This visual was completed back in January of 2014. Unfortunately, Nikki Farr passed b4 initial release of the video. With the blessings of her mother & family, the video is finally being released. R.I.P. Nikki Farr.
Raven Sorvino – "Planet Of The BAPE"
Raven Sorvino presents the bass pounding “Planet Of The BAPE”. Raven links with up-and-coming Treacherous C.O.B in house producer Aktive and longtime collaborator WoodysProduce for the Bathing Ape anthem. Slated to drop January, The “LifeStyle” EP is the first of four producer/artist collabrative EP’s, produced entirely by Aktive.
FRESH HEAT – Plizoe Tha Don ft. Chinx Drugs– "Paraphenalia"
Brooklyn rapper Plizoe Tha Don recruits Chinx Drugz for his new street single “Paraphernalia”. This guy def has a cold flow for the New York winter. We 100% will be checking for more from Plizoe.
Antonique Smith Goes For The Grammy, The Classics
Antonique Smith – her debut single is nominated for a Grammy award and getting people’s power back.
Positioning herself as a representation of female confidence and unconditional love, actress and vocalist Antonique Smith has quietly plotted her plan to surface onto the music scene, and now finds herself on the recently released Grammy Awards nomination ballot for Best Traditional R&B performance with her debut single, “Hold Up Wait A Minute (Woo Woo)” from her forthcoming debut album Love Is Everything via independent label 9:23 Music Group.
Just to re-iterate: the debut single for her debut album, which doesn’t drop until the top of 2015 under an independent label, is nominated for a Grammy award.
A great achievement indeed.
Antonique Smith is perhaps best known for her role as Faith Evans in the 2009 Biggie-tribute “Notorious” movie, where she earned high recognition and favorable reviews. She starred in the 2011 indie drama “Yelling To The Sky” and earned a role in “Abduction” in the same year. The 31-year-old was more recently acknowledged for her lead role on Broadway as Mimi Marquez in “RENT”. But her connection with 9:23 Music Group led to a relationship with a gentleman by the name of Darryl Farmer, Antonique’s manager/producer, who imagined the initial sound for her debut single to the world. She explained.
“I was on the airplane with Darryl. He heard the track in his head and he was trying to describe it to me as James Brown meets today’s 808’s. I was like okay that sounds dope! And then when he actually played me the track a few weeks later, I was like oh my God, crazy.”
Completely unaware at the time, this was the birth of a Grammy-nominated record. She described how the concept of the record came about, which is always fascinating to hear not just how the concept originated, but how it evolved.
“Then he started asking me about ‘hold up, wait a minute’ moments. And we all have those. But the one that was my big one, which is not really easy for a woman to talk about, but the guy that I was with, was using my money to see another girl. So hold up wait a minute, that became the line, ‘See you’re wining her after dining me/But what’s crazy is my names on both receipts.’ So from there we just wrote out all of the different ‘hold up wait a minute’ moments and then the song just developed. We almost had like a party when we recorded in the studio, we had a live band, and we invited our friends I was just in the booth kind of performing for everybody. It was one of the best processes of a song I’ve ever experienced.”
The theme, message, and vision for this record derived from those personal experiences as Antonique shared with me, but also from the standpoints of social, cultural, and gender issues.
“We just wanted to get a different message out there… A liberation, to put your foot down record; because the world is having hold up wait a minute moments, Black people are having hold up wait a minute moments, all of this stuff with Eric Garner, Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, all of that stuff is hold up wait a minute… The Nigerian girls getting kidnapped is hold up wait a minute, the climate change movement that people don’t even really know about, that’s hold up wait a minute. ISIS is hold up wait a minute. And just even little stuff we go through every day, you can have tiny hold up wait a minute moments. I wanted to have an anthem where people could put their foot down, get their power back, whatever your moment is… Hold up wait a minute.”
(Story continued after image.)
The production of the record brings an up-tempo, soul-funk element to some ferocious vocal range from Antonique, who cites Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin as her singing influences. The sheer girth and fire of her voice is felt throughout the record amidst a rhythmic bass, drum line, and organ riffs.
Antonique’s debut album, Love is Everything, will drop early next year under Farmer’s independent 9:23 Music Group label. Production features include Toby Gad (Beyoncé, Fergie), Danja (Justin Timberlake, Usher), Jukebox (Willow Smith, Eve) and Dr. Dre.
Describing her efforts with Farmer and 9:23 as “the little indies that could,” Antonique gave a sense of what she intends to represent as an artist going forward,
“I represent true female confidence, and I don’t believe true female confidence is the ‘I don’t need a man’, male bashing thing… true female confidence is knowing who you are, knowing your worth, knowing that you’re beautiful and you’re wonderful and that God loves you, and being able to elevate a man. I believe in relationships we should elevate each other, so in true female confidence there’s more of a synergy with men than there is pushing men away… I represent love… I believe love is everything, which is the name of my album! And I just feel like if there was more love in the world than a lot of the issues, I would say all of the issues that we face wouldn’t be issues and wouldn’t exist if we just had more love… True female confidence, and real, unconditional love.”
Antonique Smith’s “Hold Up Wait A Minute (Woo Woo) is nominated for the Traditional R&B Performance award at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in February. She faces the likes of Marshia Ambrosius, Angie Fisher, Robert Glasper, and Kem.
E-40 "Money Sack" ft. Lil Boosie
Earl Hayes Recorded Song About Murder And Suicide Prior To Killing Himself And His Wife
As the tragic deaths of rapper Earl Hayes and his wife Stephanie Moseley are mourned, a new development has been revealed. Prior to the murder-suicide (Dec. 8), Hayes recorded a song called “Suicide” for his 2010 The First 48 mixtape that encouraged the idea of taking your own life and someone else’s.
[ALSO READ: Earl Hayes Accused Wife Stephanie Moseley Of Affair With Trey Songz; 50 Cent Comments]
On the five minute track, he said things like “I could just kill us both/go out with a smash and take the bitter sweetest of death/it’s freedom at last” and said that he’ll make an example out of himself and do what everybody is scared of. At the end of the song he stated “F### it living is boring.”
Give the disturbing track a listen below.
DJ Premier and Royce da 5'9" Explain How Royce's Jail Bid Interrupted Recording of 'PRhyme LP'
Today, DJ Premier and Royce da 5’9″ have officially unleashed their dual PRhyme LP. One of the best producers of all-time and one of the best lyricists of all-time coming together is a huge moment for hip-hop. DJBoothTV sat down with the duo to talk about everything from their classic song, “Boom,” to how Royce’s jail bid interrupted the making of their “Shake This” record to how they teamed up with producer Adrian Younge. Check it out below.
2Reps – “I Just Wanna Smoke ft Snoop Dogg and Mike Epps
Watch out for 2Reps! This rap duo has just released a new video for their lead single “I Just Wanna Smoke.” You will see some fly cameos from Snoop Dogg and Mike Epps. 2Reps debut album “Pole City Redemption” is set to be in stores soon.
Hazel-E Ft. K-Young – "Everything"
Love & Hip-hop Hollywood’s Hazel-E hits us with her new single titled “Everything” produced by Rob Holladay and featuring California singer/songwriter K-Young. Stream below.
Eric Bellinger – "Focused On You" featuring 2 Chainz
Eric Bellinger released his new single “Focused On You” today. The Grammy winner’s follow-up to his breakout hit “I Don’t Want Her” features production by D Mile, and co-production by Eric Bellinger himself. There are also additional vocals by Mya. The new single featuring 2Chainz samples the Nas & The Braveheart’s classic hit “Oochie Wally.” “Focused On You” will be featured on Eric Bellinger’s upcoming debut album Cuffing Season to be released at the top of the year via YFS.
The single is available today on iTunes. The accompanying music video was filmed in Los Angeles and will be released in January.
Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson And More Name Top Five Rappers Of All Time
With Chris Rock’s self-directorial debut Top Five hitting theaters this month, the discussion of who his top five emcees has been sparked. Revolt TV hosted a round table that included Rock, his co-star Rosario Dawson and a slew of hip-hop journalists and radio personalities including Miss Info, Angie Martinez, Jayson Rodriguez, Shaheem Reid, Ed Lover, and Datwon Thomas, where they listed their top five wordsmiths with accompanying justifications.
Hip-hop lovers, peep the vid below.
50 Cent To Floyd Mayweather: 'You Are My Little Brother'
The news that Floyd Mayweather witnessed the murder-suicide of Earl Hayes and Stephanie Moseley yesterday (Dec. 8) on FaceTime didn’t see with his friend-turned-foe 50 Cent too well. The G-Unit general took to IG to send some uplifting words to his former homie.
“RIP Hayes, @floydmayweather you are my little brother. All can think about is what you said to me up stairs. Don’t you ever do nothing to your self no matter what champ. We can fall out and fight or what ever,but I don’t want to see you go out like that.”
Floyd seemingly appreciated those words because he later reposted the kind post on his Instagram page.
Hayes was a rapper that Mayweather had signed to his record label, Philthy Rich Records. Hayes reportedly killed his wife due to claims of infidelity. Hayes reportedly video-called Mayweather and told him that he was going to kill Moseley because he believed she had been unfaithful. Though Mayweather pleaded with him not to do it, Hayes went through with it and then turned the gun on himself while Mayweather witnessed it all through FaceTime.
K. Michelle Says Her Whole Album Is About Idris Elba
To celebrate the release of his sophomore effort Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart? K. Michelle stopped by the Breakfast Club to chop it with Angela Yee and Charlamagne tha God. While talking about the album, she confirmed that the whole project was about her relationship with actor Idris Elba. She says when he heard the album, he was pleased.
” I sent him the records before they came out,” said the Memphis native. “He said ‘This is art. I hate we at this place but this is art.'”
The Love and Hip Hop star said she got her album title from an unlikely source: Meek Mill.
“Well Meek had a song called “Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart?” and he let me hear it. He didn’t use it and Atlantic [Records] had paid for the record already. I had always loved the song from the first time he played it for me. Atlantic gave me the record and I ended up not using the record but I had already promoted the title, kept the title and just felt like that’s where I was at in life.”
Back in September, Lil’ Kim visited the Breakfast Club and denied claims that K. Michelle had made about Kim asking her to be the godmother of her daughter, Royal Reign and even likened her to a “bag of trail mix.” From what K had to say, these two are not on good terms.
“I don’t have nothing to say to Plastic Penny…I swear [before] crackers and cheese. God strike me down. That girl asked me to be the godmother of her child and I thought it was awkward myself. We have each other’s numbers. You’re not gonna get up here and act like that, Kim.”
Peep the interview below.
Spenzo Ft. Meek Mill, Young Thug, & Maine Man – "I'm So Sorry"
Take a listen to Spenzo’s alternate version of his single “I’m So Sorry” with features coming from Meek Mill, Young Thug, & Maine Man.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Kanye Rapped His Entire Album For Seth Rogen
Kanye West and Seth Rogen seem to have built some sort of friendship, and when your homies with Ye’, if he asks you if you want to hear his new album before its release, of course you say yes.
But there was a catch. Seth Rogen told Rolling Stone exactly what happened when he got a preview of ‘Yeezus.’
“Me and my wife had gotten some dessert and were in the lobby getting plates to bring back to our room … And Kanye was like, ‘What are you guys doing? Want to hear my new album?’ So he takes us to this limo van and starts playing his album – except theres no lyrics only beats. So he raps the whole album and after each song, he stops it, like ‘So what do you think?’ We were in the van for 2 hours!”
“Now I realize the next person he sees that he knows is getting pulled into that van,” Rogen says, laughing, “But I learned a lesson from it -which is that Kanye is seeking input at all times. Processwise, it showed an openness and a fearlessness. We started screening our movies more and in rougher versions for our friends because of that.”
Earl Hayes Accused Wife Stephanie Moseley Of Affair With Trey Songz; 50 Cent Comments
Details about the cause of the tragic murder-suicide of rapper Earl Hayes and his wife Stephanie Moseley are slowly emerging. Last night (Dec. 8), Hayes shot Moseley over claims that she had been unfaithful, and now TMZ is reporting that Hayes believed that singer Trey Songz was involved in his wife’s infidelity,
It’s reported that Hayes and Moseley had separated for two years because Hayes believed that his wife had an affair with Songz. They later reconciled but a source said that Hayes “was crushed and never got over it.”
Hayes reportedly brought up Songz a lot and accused Moseley of having affair with other singers as well. Besides being on the VH1 hit series, Hit The Floor, she was also a backup dancer to stars like Songz, Chris Brown and Usher.
Hayes, who is Issac Hayes’ son, reportedly shot Moseley and then himself during a FaceTime conversation with Floyd Mayweather, who signed Hayes to his record label, Philthy Rich Records. The two had been married since 2008.
Trey Songz hasn’t addressed these allegations but dedicated a tweet to Moseley last night.
Floyd’s nemesis 50 Cent chimed in on all of this in a now deleted Instagram post and put his two cents in about Trey Songz allegedly being one of the men Moseley cheated with.
Top 5 Comedians Dead Or Alive: Key & Peele
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have never been afraid to use their television series to put a comical spotlight on serious social issues. Following in the tradition of Saturday Night Live, In Living Color, and Chappelle’s Show, Comedy Central’s Key & Peele often plays like a live action political cartoon disguised as a sketch comedy show. It’s an exploration of the human condition wrapped in humor.
For four seasons the two MADtv alumni have challenged viewers to question their views on often contentious topics like race, homophobia, and politics. The upcoming season finale continues the program’s tendency to blend comedy and social commentary.
Key and Peele open the finale with a Crossfire-esque sketch that points out the über-partisan lunacy often displayed on cable news channels. Other spoofs in the episode titled “Terrorist Meeting” include amusing takedowns of ISIS, gang culture, sibling rivalry, and movie dates.
The future for Key and Peele is set to feature a reboot of the 1980’s movie Police Academy. Before the Peabody Award winners jump into forthcoming motion picture endeavors, AllHipHop.com wanted to get Key and Peele’s thoughts on their past inspirations.
Every comedic genius stands on the shoulders of legendary performers that previously broke down doors in TV, film, and stand-up, so discover which funny men make Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele’s respective lists of comedians that left a memorable mark on them.
[ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Jordan Peele Of “Key & Peele” Talks Reboot Of “Police Academy” Movie]
Jordan Peele
Martin Lawrence
Martin was able to give you high and low during his time on Def Comedy Jam and his TV show. I loved how his character, Martin Payne, showed his faults. He wasn’t perfect. He was arrogant, brash. You either hated him or loved him. You never really hated him. You always kind of loved him. Martin mixed it up in a way that was very inspirational to me.
Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans has that “Bugs Bunny” thing going on. You just wanted to see Damon win in every sketch on In Living Color, and he did. He always had that little smirk on. You knew he was doing something risky or dangerous. I think that’s a quality that I envy in him. You can always see the performer having fun. Absolutely one of the funniest guys I can think of.
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle had that same quality that Damon Wayans had. He’s really silly, and you can tell he always had that smirk on his face, like he knows he’s getting away with something. As a performer and stand-up, he’s one of the best ever.
Ricky Gervais
I love Rick Gervais from the British The Office. As a persona, he’s an interesting guy, and I love the way he explored the awkward moments on his show. That was truly a character – David Brent from The Office. You hated him, but it felt like he was baring a part of the performer’s soul. You know that they are so many things [Gervais] must have in common with this character, and he must be channeling what’s disgusting about himself. I love that vulnerability.
Eddie Murphy
I got to give it up for Eddie Murphy. He’s the king of sketch. I love Eddie Murphy’s stand-up, but for me as a sketch performer, he broke some barriers. Specifically, the sketch where he got makeup put on to look like a White guy, and he goes undercover to see the world through White people’s eyes.
He’ll get on a bus, the last Black guy gets off the bus, and the White people say, “Alright, he’s gone.” Then the drinks and cigars come out. He sees this semi-fictional reality where White people party the moment that Black people are missing. That sketch to me is the best sketch of all time.
–
Keegan-Michael Key
Martin Lawrence
The reason is really because of Jordan. He made me notice that Martin Lawrence does a thing when he performs where he is often the butt of the joke. In a lot of African American comedy, you don’t see a person allowing themselves to be vulnerable enough to be the butt of the joke. And his joke telling was really, really good. There’s a dimension that he has that you just don’t see very often, and you certainly didn’t see it when he was doing stand-up.
Lenny Bruce
I just think that Lenny Bruce spoke truth through comedy, and he was really edgy. The thing about that is he was brave. He got thrown in jail for doing his comedy which you wouldn’t see today.
Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy is the comedian of my generation, and not only that, but a good actor. That was amazing to watch him be so good at sketch comedy, so good at stand-up comedy, so good at comedy in movies, he sang… He’s just one of those superstars. Just all talent, all the time.
Richard Pryor
In some ways it was if he was better than anybody, anybody whoever was a comic. In the comedian firmament, I can’t think of anybody as talented of an actor, a person who had pathos, raunchy message, and everything. He was the total package.
Chris Rock
In the midst of his fearlessness and ferocity of intention, Chris Rock still manages to add a dash of politeness and decorum to all of his comedy. It’s outrageous, but responsible at the same time. That’s one of the reasons that he’s my favorite.
His comedy, though racial at its core, is also fundamentally cultural as well. His comedy encapsulates the big three: culture, class, and race. He does it in a way that makes you laugh from your belly while you’re simultaneously saying, “That’s just not right.” To me, that’s the classic definition of really, really, really good satire. He’s one of the great masters of it.
All you have to do to see how insightful he is as a person is read his recent article in The Hollywood Reporter about the state of race in the entertainment industry. It’s a wonderful, insightful, and brave treatise on how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go as people of color.
[ALSO READ: Top 5 Dead Or Alive: Lil Kim]
The season finale of Key & Peele airs Wednesday, December 10 at 10:30/9:30C on Comedy Central. To watch previous episodes of Key and Peele visit comedycentral.com.
Follow Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele on Twitter @keeganmkey and @JordanPeele. Follow the show Key & Peele on Twitter @KeyAndPeele.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Superhead Has Words For Chris Brown
After the fiasco with Chris Brown blasting on his girl Karrueche over the weekend a few celebs have thrown darts Breezy’s way and Superhead had some blows of her own to send the singer’s way.
The former video vixen vented via Twitter about the situation and it was clear exactly who and what she was talking about.
Keep an eye on this one. Its only a matter of time before Chris fires off on Karrine next.
French Montana Announces 'Mac And Cheese: The Appetizer' Mixtape And Unveils Cover Art
Since his Excuse My French follow-up album isn’t quite ready, French is giving fans an appetizer. The “Don’t Panic” rapper will be dropping a new mixtape, Mac & Cheese: The Appetizer on Dec. 15th. There hasn’t been a track list released for the project but all of the production has been handled by Harry Fraud, whose crafted most of French’s hits.
French’s Mac & Cheese album, which features the DJ Mustard-produced “Don’t Panic” and “Gucci Mane” featuring Rick Ross and Lil’ Wayne, was supposed to hit stores before the year was through. No word on why it has been pushed back. He’s reportedly recorded over 80 songs for the project.
Mac and Cheese: The Appetizer 
Boaz Talks About Leaving The Streets For Music
With his album Intuition in stores, Rostrum recording artist Boaz sat with AHH’s MrMecc to talk following trends, going against the grain, reflecting the golden era and why the fans should give him a shot.