HipHopDX Archives - New Hip Hop News

Erick Sermon Says Kanye West’s Next Solo Album Will Be A Return To The Old Ye

February 27, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Erick Sermon says that he worked with Kanye West on new music in Florence, Italy, last year, and the songs the rapper was putting together sounded like the old Kanye. Reflecting on the experience during an interview with HipHopDX, Sermon explained that the tracks were separate from Ye’s work with Ty Dolla Sign on Vultures and instead, for an upcoming solo effort.

“The record I was working on wasn’t what him and Ty Dolla Sign was doing at the time,” Sermon recalled. “I was working on Y3, Ye’s solo album […] Hopefully, we can finish what we started, y’know, ’cause I had him on Hip Hop. I was like, ‘You got to rhyme and we have to do the stuff that you used to do ’cause you ill at that,’ y’know? And he listened […] I had [the old Kanye] back.”

Erick Sermon Poses In A Studio In N.Y.C.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK–MAY 26: Rapper-Producer Erick Sermon of EPMD appears in a portrait taken at Sorcerer Sound taken on May 26, 1993 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Kanye hasn’t provided details on his next solo release, but he intends to drop two more projects with Ty Dolla Sign to round out the Vultures trilogy. He shared the first installment independently on February 10. It features collaborations with Freddie Gibbs, YG, Quavo, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, his own daughter, North, and several more artists. It debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, marking the rapper’s 11th consecutive album to do so. West has said he intends to drop the second and third installments of the trilogy on March 8 and April 5. Check out Sermon’s interview with HipHopDX below.

Erick Sermon Speaks On Working With Kanye West

Elsewhere in the interview, Sermon discusses working with Dr. Dre and details how the legendary producer’s process changed his approach to music. Be on the lookout for further updates on Erick Sermon on HotNewHipHop.

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Erick Sermon Credits Dr. Dre For Changing His Approach To Making Music

February 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Erick Sermon says working with Dr. Dre changed his approach to making music. Speaking with HipHopDX for a new interview, Sermon recalled getting in the studio with the legendary producer and learning that his writing process is entirely different than he was expecting.

“We go to Malibu. As soon as I press play, we do one record. I press play again, we do two records. I press play again, we do three records — in one night. The guys said, ‘Erick, we’ve been here for eight years, we ain’t never seen that before. Nobody has done what you did today.’ I put another beat on and he calls Snoop over. Snoop been working on the records that I did. Then I come back and Dre is working on the record that he rapped on. So I said, ‘Yo, let me rap on that. Let me do your style how you rhyme and how you put your records together.’”

Erick Sermon Performs At The Essence Festival Of Culture

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUNE 30: Erick Sermon performs on day 1 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture at Caesars Superdome on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

From there, Sermon says he pulled out a pen and paper to begin constructing rhymes, but someone told him they “don’t do that here.” He then recalled Smitty telling him: “Dre would say the cadence and then we would all say a rhyme, and then if the rhyme sounds good, then we put that down. So there’s no writing; it’s just 16 bars of whatever your freestyle may be.” Sermon added: “The process was something I had never seen before in my life and had never experienced in my life getting produced by somebody. It makes you not want to [write rhymes] no more. That method is undeniable. You can’t go wrong because you got a room of people that is agreeing with the line and if the line is not right then it doesn’t go. So everything is right… and my verse was spectacular.”

Erick Sermon Speaks On Working With Dr. Dre

Sermon is best known for his work in the hip-hop group EPMD. He’s also produced music for many renowned artists over the years. Be on the lookout for further updates on Erick Sermon on HotNewHipHop.

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Ice Cube Speaks On Receiving Hall Of Fame Impact Award

January 12, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Ice Cube has spoken on the basketball Hall of Fame “impact” award that he is due to receive on January 15. “This is big time! I’ve had passion for music, and in movies and sports. I’ve ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — not reaching for that, but just having the passion at the right time. I got a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood just [from] having passion to do good work. And then in sports this is another milestone that’s just off the chart. Because no way, shape or form did I ever think I would be in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — for any reason,” Cube told HipHopDX.

Furthermore, Cube revealed that he in no way expected the award when it was revealed in November 2023. “It was a total surprise. Of course, we felt like our position when it comes to the NBA has been publicized, and so we didn’t think we had the shot to ever be involved with the Basketball Hall of Fame. But what they explained to us was that they’re not the NBA Hall of Fame, they’re Basketball Hall of Fame. They honor high school, college, pros, and they see the BIG3 as a great asset to the game. And so you just never think about it, and here we are,” the rapper added.

What Is The Ice Cube Hall Of Fame Award?

In November 2023, the Basketball Hall of Fame has announced that it has named a new impact award after Ice Cube. The award honors Cube’s “extraordinary contributions to the world of basketball, his unparalleled passion for the game and his unwavering commitment to encouraging crucial dialogues surrounding inclusivity, equal opportunity, and racial and social justice while contributing to initiatives focused on education and community development.” It will be awarded to Cube on Martin Luther King Day next year in a ceremony in Massachusetts. It’s unclear if MLK Day will become the annual time when the awarded to presented to the new winner.

Cube, who founded The BIG3 3×3 league was blown away by the decision. “The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Award named in my honor is truly remarkable. Words alone can’t express my gratitude for this recognition from such a prestigious organization. Having an award bearing my name only intensifies my commitment to advancing inclusivity and equal opportunity in sports, alongside my unwavering dedication to community activism,” the rapper said.

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Goodie Mob Reflects On Hearing Tupac’s “Hit Em Up” Before Its Release

December 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Goodie Mob, the iconic hip-hop group, recently took a trip down memory lane. They sat down in an interview with HipHopDX and shared stories. They reminisced about a pivotal moment in their past when they were privy to 2Pac’s now legendary diss track, “Hit ‘Em Up,” before its official release. During the interview with HipHopDX, Big Gipp shared insights into the atmosphere surrounding that time, shedding light on the tension within the industry and their connections to both camps involved. “I think the 2Pac song was just so incredible because of the time and the space that we heard it in,” Big Gipp expressed. He captured the essence of a moment that resonated deeply with the hip-hop community. The context, both within the industry and the relationships they held with both camps, added a layer of complexity to their experience. It was, as Gipp described, a very peculiar time.

Reflecting on the impact of “Hit ‘Em Up,” Gipp continued, “But to hear that record at the time, it was the smash that we thought it was when he played it. It was the rawest record that we heard at that time.” Gipp’s words paint a vivid picture of the raw energy and authenticity that emanated from 2Pac’s unreleased track, capturing the essence of a moment that would go down in hip-hop history. Acknowledging the skepticism that surrounded the track for years, Gipp asserted, “A lot of people, for 20 years, said that he was lyin’, but now we know he wasn’t lyin’.” This revelation adds a layer of vindication to 2Pac’s authenticity, affirming that the content of “Hit ‘Em Up” was, indeed, a raw and unfiltered expression of the truth.

Goodie Mob On Tupac’s “Hit Em Up”

“Everything about that record was true,” Gipp concluded, emphasizing the realness encapsulated in 2Pac’s words. The interview provides a unique glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the hip-hop world during a time of intense rivalry and creative fervor. Gipp’s reflection on such moments highlights the respect and reverence these artists have for each other, even in the face of industry tension.

In essence, the interview dives into the impact of 2Pac’s “Hit ‘Em Up.” Furthermore it also offers a poignant reminder of the power of music to encapsulate and express the complex emotions and realities of life, both within and beyond the studio. What are your thoughts on this topic? Let us know on
HNHH!

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Trina Praises Lil Wayne & Missy Elliott As “Greats”

December 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Trina spoke highly of both Lil Wayne and Missy Elliott while speaking with HipHopDx at One Music Fest in Atlanta for a recently published interview. Despite their engagement falling through in the 2000s, Trina still appreciates Wayne and described him to the outlet as one of the “greats.” As for Missy Elliott, she explained that she’s among the “top tier” of female artists.

“Just way when he first started, Wayne was always a different kind of artist,” Trina said. “He was very passionate and very consistent. He had a different sound, different voice from any other artist – any other male rapper in the game. His hunger just showed, just from a very young age. I just kind of watched him grow into Lil Wayne — from baby Wayne to The Fireman to growing and growing. And that was just a good thing because he’s a great person and a great artist. He’s one of the greats.”

Trina & Missy Elliott Meet Up In N.Y.C.

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 11: Missy Elliott and Trina at Dinner Honoring Missy Elliot & Lil Kim Jue Lan Club on July 11, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)

As who who else deserves their flowers, Trina went with Missy Elliott. “I’ma always shout out to Missy Elliott because she’s the top tier of us, of the females — our generation,” she said. “I mean, besides just being a rapper, being an artist, a writer, a producer – she’s written for some of the biggest stars in the world like Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, the list goes on. And it’s just one of those things being a woman coming up in that time and being a super powerful woman amongst just being an artist and a pioneer. It speaks for itself. You can just watch everything she do, whether it’s music, production or concerts/shows, whatever. It’s gonna be phenomenal.”

Trina Speaks On Lil Wayne & Missy Elliott

Elsewhere in the interview, Trina discussed being in the studio with Missy, and more. She’s worked on music with both artists numerous times over the years. Check out Trina’s full comments on both Lil Wayne and Missy Elliott above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Trina on HotNewHipHop.

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Conway The Machine & J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Working On New Project, Erik Ortiz Confirms

October 31, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Conway The Machine is reportedly working on a new album that will be entirely produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. Member Erik “Rook” Ortiz confirmed the plans during an interview with HipHopDX on Monday.

“We can do it all, we can carry a whole album and we can make it sound phenomenal,” Ortiz began. “Next up for us is Conway The Machine. We’re doing that whole album with Conway. We’re in talks with a lot of other artists right now to do their whole albums. I can’t really say right now, but some really, really cool big names. But you should expect that from us — whole albums, whole projects from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and it should be fun, man.”

Conway The Machine Attends “Won’t He Do It” Release Party

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Conway The Machine attends “Won’t He Do It” Album Release on May 04, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

The comments from Ortiz come after the production duo worked with Jeezy on his upcoming double album, I Might Forgive…But I Don’t Forget. That project is scheduled to drop on Friday, November 3. He added: “And so Jeezy’s is [our] first foray into full-album territory [they’ll be handling one half of the double album]. I think Hit-Boy knocked it out the park with Nas and he set the blueprint, and I’m glad that we can offer up something really cool like this.”

As for Jeezy’s album, Ortiz says it will handle “very mature” subjects. “As you work on the album, y’know, you start talking about life, talking about music, experience and all that,” he said. “So it just became more songs and more songs and more songs, and then one day, [Jeezy] was like, ‘Y’know what? This gon’ be a double album.’ [The album is] very mature. He opens up about a lot of subjects — some things people might be curious about or never even knew about him. It’s very meticulously put together.” The album arrives after the release of Jeezy’s recent memoir, Adversity For Sale: Ya Gotta Believe.

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Redman Details How Eminem’s Writing Style Compares To His Own

October 21, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Redman reflected on his writing process during an interview with HipHopDX on the red carpet of the City Of Hope event in Los Angeles, earlier this week. In doing so, the legendary rapper compared his style to that of Eminem.

“When I’m sitting down, actually orchestrating a rhyme, I really go into different dimensions of rhyming and word patterns and shit. It’s real intricate,” Redman began. “Another person who is like that is Eminem. I seen some of his writing patterns and I’m like, ‘Okay,’ ’cause we talked about it one time and it’s very intricate how we get our wordplay.”

Redman Visits SiriusXM

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 29: Rapper Redman fills in as co-host of ‘Sway in the Morning’ on Eminem’s. Shade 45 at the SiriusXM Studios on September 29, 2016, in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Eminem famously regarded Redman as one of his picks for the greatest rappers of all time. On his song, “’Till I Collapse,” from 2002, Em rapped: “I got a list, here’s the order of my list that it’s in/ It goes: Reggie, JAY-Z, 2Pac and Biggie/ André from OutKast, Jada, Kurupt, Nas, and then me/ But in this industry I’m the cause of a lot of envy/ So when I’m not put on this list, the shit does not offend me.” Back in July, Redman teamed up with Richmond Hood to sell shirts featuring the lyrics and even got Eminem to pose in one. Sharing a picture of the rapper on Instagram, Redman wrote: “My Young Bro @eminem stay Repping and got his IT GOES REGGIE TEE ! ONLY at www.Richmondhood.com. @richmondhoodco. If it ain’t got the Yellow Tag it’s a FAKE !! Fuck with the ORIGINALS.”

Redman Discusses His Writing Process

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Redman also described Eminem as one of his “favorite artists” during a conversation with the rapper on Shade45 in 2015. Check out Redman’s latest comments from the City Of Hope event above.

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Flavor Flav Reveals He’s Related To A Member Of The Wu-Tang Clan

September 27, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Flavor Flav has recently unveiled an intriguing revelation about his family ties within the hip-hop world. In an exclusive interview with HipHopDX, he shed light on his lesser-known connection to some of the iconic members of the Wu-Tang Clan. The interview was conducted during the Black Music Coalition event in Beverly Hills, California on Sept. 24. Flavor Flav shared some captivating insights into his lineage and a memory with the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard (ODB).

“In the Wu-Tang Clan, I have three blood family members that a lot don’t even know,” he told HipHopDX. “RZA, GZA, and ODB. ODB was my cousin.” As the interview delved deeper into the surprising connection between Flavor Flav and ODB, he went on to recount a cherished memory from their last meeting. When asked if he had a favorite memory in relation to ODB, Flav responded: “Yes, I do have a favorite memory of ODB.”

Flavor Flav Explains His Connection To Wu-Tang Clan

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Flavor Flav went on to detail a memorable encounter that took place in Aspen, Colorado, just one week prior to the untimely passing of the enigmatic ODB. “The last time that I was with ODB was in Aspen, CO. We did a gig together, and this was one week before he passed away,” he explained. “It was never a convo to have me part of the group, because they were always doing their thing and I was always doing my thing. But then we came together and did our thing.”

Flavor Flav’s revelation adds an unexpected layer of depth to the intricate tapestry of relationships and connections within the hip-hop community. His last meeting with ODB in Aspen serves as a reminder of the unpredictable relationships and memories that occur in the world of music, uniting artists from different corners of the genre for unforgettable moments in time. As far as what Flavor Flav has been up to in other news, he announced earlier this year that he was three years clean from smoking cigarettes. Stay tuned to HNHH for more music news.

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Travis Scott Has Alternate Version Of “SICKO MODE”, Says Hit-Boy

February 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Hit-Boy recently revealed that Travis Scott has an alternate version of their smash hit “SICKO MODE” in the vault. Of course, the now iconic track has so many collaborators that this is hardly surprising. Moreover, it also features Drake, Swae Lee, Tay Keith, Mike Dean, MD Beatz, CuBeatz, and Rogét Chayahed. Furthermore, the legendary producer spoke to HipHopDX about a rumored extended version. After all, the very first beat only lasts a minute, and doesn’t feature Travis on the verse.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 11: Travis Scott performs during Michael Rubin’s 2023 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at the Arizona Biltmore on February 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Fanatics)

“I remember Travis first facetimed me when he first did it, like the next morning after the session,” the Grammy-winning artist remarked. “And he played it and it was extended, it was longer.” In fact, Hit-Boy might refer to the first beat, indicating that the track was even more of a progressive journey. However, as exciting as this news may be, it’s unlikely we’ll get the much-memes about “SICKO MODE 2.” At least, that’s what the California native suggested. “I know it’s for sure a longer version part,” he stated, “but it’s probably not gonna ever come out.” Still, only time will truly tell.

Travis & Hit-Boy’s Post “SICKO MODE” Moves

Meanwhile, La Flame has no real reason to inflate his iconic track any more than it already is. After all, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 52 weeks on the charts. In addition to its Diamond RIAA certification, it arguably became the most popular (and eventually annoying) Travis song ever. Regardless of its overplay, it’s also one of Hit-Boy’s most creative and forward-thinking beats to reach such huge success. While he produced it with many other collaborators, his talent surely etched itself indelibly into the track.

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Speaking of Hit-Boy, he’s gearing up for another collaborative album with Benny the Butcher set to drop very soon. Moreover, his work with Nas on the King’s Disease series garnered most of his recent acclaim and celebration in the game, which came long overdue. In fact, King’s Disease IV will feature 50 Cent, which only heightens excitement for their next collab. Come back to HNHH for the latest on Travis Scott and Hit-Boy.

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Rich Homie Quan Details Working At Gucci Mane’s Studio

December 31, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Rich Homie Quan says that Gucci Mane had a strict regimen for artists working at his studio in Atlanta. Speaking with HipHopDX, Quan says it’d feel like being “kidnapped” while recording there.

“Gucci had a studio of Moreland and Memorial in Atlanta,” he told the outlet. “That was the first time I met Migos as well. R.I.P. to Takeoff. We’d all be up there in this one room on the couch and Gucci would have three different rooms in there. I had met Thug then but the first song we recorded was ‘Get the Fuck Out My Face.’”

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 09: Rich Homie Quan attends his album listening party at 40 / 40 Club on March 9, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/WireImage)

From there, he further explained: “Gucci gon’ kidnap you. [Gucci Mane] gon’ get you in and you gon’ do 10 songs before you’re able to go home. He got different producers pulling up he had like three rooms in the house. He may have Dun Deal upstairs, he may have Honorable C-Note in the other room.”

Quan first found mainstream commercial success in 2013 with the single, “Type of Way.” He further solidified his place in the Atlanta scene with “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” his collaboration with Young Thug, “Lifestyle,” and more. He also worked with Thug again on Travis Scott’s 2014 hit “Mamacita.”

Elsewhere in his interview with HipHopDX, Quan discussed working with Lil Dicky on the 2015 single, “$ave Dat Money.” In doing so, Quan compared the comedic rapper to Kanye West.

“His mind… he reminds me of a Kanye — and I say that in a good way,” he said. “Not Kanye Kanye, but perfectionist Kanye, you know what I’m saying?”

Check out Rich Homie Quan’s full comments with HipHopDX below.

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