AllHipHop

Santana’s Trumpet Player Goes Hip-Hop For MLK Day

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

(AllHipHop News) Bay area rap veterans The Grouch and Zumbi will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with a new collaborative EP with Santana’s trumpet player, Bill Ortiz.

The Grouch and Zumbi by are among the artists who have teamed with Bill Ortiz to release the album Winter in America, which is the predecessor to his forthcoming album, Highest Wish.

Bill Ortiz has played with Santana for over 12 years, but he has also been connected to the Hip-Hop world as well.

Bill Ortiz has played trumpet on a variety of Hip-Hop artists’ tracks, including “93 til Infinity,” which was a hit for the Souls of Mischief, as well as songs by Tony Toni Tone, Destiny’s Child, TLC, and others.

“Carlos has always used music to inspire and bring people together,” Ortiz explained. “I follow in that tradition. I’ve been really encouraged by some of the Bay Area Hip-Hop artists like Zumbi and the Grouch who make music with enlightened lyrics.”

In addition to the rappers on the album, Winter in America also features guest appearances by Santana member Tony Lindsay and poet Linda Tillery, who delivers a spoken word performance with Dr. Martin Luther King’s Nobel Peace Prize winning speech.

“We often celebrate ignorance in our society, so I wanted to celebrate consciousness,” Ortiz said of the album, which also features a cover of Gil Scott Heron’s 1973 track, “Winter in America,” in honor of Gil Scott’s honor.

Winter in America the EP drops on Martin Luther King Day, January 16, 2012, direct to fans, while the worldwide digital/physical release is scheduled for January 31st.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Iggy Azalea Signing to Def Jam???!!!

By: ginatorres27 Updated Category: Rumors
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Nicki Minaj better watch her back! 21-year-old Australian rap sensation Iggy Azalea is coming for her #1 spot as the top female in Hip-Hop, and has allegedly teamed up with a label that can help take her to the top.

The Aussie cutie, who became an overnight star when she dropped her mixtape, Ignorant Art, is dropping hints left and right that she has signed a deal with the legendary Def Jam Records.

Iggy was spotted in Los Angeles last week having dinner with top Def Jam exec Bu Thiam and Def Jam’s golden egg, Rihanna. It looks like the meeting went well…check out the tweets below.

Iggy tweeted – “Had the pleasure of meeting rihanna at dinner tonight,” “Had a really fun dinner with all the def jam staff!!! #rolexcrew.”

Bu also tweeted about the meeting writing:

“Just spoke to the homie @IGGYAZALEA and all ima say is #History,”

Adding more fuel to the fire a Def Jam A&R staffer tweeted, “@IGGYAZALEA dope meeting you tonight.. Cant wait til your officially part of the team” – to which Iggy replied, “Yup!!!”

This looks like it’s going down! I would definitely love to see another female rapper getting some shine. While we wait for an official announcement, check out Iggy’s video for “My World” below.

Daily Word: Happy Birthday Aaliyah (You Are One In A Million!!)

By: seandrasims Updated Category: Lifestyle
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Happy Martin Luther King Day, my Great People!!

If you missed our special Birthday Tribute to Dr. King, please click here. Today, we are celebrating the birthday of one of our other fallen family members. Aaliyah Dana Haughton, born January 16, 1979, was a talented songwriter, performer, actress, who lost her life tragically on August 25, 2001, in a plane crash.

Even though Aaliyah is gone, she will never be forgotten. Her accomplishments at such an early age were astonishing, and she gave us inspiration. She told us that “if at first we don’t succeed, we must pick ourselves up and try again,” as well as how much we were “one in a million.” In commemoration of her birthday, we are dedicating today’s Daily Word to being One in A Million!

In life, you will be confronted with many situations where you don’t totally fit in. You will look around and feel like the odd one out. You will question yourself and wonder what is it about you that you don’t have that everyone else does…. That’s wrong!!! The question you should be asking yourself is what is it about you that everyone else doesn’t have!!

Always remember that you are one in a million! No one on this planet can be you or do what you can do! You were put on this earth to do some extraordinary things, and as long as you keep trying to be like everyone else, you will never accomplish them! You were born to stand out!!! With that in mind, accept that fact that you will never fit it!! You were put here to be the best you that you can possibly be, so never question or take that privilege for granted!! You are One in A Million!!! Stop waiting, and Make your life Great!!!
-Ash’Cash

“You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost.” -Martha Graham

“Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to be a certain way. Be unique. Be what you feel.” -Melissa Etheridge

“You were born an original. Don’t become a copy.” -Unknown

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” -Judy Garland

“If you were meant to be otherwise, Then you would have been created otherwise.” -Johann von Goethe

“They can call me crazy if I fail, all the chance that I need, is one-in-a-million and they can call me brilliant when I succeed.” -Ani Difranco

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” -Dr. Seuss

“If you want to be truly successful invest in yourself to get the knowledge you need to find your unique factor. When you find it and focus on it and persevere your success will blossom.” -Sidney Madwed

TO HEAR THE AUDIO VERSION OF THE DAILY WORD – CLICK HERE.

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.

Mixtape Review: Red Cafe’s “Hell’s Kitchen”

By: AllHipHop Staff Updated Category: Features
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Rating: 8/10

With his first official album, Shakedown, coming out this spring, Red Cafe’s new mixtape Hell’s Kitchen is certain to hold fans over as he delivers another album-quality tape with a handful of bangers and guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Wale, J. Cole, Fabolous, Trey Songz, and Meek Mill among others.

The tape begins with the title track, “Hell’s Kitchen” which sets the tone for what’s to come, as Red lets it be known that he “Went to sleep the champ / woke up with the title.” The drum-heavy track is complimented by a high-pitched vocal sample, which is most audible on the hook as Red asks listeners a question by stating “Hell’s Kitchen / What Else?” On the very next track, “His Story,” Red starts off his verse by rapping about putting on for his label, Bad Boy Records (“Mase went to church / I signed to Bad Boy / Got right to work”).

The strong start continues on the remix to the Jahlil Beats produced, “Let It Go.” Red Cafe is joined on the track by Bad Boy boss Diddy as well as label-mate French Montana and takes time to make reference to Will Smith’s character in the movie Bad Boys (“Ain’t been a better bad boy since Mike Lowery”). In the song’s third verse, 2 Chainz then makes the first of his two appearances on the mixtape, continuing to build his momentum in 2012, as it seems like he’s been featured on every mixtape released so far this year.

Trey Songz, Wale, and J. Cole join Red Cafe on the remix to the popular “Fly Together” produced by Ryan Leslie. The song’s feel-good vibe finds each rapper speaking to the ladies on their respective verse and letting them know the luxuries they can experience if they join them; Wale offers first class seats and drinks (“First class seats / Bottles on me”), while J. Cole prefers to invite his woman overseas  (“Come with me, to Madrid that’s where Real play). The song comes together on the chorus, as Trey Songz replaces Ryan Leslie on the hook singing, “When I fly, you fly, we fly together…” As the tape progresses, Red Cafe demonstrates his versatility, especially on “Can You Hear Me,” as he raps about more serious issues including street life, his kids, religion, and even politics.

With an album-type feel to it, Red Cafe’s Hell’s Kitchen joins the growing list of hot mixtapes released so far this year. With his album, Shakedown, on the way this spring, Red Cafe will look to continue to represent well for Bad Boy by continuing to grow the buzz and momentum generated by Hell’s Kitchen.

Checkout AllHipHop’s exclusive interview with Red Cafe and footage from the Hell’s Kitchen listening party below:

Exclusive: The Roots’ Black Thought Ponders Hip-Hop as the Realization of Dr. King’s Dream

By: seandrasims Updated Category: Features
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

“I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream…” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For many babies of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s – the collective Hip-Hop era – the American Dream that Dr. King so eloquently spoke of back in 1963 has often been just that – a dream. As inner cities swelter with rising rates of violence, unemployment, and despair, it sometimes seems as if we haven’t “overcome” much at all in the nearly 42 years since his tragic assassination.

And yet, for some, Hip-Hop symoblizes – both literally and figuratively – the attainment of the American Dream, and the ultimate “rage against the machine” method for using what we’ve got to get what we want. In fact, it has been said that Hip-Hop music and culture have created more young, Black millionaire Americans than any other industries in our history. Coupled with serving as the voice box of the streets, Hip-Hop plus wealth equals power in 2012.

Rapper Black Thought of the legendary Roots crew has surely seen his life change dramatically in the 25 years since the inception of his critically-acclaimed rap group. His humble, early rap days in Philly are a far cry from where his longevity and success in rap have landed him as of late. AllHipHop.com spent the evening at the lovely home of the self-proclaimed “hometown hero” MC (along with the talented young duo that make up his newly co-signed group, The Wurxs), and asked if he thinks Hip-Hop is Dr. King’s dream personified – and at what costs?:

Want more Black Thought? Check back all this week for a daily dose of wise thoughts from one of the illest MCs alive! And hear more from The Wurxs!

Scientist Names Rare Horse Fly After Beyoncé; California Marijuana Strain Named After Blue Ivy

By: seandrasims Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Over the years, Beyoncé Knowles has amassed numerous honors in the world of music. Now the chart-topping vocalist can add another, as her name has been given to a previously un-named species of horsefly.

According to csironewsblog.com, the horse fly’s golden lower abdomen prompted Australian National Insect Collection researcher/ Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) scientist Bryan Lessard to officially “describe” the fly as Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae.

“It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly’s abdomen that led me to name this fly in honour of the performer Beyoncé as well as giving me the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy – the naming of species,” Lessard said.

Sharing a name isn’t the only thing Knowles has in common with the horse fly. The site reports that the Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae, a rare species, was collected in 1981, the same year Beyoncé was born, from north-east Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, together with two other previously unknown specimens.

Beyoncé’s inclusion in the insect world follows recent news surrounding her new daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. TMZ states that several weed dispensaries in Hollywood are selling a new strain of marijuana called “OG Blue Ivy.” At this time, Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, have not issued a legal notice to the dispensaries regarding this situation.

Read more about the Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae horsefly species on the sites below:

http://csironewsblog.com/2012/01/13/a-golden-tail-of-beyonces-bootylicious-fly/

http://www.eurweb.com/2012/01/australian-scientists-rename-rare-horse-fly-after-beyonce/