Today in Hip-Hop History: The Clipse’s Debut LP ‘Lord Willin’ Turns 20 Years Old!

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Two decades ago today, Terrence and Gene Thorton aka Pusha T and Malice put out Lord Willin’, The Clipse’s debut album that helped them solidify their spots within honorable mention of some of the best lyricists in the game.

Produced exclusively by the Neptunes on Pharrell Williams’ Star Trak imprint, the album displayed The Clipse’s microphone prowess, which helps the squares navigate through their cocaine-flooded street slang. Along with artists like Timbaland and Magoo, Missy Elliot, and Pharrell, The Clipse was an intricate part of establishing VA as one of the East Coast’s strongholds in Hip Hop, which made room for artists like Chris Brown and Wale to add on to the legacy.

Some of the most memorable gems from the Twin Thorton’s first album include “Cot Damn” featuring their Re-Up Gang affiliates Ab-Liva and Philly’s Roscoe P. Coldchain, “When The Last Time” with their Star Trak team members Kelis and Pharrell, and the infamous “Grindin’” with remixes featuring Noreaga, and another infamous duo, Lil Wayne and Birdman.

Salute to Pusha, No Malice, Pharrell, and the rest of the Star Trak team for pushing out this timeless classic!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Clipse’s Debut LP ‘Lord Willin’ Turns 20 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Prosecutors Say “R. Kelly Has A Dark Side” Assaulted Minors, Paid To Cover Up Evidence

R. Kelly in Court federal child pornography

Convicted singer R. Kelly is currently on trial in his hometown of Chicago for 13 counts of child pornography and obstruction of justice. The federal prosecutors intend to prove 55-year-old Kelly had sex with minors and then paid witnesses off to get rid of the evidence.  

According to the state, Kelly has a “dark side” that he kept hidden from the world behind his fame. Prosecutors allege Kelly’s “inner circle” helped the singer cover up his abuse and went to “extraordinary lengths” to do so.

READ MORE: R. Kelly Alleged Victim From ’08 Case Will Testify In New Child Pornography Trial

This comes nearly two months after he was given a 30-year sentence in New York City on racketeering and other sex trafficking charges.  Kelly has maintained his innocence. 

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post Prosecutors Say “R. Kelly Has A Dark Side” Assaulted Minors, Paid To Cover Up Evidence appeared first on The Source.

Scotty ATL Unveils New Album ‘Candler Road to Melrose’ Talks Atlanta Hawks Grillz Partnership

Scotty ATL

Following the announcement of his Atlanta Hawks partnership, Scotty ATL unveils a brand-new album, Candler Road to Melrose. Last week the 37-year-old shared he will create through partnership custom grillz for the Hawks schedule release representing different NBA teams.

On Friday, Candler Road to Melrose released via Cool Club/ Cinq Music Group, which finds the southern emcee exploring the journey and path that led him to his highly successful grillz business on Melrose Ave.   

Scotty ATL, known for his distinct drawl and vernacular, keeps it fresh while switching flows over 13 tracks with production from super producer Zaytoven, DJ Burn One, DJ Tune and more. 

READ MORE: [WATCH] Big Boi Releases “Do Ya Best” Video Feat. Sleepy Brown and Scotty ATL

Candler Road to Melrose arrives as the follow up to Scotty’s trio of  singles released earlier this year. “Go Twin,” “LA Care,” and “Nomo Heaux,” featuring Young Dro, all appear on the album. 

For collaborations the East Atlanta native taps Curren$y and G Perico on “Spike Lee,” Sleepy Brown on “Remember Chad,” and Iamsu! on “Night Vision.” While Big K.R.I,T. joins on “Chosen & Frozen,” and Ace Hood flexes on “Congratulations.”

The successful entrepreneur and artist continues to build his craft and financial freedom with a new project and expanding his company, Grillz By Scotty.

In recognition of #BlackBusinessMonth this August, Scotty ATL spoke with the Source’s Kim SoMajor about business after COVID-19, new ventures with PUMA, The Atlanta Hawks, and much more.

When and what sparked you to start a grillz business? 

I’ve always worn grillz since I was in high school. I made a name for myself in Atlanta as a rapper. One of my old friends lost his job as a dental assistant. He wanted to do grillz. At first I was just helping him and then it got more serious. 

How did it serve as another option outside of your rap career? 

It has allowed me to make extra income to support my dreams and provide for my family. It has also given me a bigger platform to share with the world. 

How did your business adjust during the stay-at-home orders and how is it now?

I adjusted by decreasing staff and increasing my knowledge of online businesses. Now we do both in store and online. I have a store in Atlanta on Candler Rd. and another store on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. 

With your business, you are providing an opportunity for other people too. What has been a definitive moment for you that reaffirmed that you made the right move in starting it? 

Everyday I think about that. Helping my dad move out of the projects and give him a job is the biggest. 

What’s next for Grillz By Scotty? 

Major brand collaboration opportunities on the way. New designs. New moves for the culture. Maybe more locations… 

How did you know that  was the next move for you? 

I knew it because I started making money everyday and that was my goal from the beginning. 

Talk about your new grillz design and how you’re elevating your business?

I have newly designed colored grillz are out now. They’re limited edition and very unique. I’m more than a grill maker, I’m a grill designer. You haven’t seen these before. 

Congratulations on your partnerships, to watch your dedication and growth in rap and  business is very inspiring. What do these success-building opportunities mean to you? 

My role as an influencer in this project was to capture ATL culture through my eyes. I had an amazing time and I’m so proud of myself and our company. 

You can hear the new release from Scotty ATL below. 

candler rd to melrose scotty atl

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“Godfather” of Gorilla Stone Gang Gets 20+ Years For Racketeering In Casanova RICO Case

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An exclusive report from VladTV has revealed that the rapper Casanova’s co-defendant and the “Godfather” of the “Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation” was sentenced the 20 years plus eight months in federal prison for racketeering this week.

Federal prosecutors recommended 2-24 years behind bars for Donovan “Donnie Love” Gillard during his sentencing brief last week after pleading guilty to racketeering. The 31-year-old gang leader was linked to various crimes, including the trafficking of hundreds of pounds of marijuana, attempted murder, and a fraud scheme related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caswell “Casanova” Senior, who has also plead guilty to racketeering and narcotics charges, is up for sentencing in federal court on Dec. 16. The “SO Brooklyn” rapper is facing a maximum of 60 years in prison.

The post “Godfather” of Gorilla Stone Gang Gets 20+ Years For Racketeering In Casanova RICO Case appeared first on The Source.

“Godfather” of Gorilla Stone Gang Gets 20+ Years For Racketeering In Casanova RICO Case

Screen Shot 2022 08 19 at 9.50.18 AM

An exclusive report from VladTV has revealed that the rapper Casanova’s co-defendant and the “Godfather” of the “Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation” was sentenced the 20 years plus eight months in federal prison for racketeering this week.

Federal prosecutors recommended 2-24 years behind bars for Donovan “Donnie Love” Gillard during his sentencing brief last week after pleading guilty to racketeering. The 31-year-old gang leader was linked to various crimes, including the trafficking of hundreds of pounds of marijuana, attempted murder, and a fraud scheme related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caswell “Casanova” Senior, who has also plead guilty to racketeering and narcotics charges, is up for sentencing in federal court on Dec. 16. The “SO Brooklyn” rapper is facing a maximum of 60 years in prison.

The post “Godfather” of Gorilla Stone Gang Gets 20+ Years For Racketeering In Casanova RICO Case appeared first on The Source.

Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition

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On September 17, the world’s largest, most esteemed breaking competition, Red Bull BC One, will host the  USA National Finals in Los Angeles. Winners of the regional cyphers held in Philadelphia, Austin, Orlando, Boston, and Seattle will take the stage at Eden Hollywood to battle it out for the National Championship title and to represent the country at the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York this November. 

Shining a light on the thriving breaking communities across the U.S., the nation’s top 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete in a knockout bracket, judged by a panel of respected figures within the breaking and hip-hop community, including b-girl legend Asia 1 and Red Bull BC One All Star Neguin with Rakaa, of Dilated Peoples hosting the evening. Joining the regional finalists are wild-card invites of top US breakers including HijackMaceSnap1Rascal RandiSunny, and more. Only one b-boy and one b-girl will go on to represent the USA at the Last Chance Cypher during the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York on November 11. 

B-girl Pep-C, an Olympic hopeful who will be competing in Los Angeles, took home the win at the Red Bull BC One Cypher East in Philadelphia last month. She shares, “The Red Bull BC One National Final is an exciting opportunity to put my training and skills to the test against the best b-girls across the country. With the Olympics around the corner, this prestigious competition is a stepping stone on the road to Paris..”

The 2022 Red Bull BC One season celebrates the communities that have helped push break forward to reach  new milestones in the sport’s history: Hip-hop’s upcoming golden anniversary in 2023 and the highly anticipated debut of breaking at the 2024 Paris Games. Honoring these pivotal timestamps, the 2022 Red Bull BC One World Final will return to New York, paying tribute to breaking as an intrinsic element of hip-hop culture. 

While breaking has its roots in the Bronx, it was also ubiquitous in the west coast hip-hop mecca of South L.A. and on the city’s east side. West Coast Dancers have shaped breaking’s evolution since the 1970s, fusing California-native dance styles like popping and locking with the ground-level gymnastics of New York B-Boys. The West Coast is also home to legendary breaking crews such as Air Force Crew, Radiotron Wizards, and Shake City Rockers, which trace back to intramural battles in L.A. 

Emerging in the late 2000s, Squadron, a SoCal breaking crew, ignited a  modern west coast breaking revolution. Brought together by breaking icon David “Mex One” Alvarado, Squadron was one of the first independent West Coast Crews made “by and for the scene”, which added a distinct West Coast flavor to the sport by merging it with capoeira moves, house dance, and other techniques. Its members include Red Bull BC One All Stars Omar “RoxRite” Delgado, who was a founding member, and Victor Montalvo.

“Generations of West Coast b-boys and b-girls from San Diego to Seattle have influenced what we know as breaking today. Being a member of Renegade Rockers and to represent the Red Bull BC One All Stars, two crews that are crucial to breaking’s proliferation, I am proud to carry the torch for the breakers who came before me while nurturing the next generation,” shares RoxRite. 

Leading up to the competition, Red Bull BC One will host Breakalicious @ Delicious, a celebration of west coast hip hop and break, on Friday, August 26 from 7-9PM PT at Delicious Pizza, a neighborhood pizzeria and local community hub from the founders of the iconic hip-hop label Delicious Vinyl, which helped launch seminal artists such as Tone Lōc (“Wild Thing”), Young MC (“Bust a Move”), The Pharcyde and more.

Breakalicious @ Delicious will feature an open jam session and the unveiling of a limited edition Squadron pizza box. The event will kick off a four-week photo exhibition exploring the west coast break scene and a limited time offering from Delicious, the Pizza Break special, which includes a 12” pizza and two cans of Red Bull.  

Tickets to the national final are $10. Secure your spot at the Red Bull BC One Cypher USA here

The post Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition appeared first on The Source.

Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition

Screen Shot 2022 08 19 at 9.13.10 AM

On September 17, the world’s largest, most esteemed breaking competition, Red Bull BC One, will host the  USA National Finals in Los Angeles. Winners of the regional cyphers held in Philadelphia, Austin, Orlando, Boston, and Seattle will take the stage at Eden Hollywood to battle it out for the National Championship title and to represent the country at the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York this November. 

Shining a light on the thriving breaking communities across the U.S., the nation’s top 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete in a knockout bracket, judged by a panel of respected figures within the breaking and hip-hop community, including b-girl legend Asia 1 and Red Bull BC One All Star Neguin with Rakaa, of Dilated Peoples hosting the evening. Joining the regional finalists are wild-card invites of top US breakers including HijackMaceSnap1Rascal RandiSunny, and more. Only one b-boy and one b-girl will go on to represent the USA at the Last Chance Cypher during the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York on November 11. 

B-girl Pep-C, an Olympic hopeful who will be competing in Los Angeles, took home the win at the Red Bull BC One Cypher East in Philadelphia last month. She shares, “The Red Bull BC One National Final is an exciting opportunity to put my training and skills to the test against the best b-girls across the country. With the Olympics around the corner, this prestigious competition is a stepping stone on the road to Paris..”

The 2022 Red Bull BC One season celebrates the communities that have helped push break forward to reach  new milestones in the sport’s history: Hip-hop’s upcoming golden anniversary in 2023 and the highly anticipated debut of breaking at the 2024 Paris Games. Honoring these pivotal timestamps, the 2022 Red Bull BC One World Final will return to New York, paying tribute to breaking as an intrinsic element of hip-hop culture. 

While breaking has its roots in the Bronx, it was also ubiquitous in the west coast hip-hop mecca of South L.A. and on the city’s east side. West Coast Dancers have shaped breaking’s evolution since the 1970s, fusing California-native dance styles like popping and locking with the ground-level gymnastics of New York B-Boys. The West Coast is also home to legendary breaking crews such as Air Force Crew, Radiotron Wizards, and Shake City Rockers, which trace back to intramural battles in L.A. 

Emerging in the late 2000s, Squadron, a SoCal breaking crew, ignited a  modern west coast breaking revolution. Brought together by breaking icon David “Mex One” Alvarado, Squadron was one of the first independent West Coast Crews made “by and for the scene”, which added a distinct West Coast flavor to the sport by merging it with capoeira moves, house dance, and other techniques. Its members include Red Bull BC One All Stars Omar “RoxRite” Delgado, who was a founding member, and Victor Montalvo.

“Generations of West Coast b-boys and b-girls from San Diego to Seattle have influenced what we know as breaking today. Being a member of Renegade Rockers and to represent the Red Bull BC One All Stars, two crews that are crucial to breaking’s proliferation, I am proud to carry the torch for the breakers who came before me while nurturing the next generation,” shares RoxRite. 

Leading up to the competition, Red Bull BC One will host Breakalicious @ Delicious, a celebration of west coast hip hop and break, on Friday, August 26 from 7-9PM PT at Delicious Pizza, a neighborhood pizzeria and local community hub from the founders of the iconic hip-hop label Delicious Vinyl, which helped launch seminal artists such as Tone Lōc (“Wild Thing”), Young MC (“Bust a Move”), The Pharcyde and more.

Breakalicious @ Delicious will feature an open jam session and the unveiling of a limited edition Squadron pizza box. The event will kick off a four-week photo exhibition exploring the west coast break scene and a limited time offering from Delicious, the Pizza Break special, which includes a 12” pizza and two cans of Red Bull.  

Tickets to the national final are $10. Secure your spot at the Red Bull BC One Cypher USA here

The post Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition appeared first on The Source.

Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1”

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Making a momentous return, multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated superstar and Atlanta icon Offset unleashes his first new solo record and music video in three years “5 4 3 2 1” available today via Motown Records. Listen to “5 4 3 2 1” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

Produced by Baby Keem, the track hinges on an ominously razor-sharp keyboard-laden beat. Meanwhile, Offset’s signature rapid fire flow cuts through the production as he counts down, “5 4 3 2 1.” In the accompanying music video, he dons an all Balenciaga fit as he takes over an amusement park. Catching air, he raps from a pirate ship tilt-a-whirl and on a swing suspended high above the ground. 

It kickstarts another chapter from one of the most influential artists of the past decade as he prepares his next full-length body of work and the follow-up to the gold-certified chart-topping Father of 4 back in 2019. Of course, his rhymes also energized Migos’s blockbuster Culture III, which bowed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, generated billions of streams, and received widespread acclaim last year.

However, he’s ready to break the internet and reshape the game like only he can once more.

The post Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1” appeared first on The Source.

Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1”

Screen Shot 2022 08 19 at 9.00.14 AM

Making a momentous return, multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated superstar and Atlanta icon Offset unleashes his first new solo record and music video in three years “5 4 3 2 1” available today via Motown Records. Listen to “5 4 3 2 1” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

Produced by Baby Keem, the track hinges on an ominously razor-sharp keyboard-laden beat. Meanwhile, Offset’s signature rapid fire flow cuts through the production as he counts down, “5 4 3 2 1.” In the accompanying music video, he dons an all Balenciaga fit as he takes over an amusement park. Catching air, he raps from a pirate ship tilt-a-whirl and on a swing suspended high above the ground. 

It kickstarts another chapter from one of the most influential artists of the past decade as he prepares his next full-length body of work and the follow-up to the gold-certified chart-topping Father of 4 back in 2019. Of course, his rhymes also energized Migos’s blockbuster Culture III, which bowed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, generated billions of streams, and received widespread acclaim last year.

However, he’s ready to break the internet and reshape the game like only he can once more.

The post Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1” appeared first on The Source.

T.I. Partners with Moolah Wireless To Provide 200 Tablets To Morris Brown College

T.I. Takes Aim At Sexual Assault Accusers In New Song: 'I’m Up Against Some Lyin’ A*s B*tches'

T.I. is continuing to push the culture forward. Morris Brown College announced it has partnered with Rap super star and entrepreneur, Tip “T.I.” Harris and Moolah Wireless to provide free tablets with 12 months of data service to Morris Brown College students to celebrate the restoration of the institution.

The “Live Your Life” rapper who gave away 200 Moolah tablets to the students of his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia said, “I’m excited to partner with Moolah Wireless to be able to provide the students at Morris Brown College free tablets to support their educational endeavors. This is the first of many schools whose students will receive Moolah tablets.”

READ MORE: T.I. Presented with Oustanding Georgia Citizen Award

Morris Brown College was founded in 1881 but reportedly had been struggling to maintain accreditation for two decades. MBC is the first college in Georgia to be owned and operated by African Americans.

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