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Usher Taps Nas To Perform With Him During Las Vegas Show: Watch

October 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Usher has had a star-studded week performing in Las Vegas. He’s kicked his high profile residency in the city up to a new gear and bringing some big names with him. Dr. Dre, J-Lo, Doja Cat, Summer Walker, and Jessica Alba all showed up to either attend or even join the R&B singer on-stage. But one guest totally stole the show from everyone coming on stage and playing a pair of his classic tracks.

That guest star was Nas. The rap legend took the stage on Friday, October 20 during Usher’s performance and he made the most of his time. He unpacked songs like “If I Rules The World (Imagine That) and “You Owe Me” to a crowd that was absolutely feeling it. He took to Instagram after the performance to share more thoughts about it. “your show was immaculate! I had a great time!” he captioned the accompanying Instagram post. Check out the clip of his performance below.

Nas Shares Video Of His Guest Spot With Usher

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Usher’s Vegas residency has already made a pretty significant impact on the city. That became clear when Las Vegas honored him with not only a key to the city, but also a holiday named after him. October 17 was officially declared Usher Raymond Day in Las Vegas. The honor comes in advance of another connection between the singer and the city.

Next year, Usher will take the stage as part of the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show. He’s also due to release a brand new album that very same night, his first since 2016’s Hard II Love. The announcement of his halftime show performance has made his ongoing Vegas residency even more popular. Fans have showed out in an attempt to get a sneak preview at what the entire country will see during the halftime show. What do you think of Nas joining Usher on stage during his Las Vegas residency? Let us know in the comment section below.

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The post Usher Taps Nas To Perform With Him During Las Vegas Show: Watch appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Today in Hip-Hop History: The Firm Released ‘The Album’ 26 Years Ago

October 21, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip-Hop History, New York-based supergroup The Firm released the sole studio album, The Album. As a collaborative effort made by Nas, Aftermath label-head Dr. Dre and marketing genius Steve Stoute, The Album was designed to boost the commercial and mainstream appeal of four of New York’s most prolific emcees: Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega (unfortunately Cormega and the rest of those involved never saw eye-to-eye and he was swiftly replaced by Queensbridge Nature prior to finishing The Album).

Around the time of the group’s formation, its future members were at a pivotal moment in their careers. Nas, who had recently released his prolific debut Illmatic, was not receiving his due respect as one of the greatest active rappers of the time. Of course, he was in great standing with the actual rap community (he was the first non-Wu Tang member to appear on a Wu-Tang track), his fame among the public was disproportional. This disparity forced Nas to hire Stoute as his manager in an attempt to change his commercial approach.

Ironically, this was the second collaborative project of East Coast and West Coast artists involved in the coastal beef of that era. The first being the late Tupac Shakur and the Boot Camp Clik’s 1996 One Nation project.

Simultaneously, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega were all experience a momentous rise in success. Foxy Brown’s work from 1995 with Jay-Z’s hit “Ain’t No Nig*a” in 1996 lead to her becoming one of the most coveted female emcees in New York. Her popularity in the industry led to a bidding war for her contract, won by Def Jam Recordings. AZ was coming off the success of his 1995 debut LP Doe or Die and Cormega was just released from serving a bid in prison. It would seem that the stars had aligned so that this project could take place.

This first time the quartet appeared on a single was Nas’ “Affirmative Action” on his sophomore LP It Was Written. The group’s chemistry and the single’s critical and commercial success made coming together as a supergroup a no-brainer for all involved.

Both the group’s name and the title of the album are an illustration of the 1991 John Grisham legal-thriller novel The Firm.

Commercially, the endeavor as a whole was a mass success. The Album debuted at #1 on both the Billboard 200 chart and Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It sold 147,000 copies in its first week and went on to sell 925,000 in the United States. The record also had international success charting in Canada (where it sold 50,000 units), France, and the Netherlands.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Firm Released ‘The Album’ 26 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: The Firm Released ‘The Album’ 26 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Nas’ Company Mass Appeal Faces Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

October 18, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Nas‘ multimedia company, Mass Appeal, finds itself entangled in a racial discrimination lawsuit as a white veteran documentary producer alleges she was subjected to racist comments and subsequently fired. The woman claims company executives discriminated against her, creating a hostile work environment. The Lawsuit A white veteran documentary producer, Melissa Cooper, who served as the […]

The post Nas’ Company Mass Appeal Faces Racial Discrimination Lawsuit appeared first on SOHH.com.

Everything To Know About The Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Against Nas’ Label, Mass Appeal

October 18, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Mass Appeal, the long-running media company that found new life as a record label when Nas joined a group of investors to purchase the brand in 2013, is being sued for racial discrimination. According to Vibe, Mass Appeal’s former head of development, Melissa Cooper, filed suit in Manhattan against the company and its co-founder Peter Bittenbender, alleging Bittenbender fostered a hostile work environment against her.

Cooper, who is white, says that after she was chosen to work on a project over Senior VP of Content Jenya Meggs, Meggs subjected her to “venomous and racist comments about ‘white folk’ and ‘crackers.’” The comments were supposedly made in messages from Meggs to Terry Ross, an executive producer on Hulu’s upcoming Freaknik documentary. Meggs attributed Cooper’s selection to racial bias, calling another of the doc’s producers, Alex Avant, choosing Cooper an example of “usual white folk behavior.” Meggs began refusing to work on projects with Cooper, leading to Cooper being removed from projects headed by Meggs.

Cooper says although she raised concerns with Bittenbender, there was no investigation of her claims, and she was terminated on June 30, 2023, after her primary role had been reduced so much she had no real function at the company. Nas is not named in the suit but is a partner in Mass Appeal.

Today In Hip Hop History: Nas Released His Debut Single ‘Halftime’ 31 Years Ago

October 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1992, “Nasty” Nas dropped his first single for an otherwise unknown movie soundtrack.

Not even Nasir Jones himself knew the magnitude of what his career would be when the “Halftime” single dropped on October 13, 1992. Appearing on Nas’ monumental Illmatic album as well as the under the radar silver screen flick Zebrahead, Halftime was the smash single that put Nasty Nas in the position to be considered the “Second Coming” of lyrical pioneer Rakim by none other than The Source Magazine, who gave Nasty the coveted Five Mic rating for the landmark album.

Produced by Large Professor, who found his way onto Nas’ album by way of the LP’s other incomparable single, “It Ain’t Hard To Tell,” this song was the catalyst that launched the Illmatic project and Nas’ illustrious career.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Nas Released His Debut Single ‘Halftime’ 31 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Nas Released His Debut Single ‘Halftime’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Nas and Wu-Tang Clan Make a Splash at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa on ‘New York State of Mind’ Tour

September 26, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The New York State of Mind tour, featuring hip-hop legends Nas and Wu-Tang Clan, has taken the nation by storm and is now expanding its reach with a second leg. On this unforgettable journey, the tour’s second stop took a unique turn, transforming into an epic pool party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.

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Breaking away from the typical arena performances, this tour stop offered fans a distinctive experience as they basked in the Florida sun poolside, sipping signature cocktails or relaxing on ledge loungers submerged in up to nine inches of crystal-clear water. The change of scenery and atmosphere brought out a new energy in the rap icons, infusing the performance with a summer party aura.

An ultra-luxury pool was the setting for this exclusive event, hosting a crowd of 2800 loyal members of The Wu and Nas fan bases across three diverse pools. In addition to the pools, private cabanas offered an elevated experience where Wu-Tang symbols adorned bottles, adding to the ultimate show vibe.

The festivities began with an elite DJ set from DJ Scratch that took the crowd on a journey through 50 years of hip-hop hits from all corners of the nation.

De La Soul, a recent addition to the tour, opened the show, bringing in a surprise special guest, Talib Kweli, who assisted in delivering De La’s hits and even treated the audience to “Get By” from his own repertoire.

Following this engaging set, Wu-Tang Clan emerged on the stage, led by RZA, who ignited the crowd with “Bring Da Ruckus,” setting the tone for an unforgettable performance. Maintaining an element of surprise, Wu-Tang Clan showed up fully and thrilled the audience by bringing out Method Man during “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit.”

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After Wu-Tang Clan’s explosive performance, Nas made his grand entrance, representing Queensbridge and even teasing the idea of taking a dip in the pool with the ecstatic fans. The excitement peaked when, early in his set, Nas, flanked by DJ Green Lantern, followed up “The Message” with the electrifying “Hate Me Now.” Nas, dressed in a white tee, heavy chains, and shorts, embraced the Tampa sun and assured fans that the temperature wouldn’t be the same for the rest of the tour.

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The New York legends Nas and Wu-Tang Clan would take turns on stage, delivering classics from their extensive catalogs. The audience was treated to a spectacular musical journey with hits like “If I Ruled the World” and “C.R.E.A.M.,” “NY State of Mind” and “All I Need,” “The World is Yours” and “Shame on a Nigga,” “Ice Cream” and “Got Ur Self a Gun.” The show reached its pinnacle when Raekwon and Nas shared the stage for a spellbinding rendition of “Verbal Intercourse.”

The New York State of Mind tour’s pool party at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa proved that this tour is more than just music; it’s a unique experience that brings fans closer to their favorite artists in an unforgettable setting. As Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, and their dedicated fans continue their journey across the country, one can only imagine the surprises and musical magic that await at each tour stop. But none of them will be like Tampa.

You can see images from the epic event below.

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The post Nas and Wu-Tang Clan Make a Splash at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa on ‘New York State of Mind’ Tour first appeared on The Source.

The post Nas and Wu-Tang Clan Make a Splash at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa on ‘New York State of Mind’ Tour appeared first on The Source.

WATCH: Nas Gives a Glimpse Inside His Birthday Party in “Fever” Video

September 26, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Nas has delivered a brand new music video for “Fever,” a track from his latest album, Magic 3. This album results from the enduring partnership between Nas and longtime collaborator Hit-Boy, produced under Mass Appeal.

Directed by Leff, the “Fever” video takes viewers inside Nas’s opulent birthday celebration, attended by legendary music and entertainment industry peers. The guest list included luminaries like Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Hit-Boy, Fat Joe, and even Hollywood legend Robert De Niro. They all gathered to commemorate Nas’s 50th birthday and the release of Magic 3

This album features 15 fresh tracks and marks the final chapter of the legendary collaboration between Nas and Hit-Boy. It’s a testament to their extraordinary run together in the world of hip-hop.

In celebration of Magic 3 and Nas’s 50th birthday, fans can now connect to access exclusive merchandise, including limited editions of the album on vinyl, which are available at shop.massappeal.com.

The video is available below.

The post WATCH: Nas Gives a Glimpse Inside His Birthday Party in “Fever” Video first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Nas Gives a Glimpse Inside His Birthday Party in “Fever” Video appeared first on The Source.

Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and De La Soul Kick Off Leg 2 of N.Y. State of Mind Tour

September 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On Wednesday night, hip hop enthusiasts in Nashville, Tennessee, were treated to an unforgettable evening as legendary acts Wu-Tang Clan and Nas, joined by special guest De La Soul, took the stage at Bridgestone Arena. The performance marked the beginning of Leg 2 of their highly successful N.Y. State of Mind Tour in North America.

During the two-hour set, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and De La Soul delivered an electrifying performance, treating fans to an array of their most iconic hits. Wu-Tang Clan delighted the audience with tracks like “Liquid Swords,” “Triumph,” and “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit,” while Nas wowed the crowd with classics such as “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The World Is Yours,” and “Get Down.”

The N.Y. State of Mind Tour is a testament to the enduring influence of hip-hop, bringing together two of the genre’s biggest acts. It also serves as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music, showcasing its rich history and cultural impact.

The tour’s success in 2022 prompted Wu-Tang Clan and Nas to announce a global 2023 tour with 32 dates. The tour kicked off in May, featuring stops in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, with performances in Auckland, Sydney, Paris, London, Amsterdam, and more.

The celebration of Nas’s 50th birthday was another highlight of the tour. Nas, a GRAMMY-Award winning rap icon, marked the occasion with the release of his new album, Magic 3, produced by his longtime collaborator Hit-Boy and released via Mass Appeal. The album adds to Nas’s remarkable legacy in the world of hip-hop and continues to solidify his status as one of the genre’s greatest artists.