On this day in 1989, Bay Area rap legend Too $hort released his second album Life Is …Too $hort on the legendary, but now defunct Jive/RCA imprint.
Not long after $hort retired from selling thousands of units from the trunk of his car, his fifth full-length studio release became his top-selling album to date. Even after dropping over twenty albums, Too $hort’s most successful LP was this ten-track gem laced with creative arrangements of curse words and a crash course on the pimp game. Tracks like “Pimp the Ho” and “Don’t Fight The Feelin’” were instructional tracks to those outside of Oakland unfamiliar with $hort, while songs like “Cusswords” and the title track gave off an “American hood” appeal that many around the country during the crack era could relate to.
Thanks to the Bay Area vet who put it down of Northern California when there wasn’t many well known rappers outside of New York to begin with. Salute for this piece of Hip Hop history!
Public Enemy hypeman Flavor Flav joined DJ Akademiks on his Off The Record podcast and spoke about his years long crack addiction along with other subjects that he mentioned in his upcoming book, Flavor Flav: The Icon The Memoir.
Flav said, “There was a time that I was spending $2,400 to $2,600 a day for six years straight. You do the math. And that’s how much I spent on drugs.”
Rapper CashFlow Harlem never misses and is a force to be reckoned in our culture.
The eloquent MC known for bringing light to serious issues, touches the truth on what happened to Tyre Nichols. Creating a career under his own terms, the Harlem MC has toured with his friend Rapper Cardi B and organically created a loyal fanbase. More than just a talented emcee, CashFlow’s intense research for each song is inevitable. Tackling systematic racism and trending news close to the black community, sincere passion is felt in each bar. Reaching back into history and getting to the initial root of the problem, CashFlow Harlem says what many are thinking—and what many need to know.
From single mothers to young black men murdered prematurely, no topic is off hands. Protect CashFlow Harlem at all costs. We need his voice, his wisdom and sincerity in the hip hop community.
Last week model Anansa Sims’ ex husband, David Patterson Jr., filed a lawsuit against her fiancé, retired NBA player Matt Barnes. The lawsuit came after a spitting incident at a football game where video captured shows
Anansa wrote:
I’m exhaling, because I hate making private matters public, but in this case our personal family matters are already public. Co-parenting can be challenging and I’m sure those of you who are on the journey to getting to a healthy place for our children can understand and relate. This is not one incident, this is a series of several incidents. It’s been heartbreaking for me to sit back silently and watch the way this has played out knowing the truth and history behind the altercation. I hate that after years of my Ex Husband harassing Matt and I, that he finally provoked Matt into reacting. I know this is a lot to read, but if you take the time to read each of the 10 slides you’ll have a better understanding of what we’ve been going through. For wherever there is jealousy & selfish ambition, there you will find disorder & evil of every kind. James 3:16
In a written note on the post she continued:
“Matt doesn’t deserve this negative backlash. My Ex Husband David Patterson has been harassing Matt and I for years. The harassment from David escalated after our Christmas engagement.”
“In the month of January alone my Ex has called the police to our home 5 times on false claims of us having a scheduled visit. Each time I’ve shown the different officers our Talking Parent messages confirming that we in fact did not have a visit scheduled. This has been extremely traumatizing for our children and neighbors.
In August my Ex Husband while hysterically crying told our 3 children 8, 9 and 11 that he was never going to see them again. He later that same day text my Mother, Matt and I and said that he was giving up his 50/50 visitation rights.
In fear I rushed over to pick up our kids who he said he would have on his porch waiting. In August David said since we couldn’t agree on our 8 and 9 year olds football team he didn’t want to babysit our children and that Matt and I could have them full time.”
Sims continued, “This is all documented with the court. A week later in August he threatened to come up to their football practice with his Glock handgun to confront me and the head coach of our sons team. I filed for a restraining order the next day.
In November 2022 I was granted a 3 year restraining order against my Ex which the Judge included our children for their safety. David was placed on supervised visits due to the nature of the restraining order. My Ex Husband threatened to run me over with his car and gladly watch all the blood leak out of my body. He said this to me in front of our children at their baseball tryout.”
Sims added, “He also threatened to kill Matt with his Glock multiple times in front of our children. Thankfully I was able to record him saying these threats on video, which in addition to his other disturbing behavior aided in the Judge granting me with the restraining order on him.
In addition to threatening to kill Matt and I on numerous occasions, David also made heinous false detrimental accusations to authorities against Matt’s twin sons. When my Ex Husband came after the twins I was furious and I knew he would not stop.
Sims added, “This is the 2nd restraining order I’ve had to get on my Ex Husband. In 2017 the judge granted me with a 3 year restraining order due to domestic violence and David threatening to kill me and himself multiple times.
David has said in text message recently that he was going to end Matt’s podcast and ESPN career, so when I learned about the altercation at Levi stadium I knew David was trying to bait Matt into hitting him.
My Ex Husband had just sent police officers to our home davs before that game on false scheduled visit claims. It’s public knowledge that Matt is a huge 49ers fan and David knew Matt would be at the game. Giving David an opportunity to approach Matt. David started the altercation, which resulted in Matt’s response.
Unfortunately, the cameras only captured Matt’s reaction, not the whole incident.”
Long Beach rapper Tay-K continues to tweet the world while serving 55 years for murder and his most recent message this past weekend(January 28), in which he claims that the person in the neighboring cell killed their cellmate with their food tray.
Tay-K took to Twitter earlier this month when he pointed out that he should get “a second chance at adulthood” like his white co-defendant that received ten years probation for a similar crime.
Tay-K’s tweet read, “I really just need 1 chance @ adulthood. I bet if I was a lil white kid they wouldn’t have gave me no 55 years for a crime I was alleged to play the most insignificant role in when I was 16….they woulda rightfully argued that my mind wasn’t fully developed and gave me rehabilitation and a 2nd (1st) chance at adulthood.”
He added, “one of my codefendants was a white girl who was 16 jus like me…they didn’t certify her as an adult but they certified me n pimp as adults, pimp got 30, I got 55, she ended up getting 10 years of probation without no deal…that girl @ home rn.”
Tay-K, whose real name is Taymor McIntyre. was sentenced to 55 years in 2019 after he was found guilty of death of 21-year-old Ethan Walker in 2016. Tay-K was one of six people who entered a house in Mansfield, Texas trying to steal cash and drugs, but things took a violent turn, in which Ethan Walker was left dead.
Multi-Platinum rapper/producer Vic Mensa has shared his first new song of the year, a soulful-rap love jam entitled “Strawberry Louis Vuitton” via Roc Nation. The single, which features vocalist and bass virtuoso Thundercat along with R&B songstress Maeta on additional vocals and instrumentation, arrives alongside an awe-inspiring music video in which Mensa skydives in a custom recreation of a Virgil Abloh suit while playing guitar, serenading a female companion who awaits his arrival on the ground. “I made Strawberry Louis Vuitton while watching one of Virgil’s last LV films; the one with Saul Williams,” states Vic. “When I heard the sample it just spoke to me, so I chopped it, made the beat, and wrote the song on the spot. It was really a freestyle. I always imagined Thundercat doing the bridge… we recorded it when he was on tour and I was doing my art show in Chicago. When Virgil passed away I kind of felt like he had given this song to me; the gift that keeps on giving, in a way.” Vic Mensa has stated that he’s been working toward a new project, and “Strawberry Louis Vuitton” sets the bar high for what his fans should expect from the Grammy Nominated artist as Mensa not only produced the track, but co-directed the video as well. Vic will be performing the song accompanied by Maeta and Phony Ppl this Wednesday on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.
Last year, Ma$e and Cam’Ron made amends after their longstanding Harlemite feud dating back to the late 90s, that only became more inflamed with the shooting deaths of Big L and Baby J during that era. Last week, Cam and Ma$e had a one-night-only show featuring Jadakiss at Harlem’s Apollo Theater and performed their “Horse And Carriage” hit for the first time n their careers.
“Imma keep it a hundred: I ain’t do this song in so long. So Imma just act like y’all know it and do a little bit of this,” said Cam’Ron. Mase went on to say, “Yo, we never got to perform this song. We never got to perform this.”
Ahead of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16) joined together at the construction site of the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx to announce $5 million in federal funding to help preserve and celebrate hip hop music’s history and influence over American culture. The Universal Hip Hop Museum will become a tourist hub honoring the music genre’s influence over art, music, fashion, film, marketing and entertainment, and celebrating the pioneers who built the culture, such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, DJ Red Alert, Run DMC, and KRS-One. The funds attained by Sen. Gillibrand, Sen. Schumer, and Rep. Bowman will go toward the construction of the facility, as well as K-12 educational programming.
The lawmakers were also joined by New York State Senator José M. Serrano, New York Senator Jamaal Bailey, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., former Peekskill Mayor and hip hop artist Andre Rainey, KRS-One, G. Simone, Roxanne Shanté, Grandmaster Flash, Eric B., and Grand Wizzard Theodore.
“The Bronx has historically been a creative incubator, nurturing so many genres of music ranging from doo-wop to salsa, but few genres have left a greater mark than hip hop music,”said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.“It is amazing to see that what started as a party in the basement of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue became a global phenomenon that spawned artists and entrepreneurs like Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Pitbull, and 50 Cent. With the 50th anniversary of hip hop right around the corner, I am proud to have secured funds to help the Universal Hip Hop Museum celebrate everything that is beautiful about hip hop culture.”
“Since its birth in the Bronx 50 years ago, Hip Hop culture has transcended language, race, age, in addition to geographic and socioeconomic barriers. It is a uniquely American art form that has become a global cultural movement. That’s why I’m so proud to deliver $5,000,000 to the Universal Hip Hop Museum, which will serve as the ‘Official Record of Hip Hop’,”said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer.“This museum will allow visitors from all around the world to come together in the Bronx and immerse themselves in Hip Hop culture of the past and present, as well as provide an important space for educational programs to empower our youth.”
“Hip Hop is a global movement that transcends beyond our borders. As a proud supporter of the creation of the Universal Hip Hop Museum, I am excited that there will be a cultural and artistic representation of Hip Hop’s profound impact on the world right here in this community,”said Congressman Jamaal Bowman Ed.D (NY-16). “The $5 million in federal funding secured for the Universal Hip Hop Museum demonstrates a commitment to recognizing the historic contribution Hip Hop has made in this country. For people who were disconnected from their continent, from their language, from their culture, and from their ancestry, Hip Hop represents the rebirth of a civilization. The pioneers of Hip Hop created a vessel that grew to impact nearly every facet of American culture and this funding is only the start of prioritizing and honoring those in our country who have paved the way for many generations to come.”
“The Universal Hip-Hop Museum will serve as an important space for the preservation and celebration of Hip-Hop culture,”said New York State Senator José M. Serrano. “Born in the Bronx 50 years ago, the cultural phenomenon known as Hip-Hop has changed the world and influenced music globally. My sincere thanks to Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer, and our Congressional delegation for their support of this important cultural venue”
On today’s date in 2007, Sean Price of the legendary Boot Camp Clik released his second solo album entitled Jesus Price Supastar on Duck Down Records.
Jesus Price Supastar features production from 9th Wonder and Khrysis, as well as Illmind, Tommy Tee, Moss, and P.F. Cuttin. Album guests include Boot Camp Clik members Buckshot, Steele and Rock, Rustee Juxx, Sadat X, Block McCloud, Phonte, Chaundon, and The Loudmouf Choir. The album was met with a positive reception from music critics.
Jesus Price Supastar debuted on the Billboard Hot 200 chart at #196, making it the first Boot Camp Clik album since 1999 to crack the chart.
This album was a superb follow up to Monkey Barz, Price’s solo debut, but not even the BCC expected Sean’s solo ventures to be received so well by an entirely different generation of Hip Hoppers than he was used to that celebrated his Helton Skeltah success.
After four successful solo albums, Price’s life was cut short in August 2015 by what has still been ruled undetermined.
Salute to the Price family, his wife Bernie, his daughter Shaun, Buckshot, Steele, Tek and the entire Duck Down team for sharing the unparalleled talent of an artist like Sean Price. P!
Last night, Michael B. Jordan showed his hilarious sense of humor during his Saturday Night Live hosting debut.
The Creed III star and director delivered an opener poking fun at himself, his very public breakup, and humble beginnings before his heartthrob status.
“I’m so happy to be here. Michael B. Jordan, and tonight, Michael B. Hosting. Michael B. Michael B. Joking. And honestly, Michael B. Nervous,” he said.
“Michael B. Vulnerable. But don’t worry, Michael B. Alright. Because Michael B. In therapy!”
He also joked about the unexpected reasons it was hard to get over his split with Lori Harvey.
“I just went through my very first public break-up. Now most people after a breakup are like, ‘I’m going to get in better shape!’ But I was already in Creed shape.”
He also mentioned he learned a new language to say en español that he’s on the Raya dating app.
In this Southwest spoof, the airline apologizes for the travel apocalypse of more than 16K canceled flights during the holidays. They promised to upgrade from 2002 computers to 2008 and recruit new flight crews from former Waffle House employees. “Come at them if you want, but these big b*tches don’t play!” Joran’s lounge captain threatened. “If it’s that important to you, just walk!”
Watch more videos of Michael B. Jordan’s debut below!
For wherever there is jealousy & selfish ambition, there you will find disorder & evil of every kind. James 3:16
