Memphis Bleek Archives - New Hip Hop News

Memphis Bleek Has A Theory On Why Nicki Minaj Hates JAY-Z So Much

September 10, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Memphis Bleek knows JAY-Z about as well as anybody in hip hop. He was Hov’s right hand man during the peak of Roc-A-Fella Records. When he has something to say about the man, there’s a lot of street cred that comes with it. This is why Memphis Bleek’s input on September 10 was so welcome. The hip hop world was still shocked by Nicki Minaj’s vitriol towards JAY-Z after the Super Bowl Halftime Show controversy. It seemed to come out of nowhere. According to Bleek, though, there’s a specific reason why Minaj despises JAY-Z.

Memphis Bleek took to Twitter to present his theory. He didn’t air out Nicki Minaj, or even call her out by name, but the message was pretty clear. The rapper reposted a Hot 97 clip of JAY-Z talking way back in 2009. The Roc-A-Fella co-founder claimed that fellow artists only get mad at him whenever he fails to do something for them. “They don’t say I did anything to them,” JAY-Z says in the clip. “They say I didn’t do something for them.” Memphis Bleek implies that Nicki Minaj is one of the artists who fall under this tired pattern. “N**gas is mad mad,” he added.

Memphis Bleek Thinks Nicki Minaj Is Acting Entitled

Memphis Bleek may have a point. Nicki Minaj and JAY-Z both hail from New York, but there has never been a particularly close dynamic between them. Minaj and Hov rapped together on Kanye West’s hit “Monster” in 2010, but have never appeared on each other’s respective albums. Nicki Minaj also said that she wanted to “dethrone” JAY-Z during a 2012 interview with Allure Magazine. She explained that she made her bold proclamation to the rapper’s face during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m coming for you,’” Minaj recalled. “‘I’m coming for your spot, Mr. Mogul.’”

It doesn’t help, of course, that Nicki Minaj’s boss, Lil Wayne, and label mate, Drake, has also had tense dynamics with Hov over the years. Roc Nation and Young Money don’t seem to mix, which does support Memphis Bleek’s theory. The notion that JAY-Z didn’t pick Weezy for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, or the Young Money crew as a whole, is an instance of him not doing something for Minaj. There’s decades of additional history and context to take into account. At the end of the day, though, Bleek’s theory is still pretty solid.

The post Memphis Bleek Has A Theory On Why Nicki Minaj Hates JAY-Z So Much appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Jay-Z Dropped Debut Album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ 28 Years Ago

June 25, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On June 25, 1996, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Dame Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke embarked on a creative journey that has morphed into a billion-dollar movement today with the release of the Reasonable Doubt LP.

Released courtesy of their independent Roc-A-Fella imprint, Jay’s premier album was promoted and sanctioned by the streets, with previews of the album via sampler cassettes hitting the streets in the winter of 1995. The album’s first single, “Ain’t No Nigga”, featuring a then-teenage Foxy Brown, was the introduction of “Jigga” to the industry that would eventually put him in the pole position of the rap game.

Other unforgettable tracks from one of the prototype LPs of the “mafia rap” era include, “Dead Presidents II,” “Can’t Knock The Hustle,” which features Mary J. Blige, “Brooklyn’s Finest” with the late Notorious B.I.G. and the introduction of Marcy young gun Memphis Bleek on “Coming Of Age”.

All-star production from the likes of DJ Premier, Irv Gotti, Ski and Clark Kent propelled the album along with Jay’s common street ethics surgically placed melodically on the beats.

Salute to Jay, Biggs, Dame, Pain In Da Ass and the rest of the old Roc-A-Fella staff for this timeless classic!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Jay-Z Dropped Debut Album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ 28 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Jay-Z Dropped Debut Album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Memphis Bleek And Just Blaze Tease First New Collab In Two Decades

June 12, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Memphis Bleek and Just Blaze are legendary soldiers in the Roc-A-Fella army. They helped to define the first half of the 2000s alongside label boss Jay-Z. Bleek and Blaze have taken different career paths in the years since the Roc disbanded, but all that is just water under the bridge. The two artists are coming back together for a new single, and it will be their first in over two decades. The best part? Fans won’t have to wait long to hear it.

Memphis Bleek announced the collaboration on Instagram on June 10. The rapper posted the artwork for the single, which is titled “Durag Bleek.” The single artwork features photos of Bleek and Just Blaze from over the years, suggesting that the song will reflect on all the work the two artists have done together. It also came with a release date of Friday, June 14. That’s right, the two Roc icons will be releasing the new song the very same week it’s announced. The last time Memphis Bleek was heard over a Blaze beat was the 2005 album 5:34. Ironically, the most famous Blaze beat on the album, “Dear Summer,” doesn’t have any rapping from Bleek whatsoever. Instead, it’s a solo JAY-Z track.

Memphis Bleek’s New Single Will Drop June 14

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Memphis Bleek and Just Blaze have had their differences over the years. The latter admitted this during a 2022 appearance on the Drink Champs podcast. He said that Blaze gave away the beats for Cam’ron’s “Oh Boy” and Joe Budden’s “Pump It Up” before he got a chance to do anything with them. “That’s cool he did do that, and I always want to f*ck him up for that,” the rapper said jokingly. “But I can’t, that’s my brother. I love him. N***as trying to say I passed up on ‘Oh Boy.’ F*ck out of here. I would have hit you in the head with an ‘Oh Boy.’”

The Roc reunion also tracks, given that Bleek is launching a label-themed podcast titled Roc Solid. The podcast will delve into the history of Roc-A-Fella and feature guest appearances from the likes of Young Guru and Freeway among others. A release has not yet been announced, but the teaser for the podcast suggests that Roc adjacent rappers like Ja Rule and N.O.R.E. will appear as well. Who knows, maybe Just Blaze will drop by and bless fans with some previously unheard stories.

The post Memphis Bleek And Just Blaze Tease First New Collab In Two Decades appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Memphis Bleek Claims ASAP Mob Is The Modern Day Roc-A-Fella

May 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

There were lots of New York crews fighting for hip-hop supremacy in the 2000s. Ruff Ryders, Dipset, and Terror Squad all made legitimate strides, but Roc-A-Fella ultimately came out on top. It helped that the Roc had the biggest solo star of the era in Jay-Z. Memphis Bleek was one of the rappers who held it down alongside Hov, so he got to see the absolute best that NY had to offer. It consequently carries a lot of weight when someone like him praises a crew from a younger generation.

Memphis Bleek recently discussed the lineage of New York hip-hop during a recent appearance on Fresh Pair. The rapper was asked about the lasting impact of Roc-A-Fella Records, and he claimed that nobody has surpassed it. “Some people still try to create that Roc wave,” he explained. “You got a couple people that came close.” The one Bleek has been most impressed with has been ASAP Mob. Apparently, he’s an enormous fan of what the Harlem collective has done over the last decade.

Memphis Bleek Praised ASAP Mob For Coming “Close”

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“The closest team that I thought was gonna do it was the ASAP crew,” the rapper noted. “I can’t front that, they all was shakin.” It’s easy to see why Bleek was so impressed. ASAP Mob helped to popularize “cloud rap” in the mainstream courtesy of ASAP Rocky’s 2011 mixtape, Live. Love. ASAP. Rocky went on to become a bonafide pop star off the success of singles like “Goldie” and “F*ckin’ Problemz.” Ferg was the next one up, and he bolstered the Mob’s street credentials. ASAP Mob’s aesthetic also carried over to the world of fashion.

ASAP Mob agrees with Memphis Bleek’s sentiment. During a Billboard interview, the crew referenced Roc-A-Fella as a major influence. “We look up to Wu-Tang Clain, Dipset, G-Unit, Roc-A-Fella, all them n**gas before us, but we’re the best, bro,” ASAP Rocky claimed. “You can’t be mad at us thinking we’re the best.” ASAP Ant doubled down. “We, like we were one of the crews that brought it back to Wu-Tang, Roc-A-Fella Records,” he added. “We provided the wave to the new generation.”

The post Memphis Bleek Claims ASAP Mob Is The Modern Day Roc-A-Fella appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Memphis Bleek Is Team Kendrick Lamar After Multiple Drake Disses

May 4, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Memphis Bleek started the legendary battle between Jay-Z and Nas. He took shots at Nas on his 2000 single “My Mind Right,” and the subsequent back-and-forth led to his label boss getting in the mix. It’s a little apocryphal (Jay and Nas already issues), but it proves that Bleek knows what he’s talking about when it comes to diss records. Bleek took time away from promoting his upcoming podcast to discuss the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle. He made it very clear that he was backing the kid from Compton.

Bleek got on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the release of Lamar’s devious diss “Euphoria.” He not only praised Lamar’s lyricism, but he took people who didn’t appreciate the song to task for not being real rap fans. “I can’t believe it’s people who really think that K. Dot record [trash],” he wrote. “Glad I’m not one of them cause he walked on that joint.”

Memphis Bleek Clowned Lamar’s Critics

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Memphis Bleek and Kendrick Lamar have never crossed paths, but the former has been sampled on multiple Lamar songs. “LOYALTY,” K. Dot’s 2017 duet with Rihanna, samples the Roc-A-Fella posse cut “Get Your Mind Right Mami.” We have to take it much further back for Lamar’s “The Heart Part 2,” which dropped in 2010 and samples the same exact Bleek collab from 2000.

Bleek isn’t the only Roc-A-Fella member who has backed Lamar in the Drake battle. Dame Dash, Bleek’s former label boss, recently detailed the ways in which “Euphoria” dismantled Drizzy. “As a man, I thought that that was the most logical, grown man, battle rap, sh*t that you could say,” Dash claimed. “A father really enjoys hearing about how fly it is to be a dad. F*ck all that dumb sh*t. If you ain’t a dad it don’t matter.” Kanye West has also chosen Lamar’s side, and even recorded a remix to the diss song that kicked this whole battle off.

Jay-Z is the glaring Roc-A-Fella name who has yet to weigh in on which rapper he prefers. Given that Hov has praised and worked with both Lamar and Drake in the past, though, he’s probably being smart by staying out of it.

The post Memphis Bleek Is Team Kendrick Lamar After Multiple Drake Disses appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Memphis Bleek Announces Star-Studded Podcast Series “Roc Solid”

April 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

It’s impossible to tell the story of Roc-A-Fella Records without Memphis Bleek. He was a crucial piece of the label’s puzzle, and he rubbed shoulders with some of the greatest rappers of all time. This pedigree makes him the perfect person to launch a Roc-A-Fella themed podcast, which is why he’s linking up with the Drink Champs network to run Roc Solid. The new series will see Bleek recount the label’s rise and fall alongside notable guests.

Bleek posted a teaser for Roc Solid on Instagram, and the guest list is wild. Young Guru, Young Chris, and Freeway are some of the rappers who have already recorded episodes, and each have notable ties to the eponymous label. Ja Rule and N.O.R.E. also appear in the teaser, despite the fact that neither artist was signed to the Roc. The former collaborated with several Roc artists during his peak, however, and the latter is a staple of NYC hip-hop. N.O.R.E. is also the co-host of the aforementioned Drink Champs.

Memphis Bleek Will Discuss Roc-A-Fella’s Legacy

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Hip-hop fans will be equally intrigued by the artists who don’t show up. Memphis Bleek debates whether to invite Roc-A-Fella co-founder Dame Dash during the teaser, given their tense relationship. Bleek also weighs the pros and cons of staging a full on Roc-A-Fella reunion, which would include Dash and Jay-Z. The “Dear Summer” rapper has no problem recounting the issues that led to the label folding, as proven by his recent appearance on Drink Champs. He answered all of N.O.R.E.’s questions about the fallout and then some.

For example, Bleek claimed that Dame Dash almost dropped him from the label in 2003. The rapper said Dash and Jay-Z were at odds about the future, and his aggression rubbed Dash the wrong way. “[Dame] looked at me and said, ‘You always going against everything I say’,” Bleek recalled. “If you don’t wanna be with Roc-A-Fella, I’ll give you your walking papers’.” It’s safe to assume these are the kinds of juicy stories the rapper will be sharing on Roc Solid. A release date for the podcast hasn’t been announced.

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Memphis Bleek Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Rapper

February 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Memphis Bleek catapulted into the hip-hop scene under the imposing shadow of Jay-Z. Yet, he didn’t let that eclipsed beginning define him. Born as Malik Deshawn Cox in Brooklyn, New York, the rapper had a sense of urgency and ambition often reserved for those striving for self-made statuses. Crafting bars and delivering beats were part of his daily routine, all before he could legally vote. This erstwhile protégé of Jay-Z and a fixture of Roc-A-Fella Records has persistently redefined himself. Bleek balances artistry with entrepreneurship. The man, who refuses to let others ghostwrite his narrative, enjoys a net worth of $3 million in 2024, according to CAKnowledge.

Memphis Bleek’s musical journey is a cornucopia of hits, collaborations, and ventures that defy categorization. Albums like Coming of Age and 534 weren’t just discographies but statements of his lyrical capabilities. While some artists lose themselves in collaborations, Memphis found an opportunity to reinforce his individuality. Whether teaming up with Jay-Z or Rihanna, he was never overshadowed, proving time and again that he’s a lyrical force to be reckoned with. Songs like “Is That Your Chick” and “Do My…” have turned into hip-hop classics for their delivery and enduring impact on the genre.

Beyond The Stage: The Man, The Myth

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 03: Memphis Bleek attends 2016 Budweiser Made In America Festival – Day 1. On September 3, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/WireImage)

You can’t discuss Memphis Bleek without acknowledging his endeavors beyond the music. An affable personality with a knack for business, he’s invested in various ventures, including his own label, Get Low Records. His personal life has largely been kept under wraps, save for his 2014 marriage. It also shows a man who knows where to draw the line between private and public. Though it may sound counterintuitive in the social media age, Memphis’s decision to maintain a level of mystery only adds another layer to his enigmatic persona.

Balancing The Ledger: A Portfolio Worth Its Weight

If his financial advisor’s office walls could talk, they’d probably rap. Memphis Bleek has diversified his assets in the true spirit of modern entrepreneurship. Investments in real estate, a label, and even a line of flavored spirits show that his fiscal acumen is sharp. To understand Memphis’s financial strategy is also to peek into the mind of a man who knows that the rap game’s uncertainty is not to be trifled with.

Memphis Bleek: The Epitome Of Endurance & Ingenuity

Some artists can be described as flashes in the pan. Memphis Bleek is the entire kitchen stove—reliable, diverse, and far from one-dimensional. He’s navigated the precarious terrains of music, business, and fame, without losing his authentic self. His career isn’t just a lesson in survival but a master class in reinvention and resilience. Overall, the numbers on the checks and bank statements may fluctuate, but the essence of who Memphis Bleek is remains constant: an artist and entrepreneur who refuses to be confined by the expectations of others.

The post Memphis Bleek Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Rapper appeared first on HotNewHipHop.