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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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Notorious B.I.G.’s “Life After Death” Gets 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set

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The Notorious B.I.G.’s second and final album, Life After Death, is turning 25. To commemorate the LP, Biggie’s estate announced Wednesday that they plan to release a limited edition 25th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set of the project.

According to reports, the box set will include eight vinyl LPs, a special commemorative booklet with rare photos from the Life After Death cover shoot, liner notes from from music writer and editor Sheldon Pearce, as and contributions from multiple people who were involved with Life After Death’s initial 1997 release.

Life After Death, which turns 25 on March 25th, boasts tracks like “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” “Hypnotize,” “Ten Crack Commandments,” and “Kick In The Door.”

The super deluxe box set drops on June 10th and retails for $179.98.

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Notorious BIG Box Set
Notorious B.I.G. Box Set

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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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Rare Kobe Bryant Collectors Card Sells For $2 Million Dollars

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A Kobe Bryant basketball card is selling for a major amount of money. The rare collectible was sold for $2 million dollars over the weekend as the sale was announced by PWCC Marketplace on Tuesday.

The Bryant card is a 1997-98 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Emerald, but features no autograph or game-used memorabilia swatch. It’s the most expensive card sold featuring the late Los Angeles Lakers legend.

READ MORE: Remembering the Black Mamba: 24 Hip-Hop references that honors Kobe Bryant

According to SI.com, the Bryant card is just one of a few basketball cards to break the $2 million threshold, joining multiple LeBron James RPAs (rookie patch autograph), a Luka Dončić Logoman auto and a Michael Jordan All Star Game-used jersey auto card.

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Love Wins: Da Brat and Jesseca Dupart Wed on 2-22-22

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Congratulations to Da Brat and Jesseca. The Grammy-nominated rapper tied the knot with her fiancé, Kaleidoscope Hair founder Jesseca Dupart.

The couple, who are expecting their first child together, solidified their union of love on the numeric 2-22-22 at Horse Mansion in Fairburn, Georgia in a fairy-tale wedding, complete with a horse and carriage.

According to People, the couple married in front 100 loved ones, including Da Brats sister Lisa Raye McCoy, Jermaine Dupri, Rickey Smiley and The Real Housewives of Atlanta stars Porsha Williams, Kandi Burruss, and Eva Marcille.

Shawntae Harris aka Da Brat has been open with her relationship on display for all to see on the couples We network reality show Brat Loves Judy, which is one of the few reality shows centered around an LGBTQ couple.

Their walk down the aisle comes just weeks after the couple announced they were expecting their first child together.

READ MORE: Meeting Judy was a game-changer for Da Brat.

The couple shared the news on Instagram with a photo of Da Brat wrapping her arms around Judy, holding up a heart in front of her fiancé’s stomach.

“We are EXTENDING the family🤰🏽”.

This will be the first child for Da Brat and the fourth for Jesseca.

See the photos exclusively from People here. Love wins. Join us in congratulating the pair!

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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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“Ozark” Final Seven Episodes Get April Premiere Date

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Netflix has announced a premiere date for the final episodes of its hit show, Ozark.

The fourth and final season of the Emmy Award-nominated crime drama consists of 14 episodes that have been split across two parts, with each volume consisting of seven episodes.

The drama series’ final seven episodes will premiere on April 29th.

The first part of season four debuted at number one on the streaming platform with 77-million hours viewed in just three days.

Season Four Part One of Ozark followed Marty and Wendy Byrde, played by Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, working toward ending their family’s association with the Mexican cartel.

An ominous trailer on what’s to come was released by Netflix.

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