DNA and Smack had a fun joint interview with VladTV Battle Rap Journalist Michael Hughes, during which they debated DNA's upcoming clash vs.
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Friday, August 29, 2014
Watch a Sneak Peek of Ludacris' Origins in VH1′s 'ATL: The Untold Story of Atlanta's Rise in the Rap Game' [EXCLUSIVE]
Hip-hop may have been born in the North and bred between two coasts, but somewhere between the height of the East Coast vs. West Coast rap feud and the death of two hip-hop greats, the South crept into the public eye via the 1995 Source Awards when Andre 3000 to let everyone know “the South got somethin’ to say.”
Now, nearly 10 years later, if you let some of today’s biggest artists, DJs and music executives tell it, the culture thrives in the South. To honor the city that helped push rap to mainstream oblivion, Ludacris and DTP Co-founder/CEO Chaka Zulu teamed up with VH1 as executive producers to present ‘ATL: The Untold Story of Atlanta’s Rise in the Rap Game,’ a documentary that uncovers the story behind what is now one of hip-hop’s biggest hubs.
The 90-minute documentary features a slew of iconic rap figures, DJs, record store owners and politicians — past and present — including Mojo, MC Shy D, DJ Toomp, Speech, T.I. Bone Crusher, DJ Jelly, Greg Street, the current mayor of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, and more, as they explore the evolution of hip-hop in a city that was never viewed as a music portal beginning with the post-civil rights era. Understanding that A-town’s rise in the rap game was molded by more than just the beats and flows that filled the airwaves, Chaka and Luda were conscious in including the city’s historical background, starting with the Atlanta Child Murders that took place between 1979 and 1981.
“Music is true of the culture and the socialization of people,” Chaka tells The Boombox. “[It's] the mindset, spirit and emotion of people in a space and time. That particular period of time helped define Atlanta in a major way. Even though it was dark… it also allowed Atlanta to be seen in an underdog position in a way that people might consider a negative, [but] they turned that into a positive. That is also a consistent theme within the documentary.”
From Jermaine Dupri running around backstage with Whoodini to L.A. Reid and Babyface’s unforgettable LaFace Records’ Christmas album, Atlanta’s music scene has come a long way from the days when New York radio wouldn’t be caught dead playing a Southern track. But now that there’s no denying Atlanta as a “centerpiece of hip-hop,” the DTP Co-founders hope this 90-minute yellow brick road will pave the way for more ATL-bred stories to be told.
“This piece is the tree trunk,” Chaka passionately shares. “This will create the opportunity for branches to grow out that will tell even deeper and more interesting stories about the history of Atlanta and its hip-hop scene.”
“You have to start out small, and expand,” says Ludacris. “That’s the way to do it.”
Check out another exclusive clip from ‘ATL: The Untold Story of Atlanta’s Rise in the Rap Game’ below, and catch the full 90-minute documentary on VH1 this Tues., Sept. 2 at 10PM EST.
Watch Kris Kross in ‘ATL: The Untold Story of Atlanta’s Rise in the Rap Game’
K. Michelle Rocks DreamChasers Chain While Crushing on Meek Mill (@meekmill)
Last week in a lengthy interview with Hot 97's Ebro and Laura Stylez, Southern songbird K.
Run the Jewels, Jeremih Talk Hustle and Success in Fader Interview [VIDEO]
When it comes to the rap and R&B game it’s all about the hustle — just ask Run the Jewels (Killer Mike and El-P) and Jeremih. Both artists have been on their grind for a few years now and have made a name for themselves. But it wasn’t easy.
In an interview with Fader magazine, for their vitaminwater #uncapped concert series, the two music acts talk about their hustle and success.
For both artists it was a mixture of love and passion that drove them to pursue music.
“I was lucky because I figured out what I loved really early,” said El-P who was producing and releasing music by the age of 17.
Killer Mike added, “Luck is preparation and opportunity meeting one another. Where other people were buying gold chains and cars, I bought studio time and equipment.”
“Big Boi’s younger brother was a friend of mine and I was given an opportunity, but it was totally based on straight four years of hard work, you know being neglected by the Atlanta music scene and this one other artist having the confidence in me and giving me the opportunity,” he added.
For Jeremih, it was hours of practice on the keyboards and developing his craft that helped him create his sound. After the success of ‘Birthday Sex,’ the crooner had to hustle even more harder to stay relevant in the game.
“At that time I really didn’t know much, and from ‘Birthday Sex’ everyone was like, ‘one hit wonder,’” he recalled. “It just made me kinda go harder because I got a taste of it (success). I wanted to beat that odd that everybody wanted to put on me.”
In the end, it’s all about the hustle — the hard work toward success.
“Hustle is to hold a higher standard,” explain Killer Mike. “It’s [the willingness] to work when others are sleeping and that’s defines hustling.”
“The payoff is so glorious,” adds El-P. “The payoff is life.”
We can’t knock their hustle.
Watch Run the Jewels Performance of ‘Sea Legs’ at vitamin water & Fader #uncapped Concert
Watch Jeremih Performance of ’773 Love’ at vitamin water & Fader #uncapped Concert
http://ift.tt/1pPWkPC
Trinidad James Says He Didn't Need Def Jam Deal (@TrinidadJamesGG)
Since his departure from Def Jam, Trinidad James has gone the independent route, an outlet he says he should've remained on in the first place.
Shay Johnson Says She is Still Involved With Lil Scrappy (@reallilscrappy @AdizBAMBI)
Shay Johnson was absent from Love & Hip Hop this season, but the vixen has a lot to say about Lil Scrappy's relationship with Bambi, including the fact that she was still seeing the rapper when he began his relationship with Bambi.
Wild N' Out Vixen Denies Being Nick Cannon's Mistress (@NickCannon @brittanydailey)
After news of Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey's split, rumors have flown about reasons behind it, including age difference, Mariah wanting control, and Nick allegedly cheating with one of his Wild N' Out vixens.
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