Scott King "The Message"
Mobb Deep To Reward Fans Who Pre-Order New Double Disc Album
(AllHipHop News) If you build it they will come, and if you sustain it they will help it grow. Today (January 30th) Mobb Deep has announced plans to reward fans who pre-order their upcoming double disc album The Infamous Mobb Deep through their partnership with direct-to-fan music platform, PledgeMusic.
Fans who preorder the upcoming double disc album will be given behind-the-scenes footage of the creation of the album, unreleased songs, signed t-shirts and vinyl, along with more. The rewards will be divided in a tier system with those pledging more receiving high level gifts such as a private show, drinks with Prodigy and more.
Less than a month after starting the campaign on January 7th, it has over 180 pledges and has reached over 60% of its goal with under 37 days left. In a statement on their PlegeMusic page, Havoc and Prodigy spoke on the importance of giving back to the fans:
For us, it’s never necessarily been about the numbers. It’s the love. You grind for the best, but we really want to just do our thing and satisfy the people who love us.
The Infamous Mobb Deep will be the group’s seventh full length studio album and their first since their one and only album under G-Unit Records, 2006’s Blood Money. The double disc album will feature one CD with all new material and a remastered version of their 1995 seminal album The Infamous on the second CD. The Infamous Mobbb Deep will be released in April, a month after the PledgeMusic campaign is scheduled to end.
In support of the new album, Mobb Deep is currently on the road for their 31-date The Infamous Mobb Deep tour. Check out all of the tour dates below:
The Jacka & Blanco Ft Freeway, C-Plus & Lil Rue "Optimistic"
Ron Browz Ft. Maino "Nothin In The World"
Cash Paid "Get Paid"
Hip-Hop Rumors: Did Phaedra Parks Leave Apollo Months Ago?
The rumormill has been on fire about the status of Phaedra Parks’ relationship with Apollo Nida ever since their introduction to the public via Real Housewives of Atlanta. Lately, that has been times 10 due to Apollo’s recent arrest for identity theft. The new report is that Phaedra Parks may have left Apollo months ago.
RealityTea reports:
Way back in September, Apollo’s car was searched and his laptop seized by the feds. A few weeks after learning of his criminal activity, Phaedra reportedly kicked Apollo out of the house and limited their interaction to media appearances and co-parenting for the sake of their joint endeavors such as Phine Body.
Interesting, considering the two attended Kandi Burruss‘ New Years Eve party together and have been spotted numerous times at various events, such as the recent inauguration of the Atlanta mayor and a trip to NYC to see Kandi in Newsicals. Phaedra also posted a photo celebrating her birthday with Apollo. But as many have pointed out there are no photos of the couple at home in the last few months!
Sandra Rose reported a similar but alleged that Apollo has a mistress:
But wait until you see the young breezy that Apollo was taking afternoon naps with while Phaedra was at home caring for his chirren. I wouldn’t be surprised if Phaedra herself tipped the feds off to get him thrown back in prison to get back at this young girl. And, that’s not all: Bravo’s producers want her to come on the show to tell her side of the story — his jump off, that is.
Other whispers are saying that Phaedra has officially changed the locks. There’s no telling for sure just yet but you know how reality TV has a way of ruining relationships. Plus, there’s even noticeable tension between the two on RHOA
RL "The Life"
9th Wonder and Jamla Artists Rock S.O.B.'s
Photo / Videography Credit: Frsk Purple
Hip-Hop is winning! 9th Wonder, an amalgamation of artistry, uses his impressive cache of creativity to champion the preservation and expansion of the enduring genre. Possessing the confidence, the work-ethic, and the business-acumen the legendary musician founded Jamla Records in 2009.
Although, Jamla is comfortably situated in North Carolina, its gifted creators ventured to New York City to show out. Recently, those artists showcased their impressive array of skills while performing at New York’s, S.O.B.‘s. Invited guests Jean Grae and Jared Evan blessed the stage in celebration of 9th Wonder Presents: Jamla Is the Squad.
WTF News: McDonald's Employee Accused of Selling Heroin in Happy Meals
Wow, this is messed up but still…creative.
A McDonald’s employee in Pittsburgh was charged with selling heroin in Happy Meals to customers who used the code phrase, “I’d like to order a toy,” reports Associated Press.
Via Huffington Post:
Allegheny County authorities made the arrest after an informant told them that an employee was selling the drug at a McDonald’s in the East Liberty section of the city.
Customers looking for heroin were instructed to go through the drive-thru and say, “I’d like to order a toy,” said Mike Manko, spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. The customer would then drive to the window, hand over the money and get a Happy Meal box containing heroin in exchange, Manko said.
Undercover agents set up a drug buy and arrested Shania Dennis, 26, of East Pittsburgh. Dennis denied wrongdoing to reporters as she was being led away in handcuffs.
Authorities said they found 10 bags of heroin in a Happy Meal box and recovered another 50 bags from the suspect.
Don’t get any ideas!
Big Sean Debuts New Been Trill Collaboration In "1st Quarter Freestyle" (VIDEO)
(AllHipHop News) The ubiquitous streetwear brand(and hypebeast catnip) Been Trill has expanded their working relationship with Big Sean. In his new video for his song “1st Quarter Freestyle”, the Detroit rapper appears in it donning Been Trill’s new snapback collaboration.
Similar to their previous New York collaboration with 40oz Van last May, Sean’s collaboration with Been Trill sports the “D” from the Detroit Tigers’ logo in between two pound signs:
This is not Big Sean’s first collaboration with the clothing collective which is partly run by Kanye West’s creative director Virgil Abloh. Two weeks ago, Been Trill celebrated the launch of their flagship store in New York City by releasing a limited edition T-Shirt collaboration with Big Sean. Sean announced the T-shirt collaboration on his personal Instagram account which shows a digital rendering of Big Sean’s face donning his Been Trill snapback.
Check out Big Sean’s new video for “1st Quarter Freestyle” below:
Dancehall Artist Sean Paul Returns With "Full Frequency"
Over the span of nearly 15 years, Jamaican native Sean Paul has assisted in bringing dancehall to the international forefront, all while transcending genres in the process.
Countless awards and nominations, including accolades from MTV, Source, ASCAP, and a Grammy, already rest comfortably upon his mantle; yet Sean is showing no signs of stopping or slowing down.
Slated to be released on February 18th is “Full Frequency,” his sixth official studio offering; which boasts interesting collaborations from artists including Damian Marley, Iggy Azalea, and American emcees Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz, and Juicy J.
We spoke with Sean about his reintroduction to a new audience, recent triumphs, and plans for the future:
AllHipHop: You were directly responsible for popularizing dancehall in entirely different countries; how do you feel about the direction that the genre has taken?
Sean Paul: It has grown way bigger than when I first started. I think that the state of dancehall is bigger, but just like the music industry itself, sales have dropped.
Do you stay in tune with the younger generations potentially following your footsteps?
I’m actually really proud of the kids now coming up in the arena. A lot of people are out of touch with what they’re actually doing.
Are there any trends that you’ve noticed or different sets of challenges that you’re seeing them encounter?
As I said, sales have dropped as a lot of tracks have become digital. You definitely need to have a team around you, and know how to work in this new market. I’ve learned to adapt and write music that works on the internet as well.
Fans will finally see collaboration between yourself and Damian Marley, what took so long for this to finally occur?
It was just timing. I’d been going to his studio already, but we wanted to wait until we had the big one. We also just had a concert together recently, on the “Reggae Cruise.”
How did you actually go about choosing which artists you wanted to work with on this project?
I don’t necessarily go out searching to work with certain artists. I like dope people and I like to work with people that want to work with me. With 2 Chainz I went to the studio but ended up playing basketball with him. It was pretty cool, just a natural and organic link. It just worked.
There are strong ties between Caribbean and African music, especially as Ghana’s Azono scene has exploded; do you see yourself working with any artists in connection with it?
I’ve worked with Afro beats artists, one in particular who’s from Ghana but based out of England. I’m always open to it.
A lot of people have already decided on their own version of what Jamaican life is like; is there anything that you hate about the portrayal of it?
I know school teachers, those involved in urban Jamaican life; there are people working two jobs, real upstanding people that are just trying to come up. People only want to see one aspect of the country, not the grimy or the real s###. We don’t want to push this tourist, paradise fantasy, but nobody wants to always be portrayed in a negative, stereotypical way either.
What do you think your legacy in the game will be?
Life is harsh and hard. My music puts you in a good mood and just makes you dance. The love that I get just for this is amazing.
Your latest project “Full Frequency” is set to drop February 18th, only a few weeks away; can we look forward to anything else from you this year?
I have two other dancehall oriented projects on the way as well.
Can we look forward to seeing you in the States more frequently?
[Laughs] I would love to. I haven’t done a major tour there since 2009, but did a smaller tour of House of Blues venues in 2012. For 2014 I’m looking forward to it. But make sure you look out for the Arsenio Hall show on February 13th with me and (fellow Jamaican artist) Konshens.
Buckshot & Ebro Have Heated Debate About Hip Hop Radio, Battle Rap & "Minor Artists"
(AllHipHop News) Back in December, Black Moon member Buckshot called out Hot 97’s program director Ebro Darden on the Combat Jack Show. Buck’s issues with Darden stemmed from the radio personality’s comments about his Duck Down crew made on an earlier CBJ show.
During his interview, Buck not only took offense to Ebro’s statements, but also said Ebro “f**ked up” New York Hip Hop and called him an “Uncle Tom.”
[ALSO READ: Buckshot Addresses Hot 97′s Ebro Darden & The Current State Of NYC Radio]
The two finally sat down face-to-face to discuss the incident. According to Buck, it was Ebro saying that his music and shows do not appeal to women and the misuse of his power as a gatekeeper to the masses is what bothered him the most.
“See, you hold a lot of power,” Buck tells Ebro. “Your criteria of what it takes to become a star today – that wouldn’t have made a Biggie, that wouldn’t have made a whole bunch of emcees.”
Ebro’s response is that in order to reach a certain level of success rappers have to include melodic elements into their music in order to attract a female audience. He cites The Notorious B.I.G collaborating with and sampling R&B singers as an example.
The conversation gets heated as both men attempt to make points about why mainstream radio is or is not failing at the moment and the idea of “minor artists” versus “major artists.”
[ALSO READ: Hot 97′s Ebro Darden Appears On Combat Jack Show]
Watch Buckshot and Ebro debate Hip Hop radio, the ability to break records, battle rap, DJs vs emcees, and more in the video below.
Lil Boosie Reportedly To Be Released In February
(AllHipHop News) There has been talk for months that Louisiana rapper Lil Boosie would be released from prison fairly soon. According to reports, the “Better Believe It” performer will be home next month. The week of February 13th is when Boosie will apparently be set free.
[ALSO READ: Lil Boosie Gets A Release Date]
Lil Boosie (born Torrence Hatch) has been behind bars since 2009 after being convicted on marijuana possession charges. His time was later doubled for violating terms of his probation while awaiting sentencing. In 2011, he was sentenced to 8 years on separate drug charges, but that conviction was contested.
[ALSO READ: Anyextee Says Exclusive Max B Music To Appear In “Charly Rambo: The Max B Story” Film]
J. Cole – Revenge Of The Dreamers
Eminem & Slaughterhouse Present New "Total Slaughter" Battle Rap Tournament
(AllHipHop News) Eminem helped pushed the battle rap scene into the mainstream with his 2002 semi-biographical film 8 Mile. The Detroit rap legend is now joining with the Shady Records group Slaughterhouse to support the next generation of battle rap emcees. The members of Slaughterhouse announced a new battle tournament series on RapFix Live.
[ALSO READ: Slaughterhouse Announces New 2014 Tour]
“We are doing ‘Total Slaughter Battle Tournament.’ We have a few of the elite battle rappers,” reveals Joe Budden. “Battle rap… it’s taking over. It’s the talk every street, every barber shop.”
Total Slaughter is airing online via Eminem’s VEVO channel. The tourney has been separated into two brackets. The participants are Math Hoffa, Arsonal, Dizaster, Daylyt, Big T, Marvwon, Aye Verb, and Cortez. The two finalists will be the opening bout for the main event featuring a rematch between Murda Mook and Loaded Lux.
The entire experience is also being captured for an online reality show as well. The eight rappers will live and train together similar to WWE’s Tough Enough and UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter.
[ALSO READ: Eminem Said To Be Recording New Music With D12]
Check out Slaughterhouse announcing Total Slaughter and the tournament brackets below.
Rich Homie Quan – Stop Breathing
Christian Rapper Bizzle Releases Response Track To Macklemore's "Same Love"
(AllHipHop News) Seattle-based duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ single “Same Love” has gotten a lot of praise from the LGBT community and proponents of same-sex marriage.
The track from the group’s The Heist album was also performed during the televised nuptials of 33 straight and gay couples at this year’s Grammy Awards which garnered a lot of attention in the press. Not everyone is celebrating the gay rights tribute song though.
[ALSO READ: The Top 5 Grammy Moments of 2014]
Faith-based rapper Bizzle recently released a response to “Same Love.” The God Over Money emcee uses his version to address what he sees as Christians being viewed as intolerant for not accepting homosexuality, the unequal comparisons between the pursuit for gay rights and the pursuit for African-American civil rights, and rappers perpetuating the gay agenda. He also calls for Christians struggling with homosexual desires to “fight the good fight.”
[ALSO CHECK OUT: #FreshHeat: Bizzle – Dear Hip Hop]
Listen to Bizzle’s “Same Love (A Response)” below.
Big Sean – 1st Quarter (Freestyle)
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Discuss Joint LP "Piñata"; Announce Release Date
(AllHipHop News) The West Coast and the Midwest will unite for a brand new album. After joining forces for several EPs under the name MadGibbs, California’s Madlib and Indiana’s Freddie Gibbs are set to drop their full joint LP Piñata.
[ALSO CHECK OUT: Trae Tha Truth x The World’s Freshest Ft. Problem, Freddie Gibbs “Wid It”]
Gibbs describes the album as “a gangster Blaxploitation film on wax.” Guest appearances include Raekwon, Scarface, Mac Miller, Ab-Soul, Danny Brown, BJ The Chicago Kid, and more. The latest single from Piñata is the track “Robes” with Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Genesis of Odd Future.
“I will show you my flaws, I’ll show you what I’ve done wrong and what I’ve f**ked up at,” says Gibbs about the project. “I don’t regret s**t, but I’ll show you the things I’m not proud of.”
Piñata is Madlib’S most recent collaborative effort. He previously worked with J Dilla (Champion Sound), Doom (Madvillainy), Talib Kweli (Liberation), and Guilty Simpson (O.J. Simpson).
“My stuff, it ain’t fully quantized…it has more of a human feel, so it might slow down or speed up,” Madlib says. “So you have to be the type of rapper, like Doom or Freddie, who can catch that, or else you’ll be sounding crazy.”
“I’m about to show n***as how to rap again,” adds Gibbs. “Everybody else is going to fall in line.”
Freddie Gibbs and Madlib’s Piñata is scheduled for release on March 18th via Madlib Invazion.
[ALSO READ: Madlib Discusses Sun Ra, Tha Alkaholiks, & J Dilla In Rare Interview (VIDEO)]
Check out the upcoming tour dates and the single “Robes” featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Genesis below.