Look at us….America has created a monster. The result of ignoring & mishandling an already fragile spirited, recently enslaved, presently oppressed race/generation of people. Look at us. We’re the monster that now refuses to be dismissed, overlooked and ignored. We were brought to this place, unaware of our own cultures, religion & traditions therefore, we created our own. Now look at us.
For years we’ve been crying out for the nation to address the substandard education systems & disparaging treatment of our citizens in communities across America. Our people have had an increasing lack of opportunities for generations. There have been homes broken, lives shattered and futures lost on your watch….unanswered. Look at us. How long can u expect a nation/race/generation of people to be blatantly disrespected? Spoken to and treated with arrogant tones of insignificance. Our fathers, uncles, brothers and role models were killed and imprisoned more often than educated. Now look at us. Our friends and relatives murdered and cast aside without thought, as though your human life is more valuable than ours. How long can that go on without consequence? Now Look at us.
How long can u continue to pass the buck & make excuses of why u can’t do today what should have been done yeste-year? Although I DO NOT support the negative responses & actions of my people in light of this tragedy….I WILL NOT condone your lack of effort to show any urgency to improve the treatment of our people, nor the living conditions in our communities. Your refusal to address these life altering issues makes events such as these seem inevitable. Although I too am at fault to a degree and I admit that I may not have all da answers… I do have a fun fact for you. Insanity is…Going about things the same way, expecting a different result. U wanna different result? U must take different action. What else do u expect? Look at us!!!
If you know Hip-Hop like we know Hip-Hop, then you know all about producer Domingo. His resume runs deep and then re-runs. From Eminem to Kool G Rap. From Three Six Mafia to Big Pun. From Big Daddy Kane to G-Unit. The list really goes on and on… and on. Now, the rap maestro has released his second full-length album, called Same Game, New Rules. The album cover evokes a Monopoly of Hip-Hop and includes a varied assortment of dope lyricists. AllHipHop caught up with the oft-reclusive, enigmatic producer and got his take on Hip-Hop, the new album, police brutality and even the hot boy of the day, Bobby Schmurda. Oh, and there’s the matter of how Fat Beats distribution didn’t work at all.
Looking at your album cover and seeing the whole game board concept is there anything symbolic about the cover and title of your new album?
The whole conceptual idea of Same Game New Rules along with the artwork is a statement in itself. The music industry is a monopoly game with the artists being the real estate that the label owners try to acquire. Labels take these artists and build up their real estate and capitalize on it by renting them out to people those people being the fans.
The title of my album is broken down into Same Game meaning it is the same game of music as Hip Hop the way I produce it. New Rules means 2 things. New Rules to the way I am going about releasing my music to the masses by doing it independently with the #NoLabelJustUS movement and cutting out the labels. 2nd meaning of New Rules is bringing forth new talent that is really good and up and coming like Chris Rivers, Nutso, Joey Fattz, Bamboo, Nuff Sed,Demorne Warren, Detane, Kon Boogie, Kemikel Ali, These artist have extreme amounts of talent that need to be heard and they are part of the New Rules concept.
What are some of the stand out moments on your album like something with a message?
I definitely have to say the song Machine Gun by Ras Kass because it fits the times we are going thru right now with all this police brutality going on in America dealing with the Eric Garner, Michael Brown situations this song really hits home on that beccause as you see they are rioting in Ferguson and rightfully so because it is time for this to stop. Ras Kass broke it down and gives truth to a lot of these things. The intro is clip from Mandela singing in African “Hand me my machine gun” some people might not understand it but that is whats being said.
If we keep it Hip Hop I would say the M.O.P, GP100 song “We Put It Down” is one of the favorites on the album of a few people that heard the album it is raw NYC Gritty East New York to Brownsville Hip Hop. I also have the video out for this song.
I feel really good of how the album came out overall because it has something on there for every Hip Hop head that appreciates that authentic Hip Hop sound.
What made you decide to put this album out yourself with out any help from a company?
Actually the album was supposed to come out thru Fat beats distribution we did a deal for them to press and distribute the album but there was definitely a lack of communication between me and the owner where as I gave it good thought and really did not need them to do anything for me when I can do it myself and keep 100% earnings where as they were doing the pressing and wanting 50% of everything…I thought why do that this is what I been preaching about keeping your talent profit contained to yourself so that was my ultimate decision and it was mutual between us because the artwork scared them and acceding to the owner the staff didn’t know how to market the album. It’s not love lost at all we didn’t end it on a bad note I will probably let them distribute the CD’s of the album anyway but this time I control it.
We Put It Down – Domingo Feat. M.O.P & GP100 (Official Video) Cuts by Dj Cazz – Same Game New Rules
What’s your take on Hip-Hop coming out of New York now, being that you helped create that Golden Era Classic sound?
That’s kind of hard for me to accept when its coming from the city that set the hip hop trend and now we imitate the style and sound of other regions. I am not going to knock their hustle but there has got to be more to it then a dance when it comes to Bobby Schmurda. Hopefully the person who signed him can give him the right guidance on music to make good songs after the dance phase wears thin. For now those rappers with other regions on their mind and in their music can stay in that lane because there is other lanes of artists on the NY hip hop scene that rep NY the right way such as Joey Badass, Nutso, Chris Rivers, Demorne Warren and whoever else reps that genuine NYC Hip-Hop.
Click the links below to buy Same Game, New Rules:
(AllHipHop Features) The Chicago Hip Hop Renaissance is in full effect. Artists from across the city are making waves beyond Cook County. Hailing from Southwest Chicago’s LeClaire Courts housing projects, Veto Vangundy is one of those emcees presenting a fresh voice to Chitown’s growing Hip Hop scene.
Vangundy’s brand of rap is not solely defined by the Drill Music sound the Chi has become known for over the last few years. He brings a style more reflective of his musical influences 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z, and Jadakiss – a throwback to 90’s era Hip Hop with a 21st Century twist. This approach is best represented in his latest Wu-Tang Clan inspired buzz single “Keep It Wu.”
Vangundy was introduced to Hip Hop culture at the age of seven by his older brother Leon. Van later began writing his own rhymes. Seeing the potential in his little bro, Leon christened him with the name Veto.
Sadly, Leon lost his life to the streets, but Veto used that tragic experience to drive his mission of becoming a premier rap artist. He tacked on the name Vangundy (symbolizing orchestrating the offense à la the NBA’s coaching Van Gundy brothers) and helped establish the independent-minded Lifestyle Creative Music Group (LCMG) featuring rappers, singers, and promoters from his neighborhood.
One of Vangundy’s local associates eventually hooked him up with the well established 1500 or Nothin production collective. 1500, along with other producers, provided beats for Veto’s 2012 mixtape From Pain 2 Glory. Van is now on the verge of releasing his studio album The Last Hope later this month.
Get familiar with Chicago’s Veto Vangundy in AllHipHop.com’s “5 & Done” interview series.
“The Last Hope” Cover Art
How did the death of your brother motivate you to pursue rapping?
From that point, I knew I had to do something different with my life, because I could have went out the same way. That was a wake up call coming from where I’m from, seeing my mother lose her son. I wanted to do something better with my life to make sure I’m straight.
When I saw that, I took it as a wake up call. My grandmother told me everything happens for a reason. I never looked back from that. I knew he wanted me to rap because he gave me the name Veto, so I had to move forward and do something positive. I chose rap. I chose to go full-time with it.
What inspired you to create the Wu-Tang Clan homage track “Keep It Wu”?
It was produced by Bolo Da Producer from Atlanta, and when I heard it I instantly fell in love with it. I knew it was the “Ice Cream” sample, so I felt it was only right to call the song “Keep It Wu” because it was a Wu-Tang track. I felt like it was needed. Especially coming from Chicago where all you hear is Drill Music right now.
I wanted to show people we really can rap over here, and there are people with substance and positive messages. So I took the sample track from “Ice Cream,” and I put a 90’s flavor on it. I just called it “Keep It Wu” to rap it up. It was only right to pay homage to them.
You opened the song by saying you’re not like other Chicago rappers. You mentioned Lil Bibby, Lil Durk, Vic Mensa, and Chance The Rapper. What do you feel separates you from some of these other new acts coming out of the city?
Substance. I give you the pros and cons. It ain’t always good. I give you bad. I pitch it right down the middle. You listen to Durk, he has more of a Drill sound. You listen to Chance, he got a more melodic sound. Me, I’m like the perfect balance. I’m straight down the middle.
And that wasn’t no diss toward them. That was just saying look all them rappers, and look at how they’re so different. That’s how much Chicago has to offer. Listen to Durk, Bibby, Vic, and Chance, and listen to me. I sound nothing like them. That means Chicago has an industry to itself. You’re never going to know what you’re going to get from Chicago. That’s basically what I was saying.
And by them being at the forefront of Chicago, it was only right that I said them. That’s what people see, so I had to let you know I’m not them. I’m coming with a different sound.
I saw you posted on Instagram that you got the chance to speak with Raekwon. What did he say about the song?
I sent him the song, but it was really just a conversation about some business. He didn’t hear the song yet. Somebody put me on the phone with him, because they wanted him to holler at me.
He was a humble dude. He was one of the coolest guys I ever talk to this industry that got 20 years [in the business]. He didn’t hear the song yet. I was sending it to him trying to do a remix.
What do you hope to get out of Hip Hop?
I want people to know that I would love to be wealthy to provide for my family, but at the end of the day I want the respect. I want to be one of the best to do it. I’m trying to write a chapter in Hip Hop history. When I leave this earth, I want my fans in the Hip Hop community to tell my daughter your father was a legend. It’s not about the money or fame. I really do want to go down as one of the best.
Veto is headed out on the 5-city “Coast 2 Coast Live” Tour beginning September 21 in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information check out the flyer below.
Dead Game Records presents Lil One The Champ’s new single “Hands On It” featuring Mouse On Tha Track. Check it out below & head over to iTunes if you really like it. The track will likely do well in the strip clubs from Texas to Atlanta.
The ladies from the “Sisterhood of Hip-Hop” (Brianna Perry, BIA, Diamond, Nyemiah Supreme, Siya) sit down with Ms. Drama to discuss their “sisterhood”.
They open up about the competitiveness, the Nicki Minaj factor – (including the open letter from Chuck Creekmur, CEO of AllHipHop), being stereotyped, relationships, and what they want their fans to know – and get from the show.
(AllHipHop News) Jay Z is entering a whole new game. Yesterday, Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports obtained its boxing license.
Joining 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions, Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports will promote boxing matches as well as sign boxers. Michael Yormark, the president and chief of branding and strategy for parent company of Roc Nation, told ESPN.com Sunday (August 17th) that Roc Nation Sports has been working on this move for over eight months and are ready to be a serious player in the boxing game:
There’s no question the sport of boxing needs a new player, someone who can do something different. We’re energized, and we’re going to make a difference. This is a huge priority to us. This is a highly serious business to us.
While the young agency does not have any boxers signed yet, Roc Nation Sports has signed David Itskowitch to serve as its boxing division’s chief operating officer. Itskowitz has an extensive history in boxing promotion, most recently being the chief operating officer for Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions from 2006 until last summer.
With over twenty years invested into Hip-Hop, Twista, has forged a respected niche within the culture. With passion, pride, and pain–lyricism delivered from a sincere stance–he has transformed ordinary words into poignant prose. To create immortal art music and memory collide; this a signature of artistic journey.
On a quest to manipulate metaphors while controlling the mic, the Chicago native, is still motivated by the challenge to manifest his truth through the art. Twista’s latest release, Dark Horse, a testament of his maturation not only as a man, but also as an MC. During album release party AllHipHop.com posed the following:
For all the Amideau Diallous, Oscar Grants, Trayvon Martins, Eric Garners, Mike Browns, Armand Bennetts, and Renisha McBrides–who were condemned because of their melanin-enriched skin–how does your voice as an MC demonstrate the full spectrum of what it is to be a Black man in America?
(AllHipHop News) Judge Genese Brinkley has no interest in any Dream Worth More Than Money promo. Yesterday (August 18th), the Philadelphia denied Meek Mill’s appeal on his parole violation.
Last month, Brinkley sentenced Mill to three-to-six months in Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility over inappropriate tweets about his parole officer, failing a drug test and appearing in a music video with a gun. Brinkley denied Mill’s appeal on the decision, a reversal that could have freed Meek yesterday. DJ Khaled and other members of Atlantic Records and Maybach Music Group were in attendance according to MTV’s Rob Markman.
Mill’s Defense lawyer Dennis Cogan argued that the MMG rapper failed his drug test due to a prescription for Oxycontin he obtained after sustaining an ankle injury. Also, Cogan argued that Meek has not incurred any new charges and the gun Mill brandishes in the music video was a water pistol.
Brinkley ordered Meek to undergo anger management classes as a condition of the sentencing. After Meek questioned if he would be able to start the classes while in protective custody, Brinkley agreed to remove Meek from protective custody according to Billboard.
(AllHipHop News) Veteran Hip Hop DJ and producer Statik Selektah has built a career uniting with emcees for full joint projects. The Shade 45 radio host’s discography includes musical efforts with Termanology, Freeway, Bumpy Knuckles, Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, Jared Evan, and Ransom.
In a recent interview with AllHipHop.com, Statik gives a hint to which artist could be his next full project collaborator.
“Something that could happen in the future – me and Ab-Soul,” reveals Statik. “We’ve been working. I think we’re going to do an Ab-Soul [project].”
The Massachusetts bred production wiz also shares that he would like to get in the lab with a couple of Chicago newcomers and another Black Hippy member.
“I like Chance [The Rapper] a lot. I see him going in a different direction now. I see him doing a lot more soulful s**t which I enjoy. I went to see him in London. He was real dope. I like Vic Mensa. He’s dope,” says Statik. “I feel like I’m working with pretty much everybody I want to work with. If anyone’s not on the list of who I’ve worked with, it’s definitely Kendrick [Lamar].”
Statik Selektah released his latest album What Goes Around today (August 19). The project is available on iTunes.
We at AllHipHop knew there was a special part of the story in Ferguson, Missouri that wasn’t being heard, so CEO Chuck Creekmur let me go down to Ferguson to get the 411. I had no idea what I was walking in to.
Now, let me say for the record, I did watch wall to wall coverage of what was happening in Ferguson before going down there. I was very well versed on the tragedy that came about last Saturday when an unarmed teenager named Mike Brown was shot to death in the small mid-western suburb of ST. Louis.
But it still couldn’t prepare me for the feelings that came about after I got to town.
Through some of my experience I was terrified. You can actually tell in some of the footage because my hands were literally trembling while I was trying to film what I saw. My fear of the massive police presence was not a joke.
And at no time did I EVER feel unsure or scared of the protesters.
I can not say that about the police however, as I was overwhelmed by the immense police presence and the menacing way that police seemingly stalked reporters.
There were moments of chaos, moments of clarity, definite feelings of sorrow and honestly, I’m still trying to make sense of all of it.
A city within the United States of America is under siege. The police are doing everything they can to control the story and it’s frightening. Reporter’s are being bullied and the genuinely peaceful protesters are being agitated. It’s as if police are thirsty for a fight with them so they can show a crushing use force against them. I’m in no way a conspiracy theorist but what we are seeing looks like the dooms day scenarios that American citizens keep training for out in the woods. Things that used to sound ridiculous now appear to be playing out in front of our very eyes. I didn’t feel that way until I saw the military vehicles and the sheer numbers of “combat police” on the ground in Ferguson. I started to wonder if instead of giggling at those in the woods…if maybe we shouldn’t have been taking a closer look at what they were training for.
Remember how we got here. This story only exists because a cop used excessive force against a child. The response from the police toward a community who just wants justice has been more force. How can that ever make sense? Where is the opportunity for healing ever going to come in to play when the police insist upon treating the citizens as if their voice does not matter. The people there deserve so much better than this.
I walked along the path where Mike Brown took his last breaths with some of the members of his family. I was humbled and honored to take that walk with them. Thanks to DJ Charlie Hustle and Rebel Diaz I met Calvin and Gary and they showed us everything.
Please take a look at what I saw in the video below.
**Editor’s note, the camera is a little shaky sometimes because I was trembling. Fear is a crazy thing. You can talk smack all you want to but if you’re afraid it will show in other ways.
The goal was to see what the people of Ferguson wanted us to know. I’m so glad that I went and even happier that some felt they could talk to me. The youth of Ferguson have things to say and they need you to hear them. I’m humbled to have been there in their midst and I hope they get the justice that they seek.
#HandsUpDon’tShoot is a real movement guys and they need your support. After seeing what the people in Ferguson are enduring I’m convinced that they not only need it…they deserve it.
(AllHipHop News) St. Louis native Nelly had been criticized by some residents of his hometown for not actually visiting Ferguson, Missouri where 18-year-old Michael Brown was gunned down by a cop over a week ago.
After addressing the issue in interviews and at a celebrity football game in Los Angeles, Nelly finally visited the city yesterday (August 18).
Nelly spoke to a crowd of people in Ferguson. The rapper told the people in attendance that they needed to remain peaceful. He also suggested they look at their own actions as it relates to criminality and claimed the often repeated statistic that there are more black men in jail than in college is not true.
“It ain’t been like that since 2001,” said Nelly through a bullhorn. “There’s more doctors. There’s more lawyers. There’s more teachers. There’s more black billionaires. There’s more black millionaires. You got options brothers and sisters. We got to understand we got options and stop choosing the reaction option.”
While applause and shouts of agreement can heard by some of the crowd members during Nelly’s speech, The Guardian‘s Jon Swaine reported on Twitter that not all the reaction to Nelly was positive. Swaine tweeted that some onlookers asked Nelly what was his plan moving forward, and one person responded to him saying “You got options” with “You got options – you’re rich.”
Michael Brown was killed on August 9th by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Brown was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Protests have been ongoing in Ferguson since his death.
Lot of people seriously unimpressed with Nelly. “You got options,” he tells crowd. “YOU got options – you’re rich,” a guy shouts back. — Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) August 19, 2014
IF this is true, the next season of LHHATL is gonna be filled with so much ratchery it’ll be ridiculous, while Mona Scott-young laughs to the bank…MediaTakeout is reporting that Waka Flocka, who recently married Tammy Rivera, may have knocked up his sidepiece, who happens to be the daughter of a billionaire.
“MediaTakeOut.com just spoke with an IMPRECCABLE SNITCH who tells us that Wacka got the half-Asian half-white daughter of a founder to a POPULAR INTERNET COMPANY pregnant. We were asked NOT to divulge the girls information, cause its NOT CLEAR she’s keeping the child.
Here’s what our snitch told us, “I go to school with Waka and [high tech founder]’s daughter and Waka was here last Spring performing at our school. Waka let a bunch of folks back to the hotel and she was behaving like a real groupie. Fast forward till now and it’s a mess. She’s pregnant and it’s buzzing like crazy among our friends on Facebook.”
While we can’t say the name – we can tell you that dude is worth A BUNCH OF MONEY – hundreds of MILLIONS and probably BILLIONS!!”
Ms. Deb may have those grand babies a little sooner than expected…
(AllHipHop News) The question of how Hip Hop is appropriated into pop culture and used by non-Black/Latino artists has been a discussion within the culture since its inception. In recent years, pop stars like Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga added elements of Hip Hop into their songs via production and guest appearances.
Taylor Swift has become the latest pop-friendly performer to incorporate Hip Hop into her brand. While also including ballet, modern dance, 80’s New Wave, and cheerleading, Swift’s new video for “Shake It Off” is heavy on Hip Hop references.
The clip features the singer carrying a boombox and donning street wear clothing, B-boys dancing, and backup dancers twerking. Swift even breaks into a rap in the middle of the song.
Odd Future’s Earl Sweatshirt did not appreciate Swift’s video. The rapper sent out a series of tweets blasting the Pennsylvania native for what he sees as perpetuating Black stereotypes to her mostly white, female fan base.
Atlanta Exes the extension of Vh1’s Hollywood Exes premiered Monday night. Atlanta provides the ideal backdrop and group of ex-wives for the successful franchise’s extension being that it is the thriving music and entertainment capital of the South. The cast which includes Tameka Raymond (the ex-wife of Usher Raymond), Christina Johnson (ex-wife of Cee-Lo Green), Monyetta Shaw (ex-fiancé of Ne-Yo), Sheree Buchanan (ex-wife of former pro football player Ray Buchanan), and Torrei Hart (ex-wife of Kevin Hart) held a viewing party in Atlanta’s elite Buckhead area. AllHipHop caught up with the cast to find out what we can expect from this season. Check out the video below.
