Smoke DZA has been dropping pure heat as of late. He keeps the momentum going with "Where It's At?" Produced by Ron Browz a.k.a. Ether Boy. Give it a listen up top.
Clockwise from top left: Cate Blanchett in “Carol,” the cast of “Spotlight,” Pixar’s “Inside Out” and Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Revenant.” (Images courtesy of The Weinstein Company, AP, Pixar and Twentieth Century Fox.) via The Washington Post
Video After The Jump
The 88th Annual Academy Awards will honor the best films of 2015. The show will be held on February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California at 7 p.m. EST.
Chris Rock will serve as the host of the event, which will air live on ABC.
On Thursday, January 14, Guillermo del Toro, Ang Lee and John Krasinski announced the nominees.
"The Revenant" leads the pack with 12 nominations.
Here's something new from Young Thug titled "Make a Lot." The track was produced by Metro Boomin. Give it a listen up top and let us know what you think by sounding off in the comment section below.
With lottery fever sweeping the nation, Wale, releases a new "Powerball" freestyle, letting the world know what he would do with the $1.5 billion. Song produced by Street Symphony and D.O. Speaks
Freddie Gibbs drops off a couple of fire tracks today. Check out his "Dead Presidents" freestyle produced by Sid "Speakerbomb" Miller and "Hot Boys" produced by Dupri of League of Starz.
Lawrence Phillips is dead after reportedly killing himself inside his cell at Kern Valley State Prison in California. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of his death.
According to a press release by the facility, Phillips, 40, was found unresponsive in his cell at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday morning, January 13.
The former Nebraska Cornhusker, who played four years in the NFL, had been locked in segregation since being suspected of killing his cellmate Damion Soward on April 11, 2015.
In September he was formally charged with first-degree murder.
Lawrence Phillips
Phillips was an extremely gifted athlete, but couldn't stay out of trouble off the field.
Despite being accused of dragging an ex-girlfriend by her hair down a flight of stairs while at Nebraska, he was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. He played two years for them before being released for insubordination in 1997.
His last two years in the league were spent with the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers.
He'd been in prison since 2005, and was currently serving a 31-year sentence for choking his ex-girlfriend twice in San Diego and driving a car into a group of teens, injuring three, after getting angry that his team was losing a pickup football game in Los Angeles.
Though MC Eiht and DJ Quik are now amicable with one another, they had an infamous beef that lasted nearly six years. In a recent sit-down with VladTV, the "Streiht Up Menace" rapper gets candid about the vicious back and forth he had with Quik.
Eiht cites the tension between him and Quik as a byproduct of the pair's rival Blood and Crip affiliations. The Compton rapper says the beef popped off after the release of his song, "Def Wish." Eiht spits the line "Biting me quick will mean you get my d*** sucked quick." Though Eiht claims "he never knew who he was," because Quik was a Blood many took the wordplay as a direct shot at the rapper.
DJ Quik later responded to the line on his demo tape with a personal threat to Eiht, whom Quik wrongly thought called him out. The beef ensued for years afterwards and it hit a new level when DJ Quik mentioned MC Eiht's neighborhood in a song. Things between the two men got so heated that MC Eiht remembers Suge Knight and his crew pulling him over to talk about the beef, but it was only to assure him that things weren't going to get out of hand.
During the conversation MC Eiht also spoke about ending his beef with Quik and recording a song with him later that night, which you can hear about in the clip below.
With each new release, Lil Bibby, continues to separate himself from the pack of up and coming rappers. His latest song titled "Can't Trust a Soul" is a certified banger. The official music video below has low audio quality so we've included the CDQ audio up top.
Follow Lil Bibby @LilBibby_ on Twitter and Instagram
Business mogul Russell Simmons recently visited The Breakfast Club to speak with DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha God about his new book, "The Happy Vegan," the government subsidizing the meat industry, the Western diet contributing to heart disease, meditation, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and more.
Comedian/actor Kevin Hart was a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, January 12.
He talks about his upcoming concert film, becoming the first actor/entertainer to have his own cross-trainer with the release of his Nike Hustle Harts and plays "Drinko" with Jimmy.
Fans in Los Angeles are excited about getting professional back in their city
Video After The Jump
HOUSTON (AP) — The Rams belong to Los Angeles once again.
The Chargers might be headed there, as well.
What about the Raiders? Who knows at this point.
What is certain is that all three franchises face serious challenges over the next few years now that the NFL has approved the relocation of the Rams from St. Louis, and given the Chargers a one-year option to join them in the nation's second-largest media market.
Should the Chargers stay in San Diego, seemingly a long shot, the Raiders could then step in and move from Oakland to L.A.
A long Tuesday of votes and re-votes ended with 30 of 32 NFL owners approving Rams owner Stan Kroenke's ambitious plan to move his team to the site of the old Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood, California, about 10 miles from downtown L.A.
The Raiders and Chargers had a competing proposal to share a new stadium in nearby Carson, but neither option got the 24 votes needed for approval. After another negotiating session in the afternoon, Kroenke's $1.8 billion project prevailed.
The decision ends the NFL's 21-year absence in Los Angeles.
"It is bittersweet," Kroenke said. "We understand the emotions involved of our fans. It is not easy to do these things, they are purposely made hard.
St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke talks to the media after team owners voted Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in Houston, to allow the Rams to move to a new stadium just outside Los Angeles
"We made a decision and worked long and hard at the various alternatives. When they didn't succeed, we worked this one to this point. We're excited ..."
They also need to get busy because the preseason is seven months away, the season about eight months.
In that time, the Rams must establish their base in Southern California, find a temporary home — the Los Angeles Coliseum is likely until the Inglewood project is finished in 2019 — and keep tabs on the Chargers' decision.
And for their first three years back, the Rams will merely be swapping one aging facility for a much older one, with even fewer of the revenue-creating features that fill modern NFL stadiums.
Still, all parties were more concerned with the potential long-range benefits.
"These projects are very large, they're very expensive and involve a lot of people and require a lot of cooperation and a lot of patience," said Houston owner Bob McNair, who beat out Los Angeles in a bid for an expansion franchise that debuted in 2002. "We're quite pleased with the outcome and look forward to the development of a real NFL campus out in Los Angeles."
The NFL also must deal with the prospect of angry fan bases in three markets — and words of warning from top elected officials.
Chargers chairman Dean Spanos declined to say whether his franchise would exercise the Los Angeles option, and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer says the city and county "are not interested in a charade by the Chargers if they continue to pursue Los Angeles."
Faulconer did say that negotiations were likely to continue for replacing aging Qualcomm Stadium. The city's plan would build on the same site.
"This has really been excruciating for everyone," Spanos said. "It's very difficult to say right now I'm going to do this or do that."
St. Louis had a plan for an open-air, $1.1 billion stadium along the Mississippi River north of the Gateway Arch to replace the Edward Jones Dome. But Kroenke mostly ignored the city's overtures.
"It is troubling that the league would allow for the relocation of a team when a home market has worked in good faith and presented a strong and viable proposal," Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said. "We will review the NFL's decision thoroughly before determining what next steps to take."
Raiders owner Mark Davis was equally noncommittal about Oakland, which has a more troubling situation because the city isn't even close to a proposal for a new stadium.
Officials had to ask the league for more time in a relocation response required by the NFL, and there is still about $100 million in debt from a renovation when the Raiders returned from L.A. two decades ago.
"I don't know where we'll be," said Davis, who has made visits to San Antonio as well. "We don't have a lease right now at the Oakland Coliseum. America, the world is a possibility for the Raider Nation."
Ray Perez, a 28-year-old Raiders fan from Sacramento who goes by the moniker Dr. Death, traveled to the Houston meeting in his usual Black Hole garb and was cautiously optimistic after hearing the news.
"I will not be completely, fully thrilled until the ink dries on paper and we know we're staying in Oakland in a new stadium," Perez said. "I'm very happy, very happy. But I'm not going to be overjoyed until we sign a stadium deal to keep the Raiders in Oakland with our own stadium."
.@Raiders owner Mark Davis says decision not a win for the Raiders today. We'll see where the Raider Nation ends up NFL
While the Raiders called L.A. home from 1982-94, the Rams have the longest history in Southern California. The franchise moved there in 1946 after eight seasons in Cleveland, and thousands of fans showed up when St. Louis practiced with Dallas in nearby Oxnard during training camp last August. Many were already anticipating the move.
"It's something that I never thought I'd see again," said Rodney Lusain, 44, of Inglewood. "You know, 21 years is a long time. You lose hope from time to time, but the dream stayed alive. My 'Ram-ily' out here wouldn't let the dream die, and now we're waking up to a new reality. The Rams are coming home!"
NFL owners vote to move the St. Louis Rams back to Los Angeles, the city they called home for nearly 50 years https://t.co/PQWXsJUQfy
The mood was more tempered in Houston, the last city to lose a franchise 18 years ago when the Oilers left for Tennessee.
"The excitement that we feel about being able to return the Rams to Los Angeles is balanced with the disappointment that we weren't able to get it done with our fans in St. Louis, San Diego and Oakland," Commissioner Roger Goodell said at a news conference about 11 hours after the meetings started. "But we'll continue to try in those markets and we'll continue to try to address those issues."
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AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in Oakland, California, contributed to this report.
Lil Mama returned to The Breakfast Club for the first time since she broke down in tears on the show.
She talks about the loss of her mom, Bow Wow being a legend, her song "Sausage," being memed, pushing herself to keep her career going, her relationship with Chili and T-Boz following her role as Left Eye in the TLC movie, wanting to get married and have kids, dating rumors, getting advice from MC Lyte and freestyles.
VH1's "Love & Hip Hop" New York cast member and singer, Jhonni Blaze, sits down with DJ Smallz and opens up about her three recent surgeries in Miami and why she chose that route to enhance her body versus other natural means.
Ar-Ab a.k.a. The Top Goon of Philly recently sat down with Mikey T The Movie Star and Clark Martin to talk about two of his favorite subjects ... guns and rapping.
The Original Block Hustlaz shot caller started the conversation off by naming his top five favorite rappers.
"My top five is Beanie Sigel, DMX. I don't know why people don't mention DMX a lot. I don't understand that," Ar said. "Jay Z, Jadakiss. It's gonna be hard to choose a top five like a lot of people. You go from Big Pun, not because he died. But Big Pig Pun was lyrical. His flow was terrific. Eminem, I don't know id he'd be in my top five. I gave you four, but I don't know who number five would be. Big Pun, Eminem, Fab, Styles. I like a lot of motherfuckers. I'm naming motherfuckers from my era."
The conversation then shifted to weapons, a topic that comes up often in Ar's lyrics.
"I like the FN Five-seven because it shoots rifle bullets," Ab explained. "Glocks, Rugers. I'm a handgun dude. A lot of people get them choppers. When I was down South choppers was big, but you can't carry them bitches 'cause the cops 'gon be around. Where we from you need a gun you can hide or you could sell. Because when you walk around with an AK in your hand, you won't make it one block before 10 cop cars pull up on you. So, we like the Glocks and Rugers and Smith & Wessons. Shit like that."
Follow on Twitter @AssaultRifleAB @MTMovieStar @1stClassFilms
On the heels of releasing his Mind Yo Business EP, Boston native Gio Dee releases the visual to his EP cut - "Trap No More."
Shot in a San Francisco mansion, the Chris Simmons-directed visual serves as a reminder for Gio Dee to not only remember how far he's come, but also where he's going.
"I've been through way too many high's and low's in the past few years with too many insane situations," Gio says. "I'm at the point where i'm a dad now, and I can provide for my family through my craft. It feels good, and I hope "Trap No More" inspires other young people to get out the hood and chase their dreams."
Gio Dee's eight-track EP features production by Metro Boomin, TM88, as well as a guest appearances by Atlanta newcomer Madeintyo on"Free Throw" and Bay Area native IAMSU! on "Rags To Riches."
Long before Quentin Miller became known as “Drake’s alleged ghostwriter,” Gio Dee was collaborating with the rapper/songwriter. Over the past year, the two rappers have released countless songs together including, “The Ride,” “Sodium,” and a remix to Quentin Miller's “Confessions."
Gio Dee's currently readying the release of his forthcoming project Never Going Back, which is due out later on this year
Tinashe will soon be coming to a town near you. The singer has revealed the dates for her forthcoming "Joyride" world tour.
The nearly 2-month trek kicks off February 28 in Minneapolis. Additional stops include Chicago, Montreal, Houston, New Orleans, Portland, London, Paris and Tokyo before grinding to a halt May 26 in Perth, Australia.
Tour Dates
Feb. 28 – Minneapolis, MN – Mill City Nights Feb. 29 – Saint Louis, MO – The Ready Room Mar. 2 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues Mar. 3 – Detroit, MI – Upstate Concert Hall Mar. 4 – Toronto, ON – The Phoenix Mar. 6 – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre Mar. 8 – Clifton Park, NY – Upstate Concert Hall Mar. 9 – Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre Mar. 11 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall Mar. 12 – New York, NY – Webster Hall Mar. 13 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom Mar. 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts Mar. 16 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Mar. 19 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Mar. 20 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte Mar. 21 – Nashville, TN – The Cannery Mar. 22 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City Mar. 24 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues Mar. 25 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Mar. 26 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Mar. 29 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre Mar. 31 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Apr. 1 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory Apr. 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco Theatre Apr. 5 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theatre Apr. 7 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom Apr. 8 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo Apr. 10 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre Apr. 26 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega Apr. 28 – Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser Midis Apr. 30 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene May 2 – London, UK – Koko May 4 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute May 5 – Manchester, UK – O2 Ritz May 7 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso May 9 – Paris, France – La Cigale May 17 – Tokyo, Japan – Duo May 18 – Tokyo, Japan – Duo May 20 – Auckland, New Zealand – The Powerstation May 21 – Brisbane, Australia – Max Watts May 24 – Sydney, Australia – Enmore Theatre May 25 – Melbourne, Australia – The Forum May 26 – Perth, Australia – Metro City