On the latest episode of The Round Up, Shaheem Reid sits down with The-Dream at the 40/40 Club to clear up the retirement rumors, as well as speak on his song writing in the early days, writing hits for everybody, playing instruments and more.
Chris Brown Gets Dunked On (Video)
I’m not sure what Chris Brown was thinking when he tried to block Andre Drummond, but anyways, check out the footage above.
J. Cole’s ‘Dollar & A Dream Tour’ Hits Miami
J. Cole kicked off his Dollar & A Dream tour a few days ago in Miami and here’s some highlights from the show. Don’t bullshit and miss this tour.
Kanye West x King L – Send It Up
Kanye West’s album has leaked on the net a few mins ago, and here’s one of the tracks featuring our homie King L. Make sure to cop the album on June 18th.
Rick Rubin Speaks On Producing Kanye West’s ‘Yeezus’
Before finishing up Yeezus, Kanye got Rick Rubin on board to executive produce the album. Rubin spoke with the Wall Street Journal about how be took on that position:
When and why did you join the “Yeezus” project?
Kanye came over to play me what I assumed was going to be the finished album at three weeks before the last possible delivery date. We ended up listening to three hours of partially finished pieces. The raw material was very strong but hadn’t yet come into focus. Many of the vocals hadn’t been recorded yet, and many of those still didn’t have lyrics. From what he played me, it sounded like several months more work had to be done. I joined the project because after discussing what he had played for me, he asked if I would be open to taking all of the raw material on and help him finish it.How would you describe the new sound he was driving for, and how you did you help him arrive there?
He wanted the music to take a stripped-down minimal direction. He was always examining what we could take out instead of put in. A good example would be the song that became “Bound.” When he first played it for me, it was a more middle of the road R&B song, done in an adult contemporary style. Kanye had the idea of combining that track with a cool sample he had found and liked – I removed all of the R&B elements leaving only a single note baseline in the hook which we processed to have a punk edge in the Suicide tradition.Can you recall a scene from the sessions that might help people understand his method in the studio?
We were working on a Sunday [the same day West attended a baby shower for girlfriend Kim [Kardashian] and the album was to be turned in two days later. Kanye was planning to go to Milan that night. Five songs still needed vocals and two or three of them still needed lyrics. He said, “Don’t worry, I will score 40 points for you in the fourth quarter.” In the two hours before had to run out to catch the plane, he did exactly that: finished all lyrics and performed them with gusto. A remarkable feat. He had total confidence in his ability to get the job done when push came to shove.
Gunplay On 2 Chainz Robbery Footage: “I Wouldn’t Run”
Gunplay stopped by Hot 97’s morning show to talk about about his music, his case, 50 Cent and more. He even weighs in on 2 Chainz’ recent robbery.
DJ Clark Kent On Nightline
DJ Clark Kent was featured on ABC’s Nightline last night during their sneaker culture segment. They also followed a 15-year-old reseller to a NYC convention where he brought and sold some of his sneakers.
The Weeknd Debuts New Song In Toronto
During his performance at Toronto’s Mod Club, The Weeknd decided to bless the concertgoers with a new tune, titled (I guess) ‘Belong To The World’ (above). Additional footage below.
Mayer Hawthorne – Reach Out Richard (Prod. Pharrell)
Mayer Hawthorne let’s go of his Pharrell-produced but from his upcoming album in lieu of Father’s Day. Where Does This Door Go drops July 16th (preorder here).
Dude Remakes Kanye West Song With Hair Products
This is dope (the remake is of ‘Niggas In Paris’ if you couldn’t tell). Lyrics included below.
LYRICS:
You know I’m bald so hard that my whole head’s shiny
so it’s easy to find me
what’s Rogaine to a mothafucka like me could you please remind me?
Bald so hard this shit’s grey, gotta sweep all the hair in the trash again
gotta buzz it, gotta keep it really short, i gotta shave it, or I’m looking like I’m Khloe Kardashian
see I’m a bald, bad-ass like Dana White,
when I roll up on your bitchy ass, in a slick Prius,
and I fight you when I’m high as fuck like Nick Diaz, and never get rehab
I’m getting cinematic with it, anybody wanna try to fuck with Lethal for their benefit?
I’mma kick you so hard that my shin’ll split, lil bitch, better get a mental grip, or I’mma run you over in a rental whip
I’m givin a kiss to Beyonce’s chest
you wiggaz is bangin ya head like Kanye West against a stop sign
you thinkin of makin guns illegal? I don’t care, i already bought mine
I slip in the clip then I finger the trigger and pop nines
I’m gonna burn the flag, got the Constitution up in my pocket
thinkin like a prophet, superhuman when I rock it, let’s turn down the beat and watch it
Check it you gonna get shredded, beheaded, deaded
my head is red like I fed it unleaded
embedded etiquette, mega-prophetic
never been hesitant, every devilish measurement of my lyrics is 77 megabits
sippin on a little hot sake watch me
all the rappers always tryin to copy is sloppy
I’m sick in the booth I’m stickin and movin and kickin a groove and I’m makin a musically
magical moment you wanna bomb like Nagasaki
so fuck anybody if they don’t like sushi
I smack Demi Moore on her old white booty
cuz
kiddo when I’m bonin
I push a girl’s slot to 12 am like Leno did to Conan
get the telephone and call the cops
come and search my head for the baldest spot
I’m like Bonnar and Griffin when I be bombin the rhythm
and all you lil booty bitches is just Donner and Blitzen
blitzin a Black and Decker rhythm man the mackest mechanism waitin for the day that BREAKIN BAD IS BACK ON TELEVISION listen
I’m hoping your flow’s gonna be tighter fuck anybody that ever stole one of my lighters
Chris Brown’s Funny Freestyle Moments
Above is some footage of Chris Brown having fun for the camera, which fans should find pretty entertaining.
Combat Jack & Dallas Penn On The Artie Lange Show
Odd combination, but since Artie appeared on Combat Jack’s show, it only made sense that the favor was returned.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Teyana Taylor’s Photoshoot For Complex
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Jesus Christ…..and Ferg smashed this? He really is a Trap Lord, after all. Check out the pics above for yourself and look out for the Complex feature soon.
Big K.R.I.T. – What You Know About It
Courtesy of Foreign Allegiance, who scored this placement thanks to winning VIBE and McDonalds’ Big Mix producer challenge.
Boi-1da At Knitting Factory (Drum Majors 2013)
Boi-1da was present at the Knitting Factor for Red Bull Music Academy’s ‘Drum Majors 2013’ event, and the full audio of that set is below.
Hip hop’s not dead – it lives up north, as they like to say in Toronto. And Matthew Jehu Samuels, aka Boi-1da, has contributed significantly to the fact that this adage proves more and more accurate. Alongside long-time collaborator Drake, Boi-1da pointed hip hop into new directions when the blank fiction of Drizzy‘s first mixtapes and debut album Thank Me Later grew into a worldwide phenomenon, and propelled one of its main architects off the cuff onto the A-list of basically everyone who has a say in post-millennial hip hop. To say it all went fast from there would be a massive understatement. Boi-1da has had his hands in everything, from major projects like Eminem’s Recovery And Relapse (including the Grammy-winning Not Afraid), Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, and Meek Mill to underground tracks by the likes of Das Racist and the Slaughterhouse supergroup. Ain’t no 1da, he’s also been rumoured to play a major role in Dr. Dre’s ongoing opus magnum Detox.
PUSH! – Iceman! (Video)
One of the members of Maina’s The Mafia drops off a video to push (sorry) his brand new mixtape Black Roses, available for download here.
ARTWORK: Ace Hood – Trials & Tribulations
Trials & Tribulations drops on July 16th. Below is the visual revelation of said artwork.
Jennifer Lopez Scores New Movie Role… In The Middle Of Live Interview
Priceless reaction ensues. This all went down during J-Lo’s visit to Hot 99.5 in D.C.
UPDATE: Pusha T Opens Creme Clothing Store In Norfolk (Video)
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UPDATE: Video clip added below.
Pusha T has taken a step further into the fashion/clothing realm, this time opening a store (his second, apparently) in his native state of Virgina. Located in Norfolk, Creme boasts brands from Play Cloths (of course), Comme des Garcons, Original Fake, Nike, Pyrex, Marcelo Burlon, Asics, En Noir, MCM, Adidas, Versace, Hood By Air, New Balance, Medicom, Reebok, APC, Just Don, Stamp’d LA and Saucony.
The Clipse emcee recently held a star-studded grand opening event, and spoke on his decision to open up the store:
“As the hip-hip representer for Norfolk, I feel it is essential to bring notable fashions to my city.”
Check out pics above.
Future Covers The Source
The new issue (for June/July) hits non-NYC newsstands June 18th….in the issue, he opens up about his relationship with Ciara, Ciara’s beef with Rihanna, Future Hendrix and more to Shaheem Reid.
The Beat Suite: Like (Of Pac Div) (Ashley Outrageous)
Wow, Like (of Pac Div fame) did Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Sing About Me’. Will definitely be checking for his production from this point on.
While in Miami recently on tour, I got the chance to catch up with the man of the hour where he speaks on what inspired him to start producing, his creative process, producing “Sing About Me,” what he’s currently working on and more.
ALBUM STREAM: Eric Lau (@ericlaumusic) – One Of Many
Courtesy of Okayplayer, we now get to check out Eric Lau’s latest album. One Of Many is released 17th June (preorder here).
Cory Mo – It’s All Over
Wasn’t aware that Cory Mo was signed to Talib Kweli’s Javotti Media. Take It Or Leave It drops July 30th.