(AllHipHop News) Numerous big stars took the stage at this year’s American Music Awards. Hip Hop was represented by West Coast emcee Kendrick Lamar who performed “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice” with SZA. TLC was joined by Lil Mama for “Waterfalls.” AMA Icon Award winner Rihanna performed her number one single “Diamonds” while Justin Timberlake and his band performed “Drink You Away.”
(AllHipHop News) Kendrick Lamar may have dropped the platinum selling, critically acclaimed album good kid, m.A.A.d. city and Jay Z introduced new rules with his number one album Magna Carta Holy Grail, but neither emcee walked away with an American Music Award at last night’s ceremony. That’s because Seattle duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis swept the Rap/Hip Hop categories.
The “Thrift Shop” performers picked up the fan voted awards for “Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Album” and “Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Artist.” When accepting the Hip Hop album trophy via satellite, Macklemore commented on slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin and racial profiling during his acceptance speech. Macklemore and Lewis were performing in the state the Martin shooting took place at the time of the event.
“Due to the fact that we are in Florida tonight accepting this award I want to acknowledge Trayvon Martin and the hundreds and hundreds of kids each year that are dying due to racial profiling and the violence that follows it,” said Macklemore.
Other big winners included Justin Timberlake and Rihanna. JT took home three awards for “Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist,” “Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist,” and “Favorite Soul/R&B Album.” Rihanna won “Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist” and was presented with the “AMA Icon Award.”
As we’ve previously reported, King Tech, Sway and DJ Revolution have been dropping phenomenal videos of emerging artists over the last few weeks and this week is no exception! The World Famous Wake Up Show recently created a Hip Hop experience like none other. They took Grammy Award Winning musicians who had never played together before and paired them with emerging Hip Hop artists. The result was a day of Hip Hop genius. They are finally rolling out the videos from that amazing day! And as always AllHipHop.com gets the exclusives every Monday!
First up to bat are a trio that AllHipHop.com has been reporting on for a few years now and they made our Top 50 Underground lists of the last two years! We’ve dubbed them the “Beastie Boys Of The New Millennium” and not for nothin! The Bodega Brovas are complete energy on stage and on wax and they show in every performance why they deserve to be some of the next to blow. Their act is pure polish and they are some of the last showman in the genera. The Brovas are clever, lyrical and able to fill the void that has been missing with Hip Hop groups for quite a while now. Take a look at what we mean in the video below!
We finish with an emcee straight out of Harlem who the room waited with baited breath for all day! Mitch Littlez (the “Dominican Duke” as we call him) knew from the sound check on that he had something to offer every single person in the room that day. And from the sound check on everyone in the room knew it too! He is as lyrical as he is clever and twice as dope with the flow. Mitch easily grabbed the rooms attention with the abundance of energy that surrounded his performance. He’s cagey and calculated with the punchlines and you know by the look in his eyes when he’s about to attack the verse! But don’t just take our word for it…see the dopeness that Mitch Littlez dropped that day for yourself below!
Well there you go! Two very different and very dope performances! Through the coming weeks there will be even more of them so stay tuned!
Check out www.wakeupshow.com for new updates on both the “Wake Up Show Unplugged” project and to keep up with Tech, Sway and Rev about what’s going on with their show on Sirius XM/ Shade 45! You can also follow them on Twitter at @wakeupshow. Don’t forget to tune in Monday nights, Shade 45 on Sirius XM at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT!
(AllHipHop News) Kanye West loquacious nature does not seem to be stopping anytime soon as the rapper with speeches mid performance is interviewed by Power 99 in Philadelphia. In the interview, Kanye speaks on his future ambitions, how he is “one of the number one slaves” and why he really does not care about Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse.
In the lengthy interview, Kanye speaks heavily on the oligarchy in the fashion world and its exclusion of not only himself but other artists. Deeming himself a “number one slave”, Kanye explains his song “New Slaves” by using his current predicament:
I started with the superficial, psychological form of slavery of just being a slave of fashion. Also, me being one of the number one slaves that picks the most cotton and stuff and coming like, ‘m####, can I get like a little bit of land and maybe I can get a house for my family?’ They like ‘no, you can’t. All you can do is promote our clothes for us. All you can do, you and all your celebrity friends, all you can do is promote for us. And, what we want to do is keep serving y’all ni**as with these Louis Vutton prints ’till none of y’all bills is paid and making y’all feel like that’s the most important thing. I’m sitting in Paris like, ‘I’m about to turn up on them.
Within Kanye’s detailed explanation of his ambitions for his “product” line coming next September, was Mr. West’s timetable he has placed on his fashion and product ambitions as well as his next major field to enter:
There is no one that can have an iPhone, no matter how corny that are, that can make you not want to have an iPhone. And I believe that in product we can do the same thing. This is where I Steve Jobs up on these n*ggas, because I see the gap in the market and I’m going to make life more easier and more fair and I’m going to do that for about five years and then I’m going to turn up on education.
Kanye states he has not named his upcoming album he is currently working on and G.O.O.D. Music has “talked about” the now mythic “Cruel Winter”. While he discussed Hip Hop in depth, when the conversation turned to Kendrick Lamar’s polarizing “Control” verse, he is dismissive of its reaction:
I don’t care, really. It don’t..It don’t..it’s Hip Hop. You asking a man who took a Confederate flag, what what do you think about…Everything is nothing, man. It’s the matrix, man. Someone built this building. Somebody can tear this down. People coming to work. People got kids. People got bills. It’s funny how easily amused we are as a public, as a people currently.
Check out Kanye talk Watch The Throne 2, the “highest level of disrespect” he experienced from the paparazzi and more in the full interview below:
The world almost imploded over the weekend. It was strange. These are strange days. But, it seems like Questlove jumped the gun. He seemingly announced a new project from Little Brother – TOO EARLY. OR SOMETHING. Its unclear. Nevertheless, that’s rumor one. Seems like LB has some form of reunion project on the way. IT SEEMS. But, after spewing this on Twitter, Phonte got very p##### and lashed out at Questo and threw some kind of rumor in the air about The Roots’ most visible member and Solange. Solange let him HAVE IT!!!
There’s nothing going on with Solange and Questlove. I heard they are very good friends though.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
(AllHipHop News) Rising New Zealand pop star Lorde broke out in the United States this year with her number one single “Royals.” At just sixteen she became the youngest artist to reach the top spot on the Billboard chart since former teen sensation Tiffany accomplished that feat in 1987.
While the singer-songwriter has managed to attract the ears of young listeners across the nation she apparently does not get why some of her musical peers have been as successful. Speaking with interviewmagazine.com, Lorde mentioned a few other entertainers, including two YMCMB rappers, that she feels creates music that does not relate to most people’s lives.
“Around the middle of last year I started listening to a lot of rap, like Nicki Minaj and Drake, as well as pop singers like Lana Del Rey,” said Lorde. “They all sing about such opulence, stuff that just didn’t relate to me—or anyone that I knew. I began thinking, ‘How are we listening to this? It’s completely irrelevant’.”
(AllHipHop News) Before Snoop Dogg became a Rastafarian lion he was one of “America’s Most Wanted” on Death Row Records. In a recent sit-down with VIBE, Snoop explained how Top Dawg Entertainment is vastly different than Death Row Records in the 90s.
According to Snoop, Death Rows penchant for taking the “gangster approach” to music as differing to Top Dawg Entertainment’s “peaceful” approach to entering to music scene:
They’re peaceful, they love, they get down. They got rappers from everywhere and they represent hip-hop and they don’t represent negativity and violence. And tryin to mash and disrespect it. So it’s like, that how Death row came.. We came out disrespectin’ Eazy E and anyone who had a problem with Dr. Dre.
Snoop does believe the controversial 90s record label “paved the way for TDE” and feel that influence manifested in Kendrick’s inflammatory “Control” verse:
Kendrick Lamar flipped out on everybody. That’s that Death Row influence, that may have cause him to backslide and feel a certain way. Which i support fully and his thoughts in what he said…Cause I’m from the West Coast, f### errbody who got a problem with it.
Ironically enough, TDE’s Schoolboy Q recently spoke with MTV about how he proudly claims to be a gangster rapper and even stated he was the only gangster rapper left on the West Coast:
I’m not necessarily trying to bring gangster rap back. I’m just trying to let you know it’s still here and I’m a part of it. I feel like I’m the only one out of the coast that’s doing this gangster rap sh– the way that it used to be done…how n—as used to put detail in their music not just going to the club and turning up.
Check out Snoop Dogg’s full interview with VIBE below:
(AllHipHop News) Beyonce fully believes girls run the world, however an Egyptian archeologist recently informed her that she does not rule the rules of politeness. Famed archaeologist Zahai Hawass says he did not permit Beyonce to tour the pyramid grounds in Egypt because of her rude behavior.
According to Hawass’ interview with The Independent newspaper, Beyonce was tardy to a scheduled tour of ancient Egyptian pyramid sites and did not acknowledge or apologize for her tardiness:
She said she would come at 3pm but she came late. I said ‘You have to say I’m sorry I’m late’. But she didn’t open her mouth
While Beyonce’s perceived lack of courtesy irked the famed archaeologist, it was when Beyonce seemed to attempt to assert a level of control over the your by a man referred to as Egypt’s “Indiana Jones”:
I brought a photographer and she also had a photographer and a guard. When my photographer started to shoot, he said ‘No, Stop! I am the one who says yes or no, not you.’ I said ‘In that case since you almost hit my photographer and you are not polite — out! I am not giving you the privilege of having you on my tour.’ I said Beyoncé was stupid and I left
All is not bleak in the international affairs of Beyonce. According to Billboard, Beyonce’s “Mrs Carter World Tour” grossed $104.3 million, sold over 883,000 tickets for 59 performances in the 7 months since it began in April. With four weeks left on the tour it is already on pace to top Beyonce’s last tour, the “I Am… Sasha Fierce” World Tour which grossed $119.5 million in 108 shows.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of AllHipHop.com.
In his recent review of Doggystyle, Kendrick Lamar said, “I actually listened to it when I was 6. Believe me, when you’re from Compton, Long Beach, Watts, South Central, Inglewood…that’s all they were playing around you as a kid. I couldn’t escape it.”
Being close to Kendrick in age, I also recall Doggystyle’s unavoidability as a little kid. But I was in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and that is about as different from Compton, California, as two cities can possibly get. Those differences didn’t matter though. Snoop Dogg became one of my favorite recording artists when Doggystyle dropped.I’m confident I probably speak for others too when I say that and not just in America, but all over the world.
It is because of that achievement, a perfect combination of skill and style, this album deserves to be recognized on its 20th anniversary. Doggystyle helped take Hip-Hop to places it had never been before; the culture hasn’t looked back since. And the project’s influence only continues to expand with time.
I didn’t get my own copy of the album until years after it first came out. However, between an older cousin, passing cars, and MTV, it was not difficult to hear or see Snoop at the height of his debut’s popularity. One of my earliest memories of Hip-Hop is seeing the “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” music video. I remember watching Snoop on top of the V.I.P. record store rapping above the crowd and thinking that was the coolest thing I’d ever seen. Honestly, that song and video is one of the reasons that I wanted become a part of Hip-Hop in some way.
My favorite thing about Snoop Dogg and one of the reasons Doggystyle succeeded is that he was so laid back. The gangsta content in the music was still there, but he wasn’t angry like many of his hardcore Hip-Hop contemporaries. There was just a confidence in Snoop’s voice that didn’t require him to yell. But because he wasn’t so aggressive, Mr. Broadus’ raps were more appealing than others’. Who wouldn’t want to be at the fun house party depicted in “Gin and Juice”? Even if there was some questionable behavior taking place, it was certainly more inviting than the party that N.W.A becomes wanted for a homicide at in “Gangsta Gangsta.”
As far as the flow on Doggystyle, Snoop is in a class by himself. There are many examples of where his delivery is so fluid that it sounds like an instrument. Additionally, the way he changes and recites words take his lyrics to another place which is simply amazing. For instance, in “Tha Shiznit,” one of my favorite rhymes is, “Cause Snoop Dogg is Trump tight like a virgin, the surgeon / is Dr. Drizzay, so lizzay, and plizzay.” There’s a lot of wordplay there already, but adding “izzay” throws in even one more element.
“Gz and Hustlas” is another standout to me because of the fact it was a freestyle. Then, on the flip side of that approach, there’s the concept song, “Murder Was the Case.” It’s a brilliant song where Snoop makes a deal with the Devil. Each song is equally captivating, even if for totally different reasons. And last but not least, there’s the foul but funky record, “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None).” It’s my guilty pleasure. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think I’m alone. Not only did the title make it into the lyrics of another Snoop Dogg song, “Don’t Tell,” and its accompanying X-rated video clip, Mariah Carey, Da Brat, and Missy Elliot remade “Ain’t No Fun” from a female perspective for the remix to “Heartbreaker.”
Production-wise, I think the whole album is incredible. The G-Funk sound that Dr. Dre first started developing on Efil4zaggin and evolved on The Chronic reached perfection with Doggystyle. The melody that Dre brought to the music gave it a component that had been unheard of in Hip-Hop prior to his arrival. The result was street music with pop appeal. In my opinion, the epitome of this is “Doggy Dogg World” where The Dramatics make a guest appearance. In the words of Taa-Dow, “We got something old and something new for y’all tonight.”
While I’ve heard friends of mine criticize Doggystyle for being just a continuation of The Chronic and/or that the interludes drag the album down, I disagree. Parallels can certainly be drawn between the two albums, but I think that Doggystyle expands on The Chronic’s winning formula. It builds on the foundation that Dre’s album laid- from, among other things, the production to the features to the album artwork. Then in terms of the interludes and even the “Lodi Dodi” cover, it’s Snoop paying homage to the influences that he allowed to shape him into the artist he was at that time. From Slick Rick to The Mack, Snoop is clearly a student of it all and it is in part because of this knowledge he acquired that he was (and still is) able to be such a credible voice in popular culture.
When I was in elementary school, before I knew Snoop was going on trial for murder or even understood what a multiplatinum album meant, Doggystyle was one of my favorite things to listen to. Twenty years later, I know those things and then some. It’s still one of my favorite things to listen to. In the end, as a rap music fan, the music is what matters most and Doggystyle remains some of the best music that I have ever heard.
Respect due.
What do you think about Doggystyle? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
Kid Ink reached 1 million Likes on Facebook so we got the green light to premiere this new record from him. This track was a strong contender for the rapper’s debut album “My Own Lane” but in the end, didn’t make the cut. Enjoy and congrats to Ink for reaching a milly!
(AllHipHop News) It has been over a decade since Jay Z and Nas went head-to-head in one of Hip Hop greatest battles. While the two competitors have moved on to record tracks together like this year’s “BBC,” the classic verbal competition is still one of the most debated topics in the history of the culture.
One of the voices of the new generation has offered his opinion about the outcome of the battle. Speaking with VladTV, TDE’s Schoolboy Q reveals his belief that Jigga came out on top.
“Honestly, I think Jay Z won,” said Schoolboy. “I mean Nas is my favorite rapper, but Jay Z, he was pretty scandalous.”
The Black Hippy member goes on to give his explanation for why Nas’ “Ether” is viewed as the winning blow in the bout by a lot of other observers.
“Jay is the best rapper and everybody don’t wanna believe that Jay – even though Nas is my favorite – Jay is like LeBron, Kobe, Jordan, people just wanna say no or hate,” offers Q. “He’s so good you got to hate him.”
I heard a rumor and that rumor is simple. They are saying that Trinidad James got robbed of everything that he was wearing while out in NYC. The Southern rapper may have thought it was all sweet after his comments about New York and was caught sleeping. Now, this reportedly happened yesterday and they say he was even relieved of his clothing and gold teeth. Last but not least they let him keep his boxers.
Thank God.
Now, the last time we heard from this, there was a bit of friction between Maino and Trini, but nobody is saying that Maino had anything to do with it. Furthermore there is nothing to completely substantiate the rumor at all.
Anyway…Trinidad is a nice dude from all that I have been able to deduce, but this may not end well if there’s not some sort of peace treaty soon. But, he had a lot to say about the recent leakage of phone conversations. He didn’t have a lot of water for the fire.
(AllHipHop News) Making the transition from teen idol to adult star is a difficult minefield for many young celebrities in Hollywood. Current pop sensation Justin Bieber has been facing those challenges in public over the last several months. The 19-year-old singer reveals some veterans of tabloid attention have offered to give him guidance.
Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Bieber reveals that one of those mentors is Will Smith. The rapper-turned-actor calls the “Baby” singer once a week to talk about his career. Beiber’s manager, Scooter Braun, also mentioned that Oprah Winfrey and Mark Wahlberg have reached out to him.
Two of Hip Hop biggest stars have taken interest in the pop star’s well-being as well. Em’s manager Paul Rosenberg told Braun, “We care about that kid.” Eminem’s daughter Hailie is a huge Bieber fan.
Drake is another “big brother” figure for Bieber. The two Canadians musicians are apparently very close. Said Braun, “Justin really looks up to Drake. They have an extremely special relationship.”
Bieber has been a regular in the headlines this year. The press took the teenager to task for allegedly spitting on a neighbor in March, suggesting Anne Frank would have been a “belieber” in April, getting videotaped saying “f**k Bill Clinton” in July, and for recently getting photographed at a brothel in Brazil.
(AllHipHop News) The upcoming STARZ program Power has begun shooting in New York City. After already taking on the role of executive producer for the series 50 Cent will also take on a recurring acting part as well.
50 will play Kanan a long time friend to main character James “Ghost” St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick). Ghost is a NYC drug lord trying to leave the criminal life and become a legit businessman. The cast also includes former 3LW member Naturi Naughton (Notorious), Lela Loren (Gang Related), Joseph Sikora (Boardwalk Empire), and La La Anthony (Think Like A Man).
(AllHipHop News) Maybach Music Group’s Stalley teamed with fellow Ohio natives DJ Steph Floss & DJ Bandcamp for the Know More (The Best Of Stalley) mixtape. The 30-track project is divided into Stalley cuts created before and after he joined MMG.
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Stalley grow into the artist he is today from nearly the very beginning and his entire journey is so amazing to me. That’s why I chose to construct the first half of the tape with music pre Savage Journey,” says Steph Floss.
“Teaming up with my homie DJ Steph Floss on this Know More mixtape couldn’t have been scripted any better for this type of project. As Stalley’s official DJ, I’ve learned so much ‘more’ about him as a person post his signing to MMG, that it was only right to piece together that half of the tape,” adds Bandcamp.
(AllHipHop News) Kanye is not long waiting until he gets his money right. In an interview with Washington, D.C. radio show The Russ Parr Morning Show, Kanye spoke about the President of the United States calling him an “a*shole” four years ago, financial problems with the Nike x Yeezys deal and more.
Rumors have been circulating that Kanye West would be leaving Nike and partnering with Adidas for the next edition of his highly anticipated Yeezys. During one of his speeches at the November 20th Yeezus tour stop at the Barclays Center, Kanye claimed that Nike CEO Mark Parker said he did not “even know why people like the Yeezys.” During his interview with Russ Parr, Kanye delved into some specifics on what soured his relationship with Nike and how the birth of his daughter, North West, inspired this change:
If it was for myself, I would’ve been cool just sitting in Nike, not getting no royalties. Having people line up for the Yeezys. But, when I’m having negotiations and I go look in my daughters eyes and go out and negotiate after that. Oh, y’all ain’t fitna talk to me like that. We fitna get this money.
Kanye also addressed Barack Obama’s off-air comments on CNN about the Chicago rapper following the 2009 incident with Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards. Devaluing the President calling him an “a*shole to simply a guy trying to fit in, Kanye
He was just trying to be cool in a room full of people that would be judging him also. It’s just like ‘Ye, I know you can take that one on the chest so let me just say that right now.’
In addition to touring and doing press runs, Mr. West has also opened up a pop-up shop in New York City on 355 Bowery. The pop-up shop will feature tour merchandise and other collector’s items from the Yeezus tour.
Check out Kanye’s full interview on The Russ Parr Morning Show below:
(AllHipHop News) Do not let the pricey new Barneys collection fool you, Jay Z cares and one artist wanted to manifest that in a sculpture. In support of Jay Z’s decision to stay with Barneys amidst controversy, sculptor Daniel Edwards crafted a statue of Jay Z surrounded and sprouting from Care Bears.
The sculpture, entitled “Jay Z Shares and Cares” and was revealed earlier today (November 22nd), a few days after Jay Z’s November 20th launch of his Barneys collection
Edwards reasons in a press release for the sculpture that Jay Z’s profession, paired with the philanthropy of donating proceeds to his charity, make his continued loyalty to Barneys impressive:
Jay Z is an entertainer, not a civil rights activist. He defended future college funds by standing up to the criticism
Daniels has a history of creating provocative art and earlier this year created a sculpture of Kim Kardashian’s naked pregnant body entitled “L.A. Fertility”. Spectators were encouraged to rub the sculpture’s pregnant belly for good luck.
Who knew? Apparently, TLC still has a deal…or should I say had a deal. LA Reid, the man himself, had resigned the group to Epic Records, where he is right now. Maybe this was some sort of karmic act considering all they have been throughout. But, then that movie came out and all hell has broken lose the docudrama that chronicled the life and times of TLC. Pebbles got the majority of the blast from the movie, as she was portrayed as a lying, stealing, backstabbing, shady corporate executive that took advantage of some young girls trying to get in the game.
Here’s the rumor. Pebbles was once married to LA Reid and apparently that sexy MILF still has some pull, because she reportedly got TLC dropped from Epic Records. They say she had LA let the girls go. I’m thinking that may help TLC? Maybe not. They aren’t killing it like they used to. GODSPEED!
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
