AllHipHop

Iggy Azalea Makes Hot 100 History With "Fancy" & "Problem" Singles

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Australian performer Iggy Azalea made history this week when her first two charting singles reached the number 1 and number 2 spots on Billboard‘s Hot 100. This is the first time an act has achieved that feat in 50 years.

[ALSO READ: Forbes Changes Controversial Title Of Iggy Azalea Article]

Azalea’s “Fancy” rose to the top spot, and she also claims the runner-up’s position as a featured guest on Ariana Grande’s “Problem.” This has not happened since 1964 when The Beatles held 1 and 2 with their initial singles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.”

The rapper/model also joined three other very exclusive lists. Iggy became only the 15th act in the history of the Hot 100 to have a number one and number two single simultaneously. She is just the third woman to achieve that milestone (Mariah Carey, Ashanti), and she is only the fourth solo female rapper to ever have a number one single (Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, Shawnna).

[ALSO READ: Tyler The Creator Says Iggy Azalea “Stinks”; Iggy Responds]

Watch the video for Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” below.

T.I. Involved In Shoving Match With Security Prior To Mayweather Fight (VIDEO)

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) The self-described “King Of The South” has been involved in several battles in recent days. Footage of a brawl at a Las Vegas Fatburger between T.I. and Floyd Mayweather made the rounds on the internet and television, but that was not the only incident involving Tip while in Vegas.

[ALSO READ: T.I. & Floyd Mayweather Reportedly Get Into A Fight In Las Vegas (VIDEO)]

The Atlanta rapper was apparently attempting to get into a party in Sin City featuring Nicki Minaj when he was denied entry by security. Tip and the guards on post then began pushing each other as onlookers yelled in the background.

This is the third recorded confrontation involving T.I in the last month. He and Los Angeles emcee Game were also in the middle of stand-off with police outside the Supperclub in L.A. four weeks ago.

[ALSO READ: Supperclub L.A. Releases Statement About Videotaped Fight + T.I. & Game]

Watch video of the incident below.

Jimmy Iovine Steps Down From Interscope; Replaced By John Janick

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Now that the Beats Electronics/Apple deal has been official announced, and Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre are taking on roles at the company, Iovine has stepped down from his old job as Interscope Geffen A&M chairman and CEO.

[ALSO READ: Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine & Tim Cook Discuss Apple’s $3 Billion Beats by Dre Purchase]

The long time head of Interscope has been replaced by indie label Fueled By Ramen founder John Janick. The 36-year-old executive began working under Iovine at IGA in 2012. There were sources inside the company who claimed that Janick, serving as Interscope’s president and chief operating officer, was already effectively running the label before the Beats announcement.

“To have been able to work alongside Jimmy Iovine and contribute to the current success of Interscope Geffen A&M–three of the most storied brands in music—has been an extraordinary privilege,” stated Janick. “Now to be appointed Jimmy’s successor and be in a position to carry on his tradition of creative excellence and innovation is a truly humbling honor.”

IGA is currently home to some of music’s biggest stars including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga, and M.I.A.

“John Janick has exactly what it takes to lead Interscope Geffen A&M: he started his own label, he understands the art of making records and the unique dynamic between a record label and artist, as well as the enormous responsibility that comes with representing one of the greatest artist rosters ever assembled,” added Iovine.

[ALSO READ: Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine Facing Lawsuit From Alleged Co-Founder Of Beats Headphones]

Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine & Tim Cook Discuss Apple's $3 Billion Beats by Dre Purchase

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Did Dr. Dre become Hip Hop’s  first billionaire? No, but he is closer than anyone else. Today (May 28th), it was officially announced that Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre has been sold to Apple for $3 billion. During a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine discussed the historic deal and what it means for both brands.

The deal for the leader in the premium headphone market was originally speculated to be for $3.2 billion, however the deal reportedly stalled for unspecified reasons. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine spoke about the deal earlier today for USA Today. Cook does not give any concrete details on what Dre and Iovine’s roles will be at Apple, however does state their importance:

Dre and Jimmy bring us the artists’ lens. We’ve had that from a relationship point of view but there’s nothing like having that under our roof, that expert ear of audio. So when you take all of those intangibles, you get excited.

Apple has a scheduled Worldwide Developers Conference this Monday (June 2nd) and Cook promises “Apple will be doing some great things in the near term that are exciting and you’re going to love them.” Iovine describes the deal as one that will help relations between music distributors and labels:

They feel like one of them has gotten into a game where they can have impact. Where what we do will be understood. We’ve managed to bridge those worlds, because we come from music but we’ve worked in software and hardware.

According to the article, Dre was silent for most of the interview except to chime in on the financial benefit of this deal on his personal banking account:

Financially I’m in a place I never dreamed of. Now I’m just ready to get started with the work.

Hours before the Beats by Dre sale was announced, Interscope Record’s President and Chief Operating Officer John Janick will succeed Jimmy Iovine as Interscope Records’ Chairman and CEO.

LaVar Burton Raising $1 Million To Restart "Reading Rainbow"

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Crowdsourcing has become the greatest way for fans to resurrect their favorite cancelled shows. Former Reading Rainbow host Lavar Burton has started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $1,000,000 to bring back the legendary PBS show.

Currently, Burton’s campaign has garnered over $580,000 of its proposed $1 million goal with a July 2nd date as the deadline. The campaign is aimed to bring the TV show online and providing it to over 1500 classrooms for free.

Those that donate are eligible for a variety of rewards that are separated by different pay tiers. For example, those that spend $10,000 towards the project will be awarded a Los Angeles private dinner with Burton and “a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take a photo or video while wearing LeVar’s ORIGINAL visor” from Star Trek: The Next Generation according to the official Kickstarter page.

Reading Rainbow ran from 1983 to 2006 and in the process racked up numerous accolades, including multiple Daytime Emmys, Peabody Award and millions of fans. Reading Rainbow relaunched as an app and as of today has had over 15 million books read on the app.

Check out the Kickstarter page and/or pledge here.

Nas Starts "The Nas Scholarship Fund" For College Graduates

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Nas once rapped “read more, learn more, change the globe” and he is putting his money where his bars are. Today (May 28th), the Queensbridge legend and his investment company Queensbridge Venture Partners have teamed up with Koru to offer college graduates The Nas Scholarship Fund.

The Nas Scholarship Fund is the product of Queensbridge Venture Partner’s investment in Koru, a highly selective program that gives exceptional college graduates job training and placement. Koru has partnered with 13 colleges and recently awarded the first recipients of The Nas Scholarship Fund. Steeve Simbert, a prospective Georgetown University graduate of the 2015 class and  wMarixa Rodriguez, an Occidental University graduate of the 2014 class were the first to be rewarded with the honor. Simbert is majoring in Government, whereas Rodriguez graduated with a double major in History and Spanish.

Nas dropped out of school after the eighth grade in the late 80s. However, in a statement released earlier today regarding The Nas Scholarship Fund, Nas spoke on the importance of helping those who’ve achieved higher education:

I’m inspired to support Koru participants because I know how hard it can be to carve out your path and purpose in life.  It takes conviction, hard work and the right network. The young people going through Koru are gritty, book smart and street smart.  The Koru program gives them an opportunity to put those smarts to work. I can’t wait to work directly with them and share what I’ve learned through my own life experiences.

The deadline for the July program is June 9th and the deadline for the September programs in Seattle and San Francisco is June 30th. To find out more about Koru, The Nas Scholarship Program and ways to apply, check out Koru’s official website.

President Obama, Rihanna, Beyonce + More React To Maya Angelou's Death

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Earlier today (May 28th), world renowned poet Dr. Maya Angelou died and the news

The last musical collaboration the late Maya Angelou worked on was for Common’s The Dreamer/The Believer on the song “The Dreamer”. Even though Angelou was “surprised” by Common’s use of the N-word on the song she was featured, she considered him “brilliant” and Common in turn reminisced about his former collaborator on the day of her death:

Best selling author, Terry McMillian expressed her extreme gratitude for Maya Angelou:

Both Rihanna and Beyonce were not born when Maya Angelou’s debut autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings in 1969. However the two R&B singers shared their favorite pieces from Maya Angelou:

Screenshot 2014-05-28 13.11.53  

Back in February 20111, President Obama award Maya Angelou the Medal of Freedom award and revealed that his half-sister Maya Kassandra Soetoro-Ng was named after the late poet. Hours after news of Maya Angelou’s death, Obama issued an official statement regarding her death:

When her friend Nelson Mandela passed away last year, Maya Angelou wrote that “No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again, and bring the dawn.”

Today, Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time – a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman. Over the course of her remarkable life, Maya was many things – an author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, director, composer, singer and dancer. But above all, she was a storyteller – and her greatest stories were true. A childhood of suffering and abuse actually drove her to stop speaking – but the voice she found helped generations of Americans find their rainbow amidst the clouds, and inspired the rest of us to be our best selves. In fact, she inspired my own mother to name my sister Maya.

Like so many others, Michelle and I will always cherish the time we were privileged to spend with Maya. With a kind word and a strong embrace, she had the ability to remind us that we are all God’s children; that we all have something to offer. And while Maya’s day may be done, we take comfort in knowing that her song will continue, “flung up to heaven” – and we celebrate the dawn that Maya Angelou helped bring.

Check out Smoke DZA, John Legend and others react to Maya Angelou’s passing below:

Jagged Edge to Release Sequel to 'J.E. Heartbreak' This Fall

By: Rea Davis @IamReaDavis Updated Category: Alternatives
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R&B fans get ready! So So Def Recordings and Hard Case Records has announced a new deal with BMG Primary Wave Artists Services to release the multi-platinum-selling group Jagged Edge‘s eighth studio album, J.E. Heartbreak Too, this fall 2014. The album’s lead single, “Hope,” will premiere this Friday. Written and produced by the group’s twin brothers Brian and Brandon Casey along with Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Bryan Michael Cox, “Hope” is a classic R&B throwback to the signature sound on the initial J.E. Heartbreak, which sold over 2 million records in 2000.

“Making a sequel to a classic album is difficult,” says So So Def CEO Jermaine Dupri, who serves as executive producer on the upcoming prohect. “We don’t want to stray from the blueprint of the first album. It’s definitely a challenge, but the fans won’t be disappointed.” With over 8 million records sold across 7 studio albums (5 of them gold or multi-platinum), Jagged Edge is one of the most successful R&B groups in music. The group has won three Billboard Awards, two Soul Train Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Music & Dance Awards and has earned various Grammy, BET, and American Music Award nominations. Jagged Edge states that they are extremely excited to join forces with Jermaine Dupri again. R&B fans this is what you have been waiting for!!! To get you ready for JE Heartbreak Too flashback to J.E. Heartbreak classic “He Can’t Love U” below!

Busta Rhymes Owes IRS Over $780,000 In Back Taxes

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Either hip hop artists have the worst accountants or do not take paying taxes seriously. Today (May 28th), reports surface that Busta Rhymes owes the Internal Revenue Service over $780,000 in past due taxes.

Busta reportedly failed to make tax payment of $611,000 in 2008 and $178,000 in 2012.

In 2012, Busta Rhymes released Year of the Dragon, his first project after signing with Cash Money Records in 2011. Busta informed Vibe in February that he is planning to release his upcoming album Extinction Level Event 2 on July 4th.

Skyzoo & Torae: 'Barrel Brothers' Album Release Review

By: Niki Gatewood (@THE_NikiG) Updated Category: Features
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Ardent supporters gathered at New York’s, S.O.B.’s, to enjoy the enormity of Skyzoo & Torae’s, Barrel Brothers album release. Producers, !llmind’s and Marco Polo’s presence, demonstrated their continued endorsement for the Brooklyn MCs. While manipulating the mic, Livin Proof, Bklyn Stickup, Matthew Ragazino, among others, employed a creative cache of lyricism, enthralling the onlookers.

Delivering a supreme New York soundtrack, Skyzoo & Torae, personify lyricism. Transforming their sixteens into heat, their combined artistry penetrated the crowd. The actual representation of the Barrel Brothers LP, showcased everything from “Talk Of The Town,” “Make You A Believer,” and the ode to Hip-Hop, “Blue Yankee Fitted.” Also sharing solo joints like, “G## It Done,” their competitive camaraderie upholds Hip-Hop’s standards.

Massaged by a beat, or raw a cappella, Skyzoo & Torae’s distinctive voices will improve Hip-Hop until their jersey’s are in the rafters.

EXCLUSIVE: Prodigy Explains That Writing Books Is Harder Than Writing Raps

By: Steve Raze (@SteveRaze) Updated Category: Features
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On the night of the Infamous Book launch, Prodigy see his career taking a solid turn in the book world as an expansion to his artistic and entrepreneurial rupture. With two books already completed, My Infamous Life The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy and H.N.I.C., Prodigy now heads a new situation,  Infamous Books. This has allowed authors like Miasha with Swing, JaQuavis Coleman with The White House and K’wan with his work Black Lotus to all have a distribution house under Prodigy’s new book division.

Prodigy explains on why he created his own book distribution by stating:

“Like the music, I wanted to control the releases of the projects … and I also wanted to control the content. What books I choose to put out”

Prodigy also told AllHipHop about creating a book versus creating an album:

“Creating a book is a little harder. The Mobb Deep albums and the Prodigy albums, I pull more from my life, so it’s a little easier to pull from real life situations. When I write a book …  I can be more creative and come up with stories and plots and twists and turns so it gets kind of intricate … so its a little easier doing rap.”

Watch more of what Prodigy says about his book deal and creating music and books:

Maya Angelou Passes Away At The Age Of 86

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Legendary poet and author Maya Angelou passed away early this morning (5/28). According to reports, Angelou died in home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She had reportedly been in bad health recently and had canceled scheduled appearances.

Perhaps best known for her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient wrote several works. She also directed the film Down in the Delta.

Angelou was 86 years old.

AllHipHop.com will update this story as more details emerge.