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Today in Hip-Hop History: Slick Rick Dropped His Last Album ‘The Art Of Storytelling’ 23 Years Ago

May 25, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history, Slick Rick released his final studio LP, The Art of Story Telling.

Mostly produced by DJ Clark Kent and Kid Capri, this album featured guest verses from the likes of Redman, Rev Run, Outkast, Nas, Raekwon, and Snoop Dogg.

Critically the album has been hailed as the only proper sequel to his breakthrough debut album, The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick. Due to continuous run-ins with the law, the public was never really able to fully experience Slick Rick as an artist. For the same reason, the world will never know what his outstanding ability and outspoken persona could have done for Hip Hop culture. What is apparent is that when the master storyteller has the time, he can pen and deliver a masterpiece.

The Art of Storytelling was Slick Rick’s most commercially successful album, peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts. The album even went gold during its first week of sales. True to the title, the album is full of narratives that could only be crafted by the pen that scribed the famous “Children’s Story.” And although he has not strayed away from his signature rhetoric, The Art of Storytelling shows improvement and Slick Rick’s ability to stay relevant as far as his own style blending with the popular sound of the time. As a whole, this album is deserving of all accolades and is a proper farewell to Slick Rick as an album rapper.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Slick Rick Dropped His Last Album ‘The Art Of Storytelling’ 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy Heavenly Birthday To “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D (R.I.P.)

May 24, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history, “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D was born in Mandeville, Jamaica in 1967. If he were alive today, he’d be 55 years old.

Heavy D, born Dwight Errington Myers, moved to Mount Vernon, New York in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s Heavy D along with DJ Eddie F and dancers T-Roy and G-Wiz signed to Uptown records and began their journey to fame and adoration as Heavy D & The Boyz. The group’s debut Living Large released in 1987 and was a marginal success selling 300,000 copies.

The group began to rise in popularity, helping Heavy D to become pop sensation. The success of the group’s second and third albums, Big Tyme and Peaceful Journey, brought Heavy D the opportunity to collaborate with artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, B.B. King and more. Through the start of the 1990s, Heavy D began making more and more appearances in music videos and on TV and in films.

In the mid-1990s Heavy D became the first rapper to run a record label when he became president of Uptown Records. Prior to becoming president, Heavy D was instrumental in the hiring of Sean Combs as an intern. He also convinced Andre Harrel to sign Jodeci. As president, Heavy D worked with and developed boy band Soul for Real and was the executive producer and principal writer for majority of their debut album. His success as an executive led to him becoming senior vice president of Universal Music.

Heavy D passed away on November 8, 2011 from complications caused by a blood clot in his leg. His final performance at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards was his first televised performance in 15 years. Heavy D’s legacy will live on forever in the work that he created and the mark that he left on the Hip Hop industry as a whole.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday To “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D (R.I.P.) appeared first on The Source.

Lil Kim, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Fat Joe And More Celebrate Biggie’s 50th Birthday In NYC

May 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

The rainy weather didn’t keep Brooklyn and the rest of the New York from showing up and showing out for the exclusive, black-tie Notorious B.I.G. 50th Birthday Gala. Last weekend, the city’s biggest influencers and tastemakers were all on hand the bring in what would’ve been Biggie’s 50th born day(May 21). Sponsored by Pepsi and put on by the Christopher Wallace Estate, Manhattan’s Guastavino’s was the locale of the prestigious bday bash for the game’s most celebrated emcee, which drew celebs from all facets of urban entertainment.

B.I.G.’s real friends, family and diehard supporters were in attendance for this second annual event. Everyone impactful in his career was in attendance; from his original Brooklyn family/crew, Lil’ Kim , Lil Cease and Junior M.A.F.I.A., to his extended family in the Hip Hop community, including Fat Joe and Sway Calloway, who conducted Biggie’s last radio interview just four days before he was killed in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997.

The night began with an exclusive full course dinner while a live band called The Frank White Experience played some of Biggie’s most revered hits, which preceded some of his “Notorious” hits being played in digital format by none other than HOT 97’s DJ Enuff for the capacity crowd to enjoy. A large ice sculpture with the letters “B.I.G.”graced the stairs to the entrance of the upper level gala, where many of the attendees took their “I was there” pics.

Some of the other notables who came through to show Biggie sone Brooklyn love include Biggie’s children T’Yanna and C.J. Wallace, Havoc of Mobb Deep, Smif N’ Wessun, Caesar Emanuel of Black Ink, Karliee Redd of Love And Hip Hop ,Don Pooh, Bri Steeves, Coodie (director of Kanye West’s Jeen-Yus documentary}, Lil Kim’s business partner Alyi V, marketing guru Greg Walker, entertainment attorney/The Source Magazine owner Londell McMillian and countless others.

Performances included a set by Lil Kim and Junior M.A.F.I.A., including a “Quiet Storm” cameo with Kim and Havoc. The surprise of the night was watching “Lil Biggie” Christopher “C.J.” Wallace perform his one of his father’s premiere hits, “One More Chance”, as the crowd felt the spirit of Biggie through his only son.

The post Lil Kim, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Fat Joe And More Celebrate Biggie’s 50th Birthday In NYC appeared first on The Source.

Sony Chairman Says ‘Bad Boys 4’ Never Halted After Will Smith’s Oscar Incident, Film Still in Development

May 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

'BadBoysForLife'Projectedfor$MillionOpeningBoxOfficeWeekend

For those who want to see another installment of Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett, don’t fret, Bad Boys 4 is on the way. Sony Chairman Tom Rothman stated the film starring Will Smith, alongside Martin Lawrence, was never stalled following Smith’s Oscar slapped.

“That was innacurate… That movie’s been in development and still is,” Rothman said, according to Indie Wire. “There weren’t any brakes to pump because the car wasn’t moving.”

The third edition of the franchise, Bad Boys For Life, was released in 2022. A fourth edition was quickly greenlit following the film’s success. After the Oscars slap, it was believed the film was placed on hold with numerous other projects that included Smith.

Rothman added, “That was a very unfortunate thing that happened, and I don’t think it’s really my place to comment, except to say that I’ve known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a good person. That was an example of a very good person having a very bad moment, in front of the world. I believe his apology and regret is genuine, and I believe in forgiveness and redemption.”

In April, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw reported Netflix is giving up on a sequel to Smith’s Sci-Fi action film Bright. The sequel’s cancellation is not associated with the slap of Chris Rock. Just last summer, a report cited the film was in the final stages of creating a script, bringing back Smith, Joel Edgerton, and director David Ayer. Netflix’s Fast and Loose film, which stars Smith, is now in slower development. Smith’s show with National Geographic is experiencing a delay; however, the show will continue.

The post Sony Chairman Says ‘Bad Boys 4’ Never Halted After Will Smith’s Oscar Incident, Film Still in Development appeared first on The Source.

Lil Wayne and Mark Cuban Share a Moment Courtside During Western Conference Finals

May 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

H.E.R., Lil Wayne, The Isley Brothers Are Set To Headline 2021 One Music Festival

As the Western Conference Finals were heating up last week, so was a beef between Lil Wayne and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Lil Wayne was rooting for Phoenix Suns in their second-round matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. The Suns would lose but earlier in the series, Weezy let off his feelings about Mavs superstar Luka Doncic, calling him a “ho.”

Luka a ho

— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) May 8, 2022

Once the Suns were blown out and bounced out of the playoffs, Mavs owner Mark Cuban found that tweet and offered one of his own, using lyrics from Wayne’s “Uproar.”

“It’s a shit show, put you front row ” #MFFL https://t.co/cARGnNiyfg pic.twitter.com/ktk0yFkDpg

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) May 16, 2022

Wayne saw it and fired back: “Mark Cuban don’t make me et u smacked boy U playin w me?? I will piss in ya fkn mouth ho”

He also dropped this one that hasn’t been deleted:

Ya lil bitch it’s up

— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) May 18, 2022

Wayne’s manager Mack Maine arranged for the brief war of words to stop and now the two met courtside in San Francisco.

Wayne’s friend Skip Bayless provided some additional details.

FYI … Mark Cuban made peace with Lil Wayne, invited him and son Kam to tonight’s game and Wayne obviously accepted. Good for him.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 21, 2022

The post Lil Wayne and Mark Cuban Share a Moment Courtside During Western Conference Finals appeared first on The Source.

Lil Kim Teams with Pepsi and Lexus to Host the 2nd Annual ‘Biggie Dinner’ Gala Celebrating The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th Birthday

May 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Lil Kim paid tribute to the icon The Notorious B.I.B. in classic New York City form with a star-studded gala presented by Lexus and Pepsi. Last night, May 20th, 2022, the biggest names in hip hop gathered to commemorate Biggie’s 50th birthday. Biggie’s legacy was recognized with a star-studded black-tie gala and concert at Guastavino’s (409 E 59th St, New York, NY 10022), which featured performances of Biggie’s most iconic singles.

Lil’ Kim, Lil’ Cease, Junior M.A.F.I.A., CJ Wallace, T’yanna Wallace, Fat Joe, Havoc, Sway, Smif-N-Wessun, Tek and Steele, Prayah, Ceaser Emanuel of Black Ink Crew, and others gathered to honor the late rapper.

The event honored Biggie, who is widely regarded as the greatest rapper of all time, with performances of his most popular classics. Biggie’s impact to hip hop continues to inspire future generations. His illustrious career has left an indelible mark on mainstream culture. B.I.G. is still alive!

On Biggie Smalls and Lil’ Kim‘s official Instagram sites, as well as Lil Kim’s YouTube channel, fans can get a behind-the-scenes peek at the spectacular event. Culture Creative, a Black-owned Emmy Award-Winning firm, organized the event. Culture Creative’s mission is to link businesses with growing cultural marketing destinations through new and inventive forms of authentic storytelling.

Biggie’s and music industry giants “Don Pooh” Brooklyn Chophouse Times Square hosted the after-party. Around 230 AM, Lil’ Kim, Lil’ Cease, and Junior M.A.F.I.A. arrived, and Brooklyn Chop House fired up the kitchen to serve Lil’ Kim and her team!

You can see images from the event below.

The post Lil Kim Teams with Pepsi and Lexus to Host the 2nd Annual ‘Biggie Dinner’ Gala Celebrating The Notorious B.I.G.’s 50th Birthday appeared first on The Source.

Report: The Academy is Open to Chris Rock Hosting the 2023 Oscars

May 19, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On Sunday, March 12, 2023, ABC will broadcast the 95th Annual Academy Awards, with Craig Erwich, President of Entertainment at ABC, promising that the show will be “even greater” than this year.

Speaking with Deadline, Erwich revealed that he is open to Chris Rock hosting for a third time, even after the controversial slap at this year’s ceremony.

“My assessment of the Oscars was that it was really a successful year for the show. Obviously there was a lot of controversy, which overshadowed a lot of the positive things about the show, but I was really happy with the program,” Erwich said. “Even before that very unfortunate moment, the show started off up year over year, and we came back in a big way.”

The telecast had 16.6 million viewers and performed positively across key demographics.

Erwich added, “It was the biggest bounce back of any award show this season. If you look at what they were trying to do, which is really bring entertainment back to the program, they had three amazing hosts, clips, and incredible musical performances, I thought it was a great way for the show to reclaim its place on the mantle. There’s always things to learn and we’ll endeavor to do even better next year.”

Would you be interested in seeing Chris Rock host next year’s ceremony?

The post Report: The Academy is Open to Chris Rock Hosting the 2023 Oscars appeared first on The Source.

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