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Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip Hop history, Queens rapper Ja Rule released his debut LP Venni Vetti Vicci. As the first release ofrom Irv Gotti‘s Murder Inc. record label, this project carried a lot of weight on its shoulders as the breakthrough for not only Ja Rule’s career but the career and integrity of Murder Inc Records as a whole.

Fortunately enough, the album was a hit and launched Ja Rule and Murder Inc. up among the ranks of some of New York’s most respected and successful rappers. Ja Rule’s force, style, and energy blended perfectly with and help grow the popularity of the East Coast hardcore movement that was taking place in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The mix of high energy, club jam production and hardcore gangster lyricism is what made this album so appealing. Although it could be said that Ja Rule wasn’t the greatest with the pen, the party appeal of this project kept it flying off the shelves in record stores across the country. The album’s commercial reception was more than any one could ask for a debut album peaking at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #3 on the Billboard 200 chart all while going platinum in the year of its release.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago

by
tumblr c23585bdab347f803d8857e8f0f257b0 0b5587ea 1280

On this day in Hip Hop history, Queens rapper Ja Rule released his debut LP Venni Vetti Vicci. As the first release ofrom Irv Gotti‘s Murder Inc. record label, this project carried a lot of weight on its shoulders as the breakthrough for not only Ja Rule’s career but the career and integrity of Murder Inc Records as a whole.

Fortunately enough, the album was a hit and launched Ja Rule and Murder Inc. up among the ranks of some of New York’s most respected and successful rappers. Ja Rule’s force, style, and energy blended perfectly with and help grow the popularity of the East Coast hardcore movement that was taking place in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The mix of high energy, club jam production and hardcore gangster lyricism is what made this album so appealing. Although it could be said that Ja Rule wasn’t the greatest with the pen, the party appeal of this project kept it flying off the shelves in record stores across the country. The album’s commercial reception was more than any one could ask for a debut album peaking at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #3 on the Billboard 200 chart all while going platinum in the year of its release.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Chlöe Bailey’s Capella Grey Cover Of “Gyalis” Turns Into The Official “Shemix”

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Chloe Bailey Shemix

Bronx R&B newcomer Capella Grey ups the ante on his 2021 summer smash “Gyalis.” After dropping the official “Gyalis” remix featuring R&B star Chris Brown and Dancehall star Popcaan, Grey returns with singer/songwriter Chlöe Bailey for the official “Shemix.”

READ MORE: Chlöe Bailey Keeping It Spicy in Upcoming Single “Treat Me”

Originally released as an impromptu live performance on Chlöe’s social media, the video quickly garnered over 3 million views and became an viral hit with celebrities such as Tracee Ellis Ross, SZA, Fivio Foreign and more all demanding an official version be released.

The rich melodies and playful energy of “Gyalis” have made this song synonymous with the summer. “Gyalis” explores Capella’s player side and Chlöe matches that energy, offering her own risqué bars over the instrumental that samples Juvenile’s iconic “Back That Azz Up.”

Stream the “Shemix” below.

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The post Chlöe Bailey’s Capella Grey Cover Of “Gyalis” Turns Into The Official “Shemix” appeared first on The Source.

Pharrell Announces New Single with Tyler, the Creator and 21 Savage

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Pharrell Tyler The Creator 21 Savage collaboration

Fans of Pharrell, Tyler, the Creator and 21 Savage have a mega collaboration on the way. On Tuesday Super producer/ artist Pharrell revealed to his 10.6 Million Twitter followers a new song featuring Tyler, the Creator and 21 Savage.

READ MORE: Pharrell Announces Return of Something in the Water Festival for Juneteenth Weekend in Washington D.C.

The presumed artwork showed an animated version of the three artist standing side-by-side in front of a black background. The upcoming single titled “Cash In Cash Out” is set to arrive on June 10th. This will be the first collaboration between the three.

Check out the tweet below.

“CASH IN CASH OUT 💸 6/10 @tylerthecreator @21savage
http://pharrellwilliams.lnk.to/CICO.”

Share your thoughts with us on social media.

The post Pharrell Announces New Single with Tyler, the Creator and 21 Savage appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Chance The Rapper Thanked By R&B Legend Anita Baker For Helping Acquire Her Masters

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This past weekend, Chicago slang spitter Chance The Rapper was acknowledged by music icon Anita Baker, who thanked Chance during a show for helping her acquire her masters.

Baker showed her thanks to CTR during a recent performance where he was in attendance. “You should say hello to a friend of mine by way of the music industry and by way of helping me, helping me to get a hold and ownership of my master recordings,” Baker said, pointing at Chance, who stood up and thanked the audience for the round of applause.

“I saw one of THE greatest performances of my LIFETIME last night,” Chance wrote on Twitter. “Thank you so much @IAMANITABAKER for being an inspiration and an icon to so many of US.”

Anita added, “Had no idea you would be in our Midst. Such a nice Surprise. Brought Tears, to my eyes. Hope Ms. Essence enjoyed her Birthday ABXO.”

The post [WATCH] Chance The Rapper Thanked By R&B Legend Anita Baker For Helping Acquire Her Masters appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Cedric The Entertainer Talks Appearing On Jay-Z’s ‘Threat”

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JAY-Z’s 2003 The Black Album boasted a myriad of guest appearances. Still, one of the most memorable yet uncredited appearances was “King Of Comedy” Cedric The Entertainer in between Hov’s verses on “Threat.”

While a guest on  William “Fuzzy” West and Quincy Harris’ FAQ Podcast, the 58-year-old comedian explained how he talked his way into an appearance on the album after a chance meeting with Jay=Z in New York.

“It was random,” he said. “I was in there, watching him do his thing. The Black Album was his last album so I pitched him an idea. He was on his way out and I was like, ‘Yo man, I’ve been having this funny idea of doing the Beverly Hills Cop thing with you. He was like, ‘Oh, that’s funny. I like that. But I’m working on this song called ‘Threats’ that I need somebody just threatening people on.’ I was like, ‘Aiight!’ So then he left and it was me and [Young] Guru. I just went in there and freestyled that shit! Just was making it up, having a good time.”

Young Guru and the song’s producer, 9th Wonder, recall the recording session with Cederic The Entertainer, with Guru adding on social media, “@cedtheentertainer man we had a great time making that song,” he wrote. “First off I was super excited that @9thwonder had the possibility of making the album. @cedtheentertainer is really a ‘King of Comedy’ because he did at least 30 minutes of complete freestyle. That night was one for the books.”

The post [WATCH] Cedric The Entertainer Talks Appearing On Jay-Z’s ‘Threat” appeared first on The Source.

Madonna And Tory Lanez Seen Together Ringside At Davis vs. Romero Fight, Sparks Dating Rumors

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Tory Lanez had a rough 2021, with the allegations of shooting Megan Thee Stallion making headlines and making him one of the most hated men n the rap game. Now, it appears his issues with famous women have taken a back seat to new dating rumors between him and another well known celebrity.

Over the weekend, Lanez was spotted seated ringside with Madonna at the Barclays Center for the Gervonta Davis and Rolando Romero in Brooklyn, with the two playfully conversing and at times even blocking the media present from snapping pics.

Nothing has been confirmed, but the pics of the unlikely duo has undoubtedly sparked dating rumors Lanez and the “Material Girl”.

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Screen Shot 2022 05 31 at 8.41.38 AM

The post Madonna And Tory Lanez Seen Together Ringside At Davis vs. Romero Fight, Sparks Dating Rumors appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago

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On this day in 1988, Boogie Down Productions dropped one of the best and most influential albums of all time. It was widely seen as one of, if not the first, politically conscious efforts in Hip Hop

KRS-One was initially popular for fueling the Juice Crew vs. BDP beef on wax and expanding intellectual Hip Hop music through 1987, with the release of Criminal Minded. However, when BDP’s DJ Scott La Rock was shot and killed in the South Bronx, it had a profound effect on the Brooklyn native, which resulted in a drastic rethinking of his on-record persona. By All Means Necessary was one of the first albums the group made after Scott La Rock’s death that would have a lasting effect on generations to come. The “Blastmaster” began to talk about a lot of the issues that were plaguing the black community like police brutality, government corruption, institutionalized racism, and later on giving birth to his “Stop the Violence” Campaign.

As “The Teacher,” on perhaps one of the most influential tracks from the LP, “Stop the Violence”, he spits,

“I look, but it doesn’t coincide with my books/Social Studies will not speak upon hard hitting crooks/It’s just the Presidents, and all the money they spent/All the things they invent, and how their house is so immaculate/They create missiles, my family’s eating gristle/Then they get upset when the press blows the whistle”

As a plea to end violence in Hip Hop, which still hasn’t been heeded to this day, KRS-One took on the role as the spearhead of Hip Hop’s Stop The Violence Movement, choosing the single, “Self Destruction”, as the lead single.

With classic tracks like, “Nervous”, nearly every track on the album had a distinct narrative, and even the album cover art and the theme were Malcolm X (By Any Means Neccessary) inspired. On the track, “Jimmy”, the rapper became the first rapper to speak on the AIDS/HIV epidemic that plagued Black and Brown communities in America. On the song, “Illegal Business”, Kris gave the masses a startling perception into the drug trade and how it corrupts the police and the government.

Salute to KRS and the entire Boogie Down Productions crew for giving us this epic piece of Hip Hop history!

“It’s not about a salary, it’s all about reality..”

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Kayne West Signs Super Bowl Champ Aaron Donald To DONDA Sports

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Kanye West just added another NFL champion to his DONDA sports agency roster. Ye started DONDA Sports by partnering with Super Bowl wide-receiver Antonio Brown, and for his latest addition, he signed Super Bowl defensive tackle from the Las Angles Rams Aaron Donald.

The Super Bowl champ Aaron Donald broke the news of signing to DONDA Sports on the I Am Athlete podcast.

“It was an opportunity that came to us, me and [my wife], and it made sense. Hearing the whole spectrum of what they were going to be bringing, the whole family atmosphere that they got in Donda Sports. Not just me, but my wife being a part of that. For me it was a no-brainer,” Donald said.

“I think it’s a helluva opportunity to open up a lot of different doors and a lot of different things outside of football that I wanna be involved in, that I wanna do, that my wife wanna do. So to be a part of that, and be one of the best first athletes to be a part of that, it’s pretty dope. We’re excited about it, and we’re gonna see where this thing goes.”

With the addition of Donald on DONDA, Kanye West adds another Super Bowl champ, an eight time Pro Bowler, a seven time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle, and a three time Defensive Player of the Year.

So far, Donald said that there isn’t anything “in full circle,” but the two have been communicating. He also said that Ye offered him to be in a music video, but he declined. He also said that DONDA sports isn’t just another business endeavor for Kanye. This is something that West is passionate about.

“Donda Sports is something close to him, obviously, with his mother and everything. So he definitely wants this to be something that’s top tier and something he’s serious about.”

The post Kayne West Signs Super Bowl Champ Aaron Donald To DONDA Sports appeared first on The Source.

Drake And NBA Youngboy Top The List of Most Listened To Artist In 2022

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drake nba youngboy

Drake and NBA Youngboy are sitting at the top spots when it comes to the most streamed artist of 2022 so far.

Drake currently holds the number one spot with three billion streams. Youngboy Never Broke Again is closely trailing behind him with two-point-eight billion streams.

Chart Data revealed the stats oover the weekend,

READ MORE: NBA Youngboy Wants to be Dropped From Atlantic Records

Currently, Taylor Swift, Juice WRLD, and The Weeknd are also sitting in the top five most streamed artist of 2022.

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