Monday, April 21, 2014

Mase Sued by Model for Using Her Image as Song Art (@masonbetha)



Harlem's Mase is slowly making his return to the mic, and is now gearing up to promote his next single, "Why Can't We" ft. HER. Unfortunately, it seems that the "her" seen on the single cover never gave the reverend permission to use the picture, which has prompted to model to take legal action.


According to TMZ, Stephanie Delgado, who goes by Stephanie Rao for modeling, filed a lawsuit against the former Bad Boy for taking the cover art straight from her Twitter page and using it as a promotional tool. Rao is seeking damages in the amount of $180,000 and royalties in the amount of $60,000.


Source: TMZ


Mya Teams Up With Eric Bellinger for 'Same Page,' Debuts 'Sweet XVI' EP

MyaSoundcloud

Mya is celebrating her sweet 16. On April 21, the 16-year anniversary of her self-titled debut album, the songstress will release a new EP, aptly titled ‘Sweet XVI.’


The effort features six tracks executive produced by Mya and Yonni. If you were a fan of the R&B songbird in the late ’90s (remember ‘Movin’ On’ and ‘It’s All About Me’?), the EP doesn’t disappoint as Mya showcases her delicate vocal stylings and introspective lyrics over a mix of mid-tempo grooves.


On ‘Same Page,’ the singer teams up with fellow singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger to wax poetic about seeing eye-to-eye with a significant other through all the ups and downs. “Even though we love to fight / We don’t wanna waste no time / We showed up and just apologized no matter who’s wrong or who’s right,” she sings over the snap-heavy track.


From the power anthem ‘M.O.N.E.Y.’ to the sensual ode ‘Right Now,’ Mya offers a soundtrack for the clubs or for the bedroom.


Celebrate the chanteuse’s sweet 16 below.


Listen to Mya’s ‘Sweet XVI’ EP



Supreme to Celebrate 20th Anniversary with Box T-Shirts, Skateboard Decks

Supreme Taxi Drive T-Shirtsupremenewyork.com

Supreme is on a roll. After dropping the Foamposite Ones and the North Face jackets they are back to hit our pockets again. This time in honor of their 20th anniversary, the streetwear company is reissuing the first two T-shirts that helped kickstart their brand.


The box logo tee and the ‘Taxi Driver’ tee have been out of circulation for years. So this is a great opportunity to cop some shirts before they disappear again.


Both T-shirts will be available in different colors, including the white tees that started it all.


In addition to the shirts, there’s also matching skateboard decks featuring both the box logo and Travis Bickle images as well. They even have an all-white logo skatedeck so you can match it with the white T-shirt like a real hypebeast.


Do sleep on these. Much like the chaos involving the Foamposite Ones, people will go bonkers over this collection.


The Supreme 20th Anniversary T-shirt and Skatedeck capsule will be available at Supreme locations in New York, Los Angeles and London on April 24. The Japan stores will get them on April 26.


Supreme Box T-Shirtsupremenewyork.com Supreme Skateboard Decksupremenewyork.com Taxi Driver Supreme Decksupremenewyork.com Taxi Driver Supreme Decksupremenewyork.com

Lil' Kim Reveals Gender of Baby


Lil’ Kim is having a girl. On Sunday (April 20), the pregnant mother announced that she is having a baby shower next month.


The mom-to-be delivered the news via Instagram. She posted a pink invitation featuring several different cute designs including a diamond-studded king’s crown, an elephant, a Hello Kitty and a huge baby pacifier.


“Happy Easter everyone !!!! What a perfect day to share this wonderful news with U,” she wrote. “The fab @davidtutera is throwing my royal baby shower for my lil’ princess 5/10/14!!! Thank U for the awesome graphic @dustyaceti !!!! Muahhhh!!! #TeamLilKim. Love U all so much !!! Muahhhh !!!”


For those who don’t know, David Tutera is a wedding planner of the stars. So expect Kimmy to have a glamorous over-the-top baby shower for her new bundle of joy.


The 39-year-old MC first announced her pregnancy at New York Fashion Week in February. “I’m so excited! I’m a few months along, I can’t wait to be a mom!” she said. “I’m still going to be hardcore. The baby has made me even more of a beast!”


The father of Lil’ Kim’s baby is reportedly rapper Mr. Papers. The New York-based rhymer has been dating her off and on since June 2012.


There’s no word on when Lil’ Kim is expected to give birth to her baby girl.



Exclusive! Nigel Sylvester: Nike Will Always Be a Staple


Exclusive! Sneaker Analyst Matt Powell: Nike's Loyalty to Fans (@mattSOS @nike)


MCA Day 2014 to Celebrate Beastie Boys Member in New York


The hip-hop community will celebrate the life and music of late Beastie Boys member Adam “MCA” Yauch at the 3rd annual MCA Day in Brooklyn, N.Y.


The event, organized by Mike Kearney, will take place at the Littlefield Performance and Art Space in Brooklyn on May 3. The festivities will start at 11AM EST and will feature breakdancers, art exhibits and live music. Admission to the MCA Day 2014 event is free.


According to ex-House of Pain artist Danny Boy’s Facebook page (see the image below), rapper Ill Bill and DJ Eclipse will be among the many artists who will attend to celebrate the legendary Beastie Boy.


No word if Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz or Michael “Mike D” Diamond will be in attendance but they will mostly likely make an appearance.


Adam “MCA” Yauch died on May 4, 2012, after losing a battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.


For more information about MCA Day, click here.


MCA-DayFacebook

Homeboy Sandman Shares His Love of Food in 'Fat Belly' Video


Homeboy Sandman delivers some thought provoking tracks on regular basis, but he’s also prone to drop some playful raps too. ‘Fat Belly’ would fall under the latter distinction as the Queens, N.Y., MC lightens the mood with some rhymes about his favorite foods. The accompanying video sees Sandman at a cookout enjoying a variety of treats with family and friends.


“Ay yo, that peanut butter jelly be the jam / I wash it down with almond milk, Almond Breeze or Silk, whatever brand / Trader Joe’s they cost the least / Whole Foods though will run you least a nephew or a niece / my motto is bravado and avocados / whenever I’m not full it leaves me hollow,” Sandman raps.


The upbeat song is featured on Sandman’s latest work, the ‘White Sands’ EP, which was produced entirely by U.K. beatmaker Paul White. The project is the third and final release in a series of EPs which saw Sandman working exclusively with one producer for a single release.


Homeboy Sandman’s ‘White Sands’ EP is available now on Stones Throw Records.



Dame Dash on Steve Stoute: He's Dangerous to Hip-Hop (@dashdamon, @stevestoute)



Last month, 50 Cent and "Tanning of America" author Steve Stoute had an awkward exchange at Madison Square Garden, as 50 later told MTV News he approached Stoute to demand an apology for Stoute's statements on Hot 97 regarding 50 being irrelevant.


Old Stout associate Dame Dash shared his opinion on the situation, posting the now infamous pic to Instagram and captioning it with blatant shots at the marketing guru. The caption reads:


"Ha!...Steve Stout stays getting punked....but I have to agree with 50 on this one...he is one of the most dangerous people in our culture...he makes artist from our culture make themselves corny by working for corporate so he can personally gain...he's wack and he makes everyone around him look wack...beware"


Stoute has certainly been the mediator behind some of Hip-Hop's greatest business moves, but at what point are corporations doing more harm than good for the culture?


Source: HipHopNMore.com


Future, 'Honest' [ALBUM REVIEW]

Kevin Winter. Getty Images

Ask any well-meaning plebeian (hint: you can’t find them on the Internet) what they think about Future’s music and you’ll probably hear at least one thing across the board: “It isn’t rap.” A fan of the ATLien’s music might smile or scream at the sentiment — what other “rapper” could write a track like ‘Loveeee Song’ for Rihanna? (The answer is zero, outside of Future’s progenitor Lil Wayne.)


Future is hard to peg down. When he popped into national consciousness with ‘Racks,’ he was using one specific sound that would come to dominance in other hits of his like ‘Same Damn Time’ and ‘Tony Montana.’ It was a technique many have described as being more about the sounds of the repeated words than the words themselves; the choruses get driven into your brain until you have to accept and mimic them. The ripple effect his hooks had on listeners verified the ancient axiom — “less is more.”


On ‘Honest,’ Future’s second studio album, less is still more, but the emphasis is more melodic and textured than ever before. Gone are the blunt, hammering hooks of ‘Pluto’ (minus ‘Move That Dope,’ ‘My Momma’ and ‘Covered N Money’) in exchange for what made him a star — the vulnerable, curious, bleeding-heart vocals from ‘Turn On the Lights.’ The outliers on that first album, serenades like ‘Neva End’ and ‘Truth Gonna Hurt You,’ are now the forebearers of songs like ‘I Be U’ and ‘I’ll Be Yours’ on ‘Honest’ as more rap-centric songs get pushed to the fringes.


In other words, he’s gone pop. ‘Honest’ is a defiant work that proves while he’s filed under “rap” in iTunes, his music eclipses that label. Even an Andre 3000 verse on ‘Benz Friendz’ seems feeble compared to the gigantic steps that Future makes on this album.


Straightforward rap, the kind we come to expect from almost every rap record that isn’t by Young Thug these days, is too terrestrial for Future. The “rap” category feels claustrophobic on Future’s new album, too narrow for an artist of his ambition. Take the opening song, ‘Look Ahead.’ The first thing it does (as a symbol for the album itself) is disorient you — name a Future song that’s used a vocal sample more prominently than this, and your $1,000 check will be overnighted. Nothing he says on the song will put him in the company of the GOATs, but there also isn’t a single rapper who can make “Good time, n—-, good time!” sound more victorious than Nayvadius.


‘T-Shirt’ will be the most forgotten song on this album for all the wrong reasons. Early fans will get down on hands and knees to thank the Lord for a Nard & B beat, but the song is a throwback — explicit evidence that Future hasn’t totally changed since his mixtape days. ‘T-Shirt’ could belong on 2011’s ‘Streetz Calling,’ which balanced street anthems with a pop sensibility on cuts like ‘Running Through A Check,’ ‘Unconditional Love’ and ‘If You Knew What It Took.’ Don’t trust anyone who downplays ‘Honest’ for its blatant crossover appeal — they haven’t been listening closely in the past.


Sandwiched between the adrenaline of ‘T-Shirt’ and ‘My Momma’ (whose hook will ring the f— off in clubs), ‘Move That Dope’ is actually underwhelming. Everyone jumped on that bandwagon for Mike WiLL Made It’s astronautical production and Pharrell’s naked yoga, but the beat gurgles while songs like ‘Honest’ and ‘How Can I Not’ soar.


‘I Won’ showcases Future’s development — the song’s chorus goes beyond the mere repetition of “young n—- move that dope” with a garden of little eccentricities (the high-pitched Auto-Tune writhing in the background, the melody of how he says “I won me a trophy,” the irresistible murmur of “I won, I won, I won, I won” that he does only twice). If you can get past the admittedly disgusting allusions to love as custody and women as prizes, ‘I Won’ is one of Future’s most musically mature (and complex) records to date.


That song brings an uncomfortable truth to light. On ‘Honest,’ Mike WiLL faces his second coup after DJ Mustard ousted him from the charts. While Future still finds chemistry with his go-to producer on burners like ‘Never Satisfied’ and ‘Sh!t,’ it’s Metro Boomin’ beats that sound best under Future this time. ‘Karate Chop’ deserved a bigger push (sans Lil Wayne) but still crushes and ‘How Can I Not’ is a sleeper bonus track now mixed to perfection. The melodrama that Metro’s keys bring to a track and his diversity of sound (which Mike WiLL demonstrated on ‘Pluto’) is what makes ‘Honest’ a special listen. Future is broadening every facet of his scope while still nailing the types of songs that got him to this point.


Future is to rap as Jackson Pollack was to painting — an artist using his expressive tools to do something groundbreaking in an age-old medium. Future twists his voice to perform, or simply to reveal, the emotion underneath his songs. His success can be explained by his hit-making ability — he is the go-to hip-hop hook dude — but his sustained popularity amongst a core group of fans is unshaken for the same reason rap lyrics aren’t inspiring on paper. Rap and poetry aren’t equivalent because rap needs a performer/messenger who can emote the pain, the desperation, the suffering, the jubilance, the defiance, i.e., the experience behind the story being told. The technical ability of breath control, punchlines and syllabic placement means little if the person employing those skills sounds puny, flat or nondescript. It really is mostly the voice.


Future doesn’t have the best voice. If he did, he could have gone on ‘The Voice,’ destroyed every competitor, gotten a label deal and promptly vanished from the public eye. Great artists don’t submit themselves to a panel so they can be told what’s right and what’s wrong. That seems boring and predictable. The artists that fascinate us don’t follow the rules, they break them. The same can be said for activists, authors, directors, athletes — you name it. Clinton committed a no-no and saw his approval ratings soar. Godard used a handheld camera and started a New Wave of French cinema. A.I. donned cornrows, broke MJ’s ankles and became the new face of the NBA.


In 2011, Ben Westhoff ended ‘T-Pain and His Florida Hitmakers,’ an essay in defense of T-Pain, this way: “[T-Pain’s Auto-Tune] app sold well, but Auto-Tune’s novelty and mystique were starting to fade. Now that anyone could do it, it no longer sounded like the future.” What Westhoff leaves out is before T-Pain blew up, anyone and everyone “could” already use Auto-Tune; it was how T-Pain used it, combined with his songwriting chops, that made him so popular. To tie his success to the “mystique and novelty” of Auto-Tune, as the author implicitly does, is a false revision of history.


Don’t do the same thing with Future, unless you want to be on the wrong side of history. Auto-Tune is but one means that he uses to communicate from his tortured soul. He’s private, almost shy (“I don’t really let people into my world … You can’t just let everybody know everything about you,” he told FADER) yet often angrily animated (‘My Momma’) and always willing to experiment (‘I Be U,’ which evokes ‘808s & Heartbreaks’). Even the strings on a song like ‘Special’ are hard to come by in today’s anti-acoustic rap atmosphere (808 Mafia did the track, but it wouldn’t be shocking if Organized Noize consulted on the beat). “I wish you could feel all my momma pain,” he says on album closer ‘Blood, Sweat, Tears,’ a track that forgoes lyrical prowess in exchange for an Auto-Tune-less voice that vaults over mountains.


Meek Mill screams and Drake whimpers, but there isn’t a verb in the English language to accurately describe what Future does. He croons, he croaks, he bleats, he sings, but none of those words convey the essence of what you hear when his voice cracks through your headphones. He’s gone entirely rogue and in a country that loves an anti-hero, Future is our brightest star.



War Ready! Top Camo Kicks From Instagram


Chris Brown's Bodyguard Convicted of Assault, Singer's Trial Postponed

Chris Brown Christopher HollosyDavid Buchan / Kris Connor, Getty Images

Chris Brown’s bodyguard was found guilty of misdemeanor assault during a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Monday (April 21).


The charge stems from an incident in D.C., last October, in which Christopher Hollosy, Brown’s bodyguard, punched Parker Adams because he claims the man was allegedly trying to sneak into the singer’s tour bus. Sentencing is set for June 25.


Meanwhile, Brown’s assault trial has been delayed until Wednesday (April 23), reports the Associated Press. Brown’s attorneys want to review the bodyguard’s testimony because they need him to testify on the singer’s behalf, but Hollosy plans to appeal.


Both men were arrested in the same case after Adams said Brown and Hollosy assaulted him outside of a D.C. hotel.


If Brown is found guilty of misdemeanor assault, he could face up to four years in prison, which will violate his probation in another assault case in which he infamously pummeled Rihanna in 2009.


At his April 18 hearing, the ‘Loyal’ singer was supported by family and friends, including his mother, Joyce Hawkins, his girlfriend Karrueche Tran and rapper Bow Wow.



Keyshawn Johnson Arrested for Domestic Battery (@Thromedamnball)



Retired NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson has been arrested for domestic violence, according to TMZ Sports.


The ESPN regular commentator was allegedly involved in a fight with his ex-girlfriend when things got heated. TMZ's sources say the two had a tumultuous relationship and got into a fight over marriage. He then allegedly smashed her phone, causing his ex to gash her hand.


He was arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery and booked. Bail was set at $20,000, which he paid.


Source: TMZ Sports


VladTV's Vixen of the Week: The Thickness of Bad Girl Ms. Cat (@mscat215)



Catya "Cat" Washington, aka Ms. Cat is no doubt one of the baddest chicks in the game. She's been featured in countless videos, magazine spreads and TV screens over the years, and shows no signs of slowing down.


The Philly native is best known for starring in Oxygen's hit series "Bad Girls Club" and for dating YMCMB rapper Drake, and in fact was the muse behind countless rhymes. She gets a name drop on Take Care's "Shot For Me" as well as a few bars from his verse on Game's "Good Girls Go Bad," where he spits:


"This song reminds me of Cat from Philly/A girl I use to love till she started acting silly/ Her heart is a 'lil chilly. She a 'lil too carefree/In 10 years whose payin' for all that therapy .....n***a not me."


Whether or not Drizzy was the one for her, she clearly could get just about whomever she wants with a body like that, making her a clear choice for VladTV's Vixen of the Week. Be sure to follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and check out some of her sexiest flicks above.


Kimbella Puts Bangin' Body on Display in Backless Dress (@kimbellasworld)



Juelz Santana's Ride or Die girl Kimbella had a very busy weekend. Saturday night she hit up Bahama Mama's in Allentown, PA, wearing a stunning blue and white backless dress, just after putting her kids down for bed.


The next day, the family went out for a family Easter brunch, and Kimbella once again shut it down in a white hot dress with her man.


Peep the curvaceous beauty above.


Reunited: Serge Ibaka Cuffs Keri Hilson Once Again (@kerihilson, @sergeibaka9)



NBA Baller Serge Ibaka and singer Keri Hilson split up late last year, but it seems that the Oklahoma power forward has woo'd his former lover back.


The two took a pic on the court which Ibaka posted to his Instagram with the caption "Had to get my girl back."


Take a look at the happy couple above.


Exclusive! Big Glo's Last Interview: Gucci Mane Is Big Homie (@chiefkeef @gucci1017)



The late Big Glo explained to VladTV how GBE dissipated while Glo Gang flourished, even while both groups had the same roots.


He broke down how GBE was the beginning of the crew's journey as artists, but throughout the camp there were simply too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Glo Gang members ended up being the ones who rose to the top. Big Glo then went on to name the official members.


Check out the interview above.


Adult Stars Before They Were Adult Stars (@F1abraham @RoxyReynolds)


Logic Delivers 'While You Wait' Before Debut Album Arrives

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Logic has built up quite a die-hard fan base in his young career, so you can imagine that his supporters are desperately waiting to see the final product of the Def Jam deal he inked last year.


On his new single ‘While You Wait,’ produced by Pac Div’s Swiff D, the rapper pens a letter to his fans detailing his appreciation for them and his desire for the LP to drop too.


Over a smooth instrumental, Logic expresses his love for all of his fans. “It’s crazy when I hit the road and meet you face-to-face / to learn my lyrics truly have meaning and hold a place / you tell me something crazy like ‘Logic you saved my life’ / who would’ve thought righting my wrongs could do such a right,” he raps.


The aptly-titled track will be featured on Logic’s upcoming free EP of the same name, due out this spring. The Maryland native will also be hitting the road with QuESt for the While You Wait tour. You can check out the dates and purchase tickets at the tour’s official site.


Listen to Logic’s ‘While You Wait’



New Images of the Air Jordan 11 Retro "Columbia" (@Nike @Jumpman23)


Rapper Roundup: Top Instagram Pics for April 12 - April 18



Hip-Hoppers have been extra loud this week on Instagram, what with Coachella and all. The nation's largest annual music fest summoned forth some of the biggest names in rap, and many of those with Instagram accounts documented their time spent at the Cali music gathering in photos posted to the pic-sharing site.


We have those pics, and we also have many more that have nothing to do with Coachella but were put up by this or that rapper over the last week.


Check out the best hip hop Instagram pics of the week up top. After you're done with that, peep VladTV's personal Instagram pics of the week.


Drake Addresses Jay Z at Raptors/Nets Playoff Game (@S_C @Drake)



There was plenty of Brooklyn bashing during the Raptors/Nets Game I matchup at the Air Canada Centre.


Prior to the big matchup between what are coincidentally Jay Z and Drake's favorite teams, Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri got the crowd pumped after he yelled "F*** Brooklyn!"


During the game, Drake chimed in with jokes about the rapper, and the Canadian emcee joined Toronto Sports Network to provide commentary for the game, calling it "an ironic match-up."


Check out his playful jab at Hov in the video above.