In 1991, Dres and Mr. Lawnge, collectiveluy known as Black Sheep, released their only album as a duo on this date.
On October 22, 1991, Black Sheep dropped their debut LP A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing on Mercury Records. As one the last acts to be inducted as members of the legendary Native Tongues collective, Dres and his partner in Rhyme/DJ Mr. Lawnge broke the stereotype that rappers had to be born and raised in NYC in order to make respectable Hip Hop. Hailing from Smalltown, North Carolina, the BX transplants turned their geographical diversity into a joke while making one of the most memorable albums and movements to come out of the Native Tongues’ camp.
The album features some very impressionable tracks including the video favorite “Strobelite Honey”, the incomparable “Flavor Of The Month” and the timeless club anthem “The Choice Is Yours”.
Shout out to Dres, Lawnge, Chi Ali, Q-Tip, the Native Tongues family, and everyone involved with this dope album! Salute!
No one would’ve thought back on June 1st, the day that the New York Mets retired baseball legend Darryl Strawberry’s No. 18 jersey in Citi Field and subsequently fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-5, that the team that was still six games behind the NL East division-leading Phillies would be battling for a spot in the 2024 World Series. Doubters thought that they wouldn’t get past the Braves and was absolutely sure that they couldn’t beat the Brewers, but the Kings from Queens have written nothing short of a fairy tale in the month of October. In an uphill battle set in Dodger Stadium today(October 20) with Los Angeles leading the NLCS 3-2, the stage is set for the Mets’ comeback ability, which has been nothing short of miraculous this postseason. Citi Field has become the epicenter of this beyond believable energy and The Source had a chance to capture this postseason excitement only available in Queens.
Before Game 4’s ceremonial first pitch throw by Mets pitching great Matt Harvey to former Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, The Temptations, yes, the Grammy Award winning singing group, opened up with their epic ballad “My Girl”, to which the capacity crowd of Mets fans sang along. This has become a ritual of sorts at home games as “My Girl” is also the walk up song for their star shortstop Francisco Lindor. Music is just as important as jaw dropping plays on the diamond in keeping the fans on their feet in Citi Field and having in-house DJs raised in the birthplace of Hip Hop keeps the stadium on tilt unlike any other ballpark in baseball.
Queens native DJ Lomo, dipped in exclusive Mets swag and flanked by his toddler son in the DJ booth situated on the Field Level mezzanine, dons his headphones before testing his Serato to warm up with House Of Pain’s hype-the-crowd classic “Jump Around”. When asked about his tenure with the Mets, Lomo replied, “It’s been amazing, man. From the beginning, its been a dream of mine to play in sports as a DJ. I did the first one two years ago and it’s been a wrap ever since.” Lomo, whose been on the wheels for almost two decades, has spun on the airwaves at NYC’s Hot97 and says he was influenced to become a DJ by the likes of Funkmaster Flex, DJ Camilo, DJ Enuff and the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff. Now, that’s Hip Hop.
Wherever there’s music, you’re bound to have people dancing and at Citi Field, you have everyone from the cool two-steppers to the all out movers and shakers, which brings up to The Queens Crew. Headed by the director and head coach Gina Capelli, TQC has already created a fanbase of their own in their inaugural season with their uptempo, synchronized dance moves, something that was virtually unheard of in Major League Baseball until now. “What an inaugural year it has been! We’re a team of 19, but there’s usually 10 to 15 dancers per game. We’re just here to bring the hype. When the music is on, we are up dancing and we want everybody up dancing with us!”, says Capelli. When asked about the Mets’ possibility of going to the World Series, Capelli replied, “Its an absolute dream. We did not expect this. We are here for the moment, but we’re ready to go to the end.” By the end, of course, Gina means the Mets’ chance to battle in a World Series/Subway Series against the 28-time World Series Champs, the New York Yankees.
Tucked away in a small broadcast room right below the stadium’s upper deck sits the audio engineers of Citi Field, which is where we found the one and only DJ Razor. Another one of QB’s finest, Razor gives props to none other that the “Propmaster” himself, DJ Red Alert, for inspiring him to get behind the turntables. He reminisced about being about to see Shea Stadium from his Jackson Heights home as a kid and after getting in the door for making a song about the Metropolitans, he feels almost obligated to move the crowd. Rocking an official black Mets jersey just like the players, Razor has his name as well as his own number(33 1/3) on the back. He is the Mets official DJ and the way he handles each hit, homer, strikeout and even errors with such audible precision you can tell that this guy isn’t new to revving up massive crowds. Behind Razor sits a guy on an electronic keyboard that played the traditional baseball sound effects, but Razor’s view as well as his 1s and 2s were front and center to every single pitch of the game.
Arguably, there hasn’t been another MLB team in history that has their own in-house, Hip Hop DJs, 20-person dance troupe, McDonald’s-inspired mascot with his own purple seat, but their own anthem? Only in New York. The Mets officially adopted “OMG” this June and was created by the Mets’ second baseman Jose Iglesias last year during the offseason. OMG, which has now earned over 2 million on-demand audio and video streams in the U.S. through Oct. 10, has spawned the OMG sign frenzy that can be seen throughout the park, in the stands and on the field. When I asked Razor how OMG initially became the anthem, he said, “That was actually the players because the players were like, ‘you know what? We’re gonna use that for home runs’ and I used it, but I still switched it up. They wanted to stick with that one song and now we’re rolling with it.”
With Game 6 in L.A. being a must win, the energy that helped them in their 12-6 win over the Dodgers on Friday at home will be necessary tonight to stay in the fight for the World Series. All of the energy from the DJs, the dance crew, “Just The Man”, the 7 Line gang, “The Rizzler” and even Glizzy Izzy needs to be activated for the magic to happen for the Amazins tonight.
Seven years ago, rumors swirled that Drake and Jennifer Lopez were getting close when the rapper shared cozy photos of them while working on his More Life album. However, when the project dropped, J.Lo was nowhere to be found on the final tracklist, leaving fans wondering what had happened between the two.
Now, with Jennifer Lopez facing a fresh chapter following her brief marriage and impending divorce from Ben Affleck, insiders say Drake is wasting no time rekindling their connection. According to In Touch, the “Certified Lover Boy” has reached out to the multi-talented star, offering both flattery and support.
“As soon as she filed the papers, Drake reached out,” a source told In Touch. “He was very sweet and told her what a fool Ben is for letting her get away, and then he quickly let her know he’s ready and willing to step in and satisfy her.”
While Lopez may be taking her time to process the breakup, sources indicate that the two have been engaging in flirty late-night texts and calls. Though J.Lo has her guard up—fully aware of Drake’s reputation as a player—the insider revealed that Drake is filling the void for something lighthearted and fun, without immediate expectations of a serious relationship.
“He’s very intelligent and romantic, and she can count on him being discreet because he’s always kept her secrets in the past,” the insider added. “It’s still in the sexting stage, but she loves hearing from him and sharing sexy selfies. He’s very quick to compliment her and lays it on thick.”
While Jennifer Lopez might not see Drake as relationship material just yet, the source explained that the Canadian rapper is more than willing to step up if and when she’s ready to take things to the next level. “It’s just a matter of her being in the right headspace,” the source concluded, hinting that Drake is ready to “drop everything” and meet her at a moment’s notice.
On this day in Hip Hop history, we celebrate the birth of one of Hip Hop and pop culture’s most recognizable icons, Snoop Doggy Dogg. Uncle Snoop was born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. in Long Beach, California in 1971. Since then he has risen to become a household name in Hip Hop. His image and style are synonymous with the West Coast and his name will forever stand among the Pantheon of legends who helped shape Hip Hop culture.
Over his 22 (and counting) album career, Snoop has always played close attention to visuals. With every album, Snoop has put together a theatrical representation of his G-Funk sound. In honor of his born day, we have compiled a list of the ten best videos from his 26-year career.
#10 “Vato” feat. B-Real – Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
In the streets of Los Angeles, African-Americans and Latinos have never really seen eye-to-eye. Due to the immense gang culture of this southern California metropolitan area, the two races have been at odds. With this video, Snoop and Chicano gangsta rapper B-Real come together to try and ease some of that racial tension. The video was directed by Phillip G. Atwell and premiered on BET on August 30, 2006. An animated version was also released in the following month.
#9 “Faden Away” as 7 Days of Funk – 7 Days of Funk
In 2013, Snoop Dogg amused the pseudonym Snoopzilla, teamed up with LA-based producer DāM-FunK, and became a part of the prolific synth-heavy G-Funk group 7 Days of Funk. The video for “Faden Away” has a very retro feel, reminiscent of the years when funk monopolized the airwaves. Directed by Henry DeMaio, the visuals serve as a funkadelic time machine taking viewers back to a good old fashion house party and is a part of a series.
#8 “Drop It Like It’s Hot” feat. Pharrell Williams – R&G (Rhythm and Gangsta): The Masterpiece
Possible Snoop’s most popular song of the decade, “Drop It Like It’s Hot”‘s simplistic black and white color scheme that perfectly complements the track’s crisp production and smooth lyrics. Directed by Paul Hunter, the video consists of cameos from Terry Kennedy, Lauren London, Neptunes producer Chad Hugo, and Pusha T. In 2005 the video won a MOBO Award for Best Video.
#7 “High Wit Me” as 7 Days of Funk – 7 Days of Funk
As another release from 7 Days of Funk, “High With Me” takes a unique twist on the conventional music video. Instead of just directing a single video and releasing it per usual, the duo decided to hold a contest and let the fans decide visual would represent the track. The winner was a green screen psychedelic adventure featuring the group’s two members. The runner-up is also posted below.
#6 “Sexual Eruption” – Ego Trippin’
As the first single off of Snoop’s ninth album, “Sexual Eruption” (or the censored “Sexual Seduction”) introduced the world to a Snoop Dogg catered to the grown and sexy. This groovy soul-inspired came with a video straight out of the Blaxploitation era. Directed by Melina and Steven Johnson, the video features Snoop in a Bootsy Collins-ish glam rock outfit holding a keytar while using a voice box, pure nostalgia.
#5 “Peaches N Cream” featuring Charlie Wilson – Bush
As the first single of his thirteenth album, Snoop again revisits his soulful funky roots and brings together another hit with former label-mate Uncle Charlie Wilson. Directed by Aramis Isreal and Hannah Lux Davis, the visuals are an evolution of his past retro style 70’s inspired videos. Using more CGI and green screen effects allows this video to be both a walk down memory lane and an example of what technology is capable of. Prior to the actual video release, there was a computer-animated lyric video directed by Wolf & Crow.
#4 “Who Am I (What’s My Name)”– Doggystyle
As Snoop Doggy Dogg’s debut single, “Who Am I” is simply a perfect introduction to one of the game’s most promising rising stars at the time. Directed by Fab Five Freddy, this video was one of the earliest to utilize CGI as the main plot point. In the video, Snoop and his cohorts have the ability to anamorph in a pack of dogs (with Snoop being a Doberman of course) running amok around Long Beach.
#3 “Beautiful” featuring Pharrell Williams and Charlie Wilson – Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$
Shot on location in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Directed by Chris Robinson and produced by Renata Chuquer, the video loosely tells the story of Snoop Dogg falling for a local woman while away on a vacation. This video could double as a travel video, showcasing some of Brazil’s most beautiful tourist attractions including the Escadaria Selarón in the gorgeous Lapa district, a 1920’s mansion in Parque Lage, and the Copacabana.
#2 “Gin and Juice” – Doggystyle
Probably Snoop Dogg’s most popular singles, “Gin and Juice”‘s music video perfectly embodies what it was like to party on the West Coast in the early ’90s. Directed by Dr. Dre, Calvin Caday, and Anita Sisaath (the producers of 2Pac’s “Dear Mama”), the video features a teenage Snoop throwing a wild party “cuz [his] mama ain’t home”. The video features Ricky Harris, Dr. Dre, Warren G, Nate Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Eddie Griffin, and a six-year-old Bow Wow.
#1 “Murder Was the Case” feat Daz Dillinger – Doggystyle
Since the beginning of his career, Snoop Dogg has been deeply interested in the dark supernatural world. He has starred in and produced multiple horror films and has always kept a tone of evil quietly brewing beneath the majority of his work. The start of that trend came with the release of “Murder was the Case” in 1994. The song and video both spin the tale of Snoop Dogg being shot down in a drive-by and coming back to life after making a deal with the devil. As a part of this bargain, Snoop becomes a famous rapper but eventually turns his back on Satan, landing him in prison for not holding his end of the promise. The single also inspired a short film directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy going into full detail about the story narrated in the single.
From everyone here at The Source Magazine and TheSource.com, Happy C-Day Uncle Snoop. May you see many more years of ridiculous success, fame, and fortune.
Festival season may be officially over but don’t tell that to Tyler, The Creator who just officially unveiled the star-studded line-up for the 2024 edition of his Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, featuring headliners Playboi Carti, Erykah Badu, André 3000, and himself.
The festival will kick off at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium on November 16-17, marking the carnival’s 10th anniversary.
Actually, tickets for the event went on sale back in June, which is festival season, and also well before the line-up was announced, and quickly sold out. Fans have since been eagerly awaiting the big reveal, which Tyler finally delivered in a creative way—through a crossword puzzle shared with his fans.
Get this, the line-up for the two-day festival includes a diverse mix of artists such as André 3000, Kaytranada, Playboi Carti, Sexyy Red, Vince Staples, Omar Apollo, Faye Webster, Doechii, and RAYE, among others. A special tribute performance titled FM MOOD will also take place, honoring the late MF DOOM, who passed away in 2020. This will be the first time the tribute is performed outside of MF DOOM’s estate.
What’s more, this year’s Camp Flog Gnaw follows the festival’s return in 2023 after a four-year hiatus. Blame the pandemic, perhaps? That edition featured performances from artists like SZA, Turnstile, PinkPantheress, Clipse, Kevin Abstract, and Paris Texas. In 2019, the line-up boasted Solange, FKA twigs, and Brockhampton, with a surprise headliner teased ahead of time. Fans speculated Frank Ocean might take the stage, but the surprise guest turned out to be Drake, who was unexpectedly booed off stage during his set.
ICYMI, in addition to curating the festival, Tyler, The Creator has been busy with new music. He recently announced his seventh studio album, CHROMAKOPIA, which is slated for release on October 28 via Columbia Records. Fans can already pre-order the LP. Just ahead of the announcement, Tyler dropped an eerie teaser video titled St. Chroma, with Daniel Caesar later confirming on Instagram that he contributed vocals to the song’s chorus. “Did some vocals on this, very proud. Can’t wait for you all to hear the whole record,” Caesar shared.
In a candid new interview, YSL Woody—an associate of rapper Young Thug—opened up about his deep regret for his role in the Fulton County RICO case that has rocked the hip-hop community. Woody, whose confession played a key role in the case against Young Thug and the YSL crew, has now come forward to express his heartfelt apology for the pain and suffering he believes he caused.
During the interview with Ryan of Hip Hop Tours of Atlanta, Woody was asked, “If you could walk in that courtroom and say one thing, what would that be?”
In response, Woody offered an emotional apology: “I’m sorry… for the pain, the suffering, everything I caused on him and his family. I’m sorry for everything. I wish I had the strength and the mindset that I have now. I’ll never forgive myself.”
Woody’s statement reflects a deep sense of remorse for his actions, particularly as they impacted Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams. In the interview, Woody opened up about how much his mindset has evolved since the events that led to his pivotal confession in the case. The YSL RICO trial has been one of the most highly-publicized legal battles in hip-hop, and Woody’s involvement as a cooperating witness has been scrutinized by fans and media alike.
This exclusive interview marked a shift from the typical courtroom conversations, offering a rare glimpse into Woody’s personal journey and struggles beyond the headlines. As he shared, the conversation wasn’t solely focused on the YSL trial, but rather on his growth as a person, touching on the difficult lessons he’s learned and his ongoing quest for redemption.
The rapper’s fans, as well as supporters of Young Thug, have reacted strongly to the interview, with many empathizing with the internal conflict Woody now faces. Others, however, continue to debate the role his testimony played in the larger YSL trial and its impact on Young Thug’s career and life.
In this raw and deeply personal conversation, Woody reflects on his life’s challenges, the mistakes he made, and his hope for a better future. As he navigates the aftermath of his confession, Woody’s journey is a reminder of the human struggles that exist beyond the headlines.
Watch the full interview below to hear Lil Woody’s reflections in his own words as he discusses the burden of guilt and the road to redemption.
On this day in Hip Hop history,Eazy-E released his second solo EP It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa. Released one year after his first EP and a long five years after his debut album Eazy-Duz-It, this album was a response to Dr. Dre’s prolific debut The Chronic. Tensions became high between the two NWA heavyweights and after the group’s 1991 split, the beef became public.
The West Coast was in a state of civil war. After NWA’s explosive breakup, its ex-members spared no time to air out their grievances on every other record they released. With Ice Cube attacking the Ruthless Records infrastructure and Dr. Dre siding with the enemy (Suge Knight and Death Row) to bring down all Eazy had built, there was no choice but for Eazy-E to respond as he did. He used the bulk of this album to state his opinion on Dr. Dre and his street authenticity, with each of the eight tracks on the EP attacking Dre’s image, originality, past, and current status in the rap game.
Aside from the disrespect that served as the core of this project, Eazy-E truly flexed his musical muscles with every track. Whether the inspiration surged from his emotional reaction to what was going with his ex-bandmates or simply from him being a seasoned veteran of gangsta rap is uncertain. What can be seen and heard however is that Eazy-E ate his Wheaties before hopping on the microphone to lay down this EP. With this project, we hear Eazy more comfortable with his own flow and who knows exactly where his lane is and how to be the fastest in it. As his final completed work in life, it is a great depiction of his growth and maturity as an artist.
Commercially, the album was a success. Peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200 and claiming the #1 spot on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart, It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa sold 110,600 copies in it’s first week and was certified double platinum in 1994.
On this date in 1993, Buckshot Shorty, the 5 Foot MC amd DJ Evil Dee released their first full-length album, Enta Da Stage, in 1993 on Nervous Records. This is undoubtedly one of the most pivotal albums to the sub-genre now coined as “backpack rap”.
With total in-house production from Evil Dee and The Beatminerz’ Mr. Walt, Enta Da Stage tells the narrative of the gritty streets of Crown Heights, Brooklyn from the perspective of young, Black teenagers submerged in that environment. With a very cinematic feel, the album captures the essence of the unforgiving streets while maintaining its conceptual focus of using the music to magnify the environment. The album also introduced fans to the poetic, weed-puffing duo Smif N Wessun and Heltah Skeltah, the origin of the late, great Sean Price.
Recorded entirely in the world-renowned and now-defunct D&D Studios, tracks that propelled the project include songs like “I Got Cha Opin”, “How Many MCs”, which was powered by a KRS-One sample, and the lead single, “Who Got The Props?”, the track that would forever etch Black Moon in Hip Hop history.
Salute to Buck, Evil Dee, 5Ft., Mr. Walt, Dru Ha, and the rest of the Duck Down/Boot Camp Clik family for this timeless classic!
Young Thug took a moment away from the trial of his life to make a sincere plea straight from the Fulton County jail, urging his friends and hip-hop heavyweights Drake, Future, and Metro Boomin to figure out a way to fix their differences and hopefully their collaborative spirit. That’s deep. Like, he’s facing RICO charges and may never go home yet he found time to try to play peacemaker. That’s real.
It all went down Friday, where the Atlanta rapper took to Twitter to address the tension that has emerged between the trio, calling for an end to the feud that has cast a shadow over their long-standing friendships.
“We all bruddas,” Young Thug wrote, tagging Drake, Future, and Metro Boomin in his message. “Music ain’t the same without us collabin.”
Unless you been under a rock in the Hip Hop world, the feud, which became public earlier this year with the release of the track “Like That,” has not only As the hip-hop community but also the deep personal and professional ties these artists have shared.
As we can all agree, Drake, Future, and Metro Boomin, along with Young Thug in a big way, have shaped the contemporary sound of hip-hop through collaborations that resulted in chart-topping hits and unforgettable projects. Drake and Future famously teamed up for the 2015 mixtape What a Time to Be Alive, while Future and Young Thug followed with their own joint project Super Slimey in 2017. Meanwhile, Metro Boomin has been the mastermind behind countless hits for all three artists, producing some of their most iconic tracks.
Despite their successful history, tensions have driven a serious wedge, perhaps unrepairable between those invovled. Fans have certainly felt the absence of their collaborations. Thug’s call for peace comes as he continues to face serious legal battles in connection with his ongoing RICO case, which could result in a lengthy prison sentence. While Drake, Future, and Metro Boomin have each shown their support for Young Thug during his legal struggles, Future and Metro have been noticeably distant from Drake in recent times, both voicing dissatisfaction with the Toronto rapper.
What ya’ll think? Is Thugger right or should they all stand on business and go their separate ways?
LeBron has entered the chat for Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, who has been released from federal prison and transferred to a residential program in Miami. His released sparked a wave of reactions across social media, including from King James, himself.
As you may know or too busy to care about hood affairs, Big Meech, once the leader of the infamous Black Mafia Family (BMF) drug trafficking organization that operated in Atlanta during the 1990s and early 2000s, has become a cultural icon, largely due to the Starz series BMF, which chronicles his and his brother Terry “Southwest T” Flenory’s rise to power.
If you watch TV, the series, which debuted in 2021, was produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and stars Big Meech’s son, Demetrius Flenory Jr., who portrays his father. News of Big Meech’s release from federal prison quickly gained attention, with fans and celebrities reacting online.
As we mentioned, among those welcoming Big Meech home was NBA superstar LeBron James, who posted a celebratory message on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Welcome home Big Meech!!”
Get this, Lil Meech, Big Meech’s son, also took to social media, sharing his emotions through a clip from A Bronx Tale on Instagram. “Sonny, my father always said that when I get older I would understand,” he captioned the video. He also reposted LeBron’s message alongside a photo of his father.
So Big Meech, is now 56, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison after his 2008 conviction for drug trafficking and money laundering. His recent transfer to a Miami-based residential program has been seen by many as a significant moment, given his notoriety and the influence of BMF on pop culture.
What’s more, notable figures in the hip-hop community, including Sexyy Red, also shared their excitement. She posted on X, “Where da welcome home party @ I’m tryna perform for da freeski.”
Anyway, the BMF series has reignited interest in the Flenory brothers’ story, showing how they went from the streets of Detroit to becoming powerful drug lords who were embraced by hip-hop culture.
