(AllHipHop News) Both Beyoncé and Alicia Keys have stepped forward to pledge their commitment to President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
Alicia Keys is kicking off her efforst by heading to the Women Vote 2012 Summit today (July 16) in Philadelphia to talk about what this election year means women.
Last week Alicia took her enthusiasm to Twitter telling her fans, “Women across America are fired up to vote for@BarackObama in 2012! Join me in Philly next Monday!ofa.bo/pAfVZv#Women2012.”
This is not the first time Keys has shown support for Obama, as she was a consistent supporter in the last election as part of the Vote For Change campaign, which enlisted musicians to get out the vote for our current president. Also, she recently performed alongside Mariah Carey at a re-election fundraiser in New York City.
Beyoncé is doing her part as well writing a a letter to the First Lady, calling Michelle Obama, “the ultimate example of a truly strong African-American woman.”
Adding to her support, Beyoncé read the letter she penned earlier in the year in a video released by BarackObama.com. Check out the video below.
(AllHipHop News) The Insane Clown Posse has announced the lineup for The 13th Annual Gathering The Juggalos, which will take place this August in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois.
The rap group has lined up artists like The Pharcyde, George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, Master P., Biz Markie, Raekwon, Geto Boys, Warren G. and others who will be the performers at The Annual Gathering Of The Juggalos.
Additionally, Insane Clown Posse members Violent J. and Shaggy 2 Dope will perform tracks from their upcoming album The Mighty Death of Pop.
The 13th Annual Gathering of The Juggalos will be co-hosted by wrestling legend Rick Flair, while comedians like Ralphie May, Cheech and Chong, Jamie Kennedy and Bobcat Goldthwait will add some humor to the festivities.
Other rappers confirmed for the massive 5-day event, which takes place from August 8-12, include Game, Rahzel, Tech N9ne, Danny Brown, DMX, Kottonmouth Kings, The Fat Boys, Glasses Malone, Lil EZ and Big Hutch.
(AllHipHop News) Alternative Hip-Hop group Chiddy Bang recently teamed with fellow Philadelphian Daryl Hall, for an episode on the legendary Hall and Oates singer’s critically acclaimed series “Live From Daryl’s House.”
The rappers joined Daryl for a seven-song set, that includes versions of Hall and Oates classics like “Fall in Philadelphia,” “(She) Got Me Bad” and songs like “Mind Your Manners” and “Talking To Myself,” from Chiddy Bang’s album Breakfast.
Later in the episode, Sylvester Stallone’s brother Frank joins in the set, since he sang in a Doo-Wop group on the street corners of Philadelphia, as did Daryl Hall.
“Like all good musicians from this town, these guys are steeped in all the right influences, from soul and R&B to Hip-Hop, with a style all their own. It was a lot of fun,” Daryl Hall said of working with Chiddy Bang.
During the episode, chef Vito Marcello cooks meatballs from Frank’s mother’s special recipe, before he breaks into the song “Take You Back” from his brother’s movie “Rocky.”
Chiddy Bang group member Xaphoon Jones said playing with Daryl was one of the highlight’s of his career thus far.
“Playing music together with a legend like Daryl was definitely a moment Chiddy and I will not forget. And to cook together…damn!”
The new episode of the award-winning web series and nationally syndicated program is available online now at www.lfdh.com.
The airwaves are filled with young artists commanding attention with their new and vibrant sounds. There are also budding stars behind the scenes. Atlanta’s Sonny Digital got his start as a producer while he was still a teenager.
Now, he is THE go-to guy for a hot, Hip-Hop record.
Sonny Digital shares some of his story, triumphs, and goals with AllHipHop.com:
AllHipHop.com: How did you get your start in music?
Sonny Digital: It came about when my older cousin moved to Atlanta from Michigan. He was making beats; at the time I wanted to rap, so I started hanging out with him. I then realized making beats was my thing, too. This was around the time 12 or 13.
AllHipHop.com: What inspires or motivates you?
Sonny Digital: All the young producers out right now motivate me. I feed off their energy. It keeps me on my toes, makes me step my game up constantly.
AllHipHop.com: What has been the biggest challenge so far?
Sonny Digital: My focus is always on being better than before. That’s all the challenge I focus on.
AllHipHop.com: What else would you be doing if you weren’t working in music?
Sonny Digital: Nothing else has stood out as much as music. I would be doing something with myself, but I’m not sure what it would be.
AllHipHop.com: Name some artists you have worked with.
Sonny Digital: I’ve worked with 2 Chainz, DJ Khaled, Juicy J, Wale, and Future, to name a few.
AllHipHop.com: And, what was your first record?
Sonny Digital: I was almost 20 when I produced “Racks”.”It was crazy seeing the record climb the charts. Around that time, “Motivation” by Kelly Rowland was out as well. It was a big moment to see the first record I did among other huge records. It sold 50,000, so I got a Gold plaque. “Same Damn Time” was my next big one.
AllHipHop.com: What would you tell any aspiring producer or young person with a dream?
Sonny Digital: Work for what you want. Always remember that overtime work will bring overtime pay. No shortcuts are allowed; if you take some it will put you right back where you started. Your grind will get you noticed – trust me. Take pride in your work and make yourself exclusive.
AllHipHop.com: What do you feel music is missing?
Sonny Digital: I don’t feel music is missing anything. What you hear now is all about evolution, and artists and producers adjusting to change.
AllHipHop.com: What else are you working on or want to share?
Sonny Digital: Well, I produced 2 Chainz’s next record with Kanye West, called “Birthday”. I have my own mixtape that will drop soon called Forbes Atlanta, I’m also in the process of working on a mixtape with Drumma Boy, too. I’m all about venturing out, so I’m excited to work with LRG on their back to school campaign. Waka Flocka is a part of that also.
For anybody on Twitter, follow me at @SonnyDigital. Trust me there’s a lot more to come from me.
Tawni Fears is a freelance writer and contributor to AllHipHop.com. Follow her on Twitter (@brwnsugaT).
Footage credit: AllHipHop.com/2012 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (Brooklyn Bodega)
There was the historic reuniting of Busta Rhymes with his Leaders of the New School after 19 years. Then there were the positive vibes from Q-Tip bringing his longtime Tribe brother Phife Dawg to the stage. We all bowed down to “the ruler” Slick Rick, and heads bopped hard to the undeniable New York sounds from Buckshot and Lil Fame.
And that’s just a little of what happened!
Make no mistake. If you missed the 2012 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (BHF’12) final day concert this past Saturday (July 14), you missed some Hip-Hop moments that are likely to never be duplicated again.
But lucky for you, you’ve got AllHipHop.com!
Check out more video below from the BHF’12 finale show – this time spotlighting Busta Rhymes along with some of the other performers (like Chuuwee, Ka, and Kosha Dillz) who made the day special:
Footage credit: JP DelaCuesta for AllHipHop.com/2012 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (Brooklyn Bodega)
Be sure to catch up on some of AllHipHop.com’s additional BHF’12 coverage:
Summer has reached its mid-point, yet there are still plenty of long and hazy days left to enjoy. One of the greatest ways to spend a summer day is reading a great book. Book publishers know this fact, so they release lots of projects during the summer months.
AllHipHop.com’s summer’s crop includes an amazing new novel from a legendary television writer/producer, a debut from a reality star, and even a highly-anticipated life story of a Hip-Hop legend.
So whether you are poolside or courtside, fill your summertime downtime the old-fashioned way – with a book!:
Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy by Albert “Prodigy” Johnson
Billed as a tale of struggle, survival, and hope, the autobiography of Prodigy is a tale of wealth and woe. A fearless confessional, My Infamous Life chronicles Prodigy’s family history, which included a life of privilege as the great-great-grandson of the founder of Morehouse College and the son of successful musicians and songwriters, to his role in Hip-Hop history as part of Mobb Depp. The recounting of Prodigy’s “infamous” rap beefs, his three-and-a-half-year stint in prison, and his controversial opinions on the NYPD “Hip-Hop Police” and the Illuminati, make the book a somewhat perplexing, but fascinating read. (Be sure to check out his new H.N.I.C. 3 album release, too.)
Blackberry Days of Summer by Ruth P. Watson
Based on real events, Blackberry Days of Summer is a story about the rural South and how relationships developed in the “country.” When Herman Camm is found dead, the three women in his life are suspected – his wife, his daughter, and his girlfriend. A suspenseful tale of deceit, filled with lust, adultery, and romance set in the post-World War I era, Blackberry Days of Summer has complex characters that are engaging and interesting.
Imperfect Bliss by Susan Fales-Hill
The second novel by the award-winning writer and producer of shows like “The Cosby Show” and “A Different World”, Imperfect Bliss is a story of the four daughters of a biracial couple in Maryland whose mother hopes that they will each find their perfect prince. But when one divorces and another ends up on a reality show called “The Virgin”, it seems like mom’s dreams are turning into real-life drama. Imperfect Bliss is a great read for women that explores all the ways that dating has changed and yet stayed the same.
Destiny’s Divas by Victoria Christopher Murray
Sierra, Raine, and Liza are Destiny’s Divas, a best-selling gospel group who sing about all of the ways that God has blessed them. But, inside, they are each harboring a secret that could destroy their group, and maybe even their lives. An interesting tale of the entertainment industry from the gospel perspective, Destiny’s Divas is a pleasant read from a bestselling author.
Inner Circle by Evelyn Lozada
The newly-married Evelyn Lozada of “Basketball Wives” fame will debut her own VH1 Show, “Ev and Ocho”, with her husband, Chad Ochocinco, this fall. But in addition to her many television appearances, Lozada has a cosmetics line, and is now an author with her first novel on Cash Money Content. The Wives Association: Inner Circle is fictionalized account of the inside life of the wife of a famous athlete. The story proves that the coveted life as a baller’s wife isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Biba Adams is a Senior Writer and Book Editor for AllHipHop.com. Her debut novel, The Allure, will be released this fall on Triple Crown Publications. Follow her on Twitter (@BibatheDiva).
This really falls into the category of an “Epic Fail of the Day” because it’s so ridiculous! Rapper Guerilla Black, you remember him, right? He was the rapper who tried to sound like Biggie, but failed miserably. Dude was recently arrested for receiving and possessing at least 27,257 stolen credit cards in an international stolen credit card ring.
Black is being charged with conspiracy to access protected computers to further fraud, conspiracy to commit access-device fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, two counts of accessing a protected computer without authorization to further fraud, six counts of access device fraud, eight counts of bank fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft. If he is convicted of all crimes, he may face life in prison!
Another rapper going to jail. Well, at least it’s not for taxes! Let’s hope the jury goes easy on him.
(AllHipHop News) Reggae/Dancehall artist Junior Reid is working on a new mixtape that will feature a variety of rappers and producers.
Reid, who has been sampled by a wide variety of artists, has also collaborated with rappers like Game (“One Blood”), Mims (“This Is Why I’m Hot Remix”), Lil Wayne (“Ghetto Youth’s Rock”) and others in recent years.
Junior Reid’s latest collaboration is with Arizona Slim is titled “It’s Crazy,” which is getting airplay on Miami’s commercial Hip-Hop stations.
“I’m working on my new mixtape, also my new album coming soon ‘Junior Reid Kingston Fire House’ got some crazy tracks with me, Arizona Slim , Drumma Boy and a lot of producers,” Junior Reid told AllHipHop.com. “I’ve been doing most of my recording in Kingston Jamaica , Miami , New York.”
Junior Reid, who has produced albums for artists like Gregory Isaacs, Snow, Junior Demus and others, is currently a free agent. His album Junior Red Kingston Fire House will be released through is his own imprint, JR Productions.
“At this time is Junior Reid is free,” the Reggae legend told AllHipHop.com. “Junior Reid is not signed to no label. “I work with my own label JR Production. I’m looking forward to getting a deal off this mixtape or the album, but with or without a deal, the music is going to come.”
Check out the AllHipHop.com exclusive with Junior Reid below:
(AllHipHop News) Rapper Rick Ross, his sister Tawanda Roberts and his manager Michael Lighty are being sued for almost $2 million in damages, by a United Kingdom promotional company over a canceled 2011 concert in Nigeria.
The lawsuit was filed on July 3 in the Supreme Court of New York, by Zons P.R., a UK-based company organized to do business in Nigeria.
Zons P.R. was hired on behalf of Star Lager beer, a brand affiliate of Heineken, which is popular in Nigeria and West Africa.
The annual Star Mega Jam has been taking place in Nigeria since 2000 and draws as many as 50,000 people to the concert, which is the largest of its kind in West Africa.
Rick Ross was supposed to headline the 2011 Star Mega Jam concert, which was to take place on December 17, 2011.
The lawsuit claims that Zons P.R. began to negotiate with Rick Ross’s sister Tawanda Roberts, who acts as his manager, on behalf of Rick Ross.
Zons P.R. deposited $87,500 into Rick Ross’s account, with the agreement that Rick Ross would execute certain obligations (like promotional drops) prior to the concert, which he never produced.
The company also claims that Rick Ross began to raise questions about his security in Nigeria and finally, on November 10, 2011 the rapper canceled the performance, citing “the violent events in Nigeria.”
The lawsuit claims that Rick Ross was supposed to return the $87,500 deposit to Zons P.R., but failed to do so.
Zons P.R. says that when they realized they were not getting their deposit back, they attempted to renegotiate for a future performance, but the rapper refused to comply.
“In truth and in fact the defendant had no intention of returning said deposit,” the lawsuit reads. “To date no part of the deposit has been returned.”
