The Massive Bootlegging Of Nas’s Classic ‘Illmatic’ Album
April 10, 2014
Interesting share from Revolt TV, appropriately timed with the release of “Illmatic XX” – Nas’ 20-year commemoration of his legend-establishing album “Illmatic.” Taking us back to 1994 with talk about the classic’s release, MC Serch and Faith Newman tell us how far bootleggers and music fans would go to get their hands on the eventual G.O.D.MC’s LP.
Newman – a former A&R at Columbia Records and the executive producer responsible for wrapping up “Illmatic” and releasing it to the world ahead of schedule – explained, “We would’ve liked to record more stuff, but we had to get it out in a hurry, because there were so many bootleg copies. Like so many.”
MC Serch goes on to admit, “We were breaking into garages in the Bronx, because counterfeiters had 70,000 cassettes of “Illmatic,” with a drawing of Nas on a cross, crucified…And Donnie Einer, who was the chairman of Columbia, calling me like, ‘Yo, we’re pushing up the release date.'”
These are stories behind the story of an album, that took nearly two years to record, rushed out to beat back the bootleggers already in the marketplace with copies.
Today, leaks and copies (digital quality, of course) in the hands of the masses… well, that’s just what is… but back then when there was barely an Interweb and no mp3’s… This was insane!
READ AND VIEW INTERVIEWS: MASSIVE BOOTLEGGING OF NAS
Posted in Hip-Hop, History | 
Tags: bootleggers, Faith Newman, illmatic, ILLMATIC XX, MC Serch, Nas, Piracy, Serch | 
No Comments »
Clear Soul Forces – “Solar Heat†(Video)
April 10, 2014
Decided to skip the cliches (like ‘things are about to get hot’) and just tell y’all there’s this video for “Solar Heat†from Clear Soul Forces out now. A single off the group’s “Gold PP7s” album. And look… a convenient link to an earlier post for you to grab that album.
The Action Figures – “Hey Muthaf*cka” featuring Guilty Simpson (Prod. By Statik Selektah)
April 10, 2014
The Action Figures dropped this single off to the masses; off the upcoming mixtape “Powers.” Produced by DJ Statik Selektah, you can get this first single off the mixtape, entitled “Hey Muthaf*cka” featuring Guilty Simpson off iTunes right not now.
THE ACTION FIGURES – HEY MUTHAF*CKA FEAT GUILTY SIMPSON (PROD. BY STATIK SELETAH)
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music | Tags: Guilty Simpson, Hey Muthaf*cka, Statik Selektah, The Action Figures | No Comments »
Yasiin Gaye (Yasiin Bey x Marvin Gaye) – “Ms. Fat Booty”
April 10, 2014
Already know… you heard talk of someone messing with Mos Def’s classic “Ms. Fat Booty” and went “Don’t touch our sh–!” Oh, Yasiin Bey and Marvin Gaye (conceptually collectivized as Yasiin Gaye) are taking a shot at the title? Interesting… Amerigo Gazaway is on to something: putting these ‘Soul Mates’ together, Marvin’s track fitted with Bey (then as Mos) lyrics. Nice.
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music, R&B | Tags: Marvin Gaye, Ms. Fat Booty, Yasiin Bey, Yasiin Gaye | No Comments »
Future – “I Won” featuring Kanye West
April 10, 2014
I got an opportunity to attend the private listening party for Future’s upcoming sophomore album “Honest†that was held at Halo Lounge and hosted by Epic Records last Wednesday.
Appearances by DJ Don Cannon, DJ Drama, T.I.’s wife & former member of R&B group Xscape ‘Tiny’, R&B singer Nivea, Ebony Steele, Shay Johnson and all affiliates of Future’s camp attended.
The only person that was missing that everyone was expecting to see was Ciara.
Future performed all of the songs on the “Honest†album including the upcoming single, “I Won†featuring Kanye West.
Although Future and Kanye are engaged to some of the most beautiful women in the entertainment industry and are highly publicized in the spotlight, it’s no surprise that these two artist would team up on the track.
The track captures a personal moment that both share in common with their fiances. Future and Ciara are expecting their first child together and this month West and Kim Kardashian grace the cover of Vogue with an inside feature of baby North. Also Kardashian and Ciara have posted pictures on social media and have known to call each other “BFFsâ€. It was only a matter of time that the fathers of their children would collaborate together.
Throughout time, the title, “trophy wife†also known to many as a “gold digger†has been frowned upon due to the negative and derogatory meaning society has labeled it to be.
According to the Associated Press Future expresses the song in a positive direction.
“When you have songs like that, they empower women,” he said. “I just feel like I want to big up women just in general, from my lady to his lady, to all women, to make sure they get their light on them and just knowing they’re important.”
West also served controversy on a sliver platter by concurrently dissing Kris Humphries and Reggie Bush.
“I made it over NBA and NFL players, so every time I score it feels like the Super Bowl.â€
West not only raps about his soon to be wife but he also drops a verse mentioning Kardashian’s sisters.
“You could look at Kylie, Kendall, Kourtney and Khloe. All your mama ever made was trophies, right?†said West.
The music video for “I won†will be directed by Hype Williams. In the meantime, checkout the track.
King I Divine x ScienZe – “Divine ScienZe 2: The Wake Up Album”
April 10, 2014
So the other day, the King I Divine drops a project and a simple note in the inbox.
“I dropped an album today with emcee ScienZe and would love if you could listen to it.”
How could we not, Fam? Check out this “Divine ScienZe 2: The Wake Up Album” and get it below whenever you are ready.
KING I DIVINE X SCIENZE – DIVINE SCIENZE 2: THE WAKE UP ALBUM
Posted in Album, Hip-Hop, Music | Tags: Divine ScienZe, Divine ScienZe 2, KING I DIVINE, Scienze, The Wake Up Album | No Comments »
Ayatollah – “The Love” featuring Inspectah Deck x Silent Knight (Clean)
April 9, 2014
Ayatollah taps Inspectah Deck and Silent Knight to join in on “The Love” – off the forthcoming LP “Be Real Black for Me” (due out April 15, 2014). LP available for pre-order now at iTunes. Stream the clean version of the single. Both below.
AYATOLLAH – THE LOVE FT. INSPECTAH DECK X SILENT KNIGHT | BE REAL BLACK FOR ME
Posted in Album, Hip-Hop, Music | Tags: Ayatollah, Inspectah Deck, Silent Knight, The Love | No Comments »
Papoose – “Current Events”
April 9, 2014
Extra! Extra! Papoose with extra… heat for the streets. New music. “Current Events” (produced by DJ Premier). Keep up!
DOWNLOAD: PAPOOSE – CURRENT EVENTS (PRODUCED BY DJ PREMIER) | (CLEAN)
KRS ONE – “True School” (Produced By DJ Jean Maron) [Video]
April 9, 2014
DJ Jean Maron has the emcee KRS ONE running a track called “True School” – a leak and lead single off the upcoming compilation album of the same name (due out April 29, 2014). You can get the single AND pre-order the “True School” LP at the links below.
Posted in Album, Hip-Hop, Music, Videos | Tags: DJ Jean Maron, Jean Maron, KRS-ONE, True School | No Comments »
Cam’Ron – “Devil” featuring JuJu
April 9, 2014
Well damn, Cam. Why not just put your lady on a track or something. Done! New Cam’ron jawn off his forthcoming mixtape “1st of the Month†(due out May 1, 2014). Listen to the single, “Devil,†by Cam featuring his lady JuJu. Download for FREE, too.
(Shiiiiiid. You’d put her fine ### on a track if she was with you like that, too. Admit it.)
DOWNLOAD: CAM’RON – DEVIL FEATURING JUJU
The Roots – “When The People Cheer”
April 9, 2014
The Roots’ new single off their upcoming album “And Then You Shoot Your Cousin”. This is “When The People Cheer.”
50 Cent – “Big Rich Town” featuring Joe (Video)
April 9, 2014
Delivering on a 50 Cent cut like non other, Eif Rivera directs visuals for Fiddy and his ace in this one, Joe… “Big Rich Town.” This is the theme for 50’s new Starz series, “Power.”
Mobb Deep – “Eye For An Eye†featuring Nas x Raekwon x Ghostface Killah (Alt. Version)
April 9, 2014
Remember when the Mobb was on Hot 97 talking about that cut with Ghostface; that didn’t make the cut to get on “The Infamous” (interview here)? Yes. This it the one. Add Ghostface to the original emcee stew and … flavor! Listen to this alternate version of the Mobb classic “Eye For An Eye†(Your Beef Is Mines) that features Havoc and Prodigy rocking with Nas, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. An “Eye For An Eye  let’s get in this together, son.
MOBB DEEP – EYE FOR EYE FEATURING NAS X RAEKWON X GHOSTFACE KILLAH
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music | Tags: An Eye For An Eye, Eye For An Eye, Ghostface Killah, MOBB DEEP, Nas, Raekwon | No Comments »
Nas x Q-Tip Rock with The Roots on ‘The Tonight Show’ (Video)
April 8, 2014
If you were to imagine a perfect “Illmatic” 20th anniversary celebratory event, part of it would have to go like this… Nas shows up on The Tonight Show (’cause you know Fallon respects real Hip-Hop)… Oh, Q-Tip is there, too? Cool, cool… Wanna do a set with The World’s Greatest Late Night Band (aka The Roots)… Ummm… Hell yeah, hell yeah. Okay, now imagine that happening. Because it did. Missed it? No, you didn’t. Press play for “One Love” above and enjoy thoroughly! More Nas and Q-Tip after the jump. Yeah, “The World Is Yours.”
DOWNLOAD: NAS F/ Q-TIP & THE ROOTS – ONE LOVE (LIVE ON ‘THE TONIGHT SHOW’)
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM: NAS – THE ILLMATIC XX (LINK)
Posted in Album, Hip-Hop, Music, Performance, Series, Television | Tags: ILLMATIC XX, Jimmy Fallon, Nas, Q-Tip, The Roots, The Tonight Show | No Comments »
SZA x Kendrick Lamar – “Babylon”
April 8, 2014
This is pure dopeness! SZA leaked this new record “Babylon” (featuring Kendrick Lamar) to tease a bit. The single is on SZA’s LP “Z” (out now).
https://twitter.com/justsza/status/453773185750933504
HBO: Real Time With Bill Maher Welcomes Nas (Video)
April 8, 2014
I knew Bill Maher would ask Nas about his collaboration record with Jay Z called “Black Republican.” When the song first came out I knew it wasn’t titled properly in my opinion, but if you’re an astute listener then you know that Nas has never said he feels like a “Black Republican.” in the song. While Jay Z was proclaiming to feel like a “Black Republican,” Nas made it clear in the songs chorus that he leans on the side of the “Black Militant” taking over the government. Nas didn’t throw Jay Z under the bus in his explanation to Bill Maher, but he played it off well. I think that maybe Bill Maher asked this question on purpose to see if Nas would throw Jay Z under the bus.
Above: Nas on the 20th anniversary of “Illmatic” (the interview and more). ‘Overtime’ segment after the jump.
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM: NAS – THE ILLMATIC XX (LINK)
Posted in Album, Hip-Hop, Series, Shots, Television | Tags: Bill Maher, illmatic, ILLMATIC XX, Nas, Real Time With Maher | No Comments »
Pete Rock – “They Reminisce Over You†(T.R.O.Y.) featuring Rich Kidd x Raz Fresco [Live] (Video)
April 8, 2014
Pete Rock in part one of the ‘Rock the Mic’ series. Legendary producer / Soul Brother lets emcees bless – namely Rich Kidd and Raz Fresco – dropping a live version of the classic, “They Reminisce Over You” (T.R.O.Y.).
Posted in Hip-Hop, Performance, Videos | Tags: Pete Rock, Raz Fresco, Rich Kidd, Rock The Mic, T.R.O.Y., THEY REMINISCE OVER YOU | No Comments »
Verbal Kent – “Underrated?” (Apollo Brown Remix)
April 7, 2014
Motown’s Apollo Brown remixes the Chicago flow of his Ugly Heroes bro, Verbal Kent. The track, “Underrated?”, is off Kent’s album “Sound of the Weapon.” Released now in the U.S. and worldwide, this remix was originally dropped exclusively for the Japanese edition of the album.
VERBAL KENT – UNDERRATED? (APOLLO BROWN REMIX) | SOUND OF THE WEAPON (ITUNES)
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Album, Hip-Hop, Music | Tags: Apollo Brown Remix, SOUND OF THE WEAPON, Underrated, Verbal Kent | No Comments »
Apollo Brown – “The Answer”
April 7, 2014
This is “The Answer”… from Apollo Brown’s forthcoming album “Thirty Eight.” The album will be available digitally, on CD w/ Bonus 5″ Vinyl, and on 180 Gram Vinyl w/ Bonus 45 on May 6, 2014, at the Mello Music Group website. You could preorder that digital album now at iTunes though. Just saying.
Erykah Badu x Hi-Tek – “Honey” (Duncan Gerow Blend)
April 6, 2014
BamaLoveSoul gave much love and propers to Alaska-based producer, Duncan Gerow, for his latest Erykah Badu / Hi-Tek blend. We give respect to BamaLoveSoul for sharing the wealth and bringing this jewel of a joint to our attention. FREE download below!
Gerow skillfully places Badu’s vocals over one of my favorite Hi-Tek produced beats. It quickly reminded me that Erykah actually did do an official remix to Reflection Eternal‘s lead single “The Blast†but I always felt like I got robbed a little bit cause all she was relegated to were hook duties. So to hear this blend gives my imagination free license to wander/wonder a bit as to what she could have done on this track with a little more leash and leg room.
Posted in Hip-Hop, Music, R&B, Soul | Tags: DUNCAN GEROW, DUNCAN GEROW BLEND, Erykah Badu, Hi-Tek, Honey | No Comments »
