Hip Hop Lifestyle News | Culture Trends Archives - Page 26 of 28

‘Dope Shows’ Founders Speaks to the Growth and Consistency of Their Concert Promotional Agency

April 27, 2022 by newhiphopnews

“Ain’t no show like Dope Shows.” After “Birthday Bash” earlier this month, which featured Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Gunna, and G Herbo, the production continues to live up to its slogan.

During Grammy weekend, dope Show founders Stephen Piner and Jamir Shaw pulled off the sell-out show at the Wells Fargo Center to feature some of music’s biggest superstars.

“We took six months to plan ‘Birthday Bash,’ and it happened in one day, where the show lasted six hours,” said co-founder Jamir Shaw. “It shows the level of growth over the past five years.

The two Philly natives founded the company back in 2017. The idea sparked from the lack of notable artists that would perform in the city of Philadelphia and teach young artists the details of how to put together a show.

Both Shaw and Piner recall their first show, The Filmore Philadelphia, which holds less than 500.

“Looking out into the crowd and seeing a sold-out Well Fargo Center compared to previous shows of 500 to 2,500 speaks to our consistency and taking everything we’ve learned to apply it to the next venture,” said Shaw.

According to Piner, their approach and level of execution remain the same, no matter the size of the venue. The size of the task is irrelevant because they have spent several years doing the work at such a high level.

Following a sold-out Wells Fargo Center crowd at “Birthday Bash,” Piner and Shaw refuse to take their foot off the gas pedal.

Last week they announced their next concert entitled, “Summertime Series,” in Boston, headlined by Lil Durk, G Herbo, Milly Z, and Toure. Toure recently signed to Dope Records as the label’s first artist.

“Before we signed Toure, we were fans of his,” said Piner. “There’s a viral video where he was on a sprinter (van) with Meek (Mill). We’re all from West Philly, so we thought there’s no better place than to start with the home team.”

Shaw adds that they are currently building a recording studio in Philly, where creatives can come to work on their craft.

“We want to make sure that any artists we work feel as if they are heavily supported like a major label, but at the indie level,” says Shaw.

In addition to their newfound label and upcoming show at Boston’s TD Garden (July 23), Dope Shows is currently cooking up a surprise later this Fall for their hometown.

Brace yourself, Philly because “Ain’t no show like Dope Shows.”

The post ‘Dope Shows’ Founders Speaks to the Growth and Consistency of Their Concert Promotional Agency appeared first on The Source.

2 NJ Women Inmates Impregnated After Sex With Transgender Prisoners

April 14, 2022 by newhiphopnews

An all women’s prison in New Jersey launched the liberally progressive move of allowing transgender inmates to be house with the other female inmates, but now the prison is in hot water after two of the naturally-born female inmates were impregnated by a transgender inmate.

It was reported that some of the 27 transgender inmates at the Edna Mahan Correction Facility have been having sex with the biological female inmates, however, there have been no reports of rape because all of the incidents of sexual relations have reportedly been consensual.

“While DOC cannot comment on any specific disciplinary or housing decisions that may be considered in light of these events, the Department always reserves all options to ensure the health and safety of the individuals in its custody,” said NJDOC External Affairs Executive Director Dan Sperrazza.

Last year, to female inmates filed lawsuits against the prison claiming that the transgender inmates were having sex with the biological female inmates, but the legal director over at the ACLU has maintained their support of the prison reform that now allows transgender women to be housed with biological women.

“[It’s] in line with New Jersey’s strong anti-discrimination laws that prevent discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity,” said Jeanne LoCicero.

The post 2 NJ Women Inmates Impregnated After Sex With Transgender Prisoners appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] New Video Of 11-Year-old Prince on the News in Minneapolis

April 5, 2022 by newhiphopnews

A local news station in Minneapolis revealed archival footage of 11-year-old Prince Rogers Nelson speaking out in favor of a teacher strike in 1970.

“I think they should get some more money, ’cause they be working extra hours for us, and all that stuff,” the future superstar tells a reporter, smiling, while surrounded by friends in the April 1970 clip aired by WCCO.

The youngster — who was born Prince Rogers Nelson — was recognized by the CBS affiliate’s production manager, Matt Liddy, who watched the 13-minute video, which was restored for a piece on a teachers’ strike in March.

“I grew up in Minneapolis, so all I cared about was looking at cool old buildings from the place I grew up. Did I recognize my old school? Did I recognize any landmarks?”

“I immediately just went out to the newsroom and started showing people and saying, ‘I’m not gonna tell you who I think this is, but who do you think this is?’ And every single person [said] ‘Prince,’”

“I think just seeing Prince as a young child in his neighborhood school, you know, it helps really ground him to that Minneapolis connection.

“Even if they’re momentary glimpses into what Minneapolis meant to him, what he stood up for when he lived in Minneapolis, just helps understand that symbiotic connection he had to his hometown,” he added.

Watch the video below.

The post [WATCH] New Video Of 11-Year-old Prince on the News in Minneapolis appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Twitter Roasts Chris Rock After Old Videos Resurface Of Him Shading Black Women

April 4, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Last week Chris Rock’s brother Tony Rock came to Chris’s defense after he was slapped by Will Smith at the Academy Awards for disrespecting Jada Pinkett-Smith.

After watching the world go through a phase of ‘protect the black woman’ it was interesting to see the response after a man well…protected his black woman.
The feelings and history behind black hair is way deeper than poor comedic jokes. From alopecia to being told our hair is ‘bad’— black women have endured years of embarrassment at the expense of a few laughs. From being called nappy-headed, bald-headed and worse, it’s expected that men with black moms, aunts and relatives understand the pain behind black hair. Acceptance, convenience, time-management and lack of hair knowledge have all contributed to black women’s hair journey. While it can be as personal to many as personal hygiene, it’s always baffling when men speak on issues that pertain to women.

Tony Rock tweeted that everyone should watch his brother’s movie ‘Good Hair’ to prove Chris has nothing against ‘women of color’. This quickly turned bad when he was reminded how badly Chris portrayed Black women in ‘Good Hair’ a movie he allegedly stole from another Black woman.
From explaining to White America how and why Michelle Obama wears weaves to turning his nose up at women who relax their hair Chris Rock’s disdain for black women’s hair choices were inevitable. His film Good Hair was supposed to teach others about our hair journey. Reminiscent of the kid that goes to school and tells all his family’s business. While celebrities supported the film and women in the film laughed nervously—most black women cringed through his movie. From questioning a child about her perm to trying to sell black hair no one wanted, it was just another slap in the face to the women we are supposed to protect. While Chris Rock’s own relationships have seemed to fail in spite of him choosing women with awesome hair choices, the question remains…is it a man’s business to discuss what a woman does with her hair?
Watch these clips below and Twitter’s response.

It was a horrible movie that further showed Chris Rock’s disdain for Black women.

NOT ONCE (in the entire movie) was anybody allowed to talk about how Black Men have pressured BW historically to look more “Eurocentric” & rewarded/dated/married those BW who imitated Euro hair. https://t.co/2EwVgGPnqH

— WRITER KOLA BOOF (@KolaBoof3) March 31, 2022

Women of color ? No it’s BLACK WOMEN. Get it correct! And all that documentry did was clown Black women, I’ve seen plenty of clips in the replies. https://t.co/Mur6BPaRMZ

— Black is a reality, not an identity (@coloredgirl143) March 31, 2022

We did. That’s WHY we know all he does is disrespect WOC.

Good hair was literally a black man explaining black Womens hair to white people while under the guise of “educating” he made cheap shots and indirect critic of how black women did their hair https://t.co/uaOWwdNI4Z

— Its Will ‘Slap a Hoe’ Smith (@BNashes88) March 31, 2022

You mean the movie he stole and in the movie he told an Indian woman to run the other way if she saw black women because they would steal her hair? Yeah sure we totally changed the narrative. https://t.co/f159yrul0n

— .hack//da sound hashira (@Etrouse) March 31, 2022

The movie Good Hair was made by your brother to shame Black women about our hair. Cut the bullshit. In the movie, he told an Indian girl to run in another direction if she saw a Black woman. Will should have hit him harder. https://t.co/qLWDyaKVKY

— 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊. (@MJFINESSELOVER) March 31, 2022

The post [WATCH] Twitter Roasts Chris Rock After Old Videos Resurface Of Him Shading Black Women appeared first on The Source.

Masego Releases ‘Tadow’ NFT Collection with Quincy Jones Backed Company, OneOf

April 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Back in 2017, Masego and FKJ began a jam session that resulted in the production of the now certified platinum record, “Tadow.” The record helped the “Trap House Jazz” pioneer gain widespread attention. It followed by the release of his debut studio album Lady Lady.

To celebrate “Tadow’s” 5th anniversary, the Virginia artist teamed up with Toronto artist Voidz, in addition to Quincy Jones-backed platform OneOf.

“I’m very proud of what it has become. Any way to take the narrative and move the way that I want to. I wanted to represent, art, cultural exchange and lab musicians so this is a cool art piece for that representation.”

Voidz has collaborated with both Drake and Belgian artist Stromae.

“Tadow” presents a number of different instrumental elements that bring the record to life. Those sonic elements are visually represented within this new NFT. There are 4 tiers of the piece that vary in rarity – green, gold, platinum and diamond. The platinum tier includes a remix contest in which fans have access to WAV files of sounds hear in the NFT.

Fans will also have the opportunity to win signed instruments, a custom NFT created by Voidz, tickets to upcoming shows and the RIAA Certified Platinum record for “Tadow.”

“I think this is the first NFT to create a digestible visual language of the music making process,” said Masego. “I hope it inspires more musicians to explore ways to translate that process for fans and collectors.”

The post Masego Releases ‘Tadow’ NFT Collection with Quincy Jones Backed Company, OneOf appeared first on The Source.

New Trailer: ‘We Were Hyphy’ Documentary

March 24, 2022 by newhiphopnews

We Were Hyphy is delighted to announce its World Premiere as part of the prestigious Cinequest 2022 Film Festival.

MORE: Bay Area Hip Hop Artist And Entrepreneur Foreign Glizzy Is “Road Running”

The music documentary captures the hugely kinetic Hyphy movement and brings the sights and sounds of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most influential musical movement of the past 30 years to life on the screen.

This music documentary feature traces Hyphy’s genesis on Bay Area streets and examines its influence with interviews from legendary figures such as Keak da Sneak and Mistah FAB to modern-day artists such as Kamaiyah, Rafael Casal, P-Lo, and G-Eazy who grew up during the movement and were deeply influenced by it. Historical context is provided by columnists and academics such as Pendarvis Harshaw and Dr. Andrea L.S. Moore.

“Hyphy had a massive influence on me as a teenager,” says Laurence Madrigal, director of WE WERE HYPHY. “I grew up in Antioch and Hyphy was everywhere. It was on the streets, in our cars, in the clothes we wore, and in the way we spoke. I’ve always wanted to share my love of Hyphy with the world and this film is a love song to the era!”

MORE: Bay Area Rapper Mike Darole Killed During Attempted Robbery

The film is a beautifully shot, heartbreakingly sweet story detailing the highs and lows of the Hyphy movement from its inauspicious start which saw a plethora of Bay Area artists crafting and selling CDs from the trunk of their cars to an unwaveringly loyal fanbase who supported the artists and partied with a hedonistic abandon at side shows. It is a love song to all those who were brought together by the sounds of the Hyphy era. The goal of the documentary is to give the audience a look into Hyphy and experience it from two perspectives – through the eyes of the artists who created the iconic sound – and through the Bay Areans who grew up listening to the music, speaking the language, rocking the fashion, swangin’ the cars, and most importantly of all, getting hyphy.

“While Hyphy had a massively formative influence on the kids growing up during the era,” says Laurence, “I think there’s a wonderful universality to the film. Everyone feels that the music they listened to as teenagers was uniquely special. And it really is. It doesn’t matter if you grew up listening to punk, or hip-hop, or classical music, the love you had for the music and the love you had for the friends you shared it with stays with you forever. And it’s this beautiful, almost lonesome nostalgia, that we tried to capture with the film. It’s a deeply personal film for me and my sincere hope is that the film captures the essence of Hyphy and does justice to the artists of the time and, most importantly of all, to the fans who shared in the experience!”

Watch the documentary’s trailer below.

The post New Trailer: ‘We Were Hyphy’ Documentary appeared first on The Source.

Joyner Lucas Pulls out of Lollapalooza, saying his name was too small on flier

March 23, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Lollapalooza might find itself looking for a new artist after Joyner Lucas took to Twitter, accusing the festival of printing his name too small on fliers before throwing shade at Machine Gun Kelly.

In a series of tweets, the ADHD rapper aired his grievances with the festival as well as other artists, namely MGK. His first tweet expressed his displeasure with the other artists whose names were surrounding his on the flier.

“These festivals is gon stop playing with me like I ain’t that n****. Putting my name next to the names of a bunch of random n**** that nobody heard of and offering me a weak a** [money bag emoji]. Then I say no to the offer and these h** a** n**** put me on the flier anyways.”

He then took the opportunity to address the disconnect between his perceived current state of success and his position on the flier.

“N***** is on gon start putting respek on my name. For years I been getting these weak a** offers like I’m some lil n****. Then n***** who ain’t even on my level or doing my numbers is getting put in BIG LETTERS while they write my s*** hella small on the flier.! How sway?!!”

“I’m the biggest independent artist period with the exception of my n*** tech. And I got the numbers & the fans & the [money bag emoji] to back that statement up. How is it that these festivals keep tryna bunch my name up with a bunch of n****who ain’t on my level?. n**** I’m JOYNER LUCAS. [emoji face with raised eyebrows]”

He then definitively let his followers know that he will not be playing at this year’s Lollapalooza.

“All I know is @lollapalooza better take my f***** name off that flier. I ain’t agree to that lineup and I don’t want that weak a** [money bag emoji] n***** tried to give me. Next thing I kno the flier goes out and they gon put my name in some tiny a** letter like i ain’t me. F*** outta here!”

To further illustrate his point, he attempted to provide a visual description of how small his name was, cracking a joke about needing a microscope and sharing a photo of newsprint with tiny writing and a red circle surrounding words too small to read.

“Bro hit me up today asking me what time is my set at @lollapalooza. I said huh? went and looked at the flier and had to find a microscope to find my name. [emoji face with raised eyebrows]. Disrespectful. They said i had to get my numbers up to be respected. So I went top 10 billboard independently. Still this…. @lollapalooza be like “and if you look real close WE ALSO GOT JOYNER LUCAS on the lineup”…

He also took aim at MGK, who is one of the festival’s headliners, tweeting the following with a picture of MGK showing off a black tongue:

Then you got this goofy ass nigga headlining? Smh how sway? pic.twitter.com/fgHyU6CQJS

— Joyner Lucas (@JoynerLucas) March 23, 2022

“Then you got this goofy ass n**** headlining? Smh how sway?”

He concluded by referencing Eminem‘s beef with MGK from 2018 in which the two released opposing diss tracks aimed at each other.

“someone said “don’t bring out the rap devil”…[crying emoji] maaaaannnn listen. Lol What my brother Marshall did to this n**** @machinegunkelly is light compared to what’s waiting if he wanna walk down that street wit me. Ain’t nobody worried bout a n**** who paints his nails. [nail polish emoji]. foh”

For reference, the flier is shown here with Lucas’s name circled in red.

The post Joyner Lucas Pulls out of Lollapalooza, saying his name was too small on flier appeared first on The Source.

[PHOTOS] RZA & DJ Scratch Listening Party, “Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater”

March 15, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Hip Hop legends, RZA and DJ Scratch released their joint full-length album, Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater produced by DJ Scratch via 36 Chambers ALC/MNRK Music Group.

The two rap icons’ collaborative album is inspired by their love for martial arts. The project serves as a love letter to the kung fu movies that ran on local television channels every Saturday when there were only five options.

Just ahead of Friday’s release the duo hosted a star studded listening party filled with music industry guests, such as Rocnation’s Young Guru, actor, Flex Alexander and more.

Cocktail waitresses dawned in Wu Tang branded martial arts uniforms served guests as DJ Carisma provided the tunes.

“We named it that because we are flashing back to the days when we were young men coming from Brownsville Projects, then moving to Staten Island moving to Park Hill, Killa Hill,” RZA shared to the crowd on their inspiration for doing the album.

“It took us to a place far far far away, because we have never been to China. We have never been to Thailand…and we saw men protecting women, fighting oppression. We saw chivalry and one man taking down 20 men, breaking bricks, using num-chuks,” added RZA.

DJ Scratch who produced the album solely, previously explained:

“It was an honor to produce and executive produce an entire album for a legendary MC, who happens to be one of the greatest Hip Hop producers of all time. This album is like a movie. The first track gives you the synopsis of the movie. The beats & the videos we shot will take you back to when you couldn’t wait to turn to channel 5 every Saturday at 3 pm to watch Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater. I’m proud of this project and I can’t wait to perform these songs live.”