Inside The Box: DJ. Freestyle Steve(@FreestyleSteve) @ChristinaClark1

In our next Inside the Box feature we interview DJ Freestyle Steve,  Steve is the official DJ for music mogul/production genius Timbaland as well as the exclusive DJ of choice for many NBA and NFL players and others in the music business.The veteran DJ has worked on projects with many of the elite artists in music such as Dr. Dre,Justin Timberlake 50 Cent and Madonna. In our interview , he speaks on what he has been up to since working with Missy & Timbaland, What his dream concert to Dj for, and  what he is currently working on.

Inside The BOX: The Renegades

Super producers The Renegades signed with We The Best Music, produced the DJ Khaled mega hit 'Welcome To My Hood' and are helping to cultivate the new sound in Miami hip hop. JukeBoxDC got the exclusive with the Florida natives, Mev and Reazy. Check out what they had to say after the jump.

Inside the Box: Dj Dummy

Photo Credit:Jai Nima Idowu

In Our Lastest Inside the Box series we interviewed DJ Dummy, who is currently on the road DJing for J Cole. This seasoned DJ has DJed for the likes of Rihanna, Common, Kanye West and DMX just to name a few. Dummy talked about everything from how he started to his most crazy tour stories. Check the full interview after the jump.

Fashion Firm: 2011's 5 Fashionable Females In Music

2011 Top 5 Fashionable Females in Musicby Fashion Firm
Fresh into the New Year, I want to look back at the top 5 best dressed females of 2011. These ladies turned heads and grabbed attention not only with their talents, but with their wardrobes as well!

Check out the fashionable 5 after the jump.

The Top 15 Hip-Hop Projects Of 2011 (In My Opinion)

Sketches from Elemental Electronic Music Festival at Alliance Francaise Yangon 2011

Yep, another year gone. Jeez, I'm officially two years away from 30....

Anyway, I can honestly say that this has been an incredible year in Hip-Hop music. A lot of great artists have continued to be great (Drake), some have decided to drop the ball for sales ('Lasers') and a lot of lesser known artists have continued to put out great projects (that often fell on deaf ears). So I decided to put out my personal top ten projects of this year....projects that I'm very surprised I haven't worn out from extreme listening. Basically, these projects will probably be deemed as classics as they continue to hold weight over the next several years in the midst of the typical bubblegum shit we hear over the radio everyday. So, without further ado (and in no particular order):

Check out the full list after the jump.

Dirty G's View, @Wale Vs @Noz and why we need to Support not Hinder artist from being Great.

 

   A certain Local writer from DC has some hate for a certain DC Rapper. I (Dirty G) over here at jukeboxdc.com dont usually take sides but you read and Decide Hate or not. I usually dont care what people in way like this but once you hit a certain level as a Writer you should not be bias against rappers you should be fair and balanced and to me doesn't seem like someone got that memo.

Link

and His rebuttal 

Link after the numbers came out.

 I have lived in DC for a few years now and I have noticed a few things here there is a "Crab's in the bucket" type mentality in this town and it needs to stop. I myself am not a 100% wale supporter but the man is trying and we should respect that not tear it down.

Any issue's my twitter is @therealdjdirtyg Holla

HenryVIII Album Review: Wale “Ambition”

Before I even start, let the record show that (since “Hate is the New Love”) I have always been a Wale supporter. However, I have NEVER been a Wale fan. This in no way compromises my ability to judge his music without bias (although it does prevent me from attending any of his shows). But I must say, as a resident of the DMV, it’s a beautiful thing to finally have strong representation at the forefront of the hip hop music scene. As much as people attempt to discredit him for his song choice or “attitude”, he wouldn’t have made it this far without hard work and overall dedication to perfecting his craft. So for these things, I commend him. With that said, let’s get right into my album breakdown of Wale’s latest project, “Ambition”.

Check out the full review after the jump.

JukeBoxDC Editorial: Five Reasons Why You Should Buy Wale's Ambition

Wale has been through a lot since breaking into the rap game. Strong underground following developed through well put together mixtapes, ups and downs with record labels and is every growing Twitter struggle with his haters and naysayers. Finally all will be put to rest on November 1^st as Wale releases his sophomore album, Ambition. With the Maybach Music Group behind him, a legion of fans supporting him and a multi-faceted album, Wale delivers and delivers damn good. With his first album, Attention Deficit, being undershipped, the D.C. MC needs the support. Here are five reasons as to why you should buy Ambition.

Cole World: The Sideline Story Album Review

Cole’s album is finally here. "Cole World: The Sideline Story". When we think of the word sideline, we automatically think of sitting on the bench. A person gaining knowledge by observing the game and even practicing with the greats. J. Cole released “The Warm Up” to get us prepared for “Friday Night Lights” which made us check out for him on “Any Given Sunday”. Since Cole’s last mixtape “Friday Night Lights” you have to say he had his fans at the edge of their seats anticipating for his debut album. I personally think that mixtape was his best.

Its been 3 years since Cole signed his deal with Jay-Z. Cole has shown a major growth throughout his career. On this album, he talks about his come up in this music industry, from where he was then and to where he is now. In the Intro and Interlude on the album you can feel the same excitement and anxiousness he had when he found out he got signed. He even explained how he went to jail shorty after he found out. “Spending a night in jail realizing, these n***as have no clue I’m about to sign these papers”.

Cole touches on topics that everyone can relate to. He speaks on what happens in our communities: single parent homes and the responsibilities of being a man. The track “Lost Ones” talks about a very young couple finding out their having a child. Cole speaks on two point of views, the boy and the girl. Tracks we have heard before also made its way onto the album such as “Lights Please” and “In The Morning” with Drake.

Overall, some tracks will have you moving in the club and celebrating with Cole his grind to success. My personal favorite tracks are “Dollar and a Dream III”, “Can’t Get Enough”, “Mr. Nice Watch”, “Nobody’s Perfect”, "Cole World" and “Lost Ones”. This album was what I was expecting from Cole. And what I love about Cole is that he explains his struggle. His lyricism is on point and the honesty he pours out onto this album. This is just the beginning for J.Cole. I’m anxious what he has for us next. And if your sleeping on Cole its about that time you wake up. We love, I love Hip-Hop.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Download "Cole World: The Sideline Story" on itunes now

JUKEBOXDC Editorials: A Night On Fourteenth With Common

This past Saturday night, I was invited to come out to Common's Green For All event at Park at Fourteenth. I got to the venue a few minutes before Common and his entourage arrived. Once the Chicago emcee arrived, I was escorted along with him to the VIP section where I was formally introduced to Common by my homie RRA from DMV Culture. Common is a real cool brother, very humble and treated me like a friend he knew for years.

Common mingled around the room with his friends for a bit then hit the stage to perform a few records.

He opened up with a crowd favorite, 'Go', from his album Be, after which he then went into his current single, 'Ghetto Dreams', which also features Nas. During his performance of 'Ghetto Dreams', he announced that he had a new album coming out on November 22 entitled The Dreamer, The Believer...the album is produced by NoID and will be his Warner Bros. debut. Following the announcement, he thanked everybody that went to out to buy his new book, One Day It'll All Make Sense, which is now on the New York's Best Sellers List (f you haven't picked up the book, make sure do it right here). Lamman Rucker (of movies like Why Did I Get Married) also came through and kicked it with us for a little bit.

After the jump, check out some flicks from the show (pictures by Mercyc and spotted on The Jasmine Brand).

JUKEBOX:DC Editorial: Four Rappers Who Can Possibly Be This Generations's 2Pac

When people argue the greatest rapper alive Tupac “2Pac” Shakur’s name comes up. When people argue the most influential rapper of all-time, he is the name that comes up. It has been 15 years since his tragic death in Las Vegas and 2Pac’s soul, music and voice is still alive in the hip-hop community. With this new generation of fire spitters and emcees on the come up, our culture is still searching for the next rapper to cultivate us like 2Pac did. As you should know, 2Pac talked to, about and for the kids, the mothers, the gangsters, the hustlers and any major figure in the black community. I have a few rappers in my mind who have a spark of the 2Pac bloodline. Let’s see if you agree or disagree on if they have what it takes to replace his image.

The 2011 VMAs: A Celebration of Today’s Illuminati Music Industry

MTV’s Video Music Awards give out “Moon Man” trophies to music artists who have had success during the previous year. But there is much more to it than shiny gold trophies. The VMAs are a celebration of the Illuminati industry, of those who push its agenda and a promotional tool to put the next generation of “initiates” into the spotlight. We’ll look at the 2011 VMAs, the stars that were celebrated and the material that leads them there. 

 Read the full article right here 

  The Vigilant Citizen

JukeBoxDC Editorial: A Tale of Two Carters

Meet two men. Both with the same last name. Both kings of their castle. Both with respective careers and occupations. Yet, in 2011, these two men are on two complete opposite sides of the road. Let me give a quick setup.

For the past 10 years either Sean Corey Carter or Wayne Michael Carter has been atop or near the top of the hip hop pantheon. From record historic sales, award winning albums, club anthems to pioneering two of the most successful hip hop crews in history (Roc-A-Fella Records/YMCMB), these two have seen it and done it all. Sean’s official journey didn’t start until 1996 with his debut of the immortal classic Reasonable Doubt. As Wayne started out with a group named the Hot Boyz who would blaze throughout the hip hop south in the late 90’s to 2000’s. Later on, Wayne would solidify himself as a solo artist and spark a fan base that can only be rivaled by pop stars. Wayne’s biggest moment would come as a solo artist when his sixth solo album, Tha Carter III, would sell over a million records in the first week. Sean’s major accomplishment can be disputed. Which is more coveted to you; his record of 11 straight number one albums or being the husband to the greatest performer of all-time (not named Michael Jackson), Beyonce. Tough call. Either, or these two kings have seen their shine. However without shine, isn’t rain. Sean watched his empire known as the Roc come to a crumble and Wayne served a one year prison bid at the notoriously known Rikers Island in New York. Tough breaks, right? But these are kings. Shit happens. Well, in 2011 the Carter War has been a landslide and its not even fair.

Read the rest after the jump.

JUKEBOX:DC Editorial: Kendrick Lamar: Please Don't Go Mainstream

Dear Kendrick Lamar,

As a fan of yours I felt the need to write this open letter to get a few things off of my chest. One, you are a phenomenal artist, rapper, leader and spoken word performer that captivates my inner soul and others to a degree I haven’t felt in a very long time. No one in the past five years has struck chords through my ear like this since Lupe Fiasco during his 2005-2006 run. However, I am writing this letter to tell you to not go down the same path as our brother Lupe. To not go the easy route like our brothers Drake and Wiz Khalifa but take the independent road to success and tell those mainstream suits you’ll pass.

We all know about how great it is to sign to a major label. You get the “machine” of the label behind you, plenty stories and interviews are given to you by worldwide publications. All the money you’ve worked so hard for is now at your leisure through advances, endorsements and global tours, etc. But what I’m trying to tell you is that you don’t need them for you to get that. What you have established at Top Dog Entertainment is astounding. A brand solidified in hip hop culture and a significant symbol in today’s critical and often crucial urban market. Therefore, let me give you the breakdown on a few.

Read the rest after the jump.

JukeBoxDC Editorial: Five Reasons Why Watch The Throne Would’ve Been Better in 2006

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Yes. I said it. Watch The Throne is a good album. Not classic. Not phenomenal. Not earth shattering, but nonetheless, a good album. This isn’t a review of the pros and cons of the album, the deeper look into the lyrics, subliminal messages or content but a different perspective on the “what if” factor. This is in the same sense as, what if Portland would’ve selected Kevin Durant in the 2009 NBA draft or what if Tupac doesn’t get shot in Quad Studios. Nevertheless, sit back, relax and just imagine that we’re in 2006 again.

New York Post Reviews Watch The Throne

Jay-Z told his guests at the Hayden Planetarium, there for a listening party to hear “Watch the Throne,” that it took him and Kanye West three tries (over nine months) to make this album. The third time was the charm.

Alternating between hard beats with raw raps and risk-free commercial tracks, the record sounds best when it gets tough. On the opener, “No Church in the Wild,” West philosophizes, “What’s a king to a god, what’s a god to a nonbeliever.” On a single spin, it’s a throwaway line in a catchy rap, but it’s a provoking question that gains power with subsequent listens.

Not everything is so cerebral. Slightly vapid but destined for radio is “Lift Off,” an optimistic piece in which Beyoncé (a k a Mrs. Z) hits the booster rockets repeatedly, singing, “We’re gonna take you to the moon, take you to the stars.”

Somewhere between sounding smart and sounding good lies the album’s top song, “Otis,” a tribute to the late Otis Redding. It’s fantastic that these two rap icons are introducing the soul legend to a new generation with extended samples from “Try a Little Tenderness” serving as the track’s foundation. It’s reminiscent of West’s 2004 single “Gold Digger,” which deftly sampled the Ray Charles hit “I Got a Woman.”

“New Day” is also a highlight as the rappers ponder how they’ll raise their sons. Referring to his Hurricane Katrina run-in with George W. Bush, West says he’ll raise his as a “Republican, so they know he likes white people.” Jay adds, “My dad left me, and I promised never to repeat him.”

“Watch the Throne” is neither West’s nor Jay-Z’s best, but count it as a success, especially getting two performers as dynamic and egomaniacal as this duo to mesh into a cohesive team.

S/O NYPOST.COM

1 Year Strong, With Many More To Come...

Hello,

I certainly don't write as much as I'd like to on this here website of ours anymore (that will change), but for those who are reading this, I would really like to say thank you to those that showed real support to our movement (there are so many to shoutout, I'd much rather say thanks in this manner rather than leave out anyone).

This was never meant to be more than a blog....one that basically provides any and every thing that had to do with Hip-Hop. It wasn't really until Jamoris' inclusion of a camera where things really began to expand into a full-fledged website. Yes, I know, it's still a blog (hell, it's still Blogger for that matter), but you'd be hard-pressed to find too many other "blogs" that provide everything that we do at the quality that we do. Among the things that have been added:

 - Video production and editing: It's crazy how a simple meeting with the homie Debo (who we currently look forward to seeing again) turned into a pretty dope relationship with The Board Administration. Our first video came from this -- a fairly low-quality, extremely lengthy behind the scenes video for Black Cobain's 'Air Force' featuring Fat Trel & Tre. The videos had their flaws but did get (and are continuing to get) better as we improved our craft, to the point where we began to make actual music videos (Fat Trel gets the first nod there for his 'Freeze Me' freestyle, which was done in my kitchen at what may have been 4 in the morning). We're even winning awards for documentaries now (shoutout to Tony Lewis Jr. and CommunPR)

- Interviews: The Board Administration gave us our firsts here as well, and since then we have been able to interview successful local artists like Phil Ade, RAtheMC and the number one artist Wale to (other) popular artists like Miguel, CyHi Tha Prynce, Big K.R.I.T. & even legends like Raekwon. Special thanks goes out to Samantha Luck for being a MAJOR part of this as a great interviewer as well as an great writer and journalist.

- VICE: This was Jamoris' idea. And it works, whether I feel it had anything to do with Hip-Hop or not (and it does in a way, as far as the culture is concerned). Truth be told, there shouldn't be too many complaints about working with beautiful women to begin with (haha).

 - Mixtapes: This is actually a fairly unknown aspect of JUKEBOX:DC that was around from the beginning. I always liked to make these Hip-Hop mixes filled with songs that make you think more than anything, which is why I decided to call the series Streetz Reflexionz (or SRV -- V as in Volume -- for short). Hopefully some post-website supporters enjoy these, as all of the songs i chose for them were pretty important to me.

These are only a few additions, and there will be more, including more interviews, videos, editorials and mixtapes (by the way, SRV4 will be here shortly). We will also be moving into throwing Hip-Hop events, as well, so look out for those. Hopefully, with the help of others (George, Carrie, Eric, Corey and many more), there should be no stopping us as we continue to move forward.

Last but not least, I have to give a shoutout to D'Wayne & 3Nity Entertainment, whom we are now building with full time, so definitely lookout for them. The movement has only gotten better.

-Jon

Questions For Micheal Rappaport and Phife Dawg (Tribe called Quest)

Would you like to know more about the Beats,Rhymes, and Life (Tribe Called Quest movie)? If so, send us questions until 12 pm tuesday 6-21-11 and we will ask Micheal Rapaport and Phife for you. It can be about anything pertaining to the movie. We will also be answering questions about the movie after our screening tuesday night. So Send your questions with the Subject "Tribe Questions" to feedback@jukeboxdc.com. Thanks

The Park Live Presents an Idol: Soulful, Sassy Fantasia

An antsy crowd seemed more than relieved when Fantasia, the Grammy-nominated songstress likened to the greats such as Aretha, Patti and Tina Turner, hit the stage for The Park Live last Thursday. The Southern belle, known to belt out tunes, melodies, beautiful sounds from the depth of her soul, donned a sexy wavy bob complementing her star-studded, short, curve-hugging dress. Nearly blinding jewels adorning her wrist and fingers were glistening as much as her toe nails, because you know, in true Fantasia fashion, she kicked those shoes off as soon as she reached for the mic.

Check out more after the jump.

Music Mogul, Sean "Diddy" Combs launches MYMAG - Diddy Dirty Money - A Personal Insight Into His Life and New Band

Diddy now adds magazine curator / editor-in-chief to his already-impressive resume. He curated the material in Diddy Dirty Money, which is both a glossy print magazine and an interactive online experience, offering exclusive video, commentary and much more. Diddy mixes original content, including never-published photographs of him and his band members, Kalenna and Dawn with archived articles from his favorite publications.

"I've always loved art magazines and dope books. The DDM magazine gave us a chance to illustrate some of our personality and share pieces of some of the elements and people who have inspired our collective journey," says Sean "Diddy" Combs. "Diddy Dirty Money features some of our all-time favorite articles, photographs mixed in with some of our own content... it's an accurate glimpse into our respective lives."

Other content includes Vibe magazine's first-ever magazine feature on Diddy, as well as tributes to Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige and Hype Williams. One of the UK's top music magazines, NME provides content for one of Diddy's idols, music innovator and icon, David Bowie. Rare Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack photographs are also featured in the magazine, the late Hollywood legend inspires Diddy's style and is another one of his all-time idols.

Esteemed photographer Jean-Paul Goude lends his celebrated Grace Jones imagery; shots emblematic of a style trend that courses through Diddy Dirty Money.

To buy a copy of Diddy Dirty Money and see first-hand what most inspires the timeless mogul of hip-hop, log on to MYMAG.com (http://www.mymag.com), preview and purchase for $12. Diddy Dirty Money will also be available at select Barnes & Noble locations nationwide as well as select newsstands on May 31st.