Grouchy Greg

Hip-Hop Rumors: Funkmaster Flex Disses Tupac, Explains Why.

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: RumorsNovember 23, 2010

FUNKMASTER FLEX DISSES TUPAC He straight up dissed Pac. What do you think? His full explanation is below. A lot of people had beefs with Pac when he was alive, but now that hes been dead for well over a decadeI think it was in poor taste. I understand his reasoning and its reasonable, but cmon son! [Props]DISCLAIMER:All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.WHO: illseedWHAT: Rumors, Funnies, Fails and more!WHERE: illseed.com, twitter.com.illseedHOW: Send your rumors, sightings and ill pics to illseed at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com.TUPAC, WE LOVE YOU!

Epic Win of the Day: Michael Jackson & Two Lil’ Ladies And Some Vodka

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: RumorsNovember 23, 2010

Master P.’s Daughter Cymphonique Launches Tour To Encourage Teens

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsNovember 23, 2010

(AllHipHop News) Master P.’s young daughter Cymphonique Miller kicked off the “All That” School Tour in Memphis, Tennessee yesterday (November 22), where she spoke to hundreds of teenagers about the importance of education, bulling and avoiding drugs and peer pressure. In addition to speaking to the students at Hamilton Middle School, Cymphonique also performed during the “All That” School Tour in Memphis. Im a firm believer of Trust God, love people and use your resources to follow your dreams,” Cymphonique told AllHipHop.com. “Its my passion to encourage young people to be confident, believe in themselves and dont let negative influences or haters hinder you from achieving success in reaching your goals.”The budding teen-sensation, who is also the younger sister of rapper Romeo, will make stops in Florida, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana and California, where she will encourage teens at each stop. The young Miller is utilizing the business knowledge of her father Master P., who’s No Limit empire has helped make him one of the richest artists in Hip-Hop, with a fortune estimated at over $300 million. She’s partnered with MyBff, a distributor of science and educational products and will also launch a book series and doll collection titled “Fabulous Girls.””It doesnt matter how old or young you are, we all have a God-given talent and can contribute to making this world a better place,” Cymphonique Miller stated. For more info visit www.cymphonique.com.

Review: Nicki Minaj: “Pink Friday”

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicNovember 23, 2010

Rating 7.0 out of 10 Pink Friday, the debut album from Young Money emcee Nicki Minaj, is the culmination of an intense promotion campaign and tremendous hype. Labeling herself as The best b***h doing it, the Queens native’s album was highly anticipated, unique detour in a genre which has its share of regular monotony. Nickis style is unique and creative this we know after hearing her on numerous tracks and singles. However, can all the hype sustain Pink Friday? Pink Friday is a great effort but listeners are likely to be left aching for more. Nicki continually walks the fine line between Hip-Hop and Pop tripping slightly along the way. The album opens frenetically with the quickly paced Im The Best an airy song which evokes the Barbie image that Nicki has long lobbied for. Nickis flow has been a regular feature on the charts and others’ singles, but as a soloist, cracks become visible. As Pink Friday progresses it becomes more obvious that Nicki’s “voice” and lyrics on some tracks fail to hold up the standard she exemplified on her songs with the likes of Ludacris (“My Chick Bad”), Kanye West (“Monster”) and others. Did It On Em, one of the few Hip Hop-esque tracks on the CD, has a few bright spots but overall falls short of masterful. On said track, she says If I had a d*ck, Id pull it out and p### on em. Nickis singles shine brightly Right Thru Me has a strong melody and great long term potential combined with Your Love and Check It Out. The apparent pop aspirations on Nicki’s freshmen effort will be the primary issue the Hip-Hop audience will wrestle. Pink Friday really isn’t an opus for the “heads.” Dear Old Nicki tells about the Nicki Minaj many newcomers never knew, the one before the outrageous fashion statements, multiple personas, underground mixtapes and DVDs that go way back to 2007. An interesting song, “Dear Old Nicki,” tells the tale of the New Yorker’s musical past something Nicki typically avoids. Save Me is one of the brightest spots of the entire album, oddly enought. A calm melody combined with a fast paced yet relaxing track offers Nicki Minaj crooning over some drum-n-bass. Nicki’s decencies are re-captured in in quality song composition, something most Hip-Hop albums lack.The lone Young Money feature on the album is Drake on Moment For Life another bright spot on the album. Drake outshines Nicki on this song unlike their previous venture Up All Night, where she bodied her homeboy. The phenomenal lyricist many want Nicki to become shows up on Blazin, only to be upstaged by a scorching verse from Kanye. Last Chance featuring Natasha Bedingfield is a fitting closing to Pink Friday.Nicki Minajs album features few bright spots that work well, but for this reviewer, there are many dim spots as well. As aforementioned Nickis style while unique and clever does not seem to be able to hold up the entire LP, especially if you listen with a Hip-Hop ear. The album is almost a wholly pop effort, that Nicki sprinkles with Hip-Hop just to remind us how hot she can be. The quintessential problem with Pink Friday is it doesn’t commit to Hip-Hop, but doesn’t fully measure up to Pop rappers like Fergie, Black Eyed Peas and others. It is almost like a really enticing movie preview, but being disappointed when you sit down for the actual film. To her credit, Nicki has risen to the top of a food chain in music where others have faltered. However, her brand and musicianship is still growing and, with a frenetic base, she won’t suffer on Soundscan. The judge may only see some of the redeeming parts of Pink Friday. Now, we have to defer the rest to the jury. Jacques Morel is the creator of www.IFuxksWithThat.com. A journalist, interviewer, and personality he is a College Senior, he attends St Johns University in Queens.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Did SuperHead Karrine Steffans Get Beat Up?

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: RumorsNovember 23, 2010

DISCLAIMER:All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.WHO: illseedWHAT: Rumors, Funnies, Fails and more!WHERE: illseed.com, twitter.com.illseedHOW: Send your rumors, sightings and ill pics to illseed at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com.DID EDDIE WINSLOW BEAT UP SUPERHEAD?That right, I am using their alias names. Superhead STAYS getting beaten and abused! She says all sorts of stuff and people either believe or they don’t. This time, she claims some unnamed PERSON beat her up, along with all these other things. You will see below…and then she signs the letter as “Karrine Steffans-McCrary.” UH HUH! As in Darius Creston McCrary aka Eddie Winslow! Personally, I think this is revenge, because a recent new movie shows Eddie (Darius) putting Superhead UNDER THE BUS! You know, she will always get revenge when she feels she has been betrayed. The letter is below! For the past several years, I have been involved in a highly abusive relationship. I have been choked, whipped with belts, thrown about, berated, belittled, raped, and disregarded as a human being. I have been abandoned and embarrassed, then, loved and coddled. I have been caught in a vicious cycle and have left on many occasions, just to return. I have found little support from my friends and family because I complain, and I cry, then I go back for more. I go back knowing that, one day, hell kill me but hes all I have. Hes the only one who understands because hes stuck in this cycle, too. When I try to confide in friends they ask, Well, what did you do to him? What did you say to him? They tell me, You know how he is, hes never going to change, so why do you stay? You know what youre getting into. Dont tell anyone because hell come out looking good and youll only make yourself look bad. Its always my fault. I love him though it pains me to admit. It sickens me to know that I will return to him in an instant and that the next time could be the last time and that breath, my last breath. Still, I hold out hope that one day well learn how to love one another without pain. I pray that those who look on with smirks and judgments know one thing domestic violence is very real and, at times, very final. If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at (800) 799-7233. Karrine Steffans-McCrarySUPER HEAD, RAPPERS LOVE YOU!! They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

Kanye West Goes Into Fast Food With 10 Fatburger Restaurants

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsNovember 22, 2010

(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop star Kanye West will add to his discography today (November 22), when his fifth album, My Dark Twisted Fantasy lands in stores across the country. But the Chicago rapper is planning to expand his career beyond music, with a possible new clothing line with high-end clothing line with French Fashion label, Lanvin and a chain of fast-food restaurants. According to TheDailyBeast.com, Kanye West may turn into the next fast food mogul, as the rapper snatched up the franchise rights for 10 Fatburger restaurants in Chicago through his holding company, KW Foods LLC.Its safe to say that well be doing more strategic partnerships in areas like fashion and design, Gee Roberson told The Daily Beast. Music is the foundation for everything Kanye does, but he doesnt want to be defined only as a musician. Hes really a designer. He designs his sounds, his raps, all aspects of his tour. He wants to do deals where he can have his fingerprints on the product.Kanye West, who already operates two of the restaurants in Orland Park and Beverly, joins a growing number of rappers who have invested money into the Fatburger franchise. Hip-Hop musician Pharrell Williams opened two Fatburgers in China, Queen Latifah reportedly owns several of the restaurants, while E-40 closed his Fatburger in California in 2008.

Hip-Hop: Don’t Kill Charles Hamilton

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: UncategorizedNovember 22, 2010

A couple weeks ago, we all bore witness to something that the Hip-Hop audience collectively got a big kick out of. The Charles Hamilton and Serius Jones Battle Part II – if you want to call it that. The first encounter with these two was a spirited battle with a pair of mid-level rappers on the way up. Held at SOB’s – a major New York Hip-Hop hub – the first war of words ended with Serius serving CH, but everybody left feeling they had witness something special. It was more like a sports match. At that time, Hamilton was still signed to Interscope Records. The young Harlem rapper hadn’t been punched in the face by his ex-girlfriend. He wasn’t embroiled in a war with the rap community of Detroit because he foolishly put the late J. Dilla as the EP of his album. He had not spent time in a psych ward with a seemingly unraveling mental health condition. At that time, Charles Hamilton was just another rapper that appeared to be going places far away with an eccentric personality, confounding affinity for Sonic the Hedgehog and an odd love for the color pink. The recent battle was different than the first and more disturbing than anything Charles Hamilton has ever done. It appeared to be just another loss for Charles Hamilton, because there is no doubt he again was defeated by the cocky and cool Serius Jones. The second time, CH rolled up on at a Harlem barbershop with somebody inside the place taping, an apparent attempt to redeem his previous loss to Serius Jones. What happened next was nothing shy of sorrowful. CH looked disheveled. He looked fairly incoherent, even though his raps started off witty and sharp. Serius’ jabs were merciless and he even suggests that Hamilton kill himself. While in any other rap battle, this would be funny, Charles is clearly a man in dire need. He was institutionalized for about a week this past summer in New York area hospital for his mental instability, something he felt the need to do himself. African American people represent about 25% of mental health cases in the U.S., despite being about 12% of the overall population, says the CDC. Black folks are also much less likely to get proper care. Incidentally, CH said he was more comfortable in NY Presbyterian Mental Hospital than walking the streets. “Basically my stay here is like identical to my stay in the [music] industry. As far as being the new guy in here having to deal with politics and people trying to control you. The critics would have to be the doctors and the rounds [medicine guys],” he said to Bossip.com. “So you can say this is like an experiment to see if the industry is really like an asylum or if I was the one bugging. Some say the Industry is like high school but it’s just like a [mental hospital].” Furthermore, there has been talk that Hamilton has been blogging about suicide. [Editor’s note: these blogs were not available to this writer.] I’m not suggesting that Serius Jones is really encouraging his rival to “off himself,” but he had to know something wasn’t all there. To be frank, CH looked like the dudes that come in the barbershop and offer to sweep the floor or sell some socks for a bit of money. He didn’t appear to be a rapper that once seemed on the cusp of superstardom. Everybody got a huge laugh. I even laughed, because Serius may actually have a future in comedy. He’s that funny on a regular. But since…I really haven’t been able shake that video of CH. The hat. The oversize button-up with the brown jacket. The way he was ridiculed and rendered defenseless through insults fairly common in rap. I once talked to Charles in the midst of the beef with Detroit over J. Dilla and I tried to get him to do some basic things to quell that situation. He essentially refused and fire raged into an inferno of controversy. For me, that was the first indication that he wasn’t fully engaged with reality and that’s not a statement of his mental health. He may have just been fiercely defiant. Since then, I have attempted to reach out to him, but not for a new interview. I just want to make sure this kid is OK, because I’m genuinely concerned. To this day, there have been no return calls and no reply to texts. Understandable. At the end of the day, I hate the way Hip-Hop has evolved in some ways. The comments are brutal under the video of Charles Hamilton and Serius Jones Battle Part II. Clearly, CH is low, but his life isn’t over. Yet, Hip-Hop seems to be the only thing that he’s bent on doing. Sadly, there will always be an audience to observe his plummet, should there be more to see. I wonder if anybody considered NOT battling him in order to prevent a tragedy. CH isn’t a tragedy yet. Hopefully, he realizes that this industry is not worth sacrificing mental well-being just for a few youtube views or a momentary hit of publicity. I know the drug of music, Hip-Hop and fame is intoxicating, but just about everybody doing it is going to do some time in detox – like it or not. I hope Charles Hamilton is already there until it is truly time to come back. Until then, let him live. OK? Thanks.

Dr. Dre Says ‘Detox’ Will Be Final Release

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsNovember 22, 2010

(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop super producer Dr. Dre has revealed that he is hanging up the microphone after the 2011 release of his highly anticipated album Detox. According to reports, Dr. Dre’s long awaited album Detox will land in stores in February, although that release date has yet to be confirmed by Dre’s label Aftermath, or its distributor, Interscope/Universal. In the upcoming double December/January issue of XXL Magazine, Dr. Dre explained that he spends five to six days in the recording studio, sometimes for up to 16-hours a day.And as Dr. Dre prepares to celebrate his 46th birthday and almost 30-years in the music business, Dr. Dre is ready to slow down. The only part that has been pushing me back is just the fact that Im getting older, and certain things to talk about,” Dr. Dre told XXL Magazine. “I can incorporate other artists, new artists with this record [Detox], to say some of the things I wont say. Its been a little tussle in that area also, just because of age and being able to identify with the younger audience.In the interview, Dre revealed that although he would continue to work with new talent, Detox will indeed be has final full-length album. “As far as me going into the mic booth, that s**t is over,” Dr. Dre revealed. “Im always going to talent scout and try to find new artists to work with. But, yeah, thats it. I dont see myself doing it the way Im doing it now”

Usher, Alicia Keys Accused Of Stealing ‘Caught Up’ From Songwriter

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: NewsNovember 22, 2010

(AllHipHop News) R&B singer Usher Raymond and singer Alicia Keys have been hit with a lawsuit from an upcoming songwriter, who claims the pair stole Usher’s#### song “Caught Up.”The single, which shot to 21 on Billboard’s Pop Singles charts when it was released in 2004, was produced by Dre & Vidal. According to a lawsuit filed by Wadena Pyatt in the Eastern District of New York, the track is a “plagiarized” version of a tune she penned as an artist on Keys’ MBK Entertainment label. Pyatt claims she wrote the original version of “Caught Up” in 2002, while she was under contract with MBK, which is owned by Keys and her business partner, Jeffery Robinson.According to Pyatt’s lawsuit, she signed a record deal in 2003 and planned to use the track on her own debut release, but was disappointed when she found out the tune was contained on Usher’s#### album Confessions.”Caught Up” is listed as being produced by Dre & Vidal and written by Ryan Toby, Andre Harris, Vidal Davis and Jason Boyd. A remix to the track features Brooklyn, rapper Fabolous.Pyatt is suing for a full accounting, as well as damages disgorgment of any profits received from sales of “Caught Up.”

Hip-Hop Pioneers Gather To Celebrate Zulu Nation, Hip-Hop’s Anniversary

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / MusicNovember 22, 2010

A variety of rap stars paid their respects to The Universal Zulu Nation during the celebration of the organization’s 37th anniversary last weekend in Harlem, New York.Legendary rap luminaries like Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, The Cold Crush Brothers, Jesse West, Kool Herc and The Rock Steady Crew came out to support the event, which was promoted by an organized by Mick Bentson’s Pay Up Entertainment. Multiple pioneers of the genre of hip-hop music mingled freely with the crowd during the event, which featured performances by Jessie West, Son of Bezerk, The Cold Crush Brothers, Big Daddy Kane and hard-core metal band, Half Lip.The highlight of the celebration came when hip-hop’s founding fathers, Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa, took the stage together to give fans a stirring message about hip-hop unity and the genres influenced across the globe.Check out this exclusive video and photos from the universal Zulu nation’s 37th annual celebration.