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Today In Hip Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Their Debut Album ‘The People’s Instinctive Travels And The Path To Rhythm’ LP 33 Years Ago

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Ahead of its time to say the least, A Tribe Called Quest’s experimental, alternative, jazz rap was originally unappreciated by mainstream audiences. It took six years for the Tribe’s first album to hit gold. The album might not have been a huge commercial success at first, but their innovative and comedic sound beautifully balanced the light-hearted social consciousness of their tracks. Although “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” was critically acclaimed, some critics felt that the inspired lyricism and unique humor was at times overshadowed by the group’s immaturity and lack of focus. Their debut album did, however, generate buzz within the Alternative Hip Hop community that has gained them a devout cult following. Today “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm” is certified gold, and in The Source Magazines’s 100 Best Rap Albums. Other accolades include a 5 mic rating from The Source, 4 stars out of 5 by The Rolling Stone Album Guide, and a 3.5 out of 4 stars by the Chicago Tribune.

Regardless of which generation you belong to, every true Hip Hop fan can remember the first time they heard “Can I kick It?” by saying “yes I can!”…and how it changed their perception of the genre. In honor of this special day in Hip Hop history we did some digging and found old school Source articles reviewing “People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm”, so feel free to take a look at the history.

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The post Today In Hip Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Their Debut Album ‘The People’s Instinctive Travels And The Path To Rhythm’ LP 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: Nas Released His Iconic ‘Illmatic’ Album 29 Years Ago

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29 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 on their 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 certified street verses on ‘Illmatic’ that influenced the majority of the ’90s and is regarded as one of the greatest LPs of all time by critics and major publications globally.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Nas Released His Iconic ‘Illmatic’ Album 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Young Dolph’s “Dolphland” NYC Museum Tour Opening Brings Out Sold Out Crowds

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Dolphland Creative Director Skye Williams explained that each room design came from friends, family, and collaborators close to Dolph. “This is very authentic to him and there was a lot of time and energy and effort put into this by people who love him.” 

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Additional attendees included Jay Adino (Empire), Lowkey (Apple Music), Georgette Cline (Editorial Director, XXL), Dimas Sanfiorenzo (Okayplayer Managing Editor), Gray Rizzy (SiriusXM/Hip Hop Nation), Jerry Barrow (Head of Content, Hip Hop DX), actor Hassan Jackson, Drea Jackson (Sound Clous), Kelly Jackson (SiriusXM), Alvin Aqua Blanco (Managing Editor, Hip Hop Wired), Michael Saponara and Marc Ellibert (Billboard), Jade Gomez (News Editor, Paper Mag), Justin Frasier-Wright (Complex), Robyn Mowatt (Okay Player), Kim Osorio and JT Soyemi (BET), Rosy Rodriguez (Say Less Podcast), and Mecca Rashawn (My Expert Opinion Podcast) among many others in the media. 

This weekend in New York City, Young Dolph’s label Paper Route Empire hosted a cocktail launch celebration for “Dolphland,” a traveling pop-up museum exhibit celebrating the life of Young Dolph and his new posthumous album “Paper Route Frank.” Co-hosted by platinum-selling PRE recording artist and Dolph protegee Key Glock, hundreds of industry friends, media and NYC’s Hip Hop glitterati such as Jim Jones, Dave East, Maino and many others, packed the pop-up to get an exclusive first glance of the exhibit throughout the three-hour private opening. The premium open bar flowed and DJ Clue along with Dolph’s DJ Rocksteddy kept the vibes going in honor of the late Hip Hop artist.

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Conceptualized by Paper Route Empire and Young Dolph’s manager Allen Parks of Street Execs Management in conjunction with curating partner Trap Music Museum, the multi-room art exhibit features original artwork of various mediums portraying Adolph “Young Dolph” Thorton Jr. throughout various stages of his life, and celebrating his musical legacy.

Dolphland Creative Director Skye Williams explained that each room design came from friends, family, and collaborators close to Dolph. “This is very authentic to him and there was a lot of time and energy and effort put into this by people who love him.” 

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Additional attendees included Jay Adino (Empire), Lowkey (Apple Music), Georgette Cline (Editorial Director, XXL), Dimas Sanfiorenzo (Okayplayer Managing Editor), Gray Rizzy (SiriusXM/Hip Hop Nation), Jerry Barrow (Head of Content, Hip Hop DX), actor Hassan Jackson, Drea Jackson (Sound Clous), Kelly Jackson (SiriusXM), Alvin Aqua Blanco (Managing Editor, Hip Hop Wired), Michael Saponara and Marc Ellibert (Billboard), Jade Gomez (News Editor, Paper Mag), Justin Frasier-Wright (Complex), Robyn Mowatt (Okay Player), Kim Osorio and JT Soyemi (BET), Rosy Rodriguez (Say Less Podcast), and Mecca Rashawn (My Expert Opinion Podcast) among many others in the media. 

The post Young Dolph’s “Dolphland” NYC Museum Tour Opening Brings Out Sold Out Crowds appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] TikTok Chef And Prosecutor Loses Brand Deals Following Resurfaced Tweets About Black Women

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Chef Way, a popular chef on TikTok and Prosecutor, has been getting dragged for resurfaced tweets trashing black and dark-skinned women. He issued an apology, but that wasn’t enough to save his endorsement deal. A number of tweets have resulted in the chef issuing apologies to save his coins from disappearing.

Chef Way (real name Waymond Wesley) came under fire online from a number of women who proved he harassed them on social media with receipts.

It started when one of the chef’s TikTok videos cooking oxtail pasta went viral. A Twitter user pointed out to Chef Way how he was getting dragged for years-old tweets and comments, many of which included insults against Black women.

His resurfaced tweets contained remarks about Sandra Bland, a victim of police brutality, dark-skinned women, and women’s body types.

In one tweet, which was manually retweeted in July 2015, Wesley (tweeting under the handle @WaymoTheGod) suggested that “if black lives mattered to sandra bland she wouldn’t have taken her own life.”

In another, Chef Way commented on one photo that “smh the dark one messed up the pic” in response to a dark-skinned Black woman posing in a photo with another woman, and then one of his followers replied by cropping her out of the photo. In another old tweet, Wesley posted a photo of a light-skinned woman, using it to fat shame and insult anyone with a darker skin tone.

“This is the perfect size woman and skin tone,” he wrote. “She’s healthy. Anything bigger/darker than this is garbage.”

After the initial criticism, the chef issued an apology on Twitter and Instagram, saying he had been “sick in more ways than one” during that time and that since then, “cooking” had saved him.

Chef Way’s apology fell on deaf ears, which resulted in him losing his partnership with Anova Culinary, a San Francisco-based smart kitchen company.

“We’re ending our affiliation with chef way, asap,” wrote CEO Stephen Svajian via Twitter. “Formal statement coming soon. Thanks for bringing the issue to my attention.”

He continued, “I believe that brands are about values. We want to partner with individuals that reflect our own values. Chef way clearly does not represent the values that we hold dear. Thanks to those that called this out. We need to do a better job vetting people that represent our brand.”

Look at the tweets below…

Should we believe cooking has changed the chef’s insensitive views?

The post [WATCH] TikTok Chef And Prosecutor Loses Brand Deals Following Resurfaced Tweets About Black Women appeared first on The Source.

Happy 55th Birthday to Hip Hop Pioneer LL Cool J!

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James Todd Smith, a.k.a. LL Cool J, nickname “Ladies Love Cool James”; born on Long Island, New York, January 14, 1968. LL Cool J signed to pioneer Hip Hop label Def Jam Records in 1984. His career took off with classic hits, included on albums like: Bigger and Deffer, Walking with a Panther, Mama Said Knock You Out, 14 Shots to the Dome, Mr. Smith. LL turned to act, appearing in movies like B.A.P.S., Halloween H2O, and Any Given Sunday.

LL is undoubtedly one of the most tenured artists in the game, having started his career at the age of 15, signing to Def Jam with the hit demo single “I Need A Beat”. Many artists that are considered the greats on the mic have always been compared to Mr. Smith and his consistency to continue to put out hits and remain relevant over a span of four decades.

Happy born day to one of the GOATs of the game and wish him many more hereafter!

The post Happy 55th Birthday to Hip Hop Pioneer LL Cool J! appeared first on The Source.

Happy 58th Birthday To Slick Rick! Five Favorite Storytime Rhymes From Rick The Ruler

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Born Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters on this date in 1965 in London, England, Slick Rick is undoubtedly the best storyteller in the history of Hip Hop.

From stories about his hectic lifestyle just “six minutes” before stage time to his almost unbelievable sexcapades, Rick The Ruler set the bar for rappers to tell their tall tales with style and cadence.

In honor of his born day, TheSource.com has compiled a list of the top five storyline rhymes from his album arsenal.

“La Di Da Di”

“Stepped out the house, stopped short..Oh No! I went back in, I forgot my Kangol..”

“A Children’s Story”

“He ran down the street, there he saw the sister/ shot for his head, he shot back, buit he missed her..”

“Mona Lisa”

“Callin’ me a thief? Please! Don’t even try it! Sit down, eat your slice of pizza and be quiet..”

“The Show”

“I was all alone, no one to be with/ stepped off the D Train at 205th..I saw a pretty girl..”

“Treat Her Like A Prostitute”

“‘Cause all they do is to hurt and trample/ Listen up close here comes my last example..”

The post Happy 58th Birthday To Slick Rick! Five Favorite Storytime Rhymes From Rick The Ruler appeared first on The Source.

Memphis Royalty Moneybagg Yo And GloRilla Team Up For Duet “On Wat U On”

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Tennessee rappers Moneybagg Yo and GloRilla join forces for the ferocious new single “On Wat U On,” out today via CMG/N-Less/Interscope Records. The ready-made crowd-pleaser, which finds the collaborators trading bars, cleverly breaks down a lover’s quarrel. The no-holds-barred track is accompanied by a fiery video that captures a heated argument about trust and infidelity. Watch it HERE.

Over a classic, bass-heavy beat and propulsive piano arrangement, Bagg expresses exasperation about the work it takes to make romance go the distance. “Asking me ‘bout b****es in a city that she think I’m f***ing,” he spits, “Look dead in her eyes before I lie, I’d rather tell her nothing.” GloRilla isn’t about to take that disrespect and fires back: “Ain’t got s*** to say now huh, dumbass?”  As catchy as it is relatable, “On Wat U On” is a surefire hit. 

The visualizer takes a literal approach, showing a couple in the midst of a heated argument. Inspired by scenes from the cult classic movie “Baby Boy,” GloRilla finds a pack of contraceptives in the backseat when they pull up to a drive-thru window and calls out Bagg. The back-and-forth makes its way back to their apartment, and finally outside again, where Glo picks up a large rock and aims for his windshield to truly show her anger.

The post Memphis Royalty Moneybagg Yo And GloRilla Team Up For Duet “On Wat U On” appeared first on The Source.

Tory Lanez New Mugshot Goes Viral

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While Tory Lanez and his new defense team, which includes former Death Row lawyer David Kenner, organizes their strategy going into the appellate phase of his conviction, a mugshot from his re-arrest has now surfaced and has more than a few people wondering what’s going to happen next in the saga of the Megan Thee Stallion shooting.

The smile on Lanez’s face has some believing that he may have some inclination as to what’s next to happen in his case. An appeal of his conviction could mean a new trial for the Canadian native, but for now, he’s currently behind bars awaiting sentencing.

While critics IG complimented Tory on his fresh new cut, others said he looks like he knows that he’ll be getting out soon. Either way, the “Why Did I” rapper appears to be in great spirits considering the circumstances.

The post Tory Lanez New Mugshot Goes Viral appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] J. Prince Disputes Claims That His Son Abandoned Takeoff’s Body After Shooting

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After rumors began to circulate about Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince’s alleged involvement in Takeoff’s murder and the mixed feelings surrounding the memorial he erected at the Houston bowling alley where the Migos member was killed, there have been claims that the music mogul’s son abandoned Takeoff’s body after the shooting, but Prince vehemently denies those allegations.

On a recent appearance on the Givin Them The Business podcast, Prince explained that the video which shows his son walking by Takeoff after the shooting was only a small part of what actually happened that night last November.

“You know one of the biggest lies that was told — he walked by TakeOff body as if he was heartless and didn’t care,” J. Prince said. “And in reality, Junior, my cousin Michael that’s here with me, they was there with TakeOff from the beginning to the end. Even when they walked by, they took three seconds of an hour and some situation when Mike and Junior was walking by.”

Prince added on, “He actually went in the restroom to wash blood off his hands [from] when he had reached up under TakeOff head to pick him up and his fingers went in it.”

With the senseless killing of Takeoff still in the minds of his friends and family, talk of Prince’s involvement continues to gain momentum, while his son unfollowed Quavo on social media after the shooting making the situation that much more sticky. J. Prince did not attend the slain rapper’s funeral, but he created a memorial consisting of hundreds of roses outside of 810 Billiards and Bowling.

The alleged murderer, Patrick Clark, was released on a $1 million bond after his arrest and will have to wear an ankle monitor and remain at his parents’ home in Houston. His trial is set to begin in March.

The post [WATCH] J. Prince Disputes Claims That His Son Abandoned Takeoff’s Body After Shooting appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] R. Kelly Questions Why Tasha K And Ex-Prison Guard Have Not Been Charged

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Last week, R. Kelly gave an interview to vlogger Storm Monroe from prison accusing gossip vlogger Tasha K of witness tampering. Kelly accused her of leaking his emails and phone calls ahead of his trial and aggravating his girlfriends by showing them private messages.  

In a new phone interview, R. Kelly demands to know why Tasha K and the prison guard who had access to his information have not been punished or convicted of a crime. The prison guard has since retired and no charges have been filed.

In a call to vlogger Storm Monroe from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago R. Kelly questions why a Bureau of Prisons official was allowed to get away with leaking his emails and phone calls leading to scorned witnesses that lied on him on the witness stand. Kelly adds that there are search warrants from his case against Tasha that went nowhere and he demands to know why.

Kelly also claims Tasha K has links to some of the parents of his former girlfriends and they worked together to bring him down.  
Watch the interview below.

The post [WATCH] R. Kelly Questions Why Tasha K And Ex-Prison Guard Have Not Been Charged appeared first on The Source.