(AllHipHop News) Terminator X retired from making music years ago, and the Public Enemy affiliate has now spoken out on why he stepped away from the game. In an interview with Crazy Hood, the DJ says the obsession with money is one of the reasons he left the music industry.
“I left the music business because I was fed up with the greed and cutthroat environment that it is—this includes Public Enemy,” said X. “That is not an environment I choose to be in. My family started an ostrich farm, which I participated in, but it is not the reason I left the music business.”
After a conversation with Quincy Jones at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, Terminator X made the decision to come back to the business. He is now a contributor to Chuck D’s RapStation platform.
“I decided that I was coming home to my music only on my terms and I would not let the music ‘business’ come between us again,” X added.
The rap game has surely changed since P.E.’s heyday, and X does not have a positive opinion on the current state of Hip Hop.
“I think the subject matter of modern Rap is, for the most part, the worst it’s ever been,” said Terminator X. “Most of what I hear out there is either sex, violence, or drugs. I would be happy if they would simply find anything else to rap about.”
(AllHipHop News) With just under two weeks to go before 50 Cent drops his comeback album Animal Ambition, the G-Unit leader is offering his fans the chance to purchase exclusive merchandise featuring the LP.
50’s official store website is selling several bundles related to his 5th studio album. For $40 buyers can get a bundle with a T-shirt and CD, or for $180 a 50 fan can get a shirt, CD, signed poster, and a pair of SMS headphones.
The Queens rapper was also offering a $5,000 package that included 5 copies of the deluxe CD, 3 T-shirts, 5 signed posters, 2 pair of headphones, and the chance to hang out with 50 himself. Unfortunately for those willing to give up 5 grand the bundle is already sold out.
Animal Ambition is scheduled for release on June 3rd.
(AllHipHop News) Jay Electronica had become somewhat of a Twitter celebrity in recent months. From epic rants about the government and thugs, to Q&A session with fans that including addressing Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse, to cryptic messages that left the public guessing what exactly he was trying to get across, Jay E’s timeline was a must read for Hip Hop followers.
That all appears to be over, at least for now. Electronica has quietly deleted his Twitter profile. An explanation for why he decided to end sharing his thoughts on the social media platform has not been revealed.
Jay Electronica’s long-awaited debut album is expected to be released later this year. The Roc Nation rapper recently promised Act II: Patents Of Nobility will drop before 2015.
Rumors of who will play our beloved baby girl Aaliyah have been circulating for awhile now, and we now know at least one actress who did not get the part.
Tristin Mays let fans know Avia Instagram that she would not be playing the role of Aaliyah in the movie based on the late singer’s life.
Who do you guys want to see on the big screen as Aaliyah?
Kanye and Kim are gearing up for their big day this upcoming weekend, and more details are spilling out about the extravagant wedding, including that the wedding is set to cost around $7 million!
RadarOnline reports:
“With the E! Network footing the bill for most of the wedding — presumably for Keeping Up With The Kardashians or a wedding special — the couple felt that left them with a hefty budget to splurge on the rest of the festivities.
Kardashian, 33, literally wants her wedding to be “the” wedding of the century, the source said, so she has been watching the Royal Wedding on loop!
Some of the swag being reported include:
$2 million for just one of Kim’s wedding dress options
$650,000 for a rehearsal dinner
$3million for security
$2million for a live performance from The Carters
$1million for flowers
7 milli for a wedding though? But hey, if you got it I guess you can spend it…
Drake’s got a new boo thang and she’s not his typical cup of tea (meaning she’s not a stripper).
Now Drake has had tough luck with the ladies, but this one may be a winner. Drake is alledgedly dating Rap-A-Lot Records CEO J. Prince’s daughter, Brandy.
Drake posted a pic to his Instagram with the caption, “Me and my boo since way back when and every now and again @Fairytailshair haaaaa,” and it seems like the two have been having a good time kicking it in H-Town.
(AllHipHop News) Quincy Jones has sold enough records to have an opinion on everything. During a recent interview with Canadian radio station CBC, Jones criticized the recent Michael Jackson album Xscape, describes Vibe Magazine as a “disaster” and more. In 1993, Quincy Jones founded Vibe Magazineand 20 years later, Vibe Magazine was sold to Spin Media and reduced to a quarterly release instead of its usual monthly release. According to one of the most accomplished musicians ever, the magazine was not one of his best moments:
Vibe was a disaster. I let it be in the hands of somebody else. That doesn’t work. It was terrible.
The accomplished composer claims growing up in Chicago he “saw a dead body everyday” and had gangster life aspirations growing up. Ironically, the self-proclaimed “baby gangster” was able to turn one night of crime on the town into the start of the most illustrious producing career ever:
We had the city covered. We were baby gangsters. We had all the stores. Working all the stores. Steal boxes of honey. This was during [World War II] in the 40s. The Armory were our recreational center, but it was also an armory for the military. We went in there and we ate up all of the lemon pie. Ate the ice cream, had pie fights and everything else. Then we walked around and broke in the rooms and so forth. I walked in one room, saw piano in the dark, I closed the door and something said ‘go back in that room.’
Jones reveals that Jackson and himself went through “900 songs to get Thriller. To get nine songs.” After stating that he disapproves of the new L.A. Reid executive produced Xscape album, Jones states that “it’s none of our business” due to the multiple parties involved with monetary interests:
They’re trying to make money. And I understand it. Everybody’s after money, the estate, the lawyers. It’s about money.
Check out Quincy Jones full interview with CBC here.
I have to admit that this rumor seems a bit silly to me. However, somebody hit me and told me that somebody is upset with Jay Z. They speak as if that person’s name is Rick Ross. I don’t know what the final sales numbers were on his last album, Mastermind, but the album is rooted in that. Seems like somebody, maybe Rick Ross is upset with Jay over the final sales tally for Rozay’s album. Now, the source tried to tell me some other stuff about Def Jam and whatever, but I rely couldn’t see this being real. But, they claimed that Def Jam was also upset with Jay Z, because the first single “Devil is a Lie” really didn’t pop off the way they expected it to happen. Anyway, last time I checked all of these guys were rich so I’m going to let it marinate in Rumorville.
Yeah…I question this rumor since Ross and Jay seem so friendly.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
(AllHipHop Features) Those who want to put British performer Estelle into a particular genre of music should be aware the singer/rapper rejects any labels attributed to her.
Previous Estelle projects have combined elements of many different sounds, and the upcoming True Romance LP will continue that streak of embracing all aspects of musical expression.
“Ever single one of my albums have multiple genres,” says Estelle. “I’m not a an R&B artist. I’m not a rap artist. I’m not a trap artist. I make music.”
The music Estelle has recently made makes a bold statement about the off-time between serious relationships and female sexual empowerment. The sensual single “Make Her Say (Beat It Up)” has grabbed people’s attention for its blatant appreciation for the joy of sex.
The track’s two separate visuals further the carnal imagery with the explicit version featuring a cat positioned between two statuesque legs, while the second video drew inspiration from HBO’s long-running documentary series Real Sex. The latter focuses on real couples, friends, and in some cases, complete strangers sharing their sexual experiences with the camera verbally and physically.
Of course, some observers were critical of the idea of sex being presented in such a way. Estelle knew “Make Her Say” would produce uneasy responses, but that is exactly what she hoped for.
“I wanted something that you could have more just than a feeling about, but have a reaction about,” reveals Estelle. “We wanted to show real people, real sex. Something that was more humanity versus something that was airbrushed. The video makes you think extra sexy, perfect people rolling around having sex. It was like, ‘No, this is just for people. Everyone does it. Everyone gets into this space of wanting to have great sex.’ This is what I think that is.”
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True Romance will cover the topic of sex, but the album is mainly centered around four themes: passion, courage, true romance and the bulls**t. The entire project is a reflection on the period in life between the end of a relationship and the beginning of another. But don’t think Estelle is rehashing the typical “break-up album” archetype. True Romance is an adventure in being free to explore the single life.
“I broke up with someone a couple of years ago, and it’s just been the interim period,” says Estelle. “I thought that would be more interesting than continuing the break-up story or skipping to a relationship that’s non-existent. Meanwhile I’m still dating, having fun, enjoying being single. I wanted to write about this instead.”
The songwriter’s varied tales about her time as a single lady is properly complimented by her inclusion of different musical styles. The 90’s House influenced “Something Good,” the power pop ballad “Conquerer,” and the Caribbean tinted “She Will Love” all provide colorful backdrops to Estelle’s free woman and proud lyrics.
The creator of 2011’s “Thank You” has not forgotten the soul on her new album. Estelle also brings the classic Motown sound with the song “Silly Girls.”
“That song just felt like magic. We took like an hour to record it. I changed and edited it a bit, but more or less kept it the same,” Estelle states. “It just feels like soul the way we grew up on it. That was the point of it. I wanted it to grab people in a way when you hear Marvin Gaye or Gladys Knight sing. I wanted it to grab people like that, and I think we did it.”
As Estelle attempts to tap into listeners’ emotional core with True Romance, she plans to accomplish this goal without a lot of assistance from other artists. Unlike 2008’s Shine (which featured will.i.am, Kanye West, Kardinal Offishall, John Legend, and Cee Lo Green) or 2011’s All of Me (which featured Legend, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Rick Ross, Janelle Monáe, and Nas), True Romance is not expected to have many guest appearances.
“It’s my album. I hate when you have fifty different people on the record. It’s like a compilation album. So if I put anybody on a record, I want to put them on because it will make the record better,” explains Estelle. “There might be [a feature on it] by time September rolls around, but right now I’m living with it and seeing who else will work on what records.”
Like the plot of the Quentin Tarantino penned film True Romance, often times love and its aftermath can be extremely messy and art can be the most appropriate way to articulate that message. Estelle’s artistic take on “true romance” is her personal outlet to share real-life experiences of dwelling in the purgatory period between breaking up and being in love again.
“Fortunately for me, my life isn’t told on the blogs. You hear it when I release music. I’m not that artist. I don’t do that. I don’t think it’s necessary,” says Estelle. “I do vent in my music. I think it’s important to just keep it art. Keep it music.”
As a man and as an entertainer, years of accumulated wisdom have a yielded a universal truth to Lil KeKe, all money isn’t good money. Tha Don was recently in New York to promote his upcoming release, Money Don’t Sleep. This latest project from this freestyle king drops on May 27.
During the exclusive interview, Don Ke, shared his insight on an array of subjects. When exploring the responsibilities and requirements of living on the stage Tha Don was asked:
Should fame come with an off-button? Would you ever release a sex tape or agree to partake in a reality show; what happened to Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta?
(AllHipHop News) For the past five months Master P and his family’s story has been told through tabloid headlines, social media video posts and rap lyrics. However, according to Master P that is about to change as
On a recent episode of The Wendy Williams Show criticized Master P over rumors that he was filming a reality TV show about his current family drama. In a statement EXCLUSIVELY obtained by AllHipHop, Master P states Williams is misguided in her understanding of the show:
First of all, I thought Wendy Williams was my friend. I understand that her job is to entertain gossip but how could she keep picking up TMZ gossip as if it was real news when she should have contacted me directly if she was really concerned about my family, or me like she claims. If anyone understands being in the media and having to deal with celebrity personal family gossip and betrayal, she should know because of her own situation. If she wants to know the truth, as my friend, she should call me directly to get the facts and the truth rather than joining the media circus and talking trash.
P does admit that he is filming an upcoming reality TV show entitled The Miller Dynasty that will document his family troubles. However, according P, the show will be “founded on integrity and family values”:
The Miller Dynasty is founded on integrity and family values. We are not perfect by any means; we go through similar struggles like any family. There are constant battles that we fight especially with having money and fame but with our faith and belief in God we are able to overcome any obstacle.
No word on when episodes for The Miller Dynasty will begin to be shot.
(AllHipHop News)Dante Terrell Smith may want America to see him as Yasiin Bey but we may not see him at all for a long time. According to representatives at Boston music festival Together Boston, Mos Def has cancelled his U.S. tour due to being banned from the country.
The music festival, Together Boston sent out a message stating that Mos Def would not be participating in this year’s event and was canceling his upcoming U.S. tour. According to the statement on the festival’s official website, Mos Def is unable to re-enter the United States of America due to “immigration/legal issues”:
We regret to inform you that due to immigration / legal issues Yasiin Bey is unable to enter back into the United States and his upcoming U.S. tour has been canceled, including May 15th, Together Boston’s show at The Wilbur Theatre. Individual ticket refunds for this show are available at point of sale.
Last July, Mos Def participated in European news outlet The Guardian‘s simulated force feeding of food similar to what is alleged to occur in Guantanamo Bey.
(AllHipHop News) Forbes’ writer Hugh McIntyre controversially declared a “White Blonde Australian Woman Runs Hip Hop” in reference to Iggy Azalea’s recent success. Even though the publication has since changed the title, Nicki Minaj addressed the issue during her recent interview with The Breakfast Club.
In the article, McIntyre wrote that Minaj was “oddly quiet for months” even though she has released “Looking A*s Ni*ga”, “Chiraq”, “Yasss B*tch” and numerous features in the past 3 months. After laughing it off, Minaj explains Forbes’ role:
Ok, I’m reloaded. Listen, all Forbes needs to worry about is my finances and when I’m going to be selling Myx Fusion for $250 million. That’s all they need to worry about. We rely on Hip Hop journalism and blogs for THAT kind of information. So we appreciate that, but no thank you.
Check out Nicki Minaj’s interview with The Breakfast Club below:
(AllHipHop News) Jay Z survived six gunshots, point blank range back in his drug dealing days and Fabolous seems to have experienced similar luck. Earlier today, the Brooklynite informed the world on his personal Instagram account that he was involved in a car accident with a truck in Queens.
According to Fabolous’ Instagram message, the accident occurred on the Van Wyck in Queens, NY. The message states that Fabolous’ driver and the two truck drivers were ok. While not harmed physically, Fab admits that the accident has already shaken him up a bit:
This was my 1st time being in a car accident. It’s a very shocking experience & may change my outlook on how fast things can happen & you’re put into a life threatening situation. Live, Love, & Celebrate Life. #Blessed
Check out Fabolous’ Instagram photo of the accident below:
