talent show

Dee-1 Claims His Onstage “Passion” Reminded Afeni Shakur Of 2Pac

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It’s no secret that Dee-1’s controversial comments don’t always sit right with the hip-hop community. According to him, however, his rapping skills put him up there with the best of them. During a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club, the Christian artist opened up about a run-in he claims to have had with 2Pac’s mother Afeni Shakur at a school talent show. He says the late activist’s encouragement filled him with enough confidence to move forward with his career, despite not having placed in the competition.

“The first time I did a show it was a talent show at LSU, and Ms. Afeni Shakur was at my school,” Dee-1 began. “I didn’t didn’t win first place, second place, or third place in that talent show. But when I got offstage, she was like, ‘Young brother, your passion on that microphone when I see you perform reminds me of my son.’”

Read More: Dee-1 Reflects On Having Suicidal Thoughts After BET Cypher

Dee-1 Recalls His First Talent Show

He continued, revealing how Afeni’s praise made him believe that his talents weren’t going to waste. “When she told me that, I was like, ‘oh, I got something special,’” Dee-1 recalled. “Even if people not recognizing it in the moment, I got something special. 2Pac’s momma just told me that, you feel me? At that point I was like, ‘Alright, I know if I use this for the purpose it was designed for, it could be life-changing.‘”

While Afeni’s compliment encouraged Dee-1 to pursue his dreams, the performer encountered some serious obstacles down the road. Elsewhere in his interview, he revealed that his 2014 BET Cypher put him up against suicidal thoughts. “It started messing with me mentally to where I was like, ‘Damn, I kinda don’t even wanna be here no more,” he shared. Luckily, he says his faith combined with therapy put him back on the right track. What do you think of Dee-1 claiming that the late Afeni Shakur once compared him to 2Pac? Are you surprised? Do you see their similarities? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Dee-1 Says He Was Offered Record Deal In Exchange For “Homosexual Acts”

[Via]

The post Dee-1 Claims His Onstage “Passion” Reminded Afeni Shakur Of 2Pac appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Jason Derulo Hosts New Talent Show, Offering Opportunity to Join His Label

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Jason Derulo004

R&B/Pop singer Jason Derulo is keeping busy these days.  He now has a new talent show called Project Icon.  Formed with his business partner, Frank Harris, the “Wiggle” singer wanted the talent show to be more relatable to the music industry. 

Unlike other talent-seeking shows, Project Icon focuses on helping the contestants make music that performs well on social media. They also teach the artists how to perfect their brands.

The ten contestants will also be critiqued on their interview skills and relatability.  The winner of Project Icon will record a song with Derulo and perform at Radio 1’s Big Weekend.  The winner will also be signed to Derulo’s label, Future History.

Based in the UK, Project Icon will air six episodes starting on March 26th on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.  The contestants are all from the UK as they specialize in different genres such as country, hip hop, rock, and R&B.  Some of the artists already have a fan base, and some are unknown. They will be judged by Becky Hill, Harris, and Derulo himself.

Social media, mainly TikTok, is the reason for this show.  The “Whatcha Say” singer has built a following on TikTok, amassing over 50 million followers.  The popular social platform has helped further his career. It also proves that the music industry has changed and is more than just about music.

Derulo makes a statement about his new show and the current music industry:

“The world of music has changed and being a superstar with staying power today requires a lot more than just singing.  Project Icon is the first TV show that will challenge contestants on all realistic skills an artist today should have for a real shot at being an Icon.”

The post Jason Derulo Hosts New Talent Show, Offering Opportunity to Join His Label appeared first on The Source.

Freddie Gibbs Says Michael Jackson Used To Face His Dad In Talent Shows

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Freddie Gibbs says that Michael Jackson used to compete against his father in talent shows while growing up. Gibbs revealed the Gary, Indiana connection during an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

“Yeah, Michael Jackson used to beat my daddy’s ass in the talent shows,” Freddie Gibbs said. “My dad sing, my dad in The Chi-Lites, matter of fact. Him and Mike the same age, so they was always bumping heads in the talent shows and Mike would fuck that n***a up. I’m like, ‘Fuck you thought, n***a?’”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: Rapper Freddie Gibbs performs onstage during the Adult Swim Festival at Banc of California Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

“And I’m like, you up there solo,” he further added. “He got Tito, Jermaine… They in step, they got moves, they got Joe, you know what I’m sayin’? They had Joe pushin’ them n****s. You ain’t had nobody, you just had yo mama telling you ‘Yes my baby!’ Mike had a team, n***a! He couldn’t fuck with Mike.”

He continued: “I love you Dad, but you know you can’t fuck with Mike. Mike was fuckin’ you up, your whole life. We be watching Michael Jackson, my dad like, ‘Turn that motherfuckin’ shit off.’ He be listening to it on the low though. That n***a love Mike.”

From there, Gibbs explained that his father’s artistic talents didn’t have an impact on his own goals growing up. Instead, Gibbs says he wanted to play football at Ball State University.

“I definitely didn’t plan on ending up being a fucking rapper,” he explained. “I definitely didn’t see that shit in the cards for me at that age.”

In addition to rapping, Gibbs has also begun adding acting to his résumé. In 2021, he starred in the critically acclaimed film, Down With The King.

Check out Gibbs’ story on the All The Smoke podcast below.

[Via]