Month: June 2021

Skillz Finds And Restores An Original J Dilla Beat Tape With The Pharcyde’s ‘Runnin’ Instrumental On it

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With so much music being created, shared, and stored digitally these days, it’s easy to take for granted the easy access to rarities and behind-the-scenes snippets that at one point would have been impossible to hear. Highlighting this, Virginia rap veteran Skillz (aka Mad Skillz) recently posted a rare treasure indeed: An original cassette tape given to him by Detroit production legend J Dilla containing the original instrumentals for Skillz’s breakout singles “It’s Goin’ Down” and “The Jam,” as well as the one for The Pharcyde’s 1995 fan-favorite “Runnin’.”

Skillz found the tape over the weekend, taking a photo, posting it to Instagram, and tagging Q-Tip in his excitement at unearthing a one-of-a-kind, historical item. Unlike digital formats, cassette tape can degrade over time and the casing can become damaged, so Skillz had to perform “surgery” on the cassette (as he put it in his Instagram Story documenting his discovery). After fixing the tape, he was able to digitize it and share its contents, which included some previously unheard samples as well tracks from some of Dilla’s best-beloved beats, including “Runnin’,” revealing how the song was transformed from its original incarnation to the one heard on the LA group’s album Labcabincalifornia.

It’s truly a fun discovery for any hip-hop head and a glimpse into a creative process that would ordinarily have been lost to time. Check it out above.

Fat Joe Praises Tina Turner, Terror Squad During Tiny Desk Concert

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NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert done the Don Joey Crack way looks a bit different from the other bespoke office concerts. With a camera trailing behind him, Fat Joe enters the premises where his Terror Squad is in ready position, spitting “I stand alone in this cold world” — the first verse from his 2001 origin story track, “My Lifestyle.”

“What’s good, Tiny Desk?” Joe said, flanked in a denim Louis Vuitton bucket hat, baby blue aviators, and a Barbie-pink leather jacket. Against a backdrop of designer sneakers encased in glass, the Bronx emcee ran through some of his biggest in his 30-year career, including his monumental Song of the 2002 Summer, “What’s Luv?” Vocalist Angelica Vila expertly handled the Ashanti parts and the salsa dancing parts, matching the Don in a long hot-pink blazer.

“Luv” ripped into the undulating “Lean Back” — where the tiny desk was, predictably, leaned on — and then Joe’s new single, “Sunshine (The Light).” The new track uses a Heaven-sent mashup by DJ Amorphous, of Rihanna’s 2016 song “Kiss It Better” and Luther Vandross’ 1981 song “Never Too Much.”

“I love you Luther,” Joe said, pausing for a reflective moment before performing his Terror Squad anthem, “All the Way Up.” Having released his first new single since 2019, the 50-year-old rapper contemplated the difficulty of staying both authentic and fresh in the music industry.

“I tell ’em all the time — that your darkest moments bring you the most clarity. It’s hard to start from nothing, make something of yourself, and have ’em rip it all away, start back from scratch … Who’s gonna come back, 40-years-old as a rapper? Well shit, Tina Turner did it at 48. Terror Squad means loyalty, trust, respect, and honor. Most of all, we never give up.”

Florida’s Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival Is Making Its Return In 2022

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After taking 2019 off, Florida’s Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival returned in 2020, from March 5 to 8. That was right before pandemic-caused quarantines were put into effect in the US, making it one of the last large-scale events to happen before the world changed. There’s not going to be an Okeechobee this year, but organizers have announced dates for the 2022 event, their fifth overall: March 3 to 6.

Pasquale Rotella, founder and CEO of Insomniac Events (one of the companies behind the festival), offered a statement, saying, “After this long year, I couldn’t be more excited to return to Sunshine Grove and be back in nature with all my Okeechobee friends and fam. This festival is all about music, camping out, and making s’mores while dancing in a jungle, grass fields, and on a beautiful beach. It was the last festival I attended before the pandemic hit so I can’t wait to be back!”

Soundslinger (the other company behind the fest) founder Rechulski also says, “It’s been quite a difficult 14 months for all of us, especially everyone in the live event mass gathering community. I hope that music can once again shine as a beacon of light and hope and bring us a much needed distraction. I’m just glad to be back and have the chance to do what I love the most!”

Tickets will be available to purchase in a limited pre-sale starting on June 3 at noon ET. Learn more about the 2022 Okeechobee festival here.

Cautious Clay Connects With Saba On “Strange Love”

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Cautious Clay has come through with his new single “Strange Love,” enlisting Chicago lyricist Saba for the assist. Set to appear on his upcoming album Deadpan Love, which lands on June 25th, the track joins previously-released tracks “Wildfire,” “Karma & Friends,” “Roots,” “Dying In The Subtlety,” and “Agreeable.”

Musically, the track is a breath of fresh air from Cautious, whose melodic chops shine brightly alongside Saba’s assured bars. “But they treat me like a god, treat me like a villain,” he raps, after Clay holds it down. “Cause I’m that ni*ga everybody wanna get with / So long as my clothes match the pop song’s description / We turned stores upside down, put the tires on the ceiling.”

“This song is about the push and pull of identity in late capitalism,” says Cautious, in a press release. “We’re constantly told we need x, y or z to let the world know who we are, inundated with information about what the latest and greatest and coolest is. I love fashion and clothes and putting them together to telegraph myself to the world, but sometimes it’s hard to separate what I like from what I’m being told to like. I think it’s a struggle lots of people can relate to.”

Check out “Strange Love” now, and look for Cautious Clay to deliver his upcoming album Deadpan Love on June 25th.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

But they treat me like a god, treat me like a villain,
Cause I’m that ni*ga everybody wanna get with
So long as my clothes match the pop song’s description
We turned stores upside down, put the tires on the ceiling

Lil Baby: Lil Durk’s BFF Serves Up Denin Drip In 5 Pics

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We’re just days away before Lil Baby and Lil Durk come through with their The Voice of the Heroes joint album. From little teasers to the album cover finally being revealed, we’re locked in and ready for June 4th. As we await more anthems from the project and its Friday drop, we’re putting major attention […]

The post Lil Baby: Lil Durk’s BFF Serves Up Denin Drip In 5 Pics appeared first on SOHH.com.

King Los Rocks The Beat On “Breakfast Freestyle”

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King Los has rapped alongside the best of them. The former Bad Boy signee had his time in the limelight with collaborations alongside Rick Ross and Chris Brown, among others but these days, he’s returning to the essence of his craft. Over the past few months, he’s been slowly popping out with new freestyles showcasing his lyricism and pristine flow over some of the hottest beats in hip-hop history. Each drop seemingly hints at something bigger ahead.

This week, Los dropped off a brand new collaboration alongside producer Saud titled, “Breakfast Freestyle.” The electrifying production gives Los the stage to flex his skillset with witty references to some of the greatest to ever do it. “Andre for the Benjamins/ Don’t make me end you ’cause I’m independ/ Tryna get rich or die trying but I’ll probably end up killing many men,” he raps on the verse.

Peep the latest offering from King Los below. 

Quotable Lyrics
I rock the bells like I’m L 
My n***a, and I came to ring ’em
These n***as ringers, I’m comin’ for the stringer
Bell, like I’m on the wire
I’m hell fire, I’m wired

Mexican Cartel Are Targeting Cops At Their Homes

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Tensions are increasing in the drug war in Mexico. According to the Associated Press, the Jalisco cartel has viciously responded to the Mexican government’s “hugs, not bullets” policy with absolute defiance. Members of the cartel have reportedly kidnapped several members of a major police force in the state of Guanajuato and tortured them until they received the personal information of other members of the force, including their names and home addresses.


ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images

The Jalisco cartel’s attack of law enforcement is a direct response to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s laws and policies to dodge any sort of conflict with the cartels. However, it’s the use of the Tactical Group task force which has angered leaders of the cartel who say they are being unfairly targeted. 

The recent kidnappings of law enforcement officials have resulted in cartel members going to the homes of officers and murdering them in front of their families. 

A banner that hangs in front of a building in Guanajuato since May issued a warning to the government in the ongoing conflict. “If you want war, you’ll get a war. We have already shown that we know where you are. We are coming for all of you,” the banner reads. “For each member of our firm (CJNG) that you arrest, we are going to kill two of your Tacticals, wherever they are, at their homes, in their patrol vehicles.”

A news outlet in Guaranjuato said that at least seven police officers have been murdered since the beginning of the year on their days off. However, an exact number of victims has yet to be confirmed. 

[Via]

Drake Shows Off His Six-Pack In Latest Gym Selfie

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Drake is bulking up and getting ready for the summer. After promising a new album at the start of the year, Drake experienced a serious setback after tearing a ligament in his knee. The rapper kept fans updated following his reparative surgery, pushing back his album release in order to work on his recovery and rehabilitation. 

He appears to be feeling a lot better these days, popping up in several gym selfies per month on social media. As the world waits on more information pertaining to the release of Certified Lover Boy, Drake returned with yet another picture of himself after a boxing workout, flicking up in the mirror and showing off his six-pack abs. 

The rapper posted the photo on Instagram Stories, flaunting his chiseled physique before giving fans an intimate view of what he was listening to during his training. Sharing a screenshot of himself bumping the new Mach-Hommy album, Drake showed love to the underground, celebrating the Westside Gunn-produced project.

Drake recently re-entered album mode when he posted a “tracklist” for Certified Lover Boy, which was drawn over by the rapper’s son Adonis. The picture was discussed at length on social media, with some fans teasing the three-year-old’s art skills. You can read more about that here.

How is Drake looking? Do you have your summer body yet? Time is ticking!


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Raven-Symoné Raves About Her “Different Face” After 28 Lbs Weight Loss

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As a member of Hollywood’s elite, an unfortunate reality for many starlets is the constant pressure placed on them to maintain a certain look. Lizzo has been the subject of numerous internet trolls poking fun of her weight, most recently being the target of comments from Jillian Michaels. Raven-Symoné has been considerably vocal in the past regarding her struggles with her body image.

The actress recently took to Instagram to update fans on how she has been losing weight on her own terms, sharing her amazing progress and her sheer excitement. “Pounds Down (Ear update),” penned the 35-year-old star of Raven’s Home in the caption of a video recorded in her car over Memorial Day Weekend with her wife Miranda Pearman-Maday. 


Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

She continued, “Just sayin hi! Info about the pounds down journey/ear piercing/and moving.” In the video, Raven-Symoné updated her 2.4 million followers on her new curly hair routine and ear-piercing before moving on to the exciting weight loss news. 

“On another note, pounds down, pounds down!” she announces. “Check out the chin, babe. You see that chin?” she says, pointing to her new jawline. 

“If y’all watch ‘Raven’s Home’ literally right now and then come on this Live and see this joint, I got a whole different face going on,” she says as her wife nods in agreement. “It’s a whole pounds down journey,” she continues.

“Just so you guys know, I am 28 pounds down,” she adds as she and Pearman-Maday cheer. “You’re incredible, honey, you’re doing so good,” encouraged Pearman-Maday.

The former The Cosby Show actress then shares she’s currently doing a 48-hour fast. “So we’re on that journey right now,” she explains, furthering that she and Pearman-Maday will be sharing their exercise journey on YouTube very soon. 

Congrats to Raven-Symoné!

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