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Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Dropped His First Solo LP ‘Amerikkka’s Most Wanted’ 34 Years Ago

May 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history, 34 years ago, Ice Cube released his debut solo album Amerikkka’s Most Wanted. Following the tragic breakup of N.W.A., this album’s unexpected commercial and critical success set the tone for Ice Cube’s solo career and was also a launching pad toward success.

Being able to peak at #19 on the Billboard 200 and be certified platinum in the year if it’s released, all while staying true to the hardcore gangsta sound that is prevalent in all of his other work shows, since the beginning, Ice Cube has been a force to be reckoned with. His lyrical style and choice of subject matter force the commercial music world to be comfortable with a narrative uncommon to most of those who would consider themselves fans of the work. With this album, Ice Cube can paint a vivid and accurate picture of his particular experiences as an artist in making it out of Compton yet still thriving as a product of the said environment.

Unlike his previous NWA cuts, Ice Cube can get a little more theatrical with the delivery of his message while remaining just as straightforward. From the project’s title to the outro, it is prominent that Ice Cube had no intention of sugar-coating what he had to say. The violently righteous theme of this album shook the rap world showing a more militant side to the consciousness movement going on in the early 1990s. Cube even worked with Public Enemy’s production team, The Bomb Squad, to harness the high-energy sound paired perfectly with his flow.

Critically, this album is held on a pedestal with some of the best-selling and most respected projects in Hip Hop. It has been ranked on a plethora of “Best of All Time” and “Best of the 1990s” lists by publications in the US, Canada, and Europe. The album has been awarded 5 out of 5 ratings from The Source, Rolling Stone, Allmusic, and The Austin Chronicle.

Following this album, Ice Cube grew to be the mega-star he is today. He released eight solo studio albums and has no plans on stopping anytime soon. He also took his talent to the screen as an actor, writer, and director.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Dropped His First Solo LP ‘Amerikkka’s Most Wanted’ 34 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Dropped His First Solo LP ‘Amerikkka’s Most Wanted’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Paisley Park and Prince Estate Welcome Visitors To Prince’s Legendary “Purple Rain” House

May 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Prince‘s groundbreaking Purple Rain, Paisley Park and the Prince Estate have unveiled a once in a lifetime chance for fans to immerse themselves in history by staying at the legendary Purple Rain house featured in the critically acclaimed and award-winning film. As part of Airbnb’s Icons program, a new category of extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, sports, and more, the home will be open to the public for the first time ever and will be available to reserve this summer.

Purple Rain depicts the fictional journey of The Kid, a rising rock musician portrayed by Prince, navigating challenges like a chaotic home life, competition from a rival band, and a blossoming love affair within the Minneapolis music scene. In 2015, Prince purchased the iconic Minneapolis, Minnesota residence showcased in the film. Prince never lived in the house during his adult life and its doors have always remained closed to the public…until now.

Fans will be able to immerse themselves in experiences mirroring The Kid’s onscreen Purple Rain life during their stay at the newly renovated property. Hosted by Prince’s Revolution bandmates Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, the stay will include spending a night in The Kid’s bedroom where he crafted music, enjoying rare and special Prince tracks, and taking a private tour of the house adorned with Prince’s real-life personal items.

“Forty years ago, Prince revolutionized culture with the release of Purple Rain. This year, we continue to honor his enduring legacy and masterpiece with a series of events inspired by Purple Rain. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, join us in Minnesota this year for an exclusive opportunity to delve into the genius behind the music,” said L Londell McMillan.

Sam Sklover added, “It’s beyond exciting to be able to reintroduce to fans, both old and new, one of the most iconic homes in music and film history. The restoration promises to stay true to Prince’s singular vision, and we can’t wait for everyone to enjoy a unique experience that celebrates his legacy.”

The post Paisley Park and Prince Estate Welcome Visitors To Prince’s Legendary “Purple Rain” House first appeared on The Source.

The post Paisley Park and Prince Estate Welcome Visitors To Prince’s Legendary “Purple Rain” House appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Ms. Lauryn Hill And Son YG Marley Perform On ‘The Tonight Show’ Starring Jimmy Fallon

May 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Ms. Lauryn Hill and YG Marley were last night’s musical guests on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It was the show’s 10-Year Anniversary Special and also YG Marley’s late-night TV debut. On the show, the two performed a medley of Ms. Lauryn Hill’s beloved “Ex-Factor” and YG Marley’s blockbuster single “Praise Jah in the Moonlight”, which has amassed over 1 billion streams since its release last December. Additionally, he unveiled a new song “Survival”, an interpolation of Bob Marley’s “Ambush in the Night”, written by YG Marley and his late grandfather, Bob Marley. The new song was produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill, YG Marley, and Johnny G.

Ms. Hill who was forced to cancel the remaining dates of her Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary tour last year due to doctors orders is gearing up to announce new dates. The tour, described by The New York Times as “an artist — once again, and on tour — rewriting the rules of hip-hop, and American popular music at large. She was not just teaching us how to hear “Miseducation” differently, but showing us what it looks like for a musician to truly evolve and redefine what we call a classic as something brand-new”” will resume this summer.

The post [WATCH] Ms. Lauryn Hill And Son YG Marley Perform On ‘The Tonight Show’ Starring Jimmy Fallon first appeared on The Source.

The post [WATCH] Ms. Lauryn Hill And Son YG Marley Perform On ‘The Tonight Show’ Starring Jimmy Fallon appeared first on The Source.

Diddy Accuser Lil Rod Drops High Profile Music Exec Names From Sexual Assault Lawsuit

May 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, the producer who named several people and companies in his initial sexual assault lawsuit against music mogul Sean “DIddy” Combs a few months ago, has reportedly removed several high-profile defendants from his lawsuit against the head Bad Boy.

The original lawsuit listed Universal Music Group and its chairman Sir Lucian Grainge as defendants because they had “aided and abetted” Puffy in his alleged sexual abuse. Jones has now taken those names off of the suit, as well as that of Motown Recordings and those names that have now been removed cannot be refiled.

Attorney for Lil Rod, Tyrone Blackburn, said in a sworn statement filed in court, “Based on my examination of all of the papers submitted in support of both motions to dismiss, which addressed the issues I had, I have concluded that there is no legal basis for the claims and allegations that were made against the UMG Defendants.” He added, “As such, I have determined that the proper course of action is for all of the claims and all of the allegations to be withdrawn immediately.”

Grainge, UMG and Motown had already tried to get Jones’ suit against them dismissed, stating, “All of the claims against Grainge, Motown and UMG Recordings (the ‘UMG Defendants’) in the [second amended complaint] are lacking in any legally cognizable basis.”

The post Diddy Accuser Lil Rod Drops High Profile Music Exec Names From Sexual Assault Lawsuit first appeared on The Source.

The post Diddy Accuser Lil Rod Drops High Profile Music Exec Names From Sexual Assault Lawsuit appeared first on The Source.

BLK Dating App Launches Summer “MBA” Program For Recent HBCU Graduates

May 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

BLK, the number one dating and lifestyle app for the Black community, proudly unveils their new endeavor: The BLK MBA (Master of Black Affection) Program. Created to empower and support recent graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) facing post-graduation employment challenges, this innovative initiative seeks to redefine both professional and dating dynamics, while providing financial support to young job-seekers.

At its core, the BLK MBA Program creates an opportunity for recent HBCU graduates to navigate the journey from academia to the workforce. Despite improving graduation rates, systemic and cultural obstacles often obstruct the path to employment for Black graduates. African-Americans with college degrees are twice as likely to be unemployed as other graduates, with 12.4 percent of Black college graduates being unemployed, a rate significantly higher than the 5.6 percent average for all college graduates. BLK recognizes the need for solutions to fix this gap.

Enter the BLK MBA Program – a purpose-driven initiative designed to empower and support recent HBCU graduates struggling to find employment after college. But this isn’t your traditional MBA program – there will be no coursework or thesis statements. Instead, BLK will select three outstanding graduates from HBCUs, inviting them to embark on a summer of growth and discovery. These participants will immerse themselves in the vibrant BLK community, exploring networking and connections on the app. Along the way, they’ll share feedback to make the user experience even better, working alongside the brand to gain a deeper understanding of how Black Gen-Z approaches dating, networking and creating connections. Each participant will be awarded a stipend to support them during their journey.

“Our commitment to the Black community transcends the realms of just dating,” says Jonathan Kirkland, Head of Marketing at BLK. “The BLK MBA Program showcases our dedication to creating opportunities for professional growth and personal development for recent HBCU graduates. Through this initiative, we hope not only to address the employment challenges faced by Black graduates but also to enrich our platform with diverse perspectives and experiences.”

The application process for the BLK MBA Program commences in May, inviting recent HBCU graduates to apply. Applicants will be required to submit their resumes and a personal statement that showcases both their desire and need to be a part of the program. A panel of judges, comprising BLK brand team members and Black leaders from the BLK Advocacy Council, will evaluate applications to select three participants based on academic achievements, personal statements, and potential contributions.

Selected participants will embark on a transformative journey throughout the summer, immersing themselves in the vibrant BLK community to hone their networking skills and forge meaningful connections with other Black singles, recent graduates, young professionals and Black business leaders. Participants will proactively network, arrange meetings, and go on dates with the goal of fostering relationships that could lead to meaningful relationships and valuable job opportunities. As they navigate the digital dating landscape, participants will not only shape the future of dating experiences for Black Gen-Z individuals but also gain invaluable insights into effective networking strategies.

For further information about the BLK MBA Program and details on how to apply, please visit https://www.theplugbyblk.com/blkmba2024. Stay tuned for updates and announcements via our press releases, social media channels, and in-app notifications.

The post BLK Dating App Launches Summer “MBA” Program For Recent HBCU Graduates first appeared on The Source.

The post BLK Dating App Launches Summer “MBA” Program For Recent HBCU Graduates appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Killer Mike Dropped His FIfth LP ‘R.A.P. Music’ 12 Years Ago

May 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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On this date in 2012, Grammy Award winning rapper Big Mike dropped his fifth full length studio album titled R.A.P. Music, which stands for “Rebellious African People’s Music” on the Williams Street Records imprint and produced exclusively by DJ EL-P. With this being the first project of El-P and Mike together, this album spawned the formation of the duo Run The Jewels.

The 12-track project was very politically driven, with political and socio-economic subject matter that made Mike be recognized as a conscious emcee, which casually opened up the doors for his political involvement in his home state of Georgia. Songs like “Reagan” was jab at the former POTUS, who was highly suspected to be involved in the Iran-Contra scandal, which brought large amounts of cocaine into the United States and introduced “crack” to the inner cities. Back during the promotion of R.A.P. Music in 2012 on NPR, Mike stated about Ronald Reagan, “Ronald Reagan was an actor. He was a pitchman at first, and so people naturally trust him. He understood how to weave magic when he was speaking, and that’s what we as entertainers do. So when Jay-Z tells you to buy some Reeboks, it means more. Ronald Reagan at one point was the biggest pitchman in the world. I think that Reagan was used by a political party, by people who had vested means, to push their own agendas.”

The album was critically acclaimed, receiving multiple accolades from music and cultural media publications such as Complex, Rolling Stone and Time Magazine.

Guest appearances on the album include UGK’s Bun B, fellow ATLien T.I., Emily Panic and the album’s producer El-P, who appeared on “Butane Champion’s Anthem”.

Salute to Mr. Render, El-P and all of the contributors to this important piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Killer Mike Dropped His FIfth LP ‘R.A.P. Music’ 12 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Killer Mike Dropped His FIfth LP ‘R.A.P. Music’ 12 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Run-D.M.C. Dropped Their Third LP ‘Raising Hell’ 38 Years Ago

May 15, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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38 years ago, amidst the explosion of crack cocaine in the inner cities, one of the hottest albums from the Hollis Crew came out and further solidified their status of royalty in the world of Hip Hop. Today Run-D.M.C.’s third album celebrates its born day.

Raising Hell was the album that exposed Run, D, and Jam Master Jay to mainstream America and made them household names. Songs like “It’s Tricky” and the monumental “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith were heard on both urban and top 40 stations around the country and the globe. As trendsetters, they made Adidas with fat laces and even no laces a worldwide fashion statement with the song “My Adidas”. This recognition earned the trio a multimillion-dollar deal with Adidas, which was unprecedented for musicians of any kind at the time.

TheSource.com salutes Run-D.M.C. for this piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Run-D.M.C. Dropped Their Third LP ‘Raising Hell’ 38 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Run-D.M.C. Dropped Their Third LP ‘Raising Hell’ 38 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.