HIP-HOP NEWS
Tyler, The Creator Reveals Kanye Wanted To Be On “IFHY”, He Will Not Appear On “Yeezus”
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Tyler, The Creator answers some questions about Kanye on his formspring, revealing that Yeezy expressed interest in hopping on his track “IFHY”, and dispelling rumors that he will appear on “Yeezus”.
Kanye West has certainly praised Tyler, The Creator over the years, but it has never been clear how much they actually communicate. Yeezy called “Yonkers” the video of the year in 2011, and displayed his recent “IFHY” visual on the front page of his site. With some recent rumors circulating that Tyler would be appearing on Ye’s upcoming Yeezus project, the rapper took to hisvery active Fromspring account to answer some questions on the matter.
While Tyler’s latest response to the rumors saw him outright denying any contribution to the album, an earlier entry readim prolly on there but in ways you cant tell.” Whether this means that he simply influenced the album, or his parts have been characteristically buried in the mix, it seems we won’t be hearing too much of Wolf Haley onYeezus.
The “Domo 23” rapper revealed that a Kanye collaboration was certainly not out of the question, explaining that Ye wanted to hop on his track “IFHY”. “he wanted to be on IFHY too! but i was like, nah hahaha.” Tyler then spoke of how the two actually have a pretty close relationship, communicating frequently. “ye is soo awesome, i talk to him almost everyday it seems like. its cool to have someone you can level with about art and everything else.”
Tyler also said he had heard some of the album in an exclusive Lamborghini session.”he played me new slaves and black skinhead months ago when he picked me up in his lambo. thats sooo tight to type out haha, damn i came far haha”
Does this mean Yeezy still exclusively listens to rap in his car because his house is too nice?
Check out the “IFHY” video below.
Rihanna And Amanda Bynes Exchange Insults On Twitter [Update: Bynes Claims Tweets Were Fake, Waka Flocka Shows Support]
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![Rihanna And Amanda Bynes Exchange Insults On Twitter [Update: Bynes Claims Tweets Were Fake, Waka Flocka Shows Support]](https://i0.wp.com/thumbs.hh.ulximg.com/public/article/600_1369594424_b6f8c277dbeb52c062660a377bd7c308.jpg)
It seems a a bit of Twitter beef has been sparked between Rihanna and actress Amanda Bynes. The latter was the instigator, who, unprovoked, tweeted “Chris Brown beat you because you’re not pretty enough” and “no one wants to be your lover so you call everyone and their mother that I almost named my new dog Rihanna.”
Bynes quickly deleted the offending tweets, but Rihanna still found out about them, of couse. She responded simply: “Ya see what happens when they cancel Intervention?” The singer is not one to remain silent when it comes to slander.
This incident comes just three days after Bynes was arrested at her apartment on West 47th Street in Manhattan for criminal possession of marijuana, tampering with evidence and reckless endangerment. She apparently tossed a glass bong out of her 36th floor window after a complaint from the doorman.
Gucci Mane Speaks On Working Things Out With Waka Flocka, Linking Up With Chief Keef
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Gucci Mane talks about signing Chief Keef to Bricksquad, being locked up with Young Scooter, and how he and Waka Flocka “always work it out”.
Gucci Mane has had a busy year. So far he’s starred in Harmony Korine’s “Spring Breakers”, released 5 mixtapes, been in and out of jail, and had ahighly publicized beef with Waka Flocka Flame. That’s not even mentioninghis new album Trap House III which dropped last week, and his recent Brick Squad signee Chief Keef. Gucci spoke with XXL, detailing much of his busy year, including his time spent in the pen with Young Scooter, his recent love affair with auto-tune, studio-life, and his belief that he and Waka will work things out eventually.
Check out some choice excerpts from the interview below.
XXL: There was reportedly an issue with iTunes releasing Trap House III a few days later than originally planned. What happened there?
Gucci Mane: They said that some of the files we had sent to them was corrupted, so it was some sort of technical error. They apologized for it. I don’t think they did it on purpose, ‘cause they get a percentage of that too. So it was unfortunate, but it’s the No. 3 album on iTunes right now.
“Hell Yes” and “Point In My Life” are great. You’re really doing a lot with the Auto-Tune.
I love that shit man. I could do that shit good. That’s why I keep fucking with it.
The album was initially supposed to come out in July. What made you bump it up?
I really wanted to drop something before Memorial Day Weekend. I always felt like Memorial Day Weekend is the beginning of the summer, so as a strategic move I felt I needed to drop something for the hood. To coincide with people going to Myrtle Beach and people going to Puerto Rico and people going to Miami. I wanted my music to be the theme music for the summer.
You’ve dropped five mixtapes this year in addition to this album. Do you ever leave the studio?
I don’t even go to sleep. I just record 24/7. I don’t leave the studio because you never know when you’re gonna make a big song that will change the whole situation. It’s not like, ‘Tomorrow I’m going to go to the studio from 10 to 6 and the next day I’m going to go from 6 to 12, and then I’m going to make a hit the next day.’ One day I might make no songs ‘cause I might be tired or the next day you might not have no good beats. Music comes when it comes, so I always want to be around the music.
What are you working on now?
I’m just working on my Brick Squad group album which will drop this summer. It’ll be me, PeeWee Longway, Young Thug, Dolph and of course Chief Keef. I even got songs with Waka on there. I’m just gonna drop a collection of all the best songs we’ve been making. I dropped a mixtape for every artist on my label, so now I feel like it’s just time to put our album together and show everybody the chemistry we got together.
Speaking of Waka, what’s going on with you guys right now?
There was more of a miscommunication and things got misconstrued. But we got too much of a good thing. Whatever we got to work out, we always work it out.
That’s what everybody wants to see happen. So how did you and Keef link up?
He a big fan of mine and I just see a lot of potential in him. I feel like all these years I’ve been in the rap game, there’s a lot of things that I wish I could have did a different way. So I just feel like if nothing else, I just want to give him some advice so that he can just enjoy his career. Just show him that trouble is so easy to get into. It’s really more of a big brother thing. There’s a business arrangement of course, but I just really like him as a person. He hard. He for real. The young people take to what’s real, what they perceive as authentic.
Is it true that you and Young Scooter were cellmates in jail recently?
Yep. We were locked up in the same jail. That’s true.
How did you guys spend your time there?
We would see each other in jail. I don’t even…I’m so glad to be out of there. I don’t even want to talk about being in jail. I just can’t wait ‘till Scooter come out of there. I understand why somebody on the outside of jail looking in on somebody would want to know about it, but to me, there’s just not much I could say about it.
Scooter’s album was also supposed to come out in July. Is that going to be pushed back?
Scooter says he wants to push the album back so he can promote it more. He don’t want to just throw his album out there before going out and telling the people how hard he worked on it. He’s got his own label too, and as his partner I got to respect his wishes. He’ll be home soon. It’s unfortunate, but he’ll come home soon and reap the benefits of his hard work.
A lot of people were talking about your appearance in Spring Breakers. Do you plan on doing any films again anytime soon?
Thank you man. I really appreciate that. I got another one coming out in June that I executive produced. It’s called The Spot. It’s got me and Keyshia Dior. It got Rocko in it. It’s got like two or three Atlanta comedians in there. It’s like a comedy. It got Scooter in there. It got OJ in there. That shit crazy.
15 Rappers Hip-Hop Fans Already Give No F-cks About [PHOTOS]
Saying rap fans are fickle has long become a cliché. But, can you really blame them? There is always a new jack rapper claiming to be that next great, or bearable, MC. However, more often than not, they may score a hot single or two, and some Internet fame, but then they’ll disappear from Hip-Hop’s radar.
Some of these rappers you just may easily recognize. But don’t fool yourself into thinking you really care. If you’re team one hit wonder and insist we are unfairly slandering the object of your standom, spend that potential time and energy riffing about their inclusion here into trying to get them on the charts. That said, here are 15 rappers that were on the cusp of fame, but that most Hip-Hop fans give no f-cks about.
Feel free to let us know if we missed any in the comments!
YC RACKS.. AFTER FUTURE BLEW UP IT WAS OVA !!!
RAPPERS Hip-Hop Fans Already Give No FUcks About [PHOTOS]
Shop Boyz These are the cats that made “Party Like A Rock Star.” That is all.
15 Rappers Hip-Hop Fans Already Give No F-cks About [PHOTOS]
Cash Out Cash out is trying to hold on. But his “Cashin Out” hit is getting smaller and smaller in the rear view. Where’s the album?
15 Rappers Hip-Hop Fans Already Give No F-cks About [PHOTOS]
Mike Jones Were not sure what Mike Jones lost more of, the extra pounds (yes, that’s him below) or his career. 
Hittman Hittman had bars, but he practically turned into a unicorn after The Chronic 2001 had its run.
OJ Da Juiceman Getting booed in NYC is far from a career breaker, just ask Big KRIT. However, for OJ it was a sign the jig was up. Ay!
15 Rappers Hip-Hop Fans Already Give No F-cks About [PHOTOS]
Sun N.Y. The NYC rapper was signed to So So Def. You’re welcome for that trip down memory lane.
Photo: BET
Mims Unfortunately, Mims is no longer even close to being hot.
15 Rappers Hip-Hop Fans Already Give No F-cks About [PHOTOS]
Dem Franchize Boyz Still trying to lean into another hit.
15 Rappers Hip-Hop Fans Already Give No Fucks About [PHOTOS
Ron BrowzBrowz did produce Nas “Ether” and had hits (“Jumpin’ Out The Window”). We’re betting y’all really don’t care, though.
Lil Scrappy And Soulja Boy Threaten Each Other On Twitter [PHOTOS]
Nothing gets rappers more upset than the fact they might have shared a woman once upon a time. Like Nas and Jay-Z before them (to a much lesser extent) Lil Scrappy and Soulja Boy are now e-beefing. Soulja Boy and Lil Scrappy both dated Crime Mob rapper, Diamond, at one point with Soulja Boy being the most recent. The “Crank That” rapper recently took to his Twitter page to announce that he is no longer dating the rapper, which then eventually led to the two getting into it on social media.
Although to the naked eye, it seems that the beef is strictly over Diamond but Lil’ Scrappy has tried to make it clear that this is not about Diamond, despite Soulja Boy’s claims via Twitter that suggest otherwise.
“Let’s go to war, I f**ked your girlfriend and you are a b***h,” Soulja Boy tweeted towards Lil Scrappy. “And if you duck the b***h, she wasn’t mine to begin with you sucka suck a$$ n***a, u a lil boy, I’m (going to) have to take off my belt,” Scrappy replied.
Check out the screen grabs of the back and forth tweets between the two rappers down below.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s Teenaged Daughter Gets A Lip Tattoo [PHOTOS]
T’yanna Wallace, aka the Notorious B.I.G.’s first born and daughter, got a new lip tattoo honoring her father. Whether the late, great rapper would appreciate her homage is up for debate, though.
The now 19 year-old Wallace shared the new ink, the letters “B.I.G.” tattooed across her inner bottom lip on Instagram, of course, with the caption “Business instead of games!” Her account is private, but that’s never been known to stop the Internets. News of the ink spread and even Worldstar picked it up. Which she commented on via Twitter.
“LMAO NAH WORLDSTAR TOO! NOW YA”LL ODING LIKE YALL NEVER SEEN A LIP TAT,” she tweeted, figuring all the attention was overblown.
Back in August she showed off her first tat in honor of Big Poppa. “But B.I.G. did it the best,” was the caption she added to the photo of a tattoo of Biggie Smalls on the back of her shoulder wearing his trademark Kangol and sunglasses along with a set of angel’s wings on his back.
The teenager was recently featured in the March 2012 issue of XXL magazine dedicated to her father.
We’ll never know what the Notorious B.I.G. would say about his seeds recent nod to his life. But so long as she handles her business in school (she attends Penn State) and stays off the stripper pole, we ain’t mad at how she chose pay homage to her dad. What do you think?
Check out all the photos of T’yanna Wallace’s tats, and some pics of her through the years, in the gallery.
[Spotted at The YRB]
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Photos: Twitter, Instagram
– See more at: http://hiphopwired.com/2013/01/14/the-notorious-b-i-g-s-teenaged-daughter-gets-a-lip-tattoo-photos/?utm=obinsite#sthash.6QRM2smM.dpuf
Justin Bieber Struggle Being Blamed On YMCMB Rapper Lil Twist [PHOTOS]
Justin Bieber has been doing damage to his once Disney like image thanks to getting caught speeding in his Ferrari and most recently being spotted puffing on a bl*nt in a hotel room. So of course, the Beebs’ follies are being blamed on his rapper buddy Lil Twist.
It was Twist, who is signed to Lil Wayne’s YMCMB, who was at the wheel when Bieber’s car was pulled over last week and reportedly the rapper was in the room where the pic was snapped of the Pop singer with a bl*nt in his hand. According to TMZ, sources close to Bieber aren’t feeling his new road dog’s influence.
Twist was with Bieber in a Newport Beach hotel room last week, where, we’re told, the rapper was happily rolling blunts for J.B. and others.
Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … JB and Twist have become tight … and have been smoking together on a number of other occasions.
You’ll recall … Twist was speeding on the 405 Freeway New Year’s Day in Justin’s Ferrari when he was pulled over by cops. A photog was killed trying to snap pics of the traffic stop. Prior to the accident, Twist and Justin had spent much of the day in a room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills — where Justin frequently gets a room.
…
Sources involved in Justin’s life who care about him are deeply concerned that Twist has become a powerful negative influence in his life and feel very strongly Justin needs a clean break from the rapper or else bad things are going to happen.
Umm, we’re willing to bet Twist ain’t the first and won’t be the last person to pass Beebs a joint or pour the underage (for alcohol) crooner a drink (Note: Twist ain’t 21 yet, too). Also, did Lil Twist steal the key’s to Bieber’s Ferrari and strap him to the passenger seat? Did Lil Twist put the bl*nt into Bieber’s hands and demand him to smoke it at gunpoint?
Didn’t think so.
To Bieber’s credit, he’s taking responsibility for his own actions. He tweeted yesterday: “everyday growing and learning. trying to be better. u get knocked down, u get up.”
Check out photos of Lil Twist and his bff Justin Bieber kicking it in the gallery. Do you think Lil Twist is blame for Bieber’s “bad behavior”? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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Rihanna Shoots Raunchy “Pour It Up” Video [PHOTOS]
Sure it sounds like a glorified “Bandz A Make Her Dance” remix, but Rihanna’s “Pour It Up” is an undeniable club smash. The Bajan singer recently shot the video for the Mike Will Made It produced track, which of course features strip poles and plenty of dollar bills (with her own face on them).
The visual was shot in Los Angeles and was directed by Vincent Haycock and Dion Beebe. Rih Rih, and others, shared some photos from the set of the shoot, which apparently took place over three days.
We also felt it was right to share the pic of her wearing denim shorts that managed to be smaller than her thongs. Chris Brown’s foil seems to have taken down said photo, but once you posted on the Internets, there are no take backs. Also, besides real strippers, dolls may be incorporated some kind of way. These are the things Rihanna does, people. Just roll with it.
Check out all the photos in the gallery.
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Atlanta Rapper Yung Teddy Gunned Down Hours After Tweeting “N****s Wanna See Me Dead” [PHOTOS]
A rapper from Atlanta was shot and killed Wednesday (Jan. 2) hours after tweeting about his demise.
The body of Justin Mitchell, who rhymed under the nameYung Teddy, was found in an Austell, Ga. home at around 10:18 p.m.
From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
A 23-year-old Austell man was found shot to death at a home in Austell Wednesday night, according to police.
Police responding to a call of a shooting in a home around 10:18 p.m. discovered Justin Mitchell dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
Investigators are asking for help in finding the two suspects in the shooting. The first is described as a black man with a thin build, between 20 and 23 years old, and about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9. He was last seen wearing a gray sweater, dark pants and a black beanie hat. He was armed with a handgun.
The second suspect is a black man, 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-6 tall. He was last seen wearing a multicolored beanie hat and a navy blue bandana covering his face.
Earlier in the day, Mitchell sent out the cryptic tweet: “N***AS WANNA SEE ME DEAD.”
Mitchell is one of many young men who have lost their lives to gun violence, but tweeting about his future puts him in the company of Ervin McKinness. Leading up to his death via a car accident, McKinness tweeted about driving drunk, before ending the post with Drake’s go-to phrase: “YOLO” (you only live once).
Police in Atalnta are asking anyone with information on Mitchell’s death to call 770-499-3945. Click below to see photos of the slain rapper, and a text message death threat he received.
Photos: Instagram/Myspace/Teddygotwork.com
Trick Daddy Stepped To Lil Wayne & Got Him Kicked Out Of King Of Diamonds? [PHOTOS]
Trick Daddy and Lil Wayne are far from friends. Reportedly, Da Mayor of Dade County rolled up to the King Of Diamonds strip club while Weezy was hosting a party to check the rapper over the comments he said about the city of Miami during his infamous anti-Miami Heat rant.
Vlad TV reports that on Monday night (April 8), Trick Daddy walked 4o t0 50 deep into the newly renovated gentleman’s club looking for Young Money’s Mack Maine and Weezy. The “Take It To The House” rapper eventually confronted Tunechi and a witness said the Miami rapper tossed a cigarette at the YMCMB rapper’s face. With the ish about to hit the fan, Wayne was allegedly escorted out of the club.
Back in late February, Trick Daddy called out Wayne for his remarks about Miami during an interview on 99 Jamz. “If nobody likes it, they can die tonight. I don’t care who gets offended by what I say, I rep my city and I don’t care who disrespects it. When they lease is up, they can leave,” said Trick. “We have to stick together as radio, as artists, as DJs and as fans of the music as a whole.”
Has Lil Wayne’s Miami pass been revoked? Let us know what you think in the comments. Check out flicks of Weezy in KOD in the gallery.
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Photo: Wireimage, TMZ
Waka Flocka Flame Says He’ll “Never” Work With Gucci Mane Again [VIDEO/PHOTOS]
Anyone hoping for a Waka Flocka Flame/ Gucci Mane reunion might want to let it go…for now at least. Waka has proclaimed that he will never work with his former homie, ever again.
During his appearance on MTV’s Rap Fix, the rapper once again made his feelings towards Gucci inherently clear. “It ain’t gonna never be no business, ever in life. No music or nothing,” he said. “I don’t feel nothing he say out his mouth. It ain’t real.”
As for Waka being kicked off the Brick Squad team via Twitter, he doesn’t believe the story that Gucci was hacked. “That Twitter wasn’t hacked because we had a conversation before that,” he explained.
Waka didn’t explain exactly what went down during their “conversation,” but he was clearly hurt by Gucci’s claims, mainly that he’s not loyal. “I’m the loyalist person you could ever see. I took on a man’s beef, risked my life, hung out the window, risked my freedom. I never backed in a corner. To my knowledge, it can’t be nothing but jealously or something because there is nothing I did disloyal.”
In between the performance diss, and interviews, Waka’s also let his tweets do the talking.
Peep some of the Twitter and Instagram Gucci hate below.
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Soulja Boy Threatens To Murder Chief Keef, Via Facebook [PHOTOS]
Well this doesn’t sound like too much fun at all. Soulja Boy and Chief Keef, who have previously collaborated a few times on tracks like “Foreign Cars” and “Say She Luv Me” are now tangled in some social networking war. It’s getting pretty ugly, and death threats are being thrown around.
Back in January, Chief Keef’s Twitter was “hacked” and during that “hacking” some insults flew about Soulja Boy. “He’s a d-ck stealin’ every1 flow,” Fake Keef tweeted. That battle was diffused quickly, but earlier this month one of Keef’s homies GBE’s Ballout got pretty braggy over Twitter about how he stole Soulja Boy’s chain. “N L.A. Pushin On N—as Jus Too This N—a @souljaboy Chain Des N—as Fak As S–t I B Takin S–t,” he tweeted.
Now Soulja Boy has run through Facebook several weeks later making death threats to Keef and his boy. He even posted both of Keef’s phone numbers urging people to “Call Sosa” and tell him that Soulja Boy is on the way. He even claims to have an AK-47 in his hand. With Keef’s previous criminal record, is this the wisest thing for Soulja Boy to be doing? Just because you know how to “Superman dat h0e” doesn’t make you Superman, son.
UPDATE: Of course, Soulja Boy says his Facebook was hacked.
[Spotted at Complex]
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Photos: Facebook, Instagram
Rapper AP.9 Says He Slept With Ice-T’s Wife Coco Without A Condom [PHOTOS]
Ice-T didn’t sign up for this. Rapper AP.9 is now saying that he indeed slept with Nicole “Coco” Austin, the OG rapper and actor’s wife.
The drama all started when photos of Coco and AP.9 hugging and squeezing on each other at a club in Las Vegas made it onto the Internets. Ice-T caught feelings and let it be known, Coco apologized and the whole time AP.9 has been talking ish.
The rapper few have ever heard of until this predicamentspoke to Star magazine about allegedly getting down with Ice-T’s queen. “I first met Coco at Surerender [sic] nightclub in Las Vegas,” AP.9 said. “She invited me back to her table; I had a couple of drinks; we exchanged numbers. I could tell we had a physical attraction.”
From there, things only get worse, fast.
“She asked me, ‘What are you doing after the club?’ I said, ‘I’m probably just going to get a room and stay right here.’ She said, ‘Well, I’m going with you.”
…
But the most explosive allegation: “We had s-x,” AP.9 says. “I don’t know who made the first move. It wasn’t making love; it was just s-x.”
Another bomb: “We had s-x unprotected. I really hope she isn’t pregnant!”
Now unless AP.9 has a freaky flick of his supposed encounter with Coco, it’s his word against hers. The latter said last week that she won’t be explaining anything to the press, after a photo of her getting felt up by another dude made it online, because the only opinion that matters is her husband’s. Last the media heard from Ice, he was calling them trolls.
In the rest of the interview with Star AP.9 also went on to say that he spoke to Ice-T and after the “Colors” rapper insisted his significant other would do no such thing, told him that he did sleep with his wife.
Cold world.
Check out the now infamous pics in the gallery. Who do you believe?
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Chad Johnson Accuses Evelyn Lozada Of Cheating With A Member Of YMCMB [PHOTOS]
One would assume that after all that happened, Chad Johnson would be at peace with Evelyn Lozada no longer being around. Unfortunately, Ocho still has some feelings he wanted to share, one of them being that his ex-wife slept with a member of YMCMB.
The plot thickens.
Johnson went on a Twitter rant this afternoon, claiming that the reality star was still pursuing him. The tweets weren’t sent directly to Lozada, but her publicist instead. After a few posts, he pulled out the YMCMB card. “She better hope that Young Money d-ck keep her straight 4 life.”
Lozada doesn’t do the music thing, but she still has ties to Weezy and Birdman’s empire. Last year, Cash Money’s book division released her novel, Inner Circle.
Once the tweets went out, Johnson was blasted by Lozada’s daughter, while the New York native refused to indulge, tweeting: “KEEP TALKIN CUZ I’M WALKIN.”
Johnson and Lozada married last year, but divorced after the ex-footballer was arrested for allegedly head-butting his bride.
They reconciled briefly, in December 2012.
Click below to view the Twitter emotions.
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Mendeecees Harris Testifies, Says He “Never Had A Relationship” With His Accuser [PHOTOS]
Love & Hip Hop New York’s Mendeecees Harris got to tell his side of the story in court. The Harlem native is on trial for allegedly abusing a 15-year-old girl four years ago in the Lodi, New Jersey home he lived in with her mother. Today, he was on the witness stand and his testimony consisted of denials and suspect financial choices.
Harris denied all the accusations the now 19-year-old woman’s leveled at him that include receiving oral s-x from her in exchange for cash. In the courtroom, while Harris denied having any innappropriate contact with the accuser, was his girlfriend and reality TV show cast mate Yandy Smith.
The Cliff View Pilot reports:
“No. No way. No, no,” he said as his attorney, Brian Neary, asked Harris whether he was guilty of any of the charges against him.
“I never had a relationship with her, she never extended herself,” said Harris, taking the stand in his own defense. “She didn’t play basketball, she didn’t play Playstation, didn’t want to go to the movies.
“She always walked around the house like she had an attitude,” he said.
“That’s the truth – never, never – I never committed none of them acts to that girl in my life.”
Harris also went through great pains during two hours of morning testimony to dispel any impression of himself as being casual about sex.
Questioned first by Neary and then by Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Demetra Maurice, Harris outlined relationships with three different women:
the mother of Mendeecee Harris Jr., his young son;
the victim’s mother, whom he testified he knew “from the streets in Harlem” and lived with in both Hackensack and Lodi;
fellow “Love & Hip Hop” star, producer Yandy Smith, whom he began seeing romantically in the spring of 2009 and had a baby son with in 2011.
Smith was among those who listened intently as Harris testified in the Hackensack courtroom.
Apparently Smith has been in the court room for the entire trial, with her entourage covering her face to avoid cameras as she comes and goes.
As for Harris’ testimony, he refuted all of the accusations laid against him. He also added that he was living in Lodi to avoid losing a down payment on the home after learning his name wasn’t on the deed, despite paying all the bills.
Say what now?
He also claims that he and woman he was living with in Lodi and Hackensack (the victim’s mother) were just friends. The victim did not morve into the home until Harris and his friend were already residing there for three years.
Harris was not required to testify, but after the victim’s turn on the stand the last couple of days, it was very necessary. He said on the stand, “It was very hurtful to me to hear that, and I felt if I didn’t testify my side of the story would never be heard.”
NorthJersey.com also reports that Harris revealed he is getting paid $4000 per episode of Love & Hip Hop.
The State’s rested it case this afternoon. Check out photos of Mendeecees Harris and Yandy Smith in courtroom in the gallery.
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Photos: Mary K. Miraglia/Cliff View Pilot
Mike Epps Says Kevin Hart Wouldn’t Be Successful If Katt Williams Hadn’t “Flipped Out” [PHOTOS]
There appears to be no easier way to get people to go against one another, than on Twitter. Mike Epps used the website to blast Kevin Hart over the weekend, opening the door for a truckload of insults thrown back in his direction.
Over the last year, Hart has seen his career take off. Aside from co-starring in the multi-million box office hit, Think Like A Man, the father of two has a hit show on BET, made an appearance on Modern Family, and plans to release a comedy film this summer.
Even with all those accolades, Epps doesn’t believe the Philly native would be successful had Katt Williams not gone a-wall. “MAN IF KATT WILLIAMS WOULDN’T HAVE FLIPPED OUT IT WOULD NOT BE NO KEVIN HART,” he wrote.
After that, he called Hart “gay,” and likened his face to a “drunk pug.”
Hart finally caught wind of the Twitter jabs and went in for the kill. “I just checked my twitter timeline & noticed that @TheRealMikeEpps Has been talking sh-t,” he replied. “Operation destroy u is now in session.”
Using the word “destroy” may have been a little ambitious on Hart’s part but he did land a few punches like this quip: Yo @TheRealMikeEpps is one bad movie away from doing SCHOOL PLAYS!!!”
Ouch.
Nothing like two grown men play fighting each other on Twitter over absolutely nothing.
Peep the tweets below.
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Ice Cube – “The Big Show” [LISTEN]
Longtime fans of Ice Cube will be excited to hear that the legendary rapper has been prepping his 10th solo effort, Everythang’s Corrupt. The project looks to be near completion, and we receive a second official offering with “The Big Show.”
The new single is accompanied by a lyric video. Don’t worry about keeping up, because the content isn’t very difficult to grasp. Here, Cube name drops family and friends that are near and dear to his heart. Denzel Washington, Magic Johnson, Deion Sanders, Mike Epps, and his two sons are among those shouted out.
At one point, the Death Certificate MC chants “These are the people I know/ These are the places I go/ This is my world motherf***er, just one big show.”
We understand that Cube is a successful actor and family man now, but we would appreciate some socio-political commentary if possible.
There’s no word on when Everythang’s Corrupt will release. In the meantime, get caught up with Cube’s previously released song, “Crowded” here. Listen to “The Big Show” below, and let us know if you feel the track in the comments.
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– See more at: http://hiphopwired.com/2013/05/23/ice-cube-the-big-show-listen/#sthash.GOSUIM7y.dpuf
L.E.P. Bogus Boys ft. Ma$e & Lil Wayne – “Commas” [VIDEO]
L.E.P. Bogus Boys debuted a visual for “Commas” earlier this week. It was taken down soon after for unknown reasons, but gets re-released today just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
The energetic jam features an unlikely duo in Ma$e and Lil Wayne, but only the latter shows face in the vid. Moonie and Count handle the bars with a bit of help from Tunechi, while the former Bad Boy provides the chorus.
In the treatment, the Chicago tandem go from broke as a joke to living in the lap of luxury after receiving two income tax checks for $10 million dollars a piece in the mail. Needless to say that they immediately took their services to Miami, where they engage in all kinds of lavish activity with their girlfriends.
The Ghettonerd Company directed the shots. We’re still waiting on info about L.E.P.‘s Interscope debut. Until then, see their shenanigans in the “Commas” video below.
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miguel Speaks On Botched Stage Jump
by DANIELLE HARLING
posted May 22, 2013 at 2:00PM EDT | 2 comments
Miguel refers to his failed stage jump as being a “less favorable” moment in his career, reveals plans to continue with his “Art Dealer Chic” EP’s this summer.
Following a stage jump attempt that didn’t quite work out for California crooner Miguel at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards, many were left wondering what exactly went wrong.
While speaking directly with Billboard following the incident, Miguel, who was joined by the fan who was slightly injured due to the attempt, revealed that the jump was brought on due to the heavy engagement in his performance. The singer also credited the jump as being one of his “less favorable moments.”
“The crazy thing is that when you’re performing and you’re just kind of into it, you never really know how it’s gonna go and where you’re gonna go with it, and how that might turn out. So, this is kind of one of the less favorable moments,” said Miguel in a video posted on HotNewHipHop.com.
Despite holding an ice pack throughout the interview, Khyati, the woman Miguel partially landed on during his jump, appeared to be visibly okay.
During his conversation with Billboard, Miguel also revealed plans to continue with his Art Dealer Chic series of EP’s. Fans can expect to be hit with three new EP’s from the series this summer.
“Art Dealer Chic, we put out a few EP’s last year. Three of them, and we’ll do three more this summer,” Miguel shared. “So, for those of you watching, pay attention to the internet. It’ll be free and I hope you enjoy them.”
RELATED: Nicki Minaj, Rihanna Dominate Rap, R&B Billboard Music Awards 2013
Shyne Launches Gangland Clothing Line
The rapper joins forces with U.A.O.P Ruprai to release a clothing line that features sweaters, shirts, hats and accessories.
Shyne is getting into the fashion game. He’s launching the Gangland clothing line, a partnership with U.A.O.P Ruprai, an emerging clothing designer who has also created custom pieces for Grammy Award-winning musician Pharrell Williams.
“The Gangland brand is something we want to build, from music to clothing,” Shyne says in a press release. “I’m from Brooklyn, and the streets have influenced a lot of trends in the fashion industry, and I want to mix street wear with high fashion.”
The Gangland clothing line features sweaters, shirts, hats and accessories and is available in select boutiques, and online at Shyne’s website. The clothing line has the same name as Shyne’s recent mixtape, a project that features Pusha T and World Kin Folk. It also has production by RZA, Young Lord, Odds and Ends, Omega, David DA Beats, Danja, Pheonix, Hebrew Hustle, The Olympicks, Kojak, J Kits, Arthur McArthur and Rich Skills.
The Brooklyn lyricist was expected to release a proper album under the Def Jam imprint and his Facebook page says that two records are slated to drop, Messiah and Gangland, but those projects both initially had 2010 release dates.
The former Bad Boy artist spent nearly a decade in prison after being convicted for his role in a 1999 nightclub shooting in New York.
RELATED: Shyne Responds To Game, Calls Him “My Little Son
French Montana Signs Chief Keef Affiliate Lil Durk To Coke Boys
The Coke Boys get one from the Glory Boyz as French Montana reportedly inks a partnership with Lil Durk.
French Montana released his studio debut, Excuse My French today. The Maybach Music Group/Bad Boy Worldwide rapper celebrated by enhancing his Coke Boys roster.
Def Jam Records’ newly-announced Executive Vice President, Shawn “Pecas” Costner tweeted that Frenchhas signed Chicago, Illinois rapper Lil Durk to his fledgling imprint, with posting a photo of the trio, joined by Wale. Durk is already affiliated with Glory Boyz Entertainment (a/k/a GBE), which is home to Chief Keef and Lil Reese.
By Pecas’ announcement and subsequent Durk retweets, it is believed that Montana’s imprint is through Def Jam Records, where one of his mentors, Rick Ross, is signed. Lil Reese is currently also backed by Def Jam, who has faced some criticism after Reese’s legal troubles involving the videotaped assault of a woman.
Earlier this month, Chief Keef—who was arrested in the last 24 hours—announced his own partnership with Gucci Mane, prompting a 1017 Glo Gang moniker.
RELATED: Lil Durk f. Wiz Khalifa – “Molly Girl Remix” [AUDIO]
Chief Keef Arrested & Released From Jail In Georgia
Chief Keef was busted for disorderly conduct in at Atlanta, Georgia hotel yesterday. And he says he’s “mad as fuck” about it today.
Glory Boyz/Interscope Records artist Chief Keef was just released from an extended stay at a juvenile detention center in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois earlier this spring. Reports from yesterday (May 20) indicate that Keef was again in trouble with the law.
Chief Keef was reportedly arrested for disorderly conduct outside of Atlanta, Georgia yesterday, according to TMZ.com. Their reports indicate that the incident stemmed from Keef smoking marijuana at a hotel in the city. After he was apprehended, Keef was taken to DeKalb County Jail. The jail is familiar to his 1017 Glo Gang partner Gucci Mane, who has been held there multiple times over the last five years.
Keef has already tweeted that he has been released from custody early this morning (May 21). No court dates have been announced.
RELATED: Chief Keef’s Manager Says Incarceration Is “A Wake-Up Call”
Mannie Fresh Recalls Kanye West Wanting A Deal At Cash Money
Mannie Fresh explains how he and West have different work practices. Fresh adds that his work with Mystikal will “mysteriously come out.”
Mannie Fresh has known Kanye West a long time, even before West became a bona fide producer nearly a decade ago. “He actually came to Cash Money looking for a deal,” Mannie Fresh says in an interview with DJ Vlad. “I’ve been knowing him since then.”
Fresh and West met when West was working with rapperMikkey Halsted, whom Cash Money eventually signed. At the time, West was without production equipment, so Fresh says he lent the Chicagoan his. “This was my first introduction to him,” says Fresh, who considers West one of the great producers. “The only thing I could say is that it was a blessing because he came back and looked back. Without knowing him, I just felt like he was a good dude and lent him some equipment or whatever to do what he had to do and he never forgot about it.”
Earlier this year, Fresh signed a song deal with West.
Though they are both producers, Fresh says that he and West have different work practices. “I’m better at being in a studio with somebody than sending them beats,” as West often does, Fresh says. “That’s just not really my thing, but everybody’s so used to that, so that’s the standard. I’m more of like, ‘Hey, dude, let me get in the studio and let’s see what we come up with.'”
As for his work with Mystikal, Fresh says that the material the two recorded will not come out onMystikal’s forthcoming Young Money Records album, but that they will “mysteriously come out.”
RELATED: Mannie Fresh Discusses Song Deal With Kanye West, Confirms Completion Of “OMFGOD” LP WIth Yasiin Bey
Chris Brown Receives Multiple Death Threats
Chris Brown manages to perform at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards despite receiving numerous death threats.
The misfortunes of Virginia crooner Chris Brown continue to mount as news of various death threats the singer has received have begun to surface. According to TMZ, Brown’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, received a number of anonymous phone calls at his office threatening the singer’s life.
Specifics on the nature of the threats remain scarce, but were taken “very seriously” by Brown’s lawyer.
Authorities were immediately contacted by Geragos and the threats are currently being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Geragos previously represented Brown during both the arrest and trial that stemmed from his 2009 assault on fellow singer and former girlfriend Rihanna.
Despite news of the death threats, the singer still managed to perform at last night’s (May 19) Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas and even went on to send a handful of Tweets following his performance.
RELATED: Chris Brown Misses Gala Due To Emergency Plane Landing
Mary J. Blige Accused Of Owing The IRS $3.4 Million
Mary J. Blige may owe tax collectors over $4.5 million as new reports emerge that the Internal Revenue Service is the latest agency accusing her of default.
On Method Man’s “I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Need To Get By,” it was reportedly that the Tical single was initially created with Lauryn Hill’s voice in mind for the feature. Instead, Mary J. Blige appeared, and the pair won a Grammy Award for the 1994 platinum single.
It appears that Mary J. and Lauryn Hill may have more in common than that. Less than a month after Lauryn Hill was sentenced to three months in prison for failing to file and pay taxes on several years, one of peers is suffering the same accusations. Mary J. Blige reportedly in the same boat. TMZ.com reports that MJB failed to file and pay federal taxes for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011. As a result, the Yonkers, New York songstress is said to owe the Internal Revue Service an estimated $3.4 million.
This sum does not include the estimated $900,000 that the onetime star owes her residential state of New Jersey in back-taxes. TMZ also reports that the Geffen Records artist also owes a loan debt to the tune of $2.2 million. Blige’s charity is also accused of wrongfully borrowing $250,000 without paying back the debt.
Blige last released My Life II…The Journey Continues in 2011. The album featured Nas, Drake, Busta Rhymes and Rick Ross. It was a top 5 debut for Blige, her 10th LP.
Lil Mouse Reportedly Threatened To Kill A Third-Grader
Lil Mouse hit with an assault charge after slapping and then threatening to kill an eight-year-old student.
The family of a third-grader in Chicago may be forced to leave their home due to threats the eight-year-old reportedly received from teen rapper Lil Mouse. FOX 32 News reports that the boy’s grandmother contacted authorities immediately after she received word that her grandson had been slapped and threatened by Lil Mouse.
“The students, the eighth graders have grouped up together…made a phone call and said he’s snitching, He need to get killed for snitching…One of the young men’s’ father threatened me outside the school. I wanna move [cause] he threatened me and I believe that he’s going to go through with it,” the woman revealed to Chicago’s FOX 32 News.
Following the incident last week, Lil Mouse was questioned by police and also charged with assault.
The third-grader has been granted an emergency transfer from the school, but his grandmother, whose son was killed in 2009, hopes to fully remove her family from the situation.
“I wanna pack up and just go. I’ve already lost one child and I don’t want to lose another one,” the woman shared.
Lil Mouse, who boasts affiliation with fellow Windy City rapper Chief Keef, garnered buzz last year thanks to the release of “Get Smoked” a record that went on to receive a co-sign from Lil Wayne in the form of a remix.
Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News
RELATED: Seven People Shot During Lil Mouse & King Samson Performance In Chicago
B.o.B Announces Third Album Title
The Georgia rapper-musician also gets political on his new track “Through My Head,” a track likely culled from his forthcoming “Underground Luxury” album.
B.o.B takes a bleak look at modern American society on his new “Through My Head” single. The Georgia artist raps that they “got you working triple just to get eat some rice and chicken/Plus your credit to the limit just to drive a Honda Civic.” The song is likely culled from B.o.B.’s third album, the forthcoming Underground Luxury, according to HipHopNMore.
In the nearly six-minute video clip that accompanies the song, which appears to be the 2010 short film The Raven, the protagonist gets chased through a virtually desolate Los Angeles as he’s hunted by machine gun-equipped robots. The clip was written and directed by Ricardo de Montreuil and incorporates thematic elements from several recent films, including 2009’s Section 9. B.o.B does not appear in the video.
The video concludes with the note that, “Suspect is still at large. Chris Black. A.K.A. The Raven.”
B.o.B’s second album, Strange Clouds, was released in 2012.
RELATED: B.o.B. Talks “Strange Clouds” Instrumentation, Says Rock Album Is Next
Kanye West Premieres “Black Skinheads” & “New Slaves” On “SNL”
Kanye West brings new songs “Black Skinheads” and “New Slaves” for his performance on the season finale of “Saturday Night Live.”
As the musical guest on the season finale of “Saturday Night Live,” Kanye West performed two new songs, “Black Skinheads” and “New Slaves.”
West premiered “Black Skinheads” on “SNL” only hours after debuting “New Slaves” on streets. “New Slaves” was first revealed in a video that was projected on 66 buildings around the globe.
The “SNL” performances of both songs can be viewed below, as found on DDOTOMEN.
Freekey Zekey Explains What Killed The Diplomats’ Interscope Records Deal
Freekey Zekey says that Juelz Santana’s reluctance to record material in 2011 made Interscope back out of The Diplomats, but that Santana had good reason.
In late 2010, The Diplomats announced that they had reunion plans, courtesy of a new record contract with Interscope Records. The former Roc-A-Fella Records group led by Cam’ron began recording in 2011, with details emerging of a third album, their first since 2004’sDiplomatic Immunity 2. In a new interview with VladTV.com, Dipset member Freekey Zekey revealed that the group lost their deal with Interscope. Asked as to why, the 730 Dips head candidly explained, “I don’t know. [Juelz Santana] had…I guess…had personal problems that was negating him from hittin’ the studio hard. I don’t know what they are or what they was, but his mind was with it. ‘Cause every time we talked to him or spoke to him, he [was excited]. But whatever was lurkin’ in his personal life or whatever the case may be, would basically stop him from getting into that studio.”
Zekey pointed to a difficult beginning to 2011 for his Dipset brother. Following a January studio arrest(and subsequent release) of Skull Gang member Hynief, Juelz’ studio was raided on a drug search and the rapper was arrested. Freekey claims authorites “gutted” the New Jersey space, limiting Santana’s resources and motivation. “They took everything.” He pointed that the two incidents, just weeks apart, affected Juelz. “It was back to back things.” Although Interscope may be uninterested, Freekey says that over a year later, Juelz Santana’s motivation has returned. “The boy is back, that’s how you know that he [is like Muhammad] Ali. He ain’t been home since God Will’n came out,” said Free, referring to Juelz’ January mixtape.
Asked about plans to press on with a Diplomats album reunion, the co-founder said, “It’s just up to us to sit down and say we’re gonna do it.”
In March of this year, the four founding members of The Diplomats (Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Freekey Zekey and Juelz Santana) reunited at New York City’s B.B. King’s for a 10th anniversary show ofDiplomatic Immunity.
RELATED: Freekey Zekey Says The Diplomats’ Interscope Deal Is “Going Down”
Lil Scrappy Released From Jail, Warrant For Arrest Recalled
UPDATE: Lil Scrappy’s drug hearing has been delayed a week.
Lil Scrappy is out of jail, for the time being.
Scrappy turned himself into Atlanta police on Tuesday (April 23) after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
The arrest was for an alleged probation violation. Scrappy was on probation stemming from his 2008 marijuana-related arrest.
In March, the rapper had been ordered to submit to a urine test, but police say he turned in a sample that was suspiciously cold, and may have been tampered with. When asked to submit another cup, Scrappy allegedly refused.
According to TMZ, Scrappy revealed that the warrant for his arrest was invalid because “he never submitted bad pee in the first place.”
A judge granted Scrappy’s lawyer’s motion to recall the warrant. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for May 16.
UPDATE: Lil Scrappy’s hearing has been delayed a week. According to AllHipHop.com, the hearing will now be held on May 22.
RELATED: Lil Scrappy Turns Himself In To Police After Refusing Drug Test
Gunplay Promises “Something Epic” On Second Triple C’s Album
Gunplay is aiming to become “as clean-cut as possible” following the dismissal of his last court case.
Floridian rapper Gunplay may be in the process of crafting his own studio album, but the Maybach Music Group artist fully intends on reuniting with his fellowTriple C’s members when the time is right. While speaking with Forbez DVD, Gunplay gave an update on the group and shared that once he’s more established as an artist and has fully solidified his brand, the group will then be able to benefit.
“I don’t know what the plans are, but I know it’s Triple C for life,” the MMG emcee revealed. “And when we get up, when we get ready to do the album it’s gonna be something epic. Right now we’re just making sure Gunplay as a brand gets off the ground so in turn Triple C can benefit.”
Gunplay also addressed his recent legal troubles and revealed that as a result of his now dismissed court case he’s hoping to adopt a more “clean-cut” lifestyle.
“Before they’d tell me that and I tell them ‘go fuck off,’ but now I listen to ‘em and I take heed,” said Gunplay when asked if anyone in his circle suggested that he switch up his lifestyle. “And I try to be as clean-cut as possible. You know what I mean? I try to hide the wolf fur with sheep wolf. I’m trying, help me out.”
The Triple C’s rapper also spoke briefly on his solo album, which may not be released until next year, his unexpected appearance on TMZ, and more.
RELATED: Gunplay Changes Solo Debut Album Title From “Medellin” To “Living Legend”
Pras Says Lauryn Hill Shouldn’t Do Time If Lindsay Lohan Doesn’t
Pras feels that Ms. Hill will not serve her entire three-month, tax-related sentence.
Pras hasn’t spoken to Lauryn Hill since she was sentenced to three months in prison for tax evasion last week (May 6), but he said he reached out to his fellow Fugee member. “Nah, I haven’t spoken to her,” Pras said during an interview with TMZ. “But I did leave a call for her. So, you know, if she gets back to me, then you know. I wanted to just reach out to her and be like, ‘Yo, whatever you need, I got your back.'”
Pras also said that he doubts Hill will serve her entire sentence. “I doubt if she’s gonna do three months, though,” he said. “Nah. Listen, if Lindsay Lohan doesn’t do any time, why would she do time? You feel me?”
As for other matters, Pras said he is doing well. “Everything’s great,” he said. “Great. Yeah, you know, I’m good. You know what? I ain’t got no tax problems, that’s what it’s all about. You gotta stay away from that.”
Pras didn’t seem too confident about a Fugees reunion, though. “I don’t know about that,” he said.
RELATED: Lauryn Hill Sentenced To Three Months In Prison For Tax Evasion
Rap Release Dates: Gucci Mane, Evidence, Hieroglyphics, Ugly Heroes
Gucci Mane announces that his latest album will come out sooner than expected, Hieroglyphics will release their third album on July 16.
Now expected earlier than initially reported, Gucci Manewill release his latest effort, Trap House III on May 21 instead of June 2. The Atlanta rapper took to Twitter last week to announce the change.
Producer Evidence will release his latest instrumental album soon. The Dilated Peoples co-founder releasesGreen Tape Instrumentals on June 25 through his label, Decon Records.
Oakland underground super group Hieroglyphics will release their latest joint album on July 16. The Kitchen will be the group’s third album as a collective and is the follow-up to 2003’s Full Circle.
Eve will release her latest album, Lip Lock Tuesday. The album features Snoop Dogg, Pusha T, Juicy J and Chrisette Michele, and will also include production from Claude Kelly, Swizz Beats and more.
View the rest of the retail releases coming soon below, and on DX’s Release Dates page.
May 14
Eve – Lip Lock
PJ Morton – New Orleans
May 15
A. Doulos – Same Mind
May 21
Digable Planets – Blowout Comb
French Montana – Excuse My French
Gucci Mane – Trap House III
IRV DA PHENOM – Los Kangeles
Jay Sean – Neon
P-Money – Gratitude
YMCMB – Rich Gang: Flashy Lifestyle
May 23
Fredo Santana – Trappin’ Ain’t Dead
May 25
Kool Keith & Mr Sche – Magnetic Force Field
May 27
CM Jones – Perfect Hand Off
May 28
Aceyalone – Leanin’ On Slick
The-Dream – IV Play
Ugly Heroes – Ugly Heroes
June 11
Prodigy & Alchemist – Albert Einstein
June 18
Fabolous – Loso’s Way 2: Rise To Power
Goodie Mob – Age Against The Machine
Mac Miller – Watching Movies with the Sound Off
Quasimoto (Madlib) – Yessir Whatever
Statik Selektah – Extended Play
June 25
Dessa – Parts Of Speech
Evidence – Green Tape Instrumentals
J. Cole – Born Sinner
Junclassic – BLVD Backdrop
Serengeti – Kenny Dennis
Tech N9ne – Something Else
Tony Touch – Piece Maker 3 (50 MC’s Reunion)
Wale – The Gifted
Wrekonize – The War Within
July 2
Daz & WC – West Coast Gangsta Sh*t
Gucci Mane – Trap House III
Juicy J – Stay Trippy
Young Scooter – Juughou$e
July 16
Ace Hood – Trials & Tribulations
Chris Brown – X
Hieroglyphics – The Kitchen
Pusha T – My Name Is My Name
August 27
J57 & Blame One – Walk In The Sun
September 30
Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience (Part 2)
October 5
Waka Flocka – Flockaveli 2
TBA
Akon – Stadium
Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste
Big Sean – Hall Of Fame
Birdman – Bigga Than Life
Clipse – As God Is My Witness
Curren$y – Pilot Talk 3
Danny Brown – Old
DJ Khaled – Suffering From Success
DJ Scream – Long Live The Hustle
Dom Kennedy – Get Home Safely
Drake – Nothing Was The Same
E-40 – Block Brochure: Welcome To The Soil Vol. 4, 5 & 6
Earl Sweatshirt – Doris
Eminem – TBA
Freddie Gibbs – The Neck Tie Party
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Cocaine Pinata
Future & Rocko – TBA
Ice Cube – Everything’s Corrupt
Iggy Azalea – The New Classic
Immortal Technique – The Martyr 2
Jay Electronica – Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn)
Joey Bada$$ – B4.DA.$$
Ludacris – Ludaversal
Method Man & Redman – Blackout 3
Mystikal – Original
Nelly – M.O.
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: The Pinkprint
Plies – Purple Heart
Raekwon – F.I.L.A (Fly International Luxurious Art)
Rebel Armz – TBA
Rich Boy – Break The Pot
Rick Ross – Mastermind
Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron
Swizz Beatz – Haute Living
T.I. – Trouble Man: He Who Wears the Crown
The Roots – & Then You Shoot Your Cousin
Twista – The Dark Horse
Wu-Tang Clan – A Better Tomorrow
XV – The Kid with the Green Backpack
Yelawolf – Love Story
YG – Freshman on Campus
RELATED: HipHopDX Release Dates
Rick Ross Was A Victim Of Corporate America’s True Colors.
I was on YouTube one day and ran across a video of R. Kelly, circa early 2002, in a Reebok commercial. Here was the biggest R&B star on the planet on a commercial with one of the biggest sports equipment companies on the plant, as well. But, I couldn’t help but think that maybe that was the first and last commercial he made for the company, before he was more and likely dropped stemming his future child pornography charges. R. Kelly was at his peak until that infamous sex tape was released, and now, 11 years later, Reebok had to pull its urban puppeteer Rick Ross under allegations he promotes date rape in his lyrics. The now infamous lyric from the Rocko song, U.O.E.N.O, cost Ross millions, but it also has crossed over into popularity via memes, ironically.
R. Kelly and Rick Ross are both the same type of artists in terms of upkeep of their persona. Kelly whose persona is a sex driven R&B crooner who delves off into the party life of drugs and weed. And Rick Ross, whose persona is a drug kingpin gangsta, also shares the party life of drugs, sex, etc. Both of the musicians’ topics of choice would be obviously frowned upon by various communities ranging from the black community, to those who preach against violence, advocates of safe sex, etc. Although a plethora of groups could have easily protested the two artists (R. Kelly, pre Chocolate Factory, at the time) promotion of drug use and offensive language in their songs, they didn’t. Reebok, the same company who was worried about their image signed Rick Ross to project himself to the urban youth. Nothing is better than a Grammy nominated, gold selling on a consistent basis, rapper whom a kid can think about being like when they are trying to decide between new Nike’s or Reebok.
This same corporation is basically stating they don’t care if you’re a drug kingpin who has no care in your records. Or that you’ve told tales of murder and vigilante violence. They also don’t care if drug use such as “molly” is promoted. The only way they will care, sadly, is if someone is messing up the money train. Then, the artist is dropped, because they begin to state they are putting moral standards into play. And the artist is put out of millions of dollars, even though that company knowingly condoned the artist in the first place. These corporations are neither stupid, nor oblivious.
There is a video going viral on the Internet, where a Pastor named Michael T. Smith openly points out what Reebok’s fingers were behind their backs. His truth-telling was also the inspiration for my article. Sure, Ross is marketable to youth and give-and-take, is one of the more popular rappers in America. His content of drugs, selling drugs and murder is, before Reebok dropped him, someone of “high standards,” so to speak. But as the Pastor points out, he would “Still have a job if you took out those two lyrics.” Lyrics that contained “re-rock” (drugs) “Got a hundred rounds in this AR” (drugs) and then literal gunplay “I’m bout to get you n****s wacked” (murder).
The Pastor’s point was if all of these things were his topics before you signed him, where was the moral clause and high standards when he was first signed? Where Reeboks’ standards were when R. Kelly was signed pre-child sex scandal? Rick Ross, according to Pastor Smith, should still have a job and I agree with him. After enough push from Bill O’Reilly, Ludacris was dropped from Pepsi, too, for the same reasons Rick Ross should have never been signed (from a hypothetical standpoint).
I love Rick Ross as an artist, and sure, date rape and rapping about date rape is very wrong, but the painter should never stand on top of his protégés head to make his work more pleasant to art buyers. This whole situation is equivalent to a woman who gets sick very often, and her boyfriend finds out she has the flu and refuses to take care of her even though he knowingly, knew she was prone to sickness. Just as the boyfriend should know his girlfriend could get sick easily, Reebok knew that Rick Ross wasn’t exactly a rapper who walked around with soap in his mouth. On top of that, if there is going to be advocacy on date rape, it should be advocacy universally on the subject matter he and many other rappers talk about.
In the end, Rick Ross was used, pimped, and was a puppet who played its part in the game of corporate America, and now has to sit down. Hopefully, this whole issue raises awareness to those who are oblivious to the wheeling and dealing of these big time companies. But for Rick Ross part, he has to know how to play the game. Ask Jay-Z.
Kris Kross Rapper Chris ‘Mac Daddy’ Kelly Dies At 34, Drug Overdose Suspected
Former child rapper Chris Kelly, known as “Mac Daddy” in the rap duo Kris Kross, has died at the age of 34.
On Wednesday, Kelly was found unresponsive in his home in Atlanta Georgia. He was rushed to Atlanta Medical Center but was pronounced dead sometime later, a Fulton County Medical Examiner said in a statement.
“It appears it may have been a possible drug overdose,” said Cpl. Kay Lester, a spokeswoman for the Fulton County police, as quoted by the Associated press.
Chris Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” were discovered in Atlanta by producer Jermaine Dupri in 1990, when they were only 11. They released three albums but were mostly known for their 1992 hit “Jump,” which spent 8 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
The duo then performed with Michael Jackson on his “Dangerous” world tour and appeared in his music video for “Jam.”
However, Kris Kross could not duplicate the success of “Jump,” and called it quits in 1996 after releasing their third album. They reunited earlier this year to perform at a concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of Jermaine Dupri’s label, So So Def Recordings.
Lil Wayne Apologizes To Emmett Till’s Family Over ‘Inappropriate’ And Offensive Lyrics
Rapper Lil Wayne issued an apology to the family of slain civil rights icon Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African-American who was beaten and shot to death for flirting with a white girl in 1955, over the lyrics he raps in Future‘s unauthorized remix “Karate Chop.”
Wayne, real name Dwayne Carter, Jr., wrote an open letter to the family saying he won’t ever use the lyrics — which include the line “Beat the p**sy up like Emmett Till — again.
“As a recording artist, I have always been interested in word play. My lyrics often reference people, places and events in my music, as well as the music that I create for or alongside other artists,” he writes. “It has come to my attention that lyrics from my contribution to a fellow artist’s song has deeply offended your family. As a father myself, I cannot imagine the pain that your family has had to endure. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge your hurt, as well as the letter you sent to me via your attorneys.
“Moving forward, I will not use or reference Emmett Till or the Till family in my music, especially in an inappropriate manner,” the rapper continues. “I fully support Epic Record’s (sic) decision to take down the unauthorized version of the song and to not include the reference in the version that went to retail. I will not be performing the lyrics that contain that reference live and have removed them from my catalogue.”
But Till’s family claims that Wayne’s statement didn’t actually include an apology and is nothing more than an acknowledgement that he hurt the family.
“While it’s commendable that he has vowed to respect the legacy of Emmett Till and his memory to ‘not use or reference Emmett Till or the Till family in his music,’ this statement falls short of an apology, as none is mentioned,” Airickca Gordon-Taylor, the Till family’s representative, told TMZ.
Kanye West Facing Copyright Lawsuit Over 2005 Single ‘Gold Digger’
Kanye West has been accused of using parts of an obscure song without permission on his hit 2005 single “Gold Digger,” and now he’s being sued for millions of dollars according to TMZ.com.
Trena Steward and Lorenzo Pryor filed a copyright infringement suit in Los Angeles on Friday, claiming that the hip-hop star use parts of their late father David Pryor’s single, “Bumpin’ Bus Stop,” which was recorded by Pryor and his band Thunder & Lightning in 1974, and are now seeking damages over not being credited.
The plaintiffs, who each own 1/4 of the rights to the song, claim that West used 13 seconds of it in the background of “Gold Digger,” and they’ve asked that the court block future sales of the song.
“Gold Digger” features actor/singer Jamie Foxx and was the second single released of West’s sophomore album, “Late Registration.” The song reached number-one on the Billboard Charts on September 6, 2005.
The song also features clips from the Ray Charles classic, “I Got A Woman” also, hence the inclusion of Foxx — who played the late singer in 2004 biopic “Ray.”
Jean Catuffe, PacificCoastNews.com; PRN / PRPhotos.com
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