(AllHipHop News) Chris Brown cannot seem the catch a break, but he’s caught a charge of hit-n-run after a minor accident with a woman.
Chris Brown has been charged with a pair of criminal charges where he hit a Mercedes Benz, but authorities say he didn’t abide by the law in the matter. Brown stopped and exchanged some information with the other motorist, but apparently failed turn over his driver’s license and gave her incorrect insurance information.
Brown addressed the matter this morning.
“It’s not a hit and run if u get out the car, exchange information (who has NO DAMAGE to either cars). This is really ridiculous,” he tweeted.
According to TMZ, The City Attorney slapped Chris with leaving the scene without exchanging proper information and charged driving without a valid license.
Each charge could get the singer up to six months in jail.
Lastly, should this result in a probation violation, the singer could face four years in jail.
On a concert bill that includes LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, and De La Soul, the significance of the Kings Of The Mic Tour could easily be discussed at great lengths for a long while.
Need proof? The title of this article simply poses one question, but the body of it gets three strong answers to it from three individuals who are actually on the stage in front of thousands of fans at every stop of the tour.
AllHipHop.com spoke to DJ Z-Trip (LL Cool J’s DJ), WC (West Coast rapper and Ice Cube’s hype man), and Crazy Toones (Ice Cube’s DJ). And after reading their arguments for importance, it will be easy to understand why the rappers on this tour that have been rapping for decades not only continue to be relevant, but are still deserving of royal status just like the concert title says.
DJ Z-Trip: It’s [important on] many levels. Right now, I think the state of Hip-Hop musically is…we’re in a very weird place. I mean we’re pushing boundaries on certain levels, but I think content-wise, I think what people are rapping about, there’s not a lot of relevance. It’s become a bit too much like people talking about how many chicks they’re f***ing, people talking about how many riches they got, how many people they killed, what ever the f***. I mean rap has been doing that s**t for years anyway, but on this kind of tour you’re dealing with people who actually put words together. They craft their words together. I don’t think there’s a lot of crafting going on with a lot of rappers. There still are plenty out there, but, by and large, I think what’s coming through to the average Hip-Hop listener is not really super intelligent. And so a tour like this rallying behind LL, PE, De La, [and] Cube is allowing people to see that there’s still people out there doing it and that [these] voices still need and want to be heard.
I look at people like De La and when you watch them-this is how a performance should be and they start it off. That opens up the whole door to the whole tour. You go through everybody and you get to me and LL at the end. We’re doing real DJ/emcee s**t back and forth. It’s not like I’m just pushing some buttons and he’s rapping. We have all these dynamics and really took our time to make it a show. And that to me is why I think it’s so relevant. Hip-Hop has always been about the performance, I’ve felt. And I don’t see a lot of Hip-Hop acts in this day and age come out and actually put on a show. They just rap over their song and that s**t is kind of boring to me.
WC: Because that’s where it started- with a lot of the cats that’s on the tour. [They] kicked off a lot in the direction of where things are going. I don’t want to say that’s where it needs to end because it’s not ending for us; we’re still here. But at the same time too, it needs to be recognized years later with new generations of rappers coming out. You got cats like LL Cool J who is one of the first to kick it off on the Hip-Hop scene coming up under the greats like Run-D.M.C. and stuff like that. He was a young phenom that came out and did it and it’s good for people to see that and recognize that and remember that he’s the one that brought it into the forefront with the lyrics and battling and s**t like that. You got Public Enemy on the righteous tip, so called conscious rap. They were one of the first groups that came out and captivated the whole world and made everybody feel good to stand up for their rights. It’s good for everybody to see that. You got Ice Cube who came out with “gangsta rap.” You got a lot of cats out there now trying to be tough with their lyrics and be dope dealers and gang bangers and stuff like that. And you see the bandannas and all that s**t and everything. It’s good for [people] to see that. Also too, you got De La Soul who came from that abstract age. It’s good for people to see them. And what’s good about this tour right here is that there’s a lot of people coming out that’s not “old-school.” You’ve got a lot of youngsters coming out and seeing it. And once they come out and see the package together, they walk away appreciating not just the artists, but Hip-Hop [as a whole] even more so. It’s a great show man.
Crazy Toones: This tour is so important to Hip-Hop because it’s everybody that’s been in the game from like after Melle Mel and them came, so we came around ’85, ’86. It’s showing you that it takes more than just sitting at home and being in front of your computer on the Internet, making a song, and just throwing it out [there]. It’s a whole package with Hip-Hop because if you don’t know how to perform or do a show, you’re really nothing. It’s dope because De La Soul, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, and Public Enemy, everybody has been doing it for so long, everybody knows that when we get up there it’s really a job. You can’t just get up there thinking, “I got a song out, and I’m just singing my record” with your hands in your pockets. You’ve got to bring a real show. When you come to the Kings Of The Mic Tour, you’re gonna see why it’s called the Kings Of The Mic Tour. Everybody knows what to do.
Have you seen the Kings Of The Mic Tour yet? What did you think of the show?
(AllHipHop News) #NEWRULES. Jay-Z has been on an impressive streak of near flawless promotion for his upcoming album Magna Carta Holy Grail due out July 7th (July 4th for Samsung Galaxy owners). However, he may have experienced his first drawback as the release for his “Holy Grail” collaboration with Justin Timberlake has been pushed back to June 26th instead of its original date of June 25th.
No to worry, Jay-Z recently released the lyrics of another song off his new album entitled “Heaven”. He speaks on religion’s divisive qualities, compares himself to Michael (pick one..Jackson, Tyson, Jordan) and more.
The Trayvon Martin trial started yesterday (June 24) in controversy, from the bizarre knock-knock joke from George Zimmerman’s lawyer, to the judge’s ruling that Martin’s parents will be allowed attend the trial. There aren’t many networks airing the entire feed without a barrage of commercials, along with opinions and comments from various talking heads.
(AllHipHop News) During a recent interview with Devi Dev at 97.9 The Box in Houston J. Cole made Nas proud while we were still hearing about how he let him down.
According to Cole, him and Nas were working out the “Made Nas Proud” song a few days prior to his Born Sinner June 18th release date.
He also says he plans on releasing all of his mixtapes commercially in the future.
(AllHipHop News) Good news is somewhat of a rarities for Chris Brown in recent weeks, however he may have just received some much needed good news. After 24 year old Deena Gines accused Chris Brown of injuring her by pushing her to the ground at Heat Ultra Lounge, the owner is singing a different tune.
According to TMZ, Heat Ultra Lounge owner says attests that surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts refute Deena Gines’ allegations:
“Based on the information which we have gathered from our security company, mall security, and other party goers which were at HEAT on Saturday night; It is apparent that the alleged incident regarding Chris Brown is false.”
The owner also says it was Gines, in fact, who was the aggressor with her repeated attempts to get on stage during Chris Brown’s performance along with allegedly throwing her heels at security after they refused her entrance to the VIP section Brown was at.
When I saw that Eminem and Kendrick Lamar had a meeting….I knew it was on! But, in an interview with MTV, the 25-year Kendrick said that he kicked it will the living legend “as a fan.” But we know better. Eminem is such a recluse that I considered this album he’s working on to be a comeback of sorts. And that’s a crazy thing to say. But in the era of twitter and vine and endless exposure, it sure feels that way.
So, there is no way that Eminem and Kendrick will not do a song together. Last foray, Em was doing joints with Drake and B.O.B. Why not!?! It will happen and it will be an epic lyrical treat for all!
(AllHipHop News) The theatrics in Law & Order, including surprise witnesses and movie quality opening statements, usually do not happen in actual court cases. Unless you’re George Zimmerman’s attorney, Don West.
In the most publicized trial of the year, Don West informed the jury “you have to laugh to keep from crying” before trying to make light of the arduous selection process the jury went through”:
(AllHipHop News) Detroit emcee Big Sean is back with a track off his upcoming album Hall of Fame. Last week Sean revealed he was not going to be left out of the “Summer of Hip Hop” by announcing the album’s release date in a video trailer, and today he drops the full audio of the lead single “Beware.”
(AllHipHop News) Over the last decade Pusha T and No Malice have released three official studio albums and numerous mixtapes as the group Clipse. For the first time, both rappers are planning to drop solo albums next month. While the brothers say they are still close personally, they acknowledge that their individual music is heading in different directions.
“We’ve always supported each other in everything that we’ve done. Right now, we’re doing two different things,” No Malice tells Vibe magazine.
Pusha and No Malice appear as the cover feature on Vibe’s latest digital release. In the rare joint interview, the Virginia emcees address rumors of brotherly beef, the future of the Re-up Gang, and whether they feel like the fans deserve another Clipse album.
On Rumors of beef between the two:
No Malice: I don’t even get where a beef would come from, or how that was perceived in anyone’s minds. There could never be beef.
On the Re-Up Gang:
Pusha T: I don’t really know. I mean, Re-Up was born from the Clipse, so without us recording together, I don’t see Re-Up gang as a whole recording together. Everybody as their own respective entity is going to carry on the same criteria to be under the name. It’s one thing at a time.
No Malice: The kind of rappers I like come from the Re-Up Gang. One thing you can count on from the Re-Up Gang is the realness. We come from an era where you had to really be living the life that you were rapping about. Even though my content and Pusha’s content is different now, everything we’re saying is still true. To me, that’s the hip-hop that I enjoy.
On creating another Clipse album for their fans:
No Malice: I can answer that easily. I don’t feel like I owe anyone anything. And whatever I’ve given to the fans that supported us, I appreciate all the support. I really do… Even with the Clipse albums, it wasn’t that I owed the fans, it was just me showing my art with them, and I would love to that again sometime. Be clear though, I love the fans.
Pusha T: I don’t owe nobody nothing. This game is horrible.
Pusha is scheduled to release his debut solo album, My Name Is My Name, under Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint July 16th. No Malice is set to release his solo LP, Hear Ye Him, July 2nd.
(AllHipHop News) The organizers of Rock the Bells held a press conference and launch party at New York City’s Highline Ballroom last night (6/24). At the event it was announced that a host of new acts have been added to this year’s bill for the traveling festival.
Rock The Bells has tapped Action Bronson, Big Daddy Kane, Deltron 3030, Freddie Gibbs, Freeway, J. Cole, KRS-ONE, Rapsody, 9th Wonder, Riff Raff, Slick Rick, Sean P, Smoke DZA, Wale, and YG to join the initial line-up revealed in May.
The roster of performers already includes Wu-tang Clan, Black Hippy, Common, Curren$y, Kid Cudi, Rakim, and many more. This year’s Rock The Bells will also feature holograms of deceased rap legends Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Eazy E.
The tenth annual Rock the Bells Festival will take place in San Bernardino, CA (9/11-9/12), Mountain View, CA (9/14-9/15), Washington, DC (9/28-9/29), and Rutherford, NJ (10/4-10/5).
(AllHipHop News) “Off top I brung Queens up from hard times. Rockin at the Fever, streets was all mine,” rapped Nas on “Last Real N#### Alive” off his 2002 LP God’s Son. Now, thanks to DJ Tony Touch, fans can watch video of Nas rocking the Fever from his early days in 1993.
For the past month Tony has been releasing one vintage video a day in the run-up to his The Piece Maker 3: Return of the 50 MC’s album. Previous episodes featured footage of the various emcees over the past 20 years.
Two decades after Nas burst onto the scene the legendary rapper is still influencing the culture. Just this weekend his remix to J. Cole’s “Let Nas Down” took over social media sites.
(AllHipHop News) Taylor Gang leader Wiz Khalifa took to Twitter to announce the title of his next album. The Pennsylvania native’s upcoming third LP will be the follow-up to 2012’s O.N.I.F.C.
Wiz also released a new visual to go along with the announcement of his new album. For the new track “Old Chanel,” Taylor Gang and Jet Life combine once again as Harlem’s Smoke DZA appears on the song.
On 4/20 of this year Wiz Khalifa teamed up with the head of Jet Life, Curren$y, to drop their second joint project Live In Concert.
