News Exclusives Archives - Page 7 of 255

Happy Heavenly Born Day To TS(Terror Squad) Lieutenant Big Pun!

November 10, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Born on this day in 1971 in Bronx, NY, Terror Squad lieutenant Christopher ‘Big Pun” Rios grew from an exceptional emcee that stood side to side by Fat Joe during his Jealous One’s Still Envy heyday to morphing into one of the game’s greatest lyricists of all time.

Big Punisher initially entered the rap game in the mid-80s as a member and founder of underground hip-hop collective Full-A-Clips and at the time, went under the moniker Big Moon Dawg, which was drawn from a famed pro wrestler with the same name. Recordings from the collective have been concealed and remain unreleased, but are known to be the earliest recordings of the late Puerto Rican emcee.

After Pun received a Grammy for “I’m Not A Player”, the full-length, double-disc version of his debut Capital Punishment was released the following year,. The album went platinum causing Pun to make history as the first Hip Hop solo act of Latino descent to achieve the mark.

On February 7th, 2000 during a momentary stay at Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, New York, Pun faced a fatal heart attack and respiratory failure. He weighed 698 pounds at the time of his death, the highest weight in his lifetime. He withdrew from a Saturday Night Live performance two days prior where he was scheduled to perform with Fat Joe and Jennifer Lopez.

The post Happy Heavenly Born Day To TS(Terror Squad) Lieutenant Big Pun! appeared first on .

Today in Hip-Hop History: UGK Released Their First Studio Album ‘Too Hard To Swallow’ 32 Years Ago

November 10, 2024 by newhiphopnews

tumblr d29d0620bb4bfdf6f149015322d99a2b 626d3e70 640

On this date in 1992, Bun B and Pimp C put out their first studio release Too Hard To Swallow and began their extremely successful career as Underground Kingz.

With UGK (short for Underground Kingz) being one of the first rap groups to come out of Texas to be regarded nationally, it’s easy to see how important it is to the South. At this time in the early 90s, there wasn’t much coming from anywhere other than New York or California. The only southern rappers that had hits were fellow Texas natives Geto Boys and Miami-based rappers 2 Live Crew. When this album dropped, it opened up a door for a whole new wave of southern rap to emerge.

Unlike the funkier, sample-heavy beats that UGK became known for rapping over later in their career, this album is true to its name as far as its production. The beats are a lot more aggressive and so is the lyricism. Nevertheless, this album is full of hits that are considered classics of the group’s catalog. These three tracks are “Something Good”, “Use Me Up” which hails a Bill Withers sample, and “Pocket Full of Stones”, which appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 hood classic, Menace II Society.

The album was recorded over a year period from 1991 to 1992 and released on November 9th, 1992 under Jive Records, the early 90s powerhouse label hosting acts such as E-40, A Tribe Called Quest, R.Kelly, and the late Aaliyah. The album has so far sold 369,511 copies and peaked at 37th on the Billboard US R&B Charts. After this album, UGK went on to put out five albums until the untimely passing of member Pimp C in 2007.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: UGK Released Their First Studio Album ‘Too Hard To Swallow’ 32 Years Ago appeared first on .

Today in Hip Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Released Their Third LP ‘Midnight Marauders’ 31 Years Ago

November 9, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history A Tribe Called Quest Released their third studio album Midnight Marauders. As the group’s most popular work, this album marked the height of Hip Hop’s Afrocentric/hippie movement.

Aside from content, this album’s cover is it’s most distinctive quality. It features a full frontal portrait of the same black, green, and red woman from the The Low End Theory cover as well as head shots of some of the more well known rappers of the time, including: Dr. Dre, Afrika Bambaataa, Busta Rhymes, Chuck D, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Del the Funky Homosapien, P. Diddy, Heavy D, Too $hort, The Pharcyde, The Beastie Boys, and more.

With this album, Tribe took a slight step away their heavy jazz influence to perpetuate a funkier vibe. Ali Shaheed Muhammad‘s production sounded more on this album like something you would hear on the radio in the early 90’s (with a Tribe twist of course). The largest change however came in the realm of lyricism. Over their four year quest, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg picked up linguistic skills that come full circle on this album. Their cadence, flow, and diction all show signs of improvement along with the length and depth of their metaphors. Although this album features less subject specific tracks than their previous work, the two show that they have finally figured out how to intrigued the minds of both the Hip Hop faithful and everyday music listener.

Commercially, Midnight Marauders is the A Tribe Called Quest’s highest selling album. The album sold over 1,000,000 copies within it’s first year, making it a platinum hit. It also peaked #70 on the UK album charts, #8 on the Billboard 200, and took the top spot Top R&B/Hip Hop chart.

A lot of the album’s success is due to its timeless classic of a single “Award Tour” which peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s influence has spanned decades with the track being referenced by the likes of Wale, Kanye West, Common, Azealia Banks, and Justin Timberlake.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Released Their Third LP ‘Midnight Marauders’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on .

Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’ 31 Years Ago

November 9, 2024 by newhiphopnews

NYC Mayor to Proclaim Nov. 9 as 'Wu-Tang Day' on 30th Anniversary of 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers'

On November 9th, 1993 rap music was changed forever. On this day, 9 Gods from the slums of Shaolin, who together form the Wu Tang Clan, released their first studio LP entitled Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
.
This album was recorded from 1992 to 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City. The album was recorded on Loud Records and distributed by RCA Records. It cost a total of $36,000 to complete.

The album’s concept was inspired heavily by the group’s love for Kung Fu flicks, particularly the 1978 Liu Chia-Liang film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, a story about a man who set out to become the master of all 36 chambers of kung fu and reach a form of enlightenment. In the movie, the 36th chamber of kung fu is to bring the knowledge and wisdom of kung fu to the people of the entire world. For Wu-Tang Clan, that was the goal with this album.

The project was entitrely produced by the group’s leader, RZA, through the art of sampling. The beats consisted of a lot of soul And martial art samples along with sounds from early hip hop synthesizers. Lyrically, this album was nothing like anything that came before it or would come after it. I was a change from the afrocentric “boom-bap” that was prevalent in New York. It was edgy and street while remaining intellectual in content. The Wu-Tang Clan was able to synchronize their hustler mentality with the wisdom of an ancient martial arts master. Well known singles from this album include, but are not limited to, “Protect Ya Neck”, “Method Man”, and “C.R.E.A.M.”
Upon its release, in an article for The Source, The Ghetto Communicator wrote “This record is harsh, but so is the world that we live in. For B-boys n’girls who come from the core of the hard, this is the hip-hop album you’ve been waiting for”. The rest is history.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on .

Consequence And Chuck D Weigh In On The Presidential Election With “What Has America Done”

November 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

After joining A Tribe Called Quest at their induction into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame (only the 12th hip hop group to be inducted), Consequence releases a new single, “What Has America Done,” which is now available. “What Has America Done” features Public Enemy’s Chuck D (and he also illustrated the singles cover art) and Tony Williams. “What Has America Done” will be included on the deluxe edition of Nice Doing Business With You (which will include seven new tracks) which will be released on 11.22.24.

With the video that was premiered by TMZ earlier today, Consequence and Chuck D give a State of the Union address on the heels of the Presidential election.

“The results of the 2024 Presidential Election are a reflection of who and where we are as a nation. Like it or not, especially if you’re African American, we must continue to pursue our equalities and make sure we do everything in our power to level the playing field as best we can” Consequence commented. “In doing so, we can forget where we’ve been and what it took to get where we are.”

“Avatars like they’re the new Klan hoodies” Chuck D asserted. “The more things change, the more they stay the SAME”!

Nice Doing Business With You features appearances from Con’s frequent collaborator Kanye West (who guests on “No Apologies,” and produces “Bloodstain”), Chris Rock, YNW Melly, Tony Williams and Con’s son Caiden The Crownholder. Consequence also produced the bulk of Nice Doing Business With You.

The post Consequence And Chuck D Weigh In On The Presidential Election With “What Has America Done” appeared first on .

The Source Magazine Remembers Heavy D 13 Years Later

November 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history, “The Overweight Lover” Heavy D passed away in Los Angeles, California. If he were alive today, he’d be 57 years old.

Heavy D, born Dwight Errington Myers in Jamaica, moved to Mount Vernon, New York in the late 1970s. In the mid-1980s Heavy D along with DJ Eddie F and dancers T-Roy and G-Wiz signed to Uptown Records and began their journey to fame and adoration as Heavy D & The Boyz. The group’s debut Living Large released in 1987 and was a marginal success selling 300,000 copies.

The group began to rise in popularity, helping Heavy D to become pop sensation. The success of the group’s second and third albums, Big Tyme and Peaceful Journey, brought Heavy D the opportunity to collaborate with artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, B.B. King and more. Through the start of the 1990s, Heavy D began making more and more appearances in music videos and on TV and in films.

In the mid-1990s Heavy D became the first rapper to run a record label when he became president of Uptown Records. Prior to becoming president, Heavy D was instrumental in the hiring of Sean Combs as an intern. He also convinced Andre Harrel to sign Jodeci. As president, Heavy D worked with and developed boy band Soul for Real and was the executive producer and principal writer for majority of their debut album. His success as an executive led to him becoming senior vice president of Universal Music.

Heavy D passed away on November 8, 2011 from complications caused by a blood clot in his leg. His final performance at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards was his first televised performance in 15 years. Heavy D’s legacy will live on forever in the work that he created and the mark that he left on the Hip Hop industry as a whole.

The post The Source Magazine Remembers Heavy D 13 Years Later appeared first on .

Today in Hip-Hop History: Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s ‘The Main Ingredient’ LP Turns 30 Years Old!

November 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

tumblr 4d1e25b4814cb76e31a5c7ba915adf7d b38af33e 1280

On this day in 1994, Pete Rock and CL Smooth via Elektra Records dropped their second album, The Main Ingredient, thirty years ago today.

Produced exclusively by the legend Pete Rock himself, The Main Ingredient defined the sound of the Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon duo, with Pete’s signature horns and jazz-laced drums patterns, tracks like “I Got A Love”, which derived from The Ambassadors’ “Ain’t Got The Love” and was sampled in Jay-Z’s and Jay Elec’s “Shiny Suit Theory,” and “Sun Won’t Come Out” became the “production prediction” of Pete Rock even outside of his projects with CL.

Ironically, this was the duo’s last album together, never citing reasons for their separation. Nevertheless, we thank Pete Rock & CL Smooth for this time capsule of Hip Hop purity. Salute!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s ‘The Main Ingredient’ LP Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on .

Today in Hip Hop History: Jungle Brothers Released Their Debut LP ‘Straight Out The Jungle’ 36 Years Ago

November 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

tumblr 0f2a2b29af49b5e5386c7aef485eb691 682d3eb4 400

On this day in Hip Hop history, the Jungle Brothers released their debut LP Straight Out the Jungle. As the first project of the illustrious Native Tongues collective, other members include De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep, this album opened the door for a new type of conscious rap. With their Afrocentric influence and sample-heavy production, the Jungle Brothers were able to create a unique sound in a saturated New York Hip Hop scene.

Coming at the end of the gold roped, tracksuited and Kangol Golden Age of Hip Hop this album ushered in a new era. Through a new style of sampling and almost no regard to the flamboyancy of mid-80’s rap, this album became a true trailblazer. The trio’s adventurous take on Hip Hop led to them exploring otherwise uncharted waters. Their jazz and house influence created a new lane for Hip Hop crossovers left behind by Def Jam’s obsession with rap-rock. The group’s lyrics were also a healthy and needed change to the genre. Prior to its release, rap was mostly dominated by MC’s rapping about how much better they could rap than everyone else. The Jungle Brothers came with bars to enrich the mind and soul of their listeners rather than stroke their own ego. Songs like “Straight Out of The Jungle” and “Black is Back” were some of the first rap songs with an overtly pro-Black message.

Commercially, the album was a quiet success, peaking at only #39 on the Billboard 200. Critically, however, this album was highly regarded as a new beginning for Hip Hop. Publications across the board hailed this album as a fresh take on rap as a whole. This album kicked off a new counter-culture in Hip Hop. Fans began to leave behind their flashy get-ups for dashikis and leather African pendents fueled by a new sense of blackness and cultural pride. Thanks to the Jungle Brothers and their debut, the early ’90s became the Hip Hop equivalent to the late ’60s of rock ‘n’ roll.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Jungle Brothers Released Their Debut LP ‘Straight Out The Jungle’ 36 Years Ago appeared first on .

[WATCH] Disgraced Breaker Raygun Retires From Competition After Olympics Criticism

November 8, 2024 by newhiphopnews

A recent confirmed report states that Australian breakdancer Raygun has retired from the sport, professionally speaking, after the extreme backlash she received for her performance at this year’s Olympics.

Raygun aka Rachael Gunn announced her decision while appearing on the Jimmy & Nath Show in her native brazil, where she said she’ll no longer be competing in future competitions.

When asked if she’ll return for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Raygun replied with a laughin “No!” She added, “I still break, but I don’t compete. I’m not going to compete anymore, no.”

Gunn admitted that she was planning to continue competing, but after the Olympics “that seems a really difficult thing for me to do now, to approach a battle […] the level of scrutiny that will be there. I still dance and I still break, but that’s in my living room with my partner,” she joked.

Raygun’s Olympic routine didn’t score a single point, which was highlighted by bouncing on her feet like a kangaroo, leading to a flood of jokes and memes online.

“I did not like that. It’s so many great breakdancers that I don’t know why they had this particular person doing that,” said superproducer Dr. Dre during an Entertainment Tonight interview. “It was funny, I got some laughs out of it, but what the fuck? […] There are incredible breakdancers out right now; I don’t know how that happened.”

The post [WATCH] Disgraced Breaker Raygun Retires From Competition After Olympics Criticism appeared first on .

YSL Member Allegedly Stabs YFN Lucci In Prison In New Clip From YSL Trial

November 7, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Hip Hop world has openly expressed its relief after Young Thug was released from prison this week, but the YSL RICO trial continues with two other codefendants and a new piece of evidence. The stabbing of YFN Lucci in 2022 while behind bars reportedly contributed heavily to how prosecutors presented the YSL RICO case and the purported danger a the feud between the two factions.

Reported YSL member, Jayden Myrick aka YSL Tripp, allegedly stabbed Lucci in March 2022, which was before the YSL RICO indictment was handed down or any arrests were made in the case. Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick aka Yak Gotti are the only two co-defendants left in the case, so any evidence left to be presented in the RICO case will be brought forth in their trial.

On Tuesday (November 7), prosecutors shared the footage from the YFN Lucci stabbing during the YSL RICO trial during the retired Fulton County Jail security head’s testimony. Prosecutors claim that this supports the notion that YSL members carried out criminal acts on behalf of the collective. Also, they allege that this stabbing resulted in the retaliatory murder of Shymel Drinks, according to local court journalist Meghann Cuniff.

Additionally, the court ordered Myrick, Lucci’s alleged assailant, to undergo a mental evaluation after he claimed that Donald Trump offered him legal advice. There is no timeline for the trial of Stillwell and Kendrick, but the YSL RICO trial has been the longest trial ever in the state of Georgia.

It has also been reported that Lucci, whose real name is Rashawn Bennett, could be getting out of prison on parole as soon as January 2025.

The post YSL Member Allegedly Stabs YFN Lucci In Prison In New Clip From YSL Trial appeared first on .