28 years ago today, Nas dropped his debut LP ‘Illmatic‘. Released by Columbia Records in 94’ Nas recorded the album at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Produced by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself; the bangers on the album will be embedded in Hip Hop culture as classics merely based upon its production alone.
The album sold 60,000 in the first week and debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the RIAA in 2001 it earned a platinum certification after shipping 1,000,000 copies in the United States alone.
Lyrically, Nas delivered street certified verses on ‘Illmatic‘ that influenced the majority of the 90’s and is regarded as one of the greatest LP’s of all time by critics and major publications globally.
The CMT Awards features fan-voted country music videos and live performances annually on the CMT Channel in Nashville, Tennessee. In an effort to be more inclusive of other cultures, the CMT Awards recently began inviting Black performers.
This year the show was co-hosted by actor Anthony Mackie and featured performances by Jimmie Allen and R&B singer Monica. Last week a white reporter, Patrick Howley, complained about Black artists at the awards show. “There were so many Black people there,” Howley said. “Sorry to say, but so many Black celebrities who have nothing to do with country music and it’s, like, why?”
He also criticized Mackie for hosting the CMT Awards on Monday.
“I don’t know who this Black guy who’s hosting it. It’s supposed to be country music. No offense. I mean, y’all have hip-hop and basketball… Just fly with your flock, bro.”
Howley played a tape of Mackie hosting the CMT Awards and imitated a Black accent to mock the actor: “The melanated people invented country music! We was making country music in Wakanda before Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard done stole the Black man’s country music!”
After his comments drew backlash on Twitter, Howley claimed he isn’t racist because he listens to Black music.
“No disrespect to the funky brothers,” he continued. “I love Earth Wind and Fire, Run DMC, etc. But country music’s different… It’s not Wakanda.”
White nationalist Patrick Howley is upset because there were too many Black people at the Country Music Awards: “Country music is different. It’s not Wakanda.” pic.twitter.com/PMfO1E22e2
Trick Daddy hit The Breakfast Club on Wednesday, and he is about to trend for the next couple of days. While sitting with Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, and Angela Yee, Trick got into the topic of the Oscars slap. While discussing Chris Rock’s delayed reaction, Trick revealed, “the only thing I ever had a delayed reaction to was gonorrhea.”
Trick would add more details, “I thought I was personally fine. It turned out she burnt me three days later.”
To make the personal anecdote even wilder, Trick Daddy says he has no idea where he received the STD because he was dating two women at the time, one of which was someone else’s girlfriend.
Trick stated he attempted “a geechie thang” and performed an earwax test. What is that, you ask? According to Trick, “You’ll know if you got something if you stick your finger in your ear and insert it. And if she jumps, she got something.”
You can hear this wild story from Trick Daddy below.
Transgender model Shauna Brooks has put Benzino on blast, posting recordings online highlighting her relationship with the rapper.
Brooks states that she isn’t attempting to “out” the rapper and his romantic preferences but is choosing to place her relationship in the forefront, as opposed to hiding their love privately. Benzino has resisted her wants in fear of people would “look at him crazy.”
In these exclusive videos, Benzino admits his attraction and desire for more with Shauna, but became infuriated with her when it got to the point that she wanted to take things public because he felt people would “look at him crazy” (THREAD) pic.twitter.com/cjfInKGdJl
Last month, Wendy Williams appeared on Good Morning America by phone and talked about the rumors surrounding her absence. Wendy said she is absolutely of sound mind and in perfect health. Wendy spoke about her case with Wells Fargo and reports that Wendy was ready to come back to TV.
From Page Six
Wendy Williams was overheard telling pals she’s ready to make a “big comeback on TV” while out in the Big Apple Wednesday night. She’s also planning to access her frozen accounts from Wells Fargo soon, sources who’ve been in touch with the talk show host tell us. Spies spotted Williams, 57, chatting about the situation over dinner with financial expert and TV personality Baruch Shemtov at Fresco by Scotto. “Wendy was talking to Baruch about her situation with Wells Fargo and she confidently said ‘I’m getting my money back very soon,’” the spy told us.“She’s ready to get back to work,” a source told Page Six. “When you hear her talk… anyone who’s known her for years, knows they’re getting a Wendy who’s ready to work. She’s really in good form.”
An all women’s prison in New Jersey launched the liberally progressive move of allowing transgender inmates to be house with the other female inmates, but now the prison is in hot water after two of the naturally-born female inmates were impregnated by a transgender inmate.
It was reported that some of the 27 transgender inmates at the Edna Mahan Correction Facility have been having sex with the biological female inmates, however, there have been no reports of rape because all of the incidents of sexual relations have reportedly been consensual.
“While DOC cannot comment on any specific disciplinary or housing decisions that may be considered in light of these events, the Department always reserves all options to ensure the health and safety of the individuals in its custody,” said NJDOC External Affairs Executive Director Dan Sperrazza.
Last year, to female inmates filed lawsuits against the prison claiming that the transgender inmates were having sex with the biological female inmates, but the legal director over at the ACLU has maintained their support of the prison reform that now allows transgender women to be housed with biological women.
“[It’s] in line with New Jersey’s strong anti-discrimination laws that prevent discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity,” said Jeanne LoCicero.
Whether you’re hanging in Coachella Valley or simply mourning the loss of Crenshaw’s fallen hero Nipsey Hussle like the rest of us, West Coast Rap is definitely being bumped at high volumes this weekend. That’s why we had to show some love to the Hayward homie Spice 1 on this lovely Sunday, which happens to fall on the 27th anniversary of his debut self-titled album.
Jive
Two years before appearing alongside MC Eiht and Scarface on our June ’94 cover (Issue #57), the rapper born Robert Lee Green Jr. delivered this banger for the Bay Area, which went on to reach way beyond his hood. The album was a big label follow-up to his well-received street EP Let It Be Known, which sold almost 100K in pure sales as an independent release. Once Jive came into the picture, the seven-song project was re-released and retitled as Spice 1, including five songs from the original project in addition to nine new ones. The switch up paid off, with the revamped version giving us the classic cut “Welcome to the Ghetto” and going on to sell almost half a million records.
The tracks on Spice 1 sound like quintessential G-Funk, translated through singles like “187 Proof” and the reggae-tinged “East Bay Gangster,” all the way to deep cuts like “Peace to My Nine” and the low-rider classic “City Streets.” It’s clear to see his style & delivery is inspired by the rap icon that discovered him — Spice 1 hails from Oakland’s The Dangerous Crew created by Too $hort — but the connection is less “flow biting” and more “of the same kin.” At the end of the day, it all just sounds like good gangsta rap.
The initial success of the album helped it rank in the top 20 of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at #14, later achieving gold certification by RIAA. “Welcome to the Ghetto” proved to be a hit as well, rising to #39 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart and also appearing on the Hot Rap Singles where it faired the best at #5. It ultimately marked a good start to a career that would go on to produce 12 studio albums and more than a handful of compilation LPs and collab albums, the latest being as recent as 2015 with his Bossolo-assisted project Thug Therapy.
We crowned him as one of the 115 greatest MCs from 1988 to 2003 for our 15th anniversary (Issue #167), and we stand by that sentiment as he rings in 27 years of his debut project. The Bay Area is home to an important sound and time in Hip-Hop, and Spice 1 helped cultivate that. Salute, king!
Nelly was on hand at E11EVEN Miami on Friday night and was chilling in his section and someone had the crazy idea to throw something at him. Nelly was hit in the back of his head and after briefly checking himself, he charged upstairs to where the object came from.
According to TMZ, Nelly’s team and club security intervened, not allowing the situation to escalate. Nelly would take the stage later that night for a performance of his classics.
Chris Rock may not want to address the issue with Will Smith right now, but his brothers do. Weeks after Tony Rockblasted Smith and called Jada Pinkett Smith out her name, Chris’s other brother, Kenny, is challenging Will to the boxing ring.
According to TMZ, Kenny Rock signed a contract with Damon Feldman, the founder of Official Celebrity Boxing, and now is looking for an opponent. Of course, he asked for the King Richard star.
At this point, it’s no telling what Boosie Badazz will say. After giving his white fans the clearance to say the n-word, Boosie’s wild words have made it to his mom.
Speaking with his mom who was wearing a bathing suit, Boosie suggested that she needed to “let them cheeks hang out.”
“Momma, you got on a bathing suit? What you got on, tights? Them cheeks out?” Boosie said in the video. “You gotta let your cheeks out, ma! You gotta put on a two-piece. You gotta put on a two-piece and let them cheeks hang out.”
Boosie brought his mom on vacation and he encouraging her to bag up them dudes staring at her lol “Let them cheeks hang out ma” pic.twitter.com/LDbF2dEkpg
full 
(THREAD) 
(@itsKenBarbie) 
THESE JAMAICAN MEN ALL ON MY MOMMA…WTF THIS FEELS WEIRD lmao
(@RapAllStars)