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Friday, October 17, 2014
Nikki Mudarris Bares Her Juicy Buns in the Ultimate Thirst Trap (@MissNikkiiBaby)
Since Nikki Mudarris first stepped into Love & Hip Hop Hollywood, nearly ever single fan has been captivated by her gorgeous looks, and Nikki is well aware of the assets she has to work with.
Lauren London Hints at Nipsey Romance With Poetic Justice Pic
Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle have had fans guessing about their relationship status for months, but her most recent Instagram picture may have more than hinted about their love.
Azealia Banks Presses the U.S. Government to Help Fight Ebola (@AZEALIABANKS)
Azealia Banks is the latest celebrity figure to share her input on the fast-spreading Ebola virus, and her comments earned her a bit of criticism from fans on Twitter.
Twitter Hilariously Names Keyshia Cole/K. Michelle Tour (@keyshiacole @KMichelle)
Two of R&B's hottest sirens, Keyshia Cole and K.
The Web Reacts to BET's 2014 Hip Hop Awards
This year's BET Hip Hop Awards brought the laughs, the cyphers and powerful moments that summarized the year in music, politics and more.
K. Michelle: Ochocinco's Penis Is So Big, We Couldn't Have Sex (@kmichelle)
In an exclusive interview with Necole Bitchie, the always blunt songstress K.
Suicide Watch: War Machine Tries Hanging Himself In Jail (@WarMachine170)
Things just got real for former MMA fighter War Machine.
Gucci Mane Releases New Album 'Trap God 3′
Gucci Mane is not letting prison stop his grind. The incarcerated rapper just released his new project, ‘Trap God 3.’
The 17-song album boasts production assists from hitmakers London On Da Track, Sonny Digital, Drumma Boy, 808 Mafia and more. Most of the songs feature Gucci rapping in his syrupy southern drawl about drugs, women and money.
On the Mike WiLL Made It-produced ‘Speed Bumps,’ he details his feud with Jeezy. On ‘So Hoody,’ the trap god boasts about his fame both in the rap game and in the streets. The only guest feature on the collection is from Chicago rapper Chief Keef on the braggadocious ‘Start Pimpin.’ And on ’5 O’clock,’ Gucci recalls drug trade stories.
Gucci is currently serving a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a firearm charge. Lucky for him, an Atlanta judge gave him a year’s worth of credit for time served and he’s now expected to be released in December 2016.
Once the ‘Lemonade’ rapper is released from prison he has to serve three years of probation and will not be allowed to travel for more than seven days unless he gets permission from his probation officer.
You can cop Gucci Mane’s ‘Trap God 3′ album on iTunes now.
Listen to Gucci Man’s New Album ‘Trap God 3′
Ludacris Admires His Girl's Plump Cakes for #FlashbackFriday (@ludacris)
While fans wait for a new album from Atlanta wordsmith Ludacris, the "Southern Hospitality" rapper has still been on the scene, hitting up several events with his longtime lady love, Eudoxie.
Beyonce's Designer Slammed for Allegedly Calling Follower N-Word
Michael Costello, dress designer to the stars, put himself in a sticky situation after allegedly calling a follower a "dumb n***er" on Instagram.
T.I. Hustles Footaction Customers in Hilarious Video
T.I. is one funny guy. In a promotional video for his new album ‘Paperwork,’ the Atlanta rhymer pulls a hilarious prank on unsuspecting fans at Footaction.
Fans of the southern spitter were promised to “get styled by T.I.” The five guys thought they were being treated to a shopping spree by the Hustle Gang leader, himself, but in actuality, they were just being “hustled.” After racking up thousands of dollars in Hustle Gang merchandise, including the store’s mannequin, T.I. excuses himself and watches the men squirm when the cashier asks them to pay up.
The looks on their faces when they hear the $10,000 bill are priceless. The group of men try unsuccessfully to pass the buck but the cashier isn’t trying to hear it.
Thankfully, T.I. lets them off the hook and tells them they’ve been “hustled.”
Meanwhile, this is certainly no joke — T.I. is set to release his upcoming new album, ‘Paperwork,’ in stores on Oct. 21.
See Photos of Rappers Then & Now: Hip-Hop Style Transformations
Big Sean Leaves Loving Comment on Ariana Grande's Instagram Pic (@bigsean @arianagrande)
Just a few days after confirming their relationship, Big Sean left a sweet comment on Ariana Grande's page, which showed that he's really missing her.
Vic Mensa Bashes President Obama's Problem-Solving Skills, Talks 'Traffic' Album [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]
While Common‘s tribute to slain teen Mike Brown at the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards made a strong impact on Tuesday (Oct. 14), there were other rappers who took the opportunity to share their own thoughts about the chaos in Ferguson, Mo., that night. Vic Mensa used the verse he delivered during a cypher to voice his opinion.
During the cypher, which also featured David Banner, Treach, Snow tha Product and King Los, the Chicago rapper decided to highlight President Barack Obama’s reaction to the violence in Ferguson following Brown’s death by a police officer.
“While Ferguson was looting in the streets / Obama was on the treadmill moving in repeat,” Vic delivered.
Why did he decide to include that bit? Simple. Vic wrote his piece soon after the tragic incidents occurred in Ferguson. “I called [out] Obama in that verse because when I wrote it, it was the week that Mike Brown got shot. And I saw Obama get on TV and heard what he said, and it was completely ignoring the problem,” the ‘Innanetape’ creator tells The Boombox. “I think he ignores the problem.”
Despite his current feelings toward the president, the ‘Wimme Nah’ rapper voted for Obama in the 2012 Presidential Election.
“I voted for Obama, when I was 18, when I was first old enough to vote,” he reveals. “I just think in his presidency, especially earlier, through to this day, he’s just not taking a strong stance on things of importance. You know when Ferguson and Mike Brown got shot, Obama got on TV and he told people not to loot. He said, ‘Don’t loot in the streets.’ And he ignored the actual problem, which was that police officers are gunning down unarmed black youth in the streets of America. And that’s not something you’re going to hear Obama say.”
While serving as America’s first African-American president is a step towards progress, Vic thinks that “he’s far from a revolutionary.” The rhymer believes voters were pleased with the symbolism of his re-election rather than the changes he could actually make while in office.
“I think people, in voting for Obama, and black grandmothers crying that there’s any African-American person in the White House, were more focused on the symbolism of it than the actual person that was put in office,” Vic says. “And the actual person is not taking a strong stand for important matters, especially when it comes to being black and being a minority in America. For the under-represented, he’s not increasing the representation. And I’m not saying that Obama’s got to get in there and be ‘super black’ or something.”
Politics aside, Vic has been focusing his energies on working on a full-length album and other music-centered projects. “I’m been working on a full-length album called ‘Traffic,’” he reveals. “People should just know that I have a lot of music for you right now, and I’m super excited about it. And I know people are going to love it, and come check me out live. You might see something new.”
And if you’ve been to one of his shows recently, you’ve witnessed him perform ‘I Ain’t Trippin,’ which is one of the newer track he favors. “It’s just fun,” he admits. “I’ve been doing it lately. It’s something new that people have heard if they’ve been coming to shows over the last couple of weeks. And it just goes up every single time I do that one.”
Before his ‘Traffic’ album arrives, there’s still that ‘Street Lights’ EP he’s working on. The status of that is unclear since the 21-year-old MC is staying quiet on the release date. Despite the hush surrounding that project, it’s apparent he’s at least enjoying the ride while creating his new material.
Watch Vic Mensa Perform in 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher
Migos' Offset Flies Off Stage to Punch Fan at Massachusetts Show [VIDEO]
Rap shows can get crazy. Remember Action Bronson body slamming a fan in May? The latest in rap-related chaos comes from Migos during a concert in Springfield, Mass. Things got out of hand when member Offset flew into the crowd and started throwing punches.
While there’s a lot going on in the video above, you can find Offset, who’s wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with some gold peeking out of his collar, staring intently into the crowd. While it’s apparent the rapper has his eyes set on someone in front of him, what happens next comes as a complete surprise. At the 20-second mark, he jumps off the stage with his fist in the air and lands into the crowd, fighting his target.
Upon landing, the crowd starts to shove each other around and punches are clearly thrown. The brawl only lasts for 20 seconds or less as people try to separate the rapper from the person he intended to hit. Then the show continues as the beat changes.
There’s been no information on what sparked Offset’s reaction, but Vlad TV reports that a fan was bad-mouthing the rapper, which inspired him to throw down.
Check out Migos mania above.
See Photos of Rappers Then & Now: Hip-Hop Style Transformations
Exclusive! Bishop Brigante Lists Aye Verb in His Bottom 5 Battle Rap List (@BishopBrigante @AYEVERB)
In this clip from his exclusive interview with VladTV, Bishop Brigante sat down with Battle Rap Journalist Michael Hughes and shared his personal picks for whom he considers to be in the Top and Bottom 5.
Deelishis Unleashes Her Massive Cheeks in Sexy Laced Catsuit (@iamsoDEELISHIS)
Deelishis let loose her enormous backside recently, flaunting her eye-poppingly plump cake in various sexy outfits for her nighttime activities.
Jaden Smith Causes Uproar After Challenging Rappers to Top Him
Jaden Smith is so sure of his skills behind the mic that he challenged anyone who thinks they're better than him to prove it, tweeting, "Dear Everybody Who Can Rap Better Than Me.
Iggy Azalea Updates Fans on Her 'Divorce' From Hefe Wine
Iggy Azalea is fighting back against her former “husband” who claims to be in a common law marriage with her and is seeking a divorce. On Friday (Oct. 17), the ‘Black Widow’ rapper went on Twitter to give fans an update on her legal battle.
Azalea revealed to her followers that she settled two old contracts privately with the music producer but alleges that Wine is trying to smear her reputation.
“My lawyer agreed to be served ‘divorce’ papers but they want to hire someone to serve me in person, probably so it can be another TMZ story,” she tweeted. “I also was told yesterday via his lawyer if i do not settle out of court they will go to the press and say i gave him an STD, whats next?”
‘The New classic’ creator is planning to go to court to clear her good name and tell the judge that her marriage to Wine is bogus from the start.
“Unfortunately, to file common law ‘divorce’ all you need is three of your friends to sign a statement swearing the persons story is true,” she writes. “Actually proving it in court is another story i’m just waiting to get infront of a judge so it can be disproven & obtain a restraining order.”
Azalea also revealed that Wine (real name Maurice Williams) has been allegedly stalking an ex-girlfriend and tried to strangle her after she ended their seven-year relationship back in January.
In the end, this is a complete legal mess for all parties involved.
Props to Azalea for being so transparent with her legal battle. It’s been a rough two weeks for the ‘Fancy’ rapper. From cursing out a paparazzo to Snoop Dogg attacking her on social media, Azalea is getting a serious reality check on the downside of fame.
We hope that Iggy Azalea can resolve her legal issues and move forward with her career.
Check out her tweets below.
See Photos of Rappers Then & Now: Hip-Hop Style Transformations
Amber Rose Dons Tight Leather for Exclusive XXIV Karat Launch (@DaRealAmberRose)
Amber Rose was the lucky host of an exclusive high-end event celebrating the launch of California's very first sparkling wine, The XXIV Karat, which actually has 24-karat gold flakes soaking in the tasty beverage.
Sam Smith Announces 2015 North American Tour Dates
Laura Cavanaugh, Getty ImagesWith the success of his debut album, ‘The Lonely Hour,’ and sold out shows wherever he goes, Sam Smith is having a great 2014. And it looks like he’ll be continuing that momentum into 2015.
The ‘I’m Not the Only One’ crooner has just announced his North American arena and theater tour, kicking off in Atlanta on Jan. 9. The new dates will take him to many of the major U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.
He will also be performing at some of the most historic and well-known stages like the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
Aside from the new tour dates, he’s also up for numerous awards including two American Music Award nods and two Q Award nominations, which will take place on Oct. 22.
Sam also recently collaborated with Mary J. Blige for her upcoming new album, ‘The London Sessions,’ out on Dec. 2.
In the meantime, check out the tour dates below.
Sam Smith Tour Dates
Jan. 9 – Atlanta, Ga. – Fox Theatre
Jan. 10 – Nashville, Tenn. – Grand Ole Opry House
Jan. 12 – Washington, D.C. – Patriot Center
Jan. 13 – Philadelphia, Penn. – The Liacouras Center
Jan. 15 – New York, N.Y. – Madison Square Garden
Jan. 17 – Boston, Mass. – Agganis Arena
Jan. 19 – Montreal, Can. – Bell Centre
Jan. 20 – Toronto, Can. – Air Canada Centre
Jan. 22 – Detroit, Mich. – Masonic Temple
Jan. 23 – Chicago, Ill. – UIC Paviliion
Jan. 24 – St. Paul, Minn. – Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Jan. 26 – Denver, Colo. – 1st Bank Center
Jan. 30 – Los Angeles, Calif. – The Forum
Jan. 31 – San Francisco, Calif. – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Feb. 2 – Seattle, Wash. – KeyArena
Feb. 4 – Vancouver, Can. – Rogers Arena
Click the Photo Gallery Below to See Singers Then & Now: R&B Style Transformations
Nike Breathe Collection
NikeNike‘s latest release was designed with warm weather in mind and as a result we are all treated to the Nike Breath Collection, a four shoe pack that strips a few iconic silhouettes down to the bare essentials, cushioning and airflow.
Included in this set are the Nike Air Max 1, Nike Air Max Lunar1 and Nike Roshe Run with each one treated with a taped up, meshed out build. The colorful set of sneakers have been stripped of all heavy materials and layers of reinforcement which will make them more comfortable overall.
These are set to release on Oct. 20th to select Nike retailers and while they aren’t ideal for the winter months you can put them on ice until the spring or finally take that vacation you’ve been putting off.
Nike 
Nike 
Nike[Via Nike]
Exclusive! Brian Pumper Reacts to Daylyt Wanting to F**k Diddy (@brianpumperxxx_ @Daylyt2k)
Porn star Brian Pumper sat down with VladTV and shared his thoughts on controversial battle rapper Daylyt, saying he follows the battle rap scene and knows Day can spit, but hadn't seen the VladTV footage of the Watts, CA.
Princess Love Admits Leaked "Backshot" Pic Is Her Sex Tape
"Love & Hip Hop Hollywood" star Princess Love has become the most recent celebrity figure to feel the pressure of having a private sex tape be released, and she's not happy about it.
Exclusive! Faith on Biggie's Affair With Lil Kim While They Were Married (@faithevans)
Faith Evans sat down with VladTV where she briefly discussed her marriage to the legendary Notorious B.
Sneaker of the Week – Nike Lebron 12 'Lifestyle'
Lebron’s break neck release date schedule may have been given a pause due to “cosmetic issues” but the release of the Nike Lebron 12 ‘Lifestyle’ is still running on time. The inaugural colorway of the off court release is well worth taking a look at and even more worthy of having the honor of serving as our Sneaker of the Week.
A black patent leather upper is treated with pyramids along the side panel and a contrasting smooth toe box. Challenge red accents pop up as well and the heels pull tab is emblazoned with the quote “Protect Me From Myself”. If you ever wanted to see how Bron Bron feels when he’s off court these are the ticket.
You don’t have to understand what Young Thug is saying on the hook of the Rich Gang’s ‘Lifestyle’ record to appreciate the Nike Lebron 12 ‘Lifestyle’ (but if you do know what he’s saying please let us know in the comments below) and you don’t have to wait to cop these kicks. They release today (Oct. 17) at select Nike retailers worldwide.
'Pure Agony': Al Green Scalded by Hot Grits 40 Years Ago
The music world was shocked on October 18, 1974 when Al Green was doused with a boiling pot of grits by girlfriend Mary Woodson. Green was about to shower at his Memphis home when Woodson scalded him, causing third-degree burns on his back. After the attack, Woodson retreated to a bedroom and shot herself dead with Green’s gun.
At the time of the tragedy, Green ruled the pop and R&B charts with hits like ‘Tired of Being Alone,’ ‘Let’s Stay Together’ and ‘I’m Still in Love With You.’ In his 2000 autobiography ‘Take Me to the River,’ Green explained that he met Woodson at a prison concert, one of the charitable works he liked to do on free days. Green had no idea that this “radiant and ravishing woman,” who said she was visiting a friend at the facility, was really a married mother of two children living in New Jersey.
Their relationship blossomed after Green invited Woodson to a performance in San Francisco. A few days after he returned to Memphis, Woodson called to say she was in town. Green later admitted that his infatuation with Woodson made him ignore the “spooky feeling” he had when she talked with conviction about things to come in the future.
Green was in a Memphis recording studio on Oct. 18 when he got a call from a sheriff who said Woodson had been arrested at the Peabody Hotel for smoking marijuana. Green smoothed things over by going to the police station and Woodson was released. The two returned to the studio where Green hoped to calm Woodson with his music. It apparently worked.
Flight attendant Carlotta Williams later dropped in unannounced and greeted Green with a big hug. Though Green was concerned given Woodson’s state of mind, the two women seemed to hit it off and they both returned to Green’s home after the session. Green wrote that he made clear to the women that his home had many spare bedrooms and he had not planned “some kind of kinky encounter.”
Perhaps sensing trouble, Williams asked to be shown to her guest bedroom soon after they arrived; she said she had an early flight in the morning. Green found Woodson in the kitchen at the stove, where she was stirring a simmering pot of water. Green was caught off guard when Woodson asked, “Al, honey, have you ever thought of getting married?”
“Married?” Green replied. “Maybe we should talk about this in the morning, baby.”
They kissed and Woodson whispered, “You know, Al, I would never do anything to hurt you.” Green, puzzled but convinced by Woodson that everything was fine, went upstairs to shower. Green stripped down to his underwear and was brushing his teeth when he heard a sound behind him.
“I looked up just in time to see Mary’s reflection in the mirror. She had the steaming pot in both hands.
“In the next second, my world exploded into a thousand splatters of pure agony. Mary had added grits to the water, making a thick, boiling hot paste. With all her strength, she hurled it at me, splashing the bathroom walls and scorching my naked back. The pain was so intense that I wasn’t sure what was happening for a moment.”
Green’s screams of agony alerted Williams, who opened her bedroom door. Green pushed past her and ran into her bathroom. Williams helped Green into the bathtub and turned on the cold water of the shower, full strength.
“I screamed again, bent over, and started to black out when I suddenly heard, over the thundering spray of the shower, the sound of a loud bang.
“I looked at Carlotta and she looked at me. It was as if we both knew that something terrible was unfolding around us and all we could do was stand in horrible, helpless witness. Then another bang, and the sickening, unmistakable sound of something heavy hitting the floor.”
Woodson had retreated to a bedroom after scalding Green. Grabbing Green’s gun, she fired one shot into a wall before killing herself with the second bullet. A suicide note was found in her purse. It later emerged that Woodson had tried to kill herself a few days before by taking sleeping pills and slitting her wrists.
Green was taken to Baptist Hospital where he received a series of skin grafts. Eight months of convalescence followed before Green would resume his career. Green, who became a born-again Christian a year before the incident, spent much of his recovery reading the Bible and praying.
“I was able to finally put my career into some kind of perspective, placing my music on one side of the scale and my peace of mind and spiritual well-being on the other.”
Over the years, hip hop artists including Usher (‘Truth Hurts‘) and R. Kelly (‘Down Low Double Life‘) have referenced the incident in their music. In ‘Everything,” Method Man raps, “Trust me, I’m hot as they get, like Al Green getting hit by a pot of them grits.”
But the seriousness of the incident was not lost on Green. By 1976 Green became an ordained minister and bought the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis, where he continues to preach when not on tour. Green devoted himself to gospel music in 1979 after he fell off the stage at a Cincinnati concert – a message, he said, from above. “I had fallen off the stage, out of the spotlight, and into the hands of the living God.”
Green produced a decade of Grammy-winning gospel albums in the ‘80s. But loyal R&B fans were elated in 1993 when Green released ‘Don’t Look Back,’ an LP that marked a return to the silky Memphis soul of the ‘70s.
Bobby Shmurda's Momager Explains Son's Shmoney Problems
Just like the late Notorious B.I.G., rapper Bobby Shmurda is having ‘Mo’ Money, Mo Problems.’ Or, shall we say, no money and more problems. The Brooklyn rhymer went on Instagram Tuesday (Oct. 14) to vent that he’s not getting paid for his shows and he doesn’t know who to trust.
Although the rapper removed the 15-second profanity-laced clip, nothing is ever truly deleted on the Internet. The rant and the caption was posted to YouTube, which you can watch above.
Apparently, Shmurda is upset that promoters are not paying him upfront for his booked shows.
“Yo, whoever got a contract with me, if you got a contract for Bobby Shmurda, and you don’t have my signature on that paper, sue the s— out of them,” he said. “I don’t give a f—. Sue them n—-s. I ain’t getting no money for it. I ain’t doing no more shows, straight.”
Shmurda’s mother, who is also his manager, tells Billboard that her son’s complaint has nothing to due with any financial problems but rather the rapper being new to the touring business.
“It’s not that he’s not getting paid, it’s that he’s new to the business,” Leslie Pollard explains to the magazine. “There’s a chain of command that he has to go through before he gets his payment. I guess he’s thinking all the money should go from the front man to his hands — it doesn’t work like that. Of course they hold onto it so he actually does the show. Then it goes to his business manager, then to the touring accountant and then to him.”
Pollard is also new to the business herself with only two months experience managing Shmurda. Nevertheless, she says that the ‘Hot N—-’ rapper was “impulse talking” and that the issue has since been resolved.
In the meantime, Bobby Shmurda is set to drop his new EP, ‘Shmurda She Wrote,’ on Nov. 10.
Click the Photo Gallery to See Rappers Then & Now: Hip-Hop Style Transformations
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Puma Boris Becker OG
Puma has a storied history with tennis and one of it’s richest chapters belongs to Boris Becker who at 17 won Wimbledon. The sneaker that he cruised his way to a championship in is being brought back to shelves and here is a look at the reissue.
For it’s reintroduction to the game we get a white leather build with a red formstripe and branding as well. The silhouette is built to accommodate Becker’s foot and playing style so if you ever wanted to walk in the shoes of a legend here is your chance.
These are available now at select Puma retailers worldwide so show em a bit of love. Get it? Love? Tennis? Whatever… pick em up!
[Via Hypebeast]
Meek Mill Calls August Alsina From Prison
Meek Mill might still be in jail finishing out the rest of his sentence, but he isn’t off the radar — especially when it comes to his friends. The ‘Amen’ rapper called crooner August Alsina in order to send a message to his fans.
August posted the conversation via a video on Instagram last night (Oct. 16). The video seemed a bit hectic and not the most visually appealing (with the camera so close to August’s face).
“Ayo what’s up? It’s your boy Meek Milly right here. Me and August kicking it, talking this real young n—- s—. Talking about how I gotta do it when I get back down. One love to everybody holding it down,” Meek said over the phone.
Meanwhile, August had his own message for Meek, which he posted in the caption for the video. “Squad kalled from that s— hole… Good to hear & feel a smile on em thru it all. I tol em God sat us down differently but at the end of it all he SAT US DOWN! He said Exactly! We jus gotta know/recognize when da Man giving you a chance to get your shit in order then Come back stronger then ever. #HeSayHeMightFuckArounNwearASuitOnceAWeek #ISaid #NoooImNotReady *K.Hart voice #FreeMeekMilly,” he wrote.
Since Meek’s incarceration, many of his peers have been showing their support for the rapper. Before this update, Rick Ross paid a visit to Meek last month and posted the photos below to social media.
See Rappers Then & Now: Hip-Hop Style Transformations
This or That? King Los vs. King Louie
On King Los’ most recent mixtape ‘Zero Gravity 2,’ there’s a song called ‘But You Playin’ with the refrain, “I’m feelin’ like the only n–ga left, feelin’ like the only real n–ga left.” Then audio from Los’s appearance on ‘Sway In The Morning’ plays, where Sway relates stories about eating with Big and Pac and knowing “the feeling,” like it’s a car commercial. “I know what it feels like, and that’s what it feels like: King Los.”
King Los, or better, just Los, has been working for years to get to this point. He was rapping when he graduated high school and auditioned for MTV’s ‘Making The Band 2,’ but when he was chosen to appear on the show, he refused to sign the necessary paperwork. He’s never said why, but he must have had a preternatural sense: three years later, when Da Band was kaput and Los was 21, he signed with Bad Boy as a solo artist through a local label, Bloc Incorporated. From ’05 to ’08, however, Los barely made a (visible) dent on either Diddy’s label or the music world at large (picture him and Aasim like Aladdin and Jafar in the dungeon), and after three years he was let go thanks to the disbanding of Bloc Incorporated. But in 2012 Diddy, perhaps experiencing hurts when breathe , rekindled the relationship with Los and brought him back into the Bad Boy fold, and again things went sour: earlier this year, Los officially announced his (second) departure from the record label.
You have to wonder why he went back to Bad Boy. It was only after he got initially dropped in ’08 that he began to cultivate a strong, organic following with tapes like ‘G5.2′ and ‘Zero Gravity.’ Bad Boy is a well-known graveyard for newly signed artists, perhaps accounting for why New York was so elated (sans wallets) for French Montana’s major label drink coaster debut, and the label didn’t do much to build his platform, so why return?
In the music industry today, the role of the major label is vague, and as things move forward, it seems like Warner, Sony and Universal will have different (see: shrunken) responsibilities in the careers of artists. Just look at Macklemore, who was technically “independent” despite signing with ADA, a marketing branch of Warner that helps artists serve their singles to radio. Other artists need the complete marketing package and are willing to sign a 360 death certificate deal to ensure that the people who have always known how it’s done can apply their steadfast strategies to a new up and coming artist.
King Los was probably looking for that complete marketing package that only major labels can afford, and the biggest clue is in his music. On ‘Zero Gravity 2′ he sounds a bit like Kendrick, who was a relatively unmarketable project-window type before Dre cosigned him. The skills are there for Los, but what do “skills” even mean in 2014? Young Thug is popping and no one understands a word he’s saying. Drake is the hottest rapper out and it’s not because he can take down Murda Mook in a “lyrical spherical spiritual” battle. You have to do more than just hammer out words if you want to capture people’s attention, and Los seems to get that: ‘Woke Up Like This’ and ‘Trap House,’ both from ‘Zero Gravity 2,’ blatantly trade in catchy Southern sounds. It helps to widen the Baltimore rapper’s palette, giving him a little more space with which to use his words.
King L, formerly King Louie, on the other hand, does drill music. Even when he leans pop, it’s still Drill. He’s one of the godfathers of the Chicago sound, and while his stature led to his lone guest verse on ‘Yeezus,’ it’s his vocal ability to arrest that keeps him relevant through drill’s ups and downs. The biggest song of his career so far, ‘Val Venis,’ came out in 2012, the same year he signed a deal with Epic Records. But since then, the label hasn’t advanced King L’s career much.
His latest mixtape, ‘Tony,’ is a dark, billowing affair. It starts with the blustering ‘B.O.N.’ which snags you with King L’s distinct cadence and sets the tone for the rest of the tape. Bleak, aggressive, angry — these characteristics of Drill are only exaggerated on ‘Tony,’ as if to remind people how long he’s been doing this for (since his first mixtape, ‘Boss S–t,’ in 2007). Newcomers might do better with is 2012 mixtape ‘Showtime,’ arguably his best complete project so far. ‘Tony’ might be a little inaccesible to those not used to the sound, but ‘Showtime’ has a nice range of sounds, from the poppy ‘Pack So Loud’ to more sample-heavy records like ‘Pour’ and ‘She Want Me.’
The common thread throughout all King L’s projects is his one of a kind mic presence. Not only can he spit with flexibility, but he does it with a completely individual sound and approach. It makes him a little harder to get used to at first — perhaps it’d be easier if he sounded like Nas or Ghostface — but it makes for a satisfying experience down the road, when a lot of these rappers start sounding the same and King L continues to sound like nobody else out.
It’s easy to pin Los as an artist many people talk about and few listen to, but when you spin the kids music, you realize the hype is real. Coming from Baltimore, he’s not in a major market, but he’s got enough talent to be on Kendrick’s level; he just needs to hone his hooks and look for a unique lane to take over. Every artist is only one single away.
King L already had his hit ‘Val Venis’ two years ago, but he’s only gotten better (and slightly weirder) ever since.It’s hard to advise the guy, because as enjoyable as his mixtapes are, the goal would seem to be an official album. Kanye and Drake have already showed him love, so what’s stopping him? But if there’s beauty in this industry today, it’s via freedom,and considering we’ve been blessed with 13 King Louie tapes over seven years, we can’t be mad. He hasn’t lost a step on the mic, and as long as he continues to pump out music, Drill will still be propped up by one of it’s most important founders.
Exclusive! Daylyt: Wiz Cheated by Letting Someone Else Smoke From His Butt (@DAYLYT2K)
Headless Daylyt shared his thoughts on the recent split between Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa in this clip from his exclusive interview with VladTV Battle Rap Journalist Michael Hughes.
Moving On? Wiz Khalifa Seen Out With New Model Baddie
Wiz Khalifa has been pretty mum on his impending divorce from Amber Rose, but that doesn't mean he's sulking in a corner.