(AllHipHop News) In recognition of the one year anniversary of the passing of their brethren Capital Steez, Pro Era linked with KarmaloopTV and LRG to drop a video for the late rhymer’s “47 Piiirates” featuring D############.
Capital Steez took his own life on December 24th, 2012. The Brooklyn emcee last words to the world were shared in tweet that simply read “The End.” Before his death, Steez released the mixtape AmeriKKKan Korruption and appeared on the Pro Era projects The Secc$ Tap.e and P.E.E.P: The aPROcalypse.
(AllHipHop News) Kanye West, his record labels Roc-A-Fella and Island Def Jam, and their parent company Universal Music Group are being sued over the song “Bound 2” off the Yeezus album. Ricky Spicer, formerly of the 1970’s group The Ponderosa Twins plus One, claims that West used his voice on the track without his permission.
According to The New York Daily News, Spicer’s suit is asking Kanye to either stop using his vocals or pay him for his contribution to the song.
The publishing rights to the original “Bound” are reportedly owned by Chuck Brown, Sr. Brown, who worked with The O’Jays earlier on, was the founder of the Ohio label Chuck Brown Music. The Ponderosa Twins plus One recorded their song under CBM in 1971.
Brown spoke with the Cleveland Challenger about Kanye incorporating “Bound” into his version of the song.
“I’m actually honored,” said Brown. “We recorded that song in 1971 and thought it was a hit. We just didn’t know it would take 43 years for the world to figure it out.”
Spicer became the “plus one” of the Ponderosa Twins group that also included the two sets of twins Keith and Curt Gardner and Anthony and Alvin Pelham. Spicer was presented as the “Michael Jackson” of the group. He recorded “Bound” when he was 12-years-old.
Rhino Entertainment is also named as a defendant in Spicer’s lawsuit. Rhino is partially owned by Robinson Music Group and published by Gambi Music. Both Robinson Music and Gambi are part of the estate of Joseph Robinson, Jr. and Sylvia Robinson. Brown urges that he owns the rights to “Bound” and not the Robinson’s children.
“The music I published under my label belongs to me and my family, not to the Robinson’s. It’s my duty to make sure I get what’s mine,” he added.
Last Saturday Yonkers bred rapper and member of the LOX, Jadakiss teamed up with McDonald’s for a toy drive event to give back to The Specialized Children’s Hospital in the spirit of the holiday season. The toy drive was at a McDonald’s restaurant in Jersey City, NJ as hundreds of children waited in line outside for their special gift and celebrity meet & greet. Each child received a warm smile and hug from Jadakiss & VH1’s Love & Hip Hop reality star Kimbella. The children enjoyed additional festivities, such as face painting, photos with Santa, a gift receipt for a McDonald’s Happy meal, chocolate chip cookies, games, and music provided by Power 105.1 Breakfast Club personality DJ Envy.
(AllHipHop News) Superstar singer Beyoncé latest project has already sold over 1 million copies worldwide and now the “visual album” is nearing the platinum sales mark in the United States. Billboard reports that the self-titled LP will sell close to 340,000 copies in its second week which would be enough for it to remain at number one.
Since BEYONCÉ was first dropped on Friday, December 13th, that would put its total sales at 957,000 units in just 10 days. The Houston native pushed 617,000 copies in her opening week as an iTunes exclusive. The album is now available at most digital and brick-and-mortar retailers.
Consumers who purchased BEYONCÉ also received 17 videos along with the 14 music tracks. Beyoncé is also uploading some of her visuals to her YouTube channel. Watch the video for “Drunk In Love” featuring Jay Z below.
I wanted to know why Kurtis decided to release a Christmas song as his first ever release as a Hip-Hop artist. The record, which is officially 35-years-old, has stood the test of time since it’s release, in 1979. Check out what Kurtis had to say.
“Christmas Rappin’” was my very first song and let me say, it’s my favorite of all the Kurtis Blow songs, because it was my first. The record was an idea that came from my producers, J.B. Moore and Robert Ford. J.B. had the idea of making a Christmas song and doing something different that would last throughout the ages. J.B. Moore and Robert Ford, they were very special producers. They had the idea that they wanted to do something musical, and mix it with Hip-Hop, which was basically a street thing I had been doing for 7–8 years.
Adding the elements of music was very important to us back then. We wanted to use original music and we wanted to get the sound like the music of the day, yes, but our whole image and standpoint was that we are going to be different, take this thing to the next level. J.B. Moore was a white guy and writer for Billboard Magazine as well as an ex-musician. He brought the real creativity of music to the table. I knew the style of music I wanted, I was a DJ. Larry Smith, who was a bass player and a musician’s musician, also played on the song. He went on to produce Run-DMC and Whodini.
Kurtis Blow
We were at J.B.’s apartment and we mapped the thing out. I remember one of the conversations J.B. and Robert and another musician, Denzel Miller, who did the piano solo on “Christmas Rappin’” and “The Breaks,” had about the song. Denzel asked me, “what kind of sound do you want?” I said “sound? What do you mean sound?” They said “pick your favorite musician.”
I said “well, if I had sound, I would wanted to be right in between a mixture of James Brown and Chic.”
Nile Rodgers and Chic were the hottest thing going at that time with that “Good Times” record. I needed that R&B/Disco sound, but mixed in with James Brown. That’s where you get the guitars from “Christmas Rappin’” sounding like James Brown. And then the bassline, sounding like Chic. Also Queen’s song “Another One Bites the Dust” took that bassline from “Christmas Rappin’” and we never got paid for that.
So, J.B. wrote the first half, I wrote the second part. J.B. wrote the Christmas part. He came up with the idea of Santa Claus visiting a house up in Harlem on Christmas Eve. I wrote the second half, which is what happened after Santa Claus got into the party.
Now, Russell Simmons always tells this story different. He says that he’s the one that got me the record deal with Mercury Records. But it was J.B. Moore and Robert Ford. They went to 22 different labels. No one wanted the record but two people. Cory Robbins, who went on to found Profile Records and sign Run-DMC, liked the record but he could not get the deal done.
A Young Russell Simmons
The other guy who like the record was an English fellow named John Stains, who was the A&R Director of Mercury/Phonogram out of London. He liked it and said “We can recoup this record in six months. Sign him up!” I was first signed as a British artist, and my records were imports. This was the deal that they gave me. I could do a single. If I sold more than 30,000 copies, and I could do another single. Then I have to sell more than 100,000 copies and then I can do an album. The first single, “Christmas Rappin’,” sold over 373,000 copies. “The Breaks” came out and sold over 940,000 copies, becoming the first certified gold Hip-Hop record.
Here I am, a young kid 19, 20-years-old, Coming out of Harlem, coming out of the ghetto, Getting to travel to places that I’ve never seen. I want to say thank you to all of the media, including radio. To the radio programmers and on air personalities, thank you for making “Christmas Rappin’” an annual classic that you play like Nat King Cole’s records. Thank you guys for that because we are going to live forever with that one.
(AllHipHop News) Even without an official album in 2013, Top Dawg Entertainment dominated headlines throughout the year. Between Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, SZA, and Isaiah Rashad, Hip Hop was constantly fascinated with what the West Coast based label would do next.
TDE boss Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith revealed on Twitter that 2014 will see the crew continue its run of domination with six new projects coming in the new year.
WE RAN 2013 WITH OUT DROPPING 1 ALBUM. I WONDER WUTS GONE HAPPEN IN 2014 WHEN I DROP 6.. THEY NOT READY 4 THIS #TDE#HiiiPoWeR TAKE OVER
Up first will be Schoolboy’s long-awaited Oxymoron. The LP is set to drop on February 25th. That would will expectedly be followed by albums from the five other TDE artists K. Dot, Jay, Ab, SZA, and Isaiah.
In 2012, the label released three critically acclaimed albums – Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, Ab-Soul’s Control System, and Schoolboy Q’s Habits & Contradictions. Previous work also includes Jay Rock’s Follow Me Home. New signee Isaiah Rashad is set to drop his debut TDE mixtape Cilvia in the coming weeks.
OH SNAP! You know you are getting old when you boys are having babies! The latest is that the former youngest in charge is actually about to have a kid of his own. I didn’t think it was, but it is Diamond – the rapper. This is Diamond Shantaniece MacKay…!!!!! What a name! Anyway, she laid down with SB and also another man, who is of mixed heritage. Seems like this 5-year-old boy looks just like Soulja Boy and so that discounts the mixed man. But, this is the crazy stuff, TMZ is reporting that Diamond is on welfare! So, she is on welfare and says its time to pony up to the “rich” rapper! Now, she just needs to get that DNA test from SB and then the money comes! This is like the lottery or something, I imagine. But, she’s on welfare? That’s crazy.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
Danity Kane always seems to be surrounded by drama. Diddy initially dismantled the group because they weren’t getting along and therefore being productive, so each woman went her own way.
They recently got back together but D. Woods was noticeably absent. Initially, Woods tried to take the PR fluff route by saying she wasn’t a part of the group because she was committed to several personal projects that tied her up throughout the year.
Current members of the group shaded D. Woods by saying that the people who are performing in the current version of the group are the people who wanted to be there but D. Woods wasn’t having it.
D. Woods clapped back after getting wind of that statement and told TMZ that she learned about the reunion with the rest of the world, and that none of the other girls had even reached out to her about performing.
Aubrey O’Day then took to Instagram with a catty remark saying, “Do you spend your time takin interviews.. or do you work?”
D. Woods’ responded via twitter with, “That was cute @aubreyoday my attorney will be coming for my cut off that WORK #stillusingmyvocals.”
There’s obviously a billion sides to this story but it seems like D. Woods is still holding on to her grudge.
Gucci Mane releases a his single “Wish You Was Me” Produced by 808 Mafia. This is the first release off of Gucci Mane’s X-Mas mixtape titled The State vs Radric Davis 2 – “The Caged Bird Sings.” Take a listen to the track and check out the album!
(AllHipHop Features) Singer-songwriter Bridget Kelly recently released her new EP Cut To…Bridget Kelly. The 6-song project features her single “Special Delivery” as well as cuts like “Goosebumps” and “S#1T Happens.”
AllHipHop.com spoke with Kelly a few months back, and part of the conversation from that interview was never published. Here are few leftovers from the exclusive Q&A with Bridget where she talks about some of her favorite R&B and Hip Hop collaborations, Jay Electronica’s album, and the likelihood of an official Roc Nation tour ever taking place.
AllHipHop.com: What is your favorite song to perform?
Bridget Kelly: Probably, “In The Morning,” because it’s a song all the women always respond to. It’s about a drunk dial, but it’ not the cry baby drunk dial. It’s the I love you, but I’m too proud, I have too much swag and ego to tell you when I’m not drunk.
You did a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar [“Street Dreamin”]. What are your all-time favorite Hip Hop/R&B collaborations?
I love the Miguel and J. Cole record “Power Trip.” I think it’s super dope. I’m also loving Wale and Sam Dew’s “LoveHate Thing.” I think that’s off the chain. Some older R&B collabs, the Mary J. Blige and Method Man [“I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By”], that goes without saying. That’s a classic record that I’ve always really loved. When Mary J. and Jay Z used to perform “Heart of the City” on tour, I was in love. And “Can’t Knock The Hustle” with Jay and Mary- another classic.
Being on Roc Nation, have you heard Jay Electronica’s album yet?
I haven’t, and I’m starting to get nervous. I’m hoping it doesn’t become a Dr. Dre Detox situation where we’re out here waiting ten plus years for this incredible, iconic, legendary record to come out. I’m sure it’s on the way though.
Roc Nation is more of a traditional label as opposed to an imprint or crew, but do you think we could ever see a Roc Nation compilation album?
Honestly, it’s so difficult because everybody is so different. The cool thing about our label is that we all support each other. I think it would be cool to do a compilation, but I don’t know if it would ever happen just because we all do such different types of music.
We’ve been talking about doing a Roc Nation tour for a couple of years, so hopefully once everybody has enough material under their belts to really get it going, it will happen. That should be in a couple of years.
What will the world be saying about Bridget Kelly five years from now?
I want the world to just be really excited about R&B taking over- just real R&B, real quality music coming back. That being the music in the club and in the stadium that people rush to go see. That being the concert people look forward to. I really want to continue to be a voice for women that don’t necessarily have the balls to say what they want to say. That’s who I make music for.
Bridget Kelly’s Cut To…Bridget Kelly EP is available for free at bridgetkelly.com or can be purchased at iTunes.
(AllHipHop News) The Lox spoke EXCLUSIVELY with AllHipHop on the set of their video for their new single “Faded” off their new EP Trinity. While on set at Tahiry’s newly opened nightclub Suite 135, the trio explains why the released the first Lox project in over a decade by surprise, what to expect from We Are The Streets 2 and more
Even though Jadakiss admits that The Lox’s surprise release of their Trinity EP was a “last minute decision”, the group maintains that Beyonce’s similar release strategy did not influence their decision:
I can honestly say, it wasnt based upon the Beyonce thing. You know, when both of them [Styles P & Jadakiss] called me and said ‘get on that’. It had nothing to do with none of that sh*t.- Sheek Louch
The Hip Hop scene is different than it was in the late 90s/early 2000’s when The Lox entered the scene. In 1998, songs such as DMX’s gritty “Get At Me Dog” were Top 10 rap singles. In 2013, two of the most successful rap songs in 2013 were Drake’s R&B fusion “Hold On, We’re Going Home” and Macklemore’s quirky “Thrift Shop”. According to the group, who openly support new acts such as Joey Bada$$ and Troy Ave, they
We not going to change our formula. We might put a little seasoning, you know, might have a little Sazon that they use now on this sh*t. The overall flavor going to taste like how we’ve been serving our dishes.- Jadakiss
Before December 18th, the last time the world saw Sheek Louch, Jadakiss and Styles P commercially release an album as The Lox was 2000’s We Are The Streets. According to the trio, fans can anticipate solo albums from each of the Lox members as well as multiple albums and EP’s in 2014.
Check out The Lox talk about their favorite boxers, the effect surprise album releases can have on labels and more in the full interview below:
(AllHipHop News) The controversy surrounding the beat for Rick Ross and Jay Z’s collaboration “Devil Is A Lie” may have finally been cleared up. In a recent interview with XXL, producer Major Seven explains how the beat was stolen and his long history with K.E. on the Track.
Even after K.E. released a video explaining the making of the “Devil Is A Lie” beat, Seven reveals that the version released to the public is not in fact the original version of the beat:
The actual beat that I submitted actually sounds better as far as quality wise because he tried to replay the drums, but they aren’t the same quality as the one that I used. And [he] tried to change the 808s to a bass. The original one is actually better.
According to Seven, he sent the beat to KE for “constructive criticism” in January. attempted to sign him to his production company, Beat Mechanics but his manager, legendary R&B singer Keith Sweat stopped the deal. KE allegedly attempted to get 40 percent of Seven’s publishing and when he refused to sign “that’s when he got upset and pretty much blacklisted me and just took the track.”
According to Major Seven, he sent the beat to K.E. on the Track in January for “constructive criticism.” Seven maintains he will eventually release his own video breaking down the making of the original version of “Devil Is A Lie”.
Kris Jenner has been the Kardashian family go to woman for event planning for years but it seems that Kim and Kanye want her to butt out.
Access Hollywood caught up with the matriarch of the Kardashian Klan and she insinuated what we already know. Not only is Kimye going big, but she hasn’t been allowed to participate in planning the grand affair.
” We have a pretty big family. I don’t think it will be two people in a chapel, if you know what I mean!” she said. “I don’t know if they’ll let me jump in. That’s two very creative minds getting together and they definitely have their own ideas.”
Riiiight.
She also wants us to believe that she and Bruce are doing much better since they’re no longer living under the same roof.
“We’re great. He’s great and I’m great and we’re such good friends. Sometimes people are just better apart and have better energy. We don’t bicker as much. We were starting to sound like some old sitcom from the ’50s. I listened to myself and didn’t like me. Everyone is happier,” she told the site. “Bruce came over last night because he just had to see the tree again! It’s really fun. I get so excited during the holidays. I get excited when he’s coming over. We enjoy seeing each other more now.”
This is supposed to be a happy time of the year but it seems like it’s also when the most heart-wrenching tragedies strike. Brace yourselves for this one…
A man involved in a child-custody battle threw his toddler son from the roof of a 52-floor building on the Upper West Side Sunday, then killed himself by jumping, reports the New York Post.
Dmitriy Kanarikov, 35, of Brooklyn, was supposed to drop off adorable 3-year-old Kirill with his estranged wife at 1 p.m. at the 17th Precinct station house on the East Side after a three-hour visit, as per their custody arrangement, sources said.
Instead, surveillance footage from the scene at 124 W. 60th St. shows the dad leading the child by the hand into the high-rise building at around 11:45 a.m., according to law-enforcement sources.
Kanarikov, a systems developer, then went to the top of South Park Tower with the red-haired tot and pitched the boy to his death before making his own fatal leap at around 12:05 p.m., sources said.
Kanarikov fell onto a fourth-floor landing of a John Jay College building next door and died instantly, sources said.
The child — dressed in light-blue pants, a white-and-orange striped shirt, “Cars’’ socks and a little blue rain coat — was found on a sixth-floor landing. He was rushed in cardiac arrest to Roosevelt Hospital across the street, but it was hopeless, sources said.
“They were pumping his chest and working on him, and nothing” said Luis Ortiz, who was at the hospital when paramedics rushed the child in. “It was just heartbreaking . . . They tried to do the best they could.”
The child’s mother, Svetlana, “is a mess,’’ said a law-enforcement source. She told cops that her husband had previously “threatened to kill himself and then kill our child,” a source said.
Only months earlier, the couple and their son appeared to be the picture of happiness. In March, Svetlana wrote on Facebook, “I have the best husband and son in the world.” The doting parents’ posted a video on the Web site of their smiling, blue-eyed son in footie truck pajamas growling into a book, with his mom writing, “This is what happens when we do a bedtime story.’’
