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Today in Hip-Hop History: Chi Ali Released His Debut Album ‘The Fabulous Chi-Ali’ 31 Years Ago

March 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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31 years ago today, Chi Ali released his first and only album The Fabulous Chi-Ali. Chi-Ali first appeared on De La Soul’s single “Say No Go” and on Black Sheep’s debut album, A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing featured on “Pass the 40”. Chi Ali at the time was a core member of Native Tongues, a New York City-based hip-hop collective, and also had connections with the Legion family, along with Showbiz and A.G.

In 1992, Chi-Ali released his first solo single, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a #”, which was a moderate hit and reached #6 in the US Hot Rap Singles chart. The song was popular on urban radio stations, and the music video received good rotation on Yo! MTV Raps and Rap City. The album in which the song was featured was released shortly thereafter, which yielded two other singles; “Roadrunner” and “Funky Lemonade,” which were both remixed and re-recorded.

In the late 1990s, Chi-Ali appeared on Dres’s solo album, Sure Shot Redemption, and began featuring with other artists. His most recent collabo was with Jadakiss on a song entitled “G-Check”.

On January 14, 2000, Chi-Ali shot and killed a man during an argument in The Bronx. He was later arrested in 2001 for the death of his girlfriend’s brother, Sean Raymond, after spending a year evading police and even appeared on an episode of America’s Most Wanted. Chi-Ali hid in numerous East Coast cities until he was apprehended on March 5, 2001, in New York City and was subsequently convicted of the killing and served a 12-year bid at Sing Sing Correctional Facility.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Chi Ali Released His Debut Album ‘The Fabulous Chi-Ali’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Tamika Scott Explains How Her Brother-in-Law Allegedly Stole Her Royalties

March 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In the much-talked-about new reality TV show ‘Queens of R&B’ Xscape singer Tamika Scott accuses her sister LaTocha and her husband / manager Rocky Bivens of stealing her royalty checks. The accusation has caused a whirlwind response of people pleading with Latocha to pay her sister what she owes her and fix their relationship.

In a recent interview Tamika reveals exactly how her sister and husband allegedly swindled her out of her money during a time she needed it most. The Xscape member also reveals how she found out.

Tamika says it began after Xscape singer Tiny’s mother, Diane Cottle, found out about a royalty distribution service for recording artists and signed Xscape up to receive checks.

After a particularly large check arrived Tiny’s mom called Tamika to congratulate her, but that was the first time Tamika had heard anything about it.

Tiny’s mother did some digging and found out Tamika’s address at the distribution center had been changed from her address in New York to her mother’s address in Atlanta, where LaTocha and Rocky were staying, and that the checks had been cashed through Rocky’s bank account with Tameka’s signature forged on the back of the checks.
Watch the video below.

The post [WATCH] Tamika Scott Explains How Her Brother-in-Law Allegedly Stole Her Royalties appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: Arrested Development Dropped Their Debut Album ‘3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of…’ 31 Years Ago

March 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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On this day in Hip Hop history, Dirty South-based group Arrested Development released their debut album 3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in The Life Of…. Released during a time in Hip Hop where West Coast gangster rap reigned supreme, Arrested Development was able to grab hearts and minds around the globe with their smooth Hip-Hop sounds and Afrocentric themes. Much like the Afrocentric movement of New York Hip-Hop, Arrested Development strayed away from negativity to give their listeners a message they could walk away with after listening.

Along with having a largely positive critical reception, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of… was commercially successful. The album peaked at #3 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart, #3 on the UK Albums Chart, and #7 on the Billboard 200 chart. The project’s singles ” Everyday People,” “Tennessee,” and “Mr. Wendal” were all top 10 hits in the United States.

“Everyday People” was a #1 Hot Rap Single and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Mr. Wendal” claimed the #6 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. “Tennessee” peaked at #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart but never made an appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it wasn’t a mainstream chart-topper, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it on their list of 500 songs that shaped rock n’ roll.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Arrested Development Dropped Their Debut Album ‘3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of…’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Beyonce And Adidas Part Ways

March 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Four years ago Beyoncé partnered with Adidas for the relaunch of her athletic/leisure line Ivy Park for an icon celebrity drop that had the girls (and guys) in a frenzy.

Now, the partnership has come to a bitter end.
The Hollywood Reporter reports:

Beyoncé and Adidas are breaking up.

A source close to the situation tells The Hollywood Reporter that the Grammy-winning entrepreneur and the German lifestyle brand have mutually agreed to part ways.

In 2018, Beyoncé entered a creative partnership with Adidas, where she relaunched her Ivy Park activewear line and also developed new footwear and apparel for the brand.

But there has apparently been major creative differences between Ivy Park and Adidas, and Beyoncé is excitedly looking to reclaim her brand, chart her own path and maintain creative freedom.’
Will the Queen Bey do it again?

The post Beyonce And Adidas Part Ways appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Cee-Lo Green Falls Off Horse At Shawty Lo Birthday Celebration

March 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

A slew of celebrities and notables came out in ATL to celebrate the life of D4L founder, the late Shawty Lo, who would’ve turned 47 years old if he were alive today. The Dungeon Family’s Cee-Lo Green was in attendance and made a grand entrance on horseback, but it didn’t end how he expected.

Cee-Lo was all smiles while riding into the The Bank on horseback until the horse threw the “Crazy” singer from his back onto the ground. Cee=Lo was not seriously injured, as the video shows him smiling again after picking himself up.

See the footage below.

The post [WATCH] Cee-Lo Green Falls Off Horse At Shawty Lo Birthday Celebration appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] J. Cole Says He Smoked Cigarettes Regularly At 6 Years Old

March 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

J. Cole Drops "Procrastination (Broke)" Loosie Using Fan-Created Beat He Found on YouTube

In a revealing episode of Lead By Example with GS Warriors General Manager Bob Myers, rap wunderkind and b-ball enthusiast J. Cole told Myers he believed he had a real shot at the NBA, but a cigarette habit at the tender age of 6 made that dream in particular a little harder to reach.

Cole, a Fayetteville, NC native, revealed that by six years old, he had already developed an unhealthy habit; smoking cigarettes. “At 6 years old, I was smoking cigarettes regularly around the neighborhood,” says Cole. “I was always hanging around the older kids in the neighborhood that [my older brother, Zach] was hanging around and they were smoking. And I was young and fearless and trying to be cool.”

See the segment from the interview below.

The post [WATCH] J. Cole Says He Smoked Cigarettes Regularly At 6 Years Old appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Raekwon Goes Behind The Scenes Of The Making Of “Ice Cream” Video

March 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon and his team take fans behind the scenes of the official music video for “Ice Cream,” featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Cappadonna from his Only Built 4 Cuban Linx album in the latest installment of Vevo Footnotes, premiering today. The exclusive content is part of Vevo’s celebration to honor the historic 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop.

In the episode, Raekwon stresses the importance of the song in celebrating women in hip-hop and showcasing the diversity of beauty in its music video. He also shares he was looking for something “soft but heartfelt” for the album and that the RZA-produced track and ice cream truck sample was perfect to inspire the lyrics and make it happen. Director Ralph McDaniels notes that filming in Jamaica, Queens posed challenges with crowd control once word spread of their location and that his favorite moment was the impromptu casting for the scene with Ghostface Killah. While Raekwon’s manager, Rashida Watler, further discusses how the music video influenced hip-hop fashion and discusses the instant impact of “Ice Cream” on the hip-hop community.

The post [WATCH] Raekwon Goes Behind The Scenes Of The Making Of “Ice Cream” Video appeared first on The Source.

Remembering Phife Dawg Seven Years Later! (R.I.P.) Phife’s Five Hottest Verses

March 22, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Even though Phife’s premature passing was unfortunate, he was able to leave a legacy of his innermost thoughts in the form of rhyme. As o member of undoubtedly one of Hip Hop’s greatest groups of all time, it’s only right that he’s saluted for his lyrical skills on his born day.

On many of ATCQ’s tracks, fans have always rightfully celebrated Q-Tip’s lyricism, but rarely gave Phife Dawg his proper due. In honor of his birthday, we have put together a list of his top five hottest verses to shine light on the unsung lyrical phenom that is Phife Dawg.

5. “Electric Relaxation”– On this standout track from the album Midnight Marauders, Phife and The Abstract went toe to toe, trading off verse without a hook until the song ended, with standout bars like,

“Let me hit it from the back, girl I won’t catch a hernia/Bust off on your couch, now you got Seaman’s Furniture..”and let’s not forget, “I like ‘em brown, yellow, Puerto Rican or Haitian/Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu Nation..”

4. “La Schmoove”– This was a featured verse from Phife Dawg on a track by Brooklyn rap tongue twisters Fu Schnickens. On this track, Phife had the third verse, yet opened it like it was his own song saying,

“Now here I go, once again with the ill flow/Other MC’s that rap, their style is so-so..”

3. “Scenario”– Being one of the most popular songs on A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory album, Phife Dawg’s opening verse is one that rings in the ears of many rap fans.

“Ayo, Bo knows this, and Bo knows that/ But bo don’t know jack cause Bo can’t rap//Well what do you know, the Di-Dawg, is first up to bat/No batteries included and no strings attached.”

2. “Award Tour”– Another cut from Midnight Marauders, Award Tour was a huge success for A Tribe Called Quest. It also houses some of Phife Dawg’s strongest metaphors.

“I have a quest to have a mic in my hand/without that, it’s like Kryptonite and Superman/So Shaheed come in with the sugar cuts/Phife Dawg’s my name, but on stage, call me Dynomutt”

“So, next time that you think you want something here/Make something dope or take that garbage to St. Elsewhere…”

1. “Buggin Out”– Coming from their most popular album, this is regarded as Phife’s illest bars. Phife Dawg spit two of the hardest verses on the album on this one record.

“Yo microphone check one, two, what is this?/The five foot assassin with the roughneck business/I float like gravity, never had a cavity/Got more rhymes than the Winans got family..”

“You soar off to another world, deep in your mind/But people seem to take that, as being unkind/’Oh yo he’s acting stank,’ really on the regal?/a man of the fame not a man of the people/believe that if you want but I tell you this much/riding on the train with no dough, sucks..”

The post Remembering Phife Dawg Seven Years Later! (R.I.P.) Phife’s Five Hottest Verses appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Death Row Records’ ‘Above The Rim’ Soundtrack Dropped 29 Years Ago

March 22, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Death Row Records, in conglomeration with Interscope Records, released the soundtrack to the popular film, Above the Rim. Winning the 1995 Source Award for Soundtrack of the Year, this album featured so many hits that it could have stood alone from the movie as a compilation album.

Acting as executive producers of the project, Suge Knight and Dr. Dre curated one of the most popular movie soundtracks of all time. This album featured artists 2Pac, Warren G, SWV, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, The Lady of Rage, and more. Due to the popularity of the artists and the success of the movie, the soundtrack sold 2,000,000 copies in the year of its release and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. Although it fell short on the mainstream chart, the album was able to grab hold of that #1 spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Here are some videos from the outstanding soundtrack to help jog your memory of its greatness.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Death Row Records’ ‘Above The Rim’ Soundtrack Dropped 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.