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Travis Scott, Music News
I’m learning stuff today; apparently Travi$ Scott is only signed to G.O.O.D. Music as a producer, while he is signed to Grand Hustle as a full recording artist. Above, he elaborates on what it means to be signed to two of the hottest entities in Hip-Hop right now.
MGK speaks to Bootleg Kev about his album sales, paying homage to Eminem, Macklemore, XXL and more. Plenty more clips below.
Beer and Tacos was the place to be recently, as T.I. and Hustle Gang celebrated the release of Get Dough Or Die, which you can pick up right here.
Continuing from the first two episodes, Killer Mike & El-P speak on race in Hip-Hop with Combat Jack.
French Montana’s summer 2012 jam “Pop That” was a major hit, but not everyone was rocking out. The chorus samples 2 Live Crew’s hit “I Wanna Rock,” which at first had former member Uncle Luke hyped–but when he never received a check for the song, Luke wasn’t as excited.
He explained that French called him to appear in the video without telling him about the sample, essentially being sly about it. When he realized what happened, he decided to go through with the lawsuit.
He also maintained that he doesn’t need to be sampled by current rappers to remain relevant. Listen to the interview above for the whole story.
Juicy J finds time to attend a Clippers/Grizzlies game in the middle of all of the usual trippyness.
The one remaining original judge of American Idol is finally saying goodbye after 12 seasons. From Fox News:
Randy Jackson, the lone remaining original “American Idol” judge, won’t be returning to the Fox talent competition next season.
“Idol” host Ryan Seacrest only hinted at Jackson’s impending departure at the beginning of Thursday’s elimination episode.
“A little later on, we’ll be revealing who’s leaving our show,” joked Seacrest as he swiveled Jackson around in his chair toward him. “Maybe a head’s up?”
Apparently, Seacrest — who’s been with the show as long as Jackson — found out along with the rest of the world Thursday when the 56-year-old producer and bassist announced his departure.
Jackson said in a statement that he’s leaving “Idol” to focus on his record label and other business opportunities.
“To put all of the speculation to the rest, after 12 years of judging on `American Idol,’ I have decided to leave after this season,” he said. “I am very proud of how we forever changed television and the music industry.”
Jackson has served as a judge on all 12 seasons of “Idol.” He first appeared on the panel alongside Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul when the competition debuted in 2002, becoming famous for his easygoing “yo, dawg” rapport with contestants.
Webbie loses not one step in latest single ‘What I Do’. Ratchetness at its finest.
A not-quite lyric visual for T.I.’s Cee-Lo backed ‘Hello’ should hold you over until the official visual is released.
Shanell should just go ahead and drop a sex tape. There, I said it. drops her latest cover for Throwback Thursdays, this time doing Color Me Badd’s ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’.
Check out this visual teaser for Kelly’s upcoming single ‘Dirty Laundry’…the single officially drops May 21st and is taken from Talk A Good Game, which drops June 18th. Does this mean the video is already done?
I’m still learning about his artist myself….check out IAMSU!’s latest visual — directed by Kreayshawn — for ‘Goin’ Up’ featuring Wiz Khalifa.
Among the attendees for Chris Kelly’s funeral included Keke Wyatt, Xscape (all of them), Jermaine Dupri and Da Brat, who wore her shorts backwards in tribute to the fallen member of Kris Kross. From TMZ:
Kris Kross rapper Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith broke down in tears today during the funeral for his former KK partner Chris Kelly — telling the congregation, “It’s been like a struggle for me every day … I know Chris is in heaven.”
During the service, which took place at a Baptist church in Atlanta, Smith said, “He was a true friend … I just wanna say I love you man … and I’m gonna miss you dearly.”
He added, “My life … it ain’t ever gonna be the same, but I just hope our legacy for hip-hop is never forgotten. I’m gonna do my part to make sure Chris’ legacy will live on.”
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Luke James talks about what it’s like opening for Beyonce on her Mrs. Carter World Tour.
It’s really cool how things work the way they do….having missed his flight from Denver, Kendrick Lamar found the time to talk to Erykah Badu — who was at home in Dallas — about a few things that ended up in the recent issue of Interview Magazine. Among the topics discussed were growing up in Compton, his top ten (eleven, really) emcees, seeing Dr. Dre (who was with 2Pac) more than a decade before actually meeting him and much more.
You can check out an excerpt below and the full feature over at Interview:
BADU: The first time I saw you was on BET’s Cypher. I didn’t know who you were at that time, but you stood out. What do you think your secret weapon is as a lyricist? What do you think that “thing” is that makes you stand out?
LAMAR: Oh, man . . . That’s a good question. You know, I studied people I looked up to: Jay-Z, Nas, B.I.G., Pac . . . But early on, I didn’t really have my own sound. I had a passion for it, but me actually rapping the way they rapped is what got me into doing my own thing. I think me being that intricate and studying songs line for line—I probably spent more time listening to albums than writing songs. But I think that gave me all the tricks in terms of wordplay, from how I pronounced my words to the actual delivery. I’m very intricate about that stuff when I go into the studio—it has to sound the way I heard it in my head. So that’s probably one of the biggest things that separates me when I’m working in the studio—just how I hear certain things.
BADU: Is there an MC who influenced you or whose level of excellence you feel that you will never reach? LAMAR: [laughs] That I feel I’ll never reach? I’ll have to say Jay or Eminem. Jay for sure—just off the simple fact of his longevity. That, to me, is probably one-in-a-million for rappers. A good career for a rapper is five or six years, so I think Jay still being relevant and having the skills he has—it’s really unmatched. I hope I get to that level and keep my work ethic up and strategically think of certain things. But there will probably only ever be one Jay. He’ll probably go down as the greatest to ever do it. Pac also could’ve had that, but due to his passing, we’ll never know if he’d have reached that.
Taken from Fox News Latino:
Since aiding in the rescue of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, Charles Ramsey has become a national hero, a household name and an Internet phenomenon thanks to his well-publicized television interview.
Hawkers are even selling Charles Ramsey T-shirts.
Angel Cordero, however, has not received the limelight that Ramsey has for his own work in the rescue operation of three women held captive in a Cleveland home for over a decade.
“I helped her and I was first,” Cordero told a local Cleveland new station in Spanish. “Ramsey arrived after she was outside with the girl…But the truth who arrived there, who crossed the street, who came and broke the door, it was me.”
Check out the latest visual from Ikes for ‘B.D.K.M.V.’, directed by Olan Collardy.
As you may have heard by now, Lauryn Hill was sentences to three months in prison for tax evasion. Despite the bad news, she has written a thank you letter to those who supported her during the ordeal, specifically individuals (including Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys) who wrote letters to the judge in her favor. You can check out the letter on the next page.
In related news, as a result of her judgement, Lauryn Hill has taken to blaming slavery for the outcome, which has cause the judge to order her to undergo counseling (from IB Times):
During her trial, Hill was ordered by the judge in Newark, New Jersey to undergo counselling because of her conspiracy theories – including that artists are being oppressed by a plot involving the military and media.
Hill claimed she is still forced to live under the pernicious economic hierarchy imposed by the slave trade.
She told the court: “I am a child of former slaves who had a system imposed on them. I had an economic system imposed on me.”
T.I. and his Hustle Gang visited DJ Scream on Hoodrich Radio…while there, T.I. discussed the new G.D.O.D. mixtape, music censorship, NBA Playoff predictions, Jason Collins and wanting to sign Yo Gotti, Problem, Kirko Bangz and Jeremiah to Grand Hustle imprint.
In addition, he also let’s the fans know that 2 Chainz is replacing Future on his tour with Lil’ Wayne. Future is really letting this relationship with Ciara affect his career (not judging, just saying).
Follow A$AP Rocky along his meteoric rise to stardom from Harlem to around the globe as we go behind the scenes to the studios, tours, brawls, fashion shoots, video sets and all the way back to the humble beginnings that spawned a worldwide movement.
Season 3’s Juliet Simms teams up with CeeLo Green to sing their newest single, “Only You.”
Courtesy of Karmaloop TV.
Tune is as Frank The Butcher talks to Pusha T, the Clipse veteran & G.O.O.D. music emcee, about his interests in fashion, his brand Play Cloths, his boutique Cream, and his feelings on the Rick Ross lyric controversy and how raps can be taken too seriously.
Math Hoffa and T-Rex are going to be facing off for a second time around on the upcoming VladTV Killaz Battle League. The first battle was a pure classic that is still often debated till this day. A lot has happened over the years between the two battlers that will surely provide some interesting punchlines for each emcee in the rounds they spit.
Talib Kweli speaks on his discussion with Rick Ross over his opinion, his new album & more.
