B.o.B. – The Shootin’ For Stars Tour

July 21, 2010 JUKEBOXDC Staff Events, News No Comments  

It was coming soon. B.o.B. has announced his first headlining tour, which will begin in Australia 7/21. The first U.S. stop will be 7/31 in Atlanta (naturally). The full schedule is below (I like how he’s hitting up DC twice).

JULY

21 Melbourne, AU Billboard Melbourne
24 Osaka, JPN Club Quattro
25 Tokyo, JPN T okyo Garden Hall
31 Atlanta, GA MySpace Live @ Center Stage

AUGUST
1 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
3 St. Louis, MO Six Flags
4 Gurnee, IL Six Flags
6 Chicago, IL Lollapalooza
6 Dallas, TX House of Blues
7 Columbia, MD Summer Spirit Festival @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
8 Toronto, ONT Z103.5 Summer Rush Toronto @ Kingswood Music Theater
10 Comstock Park, MI 104.5 WSNX’s Rock The Rapids @ Fifth Third Ballpark
11 Austintown, OH Club Gossip
13 Springfield, MA Six Flags
14 Bangor, ME Bangor Waterfront
15 Boston, MA House of Blues
17 New York, NY Irving Plaza
18 Jackson, NJ Six Flags
20 Washington, DC American University
21 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
22 Atlanta, GA Six Flags
24 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution
25 Orlando, FL University of Central Florida
26 Jacksonville, FL University of Northern Florida
28 Richmond, VA Virginia Commonwealth
31 State College, PA Bryce Jordan Center

SEPTEMBER
4 Oneonta, NY SUNY Oneonta
16 Blacksburg, VA Virginia Tech University – Burris Hall Auditorium
17 Detroit, MI Grey Goose Event – Venue TBA
18 Utica, NY Utica College
19 Princeton, NJ Princeton University
21 Lawrence, KS University of Kansas – Liberty Hall
22 Columbia, MO University of Missouri

OCTOBER
14 Fresno, CA Big Fresno Fairgrounds
21 Lexington, KY Memorial Coliseum
22 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt University
23 Atlanta, GA Emory University
24 Towson, MD Towson University
28 Harrisonburg, VA James Madison University – Wilson Hall
29 Lewisburg, PA Sojka Pavilion
30 Washington, DC Grey Goose Event – Venue TBA

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Age Limits In Hip-Hop…

July 21, 2010 JUKEBOXDC Staff Editorials No Comments  

 
…are coming to an end.
 
How do you feel when you read that above title? Do you agree with me when I say it or does it cause you to laugh uncontrollably? Do you really know, or maybe not even care? For as long as I’ve known, there has been an interesting concept for an artform that wants to be known for more than just a passing fad: it’s largely in part carried by just that (don’t agree? does the “shiny suit era” or the “snap movement” ring a bell?). By saying that, I understand that there are both factors that always remain AND characteristics that seem to pass and fade with each new decade or era, perhaps due to the power of the “machine”, or the big companies that control the industry, so to speak. The artists that are able to successfully maintain a top-level career in hip-hop are the ones who constantly reinvent themselves: Busta Rhymes could be one great example, Black Eyed Peas could be another (if you can still even call them hip-hop, but I think you see my point). There’s always been one issue, though, that the genre couldn’t seem to get past…an issue that, once approached, marks the general end of your successful career at the top, regardless of talent or “swag” or whatever: age. That’s right, AGE.
 
Read the rest after the jump.

Let me try to better explain my opinion of what I believe is fact: I’m not saying that the favorite rappers of the generations before me are all fossils. Emcees like KRS-1, Rakim, and the like are still touring and performing, are still lyrically talented, and are (probably for the most part) still able to put out relevant records today. What I mean is that, back in the day, once a still-talented emcee began to overlap the success of the new generation, their value declined on the commercial platform (I understand this even more now since I am getting older and the titans I looked up to are going through this process now). Sure, true fans of their work always supported, are supporting, and will always continue to support, but you noticed that, quite frankly, they simply weren’t hot to the general masses anymore. And I believe that is all changing now.
The easiest first example would be to look at Jay-Z, right? He’s 40, and currently still considered not only the greatest rapper right now, but also the leader of the hip-hop industry as a whole (at least in the consumers eyes, those that know the industry as a whole know better, but whatever). In the various beefs he has had, many of them have tried to take shots at the fact that he is generally older than the average and should give up his reigns for the younger up-and-coming artists. Naturally, like every other swipe, he dismisses it and renders it a non-factor while continuing to make great music. But there are other considerations as far as age I’ve noticed: a LOT of artists that are running hip-hop right now are over 30…and it isn’t a big deal anymore. Snoop, Nas, 50 Cent, Bun B, Eminem, and even groups like Wu-Tang, OutKast (sort of) and most of Dipset continue to put out great music that appeal to the fan of the culture.

But it doesn’t just stop there. Even new artists, who before only seemed to enter the game in their mid-20s or younger (some way younger), have now begun successful careers (by what we see, I understand that the grind of some artists have begun well in the past) at 28 or higher. Rick Ross released Port of Miami at age 30; Maino was 34 when If Tomorrow Comes… dropped. Some emcees started at the late age to get their break, while others might have been putting in hard work for a successful career since they were teenagers. There are even a few that have been forced to do jail time, ultimately putting their careers on hold. The beauty of it is, these factors are (I believe) soon to become issues no more.

I am happy that things are headed in this direction because, quite frankly, you don’t really hear about these problems in other genres. With Country, R&B and Rock, some of the biggest stars are at retirement age, still putting out albums to promote to this day. With that said, I have never really understood why heading to a certain age meant that your career had to end, especially if you are still putting out top-quality music. While there are artists that probably need to put the mic down (sorry, LL, it looks like you’re doing more of trying to keep up than setting trends), it’s talent, and not age, that’s finally playing the larger role in the music that’s being put out. And I hope it continues this way permanently.

Getting Diddy to sit his singing ass down, though, is another story…

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Rick Ross & Co. At Best Buy, Possible Beef With Gotti Family

July 21, 2010 JUKEBOXDC Staff Videos No Comments  

Source: Halo Media Entertainment on Vimeo.

 
Rick Ross, Triple Cs, DJ Khaled and others made their round at a Best Buy in Florida to promote the release of Teflon Don. In other related news, Carmine Agnello, Jr. (Grandson of John Gotti, former boss of the Gambino Crime family and rightful heir to the name “Teflon Don”) has taken to the media, namely the New York Daily News, to come out about his beef with Rick Ross using said name:
 
“Teflon Don” was mob boss John Gotti’s nickname. Now it’s the name of Miami rapper Rick Ross’ new album.

And Gotti’s grandson’s got a bone to pick.

The Miami rapper should have gotten the okay from his family first, Carmine Agnello, 24, told the Daily News Tuesday.

“My grandfather paid his dues for that nickname. That was my grandfather’s life,” Agnello said.

John Gotti was dubbed the “Teflon Don” after winning acquittal after acquittal in the 1980s. He was finally convicted of murder and racketeering in 1992.

“He should have asked for permission. A standup, respectable guy would come and ask ‘If I could use the nickname,'” Agnello, who is trying to launch a music career under the name Carmine Gotti, said of Ross. “I think he’s a great artist, but you can’t just start calling yourself that to sell records …He wants to go for that whole image, but hey, be yourself.”

Then he took another swipe at the 34-year-old, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts.

“Only in America can you go from being a corrections officer to calling yourself Teflon Don,” Agnello said, noting Ross’ former career.

The choice of “Rick Ross” for his stage name also has gotten him in trouble.

Ross is being sued by ex-druglord Ricky (Freeway) Ross for using his name in a copyright infringement lawsuit.

Ross’ fascination with the mob didn’t start with the album he released Tuesday. His latest mixtapes, also released this year, were called “The Albert Anastasia EP” and “Carlo Gambino.” Both Anastasia and Gambino also were mob bosses.

I would feel for Carmine if it weren’t for one thought I’m having: the fact that he happens to be out promoting his own shit off of his grandfather’s name. Sure, he literal family, but the premise is the same…that Growing Up Gotti show they did doesn’t help his case, either.

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Dr. Dre and….Justin Beiber?

July 21, 2010 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  

This warrants no picture. I just want you to read this…apparently (according to Illseed of AllHipHop.com), Dr. Dre has been in the studio with Justin Beiber. Yes, the girl from Canada. Here’s what he said:

IF Justin Beiber says he is one Detox, the world is going to end the next day. Here is what BeBe had to say about it:

“Got to be in the studio with the legend himself Dr. Dre. Made a couple beats and he gave me some advice…i was hyped. can u blame me?”

And Dre had the following to say:

“He’s another artist that breaks the color lines. Everybody loves this kid and he seems like a good kid. More power to him.”

Seriously, just what the hell is going on? Is this the que to stop holding my breath for Detox? Is he really just fuckin’ with our heads, now? And even if he puts it out, does anyone honestly understand the magnitude of the situation if, after a decade (basically), it isn’t the best album that anyone has ever created? I’m just waiting for a picture that would confirm this (because you know that little snot is gonna take one for his Facebook page or something), but I really do think that his perfectionism (if that ain’t a word, I’m making it one) is doing him in (his music, anyway, not him personally)…we’ll see what happens for the rest of the year…

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