Busta Rhymes up in the place true indeed. Bussa Bussa returns with a brand new video for "King Tut" featuring Reek da Villian & J Doe. The veteran MC is putting the finishing touches on his upcoming ninth studio album Year of the Dragon, which will be released later this year via Cash Money Records.
The 2012 Appelsap Fresh Music Festival was Sunday, July 22nd in Amsterdam. The show had some hip hop flavor as French Montana, Danny Brown, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul all performed.
Pusha T already has four albums under his belt as one half of the Clipse, but when the G.O.O.D. Music rapper unleashes his solo debut via Def Jam later this year, he'll be treating fans to a purely cinematic experience.
Last year's Fear of God mixtape delivered a potent dose of his lyrical venom, but while recording his still-untitled debut, Pusha turned his focus to musicality. Enlisting The-Dream and Rico Beats on production, he's been hard at work crafting a project heavy with rhyme and melody, which finds him painting a complete picture of the lifestyle that most rappers only skirt over in their music.
The album has not been pegged with a release date yet, but during his sit down for MTV's Hip-Hop Music Preview, Pusha gave some insight on the topics that made him tick — from relationships, to family and even major pop-culture events like the death of Steve Jobs. Expect to find beauty, glitz and glamour juxtaposed with the harsh realities of street life and fame.
The Recording Process "Unlike most artists, I'm a morning person when it comes to recording. My recording day can start as early as 9 a.m., and I'll write what needs to be put down, and hopefully I'm leaving by 1 p.m.
"I'm not a studio junkie at all. I actually don't like the studio because it sort of ruins my vibe. To me, it's just [a place] to lay down vocals and get out of there. For whatever reason, I'm most creative and write best in the shower, and also when I'm driving. Even if I don't have a starting point, it usually comes with the constant flow of water or the monotony of driving."
The Cinematic Influence "This album was based off the movie 'Devil's Advocate.' Not theme-wise at all, but just in the feel of the album. 'Devil's Advocate' is a very dark movie, but at the same time, visually, it's beautiful. The album is based off of that because I speak about the harsh realities of street life but there's a lot of glitz and glamour that comes along with that. If you just look at it at face value, you might think, 'It sounds a bit like he's glorifying [street life],' but when you get tuned into the record, you realize that you get both sides of it.
"There's a scene where one of Charlize Theron's girlfriends — a beautiful woman — is trying on clothes, and as Charlize is looking at her, her face turns into a monster. That's one of the scenes that really paints the picture of the beauty and the dark side of my album."
The Tracks "40 Acres": "One of the more thoughtful records would be '40 Acres,' and it's produced by The-Dream and Rico Beats. It really harps on things that have happened in my life in regards to family — my brother being my partner, my parents not being together — speaking on how those things altered my views on relationships and so on.
"One of the lyrics goes, 'Unpolished, unapologetic, might've broke a heart or two, but gave an honest effort/ You see my nonchalant attitude is always f--- it/ 35 years of marriage, and my mama left it/ You shouldn't question if you ever stood a chance with him, the better question is, did you enjoy the dance with him?/ I'll probably never pull your chair out, bitch, you know this money grew your hair out, switch/ All that s--- I bought, you wear out, rich/ But I'm the only one I care 'bout.'
"A lot of people, and men in general, don't recognize that their selfishness towards women in a relationship probably has to do with something that has happened in their life before. I like to harp on things like that because people speak about relationships like it's always so blissful but, like I said, my album is also based in harsh realities."
The Five-Word Description Musicality: "There are a few things I feel that are lacking in rap, and musicality is one of them. The 'superproducer' damn near died this year."
Cinematic: " 'Devil's Advocate' made everything seem so much easier in terms of making the record and knowing which direction to go in. There are a lot of records that I had to rewrite because it wasn't 'movie enough.' I wrote '40 acres' three times."
Uncompromised: "We didn't compromise on anything on this record. I have my own standard for raps."
Lyricism: "There's just never a moment where the fundamentals of hip-hop are ever forsaken."
Big: "I don't think there's any point on this album where I thought twice about anything I was about to say, regardless of who it might've touched or affected or annoyed."
The Jackson family is in an all out civil war as members choose sides in what has become a nasty battle on Michael Jackson's Estate.
Michael left all of his estate to his mother, three kids and charities. If Katherine were to pass away the money would then be divided between his children and charities leaving his brothers and sisters with nothing.
Randy, Jermaine and Janet Jackson are attempting to have the executors of the Michael Jackson Estate, John BrancaandJohn McClain, resign from their positions. Randy claims there has been misconduct. He alleges that executors had a hand in faking MJ's will. He believes he can prove it because Michael was in New York on the day he supposedly signed the document in L.A according to The Examiner.
"They know that they've been caught, they know that they've falsified a document and they know that there are questions that we want answered," Randy Jackson told the Rev. Al Sharpton on Sharpton's MSNBC show. "This family is united to right a wrong."
Jermaine and Randy want to become the conservators over the estate giving them access to the cash
Caught in the middle of all of this are Michael's three children Paris, Blanket, Prince Michael and his 82-year old mother, Katherine Jackson.
The children claim they haven't seen their grandmother in over a week. She is supposedly in Arizona resting under doctors orders.
"8 days and counting . something is really off , this isn’t like her at all," Paris tweeted on Monday. "I wanna talk directly to my grandmother!!"
She followed that up with another tweet on Tuesday. "9 days and counting… so help me god i will make whoever did this pay," Paris wrote.
To top it all off a scuffle was caught on tape when Randy and Janet showed up unannounced at Katherine's house earlier this week and tried to take the kids away. Security prevented that from happening, but surveillance footage shows Janet attempting take away Paris' phone.
“You’re a spoiled little b*tch,” Janet reportedly told Paris during Monday’s confrontation, an unidentified source told TMZ.
“This is our house. Not the Jackson family house. Get the f*ck out!” Paris replied, according to the report.
There was also a report that Janet slapped Paris during the confrontation but that was denied by Randy and there is no sign of that happening on the footage
Meanwhile Marlon appeared on The Insider alongside Tito and Jackie. During the interview he got very emotional as he described being kept away from his mother.
“We’ve been told that our mother is safe. She’s doing well. But we have not spoken to her. We have not talked to her and I don’t know where my mother is," Marlon said, before breaking down crying. “All i know is she is in Arizona, and whatever doctor is saying I can’t talk to my mother you call ME!”
Tito's son, T.J. Jackson, is seeking legal guardianship of the kids while all of this drama continues to swirl.
Katherine Jackson is now on her way back to Los Angeles according to Randy.
Paris Jackson and Janet Jackson scuffle caught on tape
Marlon Jackson breaks down crying talking about his mother
Randy Jackson Interview: Janet Jackson Didn't Slap Paris, Feud "Not About Money"
Nicki Minaj'sPink Friday tour rolled into Miami, Florida on Tuesday, July 24th. The Young Money star turned it into a reunion as she brought out her boss Lil Wayneduring one segment of the show.
Check out the show below. Nicki's latest album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is available on iTunes now.
During HARDKNOCKTV's 7 Year Anniversary party, King Los (a.k.a Swagga Boy Los, a.k.a I'm singed to Diddy, a.k.a Mr Baltimore 2-Step) ended his set by free-styling off the top. LOS let the crowd pick his topic and they picked OBAMA CARE.
Nas continues to make the promotional rounds in support of his latest album Life Is Good. Last night he was the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live where he performed "The Don" and "Nasty."
Peep his performance below and pick up a copy of Life Is Good from iTunes.
Fred The Godson takes off literally in this new banger featuring Brooklyn's own Maino. See what happens when a woman learns never to judge a book by its cover, in this summer classic directed by Taya Simmons.
Off of Fred's mixtape City of God. Download for free from LiveMixtapes.
Appomattox, VA - For the first time, we are witnessing video of the bullying of 10-year-old Cequan Haskins. The Appomattox Countychild was verbally and physically assaulted by two teenage boys on board a school bus in May 2011.
A press conference in Appomattox County was held Friday afternoon by Cequan's mother to show friends and family the video and how bad this really was.
Forty grueling minutes of physical and verbal bullying was all caught on tape aboard the school bus transporting Cequan Haskins.
The 15-year-old boys can be seen tormenting Cequan on the way to school
Some parts are harder to watch than others. At one point, the two 15-year-old school mates of Haskins hold a hot cigarette lighter to his skin.
The boys yelled at Cequan to 'sit down and shut your mouth' as he screamed out in pain (typo on video)
The abuse included name calling, racial and sexual slurs.
Bus driver Nancy Davis can be heard as well. Months ago, the tape played a crucial part in her child neglect trial. An Appomattox County jury acquitted her of all charges.
The driver of the Appomattox Schools bus, Nancy Davis, was initially investigated for child neglect, the video playing a key part in her trial.
"Ugh, anything to get him quiet! I've got to drive this bus," Davis can be heard saying.
"My son, he was a special needs child and he didn't deserve this. He was entitled to a safe transportation just like any other child in the Appomattox County Public School System," said Roxanne Haskins, Cequan's mother.
But she says instead, her son was left with physical and emotional scars. Since the incident he's received hours of therapy and been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Cequan's mother, Roxanne Haskins, released the video at a press conference on Friday, telling wset-tv that she wanted people to know just how bad bullying can be.
"I wanted parents to be aware, that when I speak out, I'm speaking out for all kids. But unfortunately, this did happen to my child, and I want parents to be aware of what's going on in the school system," she said.
Both teens on board the bus were found guilty of disorderly conduct and assault and battery, back in 2011. Currently, Haskins is awaiting a trial date in her civil case against the Appomattox County School Board.
George Dennehy was born without arms, but he hasn't let that physical challenge stop him from pursuing his dream. The 18-year old from Ashland, Virginiahas learned to play the guitar like a professional using his feet.
"I want it [music] to be my career. I have the opportunity to speak/play at different events or churches, you name it! I'm hoping big things will happen," he said according to the Huffington Post.
According to the article he eats, types and washes his hair with his feet, and he says he's primarily right-footed.
Last month he uploaded a video of himself playing and singing "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls and it is starting to get a lot of attention.
Check it out below and let us know what you think.
William Balfour received three life sentences today for the 2008 murders of singer Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Judge Charles Burns imposed three consecutive life sentences for the murders and 120 years for the underlying felonies of home invasion and aggravated kidnapping.
Burns told Balfour that his "soul is barren" and that the murders "send a chill through all of us."
The judge was especially appalled that Balfour claimed to still love Julian King, the 7-year old nephew of Hudson that he murdered.
"The fact that you can stand in court and tell us you love that child is an insult to all of us," Burns said."There's no doubt in my mind he looked up to you as you were putting bullets into his head. I just hope his terror was short-lived."
Balfour made a statement to the victim's families while in court.
"My condolences go out to the family," said Balfour. "My deepest sympathies go to Julian King. I loved him. I still love him."
Back in December when DJ Pauly D inked his recording contract with 50 Cent and G-Note Records he promised to deliver something special on his debut album.
"I'm going to host some tracks, produce some music. It's going to be like a party album," he said at the time "I'm working with 50 Cent now. I'm gonna do an album with him. It's going to be a little bit of everything. It's almost like DJ Khaled and kind of David Guetta but my own DJ Pauly D style."
Yesterday Pauly tweeted that he is currently in the studio working overtime on the project. He's already locked down a feature with G.O.O.D. Music rapper Big Sean.
Pauly has previously said he would like to also work with Rihanna on the album. He tweeted an invitation to the pop star back in March.
What other artists would you like to see Pauly collaborate with?
Spitta Andretti stopped by Tony Touch's Shade 45 recently show to promote his new album The Stoned Immaculate. While there he blessed the mic with a freestyle of the top of the head.
Pick up a copy of The Stoned Immaculate from iTunes.
Rita Ora is the new singing sensation from the UK that Jay-Z hopes will be Roc Nation's next big thing. Her song "How We Do (Party)" has gotten a very positive response, now she graces the cover of the August/September issue of Complex to give U.S.fans a closer look at her career.
Check out an excerpt from the article as well as pics and a behind the scenes video.
Rita Ora needs a moment.
The 21-year-old Brit isn't finished prepping for tonight’s performance at Emirates Stadium where she’ll be opening for a little band called Coldplay. She’s just had her golden ringlets attended to, inhaled some fragrant vapors from a bong-like device that soothes her vocal cords, touched up her lips (M.A.C. Russian Red), and lamented the fact that one of her multi-colored velvet fingernails has chipped off.
Pulling a varsity letterman’s jacket over her pale pink satin nightgown, Rita steps out of her dressing room onto the mezzanine level of the enormous sports complex. She watches silently as the first wave of 70,000 fans begin dashing toward the stage where she will soon be performing. This being London, a light drizzle begins to fall and tiny umbrellas start popping up on the distant stadium floor. One person slips, falls, and gets wheeled away by medical staff. “This place is packed,” Rita says to herself. “I’ve gotta go down there soon.”
“I get nervous before shows and then I’m just like, OK—let’s go,” she explains later. “It’s like, you can’t fuck it up now ’cause everybody’s watching you. It’s more of a rush—like an adrenaline high.”
Back in the dressing room Rita’s old friend and stylist, Kyle, helps her with final preparations before taking the stage. “I’m like a dude,” Rita says, despite ample evidence to the contrary. “Jordans are my favorite. I wear them all the time for shows. I can get girly-girly when I want to, but I can’t perform in heels. I would bust my face open on stage and we don’t want that.” Rita takes a deep breath and laces up her Nike trainers (that's Brit-speak for sneakers). She’s ready.
“Rita always performs better under pressure,” says her older sister and road manager, Elena, a stunning brunette who still lives in the same three-bedroom flat in the West London counsel estates (a.k.a. the projects) where their family grew up. Rita had to move to her own place because ever since she racked up her second No. 1 hit in the UK—“R.I.P.” featuring Tinie Tempah topped the charts in May, following DJ Fresh’s “Hot Right Now,” on which Rita sings the hook—random people started ringing the doorbell asking for photos and dropping off CDs. “Nothing scary,” Elena adds coolly.
You want scary? Scary is when Jay-Z and Beyoncé pop into your dressing room 10 minutes before showtime. But Rita shook off the butterflies and nailed that performance a few months ago in New York—even singing a Destiny’s Child cover, much to B’s delight. So rocking the biggest stadium she’s ever set foot in should be no sweat. After that, all she has to do is translate her UK success to the States and head up Roc Nation’s British Invasion.
They say be careful what you wish for, but this is the life Rita Ora’s been dreaming of for as long as she can remember. At age 11 she was the girl at the neighborhood youth center who sang “Killing Me Softly” into a counselor’s camera phone. “He told me he knew somebody who knew somebody in the industry or whatever,” she recalls. “I said, ‘OK cool, play them this video.’” Nothing ever came of the impromptu demo but he still carries the clip around on his phone to inspire other kids.
With cases of mass shootings like the recent one in Aurora, Colorado becoming an increasing problem there are those that want to ban guns in America. That is unlikely to happen anytime soon, but it's still a debate that rages on.
West Coast pioneer rapper Ice-T was recently in London promoting his documentary “Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap.” While there he appeared on Channel 4 to talk with Krishnan Guru-Murthy when the topic of the Colorado shootings came up. Ice was asked why he is such a defender of the right to bear arms.
"Well, I'd give up my gun when everybody else does. If there were guns here would you want to be the only person without one? It's legal in the United States, it's part of our Constitution," the rapper said. "The right to bear arms is because that's the last form of defense against tyranny. Not to hunt. It's to protect yourself from the police."
"And do you see any link between that and this sort of instance?" Guru-Murthy asked.
"No. Not really," Ice-T responded. "If somebody wants to kill people, they don't need a gun to do it."
"Makes it easier though, doesn't it?" the host pushed back.
"Not really. You can strap explosives on your body. They do that all the time."
What are your thoughts on the current gun laws in the United States?