News Exclusives

Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Released ‘Return Of The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’ 27 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard released his debut solo LP, Return of the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version. Released by Elektra Records, Return of the 36 Chambers was only the second solo LP by any Wu-Tang member. Largely produced by fellow Wu-Tang emcee RZA, the album had a mostly positive commercial reception.

Peaking at number seven on the Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart, Return of the 36 Chambers sold 81,000 albums in its first week and was certified gold later that year. The album was also nominated for “Best Rap Album” at the 1996 Grammy Awards.

Coming off such a successful group debut, there were little critics could say to discount the record. The Source, Rolling Stone and Allmusic have all given the project four out of five stars. In 1998, The Source selected the album to be a part of its 100 Best Rap Albums list.

Following Return of the 36 chambers: The Dirty Version, ODB went on to release one more solo album, Nigga Please, before his untimely demise in 2004. Ol’ Dirty will forever be remembered as one of the most talented and unique emcees to ever grace the mic.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Released ‘Return Of The 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Big L Dropped His Debut Album ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor and Dangerous’ 27 Years Ago

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On this date twenty-seven years ago, Big L dropped his debut and only full-length studio album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous, on Columbia Records.

Aside from, eloquently stated by The Source Magazine at the time, “[coming] with ill animated lyrics, combined with metaphors that stun; a combo sure to have suckas on the run,” Big L also ushered in two emcees that are very prominent in the culture today: a then-unknown Killa Cam and a semi-established Jay-Z.

Produced primarily by the legendary Lord Finesse with Showbiz and Buckwild on the help out, this was a Diggin’ In The Crates album. According to “Funky Technician” Lord Finesse, who had a hand in some of the album’s production, in an interview commemorating the album’s 15th anniversary, he said this about the posse track “8 Iz Enuff”, “With that [song] L just thought he had to do a track with the rappers from his hood. And he definitely wanted to put on [those particular emcees]… We looking like, ‘How you gonna put eight niggas on one track?’ [And he was like], ‘Don’t worry, I got this.’”

He definitely had it too.

Unfortunately, Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous would be the only album released by L in his life as he was fatally shot in Harlem in 1999.

Salute to Big L kaka Lamont Coleman(RIP), Lord Finesse, Jay-Z, Cam’ron, Grand Daddy I, U, and everyone else who helped make this album a piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Big L Dropped His Debut Album ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor and Dangerous’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Busta Rhymes Dropped His Debut Album ‘The Coming’ 26 Years Ago

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On this date in 1996, Busta Rhymes did the inevitable and released his highly anticipated solo album The Coming on Elektra Records.

Even though the Leaders Of The New School were a celebrated group within the culture, it was always suggested that Busta drop a solo project minus LONS. With production form the likes of Easy Mo Bee, DJ Scratch and even Busta Buss himself, The Coming served as a introductory project of what was to come from the one of the greatest lyricists in the game.Appearance from the likes of the late Notorious B.I.G., A Tribe Called Quest(who first introduced Busta on “Scenario”), Heave d and The Boyz and Mary J. Blige.

The 13 track full length studio album was chock full of hits including “Everything Remains Raw”, the Zhane-powered “It’s A Party” and the album’s lead single “Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check”. This album also introduces Busta’s own “Flipmode Squad” consisting of Lord Have Mercy, Rampage, Rah Digga and Spliff Star.

Salute to Busta on his premiere project; definitely an important piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Busta Rhymes Dropped His Debut Album ‘The Coming’ 26 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

ICYMI: Suspect in Young Dolph’s Murder Attacked While Making Jail Phone Call

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U.S. Marshals and Tennessee Authorities Name Suspect in Young Dolph's Murder

Justin Johnson, aka Straight Drop, one of the suspected killers of Young Dolph, has been reportedly attacked in jail. According to TMZ, Johnson was struck by a fellow inmate.

Johnson is in Tennessee’s Shelby County Jail. During a phone call, Johnson was punched by a fellow inmate while he was in the middle of a phone call. Johnson’s attorney states he was in a visitation area and was decked by a fellow inmate. Johnson is said to have not been severely injured.

This past Friday, Johnson was involved in another incident. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson and another inmate were under investigation for a separate incident.

Johnson was arrested this past January after being captured by U.S. Marshalls. He has maintained his innocence.

Last week, the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center in Memphis released the autopsy report of Young Dolph. According to Fox 13 Memphis, Dolph suffered 22 gunshot wounds.

The report states wounds both entered and exited the body. Dolph was shot in multiple places, including the forehead, face, back, arms, chest, chin, neck, shoulder, and more.

Born Adolph Thorton Jr., Dolph was killed on Nov. 17, 2021, outside of Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies. Johnson and Cornelius Smith have been charged in the case. A warrant is currently active for Shundale Barnett for his place in the connection. Devin Burns and Joshua Taylor have been named as persons of interest.

The post ICYMI: Suspect in Young Dolph’s Murder Attacked While Making Jail Phone Call appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Quavo Criticizes The Grammys And XXL Magazine Following Kanye West Ban

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Even though there were thousands of supporters who petitioned to have Kanye West banned from Coachella and now the Grammy Awards due to his online behavior towards his ex-wife and her new beau, there is still a myriad of people, celebrities in particular, who are not necessarily supporting West’s antics, but they are definitely condemning the cancel culture when it comes to the music/fashion mogul.

Migos’ Quavo shares the sentiments of Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince, who says that Hip Hop should form its own award shows and boycott the Grammys as other Hip Hop frontrunners have done in the past. Quavo also criticized XXL for not properly highlighting up and coming artists, telling TMZ, “Instead of a Freshmen Class, we need the “Best New Artist” in the streets whenever they come out,” he said. “[Migos] couldn’t go on Freshmen Class because we was a group. So, just s**t like that. All these little stipulations on our artistry is lame because we’re creators.”  

See the video of his comments below.

The post [WATCH] Quavo Criticizes The Grammys And XXL Magazine Following Kanye West Ban appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] TMZ’s Harvey Levin Rejects Signature Sneakers As Gift From Soulja Boy

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Hip Hop’s self-proclaimed pioneer Soulja Boy has been overly excited about the release of his new signature sneaker called the Soulja Star, but when the “first rapper” to do anything offered a free pair of his new kicks to TMZ managing editor and founder Harvey Levin, the “Superman” YouTube sensation din’t expect what happened next.

Levin immediately tried to turn down the offer, exclaiming, “You know what would happen to me if I wear these?”

It din’t take long before Levin nonchalantly put the neon green sneaker back in the animated Soulja Boy covered shoebox and went about his business. Not the reaction Soulja was looking for.

The post [WATCH] TMZ’s Harvey Levin Rejects Signature Sneakers As Gift From Soulja Boy appeared first on The Source.

Former NFL Running Back Mark Walton Arrested For Armed Robbery In Miami

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According to a report from the New York Post, former NFL running back Mark Walton has been arrested for an alleged armed robbery that took place last month in Mami.

Police in Miami say that Walton and another man brandished guns following a confrontation, demanding everything from the alleged victim. Authorities claim that Walton and his accomplice made off with a Rolex watch in the stick up.

Jail records show Walton was charged with robbery/armed/firearm or deadly weapon.

The 2018 4th round draft pick played for the Bengals for his first season out of U. of Miami, but played for the Dolphins the following year. According to the Post, the 24-year-old RB “was released by the Bengals after he was arrested three times, and then by the Dolphins after he was accused of attacking a woman who was pregnant with his child.” 

The post Former NFL Running Back Mark Walton Arrested For Armed Robbery In Miami appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: The Diplomats Released Their Debut Album ‘Diplomatic Immunity’ 19 Years Ago

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On this date in 2003, Cam’ron’s crew from Harlem, The Diplomats, dropped their debut album Diplomatic Immunity on the Roc A Fella Records/Def Jam imprint during the pivotal time when Dame Dash appointed Cam’ron as the President of Roc-A-Fella Records.

Coming on the heels of the release of Cam’s Come Home With Me LP, Diplomatic Immunity introduced the entire Dipset squad including Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Freekey Zeekey, Un Kasa, and Hell Rell, who was incarcerated by the time the album was available for purchase. With production from the likes of Heatmakerz, DR Period, and a then virtually unknown Kanye West, the trailblazing sound of old soul samples pushed Dipset to the forefront of the creative curve of Hip Hop, which offered the Blood-affiliated crew from Uptown an almost cult-like following.

The album was saturated with longstanding hits such as “I Really Mean It”, the infectious “Dipset Anthem”, the female-friendly “Hey Ma” and the Master P assisted “Bout It Bout It…Part III”. Commercially, the album was considered average debuting at #8 on the Billboard 200 and selling 92,000 copies in its first week, but the album was certified Gold by the RIAA in 2005.

Salute to Cam, Juelz on the inside, Jim Jones, Freekey and Hell Rell for this classic piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The Diplomats Released Their Debut Album ‘Diplomatic Immunity’ 19 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: The Notorious B.I.G.’s Posthumous ‘Life After Death’ LP Turns 25 Years Old!

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A quarter century ago today in Hip-Hop history, Notorious B.I.G. released his second album, Life After Death. The double LP was released posthumously by Bad Boy Records. Biggie, who was killed two weeks prior to its release, was nominated for three Grammy’s for this project: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Solo Performance for “Hypnotize” and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Mo Money Mo Problems.”

Featuring artists like 112, Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, Ma$e, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort and R. Kelly, along with tracks like “Kick In The Door,” “What’s Beef,” “Notorious Thugs,” “Ten Crack Commandments” and “Sky’s The Limit,” it can be said that Life After Death is one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the US Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It went diamond (that’s 10,000,000 copies sold) in the United States alone, double platinum in Canada, and platinum in the UK. Life After Death has also made appearances on top music charts across the globe. The album has been ranked by countless publications as one of the top rap and Hip-Hop albums of all time (The Source ranked it as #8 in 2005).

Salute to Diddy and the rest of the Bad Bot family for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The Notorious B.I.G.’s Posthumous ‘Life After Death’ LP Turns 25 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Megan Thee Stallion Documentary From Roc Nation Gets Green Light

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According to a recent report from Variety Magazine, Roc Nation has a docu-series in the making about rap sensation Megan Thee Stallion, delving into the personal and professional world of the real life Megan Pete. The multi-part documentary will also focus on the tribulations faced by Tina Snow, both publicly and privately, in order to become the star she is today.

“We are thrilled to be able to work with Roc Nation to share Megan’s story with the world,” said Loren Hammonds, Time Studios’ co-head of documentary. “Millions of people are familiar with her as an entertainer, but this series will give her a chance to share her truth as never before. She added, “We feel lucky to have this opportunity to capture her at a crucial moment in her life and career, as she continues to grow exponentially in both her artistry and global impact.”

Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez and TV & Film EVP of the Roc Lori York are also slated to executive produce the series, which has not found a home on any of the major streaming services.

Perez said in a statement, “Her journey is inspirational and we’re proud to have partnered with TIME Studios to highlight her personal and professional trajectory over the years. Our hope is that this documentary will inspire viewers to stay the course and pursue their passions through the ups and downs.”

The post Megan Thee Stallion Documentary From Roc Nation Gets Green Light appeared first on The Source.