Category: News

John Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Worldwide Festival 2014 takes place March 25-April 13th in Washington DC at Georgetown University.  At the festival, Nas talked about members of the culture not taking a greater responsibility to rap about topic that touch on social justice issue.  He do not see enough emcees who are brave enough to be honest.  Socially conscious topic can come off as preachy, so a lot of rappers stay away from it.  Nas thinks rappers has the ability to do more then the latest trend.  There is a number of different rap style such as party rap, more intense rap and techno style rap.  People are just experimenting with rap music.  Nas said “Imagine me trying to come in that rap game at 19 years old. It was impossible. I had to do something that mattered, or I would not have gotten that respect from [the rapper at the time]. If I didn’t get that respect from them it was over. But now it’s a lot easier. “I would like to see people remember it’s an art form because the better we all become we push each other to make the whole art form better. Then we won’t have to worry about who won the Grammy”.

Rapper Jay Z tried to avoid a lawsuit deposition filed by Roc-A-Fella logo designer Dwayne Walker.  Jay is being sued for breach of contract and copyright infringement.  Damon Dash and Universal Music has also been named in the lawsuit deposition.  Walker attorney Gregory Berry said “For over 18 months Jay-Z and the other defendants have done everything they can to avoid swearing under oath to the events that led to the creation of the logo. With the decision today, the defendants’ delay tactics must stop, and Mr. Walker’s quest for justice can move forward.”   In 1995, Walker created the Roc-A-Fella logo which he still owns the copyright too.  The defendants promised to give him $3,500 and 2% of revenues for ten years after the first use of the logo.  Walker did receive the $3,500 but was never given 2% of the revenues.   He is owed $7 million in unpaid royalties.  Gregory Barry, Walker attorney filed the lawsuit in District Court in Manhattan in July 2012.  This is not the first time Jay has been sued before for copyright infringement.  At the beginning of the year another lawsuit was file against Jay Z by a man who claims he trademarked “Brooklyn Net” name over 10 years ago.

Two of Knight former associates thinks Knight is either a government informant or a rat.  Lloyd (TaTa) Lake met Knight two decade ago and Reggie White was Knight childhood friend who once work security at Death Row.  The two men are currently working on a documentary (Justice For Tupac and Biggie) about the murder of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.  They also looking into whether the U.S. Government has infiltrated the Hip Hop community with secret sources who will provide information rappers.  The film will also look into possible ties between Knight with the FBI.  In an interview Lake and Wright talk about their history with Knight and Death Row, all the people suspected of being involved in the murders of Biggie and Tupac.  And why they believe Knight is not who he claims to be.  Here is a couple of examples. Lloyd said “one night [Suge] called me and said, “I need you to go push on Drake for me.” I already had in my mind this guy could be an informant, but the only reason I went down there was to check to see if I could figure out if he really was an informant and to see if I saw any FBI or anybody in the vicinity or in the club. Sure enough I did. They followed me everywhere I moved through there. Let’s talk about Las Vegas when he’s standing over Melissa Issac, and he’s beating her with a knife in his hand and with drugs in his front pocket. He doesn’t go to jail. This is a slam dunk case. You got a cop as an eye-witness. You don’t have a better eye-witness than a police officer. And there’s no way Melissa can just say she doesn’t want to testify against him. They would have forced her to testify. They would have subpoenaed her. There’s no way out of those cases.  Wright do not think Knight is an informant he just think he has rat things in him.  Wright claim when Knight was doing time in jail for probation violation he was going to have to serve six months which he did not want to do.  Knight apparently reach out to the US Attorney who was handling his probation and said  “Y’all been trying to get me to cooperate on David Kenner. I’m willingly to do that now, because I don’t wanna go six months. I’m ready to get out of here.”

Rick Ross purchased 6 watches from New York Jeweler Rafaello & Co for $250,000.  He purchase the watches in celebration of the success of his “Mastermind Album”.  DJ Khaled, Meek Mill and Walle were on the receiving end of the watches among a few others.  “Mastermind” was released on March 12, and sold !79,215 copies in it first week.  In a review of his album it was said there is nothing compelling about Rick Ross fictional tale, it has become stale.

Cassidy said he supplied R. Kelly with guns while the singer was performing at MSG on November 29, 2004.  The incident took place during Kelly and Jay Z “Best Of Both World Tour.  Kelly had apparently left the stage after he thought someone in the crowd flashed a gun.  When Kelly decided to return to the stage he was informed that extra police officers has been dispersed into the crowd.  Kelly claimed that he was peppered sprayed by an associate of Jay Z.  Cassidy was in the building getting ready to perform “Hotel” a collaboration with Kelly he heard of the peppered spray incident and he wanted to help Kelly.  Cassidy said “So Cassidy and a couple of goons who accompany him to MSG gave Kelly a couple of (burners) guns.  Later on Kelly was rushed to St. Vincent Hospital, that is where Cassidy and company tried to retrieve the guns from Kelly.  In a radio interview a day after the incident , Jay Z shot down Kelly gun accusation.  He said “That’s Madison Square Garden. You cannot get a gun in Madison Square Garden. Does he know where he’s at?  Two years later Jay Z best friend and business associate Tyran Smith pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection to the incident.

Jay Z recently address comments made by Drake in reference to art on Jay Electronica “We Made It”.  Jay raps on the track  “Sorry Mrs. Drizzy for so much art talk,” Jay Z raps on the track. “Silly me, rappin’ ’bout shit that I really bought / While these rappers rap about guns that they ain’t shot / And a bunch of other silly shit that they ain’t got.”  Jay most likely made the comments because during an interview in February Drake criticizes Jay reference to art.  Drake said “It’s like Hov can’t drop bars these days without at least four art references, I would love to collect [art] at some point, but I think the whole Rap/art world thing is getting kind of corny.”  This is not the only reference Drake made about Jay.  He is believe to have made a reference to Jay and Kanye collaborative album “Watch The Throne”.  Drake raps on a track “I’m just feeling like the throne is for the taking”.  Drake also made reference to Kanye “Yeezus album. “There are some real questionable bars on there like that “Swag-hili line” come on man even Fabolous wouldn’t say some sh*it like that”.  Drake claims he never criticizes Kanye.  At one point Drake was not in good graces with Jay and West. He said that is because of lack of communication and natural competitiveness.

Weezy says he has the highest expectation for his Young Money Artists he expect them to perform their best.  He recently had something to say about Nicki Minaj who he said never fails to amaze him. He said her lasted single Lookin Ass N***s  “was good but you can do better”.  He also tell himself that everyday.  Weezy mention that he is a tough judge and he is the boss.

Rapper Jasper was involved in a robbery more than 15 years ago that left a 33 year old  recording studio owner dead.  This was not a spur of the moment robbery.  A week before the attack Jasper purchased large bags to hold stolen studio gear that was believe to be worth $30,000.  He also recruited two friend Steven Russell and Doug Williams.  The two accomplice brought two vans to the studio and reserve studio time under false pretense. After the session was over Jasper approached Alejandro from behind and slash his throat from ear to ear with a kitchen knife.  During his capital murder trail, Jasper said he cut the throat of  David Alejandro, but his partner was responsible for the fatal stab wounds.  The Jury deliberated for only 15 minutes minutes at the January 2000 trail before convicting him.  The jury decided he should be put to death.  Jasper would be the 3rd person put to death this year in Texas the nation busiest capital punishment state.  Williams 35 and Russell 34 both has been sentence to life in prison.  Jasper was only 18 years old in 1998 when the attack took place, records showed that he had a criminal background since he was 15 years old. The victim  was the lead singer of a San Antonio Christian based music group and he also ran his recording studio. During his trail Jasper said the Alejandro was one of the nicest people he ever met.