One of Hip-Hop’s biggest stars of all time, LL Cool J, pulled up on Kevin Hart’s Gold Minds podcast to reflect on his career and the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. During his conversation, LL reveals what drew him to music.
“I started writing rhymes at 11, 12 years old. I started writing my own rhymes. Why was I attracted to it? Because I had never heard young, black men sound powerful before. Every time I saw black men on TV, they were like being handcuffed and being put in a police car. Or it was a bad story. Or they were somebody that I couldn’t relate to that was way far away somewhere. But these guys were right there where I was from. And they were dreaming big… back then, it was a dream and that bragging and that macho stick your chest out pride was really about ‘I want to be somebody, I want to be heard, I don’t want to be invisible.’ To a certain extent, it was overcompensation for what wasn’t happening for us in the community… it made me feel like it was possible to make it. I was inspired. And that’s why I love it so much and why I still do it.”
Billboard recently unveiled their pick for the 2023 R&B/hip-hop rookie of the year, Ice Spice. The 23-year-old Bronx rapper has certainly reached new heights in her career in recent months. “I have put in so much hard work, and it means a lot to be recognized for it and have more than just plaques to show for it,” she says of her latest feat. She’s hot off a couple of wildly successful collaborations with the queen of rap herself, Nicki Minaj. Most recently, the duo got together to drop their viral contribution to the Barbie soundtrack, “Barbie World.”
She also made headlines this year for her appearance on the deluxe edition of Taylor Swift’s Midnights. Their “Karma (Remix)” quickly became Ice Spice’s third song to chart in the top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The young artist also recently dropped off a new track called “Deli” in recent weeks, making waves with the song’s accompanying music video.
The rapper’s skyrocket to stardom began when her song “Munch (Feelin’ U)” blew up in 2022. The song showcases her refreshing take on drill rap, quickly gaining popularity on TikTok. She later worked alongside PinkPantheress to release “Boy’s a liar, Pt. 2” in February of this year. The song, again, went viral. Since then, her fans have been watching the performer’s every move, as she dominates the charts with each release.
Last month, Ice Spice dropped off the deluxe edition of her Like..? EP, offering fans four new tracks. As of late,Like..? (Deluxe) has even been competing with east coast OGNas’ latest LP. He dropped his new album Magic 2 on the same day as Ice Spice’s EP, and their numbers have been cutting it close. So far, Ice Spice’s effort has managed to pass up Nas’ in terms of streaming, though his managed to get more pure sales.
Eddie Morris, aka Scorpio, is a music legend. Also known as Mr. Ness, he was an original member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, one of the most influential groups in music history. Scorpio was recruited to the group by Flash himself. However, Scorpio would leave with Melle Mel after Flash sued their record company for unpaid royalties from “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)”. Scorpio would work closely with Grandmaster Melle Mel, including the release of 1997’s Right Now.
In 2022, Scorpio reflected on “The Message”, arguably the biggest hit of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. “I think one of the important things about that song is it just have us trusting in things that we didn’t trust in sometimes. Like with music, you gotta get out of your own ego. Because realistically, we hated that song. We couldn’t stand that song. We didn’t think that it had no reality to us, but thank God Ms. Robinson had the better vision. Thinking, because we was coming from the Bronx, that it’ll match better versus putting it with somebody else, or whatever the case may be. So just trusting in other people was the biggest lesson. We don’t have all of the answers. No artists have all of the answers.” Now he’s giving his flowers to the next generation of hp-hop.
“Everybody is doing their thing, females taking over,” Scorpio said in a 4th of July video. “Big up to all the sisters out there in the Bronx—Ice Spice, Scar Lip, all of them—even if it’s not your style of music, they gettin’ up out the mud, so we gotta salute.” Obviously, Spice and Scar are two of the biggest names in the game right now. Spice broke out with “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and “Bikini Bottom” in 2022. She’s followed that up with three top-10 singles this year – “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” [#3), “Princess Diana” [#4), and “Barbie World” (#7). Furthermore, she is a must-have on any festival setlist and is most recently coming off a performance at Wireless in London.
Meanwhile, Scar Lip isn’t quite at the same level of hype as Ice Spice but is gaining that popularity fast. Like Spice and “Munch”, Scar saw her song “Glizzy Gobbler” go viral on TikTok. That led to a record deal with Epic Records. She then kicked off 2023 with another breakout single, “This Is New York”. The most recent news out of her camp is that she might have a collab with Cardi B in the works. 2023 has been a huge year for women in rap, but there is still a lot of fierce backlash towards their inclusion. However, messages of support from the likes of legends like Scorpio go a long way to helping rectify that.
The history of Hip Hop would be incomplete without the mention of Russell Simmons and Def Jam Recordings. The illustrious music label began with Rick Rubin in his dormitory at New York University. A little while later, Rubin and Simmons joined forces to establish the powerhouse as a fully formed label. After housing now-legacy acts like LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys and Public Enemy in its early days, Def Jam quickly gained notoriety.
Russell Simmons enjoyed a very successful time as the co-founder of Def Jam. The Hip Hop genre was quickly proven to be in safe hands under the leadership of both Simmons and Rubin in the 80s. However, both co-founders have parted ways with the label for different reasons. Regardless, Russell Simmons is forever etched into the Def Jam history books.
Russell Simmons’ Early Days
Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons attends the Run DMC Tougher Than Leather album release party at the Palladium night club on September 15, 1988 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
A New York native, Russell Simmons was introduced to the rising wave of Hip Hop early on. He crossed paths with Kurt Walker and DJ/Bboy at the City College of New York. This encounter further delivered a greater dose of the genre to Simmons. By the late 70s, after hearing Eddie Cheeba perform in Harlem, Simmons surrendered himself to a life of Hip Hop.
In the 80s, Simmons was a rising Hip Hop promoter. This inspired his younger brother Joseph Simmons, also known as Rev Run to make music. Rev Run began to perform with Darryl McDaniels and Jason Mizell as Run-DMC. Run-DMC went on to achieve many groundbreaking feats as a new-school Hip Hop act. The group is also widely considered as one of the greatest Hip Hop acts of all time.
Formation Of Def Jam Recordings
Rick Rubin.” class=”wp-image-691805″ srcset=”https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1271604920.jpg 1024w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1271604920-300×198.jpg 300w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1271604920-768×508.jpg 768w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px” />LOS ANGELES, CA – 1997: (L-R) Record producer Rick Rubin and music mogul Russell Simmons pose for a portrait in Los Angeles, California in 1997. (Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Russell Simmons was 27 years old when he co-founded Def Jam alongside then-21-year-old Rick Rubin. Both of them were rising producers, while Simmons doubled as a manager. He was working with multiple acts alongside Run-DMC. These were: Whodini, Kurtis Blow, and the Fearless Four. In addition to this, Simmons swiftly became one of Hip Hop’s go-to personalities. He was at the center of the genre in the early 80s in New York, forging connections with several clubs and record companies.
After linking up with Rubin, Simmons joined the effort to create an independent record company. The pair signed on some underground acts, and the rest was history. In the year of its inception, Def Jam released the singles “I Need a Beat” by LL Cool J, and “Rock Hard” by the Beastie Boys. Both songs achieved mainstream success, making the acts one of the first to do so within the genre.
Def Jam’s first full-length release was Radio, the debut studio album by LL Cool J. After scoring a distribution deal with CBS through Columbia Records, Def Jam became a significant player in the music business. Radio was a monumental success, not just commercially, but critically too. Thus, Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, and Def Jam became household names.
Russell Simmons’ Controversies
While Rubin parted ways with Def Jam in 1988 after a fallout with Lyon Cohen, Russell Simmons’ exit was a lot more controversial. Due to the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the MeToo movement, a series of allegations were aimed at Simmons beginning in 2017. Numerous women came out to accuse Simmons of multiple instances of sexual misconduct. These include physical and sexual harassment, assault, and rape.
Consequently, Simmons stepped down from his position in Def Jam, along with his positions in other companies. HBO also removed his name from All Def Comedy, the series he launched in 1992. Furthermore, a documentary, On the Record, was released in 2020 on HBO Max and covered many of the allegations against Simmons.
Personal Relationships
Russell Simmons and wife Kimora Lee Simmons during MTV Life Beat in Los Angeles, CA, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Russell Simmons and model Kimora Lee Simmons married in 1998. They share two daughters, Ming Lee, and Aoki Lee. The couple separated in 2006 and divorced in 2008. While his relationship with his ex-wife and daughters was great even after the divorce, things have taken a rocky turn in recent times.
Earlier in June, after the Father’s Day celebration, Simmons was called out by Kimora and their daughter Aoki for emotional abuse. Aoki Lee further took to Instagram Live sharing her concerns over her father’s mental well-being. She detailed instances of his behavior, sharing that she has refused to speak up due to her father’s influence.
As one of the greatest rappers to ever touch a microphone, it’s no surprise that Nas is showing out for the genre’s 50th anniversary. However, those tributes might come in unexpected ways that display the MC’s business acumen. Moreover, he and Hennessy are teaming up for a limited edition bottle with a “never-before-seen” “HenNASsy” logo for the occasion. Of course, for those familiar with the New York legend’s business moves and partnerships, this shouldn’t be news to you. After all, the two have been partners for over a decade, with him becoming a brand ambassador back in 2020.
In addition to the liquor itself, the company also produced a film to accompany the release narrated by Nas, set to be shown on July 20, the bottle’s release date. The 49-year-old also collaborated with Bronx photographer Renell Medrano for his contributions, further honoring the city that birthed rap music. In previews of the film, the rapper not only showcases the new bottle with detail, but also talks about why he loves the art form of hip-hop so much. According to the press release, this collaboration will “showcase the breadth and depth of hip-hop culture.”
What’s more is that this isn’t the only move that Hennessy made to celebrate rap’s 50 years in music. Furthermore, they will also launch “Hennessy AI.bum covers,” which uses artificial intelligence that converts selfies to unique album covers inspired by the genre’s eras. It’s part of the iconic cognac brand’s Rep Yours campaign, aiming to inspire “fans to show what hip-hop means to them through an immersive digital expression.” Even though AI is quite the controversial topic these days, this seems like a more wholesome use of the technology, and Nas’ cosign makes it all the more meaningful, especially as new music is on the horizon.
“It means a lot to me to celebrate this legendary moment in hip-hop history with Hennessy, a brand that has supported me for over 10 years,” the rapper stated. “Hennessy is part of our culture and continues to inspire generations of hip-hop fans, so I’m really proud to share our new Limited Edition bottle with the world.” Meanwhile, he also called the genre “the vibration of the people” in another Instagram post about the collab. For more news and the latest updates on Nas, keep checking in with HNHH.
Young musical artist Billie Eilish is doling out love in droves. While she showed her adoration for Megan Thee Stallion earlier in the year, she now turns her attention to hip-hop superstar Rihanna. And she isn’t the only hype girl. Rapper Latto showered Rihanna with praise as well. Speaking to Vogue due to the launch of her newest perfume fragrance, Eilish No. 2, Billie touched on not only Rihanna’s awe-inspiring aura but her own style as well. “I don’t need to always prove to everyone that I’m a tomboy,” she said. “Like, that is what I am, but I also am this kind of girl.”
Billie Eilish continues: “I’m also feminine, and I’m also sexy, and I’m also cute, and I’m also just like, none of the above, and I’m just me.” With RiRi as a role model, Billie is finding ways to remove fan negativity from her life. She uses baths, big dogs, and family time as methods of focusing on what’s important in her life. As she enters the perfume scene with a splash, she wants to shed some of that tomboy essence, a defining feature at the beginning of her music career. Being everything and nothing at the same time allows Eilish to transcend identity while still being able to play in all the arenas.
Billie Eilish not only has a new fragrance out. She’s advocating for less body shaming and feeling more comfortable in her own skin. “I like myself more than I used to, and I’m more interested in how I feel than how they feel,” the singer admitted. “But then also that might be a load of bullsh*t because it still hurts my feelings like a [sonofab*tch].” She last played in concert in December of last year. Her most recent venture is acting; she played a cult leader character in Amazon Prime’s Swarm, which came out in March.
As for Rihanna, she receives this Billie Eilish praise in the midst of her second pregnancy. After dominating the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show, she has since gone to multiple fashion shows and musical events, including being name-dropped as A$AP Rocky’s “beautiful wife” at a Spotify Beach Concert in Paris. Safe to say, Rihanna’s basking in the spotlight without having to do too much at the moment. Both women are crushing it in their respective fields, and even beyond.
Dr. Dre’s countless contributions to hip hop will be honored at The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. He’s set to receive the first ASCAP Hip Hop Icon Award of all time, further cementing his influence on the world of hip hop. The ceremony is scheduled to take place tomorrow in Los Angeles.
“Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for Hip-Hop as we know it today. As a champion for some of today’s biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around Hip-Hop,” explained chairman of the board and president of ASCAP Paul Williams. “Dre continues to be a pivotal figure in the music industry,” he says. Adding, “We are thrilled to recognize him with the inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award as we mark 50 years of Hip-Hop.”
The Hip Hop Icon Award was designed to “[recognize] the contributors, creatives and professionals with a proven track record of uplifting Black music.” It was also conceptualized alongside the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective. This year’s ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards ceremony will also honor the 50-year-anniversary of hip hop.
Dr. Dre was honored again earlier this year at the Grammys. He was given the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award in February. “I’m extremely moved by this award,” he said upon receiving it. “I want to say thank you to the Recording Academy and the Black Music Collective for this honor.” He continued, “I know everybody in here probably knows this already, but this is the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. Make some noise for Hip Hop!” Dr. Dre went on, “Where would I be without it? Where would a lot of people be without Hip Hop, to be honest? Hip Hop became a lifeline for me as a teenager growing up in Compton, and it started with a song called ‘The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel.’”
Singer/songwriter Ne-Yo — who began his career way back in 1998 — should know by now how to play the money game. With his latest hot water situation with the Internal Revenue Service, that does not seem to be the case. The rapper owes over $3 million in back taxes to the IRS, according to RadarOnline-obtained documents. The actual number is $3,166,811.68 and this debt is for the year 2020. Seems like COVID-19 discombobulated Ne-Yo.
Born Shaffer Chimere Smith, he and his ex-wife, Crystal Renay, are no strangers when it comes to owing money and not paying on time. Crowe Custom Countertops did work on a property the former couple owns in Alpharetta, GA. Ne-Yo did not pay them for their work, and the company issued a lien to him and Renay. The duo also had a lien of $4,000.00 for taxes owed to the City of Atlanta. As for the divorce settlement between the two, Ne-Yo had to pay Renay $1.6 million, gave her one of their four Georgia properties, covered $20k in moving expenses, and bought her a car in the $150k range.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 11: Ne-Yo In Concert at The Hard Rock Hotel Times Square on May 11, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Unfortunately, Ne-Yo is used to forking over large sums of money. He and Crystal Renay have three kids together. From the divorce, that means $12k in monthly child support, as well as school expenses. Plus, he pays her $5k in alimony for the next three years. Overall, this was an expensive relationship, but not the only one for the R&B artist. He made his ex-girlfriend, Sade Bagnerise, do a paternity test for one of their alleged children. He’s also looking for child support after the DNA test. (Ne-Yo is the biological father of their first child, but he’s unsure about their second child.)
This begs the question: Does Ne-Yo make music anymore, or is he spending all of his time in the courtroom? Allegedly, he’s “down to date fans,” but who would race towards this many red flags should be tested for mental health purposes. Lately, he appeared on the British version of The Masked Singer as Badger and finished runner-up to Joss Stone. Motown Records released his latest album, 2022’s Self Explanatory.
Trippie Redd is gearing up to drop some new music, very soon. Overall, fans are very excited about his new album, A Love Letter To You 5. This series has been a pleasure to listen to over the years. It had always included a whole host of amazing new tracks. Moreover, there is quite a bit of fanfare surrounding Trippie’s return. His last project left a bit to be desired, and now, there is this sense that he could be coming back with a classic. The lead single “Took My Breath Away” is certainly a good sign of things to come.
Now, however, Trippie Redd is commenting on the current state of hip-hop. Ultimately, this was prompted by a tweet from Carl Chery, who is the Head of Urban Music over at Spotify. Chery issued a statement on Twitter, saying “Hip-Hop needs new leaders who are intentional about dictating where the music and culture are going. It feels like artists either don’t think about it or don’t want that responsibility. We need it tho. Who’s gonna step up?” It was an interesting question, that subsequently led to Trippie’s comments.
Hip-Hop needs new leaders who are intentional about dictating where the music and culture are going. It feels like artists either don’t think about it or don’t want that responsibility. We need it tho. Who’s gonna step up?
As HipHopDX reported, the rapper wrote “He right, we gone bounce back tho. We let country and Spanish music take over cuz we too divided. That sh*t l*me as f*ck.” In case you haven’t noticed, the biggest songs in the world this year have been from reggaeton and country artists. There hasn’t been a single number-one album or song from a hip-hop artist in 2023. Some believe this is a sign of a genre in decline. However, others have theorized this is simply due to the fact that none of the genre’s superstars like Travis Scott or Lil Uzi Vert have dropped yet.
Either way, it is going to be interesting to see if the genre as a whole can break out of this sales rut. At the end of the day, huge pop stars like Taylor Swift have been dropping this year, which has also led to impenetrable records. Hopefully, someone in hip-hop is able to get that number-one spot and break the streak. Let us know what you think of Trippie’s comments, down below.
The nominees for this year’s Best Collab at the 2023 BET Awards show these artists still have us in a chokehold with their infectious bops. Some collaborations are expected but can take years to happen. Others happen almost immediately and capitalize on the momentum. However, the most celebrated collaborations are often completely unexpected ones, such as the surprise appearance from Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled on Latto’s “Big Energy (Remix).” Not only are these records soundtracking our lives but their success becomes evident on the Billboard charts. With the BET Awards airing on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at 8 pm ET, we’re looking into the Best Collaboration category.
“Big Energy (Remix)” – Latto & Mariah Carey Feat. DJ Khaled (2022)
This nominee for Best Collab at the 2023 BET Awards is a very successful one that had a grip on 2022. Latto’s 777 project displayed her versatility, from the intro songs that showcased her lyrical aggression to efforts like “Big Energy” which dominated radio and streaming services. A significant portion of the song’s success came from the sample of Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy.” However, with both the instrumental and Mariah’s vocals on this remix, it propelled the song to further virality. Although it dropped in March 2022, it quickly became the song of the summer while landing in placements for commercials and movies. This song dropped in March but has quickly become a song fit for the summer. Latto’s success continues to ascend as more and more people tune in to her music.
“Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” – PinkPantheress & Ice Spice (2023)
Both of these nominees for Best Collab at the 2023 BET Awards are products of internet success. PinkPantheress took TikTok by storm before eventually releasing her project, hell with it. Meanwhile, Ice Spice’s breakout single “Munch (Feelin’ U)” went viral and she’s since dropped an EP titled Like..?, and secured a Nicki Minaj feature. However, when they joined forces on “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” they released the most successful song in their careers. This collab brings the two rising artists together who come from the dance music and drill world – two of the most popular genres today.
“Call Me Every Day” – Chris Brown Feat. Wizkid (2022)
These two nominees for Best Collab at the 2023 BET Awards are from different musical worlds. Chris Brown has excelled in the R&B for well over a decade at this point. Meanwhile, Wizkid has helped bring the Afrobeats sounds to American airwaves to immense success. “Call Me Everyday” finds Chris leaning deeper into Wizkid’s sound, fusing the sounds of West Africa with his R&B sensibilities. While it is on the short side, the two artists use their time wisely. They don’t “trade bars” but their verses and hooks blend together seamlessly. This collaboration is one of the more low-key songs on the list tempo wise but Chris and the dancers in the video still execute choreography that compliments it.
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” – King Combs Feat. Kodak Black (2022)
King Combs is Diddy’s son which guarantees that he’s practically free to sample the majority of the Bad Boy catalog. On “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,” King Combs gives the expected shoutout to the legendary label and even has a short spoken outro much like his father has done and continues to do today. The song uses the same sample from “Crush On You”, a hit by Lil Kim featuring Lil Cease and The Notorious B.I.G. Listeners have celebrated the track for its nostalgia and how the video looked fun for both artists involved.
“Creepin’ ” – Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage (2022)
Coming from Metro Boomin’s solo album Heroes and Villains, this is another hit record that banks off of nostalgia, thanks to the sample used. In fact, it’s almost a triple sample. The Weeknd interpolates the hook from Mario Winans’ “I Don’t Wanna Know” ft. Diddy and Enya, a song which samples The Fugees’ “Ready Or Not.” Meanwhile, 21 delivers a stand-out verse and Metro tweaks the iconic vocal sample melody without losing the essence of the original. “Creepin’” became an immediate highlight from Heroes & Villains and it’s only right that it earned a nomination for Best Collab. Many listeners remembered the original song and appreciated how it was reimagined while still paying homage.
These nominees for Best Collab at the 2023 BET Awards created what was truly a hit. Dropping in May 2022, the song still gets heavy radio play and is still in many people’s rotation. This is another song where the music video went viral for a myriad of reasons. But, at the end of the day, it introduced GloRilla to a wider audience which resulted in her current reign as the Princess of Crunk. Her success led to her dropping a project titled Anyways, Life’s Great… – which is also nominated for Album of the Year at these awards.
GloRilla and Cardi B’s nomination for Best Collab at the 2023 BET Awards comes as no surprise. The highly anticipated collaboration arrived shortly after Cardi’s co-sign of GloRilla’s original single, “Tomorrow,” which landed on CMG’s Gangsta Art. Cardi brings just as much energy as GloRilla for a show-stopping anthem.
Some songs truly feel inescapable. Such is the case with this nomination for Best Collab at the 2023 BET Awards. Future and Drake delivered one of the biggest hits of 2022 with “WAIT FOR YOU.” The Toxic King and the self-proclaimed Certified Lover Boy flipped a sample from Tems’ “Higher” for one of their most successful collaborations to date. Plus, the song’s music video was also the center of discussion amongst listeners because of how surprising it was. The video finds Drake and Future in a medieval setting complete with swords and armor – and yes, they’re wearing them. It’s only right that one of the biggest songs of the year has a video with a budget that matched its size.
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