people have consistently hired people of color. They stand different from industry figures who would never hire a black person, no matter how qualified, for any position. We are currently in a polarized environment where offhand remarks told in bad taste get propagated to undermine a person’s whole history. This is a dangerous thing for America and especially for Hollywood, a media community built on bad taste and candor. When I read their comments, I see the humor, even if some people would find it unacceptable.
I don’t think either of these figures is racist or insensitive to any group. I’ve butted heads with the both of them and came out feeling I was treated fairly. Rudin, as anyone in this business knows, can be a bear to work with, but he’s also one of the most intelligent, driven producers in Hollywood. Like the professor in Whiplash, he demands the most from everyone. I learned a lot working with him.
The Boyz In The Hood director wrote about the first time he met Rudin and how Pascal has helped him throughout his career. He and Pascal worked together on his film Baby Boy, where Singleton says “she was the first studio head to give me contractual final cut, the holy grail for director.”
Singleton went on to say that due to racially charged news that is dominating the media many are living in fear, which can make someone (the Sony execs) act irrational and added that “the facilitators of creativity cannot fully function in a fearful environment.”
In one of the leaked email threads, Pascal and Rudin joked about what to ask President Barack Obama during a 2013 fundraising breakfast hosted by Dreamworks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg.
“Would he like to finance some movies,” Rudin wrote. Pascal wrote b, “I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?” Rudin replied “12 YEARS,” to which Pascal responded by naming other films starring African-Americans: “Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic].”
The numbers are in and it looks like Nicki Minaj and D’Angelo’s latest albums will debut among Billboard 200’s top ten slots.
Minaj’s highly anticipated The Pinkprint album is expected to sell over 150,000 copies for the week ending Dec. 21st, according to Billboard. The Young Money rapstress’ previous effort Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded entered at the top spot in 2012 with fans copping over 253,000 copies.
D’ Angelo’s third album, Black Messiah, is expected to hit the 100,000 sales mark as well. He followed the Beyonce route and released his album with no short notice on Dec. 14th. His last album, Voodoo, which was released almost 15 years ago, debuted at the top spot on the Billboard charts with over 321,000 copies sold its first week out.
The final numbers will be in on Christmas eve when the new Billboard 200 chart is revealed.
Although video footage appears to contradict the stories of the authorities regarding the death of John Crawford, a grand jury decided not to bring charges against the officers. Now the family of Crawford, who was shot while walking around Walmart with a BB gun he picked up in jest, has filed a negligent death lawsuit and accused the Beavercreek Walmart of leaving the toy gun laying open on an unlocked shelf for days.
Authorities have also faced criticism, after it was revealed that they had roughed up the fiance of Crawford directly after he was killed.
According to the family’s lawyers, “[Walmart] had every reason to know that someone might mistake a BB gun for a real gun.That gun was not secured like other weapons. … This gun was left unpackaged on a shelf, and in our understanding, it was left there for two days.”
In an upcoming interview with People magazine, President Obama discusses his own brushes with racism, reminding everyone that race does indeed affect many throughout the nation, even one that serves as the President of the United States.
Sharing their own personal experiences, First Lady Michelle Obama recounted a time when Obama was mistaken as a waiter and asked to fetch coffee during a black-tie event.
She added “Before that, Barack Obama was a black man that lived on the South Side of Chicago, who had his share of troubles catching cabs.”
The interview will be available on stands Friday, December 19.
Duct Tape Ent. artist Trouble has released his new album All On Me, along with visuals for “Duct Tape” — one of the four bonus tracks on the project. December 17th isn’t only a notable date for Trouble just because it’s the release date for the deluxe edition of his new project, but it’s also the four year anniversary of his release from jail after spending two years behind bars for charges ranging from kidnapping to armed robbery. The iTunes deluxe edition of the album comes equipped with bonus tracks featuring Young Scooter, Starlito, Big Bank Black, and more. The album also boasts production from the likes of Sonny Digital, Drumma Boy, and Metro Boomin. All On Me (Deluxe Edition) is out now on iTunes.
Chris Brown and Tyga have been talking about their “Fan Of A Fan 2” album for a minute now. Today, they took the time to release the first single from the project titled “Ayo“. Be on the look out for the second single from the duo called “Nothin Like Me” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and produced by DJ Mustard. Album set to release in 2015.
