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The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” And “Starboy” Certified Diamond By RIAA

April 5, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Today, The Weekend released the music video for “Out Of Time”, the latest single from his critically acclaimed album DAWN FM. The video was directed by Cliqua and features appearances from Jim Carrey, who is also on the song, as well as South Korean model and actress HoYeon Jung. The Weeknd also saw his previous singles “Blinding Lights” and “Starboy” became certified by the RIAA. With these certifications, The Weeknd becomes only the sixth solo artist to reach 3 diamond digital single awards.

Additionally, the recently announced After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour will feature special guest Doja Cat and kick off up north in The Weeknd’s hometown of Toronto on Friday, July 8th at the Rogers Centre with other stops at iconic U.S. stadiums including Metlife in New York City, Soldier Field in Chicago, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and more, before wrapping Friday, September 2nd at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The tour is produced by Live Nation. This is the first leg of The Weeknd’s massive world tour, with additional dates in Mexico, South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa & Middle East to be announced soonS

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Today In Hip Hop History: M.O.P. Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To the Death’ 28 Years Ago

April 5, 2022 by newhiphopnews

April 5 is an interesting day in Hip-Hop music. Rarely is a rap record released on this day — we did the research, but feel free to prove us wrong! There was one influential LP that jumpstarted the careers of two Brownsville natives and completely shook the game up in 1994. Yes, we’re talking about the Mash Out Posse, who you may know better as M.O.P.. and today we show them love as their debut album To The Death turns 28.

Released on April 5, 1994, To The Death was yet another milestone in the domination that New York had on the rap game, with Lil’ Fame and Billy Danze both representing Brooklyn with the ruggedness and street appeal that shaped the attitude, look and overall sound of Hip-Hop at this time. The album itself was a precursor for rappers like Nas (Illmatic), Outkast (Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik), Da Brat (Funkdafied) and The Notorious B.I.G. (Ready to Die) amongst others that also debuted in 1994, with M.O.P. coming out swinging with three singles and a modest peak at #68 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

The album was produced entirely by legendary East Coast rap producer and fellow Brownsville native DR Period, aside from the closing track “Guns N Roses” which was handled by Silver D and executive producer creds going to silent M.O.P. member Laze E Laze. The musical themes highlight the climate of life in hoods throughout America in the ’90s — gang violence, “fake ass gangstas,” staying fresh and just surviving the “rugged neva smoove” streets of New York City.

Of all the singles released off this shining debut, the highlight would of course be the anthem cut “How About Some Hardcore.” It was the most successful performance on the charts and amongst the hardest of Hip-Hop fans, peaking in the Top 40 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart at #36. For those that liked it raw, M.O.P. provided that effortlessly on this record with impressive lyricism, dope production and a tenacity to make it big that we’d see the duo accomplish even greater on the DJ Premier-produced follow up album and the 2001 smash hit “Ante Up (Remix).” And to think: all of this originated from a chance standout appearance on the soundtrack to House Party 3!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: M.O.P. Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To the Death’ 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: Big Pun’s Posthumous Sophomore Lp ‘Yeeeah Baby’ Dropped 22 Years Ago

April 4, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in 2000, the first posthumous L.P. to be released by the first “Latin to go platinum” entitled Yeeeah Baby was released on the Loud/Terror Squad imprint.

Christopher “Big Pun” Rios passed away just shy of two months before his sophomore L.P.’s release and anticipated success, which came on the heels of his debut album, Capital Punishment. With appearances from the entire Terror Squad and executive production by the T.S. general Fat Joe, the 16-track album showed Pun’s acute diversity in his lyricism and approach to song-making, which yielded some of the most memorable songs of his career. The album took longer to record because of Pun’s extreme obesity since his breathing problems couldn’t permit him to spit his custom, rapid-fire flow freely.

Some of the L.P.’s favorites are the Puerto Rican anthem “100%” with Terror Squad crooner Tony Sunshine on the hook, “New York Giants” featuring M.O.P., “Ms. Martin,” an ode to his protege Remy Ma and the touching single “It’s So Hard” featuring Donnell Jones.

Salute to Big Pun, Pun Jr., and the entire Terror Squad for this remarkable piece of Hip Hop History!

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Black Thought Returns To Carnegie Hall For Hip Hop Workshops, Showcase On April 7

April 3, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) today announced that seven rising MCs have been selected to participate in a free master class led by
legendary hip-hop artist Black Thought from April 4-7, 2022 as part of the Hall’s ongoing series of workshops and master classes for young professional musicians. During the multi-day master class, The Roots front man mentors the MCs in sessions focusing on lyricism, flow, style, and delivery while also exploring the history of hip-hop. DJ and producer Sean C. joins as a special guest, helping to coach the MCs, and leading music industry figures will share insights about building a career. The works, which was originally scheduled for fall 2021—builds off the Hall’s inaugural hip-hop workshop series with Black Thought in February 2020 and follows his April 1-3 residency at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The MCs, who have been recognized as exceptionally talented rising artists in hip-hop, are:

TA3 (Lumberton, New Jersey)
Genesis Be (Biloxi, Mississippi)
Born Wenzday (East Hartford, Connecticut)
Relic The Bully (Chicago, Illinois)
Felisha George (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Jrei Oliver (New Orleans, Louisiana)
SIYAKA (Brooklyn, New York)

For the culminating event in this season’s hip-hop workshop at Carnegie Hall, the MCs perform in a public showcase, curated by Black Thought. The performance takes place on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weill Music Room in Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing. Tickets for the final showcase are now on-sale. It will also be available for audiences at home to livestream on Facebook, YouTube, and Carnegie Hall’s website. This marks the second time that Black Thought has led a master class at the Hall, following his first workshop in February 2020.

The post Black Thought Returns To Carnegie Hall For Hip Hop Workshops, Showcase On April 7 appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Video Shows Jada Pinkett-Smith Laughing After Will Smith Smacked Chris Rock

April 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

After the smack that was heard around the world went viral, there is new footage that has surfaced showing Jada Pinkett-Smith laughing after her husband slapped comedian Chris Rock.

Actor Michael Rapaport shared the footage on his Twitter. Just when Chris says, “Will Smith just slapped the sh*t outta me,” the veteran actress appears to lean over and laugh as Will casually walked back to his seat. The slap silences the audience as its realized that the slap was not a part of the show’s program.

This is FKCED UP pic.twitter.com/2Z8CZf6Nzd

— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) March 30, 2022

The post [WATCH] Video Shows Jada Pinkett-Smith Laughing After Will Smith Smacked Chris Rock appeared first on The Source.

Snoop Dogg Says Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ Is Back at Death Row Records

April 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

After much talk about the future of Death Row Records in the hands of West Coast legend and former label signee Snoop Dogg, the talk of the imprint being the first NFT label continues, but one of the label’s biggest album’s is back home.

According to Snoop, “As far as 2Pac’s masters, 2Pac’s masters came back to him last year. But I got a great relationship with his estate, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be able to work something out … to continue some Death Row 2Pac business now that Snoop Dogg is in control of Death Row. Same with Dr. Dre and The Chronic. I got The Chronic album. I got Doggystyle, Tha Doggfather, Murder Was the Case, Dogg Food, Above the Rim. I got all those records.”

Dr .Dre’s attorney released a statement saying that the Hip Hop mogul owns the rights to his biggest album to date. “There are false reports out regarding ownership by Death Row of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic. Dr. Dre owns 100 percent of The Chronic,” said Howard King.

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City Girls Drop New Single And Video “Top Notch” Featuring Fivio Foreign

April 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Miami’s own City Girls make their much-anticipated return with a new single and music video entitled “Top Notch” [feat. Fivio Foreign], out now via Quality Control Music / Motown Records. It marks the multiplatinum duo’s first release since the gold-selling 2021 smash “Twerkulator.”

The track finds a sweet spot between sexy Southern hip-hop and gritty East Coast drill. City Girls, Yung Miami and JT, instantly show out with fiery bars before Fivio warns, “This is not a movie.”Oozing confidence and charisma, JT counters, “You gotta pay for this.” In the accompanying visual, they take over New York city, turning up on street corners with a whole crew and descending upon the Big Apple like a storm.

It will serve as the follow-up to 2020’s City On Lock LP, which graced year-end lists by NPR, Rolling Stone, and Vice, to name a few.

The post City Girls Drop New Single And Video “Top Notch” Featuring Fivio Foreign appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: EPMD Dropped Their Sophomore LP ‘Unfinished Business’ 33 Years Ago

April 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip-Hop history, New York duo EPMD released their second studio LP, Unfinished Business. Certified gold by the RIAA, this album was the critically acclaimed follow up to the group’s debut Strictly Business.

Claiming the #1 spot on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts, this project has proven its timelessness. EPMD’s style is what set them and this album apart from what was currently popular in New York at the time. In ’89, New York Hip Hop was heavily saturated with conscious boom-bap and the braggadocio lyricism of Erick Sermon and PMD brought something fresh to the rap game. EPMD’s style of rap helped paved the way for the flashy New York rappers of the next generation such as Jay-Z, The Diplomats, and A$AP Mob.

The single from this project, So What Cha Sayin’ peaked at #23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart and #5 on the Top Rap chart.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: EPMD Dropped Their Sophomore LP ‘Unfinished Business’ 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

NYC Graffiti Legend PER ONE FX Dead At 55

March 31, 2022 by newhiphopnews

According to several confirmed reports from within the graffiti community, graffiti icon Alfredo “PerOne” Oyague has passed away. He was 55 years old.

PER ONE FX, one of NYC’s most revered innovators of style from the 80s, was a member of the world renowned Bronx-based TATS CRU before forming the FX Crew, which include prominent graff artists such as KING BEE UW, COPE2 KD, NOMAD and T-KID just to name a few.

Oyague was a pillar of graffiti culture and around the world and will be greatly missed, yet supremely remembered. RIP PER ONE FX

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