The biopic will reportedly document the time Jimi Hendrix spent in England, as recorded his debut album Are You Experienced, while plotting his return to America.
“All Is By My Side” is being written and directed by John Ridley, the writer behind movies like “Red Tails,” “Undercover Brother,” “Three Kings” and others.
“All Is By My Side” will start shooting in Dublin and Wicklow, Ireland for six weeks.
Being raised in Miami, Florida – reportedly one the most healthy cities in the America – Flo Rida grew up in an environment where staying fit was the thing to do. By eating healthy and working out at least three to four times a week, Flo Rida knows that he will be able to sustain the energy needed on stage to rock the crowd throughout his rigorous tour schedule. AllHipHop.com recently spoke with Flo about his attitude towards health and how he keeps up his healthy physique:
AllHipHop.com: Can you talk about your work ethic with respect to staying healthy? Hip-Hop has made some recent strides towards staying healthier, and we were just wondering how you remain fit.
Flo Rida: I mean, you know, prior to me having success, I always went to the gym and things like that just as a hobby. But then, as I got farther into music with the record deal and everything, and with all the shows I do, I just felt like me having the means to be able to pay for a trainer, I just take my trainer on the road with me.
A lot of times, I’m on the stage for over an hour, and as an artist, it really takes a toll on you if you don’t eat right and you don’t really work on your whole cardio, so it’s something that’s very serious to me. To have some longevity in this, you definitely have to take care of you body, which is your vehicle. If you don’t take care of your vehicle, you can’t get to your destination, so I’m really up on that.
Take a look at Flo Rida’s work out routine below, and maybe you’ll pick up a few tips! As always, be safe when working out, and make sure you have fun!
R&B’s head dude Trey Songz is back with the video for the first single off his forthcoming, fifth studio album, Chapter V.
As his love interest, Kelly Rowland plays the role perfectly, and it seems like there might be actual chemistry happening in the video. Sorta reminds us of the love that Usher and Chili shared in the video for his 2001 #1 hit, “U Got It Bad”.
Trey Songz’ Chapter V is slated to hit stores this summer.
Spring has already sprung, and summer is on the way! This is the season that inspires sweet words of poetry both on wax and on paper, and this month, AllHipHop.com’s “Book Notes” salutes writers of both new and classic books of poems that enlighten and inspire:
Armageddon of Funk by Michael Warr
This year, for the first time the Black Caucus of the American Library Association recognized books of poetry for its annual Literary Awards. In Armageddon of Funk, Warr examines numerous issues in American life by juxtaposing unlike situations side-by-side. Armageddon of Funk was awarded as a honorable mention for its interconnection of a world of opposites.
Hip-Hop Poetry and the Classics by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Hip-Hop has long been understood to be the poetry of disenfranchised people of the inner-city community. In this workbook-style book, Hip-Hop is understood through in-depth analysis of poetic literary devices and writing activities. The book compares the poetry of Robert Frost and Shakespeare to Public Enemy and Notorious B.I.G. Hip-Hop Poetry and the Classics is a great exploration of our culture for any lover of rhyme.
The Rose that Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur
A collection of poems written, between 1989-1991, these passionate and engaging poems were published after the legendary rappers death, in 1996. Complete with black and white photographs, drawings, and a preface by his mother and a foreward by Nikki Giovanni, The Rose that Grew from Concrete is a classic that deserves to grace the bookshelf of every Hip-Hop head.
Book of Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip-Hop by Adam Bradley
Using the lyrics of Eminem and Jay-Z among others, the Book of Rhymes is a classic book that explores Hip-Hop as poetry, and as a source of revolution in the craft of poetry. Harvard Professor of African-American Studies, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. praises Book of Rhymes as, “a tour de force.” As Hip-Hop ages, and academic study of the culture grows, scholars, like Bradley, who grew up on the genre will be the champions of preserving its brilliance for future generations.
The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni: 1968-1998 by Nikki Giovanni
With a tattoo that reads, “Thug Life,” on her forearm, Giovanni is a poetic legend and lover of Hip-Hop music and culture. She has written numerous articles and poems for young people and remains a professor of poetry and literature at Virginia Tech. Giovanni helped fuel the” Black Arts Movement” which preceded the births of many Hip-Hop legends. Nikki Giovanni is a staple of Black culture and her contributions to Hip-Hop culture can’t be understated.
Biba Adams is a Senior Staff Writer and Book Editor for AllHipHop.com. She is a lover of all things literary, including poetry. Send her handclaps and fingersnaps on Twitter (@BibatheDiva).
“One day I got struck by Knowledge of Self/ It gave me super-scientifical powers” – “Can’t Stop the Prophet, Jeru Tha Damaja
It’s 2012, and Hip-Hop is on the eve of destruction. Fortunately, Earth’s mightiest MCs have banded together to save us from the evil corporate villains who are bent on destroying the culture. The group known as the Rap Avengers has sworn to never again let fear, egos, or personal differences prevent them from fighting for the Hip-Hop principles of Peace, Unity, Love, and having fun…
Well, I guess some things only happen in the movies…
Without a doubt, The Avengers, will go down in history as one of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters ever. For those who aren’t down with comics, it’s a movie based on the long-running, comic book series about how a bunch of Earth’s strongest heroes unite from time to time to kick butt when some galactic gangstas try to take over the planet.
However, historically, most comic book heroes have bypassed the ‘hood.
Old School comedians used to joke that Superman would fly over a burning apartment building full of kids in the ghetto to save a cat stuck in a tree in the ‘burbs.
Relatively speaking, there has always been a lack of Black superheroes. Back in the day, there were only a couple of sidekicks with “Black” in their names like Captain America’s trusty homie, “The Black Falcon”, or the token Black guy from the old Super Friends cartoon, “Black Vulcan.” The only major heroes were “The Black Panther,” who held down his African kingdom, “Storm,” the fine sista from the X-Men, and Power Man (Luke Cage, hero for hire), who wouldn’t even open the door for your grandma unless she tipped him five bucks. The only ones who really repped’ the Black community were Fat Albert, “The Brown Hornet”, and “Verb Man” from School House Rock.
Unfortunately , many of the real heroes who were really down for the people never made it into the comic books, nor the history books.
In the early 20th Century, Marcus Garvey formed the African Legion, and during the 1950s, Robert Williams formed the Deacons for Defense to protect the Black community. There were also groups in the ’60s such as the Black Liberation Army and the Republic of New Africa who fought for the people.
Other than Black organizations, there were groups like the Young Lords (Puerto Rican Nationalists) and AIM (American Indian Movement). According to legendary Hip-Hop photographer and author of several books including They Call it Graffiti, Ernie Paniccioli, “Red Pride and Red Power were reawakened by AIM and their demands for land rights, Freedom of Religion and the right to determine their own destiny still resonate in the hearts of native people throughout this stolen land.”
Despite the numerous ‘hood flicks glorifying Black-on-Black violence and the Tyler Perry-like movies, Hollywood has largely ignored the real heroes of oppressed communities. Until this day, there has only been one major movie made about Malcolm X (Spike Lee’s X) and only one about the Black Panther Party (Mario Van Peeble’s Panther).
There have been a few good fictitious movies, like The S#### Who Sat by the Door, based on the novel by Sam Greenlee about a CIA agent who used his skills to politicize gang members. And, DROP Squad, executive produced by Spike Lee, about a squad who went around “reprogramming” sellouts, much like Ice Cube’s 1991 video for “True to the Game”. Interestingly enough, according to Brian Ward in his book, Just My Soul Responding, there was a real DROP Squad in the late ’60s known as the FPC (Fair Play Committee) that put heat on industry cats who they felt were exploiting the community.
Over the years, Hip-Hop has had its own heroes such as Afrika Bambaataa’s Zulu Nation and Rev. Conrad Tillard’s (formerly Minister Conrad Muhammad) Movement For Change, which sought to bring peace and unity to the culture. And more recently, you have groups like the Uhuru Hip Hop Movement and the Militant Mind Militia who are trying to use Hip-Hop for Black Liberation.
However, the question becomes, why hasn’t a strong gang of conscious, super-lyrical MCs banded together to battle the corporate-owned rappers who spit ignorance and rescue the art form from the industry evil doers? After all, crews such as MMG (Maybach Music Group) and YMCMB (Young Money Cash Money Billionaires) have no problem coming together to lock down the industry, with no apologies.
There could be several reasons. Maybe fear of being forever blackballed by an unforgiving industry. Or perhaps, it’s a matter of over-sized egos. Who knows?
Could be that the same classism that has prevented other organizations from uniting for the common good of the ‘hood has also affected Hip-Hop.
Maybe we all aren’t fighting for the same thing.
According to Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. of the POCC/BPPC (Prisoners of Conscience Committee/Black Panther Party Cubs), “We do not have the same interests. Some people benefit from our people’s detriment.”
Bottom line is, no dude with a Viking hat and a sledgehammer is going to come down from the clouds and help us. And, we all know that Captain America ain’t gonna save us.
And since we have been waiting for a super troupe of Hip-Hop heroes to save rap music for, at least, the last decade, and the closest thing we have gotten is a Tupac hologram. Maybe they ain’t comin’ either…
No one is gonna save us but us. And this goes for the ‘hood and Hip-Hop.
It just takes one person to start a movement, and the rest will follow. So, maybe the hero lies within you.
Like Nas said on “Hero”, “The game needs him/plus the people need someone to believe in.”
TRUTH Minista Paul Scott’s weekly column is This Ain’t Hip Hop: a column for intelligent Hip Hop headz. He can be reached at in**@*****************ed.com, on his website, www.NoWarningShotsFired.com or on Twitter (@truthminista).
I am hearing something serious! OK, not as serious as WikiLeaks or something, but I am being told that we should not be shocked if we are soon privy to Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose’s private information soon. Why? According to sources that I know, Wiz had his phone stolen i Memphis, TN! Some brazen freaker went right up in his dressing room and stole the dag on thing! I don’t know how, but from what I understand is the person that got it now has access to all of the information in it as well. If they are a beneficent thief, then maybe they won’t put it out there. But, don’t sleep!
Hot new culture blog/clothing design house, +FreshiAm+, is hitting fashion directly on the head. The brand has captured the attention of rappers Theophilus London and A$AP Rocky with their unique limited-edition snapback hats. In fact, the brand has collaborated with London, who is rarely seen without the hats that are quickly becoming his trademark – the LVRS hat he sports retailed for $50 and quickly sold out.
Launched in 2008 by Nigerian-born, American-raised visual and graphic artist, Tunde, +FreshiAm+ started out as a culture blog and graphic design business. “I wanted to integrate music, art, fashion, everything. In culture everything should be as important as the other, there really is no separation,” says Tunde.
The designer notes that his focus quickly changed: “Fashion is the best business model for a visual artist who wants to create things for a lot people.” Starting with a line of one-of-a-kind T-shirts in 2009, +FreshiAm+ quickly grew in popularity, and in 2010, Tunde designed the hats that would take them from his little apartment in Atlanta to being an internationally recognizable symbol of cool culture.
“With the State of Mind hats, I wanted to move up from the sportiness of the snapback,” Tunde explains. “I didn’t understand how if I wanted to wear a hat, it had to have a team on it. I wanted to create something classic.”
There are 10 State of Mind hats each embroidered with one word – to be interpreted at will. Nine of the hats are always available; the 10th is currently the Le Alphabet Soup hat, of which only 50 were produced. Le Alphabet Soup is a collaboration with fashion phenoms, Dee and Ricky. The hat, with an assortment of 11-12 characters, made from bamboo fleece, and randomly ordered on a black snapback, retails for $120. Only 50 of the hats will made available worldwide.
The newest collaboration with Dee and Ricky is a major win for Tunde and +FreshiAm+. After all, Dee and Ricky, identical twins (in a set of triplets), are barely over drinking age, and are the designers who created the Lego Heart pin that Kanye wore in support of 808’s and Heartbreaks. If that’s not enough, Dee and Ricky are also working with Marc Jacobs and Pharrell. Their work has been worn by models and celebrities in every major fashion magazine including Vogue.
So, what’s next for +FreshiAm+? Tunde’s full fashion collection, LOVE is available on the site. The collection includes unique t-shirts, tanks, pendants, and tote bags. But, you better buy soon, because the entire +FreshiAm+ collection usually sells out.
The State of Mind hats and LOVE are available at www.freshiam.net. Follow them on Twitter (@freshiamatl).
AllHipHop.com’s resident Daily Word guru and all-around inspirational guy, Ash Cash, is back with his latest installment of “Ask Ash Cash.”
Watch the video below his response, as he offers more sound advice to readers:
Peace and Blessings Family!! Today’s installment of “Ask Ash Cash” comes from Ms. Laura Goldstein… But, as I said last week, I also want to hear from you. If you have any business or finance questions, please tweet me (@IamAshCash) using #AskAshCash, or e-mail me your video or question to Qu*******@********sh.com. I also stream live every Monday at 9PM on Wave45.tv!!
Dear Ash Cash: What are some things to be careful about when using my credit card?
There are many things that you should consider when using your credit card, but the two most important are: 1) Keeping your usage down and 2) Watching out for interest rate increases.
It is important to know that you should not be using your credit card to make everyday purchases for items like food, clothing, and gas. Credit cards should be used for emergency purposes only; using your credit card as a substitute for cash can put you into serious debt before you even know it. With that said, make sure you stay within 30% of your credit limit to avoid damage to your credit score.
Your credit score is broken down into five (5) categories… 35% is Your Payment History, 30% is your Usage, 15% is the Length of your Credit History, 10% is your New Credit, and 10% is your Credit Mix… With Usage being a large part of your credit score, make sure you are keeping your balances low to help keep your score high!!
Lastly, pay attention to your interest rate, and make sure it hasn’t increased. Your credit card’s interest rate can increase when you’ve defaulted on the original credit card terms. For example, you were late on a payment, went over the credit limit, or bounced the check for your payment. Before February 22, 2010, you could’ve even seen an increased rate if you were late on a payment to another creditor – a practice known as “universal default” – but due to new laws implemented by President Obama, this is no longer the case!
Ash’Cash is a Business Consultant, Motivational Speaker, Financial Expert and the author of Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom. For more information, please visit his website, www.IamAshCash.com.
(AllHipHop News) Representatives for Lil Kim have accused Harlem newcomer Azealia Banks of manufacturing a phony beef with the veteran rapper.
Azealia Banks to Twitter, where she tweeted a series of messages, presumably directed at Lil Kim.
Reports suggested that Azealia Banks, who lionized Lil Kim on Twitter weeks earlier, was supposed to collaborate on her upcoming mixtape “Broke With Expensive Taste.”
Apparently that is not the case, according to Lil Kim’s publicist CJ Carter.
“My client and azealia have NEVER spoke to one another or met AT ALL,” CJ Carter told AllHipHop.com in a press release.
“Kim was actually very flattered Azealia’s public admiration for her, which is why it’s so hard to understand how someone who claims to be a true Lil Kim fan could flip the script so easily on someone who was supposedly their idol,” Carter noted.
According to CJ Carter, Azealia Banks went right to twitter with her issues, as opposed to reaching out to anyone from Lil Kim’s camp.
Carter said that Lil Kim has no problems with Azealia Banks and will not engage in a petty, manufactured feud with the fledgling rapper.
“We have no idea what they are referencing and have no desire to discuss the matter any further as there is nothing to talk about,” CJ Carter said “It honestly seems that someone from Azealia’s team would rather have her fans buy into manufactured drama instead of buying music.”
Check out the full statement below:
Earlier today a press release went out making a claim that there was friction between Hip Hop Icon “Lil Kim” and aspiring hip artist azealia banks. The release comes as a surprise to our team,being that my client and azealia have NEVER spoke to one another or met AT ALL. Kim was actually very flattered azealia’s public admiration for her, which is why it’s so hard to understand how someone who claims to be a true Lil Kim fan could flip the script so easily on someone who was supposedly their idol. It is also VERY interesting that NO ONE from her team made any attempts to reach out to anyone from our team to voice any concerns or problems that they may have had. I have NEVER heard of anyone having a conflict with someone they have NEVER met with or personally spoke with. We have no idea what they are referencing and have no desire to discuss the matter any further as there is nothing to talk about. It honestly seems that someone from azealia’s team would rather have her fans buy into manufactured drama instead of buying music. Kim knows nothing of any beef, and furthermore has had nothing but nice things to say about her. We don’t know what this is and will not address this any further. It seems that this is another sad attempt by someone trying to use my client for publicity. We wish her nothing but the best.
