2Pac’s custom ring is scheduled to go up for auction later this month at Sotheby’s New York. The ring is made of gold, diamonds, and rubies, is shaped like a crown and was created in honor of his engagement to Kidada Jones. It’s estimated to bring in between $200K-300K when it goes up for auction July 18. The ring will be displayed at Sotheby’s New York from July 18-24.
To celebrate Hip Hop’s milestone 50-year anniversary, Sotheby’s presents its third dedicated Hip Hop sale, highlighting Hip Hop’s profound impact on art and culture across five decades, from its inception in the South Bronx in 1973 through today.
2Pac wore the self-designed ring to the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards just days before he was shot. According to Sotheby’s, 2Pac typically wore the ring on his left ring finger. It will be auctioned as part of a special series in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop.
The ring is on offer from Yaasmyn Fula, the artist’s godmother who was one of Tupac’s most trusted advisors with all of his most important matters, including commissioning a new piece of jewelry to commemorate his achievements and usher in a new era of prosperity.
Featuring original art, historic studio equipment, sneakers and jackets, archival flyers and posters, rare artifacts, and more, the auction spotlights the iconic artists and trailblazers who defined not only the musical genre as we know it, but also the global phenomenon of Hip Hop culture spanning art, fashion and much more, including Tupac Shakur, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Ice-T & Afrika Islam, Fab 5 Freddy, Big Daddy Kane, Futura, Lee Quiñones, UNKLE, and Mo’ Wax Founder James Lavelle, among many others. The sale will be presented in collaboration with entertainment company Mass Appeal, which throughout the year has curated an array of programming as part of its Hip Hop 50 initiative.
Speaking on the We Are Florida podcast, YouTube personality and comedian Charleston White opened up about the current events in pop culture, especially the hip-hop community. After dismissing the 2023 BET Awards — “I ain’t into that bullsh*t” — they got onto the topic of Lil Uzi Vert. His latest album, Pink Tape, dropped recently. The second track on the list, “Suicide Doors,” features a rant White did speaking on Lil Uzi. “But I know he a sissified-looking n*gga that put fingernail polish on his motherfucking nails and wear dresses,” White says in the intro to the song.
While Lil Uzi Vert could’ve been really mad about Charleston White going after his manhood, he instead used it as the intro to one of the most important tracks on his album. Not only that, he has to pay him royalty checks for using his voice. “Yeah, I’m happier than a b*tch,” White says on the podcast when asked about his reaction. He explains that Vert’s people contacted him for permission to feature his rant on the song, and they ended up cutting White a “pretty nice check,” with future publishing checks on the way.
Charleston is incredibly grateful for the rapper including him on the tracklist, saying that he really blessed his game. “Shout out to [Lil Uzi Vert],” Charleston White said on the pod. “Cause I wasn’t speaking [favorably] of him, right? So he could’ve got [offended] and be like, ‘Nah, f*ck that [guy].” Getting paid by a guy you were dissing not too long ago? That’s one hell of a flex by the number-one rapper in the world right now.
The podcast episode features a lot of White-hot takes, including being out on award shows. Charleston White is also not a fan of football or basketball. Considering he just had five shows in Jacksonville, FL, it seems like he’s too busy to worry himself about other areas of popular culture. However, he’s overall pleased to be on a Lil Uzi Vert track. (Especially if the money keeps pouring in.)
SoundExchange, the premier music tech organization powering the future of music, announced today that eight-time GRAMMY Award-Winning global superstar Usher has been honored with a SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award. The accolade recognizes Usher’s standing among the most streamed creators in SoundExchange’s 20-year history.
“Usher has been making incredible chart-topping music for almost 30 years, and it is an honor to acknowledge his rightful place among the greatest artists of the era,” said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “As his ‘My Way’ residency showcases, Usher is without a doubt one of the preeminent performers of our time. We are honored to acknowledge his impact and longevity with the SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award that celebrates the hitmaker that he is.”
The SoundExchange Hall of Fame Award was recently presented to Usher by Huppe in Las Vegas. Usher is in the midst of his My Way: The Las Vegas Residency at the Dolby Live theater at the Park MGM, which runs through October 2023.
Usher’s recognition is the first Hall of Fame Award that SoundExchange plans to bestow in conjunction with the company’s 20th anniversary.
Former Roc-A-Fella artist and current talk show host Cam’ron Giles announces three new shows under his “Come And Talk 2 Me” network. “Es Lo Que Es,” “ComeAnd Talk 2 Me,” and “Ma$e’s Fix My Life”will premiere this fall.
In February 2023, Giles launched the sports talk show “It Is What It Is” alongside fellow co-hosts Mason Ma$eBetha and Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson. Months after the show’s rapid rise in popularity, “It Is What It Is” is expanding their coverage with an all-hispanic show in “Es Lo Que Es.”
“Es Lo Que Es” (@esloquees_talkshow) focuses on baseball coverage by a Hispanic/Latino cast with actor Cuban Hunter (@thecubanhunter), hardworking dad Fidel Gocio (@fgocio), and known blogger Loopy (@everybodylovesloopy). The sports show currently has a few episodes out now on YouTube and became the first show to branch from “It Is What It Is” on the“Come And Talk 2 Me” network.
When asked about the show’s vision, producer BBinc stated, “I want it to be presented as if we’re giving barbershop talk or block talk you would see in NYC about baseball. Not only do we want to talk about what’s going on currently, but we would also like to discuss the great moments in the history of the sport. It’ll feel very natural as if you’re drinking a Corona and watching the game with your friends.”
“Come And Talk 2 Me,” hosted by Cam’ron, where Cam’ron helps people with their personal issues. Whether it’s relationship problems, family issues, or job troubles, Cam’ron wants to be an open ear and provide his best advice on any matter. The trailer has Cam’ron Giles helping a married couple overcome adversities such as the wife being handicapped and the husband expressing how tired he is taking care of her.
Betha’s new show, Ma$e, Fix My Life will focus on people overcoming difficulties in their lives.
Giles explained his interest in developing these different shows with a desire to transition into show production. “I have been trying to work with others to be on networks or shows to no avail. I’m forty-seven. I’m tired of waiting for calls back. I told myself “let me take a chance on myself” and that’s what I did.” said Giles.
Today (July 6) marks the birthday of one of the most rebellious lyricists of Hip-Hop culture, the Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck. The culture notable turns 53.
The unorthodox approach of Inspectah Deck raised a satisfying hell when he smoked the mic back in 1992 on Wu-Tang’s groundbreaking debut single “Protect Ya Neck.” Amid every single slot of opportunity, Deck proceeds to expose his ability to describe realities in the form of rapping with a style that the average human being cannot detect.
Following the Wu’s debut, the Rebel INS went on to drop persuasive verses on the solo projects of Wu members Method Man, Raekwon, GZA, and Ghostface Killah creating a slew of the collective’s most renowned tracks which are deemed infinite on the classical realm. In 1997, he went on to create history by giving birth to arguably the greatest verse in Hip-Hop history. Featured on Wu-Tang’s second studio album, “Triumph,” Deck left an enormous impression on the masses as he bombed “atomically” which overall triggered a supreme evolution with his outlook upon the Hip-Hop masses.
As his metaphoric mastery and mortal flow set in stone Deck’s emcee stance throughout the ’90s, his own solo debut was longingly anticipated. Finally, in 1999, Deck’s solo debut Uncontrolled Substance was released and Hip-Hop heads were blessed with the opportunity to witness the rebellious lyricist take center with his intricate rhyme patterns and soul bound narratives scattered in street reality.
Most may consider Deck to be one of the Wu’s most underrated emcees, but the truth of the matter is that he is one of Wu-Tang’s strongest lyricists. Not only was this evident during his prime time, but as the Manifesto maker entered the following profound eras of Hip-Hop, which can be proven in his most recent works. That only goes to show you to the truth about how soulful emcees, never stop.
Happy birthday to Hip-Hop’s rebellious lyricist, Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck!
Born on this date in 1975, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is undoubtedly one of the most influential forces in the game today. From music to movies to successful business ventures, Fif has always stayed on top of his game ever since he made his unconventional entrance at the end of the last millennium.
What has always kept 50’s name in the people’s mouths is the fact that he always had someone else’s name in his! Not to be confused with the common studio gangster, 50 has not only survived, but remained triumphant and relevant after all of his beefs.
Here’s a short list of some of Fif’s most mentioned beefs in and out of the studio:
1. Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff
This beef between street soldier and kingpin became a story reminiscent of David and Goliath, with 50 Cent battling the most feared gangster in his Jamaica, Queens hometown. This riff was depicted in 50’s blockbuster film Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. The real ending? Fif is a successful businessman and Supreme is currently in a federal supermax correctional facility for life. According to recent reports, however, an appeals court has now forced a federal judge to reconsider Supreme’s appeal for a sentence reduction.
2. Big Pun
On 50’s first widely recognized track “How To Rob” featuring The Madd Rapper, he creatively spits scenarios about him catching several of your favorite rappers and R&B singers slipping. One of them happened to be the Terror Squad top recruit, the late Big Pun, who didn’t take it very lightly. On Pun’s Yeeeaah Baby! album, he tells Fif on one of the tracks, “I’m gonna make a song called ‘How I beat your fuckin ass’…”. Nothing never happened off wax with this beef and Pun passed suddenly on February 7, 2000.
3. The Game
With the G-Unit at the top of the rap tier at the turn of the 21st Century, if you weren’t with them, you and your crew were definitely getting rolled over. The Game, who happened to be the only recruit on the Guerrilla Unit squad that wasn’t from the East Coast, made the mistake by believing that his career would remain afloat without 50. With no help against the barrage of battle records from G-Unit to the unsuccessful “Boycott G-Unit” campaign, it’s safe to say that Fif come out on top of this one.
4. Rick Ross
The Bawse seemed to be the only artist that has even been able to maintain his relevance after beef with Mr. Jackson. Ironically, this beef started over an alleged wrong look at the BET Awards towards Ross. These two traded bars until Fif came out with the “Officer Ricky” track, in which 50 promised told Rozay “Ima fuck your life up for fun’. At the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards in ATL, Gunplay from Ross’ Maybach Music Group allegedly had his chain snatched and Fif was seen wearing the chain days later.
5. Ja Rule
His battle with 50 Cent should’ve been a warning to the rest of the artist who came after him with a problem with the Queens MC. These two were from the same hood, which made the beef that much more personal. While 50 claims that Rule hid behind the protection of “Supreme” McGriff, who was suspected of facilitating the unsuccessful hit on Jackson, Rule maintained a successful career until the continuous physical confrontations and vicious shots proved to be too much for certified platinum Murder Inc. artist. Last year, these two bumped heads on a flight, but time must have healed old wounds because the two just greeted each other with a “what’s up” as they flew together.
After a successful inaugural season of his “It Is What It Is” talk show alongside longtime friend Ma$e, Cam’Ron has decided that he’s going to branch out into the talk show world and plans on jacking the spot of the number one television therapist.
Dipset general Cam jumped on IG to talk about his new show Come And Talk To Me’, saying, “And for my Nx trick. Dr. Phil, I’m coming for ya spot. Pause. Come and talk to 2 me.”
Cam says that the new show is slated for Fall 2023.
Several reports have confirmed that an evacuation was conducted at the White House after a suspicious substance was found on the grounds of the Oval Office by Secret Service agents that later was determined to be cocaine.
U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division Officers located an unknown item on the White House complex,” a Secret Service spokesperson told reporters. “As a precaution, the White House grounds were evacuated, and the DC Fire Departments Hazmat team responded.”
According to the report, the substance was found in an area that was accessible to tourists.
Born July 5th, Detroit rapper/songwriter Royce Da 5’9” has kicked down doors in the music industry and demanded a spot in the most talked about ‘Top Emcees List’. Known for his strategic lyrical layout and clever word rhyme, he also has a knack for vividly telling stories through song. Best known as one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with Eminem and one half of the hip hop duo PRhyme with DJ Premier. He was also one quarter of the hip hop group Slaughterhouse with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked. Recently he added producer to his repertoire with his first two producer placements on Eminem’s new album, Music to Be Murdered By.
His recent album, The Allegory touched on several topics promoting the advancement of black businesses, family as well as mental health in urban communities. Easily one of this generation’s greatest minds, Royce continues to grow and share his ideology unapologetically with the world. With an extensive discography of classics, each project Royce puts out offers a different outlook laced with bars. His keen sense of worldly topics spills all over his lyrics and now his social media platforms. Whether he is speaking on hip hop or respecting the Black Lives Matter movement, his passion for humanity is undeniable. His friend and longtime collaborator Eminem recently announced that Royce joined his Marshall Mathers Foundation as the director of community engagement and social justice initiatives to provide privilege for the underprivileged.
On this day in Hip Hop history, one of the culture’s most influential musical masterminds was born. Wu-Tang Clan frontman Robert Fitzgerald Diggs a.k.a. RZA was born today (July 5) in Brooklyn, New York, 49 years ago. Since stepping on the scene in 1989, RZA has done more than just create an outrageously successful career for himself and his affiliates but has also forever shaped and changed the way a lot of things are handled in the music industry. From branding to merchandising to mastery of one’s craft, RZA stands as a pillar example of how someone given nothing but their own mind can rise to be a titan in the entertainment industry.
In honor of his birthday, we’ve compiled a list of five of RZA’s most important power moves that helped to build and strengthen his empire. Spanning from music to video games, RZA’s influence can be felt across culture, color lines and international borders.
-Signing With Tommy Boy Records
RZA signed with the famous Tommy Boy Records in 1991 under the moniker Prince Rakeem and released one EP, Ooh I Love You Rakeem. Although this may not have been the most eventful or productive period of RZA’s career, his tumultuous relationship with Tommy Boy is what helped RZA to formulate his own plan to monopolize Hip Hop. His time at Tommy Boy allowed him to build vital connections with artists and executives that can been seen lasting throughout the remainder of his career. Tommy Boy gave RZA a necessary first glimpse of how the music industry works as a whole, which helped him to finesse it into something that worked for him.
-The Five-Year-Plan
In his autobiography The Tao of Wu, RZA detailed a majority of the events surrounding the ridiculous success of Wu-Tang Clan, the most prominent of these being his “Five Year Plan.” This plan, enacted in 1992 following the success of the RZA-produced Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, was RZA’s scheme for his group to become the most powerful figures in Hip Hop as a whole and individually. In an analogy, RZA explains, “I want all of y’all [Wu-Tang] to get on this bus. And be passengers. And I’m the driver. And nobody can ask me where we going. I’m taking us to No. 1. Give me five years, and I promise that I’ll get us there.”
At the end of the five year period, Wu-Tang Clan had released the Grammy Award-winning, number one Wu-Tang Forever LP (which sold four million copies in its first six months on shelves), GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, ODB and Ghostface Killah all had Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, and Wu-Tang Clan had a successful comic book, clothing line and video game under their belt.
-Wu-Tang Clan Record Deals
As Wu-Tang’s popularity continued to grow exponentially, major labels were breaking down the door to get a piece of the action. For a short while there was a question of where the group and its members would sign. In an attempt to divide and conquer the corporate music world, RZA came up with the idea to have the majority of the members sign with competing record labels. Although from the outside this plan may seem risky and convoluted, RZA was again right on the money with this decision. Having Method Man sign with Def Jam, Raekwon sign with Loud, Ghostface Killah sign with Sony, ODB sign with Elektra and GZA sign with Geffen/MCA allowed for maximum promotion of each artist. No one company had to divvy out the funds to try and support the promo of each of these rap icon’s solo work. This also allowed record labels to work together like never before when pushing Wu-Tang Clan (who remained under Razor Sharp Records) albums because of the number of companies involved with its production. Never before or since has there been a group to sign a deal of this nature.
-Wu-Wear
In 1995 Wu-Tang released their clothing line Wu Wear, which quickly became one of Hip Hop’s most coveted streetwear brands. The brand’s importance, however, doesn’t come from its popularity but its pioneering. With Wu Wear, Wu-Tang became the first rap group to be laced from head to toe in their own gear. This again gave the group another step ahead of their competition. Even today, Wu Wear is international worn and recognized as a prominent Hip Hop streetwear brand and can be found in stores across the globe and online on various outlets.
-Hollywood Takeover
RZA’s most recent and ambitious endeavor to date is his dabbling in acting and filmmaking. As an actor, RZA has appeared in 21 films and has written and directed three. His popular The Man With The Iron Fists Kung-Fu series has proven he can successfully take his love for traditional Asian martial arts films and put his own spin on them to create something of his own. His partnership with famed director Quentin Tarantino only further validates his abilities and potential as a filmmaker and opens the door to the possibility of future projects.
RZA has yet to stop shaping Hip Hop’s culture and sound over the years, although he may not be as visibly active as he once was. His prominence in this culture is known and felt by anyone with knowledge of Hip Hop, its origins and its success as a genre. From everyone here at The Source, happy born day RZA, thank you for building such a godly culture.
