(AllHipHop News) The future has been predicted and cemented. Today (February 28th), Billboard Magazine released the cover for their upcoming March Issue.
The article will examine the inner workings of Top Dawg Entertainment. According to the tagline of the cover, the article understands Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron is expected to sell over 150,000 copies and become the No. 1 album in the country this Monday (March 3rd):
Inside the hip hop hit factory that has Kendrick Lamar, a soon-to-be No.1 album from Schoolboy Q and the attention of Jimmy Iovine
Kendrick Lamar also becomes the first artist to wear Kanye West’s Red Octobers on a magazine cover since their February 9th release.
The issue will be on newsstands March 6th.
Check out Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar’s previous joint interview with Billboard Magazine back in February of 2012:
(AllHipHop News) Entertainers have always used their concerts to honor deceased friends and inspirational artists. That usually means asking the crowd for a moment of silence or performing a tribute cover of the person’s work.
DJ Paul of Da Mafia 6ix (pka Three 6 Mafia) is taking that idea to another level. Paul told the Toledo City Paper that he will be bringing out the casket of the late Lord Infamous on stage during Mafia 6ix’s shows.
“Gangsta Boo is going to be there, so will Crunchy Black, Koopsta Kniccaa, and a special appearance by Lord Infamous,” says Paul. “We’re bringing his casket out; we’re bringing it to every show. I wanted him to be there. I’m that kind of guy—a weird, kinda creepy kind of guy.”
Lord Infamous died December 20, 2013 from a heart attack. He was 40 years old.
(AllHipHop News) Wu-Tang Clan fans have been waiting for the group’s reunion album A Better Tomorrow to drop for some time. While the certified Wu Twitter feed tweeted in January that the project was “coming soon,” there has been a lot of discussion surrounding Raekwon being the reason the album is being held up.
Papa Wu publicly commented that it was Rae’s issues over money that is stalling the completion of the album. RZA even stated he was willingly to move forward with A Better Tomorrow without verses from The Chef.
Raekwon stopped by The Breakfast Club to speak on Wu-Tang’s A Better Tomorrow album and why he has yet to join back up with his brethren for the project.
“All I can say is it’s business,” says Rae. “First of all, you know that’s the mothership. Never, ever gonna violate that, but at the same time it’s 20 years later, and business gotta be done correctly.”
He continued:
I feel like it always be a lack of communication and respect as men, as people who built this thing together. It wasn’t just one cat. He mastermind it, of course, and I love him for that, and I’m always loyal because he came and grabbed me out the street, but today being a 40-year-old man and having three seeds… whenever I’m on the dance floor it’s business. It ain’t no disrespect. Don’t hit me with the brotherhood cause that’s unconditional.
Rae also clears up that he has no problems with the Wu, but claims his concerns deal with the “business people” and “owners.” Even as finances seem to be the roadblock at the moment, Raekwon does leave the door open to possibly settling his issues and appearing on the first Wu-Tang Clan album in seven years.
“I want to be happy. I want to do this album in harmony. I want to do it in the best way, because brothers already said that’s the last joint,” adds Raekwon.
[ALSO READ:
Watch Raekwon’s full Breakfast Club interview below.
(AllHipHop News) In February 2003, three young artists based in North Carolina released an album titled The Listening. As a result rappers Phonte and Big Pooh along with producer 9th Wonder captured the attention of the Hip Hop world including major figures in the game like Pete Rock, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Questlove.
Eleven years later the debut album of the group known as Little Brother is still considered by many rap fans as a classic work. Myspace connected with some of the key people who were instrumental in the making of the project. Big Pooh, manager Big Dho, Little Brother affiliate Chaundon, and DJ Pizzo all share insights into how The Listening came together.
Big Dho: We all went to school together—me, 9th, Phonte and Pooh were history majors. I met 9th first. I had a radio show at Duke University called After The Smoke Clears and 9th would come through with beats. The urban department of our radio show used to do a battle called “Duel Of The Iron Mics” and that’s where I met Phonte at—he ended up winning a couple of battles. I used to have guys call up and they’d freestyle from home over the phone; I had one guy who used to call and freestyle from his cab.
Big Pooh: The story that is always told is how I wasn’t supposed to be on “Speed” but the other emcee, Median, didn’t turn up so I rapped. That was August 2001. After that we started working on more songs. When the fall ended we really went into “let’s-make-an-album” mode.
Chaundon: The way it was set up there wasn’t a recording booth, it was an apartment and the bedroom got turned into the studio and we’d all be in on the couch and then when they started to rap we’d have to shut up…
If you heard an a capella version of The Listening you’d hear us laughing in the background after the punchlines. It was just the essence of recording something timeless and all of us being in the room together, like eight or nine people. I can remember being in the moment and watching a classic album being created. We wouldn’t call it a classic when it was being created—and hindsight is 20/20—but the energy was just so high. ’Te and Pooh used to go to the car in the parking lot and write their songs and record them. It was that type of vibe, just beautiful.
DJ Pizzo: At the time I was really tight with ?uestlove and we were always putting each other onto stuff, like at the beginning I gave him RJD2. I know that once he got behind The Listening, it kinda really took off.
To read the entire “Oral History: The Making of Little Brother’s The Listening” visit Myspace.
(AllHipHop News) When Kid Cudi announced he was leaving Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music roster in 2013, some wondered if the split was amicable or if there was tension between the two performers.
At the time, Cudi said, “everything is peace with everybody on the label,” but it appears the Cleveland native does question some of his former boss’ decisions as it relates to his recordings since they parted ways.
While speaking with Complex, Cudi reveals that the feature he is credited as doing on West’s “Guilt Trip” off Yeezus was done without him knowing. He claims he did not find out he was even on the song until his followers mentioned it on Twitter.
Cudi says:
The vocal that I did on that song was a couple years old. I forgot which session it was, but it was just a reference. I discovered that I was on the song via Twitter… Part of me was flattered, like, it’s kind of cool that he thought of me.
Then I started thinking about it more. It was like, Why not call me and have me come in there and give it? Why underuse me? Why put four bars of vocals to coax my fans into thinking this is a legitimate Kid Cudi feature on this song and it isn’t?
…It’s weird. I don’t know how to feel but I would’ve much rather been off that song. I don’t care to be on people’s songs like that. Unless it came from a legitimate session where we’re all vibing and have an idea.
Cudi also states that a similar situation happened with the G.O.O.D. music Cruel Summer compilation album.
Same deal with the G.O.O.D. Music album, the compilation. Had I not given Kanye “Creepers” my only presence would’ve been on that one song, that I can’t even remember the title for. I would’ve barely been on that album.
Kid Cudi released his 4th solo album Satellite Flight this week. The LP is expected to open in the number 2 spot on the Billboard album chart behind Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron.
(AllHipHop News) MF Doom has taken up-and-coming artist Bishop Nehru under his wing. The masked emcee and the creator of the Nehruvia mixtape are working on a joint EP titled Nehruvian Doom. Bishop and Doom recently spoke with XXL about the project.
“There’s no way to explain it,” says Nehru. “It’s kind of it’s only little feel. It’s own little sound.”
Bishop’s mentor adds his thoughts about the collection. According to Doom, the synergy between the two rhymers feels natural.
“To me everything happened organically,” says Doom. “It’s hard to explain while it’s happening. I guess in the future when people look back they’ll make another judgment on it, but for me I feel like we’re doing it. It feels like I knew him forever.”
(AllHipHop News) In his first memoir Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama discussed growing up without his dad, using drugs, and facing challenges in society because of his race. The president connected those life stories to today’s young people when he announced the new My Brother’s Keeper initiative.
“I didn’t have a dad in the house, and I was angry about it, even though I didn’t necessarily realize it at the time,” stated Obama. “I made bad choices. I got high without always thinking about the harm that it could do. I didn’t always take school as seriously as I should have. I made excuses. Sometimes I sold myself short.”
My Brother’s Keeper is designed to provide young men of color with basic health, nutrition, and high-quality early education. Government agencies will also work with local communities to reduce violence by making classrooms and streets safer.
Obama was surrounded by young males of different ethnicities and the parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin at the White House yesterday as he signed the Presidential Memorandum establishing the new initiative.
“In the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin verdict, with all of the emotions and controversy that it sparked, I spoke about the need to bolster and reinforce our young men and give them the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them,” said Obama.
Numerous foundations, including The California Endowment, The Ford Foundation, and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, have already announced $150 million in spending for the initiative with another $200 million to be invested over the next 5 years.
A new presidential task force has also been established. The My Brother’s Keeper Task Force will be chaired by Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson. The goals of the task force include:
Assess and suggest improvements to Federal policies, regulations, and programs that apply to boys and young men of color.
Create an Administration-wide “What Works” online portal to disseminate programs and practices that improve outcomes for boys and young men of color, while promoting incentives for private and public entities to develop and adopt strategies that have been proven to be effective.
Develop a comprehensive public website, to be maintained by the Department of Education, that will assess, on an ongoing basis, critical indicators of life outcomes for boys and young men of color in absolute and relative terms.
Recommend to the President means for ensuring this effort is sustained for years to come within government and across public and private sectors.
Obama added, “We need to give every child, no matter what they look like, where they live, a chance to reach their full potential, because if we do, if we help these wonderful young men become better husbands and fathers and well-educated hard-working good citizens; then, not only will they contribute to the growth and prosperity of this country, but they will pass the lessons on to their children, on to their grandchildren. We’ll start a different cycle. And this country will be richer and stronger for it for generations to come.”
Watch President Barack Obama speak about the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative below.
(AllHipHop News) Da Brat has been commanded to pay $6.4 million to a women she hit with a rum bottle in an Atlanta club owned by Jermaine Dupri.
In 2007, the rapper struck a former cheerleader and waitress, Shayla Stevens, in the head and subsequently served almost three years in jail for the violent crime.
Stevens waged a war in civil court and the judge sided with her.
Da Brat, real name Shawntae Harris, Harris, was ordered to pay Stevens $3.7 million in compensatory damages and also an additional $2.7 million in punitive damages.
Da Brat’s lawyer disagreed with the verdict.
“I’m baffled,” Attorney B.J. Bernstein told the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “She owned up to what happened when it happened and was punished.”
Stevens argued that the attack caused her lifelong injuries to her brain.
Da Brat may appeal the decision.
She is presently still on probation as punishment for the attack.
(AlHipHop News) Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have seemingly become a couple bullseyes for racists now and a new exploit supports the notion.
A man ran up on Kim dressed as Kanye West in black face during a ball dance in Austria.
Kim was paid $500,000 to act as the date of Richard Lugner, a business man who paid for her to attend the Vienna Annual Opera Ball.
When the man harassed Kim, she left the venue when she still had an hour and a half to stay, per her contract with Lugner. The business man later conducted an interview where he said that “Kim its annoying me.”
While Kim was taking pictures with Lugner, the man in black face showed up and impersonated Kanye West. Another, separate racist man asked her to dance and she rejected the idea stating she could not dance very well, according to a TMZ report.
After declining, the other man reportedly asked could she would dance if the orchestra played “N***ers in Vienna,” and obvious play on Kanye West’s Jay Z helmed hit “N***as in Paris.” Kim completely abandoned the effort at that time. Also, Kim says that Lugner tried to get her alone and acted too aggressive.
The whole incident is reportedly caught on tape by Kim’s reality show shooters.
Damn. This week has been just about all relationships and stuff. I dunno why, but that’s just the way it is. So, earlier today, I was looking into seeing what was going on with Drake and if Zoe had anything to say about this Rihanna stuff. Well, check it. It seems like Zoe got crazy, sloppy drunk and Drake dumped her on the spot. I guess Lenny couldn’t say anything about that, huh? This apparently all went down on New Year’s Eve down in MIA, yo. I heard Zoe is about drunk in hate right about now.
Everybody is trying to be like TMZ now. Peep it though. She says she and Drake are just friends.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
(AllHipHop News) The trustee overseeing the Death Row Records and Suge Knight bankruptcy case say they should not have to pay Dr. Dre any money. According to Radar Online, the trustee is asking a judge to throw out Dre’s $3 million lawsuit filed against his former label.
Dre sued for back payments from mechanical royalties, artist-producer royalties, and digital sales. He is seeking bonus pay for album sales as well.
The Death Row trustee’s motion argues that Dre already tried to collect the money and lost, and that decision is not subject to appeal. The court documents also state that the two-year statute of limitation has passed since the defendants claim they have not distributed any of the producer’s music since 2009.
The motion requests Dre’s suit be dismissed without compensation.
(AllHipHop News) Noted Hip Hop producer Pete Rock is celebrating Black History Month by releasing the “Roy Ayers Tribute Mix.” In honor of the legendary Jazz musician, Rock mixes nearly 40-minutes of tracks featuring samples from the Ayers catalogue.
The Pete Rock and Roy Ayers connection began several years ago. The two previously toured Europe together in 2011 after meeting at a New York City show that was also dedicated to the Vibrations creator.
It was during that trek overseas that the “Roy Ayers & Pete Rock” t-shirt emerged. The exclusive tee designed by 503 Collective is now available here.
(AllHipHop Features) At one point in the 2000’s Tom Anderson was one of the most popular people on the planet. As the co-founder of Myspace.com (along with Chris DeWolfe), Tom had over 100 million “friends” on the then dominant social networking website.
That early success of Myspace led to it being purchased by media giant News Corp for a reported $580 million in 2005, but the initial hype would not last forever. Eventually, Myspace was overtaken in daily users by other social media sites, and the company suffered a rapid decline in popularity.
Like in the Spider-Man comic book, the struggles revealed in Peter Parker’s origin story are just the set-up for the superhero to discover his true greatness. Myspace has survived its “Uncle Ben murder” and is once again carving out a fresh lane in the world of media and entertainment. It is now a new decade, and there is now a new Myspace.
The reinvented Myspace is being built around the financial and creative backing of superstar Justin Timberlake and Tim & Chris Vanderhook of Specific Media. While the site was originally equipped ten years ago as a social center for young adults, Myspace now focuses on promoting musical content with an emphasis on building the profile of up-and-coming acts.
“Our purpose is to foster discovery, through exposure, promotions, events, content, videos – but those things are just the vehicles in our eyes; they’re the means, not the end. They’re channels that facilitate discovery,” says Neda Azarfar, Myspace’s Vice President of Communications. “In turn, our audience is eclectic, comprised of musicians, designers, music lovers, photographers, fans, writers – people who, at their core, are interested not only in music but also in music culture and in leading a creative lifestyle.”
Rap veterans have not been left out. Yo Gotti provided an exclusive backstage look into his world, and Pusha T’s debut solo album My Name Is My Namepremiered on the site. Run The Jewels’ (Killer Mike and El-P) videos for “36” Chain” and “Get It” were also filmed and produced in conjunction with Myspace.
“Myspace is involved in all aspects of producing and promoting videos, just as we did with the Run The Jewel’s ‘Get It’ video which was part of the ‘Music Video Collaborations With Artists We Like’ program,” explains Azarfar. “The program was designed to bring emerging artists together with noted directors to produce music videos, led creatively by the artists themselves. Each of the videos premieres exclusively on Myspace and receives promotion across the platform through a combination of email, social, and editorial integration.”
The “New Myspace” essentially started its official relaunch with a $20 million ad campaign in 2013. The advertising onslaught included broadcast, radio, and digital spots. It was highlighted by a 90-second commercial featuring cameos by Pharrell Williams, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller, Chance The Rapper, Hit-Boy, Iggy Azalea, and Ciara. According to Azarfar, the “Welcome to the Neighborhood” campaign helped bring a significant numbers of eyes and ears back to Myspace.
“The response to the campaign was really positive. Myspace’s audience grew 50% immediately after launch (and has continued to grow steadily since then) and the number of artists who joined went up over 300%,” Azarfar states. “But beyond the big growth numbers, the launch campaign was really an important moment for Myspace because so many of the people we strive to support came together in support of what we’re building and the spots reflected that.”
That new audience is not only exposed to the works of buzzing musicians. Film fans are also able to discover interesting movie related content on the site. For example, Myspace recently posted an engaging tongue-in-cheek “Couples Therapy” interview with Michael B. Jordan, Zac Efron, and Miles Teller from the romantic comedy That Awkward Moment.
Hip Hop movie buffs got a real treat when Myspace ran an extensive piece titled “Oral History: Tupac, Fist Fights and the Making of Juice” in January. The in-depth article coincided with the 22nd anniversary of the urban drama starring Omar Epps and Tupac Shukar. Epps along with other cast and crew members like costars Khalil Kain and Jermaine “Huggy” Hopkins, director Ernest Dickerson, and co-writer Gerard Brown provided behind-the-scenes insights into Juice.
Rare Photo Of “Juice” Cast Featured On Myspace
Even with the current connections to high-profile emerging musicians and Q&A’s with Hollywood stars, Myspace is still not the juggernaut it was during the George Bush-era, but as it continues its rebuilding process, the site’s position in the media marketplace steadily increases.
Think about Peter Parker shortly after his Uncle Ben was murdered by a thief. He already possessed his superhuman abilities from the radioactive spider bite, but he still had not harnessed them into the crime fighter known as Spider-Man. Parker was not taking down Doctor Octopus or the Green Goblin yet, but he could definitely sense that he was no longer the insecure nerd that got bullied in school by the jocks. It was only a matter of time before Peter Parker fully transformed into your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
That is the crossroads Myspace now finds itself. It is still staring up at its biggest competitors, but it is starting to break through the congested web-based media landscape. The company believes by striving to achieve its mission of providing exposure to the people, ideas, and things that often do not receive the attention they deserve, the platform will soon be scaling the highest skyscrapers in the near future.
“In 2014, we’ll build out our content offering and continue to produce original content such as ONETWOWATCH and 5 Minutes To The Stage, as well as Sad Girls Guide, and Bun B’s Hip-Hop Illustrations,” Azarfar says. “We are continuing our efforts to highlight up-and-coming talent through programs such as Music Videos with Artists We Like and Tour POV’s. We’re really looking forward to what’s to come in 2014!”
(AllHipHop News) Didn’t get to see Kanye West on his Yeezus tour? No problem, the eccentric genius is planning on releasing tour footage as a movie in theaters.
Today (February 27th) Kanye West unexpectedly dropped the trailer for his upcoming Hype Williams-directed tour movie based on the Yeezus tour. The film is reportedly set to debut in theaters, but no date has been specified as of yet.
West and Williams have worked together in the past as Williams has directed West’s music videos for “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, “Gold Digger”, “Cold” and “Stronger”.
Check out the trailer for Kanye West’s Yeezus tour movie directed by Hype Williams here.
For the 6th consecutive year, AllHipHop.com will be producing a concert at SXSW. The AllHipHop.com Official SXSW Stage 2014 ideally dubbed “Mob Madness,” is set to be the biggest Hip-Hop stage at SXSW. For the epic AllHipHop “Mob Madness” Show we have the following headliners:
A$AP Mob including ASAP Nast, A$AP Ant, A$AP Twelvy, A$AP Ferg and A$AP Rocky also the legendaryMobb Deep, Rocko, Rich Homie Quan, Kidd Kidd, Young Scooter and more!
AllHipHop SXSW Stage 2014 Promo Video:
AllHipHop has always been a leader in presenting epic stages at SXSW. For 2012, Cashmere Agency and AllhipHop.com brought you Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, and a number of surprise guest like Curren$y, Wiz Khalifah and ASAP Rocky (see our 2012 SXSW stage headlined by Snoop Dogg). For 2013, AllHipHop brought Mystical, Taylor Gang , Yo Gotti and a surprise performance from Akon (see last year’s show with Yo Gotti and Mystikal). This year, we look to have the biggest show we ever produced at SXSW!
All official SXSW badge-holders are invited to the AllHipHop Stage at 8PM-2AM on Saturday, March 15th 2014 at 1100 Warehouse located at 1100 5th St, Austin, TX.
DAMN. That Karrueche chick was there for Chris Brown when he was all down and out. The cases and the rehab. But her loyalty was all for nought if the rumors are correct. It seems like Chris is back to obsessing over Rihanna. I’m sure the rumors of her and Drake don’t help anything. Needless to say KT was not the one and seems to have bounced on Breezy. Rhymes With Snitch say they have even stopped following each other on all social media outlets. You KNOW that means its a WRAP! But why is Drake messing with RiRi the real deal for the renewed thrist for Rihanna? Sees so.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
Cap 1 hasn’t been shy about dropping new music since his Cavier Dreams mixtape was released back in January. After hitting us with the remix to Jhene Aiko’s “The Worst” a few weeks back, the Chicago spitta returns with another new joint for fans titled “BabySitter”, featuring his ace OJ Da Juiceman. Track produced by Big Hurt and will live on his upcoming DJ E.Sudd and DJ Victoriouz-hosted mixtape, ClockWerk, which will be arriving soon. Track can also be found on the Street Execs Streetz Service Pack 3. Listen/download the collab below. Thoughts?
WE$$IDE’S “DEEP END” off THE GENOCIDE mixtape Debuted on power 106 with DJ Reflex and DJ Carisma as the Young California pick of the week..He has since linked up with Executive Producer DJ Necterr to help give the song its national buzz it deserves.
(AllHipHop News) The reason there will never be anything truly perfect is because there will always be someone to find a flaw in the most beautiful art. Today (February 27th), Pharrell addressed the recent criticism over his upcoming album G I R L not having any Black women on the cover.
During his interview on The Breakfast Club, Pharrell says he he was disappointed in the backlash due to the fact that his mother, a Black woman runs a part of his business and his wife, Helen Lasichanh, is also Black. While using the chorus to the song “Mona Lisa” from his new album, Pharrell explained why it is ridiculous to interpret his album cover as racist:
The one thing I was trying to help change is this crazy statuesque standard of you have to white, fair and thin to be beautiful. You know my next single goes ‘Not even Marilyn Monroe, Cleoprtra, see. Not even Joan of Arc, that don’t mean nothing to me. I just want a different girl. ‘
“Mona Lisa” is set to be Pharrell’s next single, according to the singer. Pharrell also revealed that he 12 Years A Slave dark skinned actress Lupita Nyong’o that “her skin was flawless” at an Oscar’s luncheon.
Check out a preview of Pharrell’s The Breakfast Club interview below:
