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Tag: hip-hop

  • 50 Cent Debuts New Video For ‘Hustler’

    Rapper 50 Cent has been hustling throughout his life, and he raps about just that with the debut of his new music video for his song entitled “Hustler”.

    The 38-year-old rapper from Southside Jamaica, Queens, debuted his song Monday on New York’s Hot 97 radio station. In the three minute-long song, “Fiddy” says “I hustle hard/ When I come through they’re like ‘oh my God.”

    “I blow a whole lot of paper on clothes/ Can you dig it? I’m a hustler, baby,” he continues.

    Hours after the song’s debut, the official video for the track was released. The black and white video features a dapper 50 Cent sporting a fedora and a sleek trench coat while smoking a cigar. To add to that, he is surrounded by silhouettes of women throughout most of the video – think film noir James Bond. The video highlights 50 Cent’s style and fashion sense, which has come a long way since he first stepped onto the music scene in 2003, wearing baseball caps and sports jerseys.

    Eif Rivera, who has also directed music videos for other artists, such as Diddy, and Nicki Minaj, directed the music video.

    “Hustler” is the sixth track released for 50 Cent’s weekly series. He has been releasing songs from the new album week after week. Just last week, he debuted the track entitled “Smoke” featuring Trey Songz. “Hustler” is included on his fifth solo album entitled Animal Ambition, which is slated for release on June 3. Other artists featured in the album are Jadakiss, and Yo Gotti.

    With weekly releases of songs from his new album, fans are speculating whether all the songs will be released before the album drops in June. We’ll just have to wait to see what happens next week.

    50 Cent: Hustler (Explicit)

    Image via YouTube

  • Flavor Flav Enters Guilty Plea To Domestic Violence Charges

    Rapper and reality TV star, Flavor Flav, pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge in Las Vegas. The 55-year-old was sentenced to counseling and probation.

    Flavor Flav, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., admitted to pulling a knife on the son of his longtime girlfriend in 2012. According to the teen’s testimony, Drayton made threats to kill him and chased him into a bedroom. The rapper then stabbed the knife through a door.

    Since the event, the family has been going through counseling sessions and has talked through their differences.

    Drayton was facing charges that could have had him spend 12 years in prison. His guilty plea resulted in reduced charges. He was also given due credit for spending time in jail after he was arrested, said Tess Driver, the spokeswoman for the Nevada district attorney.

    “I love my son and my son loves me, too,” the rapper said in court.

    Both Drayton’s girlfriend and her son, who is now 18-years-old, were not present in court.

    Drayton is also facing another case for driving without a license and speeding in New York while he was on his way to his mother’s funeral. He was arrested on January 9. Defense attorney Kristina Wildeveld said that the rapper is in the process of resolving that case by paying fines.

    “I’m standing here in front of the camera, not behind bars,” Drayton said in front of the cameras after exiting the courthouse.

    According to the judge, Drayton could spend a year in county jail if he ever violates the agreement in the domestic violence case. He will be appearing in court on August 18 when he completes his counseling sessions.

    Drayton has been touring with the group Public Enemy since he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year.

    Image via YouTube

  • Ice Cube Says He Was “Robbed” After Losing Award To Vin Diesel And Paul Walker

    Ice Cube expressed his feelings towards not winning the “Best On-Screen Duo” award at the MTV Movie Awards held on Sunday. “We was robbed,” he said on USA Today.

    The award went to Vin Diesel and Paul Walker for their tandem on the Fast and Furious movies. Ice Cube was nominated, along with his co-star Kevin Hart for the movie Ride Along. In the film, Ice Cube plays a detective who has to work with Hart, a security guard and his potential brother-in-law, in taking down a crime boss.

    Ice Cube also said that he and Hart had the best on-screen chemistry out of everyone. “For us not to win was crazy.” The issue started when Ice Cube said that the award was only given to Diesel and Walker as a sympathy vote by the fans. He said that MTV should have given the award to Walker “before he passed away.”

    On Monday, he tweeted that he was not mad that they didn’t win, and that it was all just a hype. “I would never diss the actors who won. Not even Paul Walker. Seriously people!” said the tweet.

    Ice Cube also expressed his disappointment in the MTV Movie Awards in general. The rapper turned actor said that he left the ceremony shortly after arriving. He was not even there to see the tribute to Walker. “I just wasn’t into it,” he said. Ice Cube explained that he has been going to these award shows for 25 years and that he doesn’t need to torture himself if he is not into it. “As soon as you get bored, get up and leave.”

    Ice Cube’s movie, Ride Along, will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday.

    Image via YouTube

  • Eminem And Rihanna Unleash ‘The Monster’ At The 2014 MTV Movie Awards

    Eminem and Rihanna got the crowd going at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards on Sunday. They headlined the two-hour awards show by singing their hit “The Monster” for the first time on TV. Their performance was an A+ among the A-list crowd. This is the second time the two artists have collaborated. The first was back in 2010 with their hit “Love the Way You Lie.” In an interview with Rolling Stone, the rapper said that his second collaboration with Rihanna was not a sequel of the first one, but rather a “revisitation.” “To me, it’s more about the vice, and it’s more about the nostalgia,” Eminem said.  

    Rihanna started the performance, appearing on stage in a white dress accessorized with a headband that read “FEAR” and a matching jacket and necklace. Eminem soon entered the stage and started rapping, not minding a few technical glitches. The energy-packed performance was a preview of Eminem and Rihanna’s mini-tour scheduled for this summer. They will be visiting Detroit, New Jersey, and Los Angeles.

    Aside from the duo, other performances on Sunday night include Ellie Goulding who sang “Beating Heart” accompanied by Zed on piano. The song is part of the Divergent soundtrack. “Find You,” performed by Miriam Bryant and Matthew Koma for the EDM track, followed the performance by Goulding.

    Another high-energy performance was brought by Twenty One Pilots. They performed their hip-hop/synth pop hit entitled “Car Radio.” Tyler Joseph, the frontman, performed with a white ski mask – the same mask he wore for the song’s music video. Some hundred fans also wore their own ski masks while dancing and jumping around during the performance.

    Conan O’Brien even managed to do a performance before the end of the night, strapping on his guitar and performing a musical number with comedian Adam DeVine and a gospel choir.


    Image via MTV.com

  • ‘Draft Day’: Drake’s Still The Man Five Years Later

    No, it wasn’t just some April Fool’s joke—Drake’s new song “Draft Day” is the real thing. In the single, the Canadian rapper shows off his knowledge of pop culture and current events, even though he claims he doesn’t read the news because “it’s garbage.” He also name drops a variety of celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence: “I mean for real, girl you know I had to do it for yah.” Sweet.

    The song pays homage to Texas A&M star quarterback Johnny Manziel, whom Drake mentions in the first line. The title, of course, is a dead giveaway: the player just had his pro day workout, during which some loud hip-hop tracks by none other than Drake were played, to the disapproval of some folks. Drake’s music isn’t known for its G-rating, and the new track exhibits the same NSFW language many rappers seem to live by.

    Could the new song be Drake’s way of thanking the football player for the added publicity? Perhaps, but few are aware that the two are also fast friends. Drake was one of the people the quarterback was seen hanging out with during his controversial 2012 offseason.

    Manziel’s party-filled lifestyle has caught the attention of NFL teams and he has been criticized time and again for his lifestyle. Drake’s shoutout to him on “Draft Day” may just cause another uproar—or amusement. According to CBS Sports, Manziel had nothing to do with the actual production of the song.

    Aside from his buddy Manziel, “Draft Day” also mentions basketball prodigy Andrew Wiggins (as “A. Wiggins”), who had announced Monday that he would be entering this year’s NBA draft. The other sports personalities that made it to the song (not in a good way, however) are former MLB slugger Jose Canseco and the Oakland A’s.

    Drake also raps that if he had left things to chance he would have “picked a name like Chance the Rapper” (no offense, Chance, but Drake says he doesn’t really know you). According to Drake, he is “focused on making records and gettin’ bigger—just hits, no misses, that’s for the married folks.” While there’s plenty of married folks out there who may be offended, relax. The rapper may just be taking a shot at his fellow contemporaries—Jay-Z or Kanye, perhaps?

    Here’s something that’s nice to know: if this were the Hunger Games, Drake says “I would die for my district.” What say you, Katniss?

    Drake: ‘Draft Day’ (Explicit)

    Image via YouTube

  • Rapper Benzino Shot By Nephew; Gai Scott Claims He Acted In Self-Defence

    Rapper and reality TV star Benzino was en route to his mother’s funeral when his nephew allegedly opened fire at him from another car. According to the police and Benzino’s own Hip-Hop Weekly magazine, the violent encounter happened along a Massachusetts highway on Saturday.

    In a statement released by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, the 48-year-old record producer was driving a red SUV on Boston’s Route 3 before noon, when his 36-year-old nephew named Gai Scott pulled up next to Benzino’s vehicle and fired 7 to 8 shots. Benzino was headed for his mother, Mary A. Scott’s funeral Mass at St. Peter’s Church in Plymouth at the time of the shooting.

    Authorities say that the two family members are involved in a long-standing feud, despite Benzino’s claim that he has no idea why his nephew shot him.

    Hip-Hop Weekly reported that Benzino was hit on one arm and his back was grazed by one of the bullets. The magazine’s website featured photos of Benzino lying in his hospital bed and showing his bandaged left arm in a sling.

    After the shooting, Benzino – whose real name is Raymond Scott – got out of his vehicle and was brought to the Duxbury Police Department, after which he was admitted to SouthShoreHospital in South Weymouth. A representative of the hospital reported on Sunday that Benzino was in good condition.

    Police officers who responded to the scene spotted Benzino’s bullet hole-ridden red SUV in the middle of Route 3, and noticed a reddish substance that resembled blood inside the vehicle. Authorities added that they also found several shell casings and projectiles at the scene of the crime.

    Gai Scott was taken into police custody and slapped with assault charges with intent to murder. His arraignment is scheduled on Monday in the Plymouth District Court. Gai’s attorney Jon Ciraulo has entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf, and has also stated that his client’s shooting was an act of self-defense.

    Benzino has been discharged from the hospital, but the media has yet to get his comments regarding the assertions by his nephew’s camp. However, the elder Scott’s long-time attorney Martin K. Leppo responded on Benzino’s behalf by saying that the events that took place on the highway “doesn’t sound like self-defense” to him.

    A Boston native, Benzino is well known for his role in the reality television series, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta as Karlie Redd’s on-and-off boyfriend. He is also a former co-owner of the hip-hop magazine The Source, and a founding member of the American rap group Made Men.

    Image via YouTube

  • Beastie Boys And GoldieBlox Settle Lawsuit Over Use Of ‘Girls’ Song

    Rapcore band Beastie Boys has finally settled their battle with the Oakland-based toy company GoldieBlox. The news was reported in the Oakland Tribune, but other details regarding the amount of settlement was not disclosed.

    GoldieBlox is geared towards manufacturing construction and engineering toys for girls in order to break stereotypes. In one of their advertisements, Princess Machine, the company used Girls, a Beastie Boys song that was released in 1987. The advertisement went viral last year when it aired during the Super Bowl.

    The band says that they support what the toy company stands for, but they have already decided long ago to have a blanket ban on the use of their songs in any type of advertisement.

    The toy company was the first to sue the band stating that the use of the song was a parody, as the lyrics were changed to suit the commercial. The Beastie Boys then countersued, since they were following the their fellow band member Adam Yauch’s will. A statement in the will says, “in no event may my image or name or any music or any artistic property created by me be used for advertising purposes.”

    GoldieBlox said that they did not know about Yauch’s will and they did not want to be in a legal battle with the Beastie Boys. They then took down the commercial from YouTube. The Beastie Boys also criticized the company for not using original music. GoldieBlox has also used music from other artists, such as Avicii, Daft Punk, and Queen.

    According to a spokesperson from GoldieBlox, the settlement between the two parties include an apology from the toy company on their official website, and a fee that will be given to the Beastie Boys based on the toy company’s revenues. The amount will be donated by the band to various charities that support math, engineering, technology, and science education for girls.

    The Goldie Blox Ad that triggered the lawsuit

    Image via YouTube

  • Tyler, The Creator Arrested At SXSW, Posts $25K Bail

    Tyler, The Creator was arrested this past weekend after encouraging fans to push past security to get into his full-capacity SXSW show in Austin. The Hollywood Reporter has the police report which claims: “The subject encouraged a large crowd on more than one occasion to force themselves past venue employees controlling access at the venue which was already at full capacity.”

    The police video shows scores of fans rushing to enter the venue, and Tyler yelling to “just run in right now, do it, let’s go.” The crowd pushed past employees working at the door, creating an “immediate danger of injury to persons.” He was charged with a Riot-Class A Misdemeanor, which carries a $25,000 bond.

    His jail-time was short-lived, however; Tyler secured the $25,000 bond on Saturday, letting the rapper free and on to play a sold-out show at the Dallas House of Blues that night.

    Tyler, The Creator had already had a drama-filled week at Austin’s South By Southwest music festival, after he had to cancel a show early Thursday morning after a drunk driving incident. A motorist stopped for a possible DUI sped away from police and drove the wrong way down a one-way street, slamming into a crowd outside of the nightclub Mohawk, where Tyler was scheduled to perform. The driver is faced with two charges of capital murder and 23 counts of aggravated assault. Tyler expressed his grief on his Twitter, and also his aggravation at speculation that his arrest is connected in any way to the drunk driving incident.

    Seems like Tyler can’t catch a break. Do you think Tyler will return to SXSW after the drama-filled week he’s endured?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Biggie Smalls Remembered 17 Years After His Death

    Fans all over the world remembered Biggie Smalls, also known in the music world as The Notorious B.I.G., on the 17th anniversary of his death on Sunday. The rapper had just left a Vibe magazine-hosted event on March 9, 1997 in a GMC Suburban SUV with his crew. They were waiting for the red light to turn when a black sedan, a Chevrolet Impala SS, drove up next to them. The Impala’s driver fired repeatedly at the SUV. According to the autopsy released in December 2012, Biggie was hit four times; one hit his vital organs and became the cause of death. The assailant is unknown.

    Fans of the hip-hop artist took to Twitter to offer their tributes. One fan posted, “Exactly 17 years ago the world lost a genius.” Another tweeted, “R.I.P. Biggie Smalls. You’ll always be one of the greatest!”

    The rapper was born Christopher George Latore Wallace on May 21, 1972 in St. Mary’s Hospital in New York and was raised in Brooklyn. His parents were Jamaican; his mother Voletta taught preschool and his father George worked as a welder. He was their only child. When Wallace was two years old his father left the family, and his mother struggled through two jobs. Wallace attended the Queen of All Saint Middle School where he excelled, especially in his English subjects. When he was 10 he was nicknamed “Big” because of his size.

    Biggie Freestyle At Age 17

    http://youtu.be/zCcROGKl89Y

    During his teenage years he dabbled in rapping but also got himself involved in crime, getting arrested twice on various charges, including dealing crack cocaine. A year after his release, he made a demo tape, which was consequently promoted by DJ Mister Cee. The demos were heard by the editor of The Source magazine’s editor, and Wallace, as Biggie Smalls, was featured in the magazine’s Unsigned Hype column. One thing led to another, and soon enough, Biggie Smalls and later on, The Notorious B.I.G., rose to fame. His album Ready to Die sold millions and achieved Platinum status four times. He was 24 when he died.

    ‘Juicy’: The Hit That Made Biggie Famous

    Image via YouTube

  • Rapper Lil’ Boosie Released From Prison

    Torrance Hatch, more commonly known as Lil Boosie, was released from Louisiana State Penitentiary on Wednesday night. A press conference is scheduled on March 10.

    The schedule for the Baton Rouge rapper’s release was slated for May, but Lil Boose was able to complete his self-help program on Wednesday afternoon, which earned him credits that made him eligible to be released earlier than expected. Not even the rapper knew that he was going to be released from prison that night.

    Lil Boosie, 31, was serving his 8-year sentence on drug charges. He was imprisoned when he pleaded guilty to his third offense of marijuana possession and for smuggling contraband into the Louisiana State Penitentiary and the Dixon Correctional Institute. He also faced a first-degree murder charge for killing Terry Boyd, but was acquitted.

    Shortly after arriving in prison, the rapper was quick to violate rules but eventually came around and started joining rehabilitation programs to better himself. Sources say that he would have gotten out even earlier if he hadn’t violated rules during his stay.

    In the state penitentiary, Lil Boosie was able to complete a religion-based program, a substance abuse program, and was able to get his GED certificate on March 9, 2013. Upon acquiring his certificate, the rapper said that he wished his grandmother were there to witness his achievement.

    After being released from prison, a van took Hatch to the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office where family and friends greeted him and took him home to New Orleans. He must also report to a parole officer on Thursday, as he is freed on the condition of supervised parole, which is said to last until 2018. His parole restrictions are not publicly known yet but will be clear once he has had a meeting with his parole officer.

    There are no other pending charges against Hatch, but he is scheduled to appear in court on March 14 in front of Judge Richard Moore.

    Lil’ Boosie’s Last Days Before Prison (Explicit Language)

    Image via YouTube

  • Da Brat Ordered To Pay $6.4 Million For Assaulting Cheerleader

    A Cobb County court jury has ordered Grammy-nominated rapper Da Brat to pay $6.4 million in damages to the Atlanta cheerleader she assaulted in 2007. The punishment was meted out on Thursday afternoon.

    Da Brat, whose real name is Shawntae Harris, served almost three years in prison for brutally attacking former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader Shayla Stevens with a rum bottle during an argument at an Atlanta nightclub owned by Jermaine Dupri . According to Stevens’ lawyer Mark Link, his client sustained grave injuries that affected her brain’s functions. Although Stevens has survived her brain injury, she has suffered from mental anguish as well as a permanent scar on her face, both of which have prevented her from pursuing her cheerleading career.

    Stevens filed a civil lawsuit against the Funkdafied hit maker in 2009 to which Harris pleaded guilty. Apart from serving three years at Arrendale State Prison, Harris was also ordered a seven-year probation period, 200 hours worth of community service, anger management classes, mental evaluation, and treatment for substance abuse. Now, Da Brat must pay Stevens $3.7 million and $2.7 million in compensatory and punitive damages, respectively.

    Shayla Stevens, Da Brat’s victim, testifies in court

    Harris’ lawyer B.J. Bernstein is surprised that his client was still ordered to pay millions despite that fact that she admitted to the charges and served her time. He said that they are still in the process of planning an appeal.

    The 39-year-old rapper and actress rose to fame when she released her debut album entitled Funkdafied. Hip hop tycoon Jermaine Dupri signed her to his label So So Def and molded her to be the “female Snoop Dogg”. Harris was previously involved in a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge in 2001 when she beat a woman with a gun at another Atlanta nightclub. Harris pleaded guilty to the charge and paid a $1,000 fine, served a year-long probation period, and put in 80 hours of community service.

    Da Brat: Life After Prison (explicit language)

    http://youtu.be/EAKmQI48iww

    “Funkdafied”: The Hit That Made Da Brat Famous

    http://youtu.be/LHXlk_h51-c

    Image via YouTube

  • 50 Cent Celebrates New Audio Line At NASCAR

    An eager and excited 50 Cent was on a mission at Daytona for two reasons – to launch his SMS audio and headphone line and look for somebody to kiss to celebrate the occasion. However, 50 Cent’s foiled attempt at planting a kiss on Fox reporter Erin Andrews did not deter him from looking for someone else; he turned to Swan Racing driver Cole Whitt during a news conference for the NASCAR Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series.

    “I’m going to kiss Cole,” said 50 Cent.

    “Only if I win,” Whitt replied.

    50 Cent, Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman at NASCAR press conference

    http://youtu.be/xWb2F5TGM8U

    The multi-platinum recording artist reached another milestone recently as he officially parted ways with Interscope Records, which served as his home label for a decade. Interscope can be credited for launching 50 Cent’s music career and catapulting him to being one of the most sought after hip-hop artists of this generation.

    50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, is also leaving Shady/Aftermath, the Eminem-Dr. Dre collaboration that discovered and signed him as their first artist. 50 Cent expressed his gratitude to the two mentors that helped make his debut record “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ “a worldwide success that sold over 13 million copies.

    Along with his G-Unit Records, the rapper has signed a worldwide distribution agreement with independent label Caroline of the Capitol Music Group. The deal applies to his latest album entitled Animal Ambition, which is due to be released on June 3.

    ‘The Funeral’ (single from ‘Animal Ambition’ album)

    Logos of 50 Cent’s SMS Audio line will be showcased on Swan Racing’s cars for the Daytona 500, which starts on Sunday. The two drivers for Swan Racing are Parker Kligerman and Cole Whitt, who will also have their uniforms stamped with the SMS logos. Special Swan edition SMS Audio headphones will feature the two drivers in the ad campaign.

    Last year at the Daytona 500, while being interviewed by Erin Andrews, 50 Cent tried to kiss her on the lips, but the Fox reporter quickly turned her head away, causing the rapper’s lips to land on her cheek.  Watch the mishap below.

    50 Cent tries to steal a kiss from Erin Andrews

    Image via Facebook

  • Drake Upset About Getting Bumped For Rolling Stone Cover

    Canadian recording artist and rapper Drake says he is “disgusted” at Rolling Stone magazine for replacing him on the March issue cover at the last minute. Rolling Stone ran the print with Philip Seymour Hoffman on the front cover instead.

    The magazine decided to pay homage to the award-winning actor, Hoffman, after his sudden death following a reported heroin overdose on February 2 in his Manhattan office apartment. The March issue features highlights of the late actor’s life and achievements that he had throughout his 46 years of life.

    Rolling Stone’s spokesperson, Melissa Bruno, stated on a phone interview with CBC News that the magazine does not comment on their decisions for cover images.

    Twitter users also commented and accused the rapper for being childish about him being replaced on the cover. The harsh comments towards Drake were also defended by some of his fans saying that the press always twists conversations and that they still love him.

    The cover is not the only issue Drake has with the magazine. On his Twitter page, he ranted about an interview the magazine conducted, and said that he never made any ill comments on Kanye West’s album Yeezus, and was misquoted by the magazine. Drake allegedly said that some of West’s raps were questionable. On one of his tweets, Drake also said the press is evil. He has later deleted the tweets regarding the interview and the cover.

    Drake never outright denied saying those things about Kanye West. He just stated that he never made those comments during the interview portion. The comments were probably said off-the-record, but the magazine included it on print.

    On his last tweet, Drake says that he just wants people to listen to his music so he can accurately get his message across. He also says that he is done doing magazine interviews.

    Drake: Worst Behavior

    Image via YouTube

  • Tupac Shakur Biopic To Be Directed By John Singleton

    No, it wasn’t just a rumor: there really will be a biopic of rapper Tupac Shakur. What makes it more real now is that it finally has a producer by the name of John Singleton, who is best known for his directorial debut “Boyz N The Hood,” released in 1991. Singleton will not only produce, but rewrite and direct the biopic as well.

    Tupac Shakur died in 1996 at the age of 25. He was fatally wounded during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, reportedly due to an earlier altercation between him and another crew. The brawl, captured on CCTV, showed Shakur and several other men from Death Row Records assaulting Orlando ‘Baby Lane’ Anderson at the lobby of the MGM Grand. Anderson and his crew were said to have robbed one of the members of the Death Row entourage at a store, and so Shakur and his crew acted in revenge. Later that night after leaving a club, Shakur was shot while driving his car. He died six days later. The murder remains unsolved.

    Tupac Shakur is known for his outspoken personality and controversial lyrics, and it will likely be a challenge to capture his spirit on film. The biopic is expected to show Shakur’s rise not only as a rapper but also as an actor. In 1993, he starred in “Poetic Justice,” a romantic movie, alongside Janet Jackson. Singleton directed the film, which was created around the work of writer Maya Angelou. This makes Singleton a good primary source of reference for what Shakur was like as an actor, and who Tupac was behind the scenes.

    http://youtu.be/6OPuoivIlbI

    Singleton was actually involved in the project when it was being conceptualized. Unfortunately, the deal didn’t push through, and there had been other factors that stalled the project. Now, with Morgan Creek Productions and Emmett Furla Oasis Films on board, the biopic is definitely a go. Singleton will first work on the screenplay, with production slated for this summer.

    Image via Tupac Shakur,Twitter

  • Achy Breaky Heart: Billy Ray Cyrus Revamps His Song

    Achy Breaky Heart has gotten a makeover–and it probably should have remained the hokey country song it was back in 1992. Now it has a hip hop twist to it, and it makes Billy Ray Cyrus look like a bigger fool than when he sported a mullet. If this is how Billy Ray operates, is it any wonder why daughter Miley Cyrus acts the way she does?

    Billy Ray Cyrus soared to international fame with the release of his catchy version of Achy Breaky Heart. The country song had people all over the world tapping their toes to the country tune with the fun lyrics. In the new version Cyrus brings Dionne Warwick’s son Buck22–whose real name is Damon Eliot–on board.

    Cyrus drops some lyrics about daughter Miley and her penchant for twerking in the remake of the song. Larry King, who opens the video with a bizarre prelude, tweeted about the Achy Breaky Heart remake.

    It seems Billy Ray Cyrus first met up with Dionne Warwick about a year ago when the pair recorded a duet called Hope is Just Ahead, to benefit the ‘Do The Write Thing National Campaign to Stop Violence initiative.’ The combination of these two singers in the same song sounds strange enough. She never should have introduced the country singer to her son.

    Achy Breaky Heart was very clearly written to be a country song. Writer Don Von Tress originally titled it Don’t Tell My Heart. The Marcy Brothers recorded it a year before Billy Ray Cyrus did, but they didn’t achieve the international success he did with the song.

    Probably the best anyone can hope for is to learn within the next day or so that this hip hop version of Achy Breaky Heart, replete with a mention of Miley Cyrus, is nothing but a big joke. Because it is. However Billy Ray Cyrus might not have intended for it to be perceived as such.

    What do you think?

    Image via YouTube

  • Missy Elliott Comes Out About Nine-Year Career Hiatus

    “I don’t just throw out microwave records,” said 42-year-old female rapper Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott in a recent interview.

    As one of the leading ladies of Hip Hop during the late 90s to the early 2000s, Elliott has won five Grammy awards and sold over 30 million records in the United States. She has also co-produced with good friend and producer Timbaland on projects for the 90s group SWV and the late singer Aaliyah.

    Surely some of her greatest hits had you wanting to “Get Your Freak On” or had some feeling “Supa Dupa Fly,” but after a lengthy break it may be time for Elliott to remind us what makes her one of the most creative female MCs.

    It wasn’t until 2012 that “Misdemeanor” fans became excited about her return to the rap game. At the time, Elliott and Timbaland debuted two tracks, “9th Inning” and “Triple Threat,” from her Block Party album. However, no official release date was ever established.

    So, why has the innovative songwriter  been in hiding lately?

    During a one-on-one talk with Michael Yo on Yahoo!’s “The Yo Show,” the “Work It” MC revealed why she hasn’t released any albums in nine years; one being because of the drastic change in music today.

    “Not to say that it’s bad, it’s just different now, so I’m just trying to make sure that what I give is 100 percent because I know that expectations is high from my fans and it’s high of myself,” she said.

    In 2011, People reported that the reason behind Elliott’s disappearance was her “private battle with Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune illness that affects the thyroid.”

    However, she announced the same year that she was ready to get back to work following extensive radiation treatment.

    Elliott is currently still hard at work helping other artists put together upcoming records.

    One of her latest collaborations with long-time friend Faith Evans will be heard on the singer’s 8th solo album Incomparable, which is rumored to hit the music world later this year.

    As far as her own work, Elliott confirms that she is not putting out any tunes until she feels her sound is top-notch.

    “When I create something, it’s got to be special and it can’t just be to throw something out there because I feel like I’m Missy.”

    Check out her 2012 track “Triple Threat” featuring Timbaland:

    Well, hopefully she’ll return soon and put her thing down, flip it and reverse it.

    Image via Youtube

  • Tupac Shakur’s Music Is Set For Broadway

    Tupac Shakur was a beloved icon in the hip hop world, and after dying 18 years ago, his music is finally being used for a musical.

    He will always be hailed as one of the greatest hip hop artists of all time, and someone who wrote insightful lyrics in a time when the genre seemed to actually care about what people were saying.

    His music will be hitting the Broadway stage in a matter of months, and while many fans of the late Tupac Shakur may not be a musical fans, perhaps the two genres will combine well to give the show even better results.

    Although the music of Tupac Shakur will be used throughout the show, it will not be an autobiographical tale of the rapper’s life. It will feature a plot about two friends in the inner-city in the Midwest.

    It is also set to intricately use his poetic music and lyrics in order to open a window into the realities of the streets still relevant today.

    The musical will be called Holler If You Hear Me, and comes from an autobiographical song by the same name which appeared on his 1993 album titled Strickly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. The song tells the story of a girl who witnesses her father’s death, finds money to buy a gun, and rallies her young friends to avenge his death.

    Casting has not been announced yet for the upcoming show, although with it set to premiere in a matter of months, fans should find out soon. Broadway fans can expect good things from the creators with the musical being written by Todd Kreidler and directed by Tony nominee Kenny Leon, who is also working on a revival of A Raisin In The Sun starring Denzel Washington.

    Tupac was originally from Harlem, although he moved to California and was one of the main leaders of the west coast rap scene, while constantly feuding with Notorious B.I.G. back in New York.

    He was killed at a young age, and while the crime has still never officially been solved, he was shot down in Las Vegas in 1996 at the age of 25. Tupac had a number of positive and poetic songs that he released throughout his career including “Keep Ya Head Up” and “Changes,” as well as the ode to his mother who raised him and his sister alone called “Dear Mama.”

    Holler If You Hear Me will open on Broadway at the Palace on June 19. Preview performances for the brand-new show begin May 26. Tupac Shakur fans should stay tuned for more info, and keep on the lookout for the upcoming show, which will be here soon.

    How do fans feel about the upcoming musical?

    Image via Youtube

  • Chrissy Lampkin Arrested In New Jersey Brawl

    Love and Hip Hop star Chrissy Lampkin was arrested early Sunday for a bloody brawl with a woman in a New Jersey bar.

    The VH1 reality star was arrested and charged at around 2:30 am  for assault and disorderly conduct.

    Authorities said that the victim was badly wounded in the alleged assault.  According to TMZ  her injuries required  stitches above her eyes.

    Supposedly, the scuffle began when Lampkin objected to the woman sitting on the same sofa as her in the bar. Chrissy was later bailed out by her rapper fiancée, Jim Jones. The exact sequence of events were unclear as no video footage was captured.

    The 42-year-old reality star and her 37-year-old ‘We Fly High‘ boyfriend added to their notoriety after starring in the popular VH1 reality series Love and Hip Hop. The couple got engaged in 2011 during a party involving the entire Love and Hip Hop crew.  According to the couple, they both grew up in the same neighborhood in Harlem,  New York. They now have their own reality show called Chrissy & Mr. Jones which began airing in 2012 — Lampkin is one of the shows producers. The series concluded early last month. Jones is the co- CEO of Diplomat Records and an original member of hip hop group known as The Diplomats.

    This would not be the first altercation for Chrissy Lampkin. She is known for dishing out a few beatdowns and giving others a piece of her mind on the Love and Hip Hop show.

    Watch Chrissy beat down Kimbella on Love and Hip Hop

    Image via YouTube

  • Three 6 Mafia’s Lord Infamous Dead At Age 40

    The rap community suffered a loss today when one of the founding members of Three 6 Mafia died.

    He was one of the members of the classic hip hop group that was popular throughout the 1990s, and had an influence on much of the rappers that are popular today.

    Lord Infamous was one of the founding members of Three 6 Mafia, and they formed in 1991, gaining popularity with songs such as “Ridin’ Spinners” and “Stay Fly.” They were known for popular albums such as their debut, Music Stylez, and Da Unbreakables.

    The rapper, who was born with the real name Ricky Dunigan, was forced to leave the group in 2006, when he was serving time in jail. He died on Friday evening.

    During a visit home, the rapper passed away at his mother’s house in Memphis. The sudden death of Lord Infamous is shocking to his group members and other rappers, who have taken to social media outlets to show kind words to their friend.

    DJ Paul, a member of Three 6 Mafia, and his half-brother, reported the death of Lord Infamous. He said “He passed away in his sleep from a heart attack. He said he was tired, he wanted to sleep. He sat down at the kitchen table, put his head in his arms to lay down … to get some sleep.”

    His mother had left the house for several hours, and returned to find her son dead with his head on the table. Paul learned of the news the following morning after receiving phone calls from the rapper’s mother and girlfriend.

    He rejoined a version of Three 6 Mafia that called themselves Da Mafia 6ix, and included former members DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca and Gangster Boo. The new configuration of the group is preparing to release an album in March of 2014.

    Unlike most rap groups, Three 6 Mafia was able to win an Oscar for their song “It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp,” a song that was performed by Terrence Howard in Hustle And Flow, which also earned him a Best Actor nomination

    Three 6 Mafia was originally from Memphis, Tennessee and was set to perform a show together next week with the new configuration of the group.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Gucci Mane Indicted: Rapper Could Get 20 Years For Gun Possession

    Rapper Gucci Mane has been indicted by a federal court on charges of possessing a firearm. ABC reports that the rapper possessed guns on two different occasions in September and threatened a police officer according to U.S. attorney’s office in Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta. The rapper whose real name is Radric Davis, was indicted on November 19 by a federal grand jury.

    (image)

    Prosecutors said that Davis was found with a gun on September 12 and another gun on September 14. The prosecutors further said that the 33-year-old rapper acted erratically on both occasions and threatened people with the guns.

    “On September 12 this year, Davis, who was a felon at the time, was found in possession of a firearm,” the prosecutor said. “Then, just two days later, on September 14th, he again possessed a firearm different from the earlier gun. On both occasions, Davis displayed the loaded firearm, acted erratically, and made threats to individuals, including police and his attorney.”

    Davis was taken into police custody after he became agitated and threatened people. “This is how people get hurt, and we are committed to ensuring that convicted felons not have guns,” U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said.

    Drew Findling, the rapper’s lawyer, said that he will decide on what action to take after reviewing information in the case.

    According to the indictment, Davis pleaded no contest to two felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon in October. Davis was also convicted in 2005 for being in possession of marijuana.

    In the same year, Davis was charged with murder but the charges were dropped because of insufficient evidence. In 2010 he was again arrested for violating traffic laws but the charges were dropped as well. Earlier this year, he was arrested after he hit a man over the head with a bottle.

    Each charge of  possession of a firearm as a convicted felon comes with up to 10 years of prison time  and up to $250,000 in fines. Gucci allegedly possessed two firearms. If convicted of gun possession the ‘Servin‘ rapper could be serving a maximum of 20 years behind bars.


    (mugshot via Pinterest, main image via YouTube)

  • Gucci Mane Facing 20 Years on Federal Charges

    Rapper/actor/tattoo enthusiast Gucci Mane was charged in federal court Tuesday with two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, after two incidents in September during which he brandished a gun and threatened police, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

    Mane, 33, whose legal name is Radric Davis, became “increasingly agitated,” during the September 14 incident, in which he spewed insults and threats at police officers. He was taken into custody after police found a handgun and a bit of marijuana in his possession. Though, according to CNN, federal prosecutors have just revealed in a press release that Mane was also arrested on September 12.

    “On September 12, 2013, Davis, who was a felon at the time, was found in possession of a firearm. Then, just two days later, on September 14th, he again possessed a firearm different from the earlier gun. On both occasions, Davis displayed the loaded firearm, acted erratically, and made threats to individuals, including police and his attorney,” according to the release.

    A felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000.

    Gucci Mane was also arrested in Atlanta in March, after clubbing a fan over the head with a champagne bottle, and faced charges for violating a number of traffic laws in the city in 2010. Mane was also charged in the shooting death of a man in 2005, but the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

    Mane was indicted on November 19, and made an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Linda T. Walker. The rapper is detained in custody pending trial.

    Below is Gucci Mane in his video for Servin’:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0XUo5HVMyc

    Time will only tell if the Servin’ star might one day make a sequel called Servin’ 20 Yrs.

    Atlanta Police Chief George Turner commented, “We cannot tolerate convicted felons ignoring the law by carrying firearms and endangering our citizens.” U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates added, “This is how people get hurt, and we are committed to ensuring that convicted felons not have guns.”

    Image via YouTube.