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Happy 80th Birthday To NYC Graffiti Documentarian Martha Cooper!

March 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Born on this date in 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland, famed photojournalist Martha Cooper took her photography skills as a staff photog for The New York Post and became one of the most celebrated documentarians of Hip Hop’s most unrecognized subculture.

Cooper began her career as a photographer working as an intern for National Geographic in the 60s, which parlayed her into position as a staff photographer for The Post in the 1970s. One day on her way home from work at The Post, she began taking pics of the children in her neighborhood. This is when she met HE3, who explained to Cooper the importance and artistic aspect of graffiti. Cooper instantly became intrigued by graffiti and by 1984, put together a book of photographs illustrating the graffiti subculture called Subway Art, which is now recognized as the bible of graffiti and street art.

Copper later put out another book in 2004 entitled Hip Hop Files: Photographs 1979-1984 From Here To Fame and later had a documentary produced about her life called Martha: A Picture Story in 2019.

Happy 80th birthday to Martha and salute to her for all of her groundbreaking accomplishments that help to spread the culture of graffiti around the world.

The post Happy 80th Birthday To NYC Graffiti Documentarian Martha Cooper! appeared first on The Source.

Troy Ave Testifies In Taxstone’s Murder Trial

March 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Several news reports have confirmed that Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave testified in incarcerated podcaster Taxstone’s murder trial, giving his testimony of what happened between the two Hip Hop personalities on that fateful night in 2016 following the shooting death of Troy Ave’s bodyguard.

Troy Ave, real name Roland Collins, told jurors on Monday that he would rather “die fighting” as his justification for fighting Taxstone, whose real name is Daryl Campbell,According to this after being shot backstage at Irving Plaza.

“If it’s fight or flight I’m always going to fight because at that point you could die,” Collins said. “It looks like if you see people wrestle in high school wrestling — that type of position.”

“When the shot goes off I see the light from the spark and I hear the shot,” he testified. “This is all happening fast. I get up and start fighting Taxstone, trying to take him, grab the gun, and another shot goes off. I put my leg up to kind of block the shot from hitting me in the face or chest.”

According to his testimony, Campbell then shot him in the legs. “I got up,” Collins said. “I’d rather die fighting. People die from leg shots. I’d rather die fighting than laying on the ground. I got up immediately.” As he described the chaotic scene, Collins said he saw his friend and bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter was laying on the floor face down. “I rolled his body over and I’m like, ‘Banga, get up. Come on.’ I’m smacking him, like, ‘C’mon bro. Get up,’” Collins testified. “And his eyes were rolling to the back of his head. His shirt was red so I could tell he got shot.”

Taxstone is currently on trial on murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons possession charges. He faces at least 20 years behind bars if convicted of these charges. TheSource.com will update this story as details develop.

The post Troy Ave Testifies In Taxstone’s Murder Trial appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo Dropped Their Debut LP ‘Road to the Riches’ 34 Years Ago

March 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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On this day in 1989, Corona, Queens rap and street legend Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo released their first album on the quintessential yet now-defunct Hip-Hop label Cold Chillin’ Records.

As esteemed members of the world-famous, Queens-based Juice Crew, G. Rap and Polo dropped this project as one of the first full-length albums from the crew, only to succeed Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live The Kane and Biz Markie’s Goin’ Off albums. The Marley Marl-produced album is one of NYC’s crime rhyme holy grails, with tracks like “Road To The Riches” as a theme song for late 80s hustlers, but most of the album showcased G. Rap’s uncanny rapping ability. Tracks like “Men At Work,” “Poison,” and their premiere track “It’s A Demo” were proof three decades ago that G’s style would be pioneering in the rap game.

Salute to G. Rap, Polo, Marley, Fly Ty, and the rest of the Juice Crew and Cold Chillin’ staff for this important piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo Dropped Their Debut LP ‘Road to the Riches’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: 2Pac Dropped His Third LP ‘Me Against The World’ 28 Years Ago

March 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip-Hop History, the late Tupac Shakur released his third studio LP, Me Against the World. This album came at one of the most pivotal times in ‘Pac’s life and career. Recorded shortly after his near-fatal assassination attempt in New York and released while he was in prison, this album marked a change in 2Pac as an artist and a man.

This album was nothing like the music that gave him his “thug life” gangster image and street credentials. The subject matter and tone of this project were a lot more serious and introspective than anything he had previously released. Much less high energy than the tracks from his previous album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z…, this album showed genuine reflection on his life and career path as an artist along with shining light on some of his personal struggles with paranoia and self-loathing.

The realism of this album brought a ridiculous amount of commercial success. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album has been certified double platinum selling over 3.5 million copies in the United States alone. Along with being #1 in the US, the album also ranked #23 in Germany and #20 in Sweden. In the year after its release, the album received the Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Album. The project was Tupac’s most positively reviewed album and has been called the magnum opus of his career.

The singles from the project “Dear Mama,” “So Many Tears” and “Temptations” all made appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Dear Mama” peaked at #9, “So Many Tears” hit #44 and “Temptations” claimed the#68 spot.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: 2Pac Dropped His Third LP ‘Me Against The World’ 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] NYC Call To Action Rally For Teen With Autism Beaten On Subway

March 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Shocking video of teens attacking a 15-year-old in an uptown train station has spurred an NYPD hate crime investigation.

A group yelled anti-Black slurs before brutally attacking the boy in the Manhattan subway station on Friday afternoon, police said on Monday as video of the incident circulated on social media.
Video shows a black teen attempting to board the train while a young woman in a Chicago Bulls sweatshirt forcefully pulls the teen off an A train. A large group of teens surround the teen screaming repeatedly, “Get off” and “Ni***r Alert!!”

]The group passes at least 20 other kids and 10 adults standing on the uptown platform, video shows.

The teen tries to get back on the train, but the girl drags him off again, another teen throws a punch and then the group tackles him, the video shows.

“Fight back” someone screams in the video.

The teen tries to defend himself as he’s thrown on a bench and his glasses are knocked from his face, the video shows.

The 15-year-old’s lip was cut and, according to police, his attackers broke his glasses.

Uptown’s 34th Precinct released photos on Monday afternoon of three suspects wanted in connection to the attack.

Comedian/Activist Rosemary Serevino is holding a ‘Call To Action’ outside of the 181st A train station where the incident occured. “It is sad to see all these things happening to our youth.” She wrote on her Instagram page. “I don’t know all the facts but what is clear is the youth is screaming for help. We need to listen to them and do something. The city is lacking so many programs.” Severino told PIX News 11. “We’re not for bullying.”

Screen Shot 2023 03 14 at 8.27.50 AM — Comedian/Activist Rosemary Serevino

March 14th at 2pm 181st A Train station.

Say no to racism and bullying.

Screen Shot 2023 03 14 at 8.03.14 AM — March 14th Rally against racism and bullying

Watch the boy’s mother below.

The post [WATCH] NYC Call To Action Rally For Teen With Autism Beaten On Subway appeared first on The Source.

Troy Ave Testifies About Shooting At Irving Plaza: ‘I’d Rather Die Fighting’

March 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Rapper Troy Ave took the stand at Taxstone’s murder trial to testify about the events that caused a fatal shootout at a 2016 concert at Irving Plaza in New York City.

According to the New York Post, Troy Ave finally had his day in court on Monday (March 13), testifying that he shot simply out of fight or flight response after Taxstone allegedly shot at him first.

He said there were about 100 people in the greenroom when he heard Tax yell, “What’s popping?” in what he perceived to be a “threatening” way.

“Banga turns around to me and says, ‘I’m gonna rock him,’ which means, ‘I’m gonna hit him,’” he testified. “And then I wink at him — I tell him, ‘Do your thing.’”

He alleges that’s when Tax reached for his gun and the melee began.

Detailing the gripping situation, he said, “When the shot goes off I see the light from the spark and I hear the shot. This is all happening fast. I get up and start fighting Taxstone, trying to take him, grab the gun, and another shot goes off. I put my leg up to kind of block the shot from hitting me in the face or chest.”

According to Troy, that’s when Tax shot him in both legs.

“If it’s fight or flight I’m always going to fight because at that point you could die,” Ave reportedly told the Manhattan Supreme Court. “I’d rather die fighting. People die from leg shots. I’d rather die fighting than laying on the ground.”

Troy Ave said he was then able to wrestle the gun out of Tax’s hands – but it then misfired and that’s when he noticed his bodyguard laying face down on the ground.

Ronald “Banga” McPhatter was pronounced dead in the aftermath. Two bystanders were also wounded.

Troy Ave was initially charged with attempted murder and gun possession for his role in the incident. While the Brooklyn-bred rapper was put behind bars at first, his legal team negotiated a one-year sentence — instead of the 15 years he could have faced — in exchange for his testimony at Tax’s trial.

Taxstone (real name Darryl Campbell) and Troy Ave had a history of beef that came to a head over when they ran into each other backstage at T.I.’s show. Troy— who said he wasn’t supposed to be there —was set to be an opening act. Tax was charged in January 2017 after police said they found his DNA on the gun used in the shooting.

He faces murder, attempted murder, assault and weapons possession charges.

The post Troy Ave Testifies About Shooting At Irving Plaza: ‘I’d Rather Die Fighting’ appeared first on The Source.

Rich the Kid, Moneybagg Yo, Jadakiss And More Headline 420 Gumbo Festival

March 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Gumbo Brands, has become the largest black-owned international cannabis company in the world, has announced their “420 Gumbo Festival”, with Rich the Kid, Moneybagg Yo and D-Block’s Jadakiss as the festival’s headliner.

Other special guests include Rakim and D-Block members Styles P and Sheek Louch, with Hot97’s Funk Flex and Sheek Louch on the 1s and 2s during this exclusive 420 celebration.

Dozens of vendors will be in the building to serve up the attendees favorite flower as Gumbo founders Karim Butler and Alexis Major-Allison promise to give the people the most memorable 420 experience in the history of the brand.

The CEOs of Gumbo Brands also have announced partnerships with Hot97 as Gumbo Studio comes to Hot97 every Monday night at Midnight.

The post Rich the Kid, Moneybagg Yo, Jadakiss And More Headline 420 Gumbo Festival appeared first on The Source.

South African Rapper Costa Titch Dies After Collapsing On Stage

March 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

According to several reports and video footage that surfaced, South African rapper and amapiano star Costa Titch died on stage after collapsing during a performance this past weekend. He was 28 years old.

Costa was performing at the Ultra Music Festival in South Africa when he suddenly dropped to the ground while moving across the stage. Someone lifted him up to his feet, to which Costa, whose real name is Constantinos Tsobanoglou, only collapsed again in a few seconds.

His family issued a statement on IG, saying, “It is with deep pain that we find ourselves having to acknowledge his passing at this time. We are thankful for those emergency responders and all those present in his last hours on this earth.” A cause of death hasn’t been revealed.

The post South African Rapper Costa Titch Dies After Collapsing On Stage appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Lil Baby Stars In All-New AXE Commercial

March 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Today, AXE® and award-winning rap artist, Lil Baby, premiere their new campaign “The Fine Fragrance G.O.A.T.” The campaign celebrates the launch of the AXE Fine Fragrance Collection, a set of five fresh new scents formulated by world-renowned fragrance experts. This campaign is the latest in an ongoing brand effort to redefine “premium” with a gen-Z lens and pushes hard against the outdated luxury symbols of the fragrance world.

Set to the tune of Lil Baby’s smash hit “Drip Too Hard,” the new spot aims to cement AXE as the Fine Fragrance G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time). The new creative is directed by SNL short director Mike Diva, who is a frequent collaborator with several high-profile hip-hop artists.

The spot unveils a four-armed and flying Lil Baby alongside the newest AXE icon, the G.O.A.T. head, and new Fine Fragrance scents. The spot itself is dripping with surreal AXE energy -bringing the boost in confidence that AXE gives millions of guys to life with vibrant, dreamlike animation that pops off the screen.

“This is the freshest thing AXE has ever done. The Fine Fragrance Collection has me feeling like I’m wearing the finest of fine colognes,” said award-winning artist, Lil Baby. “That’s why it’s the new GOAT.”

Check out the new commercial HERE

The post [WATCH] Lil Baby Stars In All-New AXE Commercial appeared first on The Source.