News Exclusives Archives - Page 2 of 181

Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 34 Years Ago

April 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day in 1990, “The Verbalizer” Brother J, Professor X “The Overseer”, Paradise “The Architect” and DJ Sugar Shaft “The Rhythm Provider” collectively known as X-Clan, released their debut LP To The East, Blackwards on 4th And B’Way/Island Records.

Produced by the entire crew that was put together by Paradise, who at the time ran the NYC Hip Hop hotspot Latin Quarters nightclub, this album helped to pioneer a movement of Black empowerment in Hip Hop culture with an infusion of Parliament/Funkadelic that was attractive to the youth of that era. Their “Blackwatch” organization, which was led by Professor X’s father, Brooklyn activist Sonny “Abubadika” Carson, legitimized their involvement in raising the consciousness of the Hip Hop generation and their 11 track, debut project was one of the tools that they used to attract their cult-like followers.

Tracks such as “Funkin’ Lesson” and “Heed The Word Of The Brother” led to the album’s mainstream visibility, however, other songs like “A Day Of Outrage(Operation Snatchback)”, “Verbs Of Power” and “In The Ways Of The Scales” allow Brother J to instruct the listeners about the socio-political issues of people of African descent around the world, but primarily in the United States.

Salute to the original members of X-Clan as well as those who continue to carry the legacy of the Clan. Thanks for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 34 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Pharrell Williams Pens Foreword For Celeb Photo Book ‘Big Shots!! Vol. 2’

April 24, 2024 by newhiphopnews

n 2017, Phillip Leeds released the critically-acclaimed & wildly popular book BIG SHOTS! (Rizzoli). Described at the time as capturing a generation of artists and celebrities just as Andy Warhol: Red Books defined a previous era. Shot by Phillip with a unique vintage Polaroid camera called The Big Shot, the book offered a visual who’s who from the worlds of art, music, fashion and popular culture from 2004 through 2016. Volume 1 featured Rita Ora on the cover and contained over 400 portraits including global icons such as Lewis Hamilton, JAY-Z, Beck, Pharrell Williams, Andre Leon Tally, A$AP Rocky, Black Thought, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, David Byrne, Jeff Koons, Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg.

Now, in partnership with Blurring Books, Leeds is set to release BIG SHOTS!! Volume 2: More Shots from the Worlds of Music, Fashion and Beyond, a new collection of photographs that captures the faces from the epicenter of culture. A compilation of previously unpublished work, Phillip has continued documenting some of the biggest names in popular culture as well as behind-the-scenes tastemakers and influencers. BIG SHOTS!! Volume 2 offers more than 500 color Polaroid portraits. The book features GRAMMY award winner SZA on the cover, plus foreword by global music and fashion icon, and multi GRAMMY winner Pharrell Williams. This volume includes portraits of Chris Rock, Lee “Scratch” Perry, James Lipton, Brian “KAWS” Donnelly, Dave Grohl, George Clinton, Sister Nancy, Q-Tip, Snoop Dogg, Ari Melber, John David Washington, Mike Ness, Ndaba Mandela, Megan Thee Stallion, Swizz Beatz & Alicia Keys, plus countless others.

The original Polaroid images of these world-renowned subjects have been showcased from New York City, to Tokyo, to Hong Kong. In November 2023, BIG SHOTS! photography lined the walls of the HK outpost of lifestyle brand, Pleasures, accompanied by a book signing by Phillip Leeds, for the apparel company’s N.E.R.D. capsule collection.

BIG SHOTS!! Volume 2 provides readers a unique vantage point into an era of music and fashion as it crossed in front of Phillip’s camera and shared through the ever-nostalgic format of the Polaroid.

The post Pharrell Williams Pens Foreword For Celeb Photo Book ‘Big Shots!! Vol. 2’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Pharrell Williams Pens Foreword For Celeb Photo Book ‘Big Shots!! Vol. 2’ appeared first on The Source.

UnitedMasters, Ally And Earn Your Leisure Kick Off Creator Investment Tour In Charlotte

April 23, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The highly anticipated Earn Your Masters experience is set to embark on its three-city tour, commencing in Charlotte, N.C., on April 27. This innovative event series, organized by UnitedMasters in collaboration with Earn Your Leisure (EYL) and Ally, aims to inspire, educate, and connect artists while equipping them with the tools to succeed within today’s music industry landscape.

The event in Charlotte, themed “IGNITE: FINANCIAL CREATIVITY, SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES”, will focus on empowering artists to capitalize on their creativity and navigate the creator economy effectively to maximize their potential for success.

The Earn Your Masters Creator Investment initiative is the cornerstone of this year’s tour, strategically targeting key markets to empower creative communities. By providing valuable insights and resources, the program aims to assist artists in transforming opportunities into capital, ultimately yielding returns on investments.

“Empowering creators isn’t just about fostering their talent; it’s about providing the knowledge and resources necessary to turn creativity into a sustainable career path. At UnitedMasters, we’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of equipping artists with the tools they need to navigate the music industry. We’re bringing together industry experts, financial institutions, and emerging talent to foster a community of entrepreneurship. Through spaces like these, we’re empowering artists to own their futures.” – said Steve Stoute, CEO and Founder of UnitedMasters. Stoute, a pioneering figure in both advertising and music, has contributed significantly to shaping both industries and has achieved numerous milestones throughout his career.

Stoute’s involvement in this event underscores its importance and promises to bring valuable expertise and vision to the forefront. His dedication to empowering artists aligns perfectly with the mission of Earn Your Masters, making him a vital asset to the event.

Reggie Willis, Chief Diversity Officer at Ally, a financial services company with the nation’s largest all-digital bank, said Ally understands how important financial education is to helping grow the next generation of creators, people who historically have been underserved by financial institutions.

“Ally has a long track record of helping create pathways for communities of color to promote economic mobility and drive equity,” said Willis. “This collaboration with UnitedMasters continues that work.”

Furthermore, this event progresses the mission of Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings with Earn Your Leisure, as they continue their commitment to empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for financial success. This follows the announcement on Bloomberg TV of their financial education program with high school students in the Bronx curriculum, starting with a pilot program in a few schools with goals to expand more in the city by next year.

The post UnitedMasters, Ally And Earn Your Leisure Kick Off Creator Investment Tour In Charlotte first appeared on The Source.

The post UnitedMasters, Ally And Earn Your Leisure Kick Off Creator Investment Tour In Charlotte appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Scarface Recalls When Tupac “Blew His High” With Police Prank

April 23, 2024 by newhiphopnews

During a recent performance on his Behind The Desk Experience Tour, Dirty South Hip Hop legend Scarface paid tribute to the late Tupac Shakur by recalling a time when the pop culture icon played a prank on him and blew his high when he first arrived in Los Angeles.

“First time I got to California, I’m in L.A., smoking LA weed. We ain’t ever had no shit like this before,” Scarface said. “I’m living in Burbank and recording the Untouchable album. It’s my first time getting high with some L.A. chronic.”

Scarface pays tribute to 2Pac and tells a story about when 2Pac pranked him in LA, and blew his high while he was smoking LA weed for the first time. pic.twitter.com/PdwafcnnVk

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) April 22, 2024

Scarface continues, “The homeboy[Tupac] pull up on me, he got a black Hummer with a fucking siren and loudspeaker on it. I’m in my apartment in Burbank high as fuck for the first time ever, and they come up and they go, ‘Brad Jordan, we know you’re in there, come out with your hands up.’ I’m on the couch like this and my motherfucking high says [does a walking away action]. He just blew my fucking high, man, and he wanted to go to the studio and record, right? He wanted me to ride in this Hummer with him. I’m not going anywhere with him because he does not have a driver’s license. And he can’t drive at all.”

Face then performed his classic track “Smile” which he shared with Tupac, becoming one of the Houston native’s biggest hits that dropped just months after Tupac’s untimely demise.

The post [WATCH] Scarface Recalls When Tupac “Blew His High” With Police Prank first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Scarface Recalls When Tupac “Blew His High” With Police Prank appeared first on The Source.

Saweetie Exposes Quavo DM After He Mentions Her On Chris Brown Diss Record

April 23, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The back and forth on wax between R&B crooner Chris Brown and Migos member Quavo has taken another unexpected turn with another involved party; Quavo’s ex-girlfriend and Brown’s former fling Saweetie.

The “My Type” rapper took to X(formerly Twitter) after her former beau dropped his “H*es & Bitches” diss response aimed at Brown. In the song, Quavo rapped, “I can take a model bitch and make a Saweetie, n-gga,” insinuating that he turned her into the successful artist she is today.

Saweetie hit back by posting a screenshot of an unopened DM from Quavo, but the preview of the message reads, “Damn. We used to mean af to each…” Saweetie cynically captioned the screenshot, “Hopefully the model he turns into me replies.”

Brown used the failed relationship between the two in his weaponized bars against the “Bad And Boujee” rapper, claiming to have slept with her while Quavo was still with her.

“You fucked my ex-ho, that’s cool, I don’t give no fuck, lil n-gga/ ‘Cause I fucked yo’ ex when you were still with her, bitch, I’m up, lil n-gga,” CB rapped.

Saweetie and Quavo began dating back in 2018 but the couple called it quits in 2021 over allegations he cheated on her.

The post Saweetie Exposes Quavo DM After He Mentions Her On Chris Brown Diss Record first appeared on The Source.

The post Saweetie Exposes Quavo DM After He Mentions Her On Chris Brown Diss Record appeared first on The Source.

‘Freaknik’ Doc Director P. Frank Williams To Be Honored At San Diego State University

April 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

P. Frank Williams has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 School of Journalism and Media Studies Alumni Impact Award by his alma mater San Diego State University. The award will be presented to Williams on May 10, 2024 at JMS Next, the school’s annual graduation celebration.

Williams, an Emmy and 8-time NAACP Image winner, will be celebrated for his outstanding contributions to the field of media and storytelling producing and directing several acclaimed projects centered around Black culture and music including TV One’s renowned documentary series “Unsung” and “Unsung Hollywood,” BET’s award-winning series “American Gangster,” “Hip Hop Homicides” executive produced by 50 Cent and Mona Scott-Young and films such as “Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan,” and his latest top-trending Hulu documentary “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told.”

“The journalism school was a place that I called home and it was a place where I discovered a lot about myself as a journalist, as a writer and as a reporter,” said Williams. “A lot of the lessons that I learned, stuff that I got from San Diego State, has propelled my career from newspapers to magazines to television and documentary filmmaking. Professionally, it means a lot to receive this award because JMS is the foundation of all that I’ve achieved.”

A native of Oakland, California, Williams has had a career spanning three decades in Film/TV and journalism, during which he has made a significant impact as a writer, speaker, teacher, and producer. The award honor comes on the heels of the recent announcement of his multimedia production company, For The Culture By The Culture (@FXCXC). Williams is actively addressing the underrepresentation of people of color in the media by prioritizing authentic representation both in front of and behind the camera.

“Williams personifies what the Alumni Impact Award is all about. We are celebrating him not only for his professional achievements but also for his commitment to social change and justice,” said director of JMS, Dr. Temple Northup.

“It’s just an amazing and beautiful feeling to be able to come full circle back to JMS. I just want to make sure that all of the students at the school know that it doesn’t matter your background or where you start,” said Williams. “It’s about putting the work in, staying focused and trying to get to that next level. So whatever it is that you can dream of, you can achieve it. You just got to go toward the goal and go toward the light.”

The post ‘Freaknik’ Doc Director P. Frank Williams To Be Honored At San Diego State University first appeared on The Source.

The post ‘Freaknik’ Doc Director P. Frank Williams To Be Honored At San Diego State University appeared first on The Source.

50 Cent Urges Quavo To Fire Back After Chris Brown’s “Weakest Link” Diss

April 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

In an unexpected fashion that seemed harder than most rappers’ recent diss tracks, Chris Brown dropped a scathing diss track aimed at Migos’ front man Quavo entitled “Weakest Link” and now the number one online antagonizer is pressuring Quavo to return fire at Breezy or he can count this battle as a loss.

50 Cent seemed to give CB his props for the Weakest Link, posting the song’s cover art, which shows Quavo chomping on a glizzy, along with a snippet of the song.

“Oh my God i just heard this, if Quavo don’t come with some heat it’s a wrap. First the Fatboys break up now this!” he wrote.

Released on Friday (April 19), “Weakest Link” finds Chris Brown taking his feud with the former Migos member to another level.

Breezy addressed Quavo allegedly sleeping with Brown’s ex, Karreuche Tran, rapping, “You fucked my ex-ho, that’s cool, I don’t give no fuck, lil n-gga/ ‘Cause I fucked yo ex when you were still with her, bitch, I’m up, lil n-gga.”

Brown also takes a stab using the death of Quavo’s late nephew and Migos member TakeOff for some vicious get back. “R.I.P. TakeOff, he the only real one, I got true respect/ Crazy how when he died, everybody really wished it was you instead.”

Previously, Quavo had taken shots at Breezy on his song “Tender”, taunting him over his ex Karrueche Tran, history of violence against women and alleged drug habit. “You did the bitch wrong and now the bitch gone, she posted with a thug/ Call the bitch phone, she won’t come home, don’t beat her up/ It must be the drugs, need to cross out your plug,” rapped Quavo.

The beef between these two date all the way back to 2017, where the Brown and Quavo allegedly got into a physical altercation at the BET Awards Afterparty.

The post 50 Cent Urges Quavo To Fire Back After Chris Brown’s “Weakest Link” Diss first appeared on The Source.

The post 50 Cent Urges Quavo To Fire Back After Chris Brown’s “Weakest Link” Diss appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Magazine Remembers Digital Underground’s Shock G Three Years Later

April 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 2021, Gregory Jacobs aka Shock G of the legendary Digital Underground, passed away in his home in Tampa, Florida. He was 57 years old.

Shock helped co-found DU in 1987, which spawned the career of one of Hip Hop’s most prolific icons to date; Tupac Shakur. Also, Jacobs’ self-created alter ego Humpty Hump made up the classic “Humpty Dance” that helped popularize the group in 1989.

Shock G was found dead in a hotel room and it has been revealed that the hotel manager was the last one to see Shock alive outside of the building the day before he died. When Shock missed his check-out time the next day, the manager became concerned and went to the rapper’s room. The manager found Shock unresponsive and called 911.

According to the report from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, Shock G, died in April from a lethal mixture of of fentanyl, ethanol (alcohol) and methamphetamine.

Shock G was laid to rest in Tampa, Florida following a May 1 funeral service.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Magazine Remembers Digital Underground’s Shock G Three Years Later first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The Source Magazine Remembers Digital Underground’s Shock G Three Years Later appeared first on The Source.