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Saigon And Fredro Featuring Grand Puba “Think Twice”

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

In conjunction with the celebration of Hip-Hop’s landmark 50^th anniversary, legendary rapper Saigon & and Swedish multi-platinum producer Fredro have joined forces to create a love letter to Hip-Hop. Specifically, 1986-1996, a/k/a The Jordan Era. They have also tapped many other legendary voices to help join their celebration.

After announcing their new album, and releasing the project’s first single and video, “Lyrical Genius,” which featured one of Hip-Hop’s “holy trinity of emcees” in Grandmaster Caz (co-author of “Rappers Delight” and the emcee with the longest running tenure atop the billboard Hot 100 Charts), and “Get Loose” with Pete Rock, now they are back again with yet another legend, Grand Puba, who is featured on the new single “Think Twice”; which is now available.

Saigon and Grand Puba both show and prove on “Think Twice,” taking turns flaunting their effortless styles and flows over Fredro’s bouncy production. You will also hear “Think Twice” being played during the new episode (EP. 302) of the Starz breakout hit show BMF, which will air on 3-8-24.

“Growing up, Brand Nubian was one of my favorite groups, and Grand Puba as a solo artist shaped and molded my fashion sense at that time, and he is my favorite artist of all time” Saigon divulges. “Grand Puba has never gotten his due respect. Before Kanye, it was Puba who made the rugby with the knapsack look cool. He also always made sure there was some kind of a positive message in his music. While making this song, I tried to channel Grand Puba Maxwell from Masters Of The Ceremony (his first group), with the Puba from his Reel to Reel album, and I came up with “Think Twice.” It was a pleasure and honor to work with this legend.”

Emcees take warning; if you’re thinking about stepping to Saigon and Grand Puba— take their advice and “Think Twice”!

Saigon and Fredro’s forthcoming album, The Jordan Era, is produced in its entirety by Fredro, and features guest appearances from Grandmaster Caz, Pete Rock, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Rockness Monsta, Craig G, Ill Skratch—with more features to be unveiled.

Saigon and Fredro’s The Jordan Era album will be released on 5-3-24 via the iconic Payday Records.

The post Saigon And Fredro Featuring Grand Puba “Think Twice” first appeared on The Source.

The post Saigon And Fredro Featuring Grand Puba “Think Twice” appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: Gangstarr Dropped Their Fourth LP ‘Hard To Earn’ 29 Years Ago

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day twenty-eight ago, Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal aka Guru and DJ Premier dropped their fourth album aptly entitled Hard To Earn.

As one of Gangstarr’s most circulated but underrated projects, Hard To Earn, released on the Chrysalis/EMI imprint, set the pace for the Gangstarr sound and legacy. Exclusively produced by the legendary duo, Hard To Earn is a prototypical representation of authentic Hip Hop aimed to please aficionados of the culture and the music rather than seeking mainstream success.

The result? A timeless single (“DWYCK”) featuring Nice N’ Smooth, another groundbreaking single whose title is now being used as a thriving magazine name (“Mass Appeal”), and several other tracks (“Tonz O’ Gunz,” “Code Of The Streets,” “The Planet”) that further solidified Gangstarr’s position as one of the most influential duos in Hip-Hop history.

Salute to Guru(R.I.P.), DJ Premier, Jeru Da Damaja, Lil Dap, and the rest of the Gangstarr Foundation for this crucial piece of Hip-Hop history!

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Gangstarr Dropped Their Fourth LP ‘Hard To Earn’ 29 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Gangstarr Dropped Their Fourth LP ‘Hard To Earn’ 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Film ‘New Jack City’ Premiered in Theaters 33 Years Ago

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day, 33 years ago, the cult-classic crime thriller New Jack City arrived in theaters across America. The story of the rise and fall of Nino Brown and the Cash Money Brothers has continued inspired Hip Hop culture for a quarter-century and continues to permeate the culture that made it a success.

New Jack City came about at a pivotal time. In 1991, Hip Hop was still a fledging music genre and culture, looking to legitimize itself in the eyes of mainstream America officially. In addition, the blaxploitation film genre had been defunct for over a decade, leaving a gaping hole in “Black Hollywood.” New Jack City was a harbinger of the resurgence of Black actors, writers, and filmmakers in Hollywood, as well as the crystallization of Hip Hop’s synergistic capabilities.

The film also catapulted actors like Wesley Snipes, who played the lead role as the morally barren kingpin Nino Brown and Chris Rock stick-up-kid-turned-crackhead-informant “Pookie,” into stardom. The film’s director Mario Van Peebles also made his directorial debut with the film, which he also starred in. Ice T, who also played a major role in New Jack City as NYPD detective “Scotty Appleton,” spoke with Rock on his “Final Level” podcast about some of the behind-the-scenes of the cult classic.

Chris Rock: At the time, you and I were the most popular people in the cast, really, just ’cause we’d done s**t.

Ice-T: We’d done things.

Chris Rock: Nobody knew Mario [Van Peebles]. Nobody knew Wesley [Snipes].

Ice-T: Wesley had done Major League.

Chris Rock: No one knew “G-Money,” you know, Allen Payne.

Ice-T: That was what got me confident enough to act.

Chris Rock: And you were actually making money. [Laughs] I was broke.

…

Ice-T: … You know, it was an interesting experience. New Jack City was a new-jack movie. The director was a new-jack.

Chris Rock: The producers were new-jacks, new-jack actors, new-jack soundtrack. Remember we kept runnin’ out of money? There was a couple of times, while we were filming, we were like, “This s**t is getting shut down.” Like, the chase on the bikes was [suppose to be] a car-chase. But it turned into a bike-chase; we had no money! [Laughs] Somebody had to think fast.

The film was shot on an $8 million budget and premiered at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 1991. The film would later release nationally on March 8, 1991, raking in $7,039,622 in opening weekend sales — and later became the highest-grossing indie film of 1991 with $47,624,253 domestically.

The film also had a longstanding effect on the music industry. Perhaps the most notable example is brother Bryan “Birdman” and Ronald “Slim” Williams‘ Cash Money Records label, a blatant reworking of Nino Brown’s “Cash Money Brothers” gang in the film. In addition, Lil Wayne‘s solo album series Tha Carter is not only his last name but an homage to “The Carter,” Nino’s crack house fortress in the film, as well as name drops Nino in his 2010 single “I’m Single.”

For decades, Nino Brown has become a regularly referenced movie character in rap lyrics. A simple search of “Nino Brown” on RapGenius shows over 4000 references to the surface by artists from all over the world. It’s safe to say Nino and New Jack City will continue to inspire generations to come, and if you disagree…

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Film ‘New Jack City’ Premiered in Theaters 33 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Film ‘New Jack City’ Premiered in Theaters 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Ye Provides Update on the ‘Vultures 2’ After Not Releasing: ‘We in the Lab’

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign Release Trailer for "Vultures" Video and Announces Three Release Dates

Today (March 8), the second edition of the Vultures album was supposed to be delivered. In traditional Kanye West fashion, the project is late.

The Ye fan account, YeFanatics, hit the rapper to ask about the project. “We in the Lab,” Ye responded.

Vultures 2 – Ye x Yefanatics. pic.twitter.com/gdvF8daDoI

— YEFANATICS (@yefanatics) March 8, 2024

But what’s the rush anyway? Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign have gone back-to-back on top of the Billboard 200. Hitting X, Ty had a swift message: “Not the 2.”

Not the 2 pic.twitter.com/sZUqTLW1jd

— TyDolla$ign (@tydollasign) February 25, 2024

Billboard notes the album will take the top spot behind 75,000 equivalent album units moved in the second week. Vultures 1 is now the first album from West to spend multiple weeks at the top spot since his Watch the Throne album with JAY-Z.

During the tracking week ending on Feb. 22, Vultures 1 accumulated 75,000 units. Of these, 72,000 units were attributed to SEA (streaming equivalent albums), reflecting a decrease of 44% and totaling approximately 95.25 million on-demand official streams for the album’s songs. Meanwhile, album sales contributed 2,000 units, experiencing an 89% decline, and TEA (track equivalent albums) units accounted for 1,000 units, down by 25%.

Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 1 album has taken over the Billboard Hot 100. Last week, all 16 tracks from the album have made the chart.

The highest charting single was “Carnival,” debuting at No. 3. “Fuk Sumn” hit No. 23.

The post Ye Provides Update on the ‘Vultures 2’ After Not Releasing: ‘We in the Lab’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Ye Provides Update on the ‘Vultures 2’ After Not Releasing: ‘We in the Lab’ appeared first on The Source.

Report: Touring Giants Live Nation and AEG Decline Kanye West for a Tour

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kanye West hoped to take his Vultures album with Ty Dolla $ign on the road. Unfortunately for him, Live Nation and AEG won’t assist.

According to Hits Daily Double, insiders state neither touring company will move forward with requests on a Ye tour that is being pitched by his agent Cara Lewis. The decision comes despite Ye moving over 10,000 tickets for his events, like the one in Chicago.

It is noted that Chicago companies Jam Productions and SPKRBX collaborated on the United Center booking days before the release.

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign are being sued by the Donna Summer estate for using the icon’s “I Feel Love” in the creation of “Good (Don’t Die).”

The suit is led by Summer’s husband, Bruce Sandano, stating the interpolation was not approved due to Ye’s “controversial history.”

Ye submitted a request for clearance, but it was denied on Feb. 3, 2024, in both written and phone communications. The song was submitted for clearance at Universal Music Enterprises as an alternative but was once again denied.

The estate is now seeking damages of $150,000 for each infringement.

Earlier this week, after Adidas announced a new stock drop of Yeezy sneakers at the end of the month, Kanye hit the net with a message stating he was sued.

“Not only are they putting out fake colorways that are not approved, they are suing me for $250 million,” Ye said. “And they also not paying me for these shoes they are putting out that has my name on it.

“They are using contract clauses and 50 years of business experience to rape an artist – one of y’all favorite artists – right in front of y’all in broad daylight.”

Kanye says Adidas is suing him for 250M while selling Yeezy’s with his name on it without paying him. Other celebrities need to speak out and bring attention to this because it could be them too one day pic.twitter.com/wxBBbiSHHA

— Ye Streams (@kanyestreams1) February 26, 2024

The post Report: Touring Giants Live Nation and AEG Decline Kanye West for a Tour first appeared on The Source.

The post Report: Touring Giants Live Nation and AEG Decline Kanye West for a Tour appeared first on The Source.

EXCLUSIVE: DDG Names 50 Cent As His First Introduction To Hip-Hop

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

DDG Drops New Collection With Anti Social Social Club Titled 'Who We Hate to Be'

DDG is a man of many talents. From finding success on Youtube to his rap career to breaking into fashion, to even becoming a new father.

Last week during the highly-anticipated BMF red carpet premiere and screening in Los Angeles, The Source had the pleasure of chatting with DDG as he stepped out in an all-black outfit and shades.

What was the moment you fell in love with?

It’s funny, actually 50 Cent was my first introduction to Hip-Hop. He was my favorite rapper growing up. Get Rich & Or Die Trying, I had the G-Unit shoes, the clothes, the video game. All of that.

What’s your favorite 50 Cent song?

“Many Men.”

Did you get to catch his tour? Because that show was so amazing.

Nah, I didn’t get to go.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C30onxLPDL_/?hl=en

Did you really drop $50K on a diamond tooth?

Yeah, something like that.

How’s the baby doing?

Great, amazing. He’s very, very advanced, and I’m very proud.

What’s it going to be?

I don’t know, whatever he wants to be. You never know. He’s already playing piano, so we’ll see.

What’s the best part of fatherhood?

Just seeing the little stuff. It’s like low key reliving your own life and seeing how it was to be a baby and growing up. You’re seeing how you were when you were a kid.

Do you feel like you had to grow up?

Yeah, I feel like a super grown up. I feel like a man. Not that I didn’t feel like a man before, but feel like a man man.

You bought your son a private jet?

Yeah, everywhere we fly because I don’t want to bring him through TSA. Maybe when everybody sees his face right now, it won’t matter. But right know, I keep it private.

What are you working on?

New music. Maybe getting into acting. I’m trying to go go go this year.

Are you taking acting classes?

I don’t need no class. It’s in me!

The post EXCLUSIVE: DDG Names 50 Cent As His First Introduction To Hip-Hop first appeared on The Source.

The post EXCLUSIVE: DDG Names 50 Cent As His First Introduction To Hip-Hop appeared first on The Source.

Comedienne Jess Hilarious Reflects on Regrettable Mockery of Chadwick Boseman’s Appearance

March 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Comedienne Jess Hilarious, co-host of the “Breakfast Club” morning show in NYC, has opened up about her regret for making fun of the late Chadwick Boseman’s gaunt appearance before his untimely death from colon cancer.

In a candid moment on “The Pivot Podcast,” Jess expressed remorse for her 2020 social media post where she mocked Chadwick’s weight loss, unaware of his terminal cancer diagnosis at the time. The beloved “Black Panther” actor had kept his health battle private, leaving the public in the dark about his struggle.

During the podcast episode, Jess explained her perspective at the time, thinking Chadwick had lost weight for an upcoming movie role. “I thought he was, you know, some people really get into the roles that they, you know, lose weight for a role or something like that,” she said. The episode of “Jess with the Mess” playfully commented on Chadwick’s appearance, not knowing the seriousness of his health condition.

Chadwick Boseman had shared a video before his passing, urging people to stay indoors amid the global circumstances. Jess, like many others, thought he was immersed in a movie role, not realizing the gravity of his situation.

“I riffed on him, and everybody thought it was funny and cool, even myself until he passed,” Jess admitted, recognizing the unintentional insensitivity of her comments. The actor’s frail appearance in a wheelchair outside a medical center shortly before his death captured the public’s attention.

Reflecting on the incident, Jess shared her internal struggle and realization. “I [didn’t even] care how people looked at me. How I looked at myself was crazy,” she confessed. The experience prompted her to reconsider her approach, understanding the impact of making assumptions about someone’s appearance without knowing the full story.

“For a minute, I didn’t want to do ‘Jess with the Mess’ no more because you don’t know what the hell people [are] going through, you don’t know when you come at somebody’s appearance… I just looked at him as a great actor,” Jess revealed, highlighting her newfound awareness about the importance of empathy and sensitivity.

“He was so unproblematic,” Jess added, emphasizing the regret she feels for inadvertently contributing to the mockery of a person who was silently facing a serious health battle. The incident serves as a powerful reminder of the need for compassion and understanding, even in the world of entertainment commentary.

The post Comedienne Jess Hilarious Reflects on Regrettable Mockery of Chadwick Boseman’s Appearance first appeared on The Source.

The post Comedienne Jess Hilarious Reflects on Regrettable Mockery of Chadwick Boseman’s Appearance appeared first on The Source.