News Exclusives Archives - Page 254 of 258

Today In Hip Hop History: Fabolous Released His Sophomore LP ‘Street Dreams’ 19 Years Ago

March 5, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 2003, Brooklyn mixtape rapper turned star Fabolous survived the sophomore jinx, dropping his second album Street Dreams, which was released on DJ Clue’s Desert Storm/Elektra imprint.

With production from the likes of Kanye West, Timbaland, Just Blaze, Trackmasters, and Clue, this 20 track album was bound for platinum status. The LP debuted at number three on Billboard and officially sold a million copies and was certified platinum by the RIAA six months after its release.

Singles such as “Into You”, which featured Tamia (and an alternate version, featuring Ashanti), “Can’t Let You Go” featuring Lil Mo, “Trade It All” (Part 2) with Jagged Edge, and the “Keepin’ It Gangsta” remix all served to make this album one of Fab’s best commercial releases of his career.

Salute to Fab, Clue and the entire Desert Storm crew for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Fabolous Released His Sophomore LP ‘Street Dreams’ 19 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy Birthday to Brand Nubian Founder Grand Puba!

March 4, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Brand Nubian founder Maxwell Dixon a.k.a. Grand Puba, was born today in 1966.

Grand Puba made his musical debut with the group Masters of Ceremony. The group’s first album Dynamite was released in 1988 and had an excellent critical reception. However, due to the lack of sales, the group disbanded shortly after the album’s release. This was when Puba emerged as the lead emcee of Brand Nubian.

Shortly after the 1990 release of the group’s debut, genre-less album One for All (which spanned reggae to Hip Hop to new jack swing), Grand Puba again parted ways from his group and embarked on a solo career. He recorded and released two albums, Reel to Reel, in 1992 and 2000 in 1995. Reel to Reel had much commercial success peaking at #28 on the Billboard 200 and toting the #1 hit single “360 Degrees (What Goes Around).” 2000 was also a success reaching the #48 spot on the Billboard 200 and its single “I Like It (I Wanna Be Where You Are)” hitting #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 1997, Grand Puba returned to Brand Nubian, and the group released Foundation in 1998. This album marked the reunion of the four original members. It was the first time they appeared together since their debut. This was their most successful album as a group peaking at #59 on the Billboard 200 chart, and the single “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” reached #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was their highest climbing track.

In 2001 Grand Puba released Understand This, and in 2009, he released his fourth solo album Retroactive featuring production from Q-Tip, Large Professor, and Kid Capri. Over the years, Grand Puba has worked with Beanie Sigel, Missy Elliot, Mary J. Blige, and more. He was even sampled on the hook on the 2Pac record “Old School.”

We here at The Source would like to wish Grand Puba a happy born day. May you see many more years of success and prosperity!

The post Happy Birthday to Brand Nubian Founder Grand Puba! appeared first on The Source.

Family of Snootie Wild Issues Statement on His Death

March 3, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Earlier this week, news broke of the death of Memphis rapper Snootie Wild. Last Friday, Wild was shot in the neck and was in critical condition, eventually leading to his death. He was only 36 years old.

Snootie, whose real name is LePreston Porter, accidentally backed into a ditch but was approached by occupants of another vehicle soon after. According to the police report, the occupants of the other car and Porter exchanged words shortly before a single gunshot went off, which struck Porter in the neck. He was given CPR on the scene and transported to a local hospital, where doctors gave him a 50/50 chance of survival.

The Houston Police Department has reportedly received the surveillance footage of the scene. However, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been named.

Following the death, Wild’s family has released a statement:

“We are devastated by the untimely passing of our beloved LePreston Porter, known to the world as gold-selling and Billboard charting Hip Hop recording artist Snootie Wild,” wrote the Porter family in an official statement. “He meant the world to us. A son, loving boyfriend, brother to four sisters, a father of seven, and a nephew and cousin to a host of others, he held many roles within our family and was a big kid at heart. LePreston was a beautiful, compassionate and talented soul whose presence was ever felt within our family.

A son of Memphis, TN who loved his city, Snootie was a man of the people and dearly loved creating music, and performing fun, high-energy live shows that brought all types of Hip Hop lovers together with his music. His fans were part of his family. So much so that he didn’t like to look down from the stage and would frequently join the crowd. Any city that he visited, he frequently ventured out to underserved areas to connect with the people.

We are grateful for the outpouring of love as we endure the overwhelming pain of his life being unjustly taken away from his family and the world entirely too soon.

Though we ask for privacy at this time, we invite you to join us in not only remembering him and his music but also supporting our pursuit for answers and a thorough investigation by the Houston, TX police department that will bring his killers to justice.”

The post Family of Snootie Wild Issues Statement on His Death appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Jadakiss Shuns Jim Jones’ Challenge For 1-on-1 Verzuz Battle

March 3, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Hands down, the most legendary battle to hit the VERZUZ stage was between The L.O.X. and Dipset, which still has some of the members from both sides still answering questions about last summer’s face off. Not long after the battle, Dipset capo Jim Jones sent out a challenge to Jadakiss, who was crowned the unofficial MVP of the VERZUZ between the two crews.

“I would want to have a Verzuz with Jada. Solo. He has to deal with me on my terms. He better be prepared,” said Jones. “When it comes to a top three, I don’t really have a list. I just got real smoke with Jada.”

Brushing off what seemed like a valid challenge, Jada said, “I heard him say that but I didn’t entertain it. I don’t think Verzuz would entertain it. I don’t even think the people would want to see that.”

Jada did say he would be open to a fitness battle against the “We Fly High” rapper, admitting that promoting health and wellness would be a positive challenge for them as well as the fans.

The post [WATCH] Jadakiss Shuns Jim Jones’ Challenge For 1-on-1 Verzuz Battle appeared first on The Source.

Boosie Responds To NBA YoungBoy Diss On “I Don’t Call Phones I Call Shots”

March 3, 2022 by newhiphopnews

There has been a beef brewing in Baton Rouge after NBA YoungBoy sent a public shot to Boosie Badazz for not making an effort to sustain their friendship, rapping on a track, “Feel like Boosie don’t even like me, b****, don’t call my phone (F*** you).” Now, Bossie has to send a few shots of his own with a response.

In his latest effort, “I Don’t Call Phones I Call Shots”, the title even seems like it was directly aimed at NBA YoungBoy. Boosie managed to rap about more than just the young Baton Rougean, but this one was obviously made with YoungBoy in mind.

The post Boosie Responds To NBA YoungBoy Diss On “I Don’t Call Phones I Call Shots” appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Boogie Down Productions’ Debut LP ‘Criminal Minded’ Turns 35 Years Old!

March 3, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1987, “Blastmaster” KRS-One, DJ Scott La Rock, “The Human 808” D-Nice and the rest of the Boogie Down Productions crew released their highly anticipated debut album Criminal Minded on B-Boy Records.

With the “South Bronx” vs. “The Bridge” aka BDP vs. The Juice Crew beef on wax was at its height, the Criminal Minded album proved to be one of the most important instructional projects for up and coming emcees on how to take out the top dog and start your own reign. As KRS mentioned in the QDIII Beef documentary, if MC Shan wouldn’t have responded to “The Bridge Is Over”, one of the premiere singles from the album, there probably would not have been the rise and success of KRS and BDP.

With Boogie Down Productions aligned with DJ Red Alert on the FM dial at 98.7 KISS and The Juice Crew siding with the one and only Mister Magic and Marley Marl on 107.5 WBLS, it also began the early radio wars, which is actually the origin of the HOT 97 and Power 105 battle on the dial.

Tracks that will forever be etched in Hip Hop history include intellectually adept “Poetry”, the street sagas in “My 9mm Goes Bang” and “P Is Still Free”, the late Scott La Rock-inspired “Super Hoe” and the extensive lyrical lesson in the album’s title track. Ironically, Scott Sterling, better known as DJ Scott La Rock, was killed less than six months after the album’s successful release.

Following Scott’s death, KRS began dropping socially conscious singles and albums, prompting Hip Hop’s “Stop The Violence” movement and the iconic, star-studded “Self Destruction” single.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Boogie Down Productions’ Debut LP ‘Criminal Minded’ Turns 35 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

50 Cent On STARZ Contract: They Suck, My Deal Is Up And I’m Out

March 2, 2022 by newhiphopnews

With all the success 50 Cent and the STARZ Network has seen with the Power series and Power Universe, one would assume that the connection between producer and network would be a smooth one but that’s certainly not the case with Fif and STARZ.

I na surprising post blasting the network, 50 posted, “This is me packing my stuff, STARZ Sucks, my deal is up over here I’m out. They Renewed High town and FORCE is the highest-rated show they have sitting in limbo. If I told you how much dumb shit I deal with over here. you would think they all went to school on a small yellow bus. ” He ended the post with, “Hold my calls i’m traveling, getting the f**k away from STARZ.”

The post 50 Cent On STARZ Contract: They Suck, My Deal Is Up And I’m Out appeared first on The Source.

Happy Birthday To Wu Tang Clan’s Method Man!

March 2, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1971, the Shaolin Island emcee who was virtually named after the term “John Blaze”, was born in Long Island, New York.

Admired for his unique voice and witty lyrics, Method Man is known for his one of a kind sound. The Long Island-born/Staten Island bred rapper raised the bar for the ideal Shaolin emcee alongside Wu brothers Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. Trailblazing the 90s, Johnny Blaze has pioneered an impressive portion of verses that are considered as one of the greatest in hip-hop history. His unpredictably bouncy flow hit wax in 1993 on Wu-Tang’s debut Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, which featured what would later become his anthem, “M.E.T.H.O.D. M.A.N.” His signature stance continued into creating essential tunes as featured in his 1994 solo debut, Tical, along with guest features on the solo debuts of fellow Wu members and the only featured emcee on Biggie’s Ready To Die LP.

The wavering style and persona of Method Man have allowed him to flourish in many different pursuits in both music and entertainment. His iconic r&b collaboration with Mary J. Blige “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By” is sanctioned as a cult classic and also snagged the class-act rapper a Grammy in 1996. Dubbing another innovative vibe, his musical duality with Redman became one of the most distinct and successful in the light of hip-hop duos, which triggered Method Man’s acting career. Bound to craft commendable works, starting from his role as Father Sha in Belly (1998), to How High, and now Power II: Book Of Ghost, the man with the iron lung has maintained a stellar track record of creating classics that are timeless. His deeds as an emcee, actor, showman, and overall creative make him one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. A certified legend.

Happy born day to Meth!

The post Happy Birthday To Wu Tang Clan’s Method Man! appeared first on The Source.

SOURCE SPORTS: UFC Legend Cain Velasquez Arrested On Attempted Murder Charge

March 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

A TMZ Sports report has confirmed that 39-year-old UFC star Cain Velasquez has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection to a shooting at a San Jose, CA high school.

According to the report, one person was shot and another was arrested. Velasquez is still in custody and is scheduled to appear in front of a judge tomorrow(March 2).There are no more details about Velasquez’s arrest, but the story is still developing.

Velasquez, a California native, is a legend in the mixed martial arts world, defeating everyone from Brock Lesnar to Junior Dos Santos. After his loss to Francis Ngannou, Cain shifted into the wrestling world, spending several months in the WWE.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: UFC Legend Cain Velasquez Arrested On Attempted Murder Charge appeared first on The Source.