Today (July 6) marks the birthday of one of the most rebellious lyricists of Hip-Hop culture, the Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck. The culture notable turns 53.
The unorthodox approach of Inspectah Deck raised a satisfying hell when he smoked the mic back in 1992 on Wu-Tang’s groundbreaking debut single “Protect Ya Neck.” Amid every single slot of opportunity, Deck proceeds to expose his ability to describe realities in the form of rapping with a style that the average human being cannot detect.
Following the Wu’s debut, the Rebel INS went on to drop persuasive verses on the solo projects of Wu members Method Man, Raekwon, GZA, and Ghostface Killah creating a slew of the collective’s most renowned tracks which are deemed infinite on the classical realm. In 1997, he went on to create history by giving birth to arguably the greatest verse in Hip-Hop history. Featured on Wu-Tang’s second studio album, “Triumph,” Deck left an enormous impression on the masses as he bombed “atomically” which overall triggered a supreme evolution with his outlook upon the Hip-Hop masses.
As his metaphoric mastery and mortal flow set in stone Deck’s emcee stance throughout the ’90s, his own solo debut was longingly anticipated. Finally, in 1999, Deck’s solo debut Uncontrolled Substance was released and Hip-Hop heads were blessed with the opportunity to witness the rebellious lyricist take center with his intricate rhyme patterns and soul bound narratives scattered in street reality.
Most may consider Deck to be one of the Wu’s most underrated emcees, but the truth of the matter is that he is one of Wu-Tang’s strongest lyricists. Not only was this evident during his prime time, but as the Manifesto maker entered the following profound eras of Hip-Hop, which can be proven in his most recent works. That only goes to show you to the truth about how soulful emcees, never stop.
Happy birthday to Hip-Hop’s rebellious lyricist, Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck!
Born on this date in 1975, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is undoubtedly one of the most influential forces in the game today. From music to movies to successful business ventures, Fif has always stayed on top of his game ever since he made his unconventional entrance at the end of the last millennium.
What has always kept 50’s name in the people’s mouths is the fact that he always had someone else’s name in his! Not to be confused with the common studio gangster, 50 has not only survived, but remained triumphant and relevant after all of his beefs.
Here’s a short list of some of Fif’s most mentioned beefs in and out of the studio:
1. Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff
This beef between street soldier and kingpin became a story reminiscent of David and Goliath, with 50 Cent battling the most feared gangster in his Jamaica, Queens hometown. This riff was depicted in 50’s blockbuster film Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. The real ending? Fif is a successful businessman and Supreme is currently in a federal supermax correctional facility for life. According to recent reports, however, an appeals court has now forced a federal judge to reconsider Supreme’s appeal for a sentence reduction.
2. Big Pun
On 50’s first widely recognized track “How To Rob” featuring The Madd Rapper, he creatively spits scenarios about him catching several of your favorite rappers and R&B singers slipping. One of them happened to be the Terror Squad top recruit, the late Big Pun, who didn’t take it very lightly. On Pun’s Yeeeaah Baby! album, he tells Fif on one of the tracks, “I’m gonna make a song called ‘How I beat your fuckin ass’…”. Nothing never happened off wax with this beef and Pun passed suddenly on February 7, 2000.
3. The Game
With the G-Unit at the top of the rap tier at the turn of the 21st Century, if you weren’t with them, you and your crew were definitely getting rolled over. The Game, who happened to be the only recruit on the Guerrilla Unit squad that wasn’t from the East Coast, made the mistake by believing that his career would remain afloat without 50. With no help against the barrage of battle records from G-Unit to the unsuccessful “Boycott G-Unit” campaign, it’s safe to say that Fif come out on top of this one.
4. Rick Ross
The Bawse seemed to be the only artist that has even been able to maintain his relevance after beef with Mr. Jackson. Ironically, this beef started over an alleged wrong look at the BET Awards towards Ross. These two traded bars until Fif came out with the “Officer Ricky” track, in which 50 promised told Rozay “Ima fuck your life up for fun’. At the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards in ATL, Gunplay from Ross’ Maybach Music Group allegedly had his chain snatched and Fif was seen wearing the chain days later.
5. Ja Rule
His battle with 50 Cent should’ve been a warning to the rest of the artist who came after him with a problem with the Queens MC. These two were from the same hood, which made the beef that much more personal. While 50 claims that Rule hid behind the protection of “Supreme” McGriff, who was suspected of facilitating the unsuccessful hit on Jackson, Rule maintained a successful career until the continuous physical confrontations and vicious shots proved to be too much for certified platinum Murder Inc. artist. Last year, these two bumped heads on a flight, but time must have healed old wounds because the two just greeted each other with a “what’s up” as they flew together.
Born July 5th, Detroit rapper/songwriter Royce Da 5’9” has kicked down doors in the music industry and demanded a spot in the most talked about ‘Top Emcees List’. Known for his strategic lyrical layout and clever word rhyme, he also has a knack for vividly telling stories through song. Best known as one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with Eminem and one half of the hip hop duo PRhyme with DJ Premier. He was also one quarter of the hip hop group Slaughterhouse with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked. Recently he added producer to his repertoire with his first two producer placements on Eminem’s new album, Music to Be Murdered By.
His recent album, The Allegory touched on several topics promoting the advancement of black businesses, family as well as mental health in urban communities. Easily one of this generation’s greatest minds, Royce continues to grow and share his ideology unapologetically with the world. With an extensive discography of classics, each project Royce puts out offers a different outlook laced with bars. His keen sense of worldly topics spills all over his lyrics and now his social media platforms. Whether he is speaking on hip hop or respecting the Black Lives Matter movement, his passion for humanity is undeniable. His friend and longtime collaborator Eminem recently announced that Royce joined his Marshall Mathers Foundation as the director of community engagement and social justice initiatives to provide privilege for the underprivileged.
On this day in Hip Hop history, one of the culture’s most influential musical masterminds was born. Wu-Tang Clan frontman Robert Fitzgerald Diggs a.k.a. RZA was born today (July 5) in Brooklyn, New York, 49 years ago. Since stepping on the scene in 1989, RZA has done more than just create an outrageously successful career for himself and his affiliates but has also forever shaped and changed the way a lot of things are handled in the music industry. From branding to merchandising to mastery of one’s craft, RZA stands as a pillar example of how someone given nothing but their own mind can rise to be a titan in the entertainment industry.
In honor of his birthday, we’ve compiled a list of five of RZA’s most important power moves that helped to build and strengthen his empire. Spanning from music to video games, RZA’s influence can be felt across culture, color lines and international borders.
-Signing With Tommy Boy Records
RZA signed with the famous Tommy Boy Records in 1991 under the moniker Prince Rakeem and released one EP, Ooh I Love You Rakeem. Although this may not have been the most eventful or productive period of RZA’s career, his tumultuous relationship with Tommy Boy is what helped RZA to formulate his own plan to monopolize Hip Hop. His time at Tommy Boy allowed him to build vital connections with artists and executives that can been seen lasting throughout the remainder of his career. Tommy Boy gave RZA a necessary first glimpse of how the music industry works as a whole, which helped him to finesse it into something that worked for him.
-The Five-Year-Plan
In his autobiography The Tao of Wu, RZA detailed a majority of the events surrounding the ridiculous success of Wu-Tang Clan, the most prominent of these being his “Five Year Plan.” This plan, enacted in 1992 following the success of the RZA-produced Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, was RZA’s scheme for his group to become the most powerful figures in Hip Hop as a whole and individually. In an analogy, RZA explains, “I want all of y’all [Wu-Tang] to get on this bus. And be passengers. And I’m the driver. And nobody can ask me where we going. I’m taking us to No. 1. Give me five years, and I promise that I’ll get us there.”
At the end of the five year period, Wu-Tang Clan had released the Grammy Award-winning, number one Wu-Tang Forever LP (which sold four million copies in its first six months on shelves), GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, ODB and Ghostface Killah all had Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, and Wu-Tang Clan had a successful comic book, clothing line and video game under their belt.
-Wu-Tang Clan Record Deals
As Wu-Tang’s popularity continued to grow exponentially, major labels were breaking down the door to get a piece of the action. For a short while there was a question of where the group and its members would sign. In an attempt to divide and conquer the corporate music world, RZA came up with the idea to have the majority of the members sign with competing record labels. Although from the outside this plan may seem risky and convoluted, RZA was again right on the money with this decision. Having Method Man sign with Def Jam, Raekwon sign with Loud, Ghostface Killah sign with Sony, ODB sign with Elektra and GZA sign with Geffen/MCA allowed for maximum promotion of each artist. No one company had to divvy out the funds to try and support the promo of each of these rap icon’s solo work. This also allowed record labels to work together like never before when pushing Wu-Tang Clan (who remained under Razor Sharp Records) albums because of the number of companies involved with its production. Never before or since has there been a group to sign a deal of this nature.
-Wu-Wear
In 1995 Wu-Tang released their clothing line Wu Wear, which quickly became one of Hip Hop’s most coveted streetwear brands. The brand’s importance, however, doesn’t come from its popularity but its pioneering. With Wu Wear, Wu-Tang became the first rap group to be laced from head to toe in their own gear. This again gave the group another step ahead of their competition. Even today, Wu Wear is international worn and recognized as a prominent Hip Hop streetwear brand and can be found in stores across the globe and online on various outlets.
-Hollywood Takeover
RZA’s most recent and ambitious endeavor to date is his dabbling in acting and filmmaking. As an actor, RZA has appeared in 21 films and has written and directed three. His popular The Man With The Iron Fists Kung-Fu series has proven he can successfully take his love for traditional Asian martial arts films and put his own spin on them to create something of his own. His partnership with famed director Quentin Tarantino only further validates his abilities and potential as a filmmaker and opens the door to the possibility of future projects.
RZA has yet to stop shaping Hip Hop’s culture and sound over the years, although he may not be as visibly active as he once was. His prominence in this culture is known and felt by anyone with knowledge of Hip Hop, its origins and its success as a genre. From everyone here at The Source, happy born day RZA, thank you for building such a godly culture.
Today, June 16, Icon Tupac Shakur would have turned 50 and even in his untimely death, he is still regarded as one of the most influential MC’s of our time
2Pac’s devoted followers look upon him as somewhat of a prophet due to his ability to remain relevant with the times long after his demise. In his music, he almost predicted events that took effect after his presence was no longer with us. In celebration of his 50th birthday, TheSource.com presents our favorite Top 5 Tupac Predictions:
Prediction #1: “Only The Good Die Young”
It was more than a tragedy/ Emotions be grabbin’ me/ Plane fell from the sky/ We tryin’ to figure what happened/ Burnin’ churches, fearin’ God who can be so cruel?”
Prior to the 911 tragedies, Pac quoted these lyrics explaining the events of the time. Regardless of whether he predicted it knowingly, the World Trade Center was indeed attacked by planes and churches are still being burned even in this era.
Prediction #2: “Changes”
And although it seems heaven sent, we ain’t ready to see a Black president.”
President Obama wasn’t ready to be in the White House when ‘Pac made the song “Changes,” but since then, this prediction has come to pass. The lyrics of this particular song are relevant even now, as he goes into the condition of Black people in America and the struggles still being faced today.
Prediction #3: “God Bless The Dead”
Rest in peace to my muthafucka Biggie Smalls…”
The erie taunt by 2Pac before either he or Big was murdered may have been one of the misfortunate misinterpretations regarding the beef that caused their demise since it wasn’t about Notorious Big or was it?
Prediction #4: “Niggaz Done Changed”
I’ve been shot and murdered, can’t tell you how it happened word for word / but best believe that niggaz’ gonna get what they deserve.”
‘The bars from “Niggaz Done Changed” are just one example of the many times Pac predicted his untimely death.
Prediction #5: “Keep Ya Head Up”
I think it’s time to kill for our women/ Time to heal our women, be real to our women/ And if we don’t we’ll have a race of babies that will hate the ladies that make the babies.”
In “Keep Ya Head Up” Pac was talking to the women of the time and gave his prediction of what would occur if the men don’t support them. Unfortunately, his prediction was correct regarding the current generation.
Happy 52nd Birthday Icon Tupac Shakur on behalf of TheSource.com
Former NWA member Ice Cube was born June 15, 1969. He has set his own mark in gangsta rap music since leaving N.W.A in 89′ and has built a successful solo career in music and film. In celebration of his birthday, here are our 5 favorite gangsta roles played by Ice Cube in his substantial movie career thus far.
1. Darin “Doughboy” Baker: Boyz In The Hood
Ice Cube’s debut role as “Doughboy” in the hood classic Boyz In The Hood, portrays a gangbanger straight out of South Central who never knew his father and lives with his uncaring mother who clearly favors his all-star football playing brother over him.
2. Fudge: Higher Learning
Cube’s role Fudge in Higher Learning portrayed an Afrocentric senior on a racist college campus. His “Black Power” stance sets the tone alongside rapper Busta Rhymes and actor Omar Epps.
3. Savon: Trespass
As “Savon” in Trespass, Cube plays a hot headeded hit man for rapper/actor Ice-T who ends up being his arch enemy by the climax of the flick.
4. Reggie: Player’s Club
As Reggie in Player’s Club, Cube depicts a broke pimp and womanizer who hangs out in the strip club looking for a come up.
5. Trey Wallace: Torque
Cube’s role as Trey Wallace was one of the leading roles of his movie career. He played the leader of a Black biker gang called the Reapers and his brother was played by rapper/actor Fredro Starr of Onyx.
As many tribulations as Yeezy has been through his illustrious career, today is a day that even Kanye West himself cannot deny is reason to celebrate.
Born to the late Dr. Donda West in Atlanta, Georgia on this date in 1977, the iconic emcee, singer, producer, clothing designer, and self-proclaimed “genius” has become a household name over the past two decades. From his role as an in-house producer for the now-defunct Roc-A-Fella Records to the revolutionary ‘Ye who proclaimed “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” to the “KoonYe” as he was called when he famously, yet erroneously proclaimed “Slavery is a choice,” there’s no predictability when it comes “Yeezus”.
Even though Ye has managed to confuse some with his statements about slavery some years back, but he still managed to make a monumental contribution ($2 million) to the legal teams and families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd while simultaneously paying full college tuition for Gianna Floyd, George Floyd’s daughter. Ye also gave a memorable performance at the going home services for late rap legend DMX
Salute to Kanye and wish him many more birthdays and success in his endeavors!
Today we remember Harlem’s very own Big L on what would’ve been his 49th birthday. Sadly, L, whose given name is Lamont Coleman, was shot and killed on his own block in Harlem a week after his alleged killer, Gerard Woodley, had an attempt made on his life back in 1998.
The Uptown native founded the Children of the Corn and was a member of the legendary, BX-based Diggin’ in the Crates Crew. As a solo artist, his work with Kid Capri, Craig Boogie, Buckwild, Showbiz, and Lord Finesse have been instructional flows and verses for the millennial generation of emcees. His first release, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous (1995) was the pivotal release, making way for The Big Picture. TBP contained L’s most notorious song/single, Ebonics which served as a dictionary rap defining the slang/lingo used in the streets of NYC and beyond. Produced by DJ Premier, Ron Browz, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock and others, TBP added to most of Big L’s notoriety, with hit songs such as M.V.P., The Enemy and Fall Back which solidified L’s position on the NYC totem pole of emcees who would later dominate the genre with commercial success.
L was murdered during a drive-by in Harlem, prior to the release of his second album. With only one album being released during his time, Big L never received the recognition that he properly deserved. The question has often arisen that if Big L would’ve lived, would Jay-Z have been as much of a megastar as he’s become. Back in 1995, Big L brought Jay-Z with him to represent on the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show and the result from that almost 10 minute freestyle is proof that Big L was definitely one of NYC’s top contenders.
On this day in Hip Hop history, “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D was born in Mandeville, Jamaica, in 1967. If he were alive today, he’d be 56 years old.
Heavy D, born Dwight Errington Myers, moved to Mount Vernon, New York, in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s, Heavy D, DJ Eddie F,and dancers T-Roy and G-Wiz signed with Uptown Records and began their journey to fame and adoration as Heavy D & The Boyz. The group’s debut Living Large was released in 1987 and was a marginal success selling 300,000 copies.
The group began to rise in popularity, helping Heavy D to become a pop sensation. The success of the group’s second and third albums, Big Tyme and Peaceful Journey, allowed Heavy D to collaborate with artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, B.B. King, and more. Through the start of the 1990s, Heavy D began making more and more appearances in music videos and on TV, and in films.
In the mid-1990s, Heavy D became the first rapper to run a record label when he became president of Uptown Records. Before becoming president, Heavy D was instrumental in hiring Sean Combs as an intern. He also convinced Andre Harrel to sign Jodeci. As president, Heavy D worked with and developed the boy band Soul for Real and was the executive producer and principal writer for the majority of their debut album. His success as an executive led to him becoming senior vice president of Universal Music.
Heavy D passed away on November 8, 2011, from complications caused by a blood clot in his leg. His final performance at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards was his first televised performance in 15 years. Heavy D’s legacy will live on forever in the work he created and the mark he left on the Hip Hop industry as a whole.
Just a couple of days after news broke of their son’s name, A$AP Rocky shared an adorable Instagram post wishing his firstborn child with Rihanna, their son RZA, a happy first birthday. With it, he not only confirmed the name but paid further tribute to the Wu-Tang Clan, one of whose iconic members is the namesake of the little one. “‘WU TANG IZ 4 DA CHUREN,’”Rocky wrote, referencing Wu member Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s historic (and interruptive) speech at the Grammys. “HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO MY 1st BORN. RZA.” He also shared a lot of cute snaps with his kid and with RiRi.
What’s more is that RZA’s name puts the couple previous fits into mind-blowing context. Of course, there’s a lot to choose from, as the two are always turning heads for their style and fashion sense. However, the hint was in our faces all along, albeit quite the hard hint to catch from just a sweater. While out on the town with A$AP Rocky, Rihanna was pictured wearing a Wu-Tang jersey, which is the kind of small tease that seems so intentional in hindsight.
As the couple expects their second child together, they’ve both spoken on the joys of parenthood. “It’s beautiful,” A$AP Rocky shared about being a father. “Honestly, I think fatherhood gives me more time to do exactly what I want. I don’t have time for anything that isn’t priorities. It helps you prioritize, honestly. I love it. Everything is just based around my newfound love for being a dad and a family man. It’s lit right now. I can’t even describe it. Yo, you see this smile! I’m all smiles right now, man.
“I’m in a place where I want to give my all to all of this,” he continued. “All I have is my craft, my art, my family. That’s just my life. I just want to give motherf***ers some dope s**t. They’re going to see. It’s going to be ill.” Hopefully that next album comes sooner rather than later, especially considering that he’s been spotted filming for something in Paris. Regardless, check back in with HNHH for the latest on A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, and little RZA.
