@ShawnnaMusic ft @JakFrostMuzik "All We Do Is Get"
#AlternativePick: @KevinMcCall ft. @Tank (@TheRealTank) "High (Remix)"
Rick Gonzalez aka 'Realm Reality' Talks Signing with Prodigy, Fav Rappers and Hollywood
As the first artist signed to Prodigy’s Infamous Records, Rick Gonzalez aka Realm Reality, has his heart and soul embedded in Hip-Hop.
Despite being known first and foremost as the actor from such films as Old School, Coach Carter, Biker Boyz and War of the Worlds, Realm first honed his rap skills as a kid growing up in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Joining a long list of actors/rappers, he’s out to prove the naysayers wrong.
Rick, who just recently officially signed with Infamous Records, is gearing up for the release of his second mixtape next week titled In the Grind We Trust. The 12-track project features appearances and guest verses from the likes of Joell Ortiz, Fred the Godson, Blu, Skyzoo, and Termanology among others and is set to make quite the impact.
AllHipHop.com got the chance to speak with Rick about his signing to Infamous Records, working with rappers like Blu and Prodigy, his favorite film from 2012 and much more.
You teaming up with Prodigy seems to come out of nowhere. When did you two connect and how did your signing to his label come about?
Yeah well me and [Prodigy], through mutual friends, have known each other for a long time, like six or seven years at least, so we’ve always had a respect and friendship that was built.
When P went to jail, I sent letters in and just kept in contact with him and kept his spirits up and when he got out he knew I had been doing music so he came to L.A. I said “we need to go to the studio, I need to get you and [Havoc] on something and while we were unable to get Hav at the time, P came through and I played him the joint, he laid down his verse and gave me a hook on top of it.
P is a man of very few reactions and emotions but once we played it back he gave me this look like he loved the record and so that moment just kind of led me here.
Since you just brought up both Prodigy and Havoc, what kind if impact did last year’s break-up of Mobb Deep have on you as a native New Yorker, lyricist but more importantly someone who is a fan of Hip-Hop?
As a fan it was definitely disheartening to hear ‘cause they influenced me so much as an artist and I sympathize just as a fan like ‘wow this really hurts Hip-Hop in a big way.’ They are simply one of the greatest Hip-Hop groups of all time so it was definitely disheartening to hear.
In addition to Mobb Deep, while you were growing up, who else were you listening to and being influenced by?
That’s easy. As a kid, and I’m talking like four years old up until like ten, it was easily Slick Rick, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie… and once I got older and started thinking about rhymes, sometime around ’98, I started writing. At that time it was [Big Pun], Nas, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Eminem even really influenced me heavily and was someone that I listened to a lot. The Roots of course I listen to all their stuff. So I was dabbling in all lanes.
I was really just listening to everyone and before CD’s were available I was buying tapes of like The Pharcyde, and I think I bought the “Gas Face” by 3rd Bass tape too, and that was my thing like all day. So yeah, stuff like that.
Taking all that into consideration, shoot off your “Top 5 Dead or Alive.”
My “Top 5” changes a lot but right now, how I’m feeling, is Nas, [Eminem], [Jay-Z], [Big Pun] and because today I’m just feeling that way, I’ll say [Tupac]. But you can always switch out [Notorious B.I.G.] in there. That’s my “Top 5” right there.
That’s dope and you can tell that’s honesty because 99% of people are always going to include both Tupac and Biggie in their “Top 5.”
[Laughs] Yeah for sure.
Of course people are paying more attention to your stuff musically now especially with the release of In the Grind We Trust coming in a couple of weeks but what do you classify yourself as first, an actor or a rapper?
I mean I definitely consider myself an actor first because that was how people initially recognized me and that’s the truth of it. Unless you were from Bushwick, no one knew I was a rapper. I used to rap with people out there and certain friends of mine knew I did that but in terms of the world, it knew me as “Rick Gonzalez the Actor” first.
It’s been a long time of me just trying to gain notoriety and become visible from the music. I guess I technically have to just own it; I’m an actor first and I’m proud to say that ‘cause that’s an incredibly hard career to break into. It’s a huge blessing.
Let’s talk about the project itself since that’s what is up next for you. Of course your man Prodigy is on it, as is Joell Ortiz but so is Blu. I have to ask man, how the hell did you get a verse from Blu, he’s not the kind of artist to just hop on anyone’s track.
[Laughs] I don’t know man this is the second time that someone has told me that. Is it really that hard to get Blu on a track? I have no idea.
I go to Alchemist’s studio all the time and Blu is always there, that’s how I met him. He showed me love at the studio and I told him ‘I’m a fan and I think your music is dope as hell.’ We just knocked it out and I told him we had to do something. I just waited for the right moment to get the right production and I got him on this joint produced by Nottz Raw that is not going to disappoint. Trust me, it’s not going to disappoint in any way and I got Fred the Godson on that track too so it’s just nuts.
What was the reaction and reception to the music when you were playing it at your listening event in NYC last week?
It was good honestly because I wasn’t really in the trenches, I was with P most of the time just kind of hosting it and giving a narrative for each track and I kind of pay attention to the energy in the room and it just seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves and the music wasn’t removing them from having a good time it was actually helping so that really let me know I was going in the right direction and that people were actually interested in it.
It was my first listening event ever so I understood the parameters of people drinking and talking was going to be more prevalent then the music BUT if it doesn’t remove the energy from the room and you don’t get a bad vibe from the room then it’s a good thing and I definitely felt good vibes. I think people are going to really enjoy it once they grab it and really listen to it.
As someone who has their foot in both the movie and music industry, I’m curious what a highlight from each in 2012 was for you. Was there an album and movie that really stuck with you?
Kendrick Lamar’s album was really good and in terms of film…what the hell did I see last year that was really good? Oh yeah, Life of Pi was amazing.
Interesting choice movie wise, I was expecting something like The Avengers or Django Unchained.
Man, Life of Pi was mind-blowing. I went to see it at a screening with a good friend of mine and this was before the whole awards season started happening and I just knew it was going to get recognized as an amazing film. I haven’t had a chance to see Django but I really do need to see it.
Is there anything on your slate coming up that you can speak on?
I do have a couple of things but I can’t really speak on them right now ‘cause they’re being developed so the production companies would not be happy to have me speak on them but there is definitely things in the pipeline coming in 2013. Yes you will see me working.
Would one of those projects in the pipeline be 179th Street with Fat Joe?
I don’t really know where the process is with that and I can’t really speak on it ‘cause I’m not the producer of it so I don’t really know what to say about that one.
Last but not least, tell me how you got the name Realm Reality? Does it have some personal significance?
It actually came from a friend of mine in the neighborhood who was also an emcee and he just came to me with it. I was 18 and we would read each other rhymes out of our notebooks and he just came to me with the name Realm Reality and it didn’t make any sense to me you know I mean? I didn’t care though.
I said I was going to take it and run with it and I was just honored and humbled that my man gave me a name ‘cause my mom never gave me a nickname, people in the neighborhood didn’t give me a nickname so the fact that he gave it to me at the time, I just knew I was going to do something with it.
Realm Reality’s In the Grind We Trust Drops February 12th!
Hip-Hop Rumors: Gucci Mane Accused Of Attempted Murder? Another Rapper Goes Christian!
Gucci Mane Did WHAT?
You know Gucci Mane is known to buss his gun off, but that has been a long while ago. The latest has deeper implications, especially since Gucci just spoke at career day at an Atlanta Middle School. Rumor has it, Gucci beat down a DJ to near death after the DJ played an unreleased track from the rapper! It was all good, dudes were spending money on strippers and everything that goes along with the “life.” Suddenly, that song came on. Word is, Gucci stepped to the dude and they allegedly beat his a### and destroyed his DJ equipment. It was so bad that both the police and the paramedics were called to the scene. The DJ is reportedly in the hospital resting in stable condition.
Gucci allegedly fled the scene with the entourage.
Geto Boy finds God.
Bushwick Bill has long been claiming to come out at a Christian rapper and I’m now hearing it is finally coming true. According to my sources, the lil big man will be coming out as a Holy Hip-Hopper. This is not really new because the rumors have been swirling for quite some time. I am hearing that he will have a tour, DVD and album all starting in May. We’ll see!
Speaking of Christian rappers, check out this analysis on The Clipse, and whether or not No Malice and Pusha-T can do it again… One runs with the Illuminati and the other God. Just kidding on the Illuminati part.
OH…I got my first death threat of the year. So proud of myself.
Did you here about Biggie choking Kim til she passed out? Whoa, dude! That man had a pimp hand. In the vid below, Kim talks about it at the 3 minute mark.
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.
Illseed, Out.
GET INTERACTIVE WITH ALLHIPHOP.COM!
Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!
Email illseed rumors: ki*********@***il.com
@ActionBronson #BGA "Strictly 4 The Jeeps"
The Hostile Takeover of Black History Month
How Ya Like Me Now – Kool Moe Dee
Back in 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson started what was ,then, Negro History Week as a way to save the story of a great people from falling into the dark abyss of Euro-centric falsehood. However, since then, the celebration has been exploited by everything from car companies that want to sell Black people pimped out new rides to restaurants that create a soul food dollar menu every year ,complete with fried chicken, watermelon and red Kool Aid.
What is most disturbing is that many of the companies that will have “Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” blastin’ out of the intercom systems during February 2013 are the same ones that dissed Black folks in the 90’s.
Although AT&T has commercials playing ‘round the clock on black networks , back in 1993, the company came under fire from African Americans when their employee magazine contained an ad which featured a picture of a monkey representing the people of Africa.
In 1994 , Denny’s Restaurant chain , which takes great pride in its diversity programs ,was sued for racial discrimination. Ironically, it was the Denny’s chain that brought out some of the old “S####” restaurants.
Also, the old Texaco gas stations had to shell out some major dollars in 1996 when the company’s top officials were busted for referring to their African American employees as “black jellybeans.” (among other things)
And these are the types of people who we trust to tell our story?
Really?
Under the guise of Black History, they give us just enough to keep “Black leaders “ happy and to ease white guilt. So we get the same old rehashed slavery/MLK/civil rights stories over and over again.
What happened to the great African civilizations of Ethiopia and Egypt? What about those brave warriors who fought against the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.Or how about the thousands of Black people who fought against racism before and after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr?
This version of Black History is considered too controversial for the mainstream.
Although controversy may sell rap cds, it doesn’t sell cell phones. So, in most cases, telling the truth about Black History may be bad for business.
For instance, if more Black children knew about the damage done in Africa over the scramble for gold and diamonds, maybe “bling” wouldn’t be so popular. Nor would rappers like Trinidad James singin’ about “gold all in my chain/gold all in my ring..” still have a career. Thus impacting both the jewelry and the music industry, simultaneously.
If Black kids got a strong dose of true African history during Black History Month, maybe they would start wearing dashikis and kufis instead of snapbacks and True Religion Jeans. Which would impact the clothing industry.
Also, if our youth learned about the historical origin of Black on Black violence every February, they may be less likely to pick up an assault rifle. Thus, impacting the gun industry.
So, the only ones who truly benefit from true Black history are Black people.
This is why our story must be told and it must be told by us. There must be a hostile takeover of Black History Month.
Black History is more than a way to push a product. It is the tie that binds people of African descent together. So, before we even begin to talk about “taking back Hip Hop” or” taking back our community,” we must concern ourselves with taking back our history.
Unlike during the time of our parents, we now have the technology to make it happen right at our fingertips.
The Black By Nature/Conscious By Choice campaign is on a mission to bring back Black consciousness and there is no better time to start than right now. Just as Public Enemy had as its mission to raise up 5,000 Black leaders during the late 80’s, our task today, is to raise up 5,000 intellectual warriors.
For Black History Month we are suggesting the following steps.
Instead of depending on the media to give us the truth about our history, we must use Youtube , Facebook and Twitter to start a “Black History :The Lost Episodes” series where we will post and Tweet information that has been purposely hidden from the masses of Black people.
Hip Hop must also get involved as we are asking rappers to adopt the names of our Black heroes and heroines during Black History Month. If rappers can name themselves after comic book heroes like “Johnny Blaze” and Hollywood gangsters’s like “Frank White” and “Scarface” , why can’t we have , “The King Tut of the Turntables,” “The Nat Turner of Rap”,” or “The Harriet Tubman of Hip Hop.? “
Also, we must form Afro-centric media watch groups to make sure that our history is not distorted by the media, especially during Black History Month.
So, the hostile takeover of Black History Month must happen.
Like Malcolm X would put it , we must take back our culture this year, “By any means necessary.”
We can do this the easy way or the hard way..
Or like Biggie Smalls once rapped “the fast way, ski mask way… ransom note….”
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s site is No Warning Shots Fired.com. Follow on Twitter @ truthminista For more information about the Black By Nature/Conscious By Choice Campaign contact in**@*****************ed.com or call (919) 972-8305
Presice "Black Star Power"
Krondon Ft. Kobe "Lean On Me"
@BrothaLynchHung Ft. @TechN9ne & @Hopsin "Stabbed"
#FreshHeat: Quay Meanz (@TaylorGangMeanz) "Long Day"
Shawn Pen Ft. Malik Yusef & Styles P "Bout That Life"
@The_MyNORS "What They Dont Know"
Kane Mayfield "Middle Class"
Chief Keef's Manager Defends Troubled Rapper, Says He's Had A "Wake-up Call"
(AllHipHop News) Chicago rapper Chief Keef has faced serious circumstances in his short music career. The 17-year-old is currently serving a 60-day sentence in juvenile detention on a gun charge. The presiding judge ruled that Keef had violated his probation after appearing in taped interview for Pitchfork at a gun range.
[ALSO READ: Hip-Hop Rumors: EXCLUSIVE: Chief Keef Is In Good Hands In Jail!]
Keef’s recent incarceration and violent imagery in his lyrics have led to a lot of criticism toward the “Love Sosa” rapper, especially in the wake of the overwhelming violence in his hometown.
Keef’s manager, Dro Manuel, recently defended his client in an interview with The Best of Both Offices, saying he felt putting the burden of what’s happening in Chicago on the young rapper was unfair, and that people have a misconception of the real Chief Keef.
Manuel insists Keef is not a bad person, but just an entertainer who’s speaking on real life topics.
“He’s not the first to put reality-based lyrics [in his music], as far as like talking about what’s going on in the inner-city for real,” said Manuel. “I think that it’s kinda messed up that they wanna blame him for all the murders, all the crime and all this other stuff that’s going on in Chicago.”
[ALSO READ: The Creation of Chief Keef: Fixing Chicago’s Teen Murder Culture]
While Manuel defends Keef against the idea that he’s in any way responsible for the high murder rate in Chicago, he does say that there is blame to go around- mostly on city officials and the media.
“Chicago hasn’t paid attention to Englewood [Chief Keef’s neighborhood] since they thought they were getting the Olympics. That’s when they brought it out to the public like, ‘there’s all these murders happening in Englewood everyday,’ and that kinda backfired on them…after that, they haven’t brought it back up until Chief Keef.”
Manuel went on to say that he feels other Chi-town emcees haven’t spoken out enough about the lack of attention to the violent areas of the city, after the failed Olympic bid.
“And all of the other rappers that come from Chicago, they know that. They act like they don’t know that, but they know that. These problems have gone on here for a long time.”
[ALSO READ: A History of Violence: The Black Gangs of Chicago]
Manuel also believes that Keef’s recent legal problems are mostly the fault of other people. When asked if he thought Pitchfork is responsible for Keef getting locked up he replied, “Pitchfork and whoever set that interview up, not saying any names, but yeah. I think so.”
Manuel said that he is confident Chief Keef will leave the detention center a changed man.
“I got a message from him that he’s had a wake-up call. This is a wake-up call for him,” he revealed. “I think he’s gonna come out a different person. I think he’s gonna come out with some new music, a new attitude…”
To read the full interview visit www.bestofbothoffices.com
Hip-Hop Rumors: Why Was DJ Whoo Kid Arrested?
Why Was DJ Whoo Kid Arrested?
Nobody knows, but the picture is worthy of a caption contest!
The only facts that we know are that he was arrested yesterday outside of the G-Unit offices.
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.
Illseed, Out.
GET INTERACTIVE WITH ALLHIPHOP.COM!
Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!
Email illseed rumors: ki*********@***il.com
Hip-Hop Rumors: Crunchy Black Beef With Rick Ross?
Well this is random. But I am hearing that Crunchy Black, the former member of the Three Six Mafia, has issues with Rick Ross like the rest of the underground gangster world seems to have. Now, I don’t know what ties Crunchy really has to any group, but the source that he may be a member of the Memphis, Tennessee GD’s or have strong ties to them. This, I cannot verify. But…it just seems like a trend.
Oddly, I got another person from Florida that told me, it COULD NOT be the GD’s that shot at Rick Ross. The source said very emphatically, “THEY DON’T MISS.” This further leads to the mystery to who shot at Rozay…even if they did at all. Some have said they were warning shots from somebody. I dunno but out of 18 bullets somebody shoulda hit something! Not that I wish that on anybody.
Crunchy is still out there in the streets!
REMEMBER THIS?: Former Three Six Mafia Member Crunchy Black Shot
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.
Illseed, Out.
GET INTERACTIVE WITH ALLHIPHOP.COM!
Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!
Email illseed rumors: ki*********@***il.com
EXCLUSIVE: Kurupt Speaks on New Solo Album "Equinox"; Says DPG Album in the Works
(AllHipHop News) On Wednesday, AllHipHop.com sat down with one the West Coast’s most respected lyricists, Kurupt, to discuss his new music and the new DPG album in the works.
During the interview, Kurupt elaborated on his mixtape “M.B.P. (Money B**ches Power),” which is hosted by DJ Nik Bean. According to Kurupt, he has a full length album called Equinox that is also on the way.
In Kurupt’s own words, the music he has been putting together is “classic Kurupt.”
“Its fun, my mixtape now is really introducing me Kurupt again, introducing some new artists to the game and hittin ’em with that classic Kurupt and some new. I’m real excited to see what people think and I’m def shooting some more videos for the project too,” Kurupt told AllHipHop.com. “‘Number One’ is definitely a standout where I flipped the Jeezy and Neyo record and its talking about things that are going on right now in our lives currently – that’s with me, Snoop and Daz. I love rocking the mic and I love MC s**t. I have one produced by The Rejectz that features E-40, I can’t lie that’s one of my favorites.”
Kurupt, who inspired by other rappers that are still performing and younger artists that look up to the rapper and his historic run on Death Row Records in the 90’s, as part of Tha Dogg Pound.
But today, Kurupt remains as relevant as ever.
One example of that relevance came earlier in the week, when Kendrick Lamar told “The Ricky Smiley Morning Show” that Kurupt was one of the major influencers of his style, as he developed his sound.
“This is what I do this is my life, I’m a rapper. This is what I would do whether or not I get paid or not. I love being a rapper, I love rapping on the mic, doing shows.” Kurupt said when asked what keep him inspired after all these years. “Also I get inspired by seeing other people do well. Like people like 2 Chainz, Snoop and Kendrick and people like that, seeing them succeed as well or having inspired them, that’s what keeps me going. All that type of stuff, seeing Kendrick and people who generally have love me for my music and people who came up on my music and hearing people say they were inspired by me, that’s what all my work is for. ”
For all those DPG fans out there waiting on a new project, Kurupt also explained that there is a DPG album on the way. They worked on putting a release together over the last year, while on tour with Snoop Dogg.
“We’re working on a new DPG album. ‘That’s My Work Volume 2’ mixtape as well. Snoop got us on tour the majority of the year, we toured with Snoop where we worked on the album and the mixtapes. We ready to drop another classic, we in motion right now. [Snoop] Dogg keeps us on top of the world doing what we love,” Kurupt said.
Check out Kurupt’s most recent video for the track “Power” below:
Hip-Hop Rumors: EXCLUSIVE! Beyonce To Announce Tour!!
Now, I know people are going to say “DIS AIN’T DA REAL ILLSEED! DAT BOY TALKING ABOUT BEYONCE!” LOL! Anyway, I got an exclusive scoop from a friend of a friend close to the Beyonce camp! They gave me the insider look and told me that B is going to announce a new tour that will kick off in April or May of this year. Boom, but here is where my insider info gets really specific, she is supposedly going to make this revelation at the Super Bowl! You heard it here first!
Here is why my source could not reveal and that is if Beyonce will take Michelle and Kelly (Destiny’s Child) with her. So, we’ll have to see about that eh?
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.
Illseed, Out.
GET INTERACTIVE WITH ALLHIPHOP.COM!
Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook!
Email illseed rumors: ki*********@***il.com
Drake Will Debut New Single On Grammy Night
(AllHipHop News) Besides artists picking up trophies and star-studded performances there will be one more major music moment on February 10.
Billboard.com is reporting that YMCMB member Drake will be releasing a new song on the night of the Grammys.
The track is titled “Started From the Bottom,” and it will be the first official single off his upcoming third studio album.
Pictures surfaced online a few weeks ago of the singer-rapper on the set of a video shoot, and it was speculated that the Toronto native may have been filming a music video for the new track.
What is confirmed is that Drake connected with fellow Canadian, Director X, to direct the visuals.
The two previously worked together on the videos “HYFR” and “No Lie.”
So far, Drake has not announced a title or release date for the follow-up to his platinum album Take Care which was released in 2011.
He spent most of 2012 dominating the radio with his hits “The Motto” and “HYFR” and from appearing on 2 Chainz’s “No Lie,” Rick Ross’s “Stay Schemin’,” French Montana’s “Pop That,” Meek Mill’s “Amen” and A$AP Rocky’s “F#####’ Problems.”
He was also featured on the posthumous Aaliyah song “Enough Said.”
Beyond dropping “Started From The Bottom,” Sunday, February 10 could be a huge night for Drake for other reasons as well.
He will also be up for three Grammy awards- Best Rap Performance for “HYFR”, Best Rap Song for the “Motto”, and Best Rap Album for Take Care.