MTV VMAS Red Carpet Recap
Filmed by DJ Hustle Trophies often take a back seat at the VMAs to all of the craziness but this year wasn’t too crazy. Miley Cyrus won the top honor Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards, but it was Beyonce‘s finale performance and the on-stage cameos of Jay Z and Blue Ivy that stole the night. In fact as Beyonce accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award after her electrifying performance (of her entire self-titled album), Blue Ivy was shown clapping her hands and saying “Yay, Mommy” into the mic. Jay Z called her the “greatest living entertainer.” Cyrus won the video of the year for “Wrecking Ball” and Nicki Minaj opened with her rump-shaking “Anaconda”. Performers included Taylor Swift, Usher, Sam Smith, Maroon 5, Rita Ora, and Iggy Azalea. Rapper-actor Common also held a moment of silence for Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a police officer on Aug. 9, before he presented the award for best Hip-Hop video. “Hip-Hop has always been about truth and has been a powerful instrument of social change, from Melle Mel to Public Enemy to Kendrick Lamar,” Common said. “Hip-Hop has always presented a voice for the revolution.” The 2014 MTV VMAS brought great excitement to Inglewood, California Sunday night. AllHipHop caught up with a few artists and personalities on the red carpet. Check out the recap video below. Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Eminem & Rihanna Finish Monster Tour In The 'D'
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Ca$h Out Talks “Let’s Get It” LP, New Label Deal + Dropping In The Era Of Rich Homie Quan & Young Thug
EXCLUSIVE: CA$H OUT IS LOOKING TO CASH IN WITH DEBUT ALBUM AS AN INDIE ARTIST
Ludacris Speaks on Receiving The BMI President's Award
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Trick Daddy Talks Getting Gov’t Funding For Eat A Booty Gang + Responds To People Calling Him Gay
EXCLUSIVE: TRICK DADDY HAS A MESSAGE FOR BOOTY EATING HATERS, ESPN & RAPPERS THAT THINK THEIR WOMAN IS LOYAL
Statik Selektah Talks Favorites Producers & Personal Tracks + Working With 50 Cent & Q-Tip
EXCLUSIVE: STATIK SELEKTAH ON PROVIDING TRACKS FOR ACTION BRONSON, Q-TIP, 50 CENT, & MLB
EXCLUSIVE: Twista On Time Management & Artistic Breakthrough
Twista On Time Management
Profiles In Battle Rap: Okwerdz
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Domingo: New Album, New York, and, of course Bobby Schmurda!
DOMINGO BRINGS THE HEAT ON NEW ALBUM, OUT TODAY!
EXCLUSIVE: Twista Talks MC's 'Responsibility' & Turmoil Plaguing Chicago
With over twenty years invested into Hip-Hop, Twista, has forged a respected niche within the culture. With passion, pride, and pain–lyricism delivered from a sincere stance–he has transformed ordinary words into poignant prose. To create immortal art music and memory collide; this a signature of artistic journey. On a quest to manipulate metaphors while controlling the mic, the Chicago native, is still motivated by the challenge to manifest his truth through the art. Twista’s latest release, Dark Horse, a testament of his maturation not only as a man, but also as an MC. During album release party AllHipHop.com posed the following: For all the Amideau Diallous, Oscar Grants, Trayvon Martins, Eric Garners, Mike Browns, Armand Bennetts, and Renisha McBrides–who were condemned because of their melanin-enriched skin–how does your voice as an MC demonstrate the full spectrum of what it is to be a Black man in America? Why is Chicago in such turmoil? Twista’s truth: Please enable Javascript to watch this video
DJ Holiday Presents 1st Annual Holipalooza Concert
By Rea Melissa Davis and Ashley Marietta This past weekend Commission’s own DJ Holiday held his first annual Holipalooza Concert at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, GA (an Atlanta suburb). The concert was packed to the max with music execs, media, and Hip-Hop enthusiasts of course. DJ Holiday brought out artists such as Mike Fresh, Zuse, Que, Extream Bling, Runway Richie, TK N Cash, Young Dolph, Bobby Shmurda, Rae Sremmurd, Migos and more. It’s safe to say that the first Holipalooza was a success! AllHipHop caught up with some of the performers backstage to discuss their new projects. Check out our recap video below. Please enable Javascript to watch this video Photos by Jerry/ WhyCauseICan.com
Statik Selektah Talks “What Goes Around” LP, Working With Joey Bada$$ & Not Being Impressed With Bobby Shmurda Yet
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Red Bull's BC One B-Boy LiveStream
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Profiles In Battle Rap: Murda Mook
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10 Hip-Hop Songs About Police Brutality & Misconduct To Vent To
Eric Garner. John Crawford. Michael Brown. Ezell Ford. All these recent news stories about police brutality are heart-breaking and a painful reminder that, despite how far this country has come in terms of race relations, law enforcement and the justice system still have African-American males in their cross hairs. Moreover, there’s no damn good reason these humans are are dead. It isn’t right and things need to change. And then, there is the media. Why is the mainstream media seemingly more concerned with relatively minor indiscretions surrounding a tragedy than the tragedy itself? These were human beings with families and loved ones. Never forget: The real tragedies were caused by the police. And while not all police officers are bad, racist, or corrupt, Hip-Hop has never shied away from addressing the ones who are. Here is a list of 10 Hip-Hop songs to vent to as we toil over the issue of police misconduct and pure brutality. And don’t get it twisted, this isn’t about fanning the flames. It’s about calling out those responsible for starting the fire in the first place sometimes. 10). “Constables” by O.C.: “Constables” confronts the issues of unjust suspicion and police brutality head on. The track begins with O.C. explaining his feelings about how law enforcement is watching him like a hawk. Then the song then gets heavier when, even though no crime has been committed for police to investigate, O.C. spits, “They clocking, shocking, and knocking me / Wanting a reason for whocking me.” For those who think that everyone who runs from cops are criminals, sometimes they do it because criminals are cops. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEnWc41OkkI&w=420&h=315] 9). “Crooked Officer” by Geto Boys: While there are some violent lyrics in this record, it deserves inclusion on this list for other reasons. The opening imagery in the song’s video is very poignant and with rhymes like, “Friend, do I have to move to River Oaks? / And bleach my f****n’ skin so I can look like these white folks? / Just to get some assistance / Because the brutality in my neighborhood is gettin’ persistent,” it reiterates the issue of police not being as responsive to crime in black communities as they should be. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNEyiuUsgjk&w=420&h=315] 08). “The Enemy” by Big L feat. Fat Joe: Track 8 from The Big Picture has Big L and Fat Joe criticizing overzealous cops who see them as guilty until proven innocent, instead of the other way around. “Pulling me over to see if I’m drunk, but I’m sober / They wouldn’t f*** with me if I drove a Nova.” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-829mzD0ro&w=420&h=315] 07). “Friendly Game of Baseball” by Main Source: This is a very clever and insightful song where baseball is used as an analogy for police brutality. Instead of “runs batted in,” R.B.I. stands for “real bad injury.” A “good batting average” means shooting lots of people. And the umpires are the government. Obviously this is no game though and the songs ends powerfully with the cops being sarcastically called out for the damage that they do. “Instead of innings, we have endings / What a fine way to win things.” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRuAfOZBzr8&w=420&h=315] 06). “Who Got the Camera?” by Ice Cube: Cube is widely regarded as one of rap’s strongest storytellers, and this record strongly supports that argument. With The Predator being released in the aftermath of the L.A. Riots in 1992, “Who Got the Camera?” finds Cube putting himself in the role of a motorist being harassed and beaten by cops, not unlike Rodney King. It’s a great example of Ice Cube balancing social commentary with his hardcore attitude. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOfTgGp6tS0&w=420&h=315] 05). “Illegal Search” by LL Cool J: Before Mase and Kanye each borrowed the beginning of this song (“What the hell are you looking for? / Can’t a young man make anymore?”) to simply talk about how fly and successful they were, LL first came up with it to question police about their desire to search without probable cause. Fortunately, on this song, it concludes on an uplifting note. “Jail is something that I can do without / Case dismissed, and now you wanna pout / You feel like trying it again, but you know it won’t work / Illegal search.” [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J69s7f5F_DA&w=420&h=315] 04). “Sound of Da Police” by KRS-One: The second single from Kris Parker’s solo debut is an amazing record. It doesn’t just deal with police misconduct, but also institutionalized racism within law enforcement that African-Americans have had to deal with for generations. “Yeah, officer from overseer / You need a little clarity, check the similarity….” It’s one of KRS’s most memorable songs, and, after one listen, it’s easy to hear why. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VRZq3J0uz4&w=420&h=315] 03). “Invasion” by Jeru the Damaja: Atop haunting keys, the song starts with Jeru getting pulled over by police and then he goes into how as a young black male he is stereotyped and therefore targeted by police once he starts rapping. He then takes it a step further and explains his plight of life in the ghetto. Props to DJ Premier too for outstanding production on this cut, especially the Nas sample from “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” for the title. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-ZHzPlFWQ&w=420&h=315] 02). “Claimin’ I’m a Criminal” by Brand Nubian: One of the standouts from Everything is Everything is definitely this record. One of the most brilliant things about it is that the beat samples Luther Ingram’s “I’m Trying to Sing a Message to You” while Lord Jamar talks about being labeled a criminal for speaking out in order to make others aware about police corruption. And then Sadat X tells listeners to reserve judgement on the penal system until they’ve been there themselves. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toUMQybyxI4&w=420&h=315] 01). “F*** Tha Police” by N.W.A: This iconic cut takes the top spot because it was the first time police were addressed so bluntly about their wrongdoings. This song is all about expressing the frustrations a community feels about being mistreated by the cops in three bold words. When speaking on the song in a documentary […]
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EXCLUSIVE: Twista’s N.Y.C.'s 'Dark Horse' Album Release
Twista, Chi-Town’s expeditious wordsmith, visited the heart of New York City’s Midtown to celebrate! The occasion– the official release of the Tung Twista’s ninth studio album, Dark Horse. The world-renowned, LQ New York, hosted the event. Boasting everything from Air Maxes to ascots, from Dom Perignon to Dancehall, an eclectic array of people came out to show their support to the the 22-year Hip-Hop veteran. Fellow Chicagoan and Get Money Gang label-mate, Bandman Kevo, started the show with “Baller In Me.” Effortlessly melding the appreciated tracks that’s cemented his career, Twista delivered with tracks like “Kamikazee,” “Blood Rush,” ” “Is That Your *itch,” –Standing tall amid Biggie and Jay Z, Twista also captivates with R&B giants like Trey Songz and Chris Brown. “Spit Yo Game,” Slow Jamz,” “Overnight Celebrity,” “Po Pimp,” and others encouraged nostalgic feelings of Twista’s accomplished creativity. New material like the Tech N9ne assisted, “Crisis,” “Beast,” and “6 Rings,” are sonic examples that Twista’s legacy will be enjoyed for years to come. Dark Horse is now available! Please enable Javascript to watch this video Videographer: Emazing Smith
Yo Gotti's Protege Makes Waves
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Review: “Get On Up” – The James Brown Story
At the beginning of the James Brown biopic, Get On Up, a strung-out Brown (Chadwick Boseman) walks into an insurance seminar in 1988 with a shotgun and causes a scene because someone used his private bathroom. Just moments later, Brown and his band are seen flying into Vietnam in the 60s, during the height of his popularity, to entertain the troops and their plane takes enemy fire. To further complicate things, James then says how influential he is right into the camera. So, in about the first twenty minutes, there are two extremes, a two-decade time jump, and the breakdown of the fourth wall. Clearly, the film can go anywhere. And it does. Playing more like an episodic mini-series than a movie, the 138 minute film is broken down into sections like, “1949, The Music Box,” “1964, The Famous Flames,” etc. Professionally speaking, some of Mr. Brown’s career highlights captured in the film are his Boston, Massachusetts, performance right after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the recording of his iconic Live at the Apollo album in 1963, and his upstaging of the Rolling Stones on The T.A.M.I. Show. All of these events, among others depicted, are worthy of great attention, but not all of them are given the treatment they deserve. It just goes to show that the James Brown story can’t truly be contained in the confines of a single motion picture. Additionally, the film goes back numerous times to scenes from Brown’s childhood (the young James Brown is played by twins Jordan and Jamarion Scott) where he lived in extreme poverty, experienced racism in the Jim Crow South, was abandoned by his mother (Viola Davis), abused by his father (Lennie James), and raised by his Aunt Honey (Octavia Spencer) in a brothel. These scenes are critical because, while they don’t in any way excuse Brown’s repugnant behavior as a grown man, they do help shed light on some of his many conflicting actions. Watching Boseman as James Brown is a captivating experience. His performance transcends one of mere imitation, and finds him truly becoming “The Godfather of Soul.” With the exception of singing [the original recordings were superbly remixed by the film’s Executive Producer, Mick Jagger], everything is there: the gravelly voice, the flawless dance moves, the mannerisms, and, of course, the attitude. Another actor who deserves great praise is Nelsan Ellis, of True Blood fame, who plays Brown’s close friend and bandmate, Bobby Byrd. Fortunately, for the sake of Ellis’ contribution, he is one of the few characters that James really connects with and so he is constant through most of the film. Dan Aykroyd, who appeared with the real James Brown in both of The Blues Brothers movies, also gives a memorable supporting performance as Ben Bart, the president of Universal Attractions. Get On Up is not unlike the band that James performed with. They’re both lively productions that are fine tuned to perfection, but inevitably struggle at times because they’re trying to do so much at once. To the film’s credit, it makes a deliberate effort to shy away from linear story-telling and doesn’t underestimate the audience. However, it still fails to come together to cohesively tell the story of “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business” for the masses. It does though fantastically depict a tortured soul who found redemption through music and helped change the world around him in the process. And for that, it’s definitely worth the price of admission! Overall Rating: 7.5/10 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guOS6ev6hQ0] What did you think of Get On Up? Do you agree with the review? Please share your thoughts in the comments section!
AllHipHop.com Shows Up And Shows Out At The Lincoln Park Music Festival
On Sunday July 27th the city of Newark, NJ came out to the Lincoln Park Music Festival to hear some dope artists spit fire bars and they were not disappointed! The Breeding Ground portion of the show was hosted by AllHipHop.com‘s own CEO Chuck Creekmur and BG Editor Skyyhook. Newark residents who are known for being a tough crowd to win over, totally lived up to their reputation! However, it was a good thing because the Breeding Ground artists that performed had to dig deep and give the crowd everything they had which in turn made for a dynamite show! One by one artists stepped up to walk the Hip Hop plank…and as they got to the stage they went for broke! The show was all the better for it! It was nothing but lyrical gold. Every single artists went in and the hot, humidity ravaged crowd was there to bare witness! The performances by Rasheed Chappell, Rebel Diaz, Audible Doctor, Senica Da Misfit, Jasiri X, Mitch Littlez, Joyner Lucas, YC The Cynic, Final Outlaw, Silent Knight, JY, Chris Skillz and Soul Khan made AllHipHop.com so proud because we strive for excellence and these artists demonstrated that they are absolutely everything that we’ve ever claimed them to be! Even fellow Lincoln Park Music Festival show host Ed Lover was impressed! Ed is not easy to win over so when he took to the stage and showed love for what our artists put forth….we were ecstatic! We must thank the entire staff responsible for putting together the show and for keeping it running on that day! The dedication from everyone was amazing! Our hats definitely go off to our brother Doitall Du from the legendary group Lords Of The Underground! He flew in from the other side of the globe to be there that day. He invited us out to be a part of the festivities and we are grateful for the opportunity! Thanks again to the residents of Newark for keeping it funky not just at the show but all year long! We had a blast and we hope you did too! We are proud to be a part of the Newark community and we look forward to seeing everyone next summer to do it all over again! Photos By: M.H.Majied and @Raw_Product
