News Exclusives

Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition

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On September 17, the world’s largest, most esteemed breaking competition, Red Bull BC One, will host the  USA National Finals in Los Angeles. Winners of the regional cyphers held in Philadelphia, Austin, Orlando, Boston, and Seattle will take the stage at Eden Hollywood to battle it out for the National Championship title and to represent the country at the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York this November. 

Shining a light on the thriving breaking communities across the U.S., the nation’s top 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete in a knockout bracket, judged by a panel of respected figures within the breaking and hip-hop community, including b-girl legend Asia 1 and Red Bull BC One All Star Neguin with Rakaa, of Dilated Peoples hosting the evening. Joining the regional finalists are wild-card invites of top US breakers including Hijack, Mace, Snap1, Rascal Randi, Sunny, and more. Only one b-boy and one b-girl will go on to represent the USA at the Last Chance Cypher during the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York on November 11. 

B-girl Pep-C, an Olympic hopeful who will be competing in Los Angeles, took home the win at the Red Bull BC One Cypher East in Philadelphia last month. She shares, “The Red Bull BC One National Final is an exciting opportunity to put my training and skills to the test against the best b-girls across the country. With the Olympics around the corner, this prestigious competition is a stepping stone on the road to Paris..”

The 2022 Red Bull BC One season celebrates the communities that have helped push break forward to reach  new milestones in the sport’s history: Hip-hop’s upcoming golden anniversary in 2023 and the highly anticipated debut of breaking at the 2024 Paris Games. Honoring these pivotal timestamps, the 2022 Red Bull BC One World Final will return to New York, paying tribute to breaking as an intrinsic element of hip-hop culture. 

While breaking has its roots in the Bronx, it was also ubiquitous in the west coast hip-hop mecca of South L.A. and on the city’s east side. West Coast Dancers have shaped breaking’s evolution since the 1970s, fusing California-native dance styles like popping and locking with the ground-level gymnastics of New York B-Boys. The West Coast is also home to legendary breaking crews such as Air Force Crew, Radiotron Wizards, and Shake City Rockers, which trace back to intramural battles in L.A. 

Emerging in the late 2000s, Squadron, a SoCal breaking crew, ignited a  modern west coast breaking revolution. Brought together by breaking icon David “Mex One” Alvarado, Squadron was one of the first independent West Coast Crews made “by and for the scene”, which added a distinct West Coast flavor to the sport by merging it with capoeira moves, house dance, and other techniques. Its members include Red Bull BC One All Stars Omar “RoxRite” Delgado, who was a founding member, and Victor Montalvo.

“Generations of West Coast b-boys and b-girls from San Diego to Seattle have influenced what we know as breaking today. Being a member of Renegade Rockers and to represent the Red Bull BC One All Stars, two crews that are crucial to breaking’s proliferation, I am proud to carry the torch for the breakers who came before me while nurturing the next generation,” shares RoxRite. 

Leading up to the competition, Red Bull BC One will host Breakalicious @ Delicious, a celebration of west coast hip hop and break, on Friday, August 26 from 7-9PM PT at Delicious Pizza, a neighborhood pizzeria and local community hub from the founders of the iconic hip-hop label Delicious Vinyl, which helped launch seminal artists such as Tone Lōc (“Wild Thing”), Young MC (“Bust a Move”), The Pharcyde and more.

Breakalicious @ Delicious will feature an open jam session and the unveiling of a limited edition Squadron pizza box. The event will kick off a four-week photo exhibition exploring the west coast break scene and a limited time offering from Delicious, the Pizza Break special, which includes a 12” pizza and two cans of Red Bull.  

Tickets to the national final are $10. Secure your spot at the Red Bull BC One Cypher USA here. 

The post Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition appeared first on The Source.

Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition

by
Screen Shot 2022 08 19 at 9.13.10 AM

On September 17, the world’s largest, most esteemed breaking competition, Red Bull BC One, will host the  USA National Finals in Los Angeles. Winners of the regional cyphers held in Philadelphia, Austin, Orlando, Boston, and Seattle will take the stage at Eden Hollywood to battle it out for the National Championship title and to represent the country at the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York this November. 

Shining a light on the thriving breaking communities across the U.S., the nation’s top 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete in a knockout bracket, judged by a panel of respected figures within the breaking and hip-hop community, including b-girl legend Asia 1 and Red Bull BC One All Star Neguin with Rakaa, of Dilated Peoples hosting the evening. Joining the regional finalists are wild-card invites of top US breakers including Hijack, Mace, Snap1, Rascal Randi, Sunny, and more. Only one b-boy and one b-girl will go on to represent the USA at the Last Chance Cypher during the Red Bull BC One World Final in New York on November 11. 

B-girl Pep-C, an Olympic hopeful who will be competing in Los Angeles, took home the win at the Red Bull BC One Cypher East in Philadelphia last month. She shares, “The Red Bull BC One National Final is an exciting opportunity to put my training and skills to the test against the best b-girls across the country. With the Olympics around the corner, this prestigious competition is a stepping stone on the road to Paris..”

The 2022 Red Bull BC One season celebrates the communities that have helped push break forward to reach  new milestones in the sport’s history: Hip-hop’s upcoming golden anniversary in 2023 and the highly anticipated debut of breaking at the 2024 Paris Games. Honoring these pivotal timestamps, the 2022 Red Bull BC One World Final will return to New York, paying tribute to breaking as an intrinsic element of hip-hop culture. 

While breaking has its roots in the Bronx, it was also ubiquitous in the west coast hip-hop mecca of South L.A. and on the city’s east side. West Coast Dancers have shaped breaking’s evolution since the 1970s, fusing California-native dance styles like popping and locking with the ground-level gymnastics of New York B-Boys. The West Coast is also home to legendary breaking crews such as Air Force Crew, Radiotron Wizards, and Shake City Rockers, which trace back to intramural battles in L.A. 

Emerging in the late 2000s, Squadron, a SoCal breaking crew, ignited a  modern west coast breaking revolution. Brought together by breaking icon David “Mex One” Alvarado, Squadron was one of the first independent West Coast Crews made “by and for the scene”, which added a distinct West Coast flavor to the sport by merging it with capoeira moves, house dance, and other techniques. Its members include Red Bull BC One All Stars Omar “RoxRite” Delgado, who was a founding member, and Victor Montalvo.

“Generations of West Coast b-boys and b-girls from San Diego to Seattle have influenced what we know as breaking today. Being a member of Renegade Rockers and to represent the Red Bull BC One All Stars, two crews that are crucial to breaking’s proliferation, I am proud to carry the torch for the breakers who came before me while nurturing the next generation,” shares RoxRite. 

Leading up to the competition, Red Bull BC One will host Breakalicious @ Delicious, a celebration of west coast hip hop and break, on Friday, August 26 from 7-9PM PT at Delicious Pizza, a neighborhood pizzeria and local community hub from the founders of the iconic hip-hop label Delicious Vinyl, which helped launch seminal artists such as Tone Lōc (“Wild Thing”), Young MC (“Bust a Move”), The Pharcyde and more.

Breakalicious @ Delicious will feature an open jam session and the unveiling of a limited edition Squadron pizza box. The event will kick off a four-week photo exhibition exploring the west coast break scene and a limited time offering from Delicious, the Pizza Break special, which includes a 12” pizza and two cans of Red Bull.  

Tickets to the national final are $10. Secure your spot at the Red Bull BC One Cypher USA here. 

The post Los Angeles Announced As Host City For Finals Of Red Bull BC One, World’s Largest Breakdancing Competition appeared first on The Source.

Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1”

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Making a momentous return, multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated superstar and Atlanta icon Offset unleashes his first new solo record and music video in three years “5 4 3 2 1” available today via Motown Records. Listen to “5 4 3 2 1” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

Produced by Baby Keem, the track hinges on an ominously razor-sharp keyboard-laden beat. Meanwhile, Offset’s signature rapid fire flow cuts through the production as he counts down, “5 4 3 2 1.” In the accompanying music video, he dons an all Balenciaga fit as he takes over an amusement park. Catching air, he raps from a pirate ship tilt-a-whirl and on a swing suspended high above the ground. 

It kickstarts another chapter from one of the most influential artists of the past decade as he prepares his next full-length body of work and the follow-up to the gold-certified chart-topping Father of 4 back in 2019. Of course, his rhymes also energized Migos’s blockbuster Culture III, which bowed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, generated billions of streams, and received widespread acclaim last year.

However, he’s ready to break the internet and reshape the game like only he can once more.

The post Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1” appeared first on The Source.

Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1”

by
Screen Shot 2022 08 19 at 9.00.14 AM

Making a momentous return, multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated superstar and Atlanta icon Offset unleashes his first new solo record and music video in three years “5 4 3 2 1” available today via Motown Records. Listen to “5 4 3 2 1” HERE and watch the music video HERE.

Produced by Baby Keem, the track hinges on an ominously razor-sharp keyboard-laden beat. Meanwhile, Offset’s signature rapid fire flow cuts through the production as he counts down, “5 4 3 2 1.” In the accompanying music video, he dons an all Balenciaga fit as he takes over an amusement park. Catching air, he raps from a pirate ship tilt-a-whirl and on a swing suspended high above the ground. 

It kickstarts another chapter from one of the most influential artists of the past decade as he prepares his next full-length body of work and the follow-up to the gold-certified chart-topping Father of 4 back in 2019. Of course, his rhymes also energized Migos’s blockbuster Culture III, which bowed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, generated billions of streams, and received widespread acclaim last year.

However, he’s ready to break the internet and reshape the game like only he can once more.

The post Offset Releases Brand New Single And Video “5 4 3 2 1” appeared first on The Source.

Trapboy Freddy Arrested On Federal Weapons Charges In Texas, Police Find Tiger During Arrest

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Dallas Police were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, and ATF serve an arrest warrant on Trapboy Freddy on weapons charges Wednesday and found an unlikely guest during their search.

The police confirmed that they found a tiger cub in a cage in the residence, but said that the tiger was caged, did not escape from the zoo or roam the streets. The police called Animal Control, but released a statement saying, “Dallas Animal Services responded to the address and secured the tiger, which is currently being held in protective custody at an undisclosed location.”

Trapboy Freddy, whose real name is Devarius Dontez Moore, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and the possession of more than two ounces of marijuana after a traffic stop in March. It has not been confirmed as to whether or not the recent federal arrest was related to the prior arrests.

Also, it is unclear if the 30-year-old rapper will be charged for illegally having a tiger in his possession.

The post Trapboy Freddy Arrested On Federal Weapons Charges In Texas, Police Find Tiger During Arrest appeared first on The Source.

Dwyane Wade Files To Legally Change Gender, Name Of Transgender Daughter

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According to a confirmed report from TheBalst, NBA star Dwyane Wade has filed a court petition to legally change the name and gender of his transgender daughter, Zaya Wade.

According to documents obtained from the L.A. County Court, Wade is asking a judge to officially change his child’s name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. Zaya is a transgender, however, being that she is under 18 years of age, her father has to be the one to officially request the change in court.

The petition mentions Zaya’s mother, Siohvaughn Funches, but says that Dwyane Wade has full authority to make the decision. “Pursuant to the terms of the Final Custody Judgment, (Wade) has full authority to make decisions on behalf of the petitioning minor, and he is not required to receive consent from Ms. Funches-Wade. As a courtesy, Ms. Funches-Wade has received notice of this petition,” the document reads.

In the filing, Wade asks that the court legally issues a decree recognizing that the minors’ gender is changed to “female. It also specifically cites the reason for the change as “to conform with gender identity.”

The multi-millionaire athlete admits he is shocked by his daughter’s confidence in this area, saying, “I went years without telling my chef that I don’t like cilantro on my burger — as an adult, it took me years to have the confidence to say that…My daughter, at 8 years old, had the confidence to say, ‘This is who I am. This is who I want to be.’”

The petition is now pending with the court.

The post Dwyane Wade Files To Legally Change Gender, Name Of Transgender Daughter appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: T.I. Dropped His Second Album ‘Trap Muzik’ 19 Years Ago

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On this date in Hip Hop History, the self-proclaimed “King of the South” released his sophomore album aptly titled Trap Muzik on Atlantic Records in conjunction with Tip’s newly formed Grand Hustle Records.

This was a big improvement from T.I.’s I’m Serious debut release, with guest appearances from the likes of Jazzy Pha, 8 Ball & MJG, Bun B, and T.I’s “In-house” producer DJ Toomp executive producing the album. Hit singles such as “Rubber Band Man,” “Be Easy,” and “Let’s Get Away” led T.I. to his first certified platinum plaque.

Also, T.I. introduced the concept of the “trap” in the album, revealing, “It’s another outlook on the trap. Before, trappin’ was cool, but now trappin’ ain’t cool. It’s necessary for some, but no, it ain’t cool – even if you are a hustler. All the hustlers I know – sellin’ dope is the last thing they wanna do. If you a real hustler, you gon’ move on to bigger and better things.”

Salute to T.I., Jason Geter, DJ Toomp, and everyone else involved with this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: T.I. Dropped His Second Album ‘Trap Muzik’ 19 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: T.I. Dropped His Second Album ‘Trap Muzik’ 19 Years Ago

by
tumblr b0f444fa7b4e1730e942d0fd07906eaf 892c4e98 1280

On this date in Hip Hop History, the self-proclaimed “King of the South” released his sophomore album aptly titled Trap Muzik on Atlantic Records in conjunction with Tip’s newly formed Grand Hustle Records.

This was a big improvement from T.I.’s I’m Serious debut release, with guest appearances from the likes of Jazzy Pha, 8 Ball & MJG, Bun B, and T.I’s “In-house” producer DJ Toomp executive producing the album. Hit singles such as “Rubber Band Man,” “Be Easy,” and “Let’s Get Away” led T.I. to his first certified platinum plaque.

Also, T.I. introduced the concept of the “trap” in the album, revealing, “It’s another outlook on the trap. Before, trappin’ was cool, but now trappin’ ain’t cool. It’s necessary for some, but no, it ain’t cool – even if you are a hustler. All the hustlers I know – sellin’ dope is the last thing they wanna do. If you a real hustler, you gon’ move on to bigger and better things.”

Salute to T.I., Jason Geter, DJ Toomp, and everyone else involved with this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: T.I. Dropped His Second Album ‘Trap Muzik’ 19 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Nappy Roots Member Fish Scales Kidnapped, Robbed And Shot In Atlanta

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According to several confirmed reports, Nappy Roots member Fish Scales was kidnapped, robbed and shot outside of a restaurant he co-owns before he managed to escape.

On Wednesday night, Scales, whose real name is Melvin Adams Jr., was approached by armed gunmen and forced into his vehicle in the parking lot adjacent to his restaurant Atantucky Brewing, a Black-owned brewery/eatery owned by the Nappy Roots rapper in the Castleberry Hill section of Atlanta. The would-be robbers forced Adams into his vehicle and forced him to rive towards the Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport.

Adams was shot during the robbery attempt and was shot again before escaping.

“The first victim fled on foot,” Atlanta Police said. “The second victim, the business owner, was forced by the suspects to drive to his residence in Hapeville. Once in Hapeville the victim tried to flee and was shot by one of the suspects. The suspects fled. The victim went to a nearby house for help and the resident called police.”

According to the group’s official Instagram page, Adams is currently in stable condition and “in good spirits” while recovering from a non-life threatening leg injury.

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Skinny Deville, the co-owner of Atlantucky Brewing and Nappy Roots member, updated the public with a statement, saying, “We would appreciate it if the public would allow us some privacy over the next week while we re-evaluate the situation, as this is an ongoing investigation. I assure you that we will share the outcomes as the police department allows. But know for now that Scales is safe and recovering.”

The post Nappy Roots Member Fish Scales Kidnapped, Robbed And Shot In Atlanta appeared first on The Source.

Nappy Roots Member Fish Scales Kidnapped, Robbed And Shot In Atlanta

by
Screen Shot 2022 08 19 at 7.27.47 AM

According to several confirmed reports, Nappy Roots member Fish Scales was kidnapped, robbed and shot outside of a restaurant he co-owns before he managed to escape.

On Wednesday night, Scales, whose real name is Melvin Adams Jr., was approached by armed gunmen and forced into his vehicle in the parking lot adjacent to his restaurant Atantucky Brewing, a Black-owned brewery/eatery owned by the Nappy Roots rapper in the Castleberry Hill section of Atlanta. The would-be robbers forced Adams into his vehicle and forced him to rive towards the Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport.

Adams was shot during the robbery attempt and was shot again before escaping.

“The first victim fled on foot,” Atlanta Police said. “The second victim, the business owner, was forced by the suspects to drive to his residence in Hapeville. Once in Hapeville the victim tried to flee and was shot by one of the suspects. The suspects fled. The victim went to a nearby house for help and the resident called police.”

According to the group’s official Instagram page, Adams is currently in stable condition and “in good spirits” while recovering from a non-life threatening leg injury.

Screen Shot 2022 08 19 at 7.21.01 AM

Skinny Deville, the co-owner of Atlantucky Brewing and Nappy Roots member, updated the public with a statement, saying, “We would appreciate it if the public would allow us some privacy over the next week while we re-evaluate the situation, as this is an ongoing investigation. I assure you that we will share the outcomes as the police department allows. But know for now that Scales is safe and recovering.”

The post Nappy Roots Member Fish Scales Kidnapped, Robbed And Shot In Atlanta appeared first on The Source.