Author: hhns

Big Boi recalls why Cee Lo Green didn’t join him in Outkast with Andre 3000.

Outkast and Goodie Mob have always been close associates, sharing commonality as part of the Dungeon Family and recording over the years. But fans may not know that Cee Lo Green was originally supposed to be part of Outkast.

During an interview with ThisIs50.com, Big Boi spoke on how “The Voice” judge would always be hanging around but that he and Andre 3000 were much tighter. “Yeah, kinda sorta. He was hanging out with us. We go way back, so kinda. For a brief minute,” he said. “Me and Dre was just together more. We would see Cee Lo sometimes but not all the time like that. Me and Dre was together day in, day out.”

Big Boi is set to release his new album Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors tomorrow. The set features appearances from Little Dragon, A$AP Rocky and more.

Miami Hip-Hop star Rick Ross continues to face challenges in his career, after a hearing yesterday between former drug baron Freeway Ricky Ross and Warner Brothers Records.

Lawyers for both sides squared off in court yesterday (December 6), over a ex lawsuit over the name Rick Ross, and the alleged usage of the former drug barons image.

In March of 2012, Freeway Ricky Ross lost a $10 million trademark infringement case to the rapper, born William Leonard Roberts III, when a judge ruled that Freeway Ricky Ross had waited too long to file his complaint against the rapper, resulting in a dismissal of the case.

But Freeway Ricky Ross won an appeal in July of 2012, on the grounds that Freeway Rick was legally entitled to pursue a claim against Warner Brothers, since Rick Ross and Maybach Music Group are distributed by the label.

A new lawsuit was immediatley filed against Warner Brothers for false advertising, unjust enrichment, and unfair business practices, resulting in the hearing yesterday.

Yesterday, trial dates in the case were set for January and the case is slated to go to trial in early 2013.

According to Freeway Ricky Ross, he has received support from hip-hop mogul Marion “Suge” Knight, who actually showed up at one of the court hearings earlier this year, to reveal on record that he officially spoke to rapper Rick Ross about the case.

“The reality is I want justice done. I know that he took his name and image from my life and believe he is unfairly profiting off my story,” Freeway Ricky Ross told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. “At one point Suge Knight came down to the hearings earlier this year and specifically laid it out to all of us, including all the lawyers, that he spoke to William the rapper directly. Rozay (the rapper) said clearly he talked to people that were around me when I was dealing and studied me in taking on my image and name.”

Just yesterday, Rick Ross was forced to cancel two concerts in Greensboro and Charlotte North Carolina, due to security concerns, after threats of gang violence on the Internet has appeared over recent weeks.

Members of various factions of the Gangster Disciples around the country have taken issues with Rick Ross’ usage of Larry Hoover’s name in his hit song “B.M.F.,” as well as his use usage of the gang’s six-point star.

“This guy (Rick Ross) just doesn’t have the right people around him to explain the streets, and then say that when you violate someone just address it as a man,” Freeway Rick Ross told AllHipHop.com. “You need to say that it wasn’t intentional or nothing like that. It’s ok to apologize and make things right with a real agreement out of respect.”

A lawyer for the Notorious B.I.G. recently blasted the Los Angeles Police Department, for releasing an autopsy of the slain rapper.

Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, was gunned down on March 9, 1997, during a drive-by shooting in front of the Petersen Automotive Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

The rapper died after he was struck by four bullets that pierced the passenger side of the Chevy Suburban, in which he was a passenger.

The LAPD claimed they released the autopsy photo in hopes of generating new leads surrounding the murder.

Perry Sanders Jr., long time lawyer for Notorious B.I.G.’s estate, criticized the LAPD for releasing the autopsy report after all almost 16-years.

“What legitimate lead could be stimulated by releasing an autopsy that says Mr. Wallace was shot. When everyone knows that ” Perry Sanders Jr. told The Los Angeles Times. “Why don’t they release some of the clues they have?”

Notorious B.I.G was killed by a shot that tore through his colon, liver, heart and lung, before coming to a stop near his left shoulder area.

No one has ever been arrested for the murder of Notorious B.I.G. or Tupac Shakur, who was gunned down six months earlier, on September 7, 1996 on the strip in Las Vegas.

Rick Ross didn’t cancel his show in Charlotte this weekend because of threats from gang members. He nixed the show because of a terrible promoter.

One day after news broke that he wouldn’t be attending the show after receiving threats from the Gangster Disciples, the Grammy nominee cleared the story up.

From All Hip Hop:

Reps for Rick Ross told AllHipHop.com that the first leg of the tour was completed successfully without incident, but due to the “apparent lack of organization and communication on the part of the tour promoter,” the remaining dates of the Maybach Music Tour have officially been canceled.

“I want to apologize to all of my fans who I missed performing for due to the cancellations and want to let them know that I will get back to their cities,” Rick Ross told AllHipHop.com. “I enjoyed my experience with my little bros Wale and Meek Mill and I’m ready to get back in the studio to make good music.”

The GDs addressed Ross via a YouTube video warning him to stay out of the city.

No word yet on if he has plans to re-schedule the appearance.

 

50 Cent enumerates how Hip Hop’s recording process has evolved.

Technology has made collaborations in Hip Hop much easier – but arguably far less organic.

In an interview with Complex, 50 Cent spoke on the matter, particularly in reference to earlier song of his,“Wait Until Tonight.”

50 explained that often times, the production is completed prior to him laying a verse. “You got a lot of guys that make records and everything’s done for you before you get there. The producer actually made the record. It has a sample playing and a chorus, you did your verse, you have three other rappers that generate interest from different demographics rap behind you and it’s done.”

Fif added a caveat, stating that there was some utility in that type of recording process. “Those records, they’re good too because sometimes those are the things that you don’t have to think about. You hear it, you go, ‘Okay, I know what it is,’ and you just party to it. There’s no substance to it that makes you stop and think.”

The Queens emcee explained how “Wait Until Tonight” brought him back to earlier times insofar as the recording process. “‘Wait Until Tonight,’ for me that’s a representation of what I fell in love with in the beginning of me enjoying Hip Hop culture. With the actual writers, it’s [from] when we watch each other and see what we offer and try and top it. It was about being competitive, not just going back and forth arguing with each other. Now they think being competitive is beefing. But they didn’t use that terminology until after the Biggie and 2Pac situation went bad. They would have called it battling prior to that. They think that’s being competitive, saying something about someone else, not actually making a record that impacts.”

Krayzie Bone has a new perspective after barely avoiding jail time.

Earlier this week, Krayzie Bone pleaded “no contest” to driving under the influence as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, keeping the rapper out of jail.

The Cleveland rapper has been required to take analcohol education course. In an interview with TMZ, he commented on the matter.

“This was the first time I was ever in a situation like this and I guarantee it will be the last.”

The experience appears to have left a positive impact on Krayzie, who will take precautions to avoid any such situation again. “From this point forward I will always have a designated driver or car service. If I can’t get those … I will not be drinking at any party I attend, unless I have a responsible way to get home.”

Big Meech was once the biggest cocaine kingpin in America. The United States government alleged in his notorious 2005 indictment that the Black Mafia Family (BMF) had generated over $270 million in drug sales. In fact, in addition to his incarceration, Meech has been ordered to repay $270 million, virtually guaranteeing that he will never earn an income from his infamy.He’s now incarcerated under a 23-hour lockdown. Unable to have phone calls or visits until early 2013. However, he does receive dozens of letters regularly. And he answers them.When AllHipHop.com interviewed BMF founder, Big Meech’s ex-girlfriend, Sabrina Peterson, we expected to learn a little more about the man behind the myth. Little did we know, we would learn it from the man himself. The BMF boss cleared up a few inaccuracies in the Peterson story. For example, there were only 20-25 inmates in his former prison with BMF tattoos, and he has not been incarcerated for four years, but seven. After hearing about and getting a copy of our interview with Peterson, Big Meech wrote AllHipHop.com to tell his story.We sent Big Meech a series of questions, asking his opinion on his prison sentence, and his relationship with Young Jeezy, which strangely enough, appears to be on rocky ground. We even got his opinion of President Obama. Here are his answers, edited only for spelling and grammar (at his request):AllHipHop.com: Do you regret any of your choices?Big Meech: No, because the risk has always been worth the reward in most of the choices I made in life, and not all things are by choice when you are a child growing up in the ghetto without a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.AllHipHop.com: Why did you start selling?Big Meech: My brother, sister, and I grew up in a household with both our parents. Neither of my parents had any type of drug or drinking habits. We were raised in the church, so we prayed for everything. When the food stamps and the WIC program box of food was late, then we pray. When the electric and gas got cut off, we pray and to pray is to have faith that God is going to help you or show you the way to help yourself, faith without works means nothing so after many nights with the gas and lights off and going to school with holes in the bottom of my 2 for $15 Payless shoes, and my brother and I wearing the same clothes every other day. Then, we had 30 days to come up with $7,500, or else we would be put out in the street. My brother and I had to find a way to make some fast money, so we hit the streets and came up without having to rob and kill someone. It was supply and demand, simple as that.I feel God has always watched out for my brother and I, because he knows our hearts. The government sells liquor and cigarettes along with prescription drugs that help one thing and hurt another every day. I haven’t read one drug law in the Bible or in any of the 10 Commandments. If you do a survey, I guarantee you there are more people addicted to prescribed drugs than street drugs. So, long story short, I did what I felt was necessary for my family and I to survive at the time.What’s funny is as long as I was just selling drugs, I had no problems. Once I went legit, all of a sudden, I have a 15-year conspiracy indictment from 1990-2005 out of the eastern district of Michigan, where I hadn’t lived since 1989, so I still can’t understand how I got indicted in Michigan.AllHipHop.com: What would you do differently?Big Meech: Absolutely nothing, I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “experience is the best teacher.” I’ve learned some of life’s most valuable lessons; I’m still learning something new every day as long as I keep living.Big Meech and NellyAllHipHop.com: Why do you think people idolize you?Big Meech: I’m not sure it’s correct for me to give an specific reason of why people idolize me, because it’s a matter of opinions and those opinions vary in different age groups, from as young as 10 years old to elderly people. I think everyone has an idol or has someone in their life or in the movies that they idolize.AllHipHop.com: Do you think they should?Big Meech: I think to say yes would make me seem very arrogant, but to be looked upon as an idol is a great achievement for all of the years of sacrificing, hard work, and dedication building Big Meech and the BMF reputation and brand. I can’t think of any other man incarcerated for the last seven years that’s still relevant or influential, which I’m not sure if you noticed that when Big Meech and BMF fell so did the economy (LOL) and seriously, that’s not a joke or laughing matter because there is nothing funny about people struggling, I just wonder if you notice the major impact that we had and drastic change for the worse in America’s economy after our incarceration near the end of 2005.AllHipHop.com: What went through your mind when you heard your sentence?Big Meech: First, I was told by my lawyers that the judge would probably sentence me to between 20 and 30 years, and with it being my first time, I thought that would mean something. But, the judge seemed to have a problem with my brother and me. At every court proceeding, he was on the prosecution’s side instead of being the mediator that a judge is supposed to be. My brother got sentenced to 240 months for money laundering and 360 months for CCE (Continuous Criminal Enterprise) to run concurrent, so I had to keep my composure and a smile on my face for my family and the standing room-only courtroom.When the judge asked me did I have something to say, I said, “I’m not going to say I’m sorry, because I’m sorry is for people who got caught.” The judge gave me the same sentence as he gave my brother, and I walked out with a smile. It just broke my heart to see my mother break down in tears while the U.S. Attorney laughed. At the end of the day, I feel God won’t allow me to do 30 years, and I was glad to get an outdate because every day down is another day closer to home.AllHipHop.com: Why are cocaine kingpins so severely punished?Big Meech: I’m not sure why the government and federal agencies love to hate “cocaine kingpins.” Seventy percent of the people the government allege to be kingpins have never seen a whole kilo or made a million dollars, so evidently the government has no criteria to determine whether a person is a kingpin or not – because I have met crack dealers who had only a few eight balls and ounces that have kingpin time. Just like when the government tried to charge DJ Drama with the RICO for selling mixtapes. I think someone needs to police the government with their judiciary misconduct and abuse of the constitution and laws.AllHipHop.com: What do you think your punishment should have been?Big Meech: I definitely don’t think my punishment should have been this severe. Thirty years for my first time, and that was the plea deal (LOL). I would have gotten a life sentence for ghost dope, and one witness testimony if I had went to trial. I think a few years in prison and community service, detouring children and adults from crime and drugs would’ve been much more sufficient, and I could’ve used my influence in a much more positive way.Check back for Part Two of our EXCLUSIVE interview with Big Meech, where he talks about his relationship with Young Jeezy, his opinions on Rick Ross, and how he feels about President Barack Obama

NBA legend Magic Johnson is planning to tackle the issue of homophobia and HIV/AIDS within the Hip-Hop community.Magic recently marked the 20th anniversary of his announcement that he was HIV positive, along with his retirement from the NBA, which occurred in 1991.Magic is planning on creating a coalition that will engage rappers to speak out against homophobia and discrimination against gays.But the main focus of the coalition will be to raise the level of awareness and to break down the stereotypesabout HIV/AIDS.“What we’re trying to do is reach out to the Hip-Hop community because they have power — power with their voice, power with that mic in their hand and power with the lyrics that they sing,” Magic Johnson told The Huffington Post.Magic said that he was closely associated with a number of top artists and executives within the Hip-Hop community and those individuals are involved in the early stages of the new organization.Magic refused to reveal the names of the artists, but he confirmed that “five or six” stars are aligning with the new initiative.Magic is planning to utilize the collective fan bases of the rap stars to help spread a positive message.“We’re going to come out next year with everybody and we’ll have a nice big press conference and what we’re going to do, what our plan is, because it’s so important that we rally — not just them, either,” Magic said. “I need the Hip-Hop community but I also need the basketball players and football players. We need a little bit of everybody, so that’s what we’re working on now.”

Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco ran into some issues with authorities at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) yesterday (November 17).While details are emerging, the outspoken artist took to his Twitter account to vent about the incident.“WOW…Fresh outta handcuffs @ LAX,” Lupe tweeted before a show in Rhode Island last night.According to sources close to Lupe, the issue was a piece of technical equipment that the rapper was not allowed to bring on the plane.Lupe, who was not charged and was eventually freed, said he was the victim of over zealous TSA agents.“Airport PD officer was just doing way too much,” Lupe tweeted. “Even OD’d on TSA…let the arrest get before the CHARGES. We good tho…#TimeForPrivateJets.”Lupe left the incident in relatively good spirits and even shouted out other police officers.“Shout to all the good airport cops and TSA folks…don’t let the bad apples spoil the bunch!!” Lupe said.Despite his brief detention, Lupe Fiasco made it to his show last night at the Ryan Center in Kingston, Rhode Island

Game has a little fun at the expense of Shyne.

Game and Shyne’s beef may be heating up, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for comedy.

In an interview with Power 106’s Big Boy, Game discussed the beef, and quickly began imitating Shyne’s currently raspy delivery.

Game offered Shyne’s decade in prison as a possible reason for the change in the latter’s voice. “It can change your life, certain things going up in you ten years. You know, you come out a different guy: feeling different, rapping different.”

“He used to rhyme pretty good,” Game admitted. “Maybe like ’99 or 2000. That’s when he had the voice that he stole from Big, made his own.”

Watch the interview below (spotted at HHNM):

Gunplay gives his two cents on 50 Cent and French Montana’s feud.

Over the past few weeks, a beef has been brewing between one of New York’s most established emcees 50 Cent and one of the city’s next up-and-coming artistsFrench Montana. Now, in a recent interview with Global Grind, Fif’s former sparring partner Gunplay speaks on their feud.

Live from house arrest, the MMG rapper weighed in on the two artists’ recent beef. He explained that while French is his friend, he doesn’t care about the two rappers’ beef, saying that, “where [French] eats, I don’t shit.”

“Listen, I don’t give a flying fuck about them niggas,” he said. “I don’t care if they fight each other, I don’t care. i don’t even see ’em; they’re nothing to me – nobody is really, I don’t see nobody. I see right through all these cunts – there’s nothing. I don’t care what this cunt was talking to this cunt about; they can sit there and have a cunt-versation all day, I don’t care…I fucks with French, that’s my homie, but where he eats, I don’t shit.”

Gunplay also spoke on his on-going legal situation stemming from October’s attempted armed robbery charges. The Carol City-based rapper said that his court date for the case has been moved to mid-2013, and he’s looking to get permission from the courts to tour on the road.

“I’ve been on house arrest for about a month now, I actually just went to court today,” he said. “They pushed the trial back to…the middle of next year, so I’m gonna be still on house arrest for the meantime, but I’m gonna try and see if I can get some travel permission by this week, so I should be trying to hit that turf by next week still…it’s like a 75% chance right now [that I will be able to join MMG on tour].”

Check out the full interview below.

Exclusive: A new company is slated to take over WIDEawake Death Row.

WIDEawake Death Row and its catalog is reportedly being sold to a publicly held company, HipHopDX has exclusively learned.

According to former Hoopla president and former Death Row publicist Jonathan Hay, New Solutions Financial Corp., a Canadian company that owns WIDEawake Death Row, has gone bankrupt and is selling both the label and catalog to a publicly held company. The deal is set to be closed on December 10th.

Hay explains that the label tried to release remastered and remixed versions of albums from the catalog over the pst four years but were not satisfied with the end results. He said that many of their ideas were shot down and was unhappy with the decisions of the staff at WIDEawake Death Row “across the board,” blaming it on “inexperience.”

The future of the label’s distribution deal with eOne will be addressed in the forthcoming weeks. Read the full statement below.

New Solutions Financial Corp., the Canadian umbrella company that currently owns WIDEawake Death Row, is bankrupt. The historical record label and catalog is being sold to a publicly held company. Being on the inside, we are hearing that the deal will be closed on December 10th.  Honestly, we are not surprised by the bankruptcy as we have been actively involved with eight of the Death Row Records’ releases over the last four years and have seen the problems firsthand.  Time and time again we tried to use our influence to get new mixing and mastering for these re-releases because we knew the albums sounded piss-poor from a sonic standpoint. Even though we helped put together a lot of the artwork over the years, we were never happy with the end result and how it looked, as most of our visual ideas weren’t executed as we requested.  We wanted every Death Row release to look and feel like a box set with the highest quality of work because we felt that every project deserved that kind of treatment. Most of our ideas for publicity and marketing were shot down, even though we were paid to do the job.  Over the years, we have argued, fussed, kicked and screamed with the staff of WIDEawake Death Row over the decisions being made, all across the board. In my opinion, the fatal problem of the company was the inexperience of the people involved, who at times seemed to prideful to accept direction. It was around this time last year that we had Snoop Dogg, with the help of Big Holis, willing to sit down with WIDEawake to discuss the possibility of becoming the face of Death Row Records again. As exciting as this could have been, WIDEawake rejected the idea. With this new company taking over Death Row, hopefully some of our ideas will finally be implemented to help preserve the Death Row Records catalog and legacy.  As far as our own distribution deal through WIDEawake Death Row and eOne, we will speaking with everyone about this transition after the holidays.

Jay-Z makes being famous look as effortless as his ability to switch rap flows at blazing speeds. Ever since his breakout solo record, Reasonable Doubt, to the mogul status he currently enjoys, the Brooklyn native is a rags-to-riches story for the ages. Along the way, Jay has been known to hobnob with white folks outside his rap world confines, but nothing could have been more random than the millionaire riding the subway and chatting it up with a subway passenger on his way to the one of his eight sold out shows at the Barclays Center earlier this year.

The exchange between spry 67-year-old visual artist Ellen Grossman and the Roc Nation honcho – with the woman qupping “are you famous” to Jay – was as genuine a meeting as any. Filmed as part of the “Where I’m From” documentary, the clip has made its rounds online and the heartwarming image is lasting.

According to a New York Magazine Daily Intel profile on Grossman, who also shares the same stomping grounds as Hov, she even happens to know a little about rap music.

“I was on a fairly sparsely populated subway car, and I was sitting in the corner,” Grossman shared. “At Canal Street, a surge of people got on, and since my son was in the buildings on 9/11, my first reaction was that there had been a disaster upstairs. But everyone was laughing and smiling. My second reaction was, ‘Oh there’s a flash mob.’ They were filming this one guy that I didn’t recognize, which is why I said, ‘Are you famous?’”

Although Grossman had some scant knowledge of Jay-Z, her tastes are more firmly rooted in the 90s. “LL Cool J, Ice Cube, it’s old stuff,” she said listing her facves.

Grossman is suddenly the envy of her family and friends,  obviously stoked by her chance run-in with one of Hip-Hop’s elite. But after expressing she wants to catch Hov on stage, perhaps someone in the Live Nation offices can slide Ms. Grossman a ticket on the low.

Check out the exchange below:

VH1 has announced the premiere date for the third season of “Love & Hip Hop,” which will take place in New York.
This season’s cast of rappers include Joe Budden and Consequence, in addition to the return of Erica Mena, Olivia, and her manager, Rich Dollaz.
The relationship between Erica Mena and Rich Dollaz is relatively new, and should cause tension between Olivia and Erica Mena, who did not get along in season one “Love & Hip Hop.”
In addition to the aforementioned artists, Jim Jones’ former manager Yandy Smith, her boyfriend Mendeecees Harris, Tahiry Jose, Raqi Thunda, Jen “The Pen” Bayer, Winter Ramos and Rashidah Ali are featured on season three of “Love & Hip Hop.”
Season 3 of “Love & Hip Hop” is slated to premiere on Monday, January 7 at 8:00 PM.

Snoop Lion plans to release the soundtrack accompaniment to his documentary.

Snoop Lion aka Snoop Dogg has announced a partnership with RCA Records to release the soundtrack to his upcoming documentary Reincarnated.

The reggae and dancehall-influenced album, releasing in Spring 2013, will be executive produced by Diplo and the Major Lazer production team.

The soundtrack is documented in the film, which was named an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival. Reincarnated follows his trip to Jamica and how the culture affected him.

“Major Lazer and I had a special opportunity to focus on recording Reincarnated from top-to-bottom with no interruptions in Jamaica,” said the artist formerly known as Snoop Dogg. “From my time spent with the people and in the streets, these songs are based on peace, love, and the struggle. ‘Here Comes The King’ is a taste of what’s to come off that Reincarnated album and movie. It’s going to be an exciting 2013. Bless up.”