News: Waka Flocka On Brick Squad Movement: “We The New Wu-Tang, Roc-A-Fella”

Thursday, May 17, 2012 5:06PM

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka Flame graces the upcoming June 2012 cover of XXL Magazine where he wastes no time proclaiming his Brick Squad Monopoly‘s greatness and dealing with the passing of late group member Slim Dunkin.

Describing his crew’s potential in an ever-changing rap game, Waka ranks BSM amongst hip-hop’s elite ranging from the legendary Wu-Tang Clan to Birdman‘s Cash Money Records.

“I don’t feel like a celebrity, or this quote-unquote star everybody talk about. I guess Waka Flocka like a job, honestly. I’m at my job right now, so I gotta do it to my fullest. … I got a whole label, man. We fire. We the new Wu-Tang, Roc-A-Fella. We what these labels are trying to create right now. We the new Cash Money. Squad! Flockaveli was the return of gangsta. I brought gangsta back, man.” (XXL Magazine)

Flocka also uses the cover feature to speak on late group member Slim Dunkin’s fall 2011 death.

“Dunk died, I couldn’t do sh*t four months, almost five moths straight. I couldn’t stay down long forever, cause bills gotta be paid, mouths to be fed. But that sh*t took a toll on us, man. Like right now, from December to f*ckin’ April…That’s how long it took me to bounce back my n*gga. That sh*t crazy.” (XXL Magazine)

Just last year, the Atlanta-based rapper talked about hanging up the microphone for good.

“I’m on my second one, so the third one might be true,” Flocka said when asked about retiring after a third LP. “I don’t know. The way they treat me, I spent my lifetime trying to do this. I don’t see myself quitting no more, it’s over for that. On to the next one.” (Hip Hop Wired)

In February, Brick Squad’s Frenchie hit up SOHH and discussed Dunkin’s passing.

“I’ve always been able to move forward because I feel like the more you think about it, the more you suffer,” Frenchie told SOHH referring to Slim. “God works in his own purposes. That’s my brother right there. If I keep on stressing myself, I’m not gonna be able to do what my brother wanted us to do. We all go hard. We push ourselves within our Brick Squad family and follow suit. That’s what it’s all about. … [Slim's passing] pulled us together. That’s family and so of course it hit the home base. We’ve got to keep working for my boy’s legacy and never let him die. We can never let his spirit die. He’s no longer here, but he’s here in the spirit. The longer we keep it in the air, the longer people are going to know who he is.” (SOHH)

The June 2012 issue of XXL Magazine drops Tuesday, May 29th.

Check out some recent Waka Flocka Flame footage below:

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sohh/daily_news/~3/rvzVbYW_z_4/waka_flocka_on_brick_squad_movement_we_t.html

News: Hip-Hop Loses Another Mogul, “Queen Of Disco” Dead At 63

Thursday, May 17, 2012 12:42PM

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

The hip-hop community lost another music mogul this week as “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer passed away at the age of 63, leaving a legacy of classics to her name.

Her family addressed media and announced her passing Thursday (May 17) morning.

Donna Summer, whose pulsating hits “I Feel Love,” “Last Dance” and “MacArthur Park” provided the disco soundtrack for the 1970s, has died at age 63. Her family confirmed Summer’s death, telling the AP, that they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continue legacy.” (People)

Although initially unknown, Summer reportedly lost a fight with cancer.

Legendary disco singer Donna Summer died Thursday after a battle with cancer, sources close to the singer confirmed to FoxNews.com. She is survived by her husband, singer and producer Bruce Sudano, their daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda and Summer’s daughter, Mimi, from a previous marriage. (Fox News)

While her music career soared for decades, Summer’s peak run was in the 1970′s.

Summer first rose to fame the mid-’70s, thanks to “Love to Love You Baby.” The song, with Summer’s whispered vocals and orgasmic groans supported by heavily synthesized backing tracks, helped define the mid-’70s disco trend and hit No. 2 in 1976. Summer followed the song with such hits as “I Feel Love,” “Last Dance” and a disco-fied version of the Richard Harris hit “MacArthur Park,” which outdid Harris’ version by hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. It was Summer’s first of four chart-toppers. (CNN)

Yesterday, hip-hop also suffered a loss when “Godfather of Go-Go” Chuck Brown.

Chuck Brown, the gravelly voiced bandleader who capitalized on funk’s percussive pulse to create go-go, the genre of music that has soundtracked life in black Washington for more than three decades, died May 16 at the Johns Hopkins University hospital in Baltimore. He was 75. The death was confirmed by his manager Tom Goldfogle. The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Mr. Brown had been hospitalized for pneumonia. (Washington Post)

Check out Donna Summer performing live below:

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sohh/daily_news/~3/wMTfPJ1i0Q0/hip-hop_loses_another_mogul_queen_of_dis.html

News: Kendrick Lamar Names His Top 5 Dead Or Alive, “He’s An Amazing Wordsmith” [Video]

Thursday, May 17, 2012 1:00PM

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar recently dished out his top five favorite hip-hop artists ranging from the late Tupac Shakur to platinum-selling star Eminem.

Lamar credited rap mogul Nas‘ story-telling ability for him landing a spot on his Top 5 list.

“2 Pac because of the emotion he put into his music. The Notorious B.I.G. because of his wit and his confidence. Jay-Z because of how personal and personable he is on the record. Nas because he’s a great storyteller. Eminem because he’s an amazing wordsmith.” (Wild 94.9)

Roc Nation protege J. Cole recently said fans could anticipate a joint album alongside Lamar.

“I just started working with Kendrick the other day,” Cole said. “We got it in, finally, again.” After confirming the project will be an album, not a mix tape, he said the pair left the session with four of five songs together. “We actually worked, bouncing ideas, which was great,” Cole said. “The vibe was so good that it was like, ‘Man, that’s absolutely gonna happen.’” (Fay Observer)

In March, the rapper officially joined forces with Interscope Records.

According to Top Dawg Entertainment founder Anthony Tiffith, his company has secured a joint distribution deal with Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment for the Compton rapper and his group Black Hippy. Under the new deal Kendrick Lamar’s projects, including his upcoming album Good Kid in a Mad City will be jointly released via Top Dawg Entertainment/Interscope Records/Aftermath Entertainment while releases from the rest of Black Hippy (Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q) will be distributed via Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope. (RapFix)

Last fall, Lamar’s mentor Dr. Dre talked about focusing on his upcoming music.

“I am never going to give music up,” he said. “Music is like air to me, [music] is like oxygen, so I am always doing that. As soon as I get back to Los Angeles, I am back in the studio doing my thing. I have a couple of new artists that I am excited about, Kendrick Lamar and Slim The Mobster. These are the next two artists, and these are probably my final two artists that I am going to be working with at least for the next couple of years. I am going to devote all my attention to them and make sure their sh*t comes out the way it should be. I am just having fun with life right now!” (Global Grind)

Check out Kendrick Lamar’s interview below:

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sohh/daily_news/~3/2YGHVMWWHJQ/kendrick_lamar_names_his_top_5_dead_or_a.html

News: “Put It In Your Mouth” Hitmaker Says Open Wide, Launches LollyPops Strip Club

Thursday, May 17, 2012 4:05PM

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

Rap veteran Akinyele is finding ways to get paper outside of music-making these days by launching his very own gentleman’s club in Las Vegas.

According to Akinyele, his new adult hot spot is already racking in big bucks.

Rapper Akinyele, responsible for the flithy 1996 hit “Put It In Your Mouth,” is apparently making some serious dough in Las Vegas. Not off gambling winnings, but as the owner of a gentlemen’s club on the strip. “We decided to officially launch LollyPops and align ourselves during the Mayweather vs. Cotto fight weekend and I can proudly say there are now two winners,” he said. The grand opening of LollyPops was last weekend. Akinyele and his partners partners Cliff Dutton and Jay racked in about $5 million. It’s an impressive feat for an artist who gained some traction in the adult industry performing at various strip club establishments. (Complex)

He has also relied on the likes of renowned hip-hop personalites like DJ Whoo Kid to get involved.

Since “Put It In Your Mouth,” Akinyele has released more sex-themed albums, but none compare to the success of his latest business venture. “We’ve been thrilled and amazed to see lines of both men and women still coming at 8 a.m. and this has been every single night, better yet morning I should say, over the past 10 days,” he said. To incorporate some hip-hop into adult entertainment, he has aligned himself with well-known DJs like Whoo Kid, Don Cannon, DJ RockStarr, Mark Da Spot, and others to play sets. (Complex)

Recently, Atlanta’s Killer Mike dished out his appreciation for the strip club scene.

“If I go all the way politicized, I become a zealot who’s not allowed to have fun with the people and the community that raised me. But if I go the other way, I become an ignoramus who isn’t properly qualified to speak on my community’s behalf. Me and my girl go to the kids’ school on Friday, then we go to the strip club Saturday night, and then we wake up and go to church Sunday morning, and we’re back to business on Monday. That’s my real life. At the end of the day, I’m a big black country motherfucker! All of that’s gonna come with me. [laughs] I can’t be all Public Enemy and not embrace my 2 Live Crew. You’ll always see me at a political rally and the black strip club; I’m gonna represent smoking weed and I’m gonna represent supporting Trayvon Martin on my record, because I’m a whole man.” (Pitchfork)

In October, Grammy-winning rapper T.I. revealed his top four favorite adult spots.

When it comes to the world of gentlemen’s establishments, there’s no finer connoisseur than T.I. … and last night at Boa in Hollywood, the rapper named the top 4 nudie spots in all of Atlanta … gathered from years of experience. “What strip clubs would I recommend [in Atlanta]?,” Tip said in an interview. “Onyx, Magic City, uh, Strokers, and Blue Flame. Is Magic City the best? Arguably so. Definitely the best on a Monday. Aight! (TMZ)

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sohh/daily_news/~3/IPLLCYlvRfQ/put_it_in_your_mouth_hitmaker_says_open.html

News: Drake Puts Expiration Date On Rap Career, “A Lot Of My Music Is About Being Young Figuring It All Out” [Audio]

Thursday, May 17, 2012 4:25PM

Written by Cyrus Langhorne

Young Money star Drake may be following in Lil Wayne‘s foot steps by hinting at plans to possibly hang up the microphone for good once he enters his 30s.

Although Drizzy didn’t note a specific age, he did say that senior citizen rap status is something he would like to avoid.

“I personally think that when I find that person and when it is established we are going to enter a serious relationship–I mean I don’t even know if I’ll still be making rap music. I don’t know how long I necessarily want to make rap music for. You know, there are artists who are 35 and up that still make rap and that still works for them. I don’t know if I want to be that guy. A lot of my music is about being young and figuring it all out. I don’t know if I can still make my brand of music when I am up there. Maybe I’ll be just acting or whatever it is. I plan to make as much music as I can until a story from Drake doesn’t impact you as it used to.” (i-D Magazine)

Last month, Cash Money Records CEO Birdman addressed Drizzy’s labelmate, Nicki Minaj, potentially retiring in the near future.

“That’s her choice, her decision. I don’t think Nicki is ready to retire. She really just started. I don’t see that in the near future for her at all right now,” he said in an interview. “I like young boy Chief [Keef]. I think he’s a great young talent. I sent my hand out to him. We’ll see what happens.” (Complex)

A week prior, Minaj hinted at a possible early departure from the rap game.

“People aren’t even giving the kid props for taking it back to the essence… this is my fourth mixtape really,” said Minaj, referring to her latest LP, Pink Friday … Roman Reloaded. “You know what I’m saying. The kid did like that so she could feed her fans. But really, now the kid is thinking maybe she should leave the game.” “They ungrateful,” Nicki’s right-hand man Safaree chimed in. “They ungrateful in these streets.” (XXL Mag)

Last summer, Lil Wayne spoke on hanging up the mic sooner rather than later.

“I’m not sure; I’m not gonna Brett Favre y’all,” Wayne said referring to the former Green Bay Packers quarterback who finally handed the NFL his walking papers in January after years of talking about it. “I’m not gonna draw it all the way out the whole year: ‘We wondering, is Wayne gonna do this?’ But the honest answer is I don’t know…I’m so settled in my life right now. I have my kids; they’re wonderful. My daughter has her career ahead of her now. I have to focus on that, and I have to put the same focus that I put in my career.” (MTV)

Check out Drake’s interview below:

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sohh/daily_news/~3/7asyXBXsdyI/drake_puts_expiration_date_on_rap_career.html