Ice Cube has revealed that his Amerikkka’s Most Wanted LP, the first album that he dropped when he split from the groundbreaking N.W.A. collective, was not produced by Dr. Dre because of the late Eazy-E.
In an in depth interview with Idea Generation, the iconic rap pioneer, actor and film director says that he left Ruthless Records and N.W.A. for real reasons, but none of that impacted his personal relationship with Dre and still wanted his to produce his premiere solo effort. AMW was exclusively produced by New York-based production crew The Bomb Squad, who are primarily known for their production for Pub,lic Enemy.
In the interview, Cube admits, “I still tried to be friends with the guys who had nothing to do with the business. Me and Eazy was shaky, and I didn’t care about Jerry Heller at all, so it wasn’t no love lost there”. He added, “But I tried to keep it together with Dre. I even wanted Dre to produce my solo record, and we was talking about it, but Eazy and Jerry vetoed it.”
Dre and Cube eventually patched it up and worked together on the 1994 song “Natural Born Killaz”, which was intended to be a prelude to a collaboration album, but the idea was ultimately shelved.
Cube is set to drop the 11th album of his career, Man Down, which will be the first full length studio project that he’s released in the past eight years. Man Down is slated to be released within the week.
“Cause I’m playin ball or bobbin’ in the hall/ or just writin’ my name in graffiti on the wall..”
– Rakim “My Melody” circa 1986
Very few of today’s Hip Hop enthusiasts understand the history and impact of aerosol art or graffiti on the culture that we all know and love. As the eldest of Hip Hop’s original four pillars, its visual self expression is rooted in some of the roughest streets of New York and Philadelphia, depending on who you ask.
Then you have the youngest of the four pillars, emceeing, which is the verbal expression of the street culture and the euphemism “the handwriting on the wall” is told from the POV of the MC. In the 80s and 90s, there several of the era’s most prolific emcees began their “careers” in Hip Hop as graff artists. Some of them have continued to pursue their love to paint and some will give you a tag when you request an autograph.
The Source has decided to compose a list of five emcees that you may or may not know have hand styles for miles and Old Gold can control!
KRS -ONE
Brooklyn-born/Bronx-raised Hip Hop legend KRS-One was a graffiti writer before he was known as the “Blastmaster” of Boogie Down Productions, scribing his name all over the streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx during his time at a men’s shelter where he met the late DJ Scott La Rock.
Fat Joe
The Bronx is widely known to have produced some of MYC’s greatest graffiti writers and Fat Joe aka Joey Crack aka CRACK TS is a part of that legacy. The Terror Squad was originally a street crew and with graffiti being apart of their outfit, you could find CRACK TS pieces and throw ups near Forest Projects as late as 1993 when Joe dropped his first single “Flow Joe”. Above, you can see a throwie that CRACK painted in Lil Wayne’s home.
MF DOOM
One of the most revered and worshipped figures on the Hip Hop landscape is the late MF DOOM. Formerly known as Zev Love X from the conscious trio KMD, DOOM later established himself as a solo artist, but his assumed nom de plume DOOM became more of a staple of his identity. DOOM throwies could be found around lower Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and even other countries with his CM(Criminal Minded) crew inscribed in his piece. The DOOM throwie is still a seminal piece of the MF DOOM/Metalface brand and will be always be one of the most recognizable throws in the graff game.
DJ KAY SLAY
The illustrious “Drama King” DJ Kay Slay(R.I.P.) was an integral part of the graffiti culture long before he was known for terrorizing the mixtape scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. Known among writers as Dezzy Dez aka DEZ TFA, Slay appeared in the 1983 NYC graffiti introduction documentary Style Wars as a 16-year-old graff expert, even schooling a younger artist named TRAP to the tricks of the trade almost four decades ago. No, he isn’t an emcee, but we had to pay homage to a true pioneer of Hip Hop culture. Rest In Paint Kay Slay
TAME ONE
As one half of the lyrical Newark-based duo The Artifacts, TAME was just as active with a can, if not more, as he was on the mic. As a member of NJ graff crew BOOM SKWAD, TAME’s name could be seen as large as full productions and as small as marker tags all over Newark, East Orange and Irvington while he and El Da Sensei worked their two albums , 1994’s Between A Rock And A Hard Place and 1997’s That’s Them. TAME ONE aka Raheim Brown will forever be remembered as one of the best bombers to pick up a mic. R.I.P.
Today marks the 39th commemoration of the bombing at 62nd and Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia in 1985
MOVE, which was originally called the Christian Movement for Life, was founded in 1972. Its founder, John Afrika born Vincent Leaphart on July 26, 1931 in the Mantua neighborhood of West Philadelphia, was functionally illiterate, so he dictated a document called The Guideline with Donald Glassey, a social worker from the University of Pennsylvania with whom he collaborated with. Glassey’s notes would eventually become the document. Afrika along with his mostly Black followers wore their hair in locs, advocated a political ideology that aims to create an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, non-violence, social justice, grassroots democracy and a return to a hunter-gatherer society, while stating their opposition to science, medicine and technology. As John Afrika himself had done, MOVE members also changed their surnames to Afrika to show reverence to it, which they regarded as their mother continent.
All living beings, things that move, are equally important, whether they are human beings, dogs, birds, fish, trees, ants, weeds, rivers, wind or rain. To stay healthy and strong, life must have clean air, clear water and pure food. If deprived of these things, life will cycle to the next level, or as the system says, ‘die’.” – John Afrika
John Afrika’s MOVE members lived in a commune in a house owned by Glassey in the Powelton Village section of West Philadelphia. They staged bullhorn-amplified, profanity-laced demonstrations against institutions which they opposed morally, such as zoos, and speakers whose views they opposed. MOVE made compost piles of garbage and human waste in their yards which attracted rats and cockroaches; they considered it morally wrong to kill the vermin with pest control. MOVE attracted much hostility from their neighbors, the majority of whom were African-Americans. Thier activities drew close scrutiny from law enforcement authorities and the police department engaged in a shootout on August 8, 1978, in which Officer James J. Ramp was struck and killed. Afrika and MOVE contend that Ramp was not shot by a member, but by one of the police department’s own men.
After that shootout, the MOVE 9 members Chuck, Debbie, Delbert, Eddie, Janet, Janine, Merle, Mike and Phil Afrika, were sentenced to 30-plus years for the killing of Ramp. Law enforcement officials obtained indictments on the implicated members of MOVE and, on May 13, 1985, attempted to arrest them, which led to an armed standoff with MOVE and subsequent death of the group members by the Philadelphia Police Department. During the raid, John Afrika was killed along with six other adults and four children when the Philadelphia Police Department head of bomb disposal, on board a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, dropped a satchel containing a gel-based explosive on a fortified bunker occupied by members of MOVE. The resulting explosion started a fire that resulted in the destruction of 65 homes in the neighborhood. The order was given by city officials to “let the fire burn”. The explosion, fire, and shootout killed all but two members of MOVE who were present, leaving Ramona and Birdie Afrika severely burned. Birdie was released while Ramona went on to serve her maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.
In his new book to be released April 21, 2015 entitled “Writing on the Wall”, edited by Joanna Hernandez, political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal compares the issues of the MOVE 9 to the current era 30 years later with police brutality still being a major issue of our time.
I don’t mean bombing people…not yet, that is…I mean the visceral hatreds and violent contempt once held for MOVE is now visited upon average people; not just for radicals and revolutionaries, like MOVE.” -Mumia Abu-Jamal (Political Prisoner)
GRAMMY-winning Haitian DJ/producer Michaël Brun joins forces with EGOT-winning, critically acclaimed, multiplatinum musician John Legend and leading Haitian artist Rutshelle Guillaume for their spirited new single “Safe.”
The release of “Safe” is a representation of unity in the face of ignorance and hate. With Brun and Guillaume’s Haitian backgrounds, and Legend previously vocalising his support for the Haitian immigrant population in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio, the release of “Safe” is to encourage the building of communities and coming together.
On “Safe,”Michaël Brun combines John Legend’s soulful tone with the konpa music style from his native Haiti, making for a heartwarming, culture merging experience. Rutshelle Guillaume’s guest appearance on the track elevates this heritage-fusing link-up as she delivers a stunning vocal performance, singing in Haitian Creole.
Speaking on the track and its importance Michaël says, “John has been one of my all-time favourite singers and voices since I started making music. It is truly an honour for me to be able to introduce him to the world of konpa through our song “Safe”. The collaboration process felt natural from the start, and the moment he spoke out against misinformation surrounding Haitian immigrants in Springfield, it cemented that this song had a larger purpose. Pairing him with Rutshelle, one of Haiti’s biggest global stars, also felt like the perfect fit. “Safe” and our conversation in Springfield represents cross-cultural connection in its most authentic form, and I’m proud to be able to create bridges with our voices.”
To coincide with the song’s release, both John and Michaël travelled to Springfield to connect with the local community and filmed an hour-long conversation at a local Haitian restaurant, discussing Haitian history, bridging cultural gaps and the dangers of misinformation in the modern age.
20 years ago today, the Hip-Hop community lost one of its most eccentric, yet essential personalities that the game has ever known. Russell Jones, better known to the world as Ol’ Dirty Bastard, passed away just two days shy of his 36th birthday.
Ironically, Dirty took us through his 36th Chamber at the inception of his unprecedented career with his gold certified Return To The 36th Chamber debut in March of 1995. The Osiris of the WTC legacy followed up with another solo album entitled N***a Please as well as a posthumous release.
This Friday, which would’ve been the Wu Tang co-founder’s 56th birthday, his family is hosting a special screening of th A&E special documentary A Tale Of Two Dirty’s in his hometown of Brooklyn, where there will also be a panel discussion about the documentary and the impact of mental health.
Ice Cube is gearing up to drop his highly anticipated eleventh studio album, Man Down, and the legendary rapper has just shared the official release date and cover art. Taking to Instagram, Cube excitedly announced, “The album my fans have been waiting on. MAN DOWN drops on 11/22. Pre-save the album now!”
The album’s striking cover art features a powerful image of a Black teenager strolling through the streets of Los Angeles. As they walk, the scene is marked by several individuals lying face down on the ground, visually reflecting themes of societal unrest and struggle.
Set to feature 19 tracks, Man Down promises to showcase Ice Cube’s signature style, with a mix of hard-hitting bars and thought-provoking commentary. The tracklist, available on Apple Music, also teases some major collaborations, though details on the featured artists have yet to be fully revealed.
Fans are clearly excited as Cube prepares to make his return to the rap game with this fresh body of work, arriving just in time for the holidays on November 22. Stay tuned for more updates as the release date approaches!
In addition to Killer Mike and Busta Rhymes, who appear on Cube’s new single “Ego Maniacs,” Man Down is set to feature a stellar lineup of West Coast legends. Ice Cube has enlisted some of the region’s most iconic figures, ensuring that the album carries a strong, authentic West Coast vibe. With these powerhouse collaborations, Man Down promises to be a major release, blending old-school influence with Cube’s fresh perspective.
The star-studded guest list for Man Down includes Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Kurupt, B-Real, E-40, and Too $hort, alongside soulful contributions from October London. Ice Cube’s first album in six years, Man Down promises to deliver a classic, vintage West Coast feel, with the rapper emphasizing authenticity. Speaking on Bootleg Kev’s podcast, Cube explained his approach, recalling a moment before Laugh Now, Cry Later when he realized he wanted to stay true to his essence. “When fans pick up an Ice Cube album, they want it to be quintessential Cube,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been focused on—doing records that are totally me.”
Premiere freestyle competition Red Bull Dance Your Style will make its way stateside as the 2025 World Final lands in the global epicenter of street dance: Los Angeles. Elite international dancers will converge in the heart of the entertainment industry for a show stopping display of energy and talent, setting the stage for one of the largest and most spectacular world final events in competition history. The competition commemorates the debut of the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final in the USA, celebrating the country’s history in seminal street dances that elevate, empower, and unite dancers worldwide.
The 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style season will see over 100 qualifier events in over 50 countries, all accumulating to the Los Angeles World Final. The grand finale will bring together sixteen of the world’s top street dancers, both national champions and invited competitors, to put it all on the dance floor and face off in a high-energy single elimination bracket. Showcasing a diverse set of dance styles, including hip-hip, popping, waacking, animation, voguing, and more, each dancer’s freestyle talents and musicality will be put to the test as they adapt their core dance styles to unpredictable music. Via crowd vote, the audience will decide who rules the dance floor and crown their next Red Bull Dance Your Style world champion.
The fifth edition of the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final will mark a new milestone for the global competition series, featuring some of the biggest names in dance and entertainment, while continuing to uplift the global dance community. Not only is Los Angeles and the West Coast home to some of the world’s best dancers, but the region has birthed some of the most recognized street dance styles, influencing cultures around the globe.
“Dance on the West Coast is about more than entertainment—it’s a hub for the most passionate, hardworking, and innovative communities you’ll find, which has done so much to shape the global dance scene,” says 2022 Red Bull Dance Your Style National Final USA Champion, David Stalter Jr., aka The Crown. “I’m thrilled for the world final to be held in Los Angeles. I can’t wait to see talent from all over the world come to the West Coast, the epicenter of street dance and entertainment! Whoever represents the US I’m sure will bring joy, passion, and creativity to the world final stage.”
In the weekend leading up to the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final, dancers of all backgrounds, levels, and disciplines can register for camp programming, which will include various workshops and exhibition battles led by some of the most notable names in the dance industry.
The 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style Los Angeles World Final will take place on Saturday, October 11.
With the release of TMZ‘s ‘The Downfall Of Diddy: Inside The Freak Offs’, a woman who has identified herself has a guest at one of Diddy’s infamous “freak offs”, claims that there were minors present these supposedly adult-only parties.
Tanea Wallace, an aspiring singer-songwriter, alleges that she was flown from Los Angeles to Miami by a Saudi Prince in order to attend one of Diddy’s freak offs. Wallace can be seen on the most recent TMZ episode of the Diddy saga speaking in detail about people having sexual relations in groups who were visibly high on drugs and alcohol.
See Wallace’s full interview on TMZ’s The Downfall Of Diddy: Inside The Freak Offs’ HERE
Wallace says that these sorts of adult activities were going on all night until the early hours of the next morning.
The most shocking subject in her claims was seeing “little people” dressed like Harajuku Barbies, but says that they were almost hidden by a wall of adults.
It is unclear as to whether or not Wallace will be testifying in the trial or if her claims will prompt new charges for the disgraced Bad Boy, but these allegations certainly give the federal authorities more leverage in their sex trafficking case.
Diddy’s federal trial is scheduled for May 2025. TheSource.com will provide more details about the trial as they develop.
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse was the seventh studio album released by rapper Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z. The album was released on November 12, 2002 on the Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings imprints. The Brooklyn rapper released the album as a sequel to his sixth album The Blueprint (2001). The album debuted at number one, shipping with first-week sales of 545,000 units. Jay-Z was already debatably classified as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
During this time, rumors of Jay hooking up with singer Beyonce began to circulate in the industry, the rumor was almost confirmed with the song “03 Bonnie and Clyde” off the album. The world watched as a budding relationship began between the two megastars. “Excuse Me Miss” featuring Pharrell showed a sensitive and grown upside to the BK rapper who previously rapped about drugs and throwback jerseys. Inevitably becoming one of the biggest forces in hip hop and one of our first billionaire couples, The game changed when Jay-Z released this album and How continues to break boundaries. Today the album is certified 3x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
Today in Hip Hop History, Lil’ Kim released her debut album Hard Coreon November 12, 1996. The Brooklyn-born pint-sized rapper changed the course of hip hop. Before Megan Thee Stallion bounced in a thong and before Nicki Minaj wore the colorful wigs— there was Lil Kim. Her album Hard Core album showed women in a different light compared to what we had seen from veterans like MC Late and Queen Latifah. Lil Kim unabashedly spoke on her sex life and what she demanded from any man trying to court her. From her fashions to her hair to her aggressive rap style, she ushered women into the 2000s with sexy confidence we hadn’t seen before.
“No Time” quickly became an anthem and girls everywhere initiated Lil Kim as the Queen. There was an unforgettable promo poster released that stirred up a conversation and was plastered all over New York City. She and her crew Junior Mafia became one of the biggest groups in Hip hop led by the late great Notorious B.I.G. Today we salute Lil Kim for a classic album, that still knocks to this day. Check out some of our favorites of the album Hardcore.
