Smoke DZA #BGA Ft J. Ivy “Black Independence”
Jae Millz “Banned From Radio (Freestyle)”
#FreshHeat: Big Ooh! “Old School Remix”
Maffew Ragazino & Fev “New Amsterdam Freestyle”
Derek King Ft. Kirko Bangz & Sage The Gemini “Jump”
Washington Post Columnist Calls For “Death Of World Star Hip Hop”
(AllHipHop News) Worldstarhiphop.com is one of the most visited entertainment websites in the world. The site features music videos from both well-established artists and up-and-coming performers. It also highlights videos that depict violent acts often committed by young, black individuals. In response to those depictions of violence, activist and writer Rahiel Tesfamariam penned an op-ed for the Washington Post titled “Death of World Star Hip Hop (D.O.WSHH).”
In the article, Tesfamariam calls for World Star to experience “brand damaging from hip-hop artists and community activists” similar to Jay Z’s take down of auto-tune on his 2009 track “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-tune).” While acknowledging WSHH’s right to freedom of speech, she also brands the website as “one of the most culturally damaging media platforms in existence today.”
Tesfamariam is just the latest public figure to offer criticism of World Star. Last year members of the Zulu Nation started a petition to persuade the site to remove “Hip Hop” from its name. The Minister of Information for the Zulu Nation, Quadeer “MC Spice” Shakur, argued that World Star was misrepresenting the foundations and true principles of Hip Hop.
[ALSO READ: Grandmaster Melle Mel & Quadeer “MC Spice” Shakur Address WorldStarHipHop.com Petition]
“WorldStarHipHop has no respect, as far as I’m concerned, for our people and our music,” Shakur told AllHipHop.com last March. “If it was in fact just a site for what we call ‘entertainment’ then let it be known at the bottom of your page. Put some kind of disclaimer that you are not in fact involved in or a part of real Hip Hop culture.”
In the same article, one of the forefathers of Hip Hop, Grandmaster Melle Mel, also expressed his opinion that WSHH was not a true representation of the culture.
“WorldStarHipHop has no more to do with Hip Hop than FedEx has to do with the federal government,” said Melle Mel.
While World Star has its critics, the site also has its defenders. Huff Post Live hosted the Google+ discussion “Do ‘Hood Sites’ Normalize Black Stereotypes?” moderated by Marc Lamont Hill. Panelist Mandon Lovett offered his take that WSHH is only shining a light on the violence that’s happening in urban America. The independent filmmaker reinforced World Star’s tag that the site is the “CNN of the Ghetto.”
Chicago rapper Rhymefest also defended World Star during the Huff Post exchange. He points out that other video streaming sites provide the same type of content as WSHH.
“We’re not here talking about YouTube,” said Rhymefest. “We’re not here talking about Vimeo. We’re not sitting here talking about all of these sites that do the same thing that World Star does.”
In her WashPost piece, Tesfamariam addresses those who stand up for WSHH.
“To defend World Star Hip Hop is to defend the normalization of violent stereotypes and exploitation of pain, anger and brokenness,” she writes.
Watch HuffPost Live’s “Do ‘Hood Sites’ Normalize Black Stereotypes?” discussion below.
Pusha T Announces North American & European Tour Dates
(AllHipHop News) As Pusha T finishes up his 20 days in the studio with The Neptunes, the Virginia emcee announces he will be going on a trek across North America and Europe in the coming months. Pusha’s touring schedule will include both headlining dates as well as an opening slot on 2 Chainz’ “2 Good To Be T.R.U. Tour” along with August Alsina.
[ALSO READ: 2 Chainz, Pusha T & August Alsina To Head Out On “2 Good To Be T.R.U. Tour”]
Check out the dates for King Push’s 2014 tour run.
1/28 – Venue – Vancouver, BC
1/29 – Marquee Room – Calgary, AB
1/30 – Union Hall – Edmonton, AB
1/31 – Telus Theatre – Montreal, QC
2/1 – Barrymore’s Music Hall – Ottawa, ON
2/2 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
2/3 – Marquee Ballroom – Halifax, NS
2/4 – House of Blues – Boston, MA*
2/5 – Roseland Ballroom – New York, NY*
2/7 – Chicago Theatre – Chicago, IL*
2/8 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI*
2/10 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO*
2/11 – The Complex – Grand Room – Salt Lake City, UT
2/12 – Revolution Event Center – Boise, ID*
2/13 – Showbox SoDo – Seattle, WA
2/18 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA*
2/20 – The Observatory OC – Santa Ana, CA*
2/21 – Hollywood Palladium – Hollywood, CA*
2/22 – The Joint – Las Vegas, NV*
2/23 – Club XS – Tucson, AZ
2/24 – Club Red – Tempe, AZ
2/27 – Midland Theatre – Kansas City, MO*
2/28 – Chaifetz Arena – St. Louis, MO*
3/1 – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN*
3/2 – Bank of Kentucky Center – Highland Heights, KY*
3/4 – Palace Theatre – Louisville, KY*
3/6 – Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
3/7 – Crofoot Ballroom – Pontiac, MI
3/8 – Brick Street Bar – Oxford, OH
3/9 – Center Stage – Atlanta, GA
3/12 – La Hacienda Event Center – Midland, TX
3/13 – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX*
3/14 – Bayou Music Center – Houston, TX*
3/17 – Jannus Live! – St. Petersburg, FL*
3/18 – The Fillmore at Jackie Gleason – Miami Beach, FL*
3/20 – The Fillmore Charlotte – Charlotte, NC*
3/21 – Landmark Theatre – Richmond, VA
3/22 – Tower Theatre – Upper Darby, PA*
5/30 – Paris, France
5/31 – Tilburg, Holland
6/1 – Mojo, Hamburg, Germany
6/2 – Gibson Room, Frankfurt, Germany
6/3 – X-Tra, Zurich, Switzerland
6/4 – Essigfabrik, Cologne, Germany
6/5 – Vooruit, Gent, Belgium
6/6 – Koko, London, UK
* – 2 Chainz’ “2 Good To Be T.R.U. Tour”
Pharrell Williams Earns Oscar Nomination For “Happy”
(AllHipHop News) Pharrell Williams can now add Academy Award nominee to his resume. The member of The Neptunes and N.E.R.D. picked up a “Best Original Song” Oscar nod for his song “Happy” from Despicable Me 2. The category also includes “Alone Yet Not Alone” (Alone Not Yet Alone), “Let It Go” (Frozen), “The Moon Song” (HER), and “Ordinary Love” (Mandela: A Long Walk To Freedom).
[ALSO READ: Pharrell Signs With Columbia Records For New 2014 Solo Album]
Pharrell has already won Grammy awards for his work with The Neptunes, Justin Timberlake, and Ludacris, but this is the performer/producer’s first Oscar nomination. If P wins the award it would put him in rare company. Eminem and Three 6 Mafia are the only Hip Hop acts that have won an Academy Award. Em won for 8 Mile‘s “Lose Yourself” and Three 6 won for Hustle & Flow‘s “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.”
“Happy” already has one historic distinction. The video for the song is billed as the “world’s first 24-hour music video.” Pharrell tapped numerous celebrities like Tyler The Creator and Jamie Foxx to make cameos in the clip.
[ALSO READ: Pharrell Williams Releases 24-Hour Music Video For “Happy”]
Popa Wu: Raekwon’s Issues Over Money Delaying Wu-Tang Clan Album
(AllHipHop News) Last year RZA mentioned that one of things holding up the new Wu-Tang Clan album was Raekwon’s lack of participation. While RZA later expressed hope that Rae would “put some of the business to the side” and contribute verses for the project, Popa Wu tells Forbz DVD that issues over money are still blocking Raekwon from joining back up with the WU.
[ALSO READ: RZA Says Raekwon Holding Up Wu-Tang Album, Raekwon Finds That Funny]
“[The album] is here already. It’s just got to be closed up by Rae,” says Popa. “RZA is head of this game right now. It’s just that Raekwon is compromising… When you a person that never had nothing and then when you get something and then it’s [taken] away from you, it’s hard to adjust back.”
The man who appeared on Raekwon’s “North Star (Jewels)” track off Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… goes on to give more information about the supposed riff between RZA and Rae. According to Popa Wu, RZA was blamed for some financial problems members of the Wu were allegedly facing.
“They think RZA did some old crazy stuff. RZA did what he did. You forgot he took y’all n***as from nothing and made y’all something. In my mind, I don’t think he would do that to you. He was just smarter,” adds Popa. “It was up to you to learn it. He’s not suppose to teach you the business, and you mad with him for that. That’s personal. We did this music s**t for love. It wasn’t supposed to be about no money.”
Despite these apparent problems, Wu-Tang Clan recently tweeted that their reunion album A Better Tomorrow is close to being released.
[ALSO READ: Wu-Tang Clan Announce “A Better Tomorrow” Album Is Coming Soon]
Watch the interview below.
AllHipHop Flicks: Ride Along Red Carpet
Ice Cube and Kevin Hart’s new comedy “Ride Along” made it’s official premiere on Monday night (January 13) at infamous Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA and AllHipHop was on the red carpet. In addition to the stars of the movie, the likes of Nick Cannon, Martin Lawrence, Michael Ealy, Sean Patrick Thomas and Michael K. Williams came out to support the new film which opens in theaters nationwide on January 17. Check out our exclusive flicks below, courtesy of Ural Garrett.
Ace Hood – Everyday
After revealing the official tracklisting yesterday, Ace Hood decides to give us one last leak from his Starvation 3 mixtape, which drops tomorrow! This one is called “Everyday” and is produced by Ben Billions and Schife Karbeeno. Listen and download this new street anthem below.
Jay Z Signs New York Yankees CC Sabathia To Roc Nation Sports
(AllHiphop News) Jay Z claims to have made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee did and is starting to take over the team’s best players. A month and a half after helping former Yankee star Robinson Cano sign a $240 million deal with the Seattle Mariners, Jay Z has signed star Yankee pitcher, CC Sabathia.
Jay Z posted a photo on his website Life+Times of Sabathia signing his contract. Sabathia signed a five year, $122 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2011 so chances of him leaving the team are slim.
Check out Jay Z signing CC Sabathia below:
G-Eazy Ft. Rockie Fresh & Tory Lanez “Been On (Remix)”
Rockie Fresh and Tory Lanez jump on the remix to G-Eazy’s “Been On.” Rockie and Tory are also set to join G-Eazy on the North American “These Things Happen” Tour.
Kevin Gates “Don’t Know”
Kevin Gates drops the first single from the upcoming follow-up mixtape to 2013’s The Luca Brasi Story and Stranger Than Fiction. “Don’t Know” will be available for purchase via iTunes on January 21st.
Breeding Ground Pick: Dubb #NeverContent
Epic Fail of the Day: Facebook Beef Turns Into Real Life Fight
Once again, someone got reckless with their mouth online and the consequences got real. Watch these basics in action:
So, the smack talker gets beat up and the aggressor was cool with fighting on camera. Hope the cops don’t come looking for you, dude.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Is Kim Zolciak Returning to ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta?’
There seems to be speculation mounting that Kim Zolciak will be returning to Real Housewives of Atlanta.
“Now that I’m done having babies, I can’t say that I wouldn’t go back,” the mother of six told InTouch Weekly. “For the most part, I enjoyed my time on the show.”
Even her frenemy Nene Leakes seems keen on the idea. In her recent interview with Watch What Happens Live, she told Andy Cohen that she kind of misses Kim’s presence on the show and that she wouldn’t mind it of Kim came back under a couple of circumstances.
“I’m not against Kim returning to ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ as long as she’s willing to work,” she said. “Reading is fundamental.”
Hmmm…
The way people are talking about the possibility of this intended comeback makes me think this might just become a reality.
Jim Jones Ft. Trey Songz “Nana (Revamp)”
Grafh Ft. Styles P & Loaded Lux “Zip Em Up”