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EXCLUSIVE: Headkrack Talks New Music Video, Balancing His Career & The State Of Hip Hop

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY)Category: Features

(AllHipHop Features) Raynel “Headkrack” Ruffin is a man of many talents. The Bronx, New York native can be heard every morning as a co-host of the nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and he can be seen every night as a commentator on the television program Dish Nation. Besides maintaining his successful career as a radio and TV personality, Headkrack is also an award-winning rap artist. In 2010, he took home the crown at the Red Bull EmSee Battle. Audiences have gotten to experience Krack perform at the Vans Warped Tour and several festivals around the country as well. Headkrack has now let loose a music video for his latest song titled “The Stick Up.” The nearly four-minute clip features a heist storyline as its creator exposes his plans to take back Hip Hop. AllHipHop.com connected with Headkrack to get some insight into his new visuals. In addition, the Atlanta based entertainer shares his thoughts on where he and the culture is headed next. [ALSO READ: Top 5 Dead or Alive: Dish Nation Star Headkrack Picks His Fav Storytellers] How long have you been making music? I’ve been making music pretty much all my life. It was a creative outlet for me that kept me out of trouble when I was growing up. I just really started taking it more seriously in the last 5 years. What inspired you to create the song “The Stick Up”? “The Stick Up” was inspired by people always talking about how we always need to “take it back” to this era and that era, which ultimately never really made any sense to me, because to “take it back” in that sense means we kind of have to regress or go backwards. So when I say “take it back,” I mean literally strong arm the culture back from all of the negative counterproductive forces that hinder the culture as a whole, so we can move forward. Radio and TV shouldn’t be dictating what’s hot, the streets should. Who directed the video? How did you come up with the treatment? I came up with the concept of the video, and this dope crew out of ATL called the Risk Takerz shot the video and made the edits fresh. We definitely are gonna do some more work together. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/214022066″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Are you planning to release a full body of work? Absolutely, this is the first trickle from a tsunami of things I plan on dropping in the next 18-24 months. I’m hitting the streets with an extended EP late May/early June, me and my group The Bodega Brovas are dropping our debut album July 15th, and I plan on hitting y’all with a full solo LP before the end of the year. We all got things to say, and this is how we get our thoughts out. How do you manage doing radio, TV, and recording? It’s tough man, because sometimes one thing hinders the other. With Dish Nation, I’m kind of tethered to the city for days out of the week so I can shoot the show. It’s great money, so I can’t screw that up. Radio, you can kind of pipe in and do from anywhere thanks to technology. As far as recording goes, I have a studio at my crib so I can knock these joints out as they come to me. More than anything, I’m really looking forward to getting back out and seeing the fans. It’s been a minute since I took the show on the road. What’s your take on Hip Hop culture at the moment? I’m starting to see the shift happen. The culture has become pretty self contained again and not so reliant on the mainstream to support the artist. You see guys like Childish Gambino, Raury, Logic, and others without big radio tunes getting out there and packing venues and moving some decent records without the traditional push, and that’s pretty dope. Even regionally you are starting to see different sounds come out of places that are usually known for just one thing sonically, and that looks like growth to me. [ALSO READ: #ATLRiseUp: Raury’s Artistic Vision Is Championing A Self-Discovery Renaissance] For more information about HeadKrack visit www.krackblog.com. Follow HeadKrack on Twitter @headkrack and Instagram @headkrack. Check out the video for HeadKrack’s “The Stick Up” below.

King Tech And Sway Drop 2 More Videos For Wake Up Show Unplugged Series [VIDEOS]

By: Skyy HookCategory: Features

As we’ve previously reported, King Tech, Sway and DJ Revolution have been dropping phenomenal videos of emerging artists over the last few weeks and this week is no exception! The World Famous Wake Up Show recently created a Hip Hop experience like none other. They took Grammy Award Winning musicians who had never played together before and paired them with emerging Hip Hop artists. The result was a day of Hip Hop genius.  They are finally rolling out the videos from that amazing day! And as always AllHipHop.com gets the exclusives every Monday! First up to bat are a trio that AllHipHop.com has been reporting on for a few years now and they made our Top 50 Underground lists of the last two years! We’ve dubbed them the “Beastie Boys Of The New Millennium” and not for nothin! The Bodega Brovas are complete energy on stage and on wax and they show in every performance why they deserve to be some of the next to blow. Their act is pure polish and they are some of the last showman in the genera. The Brovas are clever, lyrical and able to fill the void that has been missing with Hip Hop groups for quite a while now.  Take a look at what we mean in the video below! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTJN1uIS9SA&w=1280&h=720] We finish with an emcee straight out of Harlem who the room waited with baited breath for all day! Mitch Littlez (the “Dominican Duke” as we call him) knew from the sound check on that he had something to offer every single person in the room that day. And from the sound check on everyone in the room knew it too! He is as lyrical as he is clever and twice as dope with the flow. Mitch easily grabbed the rooms attention with the abundance of energy that surrounded his performance. He’s cagey and calculated with the punchlines and you know by the look in his eyes when he’s about to attack the verse! But don’t just take our word for it…see the dopeness that Mitch Littlez dropped that day for yourself below! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY8lDhC4YbY&w=1280&h=720] Well there you go! Two very different and very dope performances! Through the coming weeks there will be even more of them so stay tuned! Check out www.wakeupshow.com  for new updates on both the “Wake Up Show Unplugged” project and to keep up with Tech, Sway and Rev about what’s going on with their show on Sirius XM/ Shade 45! You can also follow them on Twitter at @wakeupshow. Don’t forget to tune in Monday nights, Shade 45 on Sirius XM at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT!

Top 5 Dead or Alive: Dish Nation Star Headkrack Picks His Fav Storytellers

By: Skyy HookCategory: Features

AllHipHop.com caught up with the Dish Nation TV show star and Bodga Brova’s Hip Hop artist Headkrack to get his thoughts on AllHipHop.com’s new series “Top 5 Dead Or Alive”.  Headkrack shifted it from more conventional expected picks and went down the road less traveled with one that may be seen as a little more controversial!  See if your personal Top Five artist choices would match up with his faves and then check out the “Science Behind The List”. Feel free to leave us a comment and join in the conversation! Check out Krack’s “Top 5 Dead Or Alive” picks for Best Story Tellers in Hip Hop! The Science:  Best Storytellers> North East Region (But only by a hair,this is clearly up for debate as Rick is technically from England!) > 90’s Now, most people would try to take the obvious road and describe how these artists are similar, but per the usual, I’ll make it more difficult for myself and discuss how they all do the same thing well, but completely different from one another! I feel your frustration welling up, but indulge me for a second, I think we might be on to something here 1. Slick Rick OK. so when I asked Headkrack about his first pick Slick Rick, he was quick to point to songs like; “The Moment I Fear”, “Mona Lisa”, and “I shouldn’t have Done It”. Let’s be real, Slick Rick mastered the art of storytelling before a lot of you reading this were even thought of! He set the stage for the rest of Hip Hop by developing a brand of flow that simply used nouns and verbs as water colors to paint a vivid picture for the imagination. The listener is easily able to follow along with the story because the songs aren’t just gibberish words that happen to rhyme, they tell a complete story. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjNTu8jdukA&w=560&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW-4J80lF8U&w=420&h=315] 2. Nas With Nas, Headkrack brought up; “Rewind’,”I Gave You Power”, and “Undying Love” to name a but a few. Nas took the art of storytelling to another level by using prose and spoken word and setting them to Hip Hop baselines and beats. His lyrics are pure poetry and while some of them are extremely easy to  decipher, many of them are not. The best part of Nas to a good portion of his fans is that you must bring something of yourself to a Nas song. You have to listen, the story demands your attention. And you can listen to a Nas joint time and time again, and continuously discover something new, yet still feel like you have a grasp on the message from the first listen. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1fFRM8WiPI&w=420&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQbCC8S-ErE&w=420&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojvH46dlnL0&w=560&h=315] 3. B.I.G. Notorious B.I.G. is simply one of the greatest to ever speak on his own surroundings. He rhymed about what he knew best and the words flowed like an endless stream of lava from an active volcano. The flows were hot to death and they just could not be stopped right up until the end. In current days where Hip Hop artists seem to rhyme about everything except what they actually live, it makes you wonder would Hip Hop have ever even taken this turn had the truthful testimonials of Christopher Wallace not been eternally silenced. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZom_gVfuw&w=420&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYb_8MM1tGQ&w=420&h=315] 4. Andre 3000 With Andre 3000 Headkrack said,”Anytime Andre opens his mouth a story falls out.” We are in agreement here. Andre 3000 is magnificent at using elements that most would consider too eclectic and taking them to the next level, all in the name of storytelling genius. Whether it’s an open letter to a mother in law, describing what goes down in the ATL for those not familiar, love stories of different types, or stuck up girls from growing up, he’s been able to make indelible marks on the Hip Hop psyche with his vivid depictions of things that seem so far out there at first, but are eventually revealed to be something all listeners can relate to. The very line “Shake It Like A Polaroid Picture” was more description than many Hip Hop novices ever completely knew what to do with. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjHtSwFPnU&w=420&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJYklA-ZvIc&w=420&h=315] 5. Kendrick Lamar Lastly with Kendrick Lamar, this young man has drawn comparisons to many of the artists on the list, however his debut album is comprised of something none of these artists have ever truly done. That would be to create an entire album pretty much based on the telling of a continuing story throughout. That on it’s face sets him apart from the iconic artists he is listed with and makes him an understandable pick. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-ejyHzz3XE&w=560&h=315] [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ98Io4W3po&w=560&h=315] Be sure to catch Headkrack every weekday morning on  “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” and every weekday evening on the “Dish Nation”  TV show! *Check your local listings for times in your area.   *Special Thanks to AllHipHop.com  writer Deshair for helping me out with the structure of this list! The flu almost stopped me from being able to write this week, and without his ear I wouldn’t have made it!  (Skyyhook) Follow Skyyhook on Twitter @SkyyhookRadio

HeadKrack from Rickey Smiley Show Embarking on European Tour as Part of Bodega Brovas Rap Trio

By: Jake CratesCategory: News

(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop group The Bodega Brovas are set to embark on a European tour that includes stops in France, Ireland, Germany and the UK. Group member HeadKrack is from the nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley Show. He is also one-third of the Bodega Brovas – along with emcees Travil and Keynote. The three rappers have earned their keep over the last year, being featured as one of AllHipHop.com’s Top 25 Underground Groups of 2011. Joined by Tanya Morgan, Souls of Mischief and the Artifacts, “The ‘MoDega’ Europe 2012 Tour” kicks off at the top of next month and winds its way through Europe with a grand finale show in Paris, France on March 13th. “2011 and 2012 so far has been an amazing year for The Bodega Brovas,” HeadKrack told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement. “From signing with HipNott, to a string of successful shows in Germany, Europe and the US, it’s been a non stop ride. Our Pre Album Fancy Anthrax has produced a #1 record (“Now or Never”) at college radio and there still plenty of life in the project.” HeadKrack is excited for the group to take their talents across the pond. “We are excited about heading back overseas for our shows with Souls of Mischief, Tanya Morgan, and The Artifacts (on select dates). The love we receive abroad is so surreal because we rock a lot of spots where English isn’t even the main language. But we go out there and they know the songs and they have seen our vids online. We about to wild out and create the magic again and bum-rush Tesco’s!! – The UK version of Wal-Mart. The Bodega Brovas project, Fancy Anthrax: Pre-Loaded Guns & Alcohol is available now. Their full length debut album, LGA: Loaded Guns and Alcohol, drops on May 22 on HipNott Records Check out their upcoming tour dates below and watch their documentary, “American B-Boys in London,” which follows the group on their last trip to Europe. The “MoDega” Europe 2012 Tour feat. Tanya Morgan & The Bodega Brovas 3/2 Dublin, Ireland 3/3 Galway, Ireland 3/4 Cork, Ireland 3/5 Norwich, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief) 3/6 Ipswich, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief) 3/8 Manchester, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief) 3/9 Penzance, UK (w/ Souls of Mischief) 3/10 Aachen, Germany 3/11 Darmstadt, Germany 3/13 Paris, France (w/Artifacts) “American B-Boys in London” [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlLTLvIwSAY?rel=0&w=560&h=315]