(AllHipHop News) Drake has always made it clear that he rides for his hometown of Toronto, but the Young Money rapper also has ties to Memphis. The Tennessee city is where the Nothing Was The Same creator spent time as a kid visiting his extended family, so he decided to shoot the video for the single “Worst Behavior” in his dad’s hometown.
Drake spoke with Vibe recently about setting his visuals in The River City and reveals he had hesitations about returning to one of his early stopping grounds. It was his close family connections there that were actually a concern for him.
“If anybody knows anything about the South and how it is, it’s tough to go around people who could use your help and you can’t help everybody,” said Drake. “It’s like a guilt or a burden that comes over me, so I hadn’t gone to Memphis in a long time.”
The experience of filming the 10-minute video in Memphis with members of his family has encouraged Drake to return to the town in the future.
“Instead of running from it, I just embraced it and shot this incredible, beautiful video with my beautiful family and helped out as many people as I could while I was there,” said Drake. “Now I can’t wait to go back.”
(AllHipHop News) New York’s A$AP Rocky and Texas’ Bun B stopped by MTV’S RapFix Live, and the two rappers chatted about Trinidad James’ “South Runs New York” rant.
Recently, James told a crowd in NYC that most of the rappers from their city that is getting any major attention sound like they are from Atlanta. Harlem native A$AP Rocky sees the current run of Southern Hip Hop’s dominance in the mainstream as just part of the musical cycle that has seen other cities have their turn at the top.
“It’s not really about who runs what. Everybody got its time,” said Rocky. “There was a time that Uncle Luke was popping, there was a time New York was the thing, West Coast, the south. Everybody got its time, but people don’t want to enjoy that until it’s gone.”
Bun’s response came from the perspective of an OG in the Hip Hop game. He reflects on Hip Hop’s origins in NYC and how rappers from other cities have helped spread the culture around the globe.
“Hip Hop left New York in the late ’70’s/earlier 80’s and went out to the world,” adds the 20 year veteran. “Once it comes back to you, you can’t be mad at how it comes back to you because you sent it out there in the first place.”
Bun also makes the point that since Hip Hop originally started in New York City, technically everyone who embraces the culture is a student of New York. He goes on to express that Hip Hop is influenced by many different regions giving Europe and Japan’s current impact on Hip Hop fashion as an example.
Today, November 14, 2013, marks the 10th Anniversary of Jay Z’s The Black Album. At the time of its release, it was billed as Jay Z’s last album. As we all know though, that retirement was short-lived. Just a mere three years later, Shawn Corey Carter came back.
And while his output hasn’t been as consistent as it was in the beginning of his career, he has still had plenty of hits since 2006. In fact, it would be fair to say that Jay Z is bigger than Hip-Hop now. And one of the reasons for his unmatched ascent is the music he’s put out post Black Album.
So while Jay Z himself admitted via Twitter that Magna Carta Holy Grail could “fight for 4th” behind Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album, it’s still undeniable that if he hadn’t gone back to making albums, he wouldn’t be the icon he is today. Thus, AllHipHop.com has come up with a list of the ten best songs Jay Z made since his return.
10). “Kingdom Come”: While valid arguments can be made that Jay Z had lost a few steps with his 2006 comeback effort, Kingdom Come, he nevertheless managed to make a lasting impression with the album’s title track. “I been up in the office you might know him as Clark / But, just when you thought the whole world fell apart / I take off the blazer, loosen up the tie / Step inside the booth, Superman is alive.”
9). “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”: Even if Auto-Tune was a gimmick at that point, someone had to put the final nail in the coffin. Over a stellar rock-inspired No I.D. production, Jay Z called out Auto-Tune for its overuse in the music industry at that time. “You n****s singing too much / Get back to rap, you T-Paining too much.” Clearly, he got his point across and then some.
8). “Nickels and Dimes”: Jay Z closes out his latest album in a contemplative space. His rags-to-riches story has been been told repeatedly, but it becomes clear in this song he has learned that riches can contribute to problems just as easily as it can solve them. The beginning of the second verse is very powerful, to say the least.
7). “On to the Next One”: Over outstanding board work from Swizz Beatz wherein he flipped a Justice track, Jay Z recorded this song which earned him his 13th Grammy. And not unlike their previous collaborations, the sound was on some next level ish. Jay made sure his lyrics reflected that sentiment too. “Hov on that new s**t, n****s like “How come?” / N****s want my old s**t, buy my old albums.”
6). “Part II (On the Run)”: Mrs. Carter sounds amazing on this Magna Carta Holy Grail duet with her husband. Beyonce plays the perfect ride-or-die chick (“I will hold your heart and your gun / I don’t care if they come”) to Jay Z’s criminal persona (“I’m an outlaw, got an outlaw chick / Bumpin’ 2Pac on my outlaw s**t”). It’s one of the duo’s best collaborations to date, surpassed only by “Crazy in Love.”
5). “New Day”:Watch the Throne was an impressive, albeit self-indulgent, victory lap for two of Hip-Hop’s biggest stars. Therefore, “New Day” served as refreshing change of pace. Before they became fathers, Jay and Kanye made a reflective record addressing their stresses and how those would not only affect them as parents, but the impact it would have on the children they raise as well.
4). “Pray”: Jay Z has never been at a loss for words when it comes to discussing hustling in his music, and the first song off his tenth album is no exception. Having not detailed that environment to such an extent since his debut though, Jay’s ability to revisit it with such vivid lyrics coupled with a more experienced flow make for one of the most all-around compelling listens in Jay’s catalogue.
3). “N****s in Paris”: The Blades of Glory dialogue sample in the song describes it best: “No one knows what it means, but it’s provocative.” Between Hit-Boy’s drums, Kanye repeating the phrase, “That s**t cray,” and Jay’s powerful opening rhymes, it’s a lot to take in. But listeners loved it and so it’s no surprise that the record was performed multiple times at more than a few stops on the Watch the Throne Tour.
2). “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)…”: With American Gangster sequenced around the rise and fall of a hustler, this track, in the mid-section of the album, is the high point of low living. Fast money, gorgeous women, and fine dining with bottles of top shelf beverages are all within reach. And while the downfall is inevitable, for 4:12, it’s a celebration and The Hitmen’s horns help make it one hell of a party.
1). “Empire State of Mind”: Track five on The Blueprint 3 is Jay Z’s first number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts as a lead artist. And in addition to that long-overdue achievement, the song is incredible too. Alicia Keys’ vocals on the chorus soar and Jay’s verses are an amazing shout-out to the Big Apple. At that point in his career, he wasn’t exaggerating when he said, “I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can.”
What are your favorite Jay Z records in the post-Black Album era? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
A couple people in Young Money are in some hot water. Not Drake. But, the president (I can’t remember his name right now) stands accused of breaking the jaw of a female fan. But, more than not, they aren’t in too much trouble. HOWEVER…there is a new rumor from the good people at Bossip are saying that one of the members beat the crap out of their girlfriend. They are saying this rapper has a lot of tats. Isn’t that the whole Young Money, except Nicki? But they said this dude was skinny “wankster.” These tips have lead people to believe that they are talking about Tyga and Blac Chyna, his wife. They seem pretty happy but who knows. Most of us seem happy and are miserable.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
(AllHipHop News) With just a few minutes of video footage Southern rapper Trinidad James sparked another conversation about the state of New York Hip Hop, and when the “All Gold Everything” performer stated his opinion that the south “runs New York” some from “The City That Never Sleeps” took offense while others co-signed his sentiment.
Vibe caught up with one of the rising young rap talents out of NYC Troy Ave to get his take on what Trinidad had to say. According to the Brooklyn born emcee he can agree with Trinidad when comes to New York’s radio and clubs focusing more on southern based rappers than their own.
If he was talking about “runs” in terms of Atlanta rap getting constant radio play and being heavy in New York clubs, then he’s got a valid point. A real n#### like myself, I’m gonna deal with facts. I’m not upset about that, but all I want to do is restore the feeling in this city. That’s why I named my album New York City. At a time, the Death Row and West Coast could have said they run rap, and they did! Until Biggie came out, and then Bad Boy was like, ‘Ok, we run rap now.’ There was a time when T-Pain was the only thing that you would hear on the radio, and then the whole group of Florida rappers had it on lock. But, Atlanta n##### been had it for a minute in terms of getting played everywhere.
Troy goes on to clarify that while Atlanta and the rest of the south may be getting a lot love from NYC radio, artists like himself, Maino, and Uncle Murda own the streets of New York. Troy recently released his latest projected New York City The Album which is dedicated to his hometown.
(AllHipHop News) “When you’re top contenders you wanna be able to sit here and say, ‘yo, 20 years later you still got that arm.’ That’s how we look at each other,” says Raekwon about the two decade reign of he and his fellow brethren from the Wu-Tang Clan. Revolt caught up with several of the legendary group’s members, associates, and Hip Hop journalists to capture their thoughts about The Wu being in the game for 20 years.
Rosenberg tried me, I almost hit him in his sh*t/God said spare him, now we the best of friends/On Hot 97, trying to crank the f*cking sh*t/Ain’t no God for Charlamagne if he try me again
(AllHipHop News) Trinidad James is going all out and on his newest song “L.I.A.A.R.S.” he embraces his newfound rebel status. The song’s title is an acronym for “Lames is Always Acting Real….Sure” and is response to the influx of negative criticism 0ver his comments on the state of New York City rap at Converse’s CONS Holiday 2013 event in New York City.
After the song premiered, Peter Rosenberg took to his personal Twitter account to inform everyone that Mr. All Gold Everything willl be on Hot 97’s The Morning Show tomorrow.
The latest in the game in that this jawn Jhene Aiko is now giving the cookies to Drake. According to mouthtoears.com, Jhene and Drake have been not only been making hit records, they have been traveling together. In their travels, they are loving the intimacies that go along with tour life. Apparently, they were already rumors about these two, but they never really went anywhere. Honestly, it sounds like kaka! They JUST were saying Drake was doing something with Rihanna after a show.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
Upon pending dates, the prepackaged gimmicks will expire. These lyrical infants tussle for Rap’s fleeting spotlight. Cognizant of the status-quo, Little Rock’s own, SL Jones, continues to invest into his creative cache. His diverse skill-set challenges categorization; that’s the problem. An artistic battle ensues when the MC is both the arch nemesis and the hero. How will the fickle public respond to an unpredictable artist?
An intense ebony glimpse conveys SL’s perspective. Unprecedented confidence concludes his comment, “I don’t even think; I just create. I have to master the craft… My job is to ensure excellence and to just be better. It’s my job as an artist to convince. ” These are his words:
Building Business Relationships
In whatever situation you’re in, always keeping that student-mentality you can always be in-tune with what’s going on. From being able to benefit from the things around you, you won’t get outdated. Sometimes you’ll do something for the position that it’ll later put you in verses the now money. The now-money, will hinder you from [reaping] later-money. You’ll play yourself for a small check versus grinding.
People are only going to respect you as much as you respect yourself. If what you’re doing is amateurish then that’s how you’ll be treated. People may not know that you have your sh*t together; so, they may come at you— they got to respect the fact that this is how you want to eat. If they feel disrespected by it, then you shouldn’t do business with them. You didn’t come into this sh*t to be homies.
And everything costs. Then you give it away for free. I would never complain about it. On the artist, don’t cheat the people. The worst thing you can do is have a project come out and it under-delivers. You’ll get that now-money, but you’ll never get it again. It’s better for it to be the opposite, for them not to expect much and then when they come you wow them. Then you got them for life.
Securing features: Mutual respect or healthy budget
It’s love. I’m new; so, when I first meet somebody I don’t come off hella thirsty. It helps when they already know about you. It’s really, God. I’ve been blessed to where they may of heard about me through somebody. With me and Rittz, we used to be around each other kicking it—cracking jokes and sh*t. I didn’t even know that he rapped. We’d be in there getting faded, kicking it, having a blast then—it was through Burn One, because we both kinda knew each other. He was doing a show in Atlanta and we linked. I came out. There was a song that I did called “Wild Side,” it’s off Flight Risk. He was like, ‘Yeah, man; you sick.’
Another way that I secure features is by putting them on dope songs. When they get the record they’re like, ‘Damn.’ If I don’t know them, or have a solid connect, my motto has always been approach it like business. A favor will always get swept under the rug. People respect you when you don’t ask them for nothing for free. When you come at them like, ‘Yo, let’s do business.’ Now they respect your mind. The first time you may do business with them, and the second time it may be just love, because y’all started off building on the right foot. It’s happened a couple of different ways. They way I’ve been able to do it there’s always love involved.
On “Grind 100 Hustle”
I ain’t gonna lie; whenever we get into the studio together it’s heated. I feel like Killer smashed it. He just took off. I’m the one who always goes first. Usually, I’m the one who’ll pick the beat out. It’s just fun. It’s a sport, too.
I still got love for the sport. We really didn’t even think about it. When I think about it, it may have been the homie who picked the beat. He was like, ‘Y’all need to kill this sh*t.’ he had a bunch of old instrumentals. I want to say it was the homie, G. Before you know it it was done. Initially, I was trying to find an original beat, because like to do songs. Write a hook, and then have everybody do verses. But, that sh*t just happened; it was crazy.
Demonstrate depth of talent while remaining cohesive
I guess that’s the part that I have to figure out. With C.O.L.O.R.S. that was just me wanting to exist. I didn’t even know that people knew about it. I don’t feel like I had the best beat on there, or the best mixes. That’s why people gravitated to it; there were zero expectations. When it dropped, it created opportunities for myself; it got me here.
Naturally, you’ll hear the sound; there’s growth. If you listen to it there’s always going to be something on that one that’s a glimpse of what you heard before. The first time I listen to something I don’t judge it. It is what it is. Listen and look at the tile of the project. Do the features make sense? Does the music connect with the title?
If you’re going to listen to my music go ahead and take it all in. I got to say some crazy sh*t. I got a new mixtape produced by Metro Boomin—I knew people were going to feel indifferent about Way of Life No Hobby. That’s my job as an artist. That’s the type of artist I am. I experiment; I tried different things. It’s my job to push that line. When some people come out you know exactly what it is. They got two or three moves and they always go to those. With me, I can do a lot of different things. So, I’m going to try—sometimes you’re going to love it and sometimes you’re going to hate it.
I like it when you go in and do a whole project as fast as we did it you’re in a certain zone. To me, that was something that I feel good about. Ultimately, I’m out to make a project that people will either love or hate. I don’t want nobody to be cool on it. I don’t want nobody to be like, ‘It’s alright; it’s straight.’ I want you to be disgusted like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe he did that,’ or ‘I love it; I play it from one to thirteen.’ That’s how I look at it. Either f**k with me all the way or don’t f**k with me. That half love will get you nowhere; you won’t have no career if everybody is ignoring you. There’s artists who have careers based off being hated.
Sharing Access to Gang Life
I have to put it out there. Honestly, I’m going to give you the mentality of who we are, and how we do. In itself, that right there promotes change, because people already know for me to be here is a blessing. So, that means I’ve made some right decisions. N*ggas from my ‘hood is dead; [some] are locked up forever. Or they just came home a couple of years ago. You can’t glorify or glamorize it, but you can hide it. You still have to document it. So, there’s a fine line you have to walk when you speak on it. And I make sure whenever you’re speaking on it it’s in truth.
DJ Burn One
Paraphernalia got a lot of love. Burn One, is the only person that can get production like that from. So, when we went in he was making the beat right there. I’m writing the songs right there and that’s how it came about. So, naturally that sound is only going to be on something that I do with Burn One. It’s not like with every project that I put out it’s going to be me and Burn One doing projects back to back. Every other producer that I fool with, other than Burn One, is a trap. That’s kinda their roots. Metro got a range and if you listen to the whole thing then you hear songwriting. Like the song “Facts of Life,” anybody can relate to that. So, it’s like you have to listen to everything.
That one was the one that got the most attention. I couldn’t even do that again, because I’m not working with a producer that’s going to give me that again. That’s like a moment in time. We’re plotting on the next one. Burn One is putting together a project and we’ve just been sitting in there talking about all the stuff like what the vibe of the next project is going to be. If that’s what you want then you have to wait on the next Burn One project. That’s the only place that I can get that from. That’s like a tailor-made suit from Burn One. Every outfit that I put on is not going to fit like that. Nobody else does it like that.
Defying Expectations
I jumped on Ricky Fontaine’s project, TallTails. Ricky did a project with Burn One, iNDEED, that’s the name of his group. Rick did a solo project that I was supposed to jump on. This is the last day; so, I literally just left a function with Kenneth. We pulled up on them at the studio to knock out my verse. When I come in we’re going through songs to try to figure out what I’m going to do and I end up jumping on a song. I go in; I do the verse. When I come out, the first thing Ricky said was—it was hilarious, I can’t make this sh*t up—he was like, ‘Man, I’m so glad you killed it the way you killed it. You killed it, SL. I ain’t gonna lie. Man, I was a little worried. I just listened to America’s Nightmare, I didn’t know what SL was going to show up. Man, you’ve been on your wavy sh*t! I didn’t know if you were going to come in singing. I had no idea what you were going to do. I’m glad you just went in and killed it the way you did.’
I was laughing, because people really look at me like, ‘What the f**k is going on in his head.’ When I listen to “More Than Wood,” when I listen to the section where my verse comes in, it’s obvious what I’m supposed to do. I couldn’t even imagine why they thought that I would have done something other than what I did. When I look at it, I can tell that I do be doing a whole lot; I be doing the most.
If a person goes to listen to some of my old sh*t, then they go to listen to some of my new sh*t, the new project is the furthest from what you’ve heard. It’s the most elastic. That was really the one of, Burn One, that was the other sh*t
Inherent Value
I possess a skill-set that allows me to become timeless. It’ll take people a little longer to get me, because I’m the medium with lyricism, character, charisma, and all that in one thing. In a game where everybody tries to put you in a box I’m the dude that when you look at me there is no box. There’s nowhere that you can put me and try to make me stay there. I do what I want to do. That’s the value with me; I’m something different. I’m influenced by everything; you’ll see glimpses of those things that influence me in me. Ultimately, I’m me. You’re not just going to see anybody do everything that I do all at the same time.
Remember when Suge Knight got shot at the Kanye West party a few years ago? And then Suge sued? YEP. Well, according to a snitch, Jimmy Henchmen ordered that ish.
A cooperating witness has told federal investigators that he shot rap mogul Suge Knight at a 2005 party hosted by Kanye West at a swanky Miami Beach hotel, The Smoking Gun has learned.
The shooting of Knight, founder of L.A.’s Death Row Records, was allegedly ordered by James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond, the New York music manager who was sentenced last month to life in prison for heading a cocaine trafficking ring.
A longtime Rosemond associate (and admitted cociane trafficker) has copped to shooting Knight, claiming that he targeted the “rival rap producer…at Rosemond’s behest,” according to investigators. The witness has recently told federal investigators that Rosemond–who attended the Westparty–provided him with the gun he used to shoot Knight.
Immediately following the shooting, the witness reports, he and Rosemond fled the Shore Club together, adding that Rosemond (seen at left) paid him $10,000 for the shooting (the motive for which is not further detailed by federal officials).
The Rosemond associate is referred to as “CW-3” (confidential witness-3) in the document.
“CW-3” was a member of Rosemond’s narcotics operation for more than a decade, and participated in a series of violent acts directed at associates of the rapper 50 Cent’s G-Unit crew. The rap world beef was prompted by business disputes between G-Unit and Rosemond’s Czar Entertainment.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
Following in the footsteps of her late father, rap icon, Eazy-E, recording artist / TV personality, E.B., hits the music scene again with the release of her latest single “Girl Crush.”
(AllHipHop News) Acclaimed violinist/producer Miri Ben-Ari speaks through her sounds but is now trying to empower the voices of millions of children and reward a select few. Her non-profit organization Gedenk is partnering with Scholastic Art & Writing Awards to present five students with the Gedenk Award for Tolerance.
To enter, students must create written pieces or original works of art that discuss tolerance and reflect upon the Holocaust and other genocides while promoting the importance of tolerance. Miri Ben-Ari spoke on the uniqueness of this event:
We are pleased to collaborate with Scholastic Art & Writing Awards on this campaign. It’s not easy to encourage young people to learn about atrocities such as the Holocaust, but this unique and creative approach has engaged them to embrace tolerance.
Five winners will be selected to receive a medal along with a cash award of $1,000 for their writing or their original work of art.
The Scholastic Arts & Awards campaign is open to any public, private, parochial or home-school student in grades 7 – 12 in the U.S., Canada. Students in an American school abroad may also participate in the Awards. Submissions are now being accepted and the deadline within 2014 varies slightly by region.
Work may be submitted for any of the Awards’ categories of art or writing, via the Awards’ online registration system.
The brawling has begun during the taping of Basketball Wives: LA.The YBF is saying that Draya and newbie Sundy Carter have been fighting over the activities of the former’s boyfriend.
Sundy and Draya started scrapping recently while filming the new season of the show after Sundy started trash talking Draya’s boyfriend, Dallas Cowboys baller Orlando Scandrick.
This may have been the last straw for Draya because word on the street is that other cast members have been talking smack about Orlando as well. They have been accusing him of scandalous cheating activity a Draya blew a fuse.
Sundy allegedly ended up with a black eye. Meanwhile, the other word surfacing is that Drayaskipped out on the cast’s Paris trip, which was set to be the setting for their finale taping.
Neither one of them are actually wives. Sounds like Angry Bird behavior.
(AllHipHop News) Norwalk, Connecticut Hip-Hop artist Chris Webby spoke with AllHipHop.com about the grind of an independent artist, just as he promotes his new EP Homegrown.
The rapper inked a deal with independent record label e-One. According to Chris, he was selective when it came to signing a label deal, due to his overarching career goals.
“We had been looking into deals for a little while,” Chris Webby told AllHipHop.com. “I’m all about the indie thing, but after eight projects of being completely independent, frustrations build. It’s really tough to pay out-of-pocket for an entire Hip-Hop career. It’s a pretty expensive job.”
The rapper said that e-One was a perfect for his career, since he is not necessarily aiming for the Forbes “Richest Rappers” list when it comes to his music.
“You’ve got to realize what you’re in this for,” Chris Webby explained. “I’m in this to leave a legacy of dopeness really. I’m not worried about blowing up over night, fame and money and women, ect. I’ve got good weed and I’m making good music and that’s what I’m concerned with.”
Chris Webby said he hopes his EP Homegrown, as well as his future releases from e-One, will increase his fan base.
“I’ve been getting out there, and I think people are finally getting over the initial ‘he’s a white kid from the suburbs of Connecticut.’ Its not a bad area, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where your from. I grew up rapping, for a long time now…15 years and I think people are starting to realize…this kid can rap and he’s for real.”
Download the new EP Homegrown, which features production Sap, Harry Fraud, Rich Kidd, Ned Cameron, DJ Burn One, Rich Kidd and others.
(AllHipHop Features) Thanks to his production work on De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising DJ Prince Paul has picked up the moniker “The Inventor of the Hip Hop Skit.” Theatrical interludes like “Intro,” “Can You Keep A Secret,” “Do As De La Does,” and “I Can Do Anything (Delacratic)” helped establish a new tradition for rap albums that is still prevalent nearly a quarter century later.
Paul is also well-known in the Hip Hop community for his critically acclaimed solo LPs Psychoanalysis: What Is It?, A Prince Among Thieves, and Itsrumental. Each project centered around a distinct theme or story establishing the New Yorker as one of the leading creators of the concept album in the genre.
AllHipHop connected with Prince Paul to ask the host of Scion A/V’s “The All Purpose Show” about his all time favorite Hip Hop skits, concept albums, and personally produced tracks.
AllHipHop.com: What are your Top 5 Hip Hop album skits of all time?
Prince Paul: One would have to be whatever is on that N##### 4Life album by N.W.A. To me that set the bar, because you could actually see everything. Those to me are like the most top-notch ones I think I’ve heard. I think ones that are really funny are the ones they put on [Wu-Tang Clan’s] 36 Chambers. That would have to be my number two.
My number three would have to be – and this is not necessarily a great skit it was just stuck in my head – on Big Pun when he did that “packing a mac in the back of the ac” [Capital Punishment’s “Pakinamac Pt. 2 (Skit)”]. For some reason that always stuck in my head. It wasn’t even a great skit. It was just that he made some weird skit out of it, and it was totally goofy. After that, Ice Cube’s Lethal Injection. The beginning of that album I felt was brilliant. It was mad intense. Probably lastly… I can’t even think of too many skits. I don’t even like skits to be honest.
The “Inventor of the Hip Hop Skit” doesn’t like skits? That’s ironic.
When I made [those skits] it wasn’t with the intention of like “yeah, everybody’s going to follow.” I was just trying to glue 3 Feet High and Rising together. I was thinking all of these records are so awkward let me just find a way to piece them together, and then it became a staple for a second for Hip Hop albums.
I’d skip past them like, “oh god, why did they put that on there?” I can’t name a top five, but those are definitely my top four… Oh, Tha Alkaholiks. I’m not sure which album it was, but it was the one where they had the impression of Bill Clinton [Tash’s Rap Life]. I thought it was really funny.
My number one would have to be [Marvin Gaye’s] Hear, My Dear. I just thought that was brilliant, just the whole story behind that album. Super brilliant. That would have to be number one. I have to think of things that more-or-less affected me. Number two would have to be The Amazing Spider-Man [Beyond The Grave] on Buddha Records in 1972-73. The next one would have to be recently [Killer Mike and El-P’s] Run The Jewels. To me that’s a concept record, because they came out with personas of hardcore gangster guys and made songs based on that. Another concept record that was really good… I’m trying to think of some that were really impactful.
What did you think of Kendrick Lamar’s [good kid, m.A.A.d. city] album?
I think for a contemporary record that’s a really good concept album, because people don’t really do that no more. He didn’t really take it literally like some people do. [Public Enemy’s] It Takes A Nation Of Millions[To Hold Us Back] that’s a concept record because it’s all about black revolution. If we were to put that in order, it would be Kendrick Lamar last after It Takes A Nation Of Millions.
What are your Top 5 quintessential Prince Paul tracks?
Man I don’t even listen to my own music. [laughs] Except recently on a long flight I was listening to records to see how they lived over the last 15-20 years since I made those songs. Man, Prince Paul records? Probably, “1-800 Suicide” – Gravediggaz. “Millie Pulled A Pistol On Santa” would have to be another one. “Beautiful Night” on the Psychoanalysis album. “The Men in Blue” on A Prince Among Thieves. Those are the ones I really, really like. Last one? “No Sex (In The Champagne Room)” by Chris Rock because that’s just a silly song, and it’s experimental.
It seems like quite a few generation y’ers have absolutely no brain cells. Either that or their sociopaths. Apparently, there’s a new game that’s popular in the New York and New Jersey area called “Knock Out.” The point is to knock out random people walking down the street. It could be anybody. Watch this:
I hope they knock the wrong one out and get the beating they deserve.
I drunk a whole gallon of laxitives by accident just to sh*t on your has beens-Kendrick Lamar
(AllHipHop News) Kendrick Lamar might be dressed in expensive suits for his GQ Man of the Year article, but his words are still as grimey as ever. GQ released video of the behind the scenes making of Lamar’s cover shoot and shares an exclusive freestyle.
In a recent interview with MTV, Lamar opened up on beginning work on his as-of-yet untitled follow up to his 2012 classic debut album, good kid, mAAd city:
I’m letting the inspiration come for sure. If I knock myself into the wall, I’ll probably be out the game for a minute because it’s stressful trying to be creative rather than letting creativity come to you and being inspired by something
Check out the behind the scenes footage of Kendrick’s GQ Man of the Year cover shoot and the exclusive freestyle below:
