interview

Kalan.frfr Talks Performing at Made in America: ‘It Is Mind-blowing’

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Kalan.FrFr Publicity Photo

This weekend, the 2022 Made in America Festival will take over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. Amongst a stacked roster of performers will be Roc Nation’s Kalan.FrFr recently dropped off his new project, 222, which is sure to have a few cuts performed on stage.

Ahead of going to Philadelphia for his show-stopping performance, Kalan.FrFr spoke with The Source and revealed what fans will experience once he hits the stage and more.

Kalan.FrFr PR Image 2

What does it mean for you to take the Made in America stage?

Kalan.FrFr: Me taking the stage at Made in America is going to be great! I really can’t wait, it’s been something I wanted to do for a very long time, and the fact that I’m going to be able to do it is mind-blowing, I can’t wait to get out there.

How will you approach this show? Either the same or different from than other stages you touched this year?

I’m gonna go out there and have a good time, you know what I mean, have fun! Ima make sure I’m going crazy, and we’re gonna keep the same tactics we got going now; make sure we prepare for it, make sure the songs are good, and we go over the set, then go out there and do what we do.

Looking back on this year, you have accomplished a lot. What have you been most proud of, and what are you looking forward to giving fans as the year rolls on?

This year, I would have to say I’m most proud to still be here, still making music, still getting love, still elevating. It’s crazy to me how every day, my life is still changing, and I appreciate it all. I’m most proud of that, and I can’t really just pick one thing, it’s everything. We came from nothing so just being able to still be here is great.

And for the time yet to come, I just hope that we can keep it going. The sky’s the limit, and we’re shooting for the stars! My hope is that we’ll get there, that we keep it going, and we keep working.

You released 222 this year. What did you learn about yourself in creating that project?

Personally, I learned a whole lot. I learned you gotta go with your gut. Go with what you feel. Musically, I learned the same thing. Don’t be scared to experience sounds, try new stuff, stuff that people haven’t heard before. Believe in your gut and believe in what you got going on

You have received the support of much of the California Hip-Hop community. How does it feel to have that backing?

It feels dope to have LA behind me. As a kid growing up, when guys started rapping, having your whole city behind you that was like the biggest part of it. If your city ain’t behind you, ain’t nobody gonna mess with you. You know what I mean? So the fact that I got the city behind me, I’m extremely appreciative.

As someone who has a background in football – the NFL and college seasons are kicking off around the same weekend as Made in America. What teams are must-see for you this year?

I’m definitely gonna catch some Rams games and Seahawks games. Also, Giants and Green Bay and Steelers games. All the teams my homies are playing on so I can see what they doing this year. It’s gonna be a lot of good football. Of course, San Diego State games – my alma mater. I’ll definitely be watching a lot of sports.

The post Kalan.frfr Talks Performing at Made in America: ‘It Is Mind-blowing’ appeared first on The Source.

Scotty ATL Unveils New Album ‘Candler Road to Melrose’ Talks Atlanta Hawks Grillz Partnership

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Scotty ATL

Following the announcement of his Atlanta Hawks partnership, Scotty ATL unveils a brand-new album, Candler Road to Melrose. Last week the 37-year-old shared he will create through partnership custom grillz for the Hawks schedule release representing different NBA teams.

On Friday, Candler Road to Melrose released via Cool Club/ Cinq Music Group, which finds the southern emcee exploring the journey and path that led him to his highly successful grillz business on Melrose Ave.   

Scotty ATL, known for his distinct drawl and vernacular, keeps it fresh while switching flows over 13 tracks with production from super producer Zaytoven, DJ Burn One, DJ Tune and more. 

READ MORE: [WATCH] Big Boi Releases “Do Ya Best” Video Feat. Sleepy Brown and Scotty ATL

Candler Road to Melrose arrives as the follow up to Scotty’s trio of  singles released earlier this year. “Go Twin,” “LA Care,” and “Nomo Heaux,” featuring Young Dro, all appear on the album. 

For collaborations the East Atlanta native taps Curren$y and G Perico on “Spike Lee,” Sleepy Brown on “Remember Chad,” and Iamsu! on “Night Vision.” While Big K.R.I,T. joins on “Chosen & Frozen,” and Ace Hood flexes on “Congratulations.”

The successful entrepreneur and artist continues to build his craft and financial freedom with a new project and expanding his company, Grillz By Scotty.

In recognition of #BlackBusinessMonth this August, Scotty ATL spoke with the Source’s Kim SoMajor about business after COVID-19, new ventures with PUMA, The Atlanta Hawks, and much more.

When and what sparked you to start a grillz business? 

I’ve always worn grillz since I was in high school. I made a name for myself in Atlanta as a rapper. One of my old friends lost his job as a dental assistant. He wanted to do grillz. At first I was just helping him and then it got more serious. 

How did it serve as another option outside of your rap career? 

It has allowed me to make extra income to support my dreams and provide for my family. It has also given me a bigger platform to share with the world. 

How did your business adjust during the stay-at-home orders and how is it now?

I adjusted by decreasing staff and increasing my knowledge of online businesses. Now we do both in store and online. I have a store in Atlanta on Candler Rd. and another store on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. 

With your business, you are providing an opportunity for other people too. What has been a definitive moment for you that reaffirmed that you made the right move in starting it? 

Everyday I think about that. Helping my dad move out of the projects and give him a job is the biggest. 

What’s next for Grillz By Scotty? 

Major brand collaboration opportunities on the way. New designs. New moves for the culture. Maybe more locations… 

How did you know that  was the next move for you? 

I knew it because I started making money everyday and that was my goal from the beginning. 

Talk about your new grillz design and how you’re elevating your business?

I have newly designed colored grillz are out now. They’re limited edition and very unique. I’m more than a grill maker, I’m a grill designer. You haven’t seen these before. 

Congratulations on your partnerships, to watch your dedication and growth in rap and  business is very inspiring. What do these success-building opportunities mean to you? 

My role as an influencer in this project was to capture ATL culture through my eyes. I had an amazing time and I’m so proud of myself and our company. 

You can hear the new release from Scotty ATL below. 

candler rd to melrose scotty atl

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post Scotty ATL Unveils New Album ‘Candler Road to Melrose’ Talks Atlanta Hawks Grillz Partnership appeared first on The Source.

[Source Exclusive] Irv Gotti Talks “The Murder Inc Story,” Successful Tips For Entrepreneurs + More

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Irv Gotti Calls Drake the Eminem of Today

Business mogul and producer Irv Gotti, born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. has been in a number of headlines recently revealing details of his past relationship with Ashanti, the early days of his career in the music industry, and the creation of Murder, Inc. just ahead of The Murder Inc Story five-part documentary series premiere.

The Murder Inc Story premieres on Tuesday, August 9 at 9PM ET on BET.

The five-part documentary will examine Irv Gotti’s initial success as a music executive at Def Jam and how he masterminded a new label that would forever shift and influence the music industry for generations to come. 

Murder, Inc. Records played a pivotal role in launching careers of some of the most influential voices in Hip Hop, Soul, and R&B, including Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore, Vita, Black Child, Caddillac Tah, and many more.

The documentary will not only cover the music of Murder, Inc, but also the drama surrounding the label. From feuds with Aftermath, Shady and  G-Unit Records, along with the federal charges he faced, Gotti, 52 is finally ready to reveal his authorized untold story of the rise, sudden fall, and redemption of his iconic record label..

The Source’s KimSoMajor caught up with Irv Gotti via zoom from his home in New York for a passionate and transparent discussion on the future of his company, Visionary Ideas Entertainment, learning what his purpose is, the upcoming Murder Inc. docu-series, why he would not do a reunion tour without Ashanti and much more. 

What’s the biggest reason that you wanted the Murder, Inc. documentary to come out and why now? 

The biggest reason is I felt it was a great time for me. I felt the ups and downs. The story needed to be told.  Because people have been wanting me to do a doc — Been because they just like how I run my mouth. I’m a pretty good interview piece cuz I just keep it real. Right. But I felt this cuz, I knew I was on my way back up Kim. And I’m on my way back up. Even bigger than the legendary sh*t that I’ve done. Because now I’m doing it, not only in music, but movies and films and I’m owning it, you know? 

When people say, ‘the universe is aligning,’ you know, when you hear that kind of bullsh*t —it is aligning for me. Yeah. [Laughs] That bullsh*t is, it’s kind of real for me and things just started falling into place and they’re continuing to fall into place with this doc and Tales following the doc, the one, two punch, I love Tuesday 9 and 10 PM on BET. So I just felt like it felt right. It felt right to tell my story because I have the come up part. I have the success. I have the Def Jam. Then the feds, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, the downfall. What should have been my downfall of 50 [Cent] bombing on me. If the feds wasn’t enough, it’s 50 bombing on me. I’m supposed to be buried and done. And then low and behold I’m coming back like a hundred times stronger.

Also, I wanted to tell my story as an inspiration and I know this is gonna sound corny, but it’s real. I wanted kids and my ni**as to see and hear my story because when I was filming it, one of the execs at BET —I almost moved to tears cuz she was like, I want my son to see this. My son has to see this. And I was like, why? “Cuz” she said, “Yo, you’re saying everything that he’s going through.” And what I was saying was until my dad got laid off, I was f**king off life.

I wasn’t applying myself. I wasn’t taking it serious. So what I said to the viewers and everyone that watches, it’s like, I take myself out of being Irv Gotti, and I basically compare myself to them and I’m like, Yo, I was just like you, I’m 22 years old. I’m playing f**king John Madden 93 for money at a barber shop. And that’s my day. I’m f**king off life. I’m not taking it serious. I had the same talent that I have now, but I wasn’t applying myself. I wasn’t going for it.

That’s what launched you into a savage?

Yeah, my dad was gonna get a pension and his job fired him and I’m at home. And I don’t know why God put me to see this, but he put me to see this. And you know, my dad is talking to my mom and he’s like, “I got no education like that.” He says, “Like, I don’t know what’s gonna happen to us or me,” and that sh*t just put a fire in me, Kim, that still burns right now. 

I’m glad that you mentioned that because I wanted to ask you what you felt your meaning and the purpose is. But just taking it back to those earlier moments, I seen a clip where you gave your dad the keys and just the emotion over it. I wanted to tear up. What was that feeling like?

I’m gonna talk about my dad. If I start crying, I start crying, but you know, my dad, —I just, love the f*ck out of him, Kim, him and Nene. ….So that moment is an immortal moment for me because it was the first time I seen my dad cry. He’s crying and he was hugging me and he was like, “My boy, my boy,” he was so f**king happy. And it wasn’t about the car. It was about, my boy is a man. He was like, my boy is a man.

It meant the world to me. He means the world to me. And I give him and Nene all of the credit and all of the props for me because I could honestly say if my dad didn’t get fired, I probably would’ve still been in that stupid ass barber shop playing Sega. And it wouldn’t no Irv Gotti.

Check out the full interview where we get into Irv’s $300M deal and his plans for his company, Visionary Ideas Entertainment and more.

Be sure to catch Tales , following the The Murder Inc Story Tuesdays at 9PM ET on BET.

Share your comments with us on social media.

The post [Source Exclusive] Irv Gotti Talks “The Murder Inc Story,” Successful Tips For Entrepreneurs + More appeared first on The Source.

Irv Gotti Talks “The Murder Inc Story,” $300M Deal, Why There’s No Reunion Tour W/O Ashanti + More

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Irv Gotti BTS Murder Inc. Documentary

Business mogul and producer Irv Gotti, born Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. has been in a number of headlines recently revealing details of his past relationship with Ashanti, the early days of his career in the music industry, and the creation of Murder, Inc. just ahead of The Murder Inc Story five-part documentary series premiere.

The Murder Inc Story premieres on Tuesday, August 9 at 9PM ET on BET.

The five-part documentary will examine Irv Gotti’s initial success as a music executive at Def Jam and how he masterminded a new label that would forever shift and influence the music industry for generations to come. 

Murder, Inc. Records played a pivotal role in launching careers of some of the most influential voices in Hip Hop, Soul, and R&B, including Ja Rule, Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore, Vita, Black Child, Caddillac Tah, and many more.

The documentary will not only cover the music of Murder, Inc, but also the drama surrounding the label. From feuds with Aftermath, Shady and  G-Unit Records, along with the federal charges he faced, Gotti, 52 is finally ready to reveal his authorized untold story of the rise, sudden fall, and redemption of his iconic record label..

The Source’s KimSoMajor caught up with Irv Gotti via zoom from his home in New York for a passionate and transparent discussion on the future of his company, Visionary Ideas Entertainment, learning what his purpose is, the upcoming Murder Inc. docu-series, why he would not do a reunion tour without Ashanti and much more. 

What’s the biggest reason that you wanted the Murder, Inc. documentary to come out and why now? 

The biggest reason is I felt it was a great time for me. I felt the ups and downs. The story needed to be told.  Because people have been wanting me to do a doc — Been because they just like how I run my mouth. I’m a pretty good interview piece cuz I just keep it real. Right. But I felt this cuz, I knew I was on my way back up Kim. And I’m on my way back up. Even bigger than the legendary sh*t that I’ve done. Because now I’m doing it, not only in music, but movies and films and I’m owning it, you know? 

When people say, ‘the universe is aligning,’ you know, when you hear that kind of bullsh*t —it is aligning for me. Yeah. [Laughs] That bullsh*t is, it’s kind of real for me and things just started falling into place and they’re continuing to fall into place with this doc and Tales following the doc, the one, two punch, I love Tuesday 9 and 10 PM on BET. So I just felt like it felt right. It felt right to tell my story because I have the come up part. I have the success. I have the Def Jam. Then the feds, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, the downfall. What should have been my downfall of 50 [Cent] bombing on me. If the feds wasn’t enough, it’s 50 bombing on me. I’m supposed to be buried and done. And then low and behold I’m coming back like a hundred times stronger.

Also, I wanted to tell my story as an inspiration and I know this is gonna sound corny, but it’s real. I wanted kids and my ni**as to see and hear my story because when I was filming it, one of the execs at BET —I almost moved to tears cuz she was like, I want my son to see this. My son has to see this. And I was like, why? “Cuz” she said, “Yo, you’re saying everything that he’s going through.” And what I was saying was until my dad got laid off, I was f**king off life.

I wasn’t applying myself. I wasn’t taking it serious. So what I said to the viewers and everyone that watches, it’s like, I take myself out of being Irv Gotti, and I basically compare myself to them and I’m like, Yo, I was just like you, I’m 22 years old. I’m playing f**king John Madden 93 for money at a barber shop. And that’s my day. I’m f**king off life. I’m not taking it serious. I had the same talent that I have now, but I wasn’t applying myself. I wasn’t going for it.

That’s what launched you into a savage?

Yeah, my dad was gonna get a pension and his job fired him and I’m at home. And I don’t know why God put me to see this, but he put me to see this. And you know, my dad is talking to my mom and he’s like, “I got no education like that.” He says, “Like, I don’t know what’s gonna happen to us or me,” and that sh*t just put a fire in me, Kim, that still burns right now. 

I’m glad that you mentioned that because I wanted to ask you what you felt your meaning and the purpose is. But just taking it back to those earlier moments, I seen a clip where you gave your dad the keys and just the emotion over it. I wanted to tear up. What was that feeling like?

I’m gonna talk about my dad. If I start crying, I start crying, but you know, my dad, —I just, love the f*ck out of him, Kim, him and Nene. ….So that moment is an immortal moment for me because it was the first time I seen my dad cry. He’s crying and he was hugging me and he was like, “My boy, my boy,” he was so f**king happy. And it wasn’t about the car. It was about, my boy is a man. He was like, my boy is a man.

It meant the world to me. He means the world to me. And I give him and Nene all of the credit and all of the props for me because I could honestly say if my dad didn’t get fired, I probably would’ve still been in that stupid ass barber shop playing Sega. And it wouldn’t no Irv Gotti.

Check out the full interview where we get into Irv’s $300M deal and his plans for his company, Visionary Ideas Entertainment and more.

Be sure to catch Tales , following the The Murder Inc Story Tuesdays at 9PM ET on BET.

Share your comments with us on social media.

The post Irv Gotti Talks “The Murder Inc Story,” $300M Deal, Why There’s No Reunion Tour W/O Ashanti + More appeared first on The Source.

Idris Elba Reveals He Used to Sell Weed Before Finding Fame

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Idris Elba Tapped To Portray Knuckles In 'Sonic The Hedgehog 2'

We all know Idris Elba from “The Wire” or even the “The Office”, but what many don’t know is something he recently revealed on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Podcast. He joined the podcast to promote his latest project “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” which is currently in theaters now.

The podcast spoke on topics outside of his latest project. Like many celebrities, he did not make it big right away. They spoke about the start of his career. When he was in London there were plays and side projects that he would take on. However, when he moved to America and a lot changed for him. There were things he had to do to make sure he could “pay the way”, and some of those things used to be selling weed.

Dave Chappelle only recognized him at first due to the fact that he previously purchased weed from Idris. But selling weed was not the only side hustle he had. He also DJ’ed and was a doorman at Caroline’s Comedy Club.

Selling weed is legal now and is a side hustle he can always revisit.

The post Idris Elba Reveals He Used to Sell Weed Before Finding Fame appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Stevie J Gets Oral Sex During Live Interview

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Screen Shot 2022 03 14 at 6.18.55 AM

A video has gone viral that shows Love And Hip Hop star Stevie J receiving fellatio during a FaceTime interview while the journalist conducting the sit down tries to ignore what is actually happening.

Leah Henry was interviewing the former Bad Boy producer for her show “Leah’s Lemonade” when not long into the interview, a female’s hand comes into the frame, revealing that the philandering producer was not alone nor was he fully attentive to Ms. Henry. Leah eventually asks Stevie about his unidentified company, but he never reveals what’s actually going on during the interview.

Henry has had to defend herself against fans and critics alike who have criticized her for not promptly ending the interview when she realized what was going on and some even questioned her professionalism for continuing to interview Stevie while he was receiving oral sex.

The post [WATCH] Stevie J Gets Oral Sex During Live Interview appeared first on The Source.