Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep Dropped Their Fourth LP ‘Murda Muzik’ 23 Years Ago

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On this day in 1999, Mobb Deep released their fourth LP, Murda Muzik. Coming after a three-year pause and numerous release date push-backs, Murda Muzik did everything but disappoint. Peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart and shipping 1,000,000 copies in the year of its release prove that commercially this album was a success. The album also earned the #6 spot on the Canadian album charts.

Aside from its monetary success, the album was a hit. During a time in rap where Diddy and Master P were calling the shots, a project of this caliber came with much surprise and admiration. Havoc and Prodigy‘s stark realism and imagery depicting the darker side of the streets brought a necessary contrast to a game flooded with gold watch/diamond chain rap. Havoc’s style of production, although the majority unchanged from his previous work, was also a shift away from the norm of the ’99 to the 2000. This album has most definitely earned its respect and acclaim.

Rest in Peace to Prodigy and salute to Hav and the rest of the Mobb for this piece of Hip Hop history!

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Vic Mensa Starts The First Black-Owned Cannabis Company in Illinois

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Just two years following the legalization of marijuana in the state of Illinois, Chicago slang spitter Vic Mensa has launched 93 Boyz, the state’s very first Black-owned cannabis firm.

With Mensa consistently seeking opportunities to imrpove his community through education and employment as well as combat gang violence, his new company has already embarked on several initiatives to better the community, such as providing prisoners with more resources and updated reading materials.

“Selling weed was my first hustle. It taught me work ethic, entrepreneurship, and funded all of my first music projects,” Mensa said. “As someone with a lifelong experience of anxiety and depression, it’s amazing to be able to help people facing those and other issues while working with something I love. The war on drugs has had a devastating impact on my community, and yet our representation in the cannabis industry is less than 2%. 93BOYZ is changing that narrative while combining high quality, tastemaker weed with socially conscious initiatives.”

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Eminem’s Daughter Hailie Responds To The Game’s “The Black Slim Shady” Diss

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Compton mainstay The Game recently released his new LP Drillmatic, which is complete with a ten-minute diss track aimed at Eminem titled “The Black Slim Shady”, where The Game disses Em, Dre, 50 and calls out Mr. Mathers for “pretending to be the white Royce Da 5’9”.”

Now, Em’s daughter Hailie, who was also mentioned on The Game’s diss, has felt a need to reply and took to social media to express how she feels about “The Black Slim Shady”.

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Hailie tweeted, “If you have to make a song 10mins long about someone you ‘dislike,’ it’s giving obsessed.” She went on saying, “My dad is so legendary that people have to diss him in their songs just to attract an audience because they know they would flunk without the attention.” 

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Chance The Rapper Headlines Way Out West Music Fest In Sweden

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Over the weekend, Chance the Rapper headlined the Way Out West music festival in Gothenburg, Sweden. Performing to a crowd of thousands, Chance showcased his signature style that has allowed him to remain one of the most relevant and successful rappers to date.

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Chance has spent 2022 collaborating with artists from The Continent and The Diaspora. His new works include “Child of God,” “A Bar About A Bar” and “The Highs & The Lows” which celebrate Black artists and intertwine the worlds of art, music and cinematography –– changing the game through forward-thinking ideas that are compelling conversations and meditations on Black life. 

Way Out West, which attracts visitors from all over Sweden and also from large parts of the rest of the world, has since 2007 filled Gothenburg and Slottsskogen with music, party and culture in the three days. The program consists of the biggest world stars, the hottest newcomers, film premieres, challenging conversations, praised vegetarian food and a solid club program under the name Stay Out West which takes on more intimate scenes at night around central Gothenburg. Since its inception, the Gothenburg Festival has hosted iconic acts such as Patti Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Arcade Fire, St Vincent, Bon Iver and Robyn.

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A$AP Rocky Charged With Felony Assault With A Firearm In 2021 Hollywood Shooting

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According to several confirmed reports, ASAP Rocky has been charged with felony assault with a firearm, which stems from the November 2021 shooting in Hollywood where the victim has recently been revealed to be one of his former A$AP crew members.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Meyers, is accused of shooting Terell Ephron aka A$AP Relli after he came forward and said that Rocky was the shooter. Just before the arraignment, which is scheduled for tomorrow(August 17) Rocky was charged with the felony assault after Relli accused the rapper of luring him to an obscure location and shooting him in his left hand without provocation.

“Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood,” said L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón. “My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted.” 

A$AP Rocky was arrested for the shooting in April at LAX Airport on his return from Barbados with Rihanna, before posting a $550,000 bond.

Relli alleges that he suffered physical, mental and emotional injuries, while also receiving death threats after being shot. He’s seeking at least $25,000 in damages. Rocky faces up to nine years behind bars if convicted.

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Today In Hip Hop History: Rock Steady Crew vs. Dynamic Rockers Epic Battle In Lincoln Center 41 Years Ago

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On this date in 1981, the epic part two of the South Bronx’s Rock Steady Crew vs. Brooklyn’s Dynamic Rockers breaking battle in Lincoln Center took place. What makes this face off so historic is that neither crew had hometown advantage with the meet up for the battle taking place in Money Making Manhattan.

According to RSC legend and co-founder Crazy Legs, “It was the first time Hip Hop had set foot on Lincoln Center for any kind of performance. After battling in Queens on their turf, Rock Steady was set to perform at Lincoln Center. I decided to set up with Henry Chalfant a part two of the original battle. I felt that being on neutral ground, there would be a better and more fair crowd response. With the first battle being a tie(based on the crowd), we felt that it had to be done right. Needless to say, it was a smoke show and we overwhemingly had the voice of the crowd on our side. In now way am I bragging(maybe a little), but I’m just keeping the record straight and on point.”

See the footage from the epic battle starting at the two minute mark in the video below.

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Woman Says Lawyer Offered Her $200K To Lie About Trey Songz Sexual Assault Case

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An exclusive report from TMZ has revealed that a woman has alleged that the attorney for the alleged victim in the sexual assault case against Trey Songz offered her up to $200K to assure Songz’s guilt in the pending case.

Mariah Thielen says that when she met with Jauhara Jeffries’ attorney Ariel Mitchell in Miami in early 2021, Mitchel was carrying a gun and reeked of marijuana, according to court transcripts. Thielen then said that Mitchell offered her between $100K-200K to lie and say that Songz assaulted Jeffries, being that Thielen was present during the night in question. According to Thielen, Mitchell said she was trying to paint Trey as “the next R. Kelly.”

She claims Mitchell’s plan was to go to Songz’s legal time in hopes of landing a monetary settlement that would make her $200K payday even larger.

Thielen reportedly turned the offer dwon and reported the meeting to Songz’s legal team.

Mitchell denies the claims, telling TMZ, “We’re highly confident and certain the court will find the witness committed perjury. Parties are still awaiting the judges’ further instructions on how to proceed given the witness’s inconsistent testimony during the hearing.”

Mitchell’s partner, George Vrabeck, withdrew from the case, stating there was “multiple grounds for withdrawal” that existed under the Florida Rules for Professional Conduct, but Mitchell says that’s only because, “He will be representing me against the parties involved in this disgraceful motion brought by Trey Songz and his representatives.”

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[WATCH] Rare Footage Of Cam’Ron In Cipher In Harlem Circa 1995

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Diplomats General Cam’ROn took to social media to post footage of himself, MA$e, Big L(RIP), Bloodshed(RIP) and McGruff from 1995 in a rhyme cipher in St. Nicholas Houses in Harlem.

“Before DIPSET IT WAS BBO then COC!!! This is footage is In ST Nick PJ’s, These are the bars u get when u spar with @rsvpmase #BigL #BloodShed and @therealherbmcgruff (in a good way) every week,” said Cam. He continued with his pending hoop dreams and drug dealing reality, saying, “Still wasn’t taking rap serious tho. This was a month after I got kicked out of college. Still thought I was going to the NBA. So I got a 8 ball to hold me over till I got back into school. Never went back tho 🤷🏾‍♂️ I’ll post part 2 on Monday!!”

The post [WATCH] Rare Footage Of Cam’Ron In Cipher In Harlem Circa 1995 appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Rare Footage Of Cam’Ron In Cipher In Harlem Circa 1995

Screen Shot 2022 08 15 at 8.56.57 AM

Diplomats General Cam’ROn took to social media to post footage of himself, MA$e, Big L(RIP), Bloodshed(RIP) and McGruff from 1995 in a rhyme cipher in St. Nicholas Houses in Harlem.

“Before DIPSET IT WAS BBO then COC!!! This is footage is In ST Nick PJ’s, These are the bars u get when u spar with @rsvpmase #BigL #BloodShed and @therealherbmcgruff (in a good way) every week,” said Cam. He continued with his pending hoop dreams and drug dealing reality, saying, “Still wasn’t taking rap serious tho. This was a month after I got kicked out of college. Still thought I was going to the NBA. So I got a 8 ball to hold me over till I got back into school. Never went back tho 🤷🏾‍♂️ I’ll post part 2 on Monday!!”

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2 Chainz Expands Esco Restaurant After Settling Lawsuit With Pablo Escobar’s Family

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According to several confirmed reports, 2 Chainz will be expanding his Esco Restaurant And Tapas chain just six years after opening the flagship location in Atlanta in 2016. This milestone comes shortly after Chainz and his business partner Mychel “Snoop” Dillard settled a lawsuit out of court with the family of drug czar Pablo Escobar.

The ATL trap/rap star said that he and Dillard signed their first franchise agreement after successfully running three Atlanta locations.

“[Dillard’s] one of the people that really made my transition into this hospitality space easier because originally my introduction to the space was real estate,” said Chainz. “I own properties and dirt and stuff like that. So that merged with her passion and mine and made me very comfortable in this space going on six years now.”

After being sued by the family of Pablo Escobar in 2020 for using the Colombian drug kingpin’s intellectual property, the business duo recently managed to successfully settle out of court wit the family to the tune of $15K, which ultimately allowed them to expand the franchise.

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