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Grammy Award Winning Producer Swizz Beatz Releases ‘Long Live Jazz’ LP

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Entrepreneur, legendary producer and leading industry visionary Swizz Beatz teams up with premium vinyl brand 12on12 for the release of album Long Live Jazz. 

Following acclaimed collaborations with Travis Scott x Saint Laurent and RUN DMC, Swizz Beatz is not only the latest curator to work with 12on12, but he also comes on board as their new business partner. Acquiring a strategic stake in the high-end luxury vinyl brand, Swizz continues to build on 12on12’s reputation for unique Vinylworks’ and bespoke limited collector’s editions by compiling his own exclusive 12″ vinyl compilation featuring artwork from his own private collection (The Dean Collection) shot by revered photographer Kwame Brathwaite as the unique work of art for the record. 

Swizz Beatz’s 12on12 is a limited edition premium package that is hand-numbered to a run of 1000 copies featuring a meticulously selected track list which shares Swizz’s love and passion for jazz across its four sides.

 A modern day renaissance man, Swizz Beatz is keen to showcase Jazz to new generations and audiences while capturing the new vibrancy of the Jazz scene; demonstrated by his selection of a reworking of The Weeknd’s hit “Call Out My Name” by today’s leading jazz musicians the New Masters and featuring one of the most vital voices in 21st century Jazz: Immanuel Wilkins. 

Swizz’s selections are all intentional taking the listener on a journey from iconic recordings of jazz standards including Miles Davies “Round Midnight” and Kenny Dorham’s “Alone Together” through to contemporary jazz from present day greats such as “Doubts” by Ibrahim Maalouf, where you can hear the unmistakable influence of Miles Davis alongside Maalouf’s Arabic sounds. 

The piece of art selected by Swizz Beatz for the cover image “Untitled (Grandassas in Car)” was shot in 1968 during a Garvey Day Celebration in New York by Kwame Brathwaite. Brathwaite has a long history with jazz, having started his career as a co-founder of the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) before going on to photograph superstars like Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley, as well as jazz greats like Miles Davies and John Coltrane. 

Swizz Beatz says, “Jazz has always been magic to our ears. I feel like it should definitely get more attention! This is the first step to pay homage to the great craft & art. Photography is also one of the best expressions of art and should be shown more often. Art & Music are brothers and sisters so I thought it was a great match. I’m a big fan of Kwame and I also love that I’m able to share pieces from my collection through music!””

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ICYMI: President Biden Promises To Hold Russia Accountable Amid Ukraine Invasion

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President Biden is promising the world will hold Russia accountable. In a statement late Wednesday night, Biden said his prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they “suffer an unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces.” He said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “premeditated war” will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering.

This follows reports of Russian forces invading parts of Ukraine. Ukraine is wedged between Russia and Europe.

Last Wednesday, Russian President Putin ordered a “special military operation” to protect the Donbas region of Ukraine. an eastern territory that is already held by pro-Russia rebels.

In 2014, Putin invaded and annexed Crimea, which lies just to the south of the rest of Ukraine. Then, Putin backed pro-Russia rebels who started seizing territory in eastern Ukraine.

Biden noted he is meeting with G7 counterparts on Thursday morning and then will tell the American people what consequences the U.S. and its Allies will impose on Russia.

President Biden previously warned Moscow there would be “swift and severe consequences” if Russia invaded Ukraine.

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XXX Film Legend Jenna Jameson Confined To Wheelchair

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According to a report from People Magazine, former adult film star Jenna Jameson, who is suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, has been confined to a wheelchair after beginning treatment for the disease.

“I still have more testing to do but it seems there’s something off with my femoral nerve, and it’s affecting my strength in my legs,” said Jameson this past week in her Instagram story. “So I am still in a wheelchair, unfortunately, but I hope to be out of the wheelchair soon and walking. So say a little prayer.”

Even though doctors later confirmed that Jameson doesn’t have Guillain-Barré syndrome, they are still monitoring her health amid her weight loss, particularly in her legs. “My legs are incredibly skinny,” said Jameson. “But don’t get too alarmed, because my legs have always been ultra skinny. So don’t judge me. We will be back to the best soon!”

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Today in Hip-Hop History: J Dilla Dropped His ‘Welcome 2 Detroit’ Album 21 Years Ago

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On this date in 2001, Slum Village producer Jay Dee changed his name to J Dilla and released his debut solo album entitled Welcome 2 Detroit. The 16 track BBE distributed LP featured otherwise unknown artists from Dilla’s hometown such as Elzhi and Phat Kat among others.

Although it is a solo album, on several cuts, such as the first single “Pause”, Dilla takes a backseat and lets others command the mic. Dilla also sings the lead vocals on his cover of Donald Byrd’s “Think Twice”, which also has Motown crooner Dwele playing the keyboard and singing background vocals.

Salute to the late beat making icon J Dilla and the rest of his BBE family for bringing Hip Hop such an unforgettable classic!

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Global One-on-One Breaking Competition Returns To The Birthplace Of Hip Hop

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Elite competitive breakers (‘b-boys’ and ‘b-girls’) from all corners of the globe will descend on New York City, where the world’s most highly anticipated annual breaking competition, the Red Bull BC One World Final, will take place on Saturday, November 12 at the Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center. 

With over 60 qualifier events hosted across 30 countries, the competition brings together the best in breaking for an electrifying battle on the largest international stage, with the final event featuring a line-up of 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls. Last year’s Red Bull BC One World Final was hosted in Poland with B-Boy Amir from Kazakhstan and B-Girl Logistx from the USA taking the belt. Both will defend their titles at this year’s World Final. 

Born on the streets of the Bronx, breaking is one of hip-hop’s four foundational elements, as integral to the expansion of the culture as MCing, DJing, and graffiti. Over nearly five decades, the vibrant local art form has broken beyond New York boroughs and become a worldwide phenomenon, evolving into a gravity-defying hybrid of stylized dance and athletic sport now globally recognized, with a sporting debut set for 2024. 

“It fills my heart with pride to see a ghetto born dance transcend beyond the basketball courts outside my Bronx River Projects window. What felt exclusive to our community is now a global sensation and I see every b-boy and b-girl as an extension of the culture,” shares legendary New York City b-boy Alien Ness. “Breaking will continue to evolve, but will remain rooted in an unexplainable essence that connects us. If we could verbally explain it, we wouldn’t be dancing.” 

In celebration of breaking’s progression, breakers from across the world will reunite in the art form’s birthplace at this unique moment in history to battle for their chance to be crowned Red Bull BC One World Champion. 

“There is something special about the Red Bull BC One World Final returning to New York City,” says Logan “Logistx” Edra, winner of the 2021 Red Bull BC One World Final, and the youngest to ever hold the coveted title. “As the next generation of breakers rise, I feel it’s important to honor breaking’s roots while breathing new life into the sport as it continues to amass international and well-due recognition.” 

To further the development of breaking culture, the Red Bull BC One Camp will accompany the competition, gathering breaking legends and rising stars for several days of workshops, panels, and battles for the wider breaking community. 

This year’s program will be available to stream on Red Bull TV and the Red Bull BC One social media channels.

For more information, visit www.redbullbcone.com. 

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Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Deal Will Not Include Dr. Dre Or 2Pac Albums

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After the entire Hip Hop world and beyond were ecstatic for Snoop Dogg’s acquirement of his former label Death Row Records, but now according to a report from Billboard, the Dogg’s deal will bot include the most revered projects to be put out by “the world’s most dangerous label.”

The Billboard report states that Tupac is no langer a Death Row Records signee, which makes All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: 7 Day Theory exempt from the Death Row deal. Dr. Dre’s multi-platinum album The Chronic is not included but will make it to the Death Row catalog next year.

The Death Row catalog remains under MNRK Music and Blackstone’s ownership as the negotiation for the music is still in the air. Snoop’s Bacc On Death Row album was the first to be released post-signing.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Dropped Their ‘Sex And Violence’ Album 29 Years Ago

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On this date in 1993, KRS-One and the rest of the Boogie Down Productions crew dropped the Sex And Violence album, which was the fifth and last album put out by the pioneering Bronx-based Hip Hop collective.

The album produced less than lackluster sales, partially, according to KRS, because of his incident where he threw PM Dawn rapper Prince B off the stage during one of their performances. Kris also used this album to address his beef with X-Clan because of KRS’ proclamation of humanism rather than embracing X-Clan’s aggressive form of Afrocentricity.

This album touched on many of the social issues of the time, including the rape trial of Mike Tyson on “Say Gal,” “Build And Destroy,” where he addressed his humanist views and “13 And Good,” where Kris talks about the commonality of statutory rape.

Salute to “The Teacher” and the rest of BDP including Prince Paul, Heather B and Kenny Parker for making this album an underground classic!

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Historic Abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s Bicentennial Celebration Set For March

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The bicentennial birthday celebration of a trailblazing abolitionist and global icon of freedom is set to place next month in Maryland.  The celebration will begin on Mar. 10, which has been recognized as Harriet Tubman Day since 1990.

Harriet Tubman, was born as Araminta Ross in early 1822, near Cambridge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to enslaved parents. She grew up to be a freedom fighter, liberator, healer, military raid leader and suffragist.

While Tubman’s exact birthday is not known, the March events are expected to kick off a yearlong celebration of the abolitionist.

The seven-month celebration begins on the day Tubman died.

Harriett Tubman‘s 200th birthday celebration will be marked March 12th and 13th at the Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor’s Center in Church Creek. 

The festivities will include talks by Tubman biographer Kate Clifford Larson, a dramatic interpretation of Tubman’s life by actress Millicent Sparks and the display of recently discovered artifacts from the home of Tubman’s father, Ben Ross. 

For more information visit harriettubmanbyway.org

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Ahmaud Arbery’s Mother: “Thank You To Everyone Who Supported Us”

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Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones is thankful the Department of Justice brought federal hate crimes against the three white men who were convicted of killing her son. 

Arbery’s mother, father and lawyers came out of the courtroom with their hands raised in victory after the guilty verdicts were read.  Mrs. Cooper-Jones said the DOJ was forced to convict the killers of her son because the family and supporters put pressure on them to do so. 

She said she knew Ahmaud’s race was involved in the case from the beginning and knew the courts would side with them because of that.

“I now want to address the members of the DOJ. I’m very thankful that you guys brought these charges… but back on January 31, you guys accepted a plea deal with these three murderers” Cooper-Jones said.

She continued that she had “begged” the DOJ not to take the deal, and asserted that the verdict today would not have happened without her family’s continued activism.

Travis and Greg McMichael along with William Bryan were found guilty in the federal hate crimes trial. For the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery nearly two years ago.

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