Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Nelly Invites Cleveland, Ohio Kidnapping Victim Onstage At Concert
In 2003, Cleveland, Ohio native Amanda Berry went missing until May
2013, when she was rescued after a decade of imprisonment and rape.
In a story that shocked the United States, it was revealed that Ariel Castro, who was sentenced to life and 1,000 years in prison just this week, kidnapped Berry and two other women, and had been holding them in captivity for years. All three women, and the six-year-old daughter of Amanda Berry, who Castro fathered, were saved.
Berry, now 27, has begun to acclimate herself to the world as it is in 2013. But along the way, she went back to a time before tragedy struck.
On Saturday (July 27), Berry came on stage with her family at a Nelly concert in Cleveland. Nelly's career, of course, was at an all-time-high in 2003, just one year removed from Nellyville, which has gone six times platinum in the United States.
"He said, 'Everyone, here's Amanda Berry,' and she came out with a friend, another young woman," said concertgoer Kayleigh Fladung to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "She didn't say anything, but she was smiling and happy. "She waved to the crowd, everyone went crazy cheering, and she went backstage. Nelly did his set, four or five songs, and then he brought her out again and everyone cheered."
"It was cool to see but still very surprising," added Fladung.
As he brought Berry out, Nelly said, "I want to make sure we get a chance to thank you... because I can't even imagine the type of strength and the type of courage that it took to keep it going. So for that, again, I commend you...and for that, I want you to stay here," before dedicating his peformance of "Just a Dream" to Berry:
The event marked Berry's first public appearance since her horrific ordeal.
In a story that shocked the United States, it was revealed that Ariel Castro, who was sentenced to life and 1,000 years in prison just this week, kidnapped Berry and two other women, and had been holding them in captivity for years. All three women, and the six-year-old daughter of Amanda Berry, who Castro fathered, were saved.
Berry, now 27, has begun to acclimate herself to the world as it is in 2013. But along the way, she went back to a time before tragedy struck.
On Saturday (July 27), Berry came on stage with her family at a Nelly concert in Cleveland. Nelly's career, of course, was at an all-time-high in 2003, just one year removed from Nellyville, which has gone six times platinum in the United States.
"He said, 'Everyone, here's Amanda Berry,' and she came out with a friend, another young woman," said concertgoer Kayleigh Fladung to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "She didn't say anything, but she was smiling and happy. "She waved to the crowd, everyone went crazy cheering, and she went backstage. Nelly did his set, four or five songs, and then he brought her out again and everyone cheered."
"It was cool to see but still very surprising," added Fladung.
As he brought Berry out, Nelly said, "I want to make sure we get a chance to thank you... because I can't even imagine the type of strength and the type of courage that it took to keep it going. So for that, again, I commend you...and for that, I want you to stay here," before dedicating his peformance of "Just a Dream" to Berry:
The event marked Berry's first public appearance since her horrific ordeal.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Drake & The Weeknd Back In The Studio Together
Some things are the same. Drake and the Weeknd were known not only for showing a whole lot of "Crew Love," but also being a pretty unstoppable songwriting team, as evidenced by some of the best moments on Drizzy's Take Care (otherwise known as rap's Songs In The Key Of Life). While speculation arose that their was some tension between the Toronto pair, it seems all hard feelings have been put behind them, as some photos of the two in the studio surfaced last night.
So many questions raised by these photos. Will Abel be on NWTS? will he be at OVO Fest? will the OVOXO title rise again?
Stephen Colbert on Kanye’s $120 White Tee
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Thursday, July 25, 2013
Ying Yang Twins' Diss Record Receives Response From French Montana
Atlanta-based duo Ying Yang Twins
may have their issues with fellow artist French Montana over the use of
his “hanh” catchphrase, but as of now the “Pop That” rapper isn’t
taking the pair’s words all that seriously.
Montana offered a minor response to the Ying Yang Twins, who called out the rapper on their Ass In Session record "Sayin' My Word,” via Twitter earlier this week. He ReTweeted the link to a Complex news story posted on July 22 about the Ying Yang Twins’ diss and added his own commentary mocking the drama surround the “hanh” catchphrase.
@FrencHMonTanA Y~~ haven't heard a bad track on this album Excusemyfrench Yet Y(TM)^Y~. Tho
— ROXY BLACK (@SEXYROX1) July 22, 2013 The Ying Yang Twins’ “Sayin’ My Word” immediately starts off with a disclaimer about the group’s use of the now controversial catchphrase as D-Roc boasts, “Now every mothafucka from Atlanta already know that I was the first mothafucka screaming ‘hanh.’ So, if you think you started it first, get your mind right.”
Later in the song both French Montana and Kanye West, who has also gone on to use “hanh” occasionally in his songs, are called out by name.
Aside from their critique of French Montana on “Sayin’ My Word,” the Ying Yang Twins have yet to speak publicly on the Excuse My French crafter’s use of the catchphrase they feel they made popular.
Release earlier in the month, Ass In Session features guest appearances from Kilo Ali, Bubba Sparxxx, and more, and boasts production from Mr. Collipark.
Montana offered a minor response to the Ying Yang Twins, who called out the rapper on their Ass In Session record "Sayin' My Word,” via Twitter earlier this week. He ReTweeted the link to a Complex news story posted on July 22 about the Ying Yang Twins’ diss and added his own commentary mocking the drama surround the “hanh” catchphrase.
@FrencHMonTanA Y~~ haven't heard a bad track on this album Excusemyfrench Yet Y(TM)^Y~. Tho
— ROXY BLACK (@SEXYROX1) July 22, 2013 The Ying Yang Twins’ “Sayin’ My Word” immediately starts off with a disclaimer about the group’s use of the now controversial catchphrase as D-Roc boasts, “Now every mothafucka from Atlanta already know that I was the first mothafucka screaming ‘hanh.’ So, if you think you started it first, get your mind right.”
Later in the song both French Montana and Kanye West, who has also gone on to use “hanh” occasionally in his songs, are called out by name.
Aside from their critique of French Montana on “Sayin’ My Word,” the Ying Yang Twins have yet to speak publicly on the Excuse My French crafter’s use of the catchphrase they feel they made popular.
Release earlier in the month, Ass In Session features guest appearances from Kilo Ali, Bubba Sparxxx, and more, and boasts production from Mr. Collipark.
A$AP Ferg's "Trap Lord" Release Date & Cover Art
A$AP Ferg's set at Hot 97's Summer Jam was eventful, to say the least.
Before going onstage, Hot 97 personality Peter Rosenberg announced that Ferg's LP, Trap Lord, would be dropping August 20.
Then, while performing, Ferg took to the stage, surprisingly dissing G.O.O.D. Music artist Teyana Taylor.
“Who you know who got big tits – Teyana,” he rapped. “Sucked on 'em when I lived out in Harlem/ Got signed back Pharrell and started acting like a prima donna.”
A$AP Rocky denied that Ferg had hooked up with the singer, reports VIBE.
Summer Jam has been host to a number of controversies, including Jay-Z's debut of his Nas and Mobb Deep diss "Takeover," and Peter Rosenberg dissing Nicki Minaj - the latter of which was only resolved this past week.
(June 2)
UPDATE: The cover art to A$AP Ferg's Trap Lord has been revealed, according to HotNewHipHop.com.
Before going onstage, Hot 97 personality Peter Rosenberg announced that Ferg's LP, Trap Lord, would be dropping August 20.
Then, while performing, Ferg took to the stage, surprisingly dissing G.O.O.D. Music artist Teyana Taylor.
“Who you know who got big tits – Teyana,” he rapped. “Sucked on 'em when I lived out in Harlem/ Got signed back Pharrell and started acting like a prima donna.”
A$AP Rocky denied that Ferg had hooked up with the singer, reports VIBE.
Summer Jam has been host to a number of controversies, including Jay-Z's debut of his Nas and Mobb Deep diss "Takeover," and Peter Rosenberg dissing Nicki Minaj - the latter of which was only resolved this past week.
(June 2)
UPDATE: The cover art to A$AP Ferg's Trap Lord has been revealed, according to HotNewHipHop.com.
Willie The Kid & Alchemist "Masterpiece Theatre" Cover Art, Tracklist & Download
Willie The Kid has been collaborating with noteworthy Hip Hop personalities like DJ Drama, Don Cannon, and his brother LA The Darkman at least since 2006.
His latest effort Masterpiece Theatre EP is the Midwest-raised rapper joining forces with another well-respected name in Hip Hop, emcee and Shady Records producer, Alchemist.
Alchemist showcases his rapping skills with his guest appearance on the "Bad Mistake" record. The Beverly Hills, California-based producer has credits on projects by Dilated Peoples, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, and Royce Da 5'9, to name a few. He produced the entire Masterpiece Theatre EP.
Willie is gearing up to follow-up Masterpiece Theatre with quite a few projects. According to an Unkut.com interview he has the Aquamarine LP out in August, The Fly 3 drops in the winter, and a collaborative record with Bronze Nazareth called The Living Daylights will be available sometime in January/December.
Willie The Kid's work ethic might be one of the reasons he has chemistry with Alchemist. The instrumental maker brings a slew of emcees under his roof (Rap Camp) and at times up to three projects are being worked on at one time. In an interview with Unkut WIllie The Kid said that himself, his homeboy, Roc Marciano and Action Bronson were in what Alchemist calls the "Rap Camp," the place his musical work is done at.
Masterpiece Theatre's cover art, tracklist & download link are below:
01. "Opening Credits"
02. "Shake Dice"
03. "Halal Tuna"
04. "Bad Mistake" featuring Alchemist
05. "Medusa" featuring Roc Marciano and Action Bronson
06. "Gettysburg"
07. "Let The Money Stay"
You can download the project on the Masterpiece Theatre website.
His latest effort Masterpiece Theatre EP is the Midwest-raised rapper joining forces with another well-respected name in Hip Hop, emcee and Shady Records producer, Alchemist.
Alchemist showcases his rapping skills with his guest appearance on the "Bad Mistake" record. The Beverly Hills, California-based producer has credits on projects by Dilated Peoples, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, and Royce Da 5'9, to name a few. He produced the entire Masterpiece Theatre EP.
Willie is gearing up to follow-up Masterpiece Theatre with quite a few projects. According to an Unkut.com interview he has the Aquamarine LP out in August, The Fly 3 drops in the winter, and a collaborative record with Bronze Nazareth called The Living Daylights will be available sometime in January/December.
Willie The Kid's work ethic might be one of the reasons he has chemistry with Alchemist. The instrumental maker brings a slew of emcees under his roof (Rap Camp) and at times up to three projects are being worked on at one time. In an interview with Unkut WIllie The Kid said that himself, his homeboy, Roc Marciano and Action Bronson were in what Alchemist calls the "Rap Camp," the place his musical work is done at.
Masterpiece Theatre's cover art, tracklist & download link are below:
01. "Opening Credits"
02. "Shake Dice"
03. "Halal Tuna"
04. "Bad Mistake" featuring Alchemist
05. "Medusa" featuring Roc Marciano and Action Bronson
06. "Gettysburg"
07. "Let The Money Stay"
You can download the project on the Masterpiece Theatre website.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Andre 3000 As Jimi Hendrix In ‘All Is By My Side
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/21/2013
For the second week in a row, Jay-Z held the top spot on the charts with Magna Carta Holy Grail. Jay sold just under 130,000 second-week units, nearly double that of #2 artist Sara Bareilles.
Ace Hood's first album since leaving Def Jam Records is also the highest-charting of his career. Trials & Tribulations, Hood's debut with Cash Money/We The Best/Universal Republic Records scored a Top 5 on the charts, a first for DJ Khaled's longtime protege. The LP sold over 33,000 first-week copies, also a benchmark feat for the five-plus-year veteran.
J. Cole crossed the 500,000 mark with Born Sinner, making it the second Roc Nation album to grab a RIAA plaque this month, after the aforementioned the M.C.H.G.
One of Atlantic Records' newest artists, Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Kevin Gates hit the charts for the first time with Stranger Than Fiction. Available for free stream online, the digital-only release features label-mate Wiz Khalifa, and Three 6 Mafia's Juicy J.
Also hitting the Top 200 is Strange Music band ¡Mayday!. Another Florida act, ¡Mayday!'s second group effort in as many years, Believers, follows band-member Wrekonize's own The War Within, which debuted on the Top 200 earlier this month.
Ace Hood Thrives After Five Years Of Trials & Tribulations
In his fourth album, Ace Hood hit record-high's in chart position and first-week sales. We The Best's flagship artist found 2013 success in the single "Bugatti," which features both Rick Ross and Future. Now moved to Universal Republic and backed by Cash Money, the Florida vet continues his collaborative history with Lil Wayne on Trials & Tribulations, in addition to work with Meek Mill, Chris Brown, and '70s Soul/Disco singer Betty Wright.
¡Mayday! Has Plenty Of Believers Another Sunshine State act, ¡Mayday!, hit the charts for the second time in as many Summers. The group's fourth album, and second nationally-distributed effort with Strange Music, features label-mates Tech N9ne and Stevie Stone, along with Kardinal Offishall, and Kansas City, Missouri independent sensation Irv Da Phenom. The LP includes the video single, "HighRide."
The #75 debut is an improvement from 2012's #86 debut with the critically-acclaimed Take Me To Your Leader.
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/21/2013
Last Week's Album Sales.
Ace Hood's first album since leaving Def Jam Records is also the highest-charting of his career. Trials & Tribulations, Hood's debut with Cash Money/We The Best/Universal Republic Records scored a Top 5 on the charts, a first for DJ Khaled's longtime protege. The LP sold over 33,000 first-week copies, also a benchmark feat for the five-plus-year veteran.
J. Cole crossed the 500,000 mark with Born Sinner, making it the second Roc Nation album to grab a RIAA plaque this month, after the aforementioned the M.C.H.G.
One of Atlantic Records' newest artists, Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Kevin Gates hit the charts for the first time with Stranger Than Fiction. Available for free stream online, the digital-only release features label-mate Wiz Khalifa, and Three 6 Mafia's Juicy J.
Also hitting the Top 200 is Strange Music band ¡Mayday!. Another Florida act, ¡Mayday!'s second group effort in as many years, Believers, follows band-member Wrekonize's own The War Within, which debuted on the Top 200 earlier this month.
Ace Hood Thrives After Five Years Of Trials & Tribulations
In his fourth album, Ace Hood hit record-high's in chart position and first-week sales. We The Best's flagship artist found 2013 success in the single "Bugatti," which features both Rick Ross and Future. Now moved to Universal Republic and backed by Cash Money, the Florida vet continues his collaborative history with Lil Wayne on Trials & Tribulations, in addition to work with Meek Mill, Chris Brown, and '70s Soul/Disco singer Betty Wright.
¡Mayday! Has Plenty Of Believers Another Sunshine State act, ¡Mayday!, hit the charts for the second time in as many Summers. The group's fourth album, and second nationally-distributed effort with Strange Music, features label-mates Tech N9ne and Stevie Stone, along with Kardinal Offishall, and Kansas City, Missouri independent sensation Irv Da Phenom. The LP includes the video single, "HighRide."
The #75 debut is an improvement from 2012's #86 debut with the critically-acclaimed Take Me To Your Leader.
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/21/2013
#1. Jay-Z - Magna Carta Holy Grail - 129,000 (658,000)
#4. Ace Hood - Trials & Tribulations - 37,000 (37,000)
#7. J. Cole - Born Sinner - 27,000 (506,000)
#12. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist - 20,000 (932,000)
#15. Wale - The Gifted - 18,000 (255,000)
#18. Kanye West - Yeezus - 16,000 (475,000)
#37. Kevin Gates - Stranger Than Fiction - 8,400 (8,400)
#43. Mac Miller - Watching Movies With The Sound Off - 7,800 (156,000)
#52. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city - 7,100 (974,000)
#75. ¡Mayday! - Believers - 5,000 (5,100)
* data comes from
Nielsen Soundscan, rounded to nearest thousandth for
units above 10,000, nearest hundredth for units below
10,000. Each week, HipHopDX presents top albums in
Hip Hop/related, and five notables.
Will Chamillionaire crack the charts with his latest self-released EP, Reignfall? Can U-God's Keynote Speaker be the second Soul Temple Records release to hit the Top 200 this year? Stay tuned to HipHopDX.Last Week's Album Sales.
Russell Simmons & Steve Rifkind Team Up To Launch New Label All Def Music
Russell Simmons, Steve Rifkind, and veteran film and TV producer Brian Robbins have teamed up with Universal Music Group to launch All Def Music.
Simmons, who co-founded Def Jam Records, and Rifkind, who founded and was chairman of Loud Records, and is founder, current chairman, and CEO of SRC records, will put together their considerable knowledge and experience to identify, sign, and develop talent via YouTube.
"How [Russell] built Def Jam and how I built Loud was through the streets and through grass-roots marketing," said Rifkind according to LATimes.com. "Cut to 20 years later, we're applying this same formula, this same blueprint, using YouTube as our street team, using YouTube as our A&R source, using YouTube as our branding machine."
"I wake up at 4:30 or 5 in the morning, ready to work," added Rifkind. "I haven't been this excited [in years]."
Universal Chairman and Chief Executive Lucian Grainge also spoke on the deal, explaining that All Def Music is part of Universal's strategy to join experienced music industry minds together with the the latest in media and technology.
"It is truly a thrill to be able to welcome Russell back to our family. As one of the founders of Def Jam with Rick Rubin (whose American Recordings is a part of Republic Records), Russell and Rick created an iconic brand that forms part of the foundation of [Universal Music Group] and a label that has had a profound impact on popular culture," wrote Grainge in an email to Universal employees.
"I can't say enough about how highly we think of Russell both professionally -- his vision and entrepreneurial talents are legendary -- and personally. He is a rare treasure," read the email. "And with Brian's track record on the content side and Steve's on the business side, they make a formidable team."
Def Jam was home to a slew of seminal Hip Hop acts, including Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and others. Simmons sold his share of the record company for $100 million to Universal Music Group in 1998. His Russell Simmons Music Group put out Run DMC's Rev. Run's solo debut, Distortion, in 2005. Meanwhile, Loud was home to various Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Alkaholiks, and other releases.
Slim Thug Gets Vasectomy, Cuts Bunions Off
Slim Thug took
to his Instagram to share with the world that he was having a
vasectomy. The rapper said he was tired of dealing with “baby momma”
issues and decided to get the procedure done last week. A vasectomy is a
permanent method of birth control. The operation prevents the release
of sperm when a man ejaculates, ensuring that he will not be able
to impregnate a woman anymore.
I'm about to be #OUTTADERE 2 surgeries in 2 days I'm getting fixed today foot surgery tomorrow Y~
— slim thug (@slimthugga) July 17, 2013 #NoNewKids #NoNewBabymamas #NoMoChildSupport #NoLittleGirl just me and my 3 Boyz Y~ http://t.co/4CFxehx29V
— slim thug (@slimthugga) July 17, 2013 “Getting fixed” wasn’t the only surgical procedure the Boss Hogg Outlawz leader recently underwent. In addition to the vasectomy, Slim also had bunions removed from his feet. The Texas rapper also took to his social media accounts to tweet about the surgery and to share a string of post-op pictures of his feet, including one today (July 23).
A bunion is an unnatural, bony hump that forms at the base of the big toe where it attaches to the foot. Often, the big toe deviates toward the other toes. When this occurs, the base of the big toe pushes outward on the first metatarsal bone, which is the bone directly behind the big toe, thus forming a bunion.
Up early getting ready to have surgery on my raggedy ass feet again hopefully this the last time Y(TM)
— slim thug (@slimthugga) July 18, 2013
Slim Thug released his major label debut album Already Platinum though Star Trak Entertainment and Interscope Records in 2005. The H-Town rapper also appeared with Beyonce on the single "Check On It," which was also released in 2005. The song was on the soundtrack for the 2006 film The Pink Panther, in which Beyonce starred.
I'm about to be #OUTTADERE 2 surgeries in 2 days I'm getting fixed today foot surgery tomorrow Y~
— slim thug (@slimthugga) July 17, 2013 #NoNewKids #NoNewBabymamas #NoMoChildSupport #NoLittleGirl just me and my 3 Boyz Y~ http://t.co/4CFxehx29V
— slim thug (@slimthugga) July 17, 2013 “Getting fixed” wasn’t the only surgical procedure the Boss Hogg Outlawz leader recently underwent. In addition to the vasectomy, Slim also had bunions removed from his feet. The Texas rapper also took to his social media accounts to tweet about the surgery and to share a string of post-op pictures of his feet, including one today (July 23).
A bunion is an unnatural, bony hump that forms at the base of the big toe where it attaches to the foot. Often, the big toe deviates toward the other toes. When this occurs, the base of the big toe pushes outward on the first metatarsal bone, which is the bone directly behind the big toe, thus forming a bunion.
Up early getting ready to have surgery on my raggedy ass feet again hopefully this the last time Y(TM)
— slim thug (@slimthugga) July 18, 2013
Slim Thug released his major label debut album Already Platinum though Star Trak Entertainment and Interscope Records in 2005. The H-Town rapper also appeared with Beyonce on the single "Check On It," which was also released in 2005. The song was on the soundtrack for the 2006 film The Pink Panther, in which Beyonce starred.
Kanye West Releases Interactive "Black Skinhead" Video
Kanye West posted the official video for his "Black Skinhead" song yesterday (July 22). The rapper-producer also took to Twitter to explain why watching the interactive clip for his Yeezus single on his site, kanyewest.com, was better than watching it on another website.
ATTENTION all sites just posting merely the video version of BLKKK SKKKN HEAD...
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 22, 2013 if you put a link to my site people will be able to chop & screw the video. this is a step towards the possibilities of internet based video
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 22, 2013 please don't diminish the user experience by just posting it as a normal video … please link them to my site
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 22, 2013 Directed by Nick Knight, the interactive, animated video enables viewers to adjust the speed of the video and to take still images of the clip.
An unfinished version of the "Black Skinhead" video, then stylized as "BLKKK SKKKN," leaked July 8 and was posted online. Kanye West responded to the leak with a string of tweets.
The BLKKK SKKKN HD video that leaked yesterday was not the official version.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 Me and Nick Knight have been working on this video for 5 months and for creatives it's heartbreaking when something like this happens.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 The final version will be ready within the next week.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 So any website that may have the unapproved / unfinished ruff. I ask you to please take it down.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 Allow me and Nick to give the world what we've been losing sleep over.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 And to who ever leaked the video… FUK YOU!
ATTENTION all sites just posting merely the video version of BLKKK SKKKN HEAD...
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 22, 2013 if you put a link to my site people will be able to chop & screw the video. this is a step towards the possibilities of internet based video
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 22, 2013 please don't diminish the user experience by just posting it as a normal video … please link them to my site
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 22, 2013 Directed by Nick Knight, the interactive, animated video enables viewers to adjust the speed of the video and to take still images of the clip.
An unfinished version of the "Black Skinhead" video, then stylized as "BLKKK SKKKN," leaked July 8 and was posted online. Kanye West responded to the leak with a string of tweets.
The BLKKK SKKKN HD video that leaked yesterday was not the official version.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 Me and Nick Knight have been working on this video for 5 months and for creatives it's heartbreaking when something like this happens.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 The final version will be ready within the next week.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 So any website that may have the unapproved / unfinished ruff. I ask you to please take it down.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 Allow me and Nick to give the world what we've been losing sleep over.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013 And to who ever leaked the video… FUK YOU!
Timbaland Says Aaliyah Records With Drake & Chris Brown "Don't Work"
Last month Chris Brown released the single "Don't Think They Know," which featured posthumous vocals from R&B sensation Aaliyah. The RCA Records digital single follows "Enough Said," a 2012 track Drake recorded, also made with unheard Aaliyah vocals tracks.
The late singer's mentor, Norfolk, Virginia producer/artist Timbaland recently spoke his opinion on these tracks to Revolt TV. "In music, people always say, 'I would do a song with Aaliyah.' It would never work," said Tim, who produced the bulk of Aaliyah's 1996 sophomore album, One In A Million, and two singles from her 2001 self-titled third LP. "A lot of these rappers out here are awful. Chris Brown got a record [with Aaliyah]; it won't work. Drake could do a record with Aaliyah; it ain't going to work." To the Roc Nation Records artist and founder of Mosley Music Group, there is only one logical pairing. "Aaliyah music only works with its soul-mate, which is me."
In 2012, Tim, along with another of Aaliyah's mentors and fellow VA artist, Miss Elliott, spoke out against a reported Drake-executive-produced Aallyah LP. Incidentally, Timbaland has worked with both Drake and Chris Brown, on Thank Me Later and F.A.M.E., respectively.
Additionally, Timbaland confirmed a music reunion with one of his former emcee collaborators. "I told [Jay-Z], the person who gets me from Hip Hop, now, their album's gonna be phenomenal. And that's Nas." In 1999, Tim worked on both Nas' albums, I Am... and Nastradamus. On the latter, Tim laced the single "You Owe Me."
The late singer's mentor, Norfolk, Virginia producer/artist Timbaland recently spoke his opinion on these tracks to Revolt TV. "In music, people always say, 'I would do a song with Aaliyah.' It would never work," said Tim, who produced the bulk of Aaliyah's 1996 sophomore album, One In A Million, and two singles from her 2001 self-titled third LP. "A lot of these rappers out here are awful. Chris Brown got a record [with Aaliyah]; it won't work. Drake could do a record with Aaliyah; it ain't going to work." To the Roc Nation Records artist and founder of Mosley Music Group, there is only one logical pairing. "Aaliyah music only works with its soul-mate, which is me."
In 2012, Tim, along with another of Aaliyah's mentors and fellow VA artist, Miss Elliott, spoke out against a reported Drake-executive-produced Aallyah LP. Incidentally, Timbaland has worked with both Drake and Chris Brown, on Thank Me Later and F.A.M.E., respectively.
Additionally, Timbaland confirmed a music reunion with one of his former emcee collaborators. "I told [Jay-Z], the person who gets me from Hip Hop, now, their album's gonna be phenomenal. And that's Nas." In 1999, Tim worked on both Nas' albums, I Am... and Nastradamus. On the latter, Tim laced the single "You Owe Me."
Common Summer Style Mistakes Guys Make (And How to Fix Them)
Click here to see
Summer is one of the hardest seasons to get dressed in simply because deciding what to wear means choosing less pieces. With fall and winter, layering is the name of the game, and you can just build on a basic T-shirt and jeans wardrobe with jackets, button downs, and plenty of accessories. When the mercury's up there your choices pretty much become "shorts and a tee or tank top?"
There's still plenty of ways things can go wrong. Having less style choices doesn't mean it's completely impossible to mess it up. Fit and comfort still play a big part of getting dressed when it's hot out, and plenty of dudes still don't get it. Before you leave the house, beware of these Common Summer Style Mistakes Guys Make, but don't worry too much—we also tell you how to fix them.
Summer is one of the hardest seasons to get dressed in simply because deciding what to wear means choosing less pieces. With fall and winter, layering is the name of the game, and you can just build on a basic T-shirt and jeans wardrobe with jackets, button downs, and plenty of accessories. When the mercury's up there your choices pretty much become "shorts and a tee or tank top?"
There's still plenty of ways things can go wrong. Having less style choices doesn't mean it's completely impossible to mess it up. Fit and comfort still play a big part of getting dressed when it's hot out, and plenty of dudes still don't get it. Before you leave the house, beware of these Common Summer Style Mistakes Guys Make, but don't worry too much—we also tell you how to fix them.
10 Things You Need to Know Before Renting an Apartment
Whether you're seeking your first apartment, or your tenth, the
search process has a way of making you feel unprepared. Maybe it's the
ambiguous language of cragslist ads, the unfamilar jargon of brokers, or
the sheer number of apartments you're forced to sift through, but after
just a few stress-filled weeks into the hunt, your cramped studio can suddenly seem good enough. Staying where you are or settling isn't the answer—you can do better.
Alicia Schwartz, co-founder of rental ratings start-up Rentenna.com, is experienced in the art of stress-free apartment searches. Her experience as a successful rental broker in New York City led to her to becoming the New York Times rental expert and creating HowToRentinNYC.com. Here, Alicia reveals what renters need to know to before signing anything, and how a little reseach can lead to securing your dream crib.
Alicia Schwartz, co-founder of rental ratings start-up Rentenna.com, is experienced in the art of stress-free apartment searches. Her experience as a successful rental broker in New York City led to her to becoming the New York Times rental expert and creating HowToRentinNYC.com. Here, Alicia reveals what renters need to know to before signing anything, and how a little reseach can lead to securing your dream crib.
Reports: Apple Testing Larger iPhone and 13-Inch iPad
In the latest series of speculation surrounding the next wave of iOS
devices, Apple suppliers say the company has been testing larger screens
for both the iPad and iPhone.
Apple has reportedly asked the suppliers to make prototype iPhones with five-inch screens, an entire inch larger than the iPhone's current four-inch screen. Apple may be testing this version of iPhone due to the popularity larger phones from rival companies have experienced, like Samsung's Galaxy line. The suppliers said they were also asked to create a 13-inch iPad—more than three inches larger than the current iPad's 9.7-inch screen. Like most rumors by way of Apple's suppliers, if Apple really is testing these larger versions of their devices, it doesn't mean they will actually see the light of day. The keyword in all of this is testing. But, it is possible. Apple has to adapt to a market where Samsung offers various screen sizes, and is becoming considerable threat.
What do you think: Is bigger always better?
Apple has reportedly asked the suppliers to make prototype iPhones with five-inch screens, an entire inch larger than the iPhone's current four-inch screen. Apple may be testing this version of iPhone due to the popularity larger phones from rival companies have experienced, like Samsung's Galaxy line. The suppliers said they were also asked to create a 13-inch iPad—more than three inches larger than the current iPad's 9.7-inch screen. Like most rumors by way of Apple's suppliers, if Apple really is testing these larger versions of their devices, it doesn't mean they will actually see the light of day. The keyword in all of this is testing. But, it is possible. Apple has to adapt to a market where Samsung offers various screen sizes, and is becoming considerable threat.
What do you think: Is bigger always better?
The 10 Types of Breakups You Have in Your Life (and How to Handle Them)
You learn a lot about yourself during a break-up. Heartbreak can inspire
a man to cure cancer, or it can turn him into a Howard Hughes-like
shut-in. To ensure that you don’t end up a recluse with a Call of Duty dependency, we're here to dope you on the 10 Types of Breakups You Have in Your Life (and How to Handle Them).
Justin Bieber's Unlikely Style Inspirations
The teen heart throb known as Justin Bieber has transformed before our very eyes since he burst onto the scene in 2008. "He Who Shall Not Be Named On Twitter" has gone from a wholesome, bemused cutie-patootie to a public urinating, questionable tattoo-having bad boy. Also over time, his style choices have been drastically more daring, teetering on the edge of insane trolling. But between you and us, he didn't think up these wacky outfits on his own.
Celebrities have the ability to inspire fashion choices, as well as take cues from others. So it shouldn't be a shock that the Biebs has taken a style cue or two from others*. But it's who he's taken cues from that may have you in shock. Bieber hasn't gone down the conventiional road to grad ideas for his next outfit. Prepare to be in awe as we unveil Justin Bieber's Unlikely Style Inspirations.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
Earl Sweatshirt "Earl Part II 'Road To Doris'" Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Mixtape Stream
Earl Sweatshirt's Earl Part II 'Road To Doris' mixtape arrives today (July 18), about one month in advance of his Doris album, which his slated for an August 20 release. The 32-track collection features the rapper's collaborations with Tyler, The Creator and others. Among the songs included is the Domo Genesis and Alchemist 2012 cut "Elimination Chamber" with Vince Staples and Action Bronson.
Earl Sweatshirt made high profile appearances on Frank Ocean’s Grammy-winning Channel Orange album and Mac Miller’s Watching Movies With The Sound Off LP, which was released last month. He released the free album Earl in 2010, which was available to download through the Odd Future website.
The Earl Part II 'Road To Doris' download is available for download at audiomack.com.
The Earl Part II 'Road To Doris' cover art, tracklist and mixtape stream are as follows:
1. "Intro" 2. "Whoa" f. Tyler, The Creator 3. "Hive" f. Casey Veggies & Vince Staples 4. "Im Not Real" 5. "Between Friends" 6. "The Daily News" f. Action Bronson, SpaceGhostPurp, Domo Genesis 7. "Guild" 8. "Yatcht Lash" f. Riff Raff 9. "Elimination Chamber" f. Action Bronson, Vince Staples & Domo Genesis 10. "Rusty" 11. "Burgandy" (Pharell) 12. "One Take" f. Casey Veggies 13. "PART TWO" f. Mellowhype 14. "2nd Freestyle" f. Mellowhype 15. "Oldies" f. Tyler, The Creator 16. "FUCK YOUR COMPRESSION" 17. "HOME" 18. "20 Wave Caps" 19. "150 Molasses" f. RZA 20. "Dat Ass" 21. "Never Gon Stop" 22. "Mollywhopped" 23. "Pigeons" f. Tyler, The Creator 24. "Assmilk" ft. Tyler, The Creator mp3 25. "Kill Em All" 26. "Deer Skin" 27. "epaR" 28. "Drop" 29. "Pick Of the Litter" 30. "Brand New" 31. "Dance With the Devil" f. Hodgy Beats & Tyler, The Creator 32. "End of the Show (Outro)"
1. "Intro" 2. "Whoa" f. Tyler, The Creator 3. "Hive" f. Casey Veggies & Vince Staples 4. "Im Not Real" 5. "Between Friends" 6. "The Daily News" f. Action Bronson, SpaceGhostPurp, Domo Genesis 7. "Guild" 8. "Yatcht Lash" f. Riff Raff 9. "Elimination Chamber" f. Action Bronson, Vince Staples & Domo Genesis 10. "Rusty" 11. "Burgandy" (Pharell) 12. "One Take" f. Casey Veggies 13. "PART TWO" f. Mellowhype 14. "2nd Freestyle" f. Mellowhype 15. "Oldies" f. Tyler, The Creator 16. "FUCK YOUR COMPRESSION" 17. "HOME" 18. "20 Wave Caps" 19. "150 Molasses" f. RZA 20. "Dat Ass" 21. "Never Gon Stop" 22. "Mollywhopped" 23. "Pigeons" f. Tyler, The Creator 24. "Assmilk" ft. Tyler, The Creator mp3 25. "Kill Em All" 26. "Deer Skin" 27. "epaR" 28. "Drop" 29. "Pick Of the Litter" 30. "Brand New" 31. "Dance With the Devil" f. Hodgy Beats & Tyler, The Creator 32. "End of the Show (Outro)"
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Arrest could break cartel's hold in Mexico
The murderous reign of terror wrought by the alleged kingpin of the
notorious Los Zetas drug cartel has ended on a quiet dirt road with no
shots fired.
Miguel Angel "Z-40" Treviño Morales was being held in a Mexico City prison Tuesday after being swept up by Mexican authorities in the border city of Nuevo Laredo.
Treviño Morales is accused of ordering a rampage of violence and murder that included the kidnapping and execution of numerous rivals and hundreds of migrants. Many of the bodies were found hanging from Mexican bridges or buried in shallow, mass graves.
In the U.S., Treviño Morales was named in U.S. indictments filed in 2009 and 2010 that accuse him of drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping and ordering murders in both the U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. Justice Department had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
"He is the most sadistic drug capo in Mexico," said George Grayson, a professor of Latin American politics at the College of William and Mary who has written a book on the Zetas cartel. "He delights in inflicting torture and pain. He deserves to be in the lowest rungs of hell."
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a statement congratulating "the brave men and women of the Government of Mexico" for the arrest of Treviño Morales. "His ruthless leadership has now come to an end," it said.
Grayson believes the murderous reign of the Zetas could be coming to an end.
"Most of Zetas' top lieutenants are either dead for behind bars, so i suspect that power will fall to his brother -- known as El 42 -- Omar Trevino Morales. You will see them move from a command-and-control structure to franchises. And that should translate to less violence," Grayson said.
The capture could strengthen the hand of Mexico's most-wanted man: Sinaloa Cartel boss JoaquÃn "El Chapo" Guzmán, whom Grayson says has long wanted control of the lucrative drug-running corridor through Nuevo Laredo. Guzman is viewed as a more powerful but less brutal cartel chief.
The arrest Monday also represents a major victory for Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, who was elected in 2012 on promises to curb the wanton drug violence that has plagued his nation for several years.
Peña Nieto's nationalist PRI party also promised to curb its close intelligence ties to the United States. Interior Ministry spokesman Eduardo Sánchez said the takedown was done with intelligence gathered after Peña Nieto became president, but evaded questions on the role of U.S. information in capture.
"It proves that in spite of some concerns that the new government might back away from the (previous) administration's strategy, it's continuing along the same lines of hitting the cartels hard," said Malcolm Beith, author of two books on the Mexican drug wars.
Grayson said that, without question, U.S. officials were involved at some level.
"The Mexican navy and its ground forces still have close ties to the U.S.," Grayson said. "PRI is not going to say 'We want to thank the U.S. government.' And the U.S. government is willing to keep a low profile."
The DEA statement said only that "Treviño Morales is of one of the most significant Mexican cartel leaders to be apprehended in several years and DEA will continue to support the government of Mexico as it forges ahead in disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations."
The pre-dawn arrest came after the Mexican navy learned Treviño Morales, 40, would be traveling along the road, Sánchez said.
Treviño Morales was traveling with at least two other men -- including a bodyguard and an accountant -- when a helicopter from the Mexican navy forced the vehicle to pull over and marine ground troops closed in, Sanchez said.
At the time of the arrest, Mexican authorities also seized $2 million, eight rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, Sanchez said.
Trevi̱o ascended to the top position after Los Zetas founder Heriberto Lazcano was killed by the Mexican military last year Рonly to have the body "rescued" by foot soldiers from a funeral home.
Sanchez said authorities had been watching rural roads between the Texas border states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas for signs of Treviño Morales, who is charged in Mexico with murder, torture, kidnapping and other crimes.
Zetas began as the violent enforcement wing of another cartel before breaking off into their own cartel in 2010, expanding from drug dealing into extortion, kidnapping and human trafficking.
Miguel Angel "Z-40" Treviño Morales was being held in a Mexico City prison Tuesday after being swept up by Mexican authorities in the border city of Nuevo Laredo.
Treviño Morales is accused of ordering a rampage of violence and murder that included the kidnapping and execution of numerous rivals and hundreds of migrants. Many of the bodies were found hanging from Mexican bridges or buried in shallow, mass graves.
In the U.S., Treviño Morales was named in U.S. indictments filed in 2009 and 2010 that accuse him of drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping and ordering murders in both the U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. Justice Department had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
"He is the most sadistic drug capo in Mexico," said George Grayson, a professor of Latin American politics at the College of William and Mary who has written a book on the Zetas cartel. "He delights in inflicting torture and pain. He deserves to be in the lowest rungs of hell."
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a statement congratulating "the brave men and women of the Government of Mexico" for the arrest of Treviño Morales. "His ruthless leadership has now come to an end," it said.
Grayson believes the murderous reign of the Zetas could be coming to an end.
"Most of Zetas' top lieutenants are either dead for behind bars, so i suspect that power will fall to his brother -- known as El 42 -- Omar Trevino Morales. You will see them move from a command-and-control structure to franchises. And that should translate to less violence," Grayson said.
The capture could strengthen the hand of Mexico's most-wanted man: Sinaloa Cartel boss JoaquÃn "El Chapo" Guzmán, whom Grayson says has long wanted control of the lucrative drug-running corridor through Nuevo Laredo. Guzman is viewed as a more powerful but less brutal cartel chief.
The arrest Monday also represents a major victory for Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, who was elected in 2012 on promises to curb the wanton drug violence that has plagued his nation for several years.
Peña Nieto's nationalist PRI party also promised to curb its close intelligence ties to the United States. Interior Ministry spokesman Eduardo Sánchez said the takedown was done with intelligence gathered after Peña Nieto became president, but evaded questions on the role of U.S. information in capture.
"It proves that in spite of some concerns that the new government might back away from the (previous) administration's strategy, it's continuing along the same lines of hitting the cartels hard," said Malcolm Beith, author of two books on the Mexican drug wars.
Grayson said that, without question, U.S. officials were involved at some level.
"The Mexican navy and its ground forces still have close ties to the U.S.," Grayson said. "PRI is not going to say 'We want to thank the U.S. government.' And the U.S. government is willing to keep a low profile."
The DEA statement said only that "Treviño Morales is of one of the most significant Mexican cartel leaders to be apprehended in several years and DEA will continue to support the government of Mexico as it forges ahead in disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations."
The pre-dawn arrest came after the Mexican navy learned Treviño Morales, 40, would be traveling along the road, Sánchez said.
Treviño Morales was traveling with at least two other men -- including a bodyguard and an accountant -- when a helicopter from the Mexican navy forced the vehicle to pull over and marine ground troops closed in, Sanchez said.
At the time of the arrest, Mexican authorities also seized $2 million, eight rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, Sanchez said.
Trevi̱o ascended to the top position after Los Zetas founder Heriberto Lazcano was killed by the Mexican military last year Рonly to have the body "rescued" by foot soldiers from a funeral home.
Sanchez said authorities had been watching rural roads between the Texas border states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas for signs of Treviño Morales, who is charged in Mexico with murder, torture, kidnapping and other crimes.
Zetas began as the violent enforcement wing of another cartel before breaking off into their own cartel in 2010, expanding from drug dealing into extortion, kidnapping and human trafficking.
Kevin Gates "Stranger Than Fiction" Cover Art, Tracklist & Album Stream
Today (July 16) marks the release of Kevin Gates' debut studio album, Stranger Than Fiction, the follow-up to his mixtape, The Luca Brasi Story.
2013 has been a huge year for the Bread Winners Association emcee; he signed to Atlantic Records at the top of the year. Gates has been featured on records by noteworthy artists like Pusha T and Young Money’s Gudda Gudda, among others.
His new project Stranger Than Fiction is an 18-track delivery that features a slew of guest appearances and the Southern flavor he is known for. Gucci Mane has co-signed the project and told his fans to get Gate's Stranger Than Fiction project.
The music video for his "4:30am" song dropped at the end of June. Gates also announced a mini-tour titled "Hometown Takeover", dates are below.
2013 has been a huge year for the Bread Winners Association emcee; he signed to Atlantic Records at the top of the year. Gates has been featured on records by noteworthy artists like Pusha T and Young Money’s Gudda Gudda, among others.
His new project Stranger Than Fiction is an 18-track delivery that features a slew of guest appearances and the Southern flavor he is known for. Gucci Mane has co-signed the project and told his fans to get Gate's Stranger Than Fiction project.
The music video for his "4:30am" song dropped at the end of June. Gates also announced a mini-tour titled "Hometown Takeover", dates are below.
07.18 Howling Wolf NoLa
07.19 Varsity Theatre Baton Rouge
07.20 Kokopellis Shrevport
Stay tuned to his Facebook page for more information on the tour.
The Weeknd Breaks Interview Silence, Explains If He's Deliberately Mysterious
Toronto, Ontario singer The Weeknd has not done interviews since his rise to mainstream success and a major label contract with Universal Republic Records. The Drake affiliate recently broke his silence with Complex magazine. Initially asked about the wall from interviews, the 23-year-old admitted, "I felt like I had nothing to say. I still feel I have nothing to say. I’m the most boring person to talk to."
On the cusp of releasing his Kiss Land studio debut next month, The Weeknd also revealed if his label is pressuring him to promote his releases through more press. "[2012's] Trilogy was a re-release, but [Universal Republic Records] still said, 'Maybe you should do some interviews.' Honestly, I want to do interviews now because it’s one thing that I haven’t mastered." He continued, pointing to several of his inspirations. "Even Prince did interviews. Michael [Jackson] did interviews. And I can tell in the interviews they’re uncomfortable. Why are they doing this? Because they feel like they have to do it to be a complete artist. I felt like this was my time."
While The Weeknd is challenging his comfort zones, Complex pressed if his veil of silence was deliberate. "Yes and no," the vocalist born Abel Tesfaye answered about a self-imposed air of mystery. "In the beginning, I was very insecure. I hated how I looked in pictures. I just fucking hated this shit, like, crop me out of this picture right now. I was very camera-shy. People like hot girls, so I put my music to hot girls and it just became a trend. The whole 'enigmatic artist' thing, I just ran with it. No one could find pictures of me. It reminded me of some villain shit. But you can’t escape the Internet. There are super-fans, and I was really testing their patience. At the end of the day you can’t deny the music. That was my whole thing: I’m going to let the music speak for itself."
Kiss Land is planned to release August 27 on Universal Republic Records.
Jay-Z Details Pre-"Magna Carta Holy Grail" Timbaland Fallout
For years, Virginia producer Timbaland and Brooklyn emcee Jay-Z worked together to craft numerous records that would later be featured on Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter, The Black Album, and more. And with Tim’s extensive work on the newly-released Magna Carta Holy Grail, it came as a surprise to many when it was revealed that the two artists had previously parted ways musically.
At the top of the month, Timbaland revealed the news and credited his past falling out with the Magna Carta Holy Grail rapper to “disagreements” and “petty stuff.” And during a recent interview with BBC Radio 1, Jay-Z shared his thoughts on the pairs past indifferences.
According to Jay-Z, his issues with Timbaland arose shortly after The Blueprint 3 was released and were primarily due to Tim’s demeanor.
“He was still on Blueprint 3, but the fallout happened at the end of that album. It really happened—the way the album happened and a couple of songs was getting leaked, that was his songs. And it was like that whole thing was just like it just ruined the whole process,” Jay-Z revealed. “I wanted him and Kanye to produce, and Kanye who was the executive producer of Blueprint was like ‘Yo, let’s get Tim. Let’s bring Tim in.’ We were all inviting of him and he just wasn’t accepting of the process. And it seemed like it was more about him than the actual album.”
Jay-Z says the producer did reemerge following their fallout and returned with a more mature outlook, one that helped in easing any past tensions.
Timbaland later went on to produce a majority of the songs featured on Magna Carta Holy Grail including “La Familia” and the Justin Timberlake-assisted “Holy Grail.”
“When you go in and make an album there’s not—you have to put all ego aside,” said Jay-Z. “I’m putting ego aside. Everyone has to put ego aside for the sake of the project. And he was accepting of that. That was almost like the last straw type of thing. We just went our separate ways. After those concerts he came back, I saw the new Timbaland. He had this maturity and this growth and I was like, ‘Oh okay. This is gonna work out.’”
Friday, July 12, 2013
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Kanye West Calls "Black Skinhead" Video Leak "Heartbreaking"
A music video for the Yeezus
record “Black Skinhead,” which was reportedly briefly posted on the
official Website for rapper Kanye West, has now been taken down and
according to West, the video was never approved in the first place.
The G.O.O.D. Music emcee confirmed the video was a leak as he posted a handful of status updates to his Twitter account earlier today (July 9). He later revealed that the video was an unfinished version he and photographer Nick Knight created and referred to the leak as “heartbreaking” to those in the creative world.
Me and Nick Knight have been working on this video for 5 months and for creatives it's heartbreaking when something like this happens.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013
West also requested that anyone who may have posted the unfinished “Black Skinhead” video online, take it down.
So any website that may have the unapproved / unfinished ruff. I ask you to please take it down.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013
Lastly, the Yeezus rapper offered a few words to the person or persons responsible for the leak.
And to who ever leaked the video… FUK YOU!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013
According to West, the official “Black Skinhead” music video will be released sometime in the next week.
Featured on West’s newly-released, sixth studio album, “Black Skinhead” first debuted during the rapper’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in May.
The G.O.O.D. Music emcee confirmed the video was a leak as he posted a handful of status updates to his Twitter account earlier today (July 9). He later revealed that the video was an unfinished version he and photographer Nick Knight created and referred to the leak as “heartbreaking” to those in the creative world.
Me and Nick Knight have been working on this video for 5 months and for creatives it's heartbreaking when something like this happens.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013
West also requested that anyone who may have posted the unfinished “Black Skinhead” video online, take it down.
So any website that may have the unapproved / unfinished ruff. I ask you to please take it down.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013
Lastly, the Yeezus rapper offered a few words to the person or persons responsible for the leak.
And to who ever leaked the video… FUK YOU!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 9, 2013
According to West, the official “Black Skinhead” music video will be released sometime in the next week.
Featured on West’s newly-released, sixth studio album, “Black Skinhead” first debuted during the rapper’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in May.
Lauryn Hill Begins Prison Sentence For Tax Charges
Lauryn Hill began serving her three-month prison sentence today (July 8) for not paying about $1 million in taxes, according to abcnews.com. The Grammy-winning singer-rapper reported to federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, today according to Ed Ross, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Prisons, as per ABC.
Hill will be serving her sentence in a minimum security facility. Inmates at minimum security prisons often live in open, dormitory-style housing and typically work maintenance, food service and landscaping jobs while incarcerated, according to the story.
Upon her release from prison, Hill will be under parole supervision for a year, the first three months of which will be spent under home confinement, according to ABC.
Hill pleaded guilty last year to failing to pay taxes on more than $1.8 million of income generated from 2005 to 2007, as per ABC. Her sentencing also considered unpaid state and federal taxes in 2008 and 2009 that brought her total earnings to about $2.3 million.
In May, Hill was sentenced in Newark, New Jersey. Hill had said that she did not pay the outstanding taxes because she was no longer in the music industry and that she left the music industry in order to protect her six children and herself, according to reports.
At her sentencing in May, Hill's attorney sought probation, claiming that Hill's charitable works, her family circumstances and the fact she paid back the $900,000 in taxes she owed should merit consideration, according to ABC.
Nonetheless, the court handed down Hill's three-month sentence and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Moser said that Hill's explanation for her failure to pay the taxes was "a parade of excuses centering around her feeling put upon" that did not relieve her of her tax responsibilities, as per ABC.
In April, Hill wrote a letter addressing her tax problems on her Tumblr page. In June, she posted another piece criticizing "America's particular brand of hypocrisy" on her Tumblr page.
Hill rose to prominence in the mid-1990s as a member of the Rap group The Fugees. Her 1998 album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, is one of the most acclaimed albums of all time.
Monday, July 8, 2013
World's biggest cocaine dealer' deported to Italy
An Italian mafia capo alleged to be the biggest cocaine
trafficker in the world will be deported to Italy on Saturday, a day
after being arrested in a Colombian shopping mall, prosecutors said.
Roberto Pannunzi was detained in Bogota with a fake Venezuelan identity card in a joint operation by Colombian police together with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
"He is the biggest cocaine importer in the world," said Nicola Gratteri, deputy chief prosecutor in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy.
"He is the only one who can organise purchases and sales of cocaine shipments of 3,000 kilos (6,600 pounds) and up," he said.
"Pannunzi is the only one who can sell both to the 'Ndrangheta and to Cosa Nostra. He is definitely the most powerful drug broker in the world," he said.
The 'Ndrangheta is based in Calabria and is a major player in international drug trafficking. The Sicilian mafia is known as Cosa Nostra.
Gratteri said Pannunzi was being deported since "an extradition order would have taken several months".
He is expected to land at Rome's Fiumicino airport later on Saturday.
In April, Colombia captured another suspected top mafioso, Domenico Trimboli, alleged to be a lynchpin between the Medellin drug cartel and the 'Ndrangheta.
Pannunzi had escaped from a Rome clinic where he was being held under house arrest in 2010 -- repeating an earlier escape in the same way in 1999.
He was previously been detained in Colombia in 1994, when he reportedly offered the arresting officers a million dollars in cash to walk away.
Gratteri said that during Friday's arrest, Pannunzi had told the police he was ill but he said he hoped the alleged trafficker would not be granted house arrest in a hospital in Italy again.
"I hope that he is not given house arrest a third time because he could attempt a third escape.
"It's exhausting having to go around the world to find him every time he escapes," Gratteri said.
Roberto Pannunzi was detained in Bogota with a fake Venezuelan identity card in a joint operation by Colombian police together with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
"He is the biggest cocaine importer in the world," said Nicola Gratteri, deputy chief prosecutor in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy.
"He is the only one who can organise purchases and sales of cocaine shipments of 3,000 kilos (6,600 pounds) and up," he said.
"Pannunzi is the only one who can sell both to the 'Ndrangheta and to Cosa Nostra. He is definitely the most powerful drug broker in the world," he said.
The 'Ndrangheta is based in Calabria and is a major player in international drug trafficking. The Sicilian mafia is known as Cosa Nostra.
Gratteri said Pannunzi was being deported since "an extradition order would have taken several months".
He is expected to land at Rome's Fiumicino airport later on Saturday.
In April, Colombia captured another suspected top mafioso, Domenico Trimboli, alleged to be a lynchpin between the Medellin drug cartel and the 'Ndrangheta.
Pannunzi had escaped from a Rome clinic where he was being held under house arrest in 2010 -- repeating an earlier escape in the same way in 1999.
He was previously been detained in Colombia in 1994, when he reportedly offered the arresting officers a million dollars in cash to walk away.
Gratteri said that during Friday's arrest, Pannunzi had told the police he was ill but he said he hoped the alleged trafficker would not be granted house arrest in a hospital in Italy again.
"I hope that he is not given house arrest a third time because he could attempt a third escape.
"It's exhausting having to go around the world to find him every time he escapes," Gratteri said.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Dwight Howard Screw LA I'm Going to Houston!
Dwight Howard has decided to make the entire city of Los Angeles hate
him (except for the ever-growing number of Clippers fans) by spurning
the Lakers and signing with the Houston Rockets.No word on whether he
will sign outright with Houston or work out some sort of sign-and-trade
with the Lakers (which would net him more money).D12
cannot officially sign any deal until July 10.Howard spent
one disastrous, injury-plagued year with the Lakers after
they acquired him in a trade from the Orlando Magic.The Black Mamba will
not take this lightly.****IT IS WORTH NOTING****While severeal
well-respected writers have reported the move, Dwight's agent says he
has not made a decision ... and Howard is known to change is mind. So
stay tuned ...
Lil Phat Reportedly Killed As Part Of $10,000 Murder-For-Hire Plot
Now that five individuals have been indicted in the murder of Melvin
“Lil Phat” Vernell III, added details are beginning to emerge in the
intricate murder case.
According to AllHipHop.com, prosecutors claim that Lil Phat was killed due to a $10,000 murder-for-hire plot involving the five men being indicted. Among those individuals is a former Russian mobster who denies involvement in the murder and rapper/alleged gang member, Gary “El Dorado Red” Bradford.
Prosecutors also claim the murder-for-hire plot was orchestrated by Bradford and San Francisco State University point guard Decensae White after they received word that Lil Phat may have stolen 10 pounds of marijuana from them.
Indictment papers filed earlier in the year state that all five of the men involved in the fatal shooting, “unlawfully, while associated with a criminal street gang, participate criminal gang activity through commission of an offense.”
It was a little over a year ago when Lil Phat was fatally shot while in a parked car outside of Atlanta’s Northside Hospital in June 2012.
Prior to his passing, Lil Phat was signed to Trill Entertainment and appeared on songs with Yo Gotti, Webbie, and Paul Wall.
According to AllHipHop.com, prosecutors claim that Lil Phat was killed due to a $10,000 murder-for-hire plot involving the five men being indicted. Among those individuals is a former Russian mobster who denies involvement in the murder and rapper/alleged gang member, Gary “El Dorado Red” Bradford.
Prosecutors also claim the murder-for-hire plot was orchestrated by Bradford and San Francisco State University point guard Decensae White after they received word that Lil Phat may have stolen 10 pounds of marijuana from them.
Indictment papers filed earlier in the year state that all five of the men involved in the fatal shooting, “unlawfully, while associated with a criminal street gang, participate criminal gang activity through commission of an offense.”
It was a little over a year ago when Lil Phat was fatally shot while in a parked car outside of Atlanta’s Northside Hospital in June 2012.
Prior to his passing, Lil Phat was signed to Trill Entertainment and appeared on songs with Yo Gotti, Webbie, and Paul Wall.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta' cover on exhibit with real one
Jay-Z keeps finding new ways to make history. The cover art of his 12th album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, will
be on display at the Salisbury Cathedral in England, alongside one of
the four surviving original 1215 Magna Carta documents. He made the
announcement on his website, lifeandtimes.com, which has several photos
from the exhibit that runs through the end of July.
This comes on the heels of news that the album will be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America based on the release deal with Samsung to make it available for free to 1 million Samsung users who downloaded the Magna Carta app. They can download the album at 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday. The album goes on sale July 9.
This comes on the heels of news that the album will be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America based on the release deal with Samsung to make it available for free to 1 million Samsung users who downloaded the Magna Carta app. They can download the album at 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday. The album goes on sale July 9.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Lupe Fiasco Speaks To Chicago High School Graduates, Blasts Education System
Chicago, Illinois emcee Lupe Fiasco
was among distinguished presenters at this past weekend at what is
being called the Mass Black Male Graduation And Transition To Manhood
ceremony. Held at Chicago State University, the Atlantic Records star
made a speech lambasting the education system and praising their
efforts.
“Congratulations, you have graduated from one of the most terrible, substandard school systems in the entire world. You have just spent the last...12 years receiving one of the worst educations on earth. You are at least four, five steps behind people in other countries that are younger than you,” began Lupe, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. He also said, "Transition to manhood is the most important thing that’s going on right now. The caps and the gowns and your tassels and your honorary blah blah blahs don’t mean nothing. That’s just dress. That’s just some clothes. Meaningless clothes, too, because they have no real purpose in life. They don’t keep you warm. What do they do? They just represent to someone else that you’ve achieved something. But then when you look back at it, what have you achieved?” He continued, “For young Black men...it is one the last things that we have . . . and one of the last things that we can control. Manhood is connected to humanity.”
Fiasco reportedly offered $100 to each student who attended the event. The newspaper claimed that approximately 150 grads appeared to see the Food & Liquor creator.
Philip Jackson of The Black Star Project organized the event. He praised Lupe's strong words, “[Lupe Fiasco] gave the young people their first real dose of reality."
“Congratulations, you have graduated from one of the most terrible, substandard school systems in the entire world. You have just spent the last...12 years receiving one of the worst educations on earth. You are at least four, five steps behind people in other countries that are younger than you,” began Lupe, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. He also said, "Transition to manhood is the most important thing that’s going on right now. The caps and the gowns and your tassels and your honorary blah blah blahs don’t mean nothing. That’s just dress. That’s just some clothes. Meaningless clothes, too, because they have no real purpose in life. They don’t keep you warm. What do they do? They just represent to someone else that you’ve achieved something. But then when you look back at it, what have you achieved?” He continued, “For young Black men...it is one the last things that we have . . . and one of the last things that we can control. Manhood is connected to humanity.”
Fiasco reportedly offered $100 to each student who attended the event. The newspaper claimed that approximately 150 grads appeared to see the Food & Liquor creator.
Philip Jackson of The Black Star Project organized the event. He praised Lupe's strong words, “[Lupe Fiasco] gave the young people their first real dose of reality."
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
A$AP Rocky Appears To Slap Female Fan At Concert
A$AP Rocky appears to slap a female fan in the face, as seen in a video from the rapper's performance in Australia last week. As A$AP Rocky walks through the crowd, fans are trying to get his attention by patting him on the head and reaching for his hands. When a female fan reaches down from her seat, taps A$AP Rocky on the head and blows him a kiss, the rapper appears to turn around the slap the woman in the face. He then appears to point at her as she reacts to being hit.
The incident captured in the video allegedly occurred during A$AP Rocky’s performance Friday (June 28) at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, according to XXL.
Last month, the Harlem, New York artist ended a concert in Dortmund, Germany after a fan took his "back in the day" Supreme hat during his performance there. "Who took my shit?" A$AP asked the German crowd in a video of the concert. "I came to party with y'all. Give me my hat so I can [continue]. That's a one-of-a-kind hat," he added. "We ain't gonna fuck you up. Just give me my shit back."
Watching one fan exit, A$AP told security, "Yo, stop that guy over there from leavin'...don't let nobody leave." When the hat still did not return, A$AP left the stage.
Killer Mike Says "Nah" To Jay-Z's "Magna Carta Holy Grail" Download
Killer Mike appears to have an issue with downloading Jay-Z's highly anticipated album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. The Run the Jewels
emcee tweeted about this yesterday (July 1), letting followers know
that he wouldn't be downloading Jay's album. Attaching a picture of the
Magna Carta Holy Grail Samsung app's permission settings to his tweet,
Killer Mike said, "Nah, I'm good" to the download.
As noted, the image showcases the app's permission settings. The Holy Grail app requires permission to users' storage, system tools, location, network communities, phone calls and more. When asked by a fan if this was a real image, Killer Mike confirmed. Below is Mike's original tweet on the matter.
I read this and........"Naw I'm cool" pic.twitter.com/x8fXPG1tvC
— Killer Mike (@KillerMikeGTO) July 2, 2013 Killer Mike has collaborated with and complimented Jay-Z in the past. He was a guest on The Blueprint 2's "Poppin' Tags." They also appeared together on Outkast's "Flip Flop Rock." In 2011, Killer Mike told XXL that Jay-Z was his "favorite rapper." “Everybody that knows me, knows that my favorite rapper, in terms of who I feel that has pushed the culture, is Jay,” he said, before adding more complimentary statements. “Truthfully he’s my favorite rapper. I just think Jay is an incredible human being. And when I say Jay-Z, I have to qualify that I’m talking about the franchise for Roc-A-Fella. I like the new Jay-Z, he’s dope. But I was inspired by the crew called Roc-A-Fella.”
As noted, the image showcases the app's permission settings. The Holy Grail app requires permission to users' storage, system tools, location, network communities, phone calls and more. When asked by a fan if this was a real image, Killer Mike confirmed. Below is Mike's original tweet on the matter.
I read this and........"Naw I'm cool" pic.twitter.com/x8fXPG1tvC
— Killer Mike (@KillerMikeGTO) July 2, 2013 Killer Mike has collaborated with and complimented Jay-Z in the past. He was a guest on The Blueprint 2's "Poppin' Tags." They also appeared together on Outkast's "Flip Flop Rock." In 2011, Killer Mike told XXL that Jay-Z was his "favorite rapper." “Everybody that knows me, knows that my favorite rapper, in terms of who I feel that has pushed the culture, is Jay,” he said, before adding more complimentary statements. “Truthfully he’s my favorite rapper. I just think Jay is an incredible human being. And when I say Jay-Z, I have to qualify that I’m talking about the franchise for Roc-A-Fella. I like the new Jay-Z, he’s dope. But I was inspired by the crew called Roc-A-Fella.”
Monday, July 1, 2013
Drake Reportedly Cancels BET Awards Appearance
According to RadarOnline.com,
Canadian crooner/rapper Drake will reportedly be a no show at the 2013
BET Awards, which takes place today (June 30) in Los Angeles.
“Everything is in flux. The producers are all pulling their hair out,” a source revealed to RadarOnline.com earlier today.
Drake's name was also left out of the package shown at the top of the awards show, which introduced the various performers and presenters at this year's BET Awards. The Toronto rapper is nominated for 12 awards, the most of any artist this year.
The Young Money artist has notoriously feuded with fellow singer Chris Brown who opened the awards show with a performance that included a surprise appearance from Young Money rapstress Nicki Minaj. Both Brown and Drake made headlines last year when they were involved in a nightclub brawl at W.i.P. in New York City.
In the year since the W.i.P. fight, both artists have exchanged words via diss records and interviews. Most recently, Drake commented on his feud with Brown possibly ending “really badly” during an interview with GQ magazine.
“Everything is in flux. The producers are all pulling their hair out,” a source revealed to RadarOnline.com earlier today.
Drake's name was also left out of the package shown at the top of the awards show, which introduced the various performers and presenters at this year's BET Awards. The Toronto rapper is nominated for 12 awards, the most of any artist this year.
The Young Money artist has notoriously feuded with fellow singer Chris Brown who opened the awards show with a performance that included a surprise appearance from Young Money rapstress Nicki Minaj. Both Brown and Drake made headlines last year when they were involved in a nightclub brawl at W.i.P. in New York City.
In the year since the W.i.P. fight, both artists have exchanged words via diss records and interviews. Most recently, Drake commented on his feud with Brown possibly ending “really badly” during an interview with GQ magazine.
Kendrick Lamar Wins "Best New Artist" & "Best Male Hip Hop Artist" At The BET Awards
Compton wordsmith Kendrick Lamar secured two of the BET Awards’
most coveted awards as he won the title of “Best New Artist” and "Best
Male Hip Hop Artist" at the annual music and entertainment awards show.
Due to a performance which directly followed the “Best New Artist” presentation, the rapper was unfortunately unable to accept his "Best New Artist" award and left that particular duty to actresses Gabrielle Union and Angela Bassett.
Other “Best New Artist” nominees included Azealia Banks, Joey Bada$$, Trinidad Jame$, and Canadian singer The Weeknd. The TDE spitter also received nominations for “Best Collaboration” and “Video of the Year.”
Following the “Best New Artist” presentation, Kendrick graced the stage for a performance of both “m.A.A.d City” and “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” the latter of which included a cameo from Dallas songstress Erykah Badu who lent her vocals to the good kid, m.A.A.d city record.
Video of Kendrick’s 2013 BET Awards performance can be found below.
Due to a performance which directly followed the “Best New Artist” presentation, the rapper was unfortunately unable to accept his "Best New Artist" award and left that particular duty to actresses Gabrielle Union and Angela Bassett.
Other “Best New Artist” nominees included Azealia Banks, Joey Bada$$, Trinidad Jame$, and Canadian singer The Weeknd. The TDE spitter also received nominations for “Best Collaboration” and “Video of the Year.”
Following the “Best New Artist” presentation, Kendrick graced the stage for a performance of both “m.A.A.d City” and “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” the latter of which included a cameo from Dallas songstress Erykah Badu who lent her vocals to the good kid, m.A.A.d city record.
Video of Kendrick’s 2013 BET Awards performance can be found below.
Jay-Z Releases Lyrics To "La Familia," Contains Lil Wayne Diss
Jay-Z keeps the headlines coming, as the latest lyrics revealed from his upcoming Magna Carta Holy Grail serve as a diss towards Lil Wayne.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West's track "H.A.M.," where Jay raps, "I'm like, 'Really, half-a-billi?' / Nigga, really, you got baby money / Keep it real with niggas, niggas ain't got my lady money," Wayne took the bars as a diss towards Cash Money head honcho Birdman, a/k/a Baby.
In response, Wayne dropped "I'm Good" on Tha Carter IV, rhyming, "I got your baby money / Kidnap your bitch, get that how much you love your lady money."
Though both verses dropped in 2011, it appears Jay-Z hasn't forgotten about the bars aimed at his wife, Beyonce.
“Wanna kidnap wifey / Good luck with that bruh / You must gonna hide your whole family / What you think we wearing black for / Ready for that war / Ready for that war ready / You ain't ready, yo, you radio," spits Jay.
The two emcee's history of subliminals began in 2009, in an interview where Birdman claimed Wayne was both more lyrical and made more money than Hov. Jay brushed off the notion in an interview with Angie Martinez on Hot 97. Later, at a pre-Grammy party in 2012, Wayne spit a few bars dissing Jay-Z and Kanye West's group, The Throne.
It was also heavily speculated that Jay-Z's verse on "Watch What You Say to Me," a track from T.I.'s 2007 release T.I. vs. T.I.P. contained subliminals aimed at Wayne, but was never confirmed.
So far, Jay has dropped lyrics to "BBC," featuring Nas, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Swizz Beatz, and Timbaland, "Part II (On the Run)," featuring Beyonce, as well as others.
Magna Carta Holy Grail hits shelves July 4, save one million Samsung Galaxy smartphone users, who will get the album for free via app.
Check out the lyrics to "La Familia" below:
On Jay-Z and Kanye West's track "H.A.M.," where Jay raps, "I'm like, 'Really, half-a-billi?' / Nigga, really, you got baby money / Keep it real with niggas, niggas ain't got my lady money," Wayne took the bars as a diss towards Cash Money head honcho Birdman, a/k/a Baby.
In response, Wayne dropped "I'm Good" on Tha Carter IV, rhyming, "I got your baby money / Kidnap your bitch, get that how much you love your lady money."
Though both verses dropped in 2011, it appears Jay-Z hasn't forgotten about the bars aimed at his wife, Beyonce.
“Wanna kidnap wifey / Good luck with that bruh / You must gonna hide your whole family / What you think we wearing black for / Ready for that war / Ready for that war ready / You ain't ready, yo, you radio," spits Jay.
The two emcee's history of subliminals began in 2009, in an interview where Birdman claimed Wayne was both more lyrical and made more money than Hov. Jay brushed off the notion in an interview with Angie Martinez on Hot 97. Later, at a pre-Grammy party in 2012, Wayne spit a few bars dissing Jay-Z and Kanye West's group, The Throne.
It was also heavily speculated that Jay-Z's verse on "Watch What You Say to Me," a track from T.I.'s 2007 release T.I. vs. T.I.P. contained subliminals aimed at Wayne, but was never confirmed.
So far, Jay has dropped lyrics to "BBC," featuring Nas, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Swizz Beatz, and Timbaland, "Part II (On the Run)," featuring Beyonce, as well as others.
Magna Carta Holy Grail hits shelves July 4, save one million Samsung Galaxy smartphone users, who will get the album for free via app.
Check out the lyrics to "La Familia" below:
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