Bun B Addresses Tory Lanez And Speaks Out In Support Of Megan Thee Stallion
Houston rapper Bun B took to instagram live to address the shooting incident between Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion. “This is why Black women are so hesitant to speak against Black men.”
By: Omar Cook
Houston rapper Bun B took to instagram live to address the shooting incident between Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion. On Friday. August 21, Megan Thee Stallion confirmed that Tory Lanez was responsible for shooting her in the foot. Bun B started his message with “Fu*k Tory Lanez, and I don’t care if this go viral or none of that shit. I’m from Houston and if somebody would’ve done something to Megan in this city, we would’ve rolled.”
“She ain’t got a mama no more; her mama’s gone. Her daddy’s gone. Her grandmother is gone. All the people that loved her and cared about her unconditionally — that looked out for her and would’ve protected her — ain’t there. So, as an O.G. in Houston, I’m standing up.”
People have been waiting for more information to come out on the incident as well as expecting other artists in Hip Hop to say something in support of Meg Thee Stallion. Since the incident occured, Tory Lanez has remained silent.
“... Nobody’s talking about [the shooting] because it’s a Black woman. We love Megan; we brag about Megan, [but] nobody wanna talk about it when she gets shot,” he said. “We got memes. We got jokes. Fu*k that.”
This was an unforeseen fall from grace for Tory Lanez after he built up his fan base during the pandemic by entertaining fans with Quarantine Radio. Even worse is the aftermath of the shooting that Meg Thee Stallion has deal and post trauma that she has to deal with. Bun B speaking on this matter is important because Black women should feel protected by Black men and people with a platform should definitely be coming to her aid to provide her with support during this time.
“This is why Black women are so hesitant to speak against Black men, because Black women know how the legal system will treat Black men, they know how white America will treat Black men,” Bun B said.
See clips from Bun B’s live below.
Bun B discusses Tory Lanez and shows support for Megan Thee Stallion pic.twitter.com/zyBscWZTqG
— 247 Live Culture (@247LC) August 24, 2020
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2 Suspects Arrested For The Murder Of Jam Master Jay After 18 Years
It’s been 18 years since Jason Mizell also known as Jam Master Jay, was murdered inside his studio in Queens, New York, and finally 2 suspects have been arrested bringing closure to the case.
By: Omar Cook
It’s been 18 years since Jason Mizell also known as Jam Master Jay, was murdered inside his studio in Queens, New York on October 30, 2002. The legendary DJ was prominent in the success of the iconic rap group Run-D.M.C.
Jam Master Jay pictured with Run-DMC
During a press conference, Seth DuCharme, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced charges for alleged murderers Karl Jordan Jr., and Ronald Washington. “Today we begin to answer who killed Jason Mizell and why” said DuCharme. “It was important for us then and remains extremely important to us now to bring justice for the victim, his family, friends, and the community that cared so much about those events.”
Jam Master Jay was just 37 years old when he was murdered. According to the indictment, the murder was in retaliation to a drug deal gone wrong involving 10 kilos of cocaine which was supposed to be distributed by Jordan and Washington. A dispute ensued which led to Jam Master Jay attempting to cut out Washington in the deal. Washington and Jordan conspired to kill him and Jam Master Jay was shot in the head.
Jordan and Washington have both been charged with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm related murder. Jordan, 36, also faces a count of conspiracy and seven counts of distribution of cocaine for events dating back to 2017. He was arrested on Sunday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Washington, 56, is already in federal custody after being convicted in 2007 of robbery conspiracy due to a string of gun point robberies in New York City and Long Island. He was originally sentenced to 210 months in prison was scheduled to be released in April 2021. He will be arraigned on a later date.
The new arrests bring family and friends a step closer to justice for the unsolved murder and hopefully some closure as well. The case recently was featured on episode of the Netflix series “ReMastered” which took a long at where the case went wrong over the years.
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WAP Video Exposes Double Standards In Hip Hop: It's Time To Let Women Enjoy Things
Social Media has been up in flames ever since Cardi B dropped her anticipated new single with Meg The Stallion, “WAP”. The video sparked immediate controversy over women’s sexuality in music, exposing double standards in Hip Hop.
By: James Teague
Social Media and society has been up in flames ever since Cardi B dropped her anticipated new single with Meg The Stallion called “WAP” on this past Friday night (technically Thursday). Since the release of this record, the amount of opinions and hot takes that were presented to the masses were very interesting to say the least.
Cardi B - WAP feat. Megan Thee Stallion [Official Music Video]
Some listeners debated that “WAP” was one of the nastiest songs they’ve heard (me personally i don't agree but that’s a different story for another write up LOL) while others have went as far as creating a petition in hopes of getting a certain individual removed from the music video (I refuse to say this person name but If you know you know). I'm very conflicted about that particular subject but again, different topic for another write up.
One thing that stuck out to me the most was seeing how some men were being reactive towards the music and the women enjoying it. Me being a Man myself, it was weird for me to scroll down my twitter timeline watching other grown men on social media acting real republican like when it came to the overall message of WAP. It got even more aggravating when the men once again brought up rapper Rapsody and were using her as a crutch only in an attempt to shame Cardi and Meg for their vulgar raps about their sexuality.
First off, just by the way she’s only brought up to combat other successful women who rap, it just says to me that y’all don't really listen to Rapsody music like that. Secondly she’s expressed before that women like Cardi B and Meg The stallion are necessary and important for the hip-hop world. And Also, if you REALLY claim to believe that women who are conscious rappers don't get the same love like the more hyper sexual women rappers, then show more love and support to those conscious rappers then. Buy their music, show up to their shows, let them know that you see them, feel them, and support what they’re doing .
Cardi B Co-Signs Tierra Whack, Rapsody + More
I don’t know how many times this needs to be said but let the women love and enjoy the things that were made and meant for them and stop policing what they should or should not like, and what they should do or not do. This is applicable to different subject matters outside of music. Music is just being used as a main example here. Every time women are out here having fun enjoying themselves with the music that’s made for them, men want to suddenly get on their high horses and speak about how music is suddenly a bad influence for the children and suddenly want to rely on celebrities to raise their kids.
It says so much more about you as either a man, parent, or both when you decide to go to social media and voice your opinion on this type of thing. There should be no reason why anyone complaining about how vulgar or sexualized the music is when there is so much content available to us that caters to different audiences. Not to mention the amounts of content that’s been created over the decades that were catered to stroking the male ego with things such as money, high class cars, and beautiful women damn near naked women running around in videos.
Whenever that content is released, the women have allowed us men to get our shit off. But when the content for women is made and the shoe is on the other foot, all of a sudden now some men all of a sudden have high morals. Bro, I understand that you feel how you feel in regards to the subject matter and you have your right to feel however you want to feel. But please, just leave it alone and let the women have their moment of celebration. I promise that it will help you more than hurt you. If you are really sitting there complaining and critiquing a song that’s clearly not catered to you, then it speaks more volume about yourself than the consumers enjoying the content.
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Daily Motivational Hip Hop Quotes About Success And Life
We compiled some of the most motivational quotes from the hottest entertainers that will help you make the best out of life and strive to reach your greatest potential.
By: Omar Cook
Hip hop culture is full of dope lyricists, artists, and entertainers who inspire and influence the entire world. We compiled some of the most motivational quotes from entertainers that will help you make the best out of life and strive to reach your greatest potential.
“The Lord may not come when you want Him, but he’s always going to be there on time.”
“You can’t change what happened. Just like you can’t change the future by worrying about it. You just have to keep moving.”
“There have been so many people who have said to me, ‘You can’t do that’, but I’ve had an innate belief that they were wrong. Be unwavering and relentless in your approach.”
“Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but taking God at His work.”
“You need to sweat yourself. Don’t sweat nobody else.”
“Any decision I make is based on myself, and the only person I have to give an explanation to is God.”
“Put God first in everything you do ... Everything that I have is by the grace of God, understand that. It’s a gift ... I didn’t always stick with Him, but He stuck with me.”
“I was always led to believe you should take care of yourself, trust in your abilities and you’re the author of your own destiny.”
“One thing I’ve learned is be comfortable in your skin, and more importantly, be comfortable in your shoes.”
“Much success to you, even if you wish me the opposite.”
“Everything we do should be a result of our gratitude for what God has done for us.”
“My legacy is that I stayed on course...from the beginning to the end, because I believed in something inside of me.”
“In our music, in our everyday life, there are so many negative things. Why not have something positive and stamp it with blackness?”
“You should be treating yourself like you are your own best friend.”
“I wanna change the game in a way where I’m not knocking nobody out of the way, not claiming to be the best at this or that, but just doing wonders with the gift I’ve been given.”
“My main goal in life is to just be happy. I don’t compromise my happiness for anything. If I find what makes me happy I’m going to do that. That’s really going with the flow of life.”
“Life is a journey, not a destination; there are no mistakes, just chances we’ve taken.”
“If I abuse myself daily, who can I love?”
“I create my own calm and I keep my balance, because I know that it’s not really me, by myself...The Creator always gives me the energy.”
“Always believe in yourself. No matter who’s around you being negative or thrusting negative energy at you, totally block it off. Because whatever you believe, you become.”
“I don’t believe in luck. It’s persistence, hard work, and not forgetting your dream.”
“Pull down the shades on the windows of your soul, And gaze into your mind and watch the wisdom unfold.”
“Work yourself from the inside out. Eat right, drink right, look right! Positive energy brings a certain glow, so think positive, choose positive, be positive & attract positiveness. It always shows up on the outside.”
“Don’t wait for the stars to align, reach up and rearrange them the way you want...create your own constellation”
“What separated me from all my homeboys is the fact that I didn’t get caught inside the reality. I was always dreaming about doing something else or going somewhere else.”
“We give a lot of others significance in our lives even when they don’t deserve it. It doesn’t matter if they’re family or if you’ve known them forever. If they’re not good for you, they’ve got to go.”
“I don’t think about other people. They are not walking in my shoes. They are not paying my bills. What makes me happy is when I do what I like to do, for me.”
“Value our lives because we never know what day or what time it’ll be over... Rich, famous, whatever, it just makes you appreciate just seeing today.”
“When you get to know yourself, you get to know everyone and everything on the planet.”
“Be true to your heart, and if you’re passionate about your dream, work towards it but don’t allow your idea of how you think it should manifest prevent what’s actually unfolding from happening.”
“The idea of having to conform to someone else’s ideal is unacceptable. I’m gonna be me. And if I can’t be me, then I’d rather not do it.”
“When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.”
“It was when I realized I needed to stop trying to be somebody and be myself, that I actually started to own, accept and love what I had.”
“They say no matter how hard you work, there’s always someone, somewhere working harder than you. Guess what...I’m that someone.”
“I encourage people to embrace whatever it is that makes them different. Not being like everybody, setting your own trends, being your own person, that’s what makes you cool.”
“The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. ”
“Struggle and survival, losing and winning, doesn’t matter. It’s entering the race that counts. You enter, you can win, you can lose...but it’s all about entering the race.”
“I take pride in working very hard. You need to understand that hard work doesn’t instantly pay off. My career grew gradually and taught me a lesson every step of the way.”
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Kanye West Says "Harriet Tubman Never Actually Freed The Slaves" At Presidential Campaign Rally
Kanye claims “Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves, she just had the slaves go work for other white people” during his first Presidential campaign rally in South Carolina.
By: Omar Cook
Kanye West is no stranger to saying things that are out of pocket, with some notorious quotes such as “George Bush hates Black people” to “Slavery was a choice" but it seems he has found a way to top the shock value of these statements. During his 1st presidential campaign rally in South Carolina, Kanye stated “Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves, she just had the slaves go work for other white people.”
“Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves, she just had the slaves go work for other white people.”
— 247 Live Culture (@247LC) July 19, 2020
Kanye West speaking at his 1st presidential campaign in South Carolina. pic.twitter.com/oa36uZX6WS
Yes, he really said that. Harriet Tubman risked her life to free hundreds of slaves just to have Kanye demean her legacy for his campaign. Kanye seems to have jumped off the deep end and with comments like this, it becomes increasingly difficult to defend him.
Kanye is set to release his new album, Donda, on July 24. You could even go as far as saying that this whole situation from running for President to saying this outrageous comment is a publicity stunt for his upcoming album. Kanye West initially announcing he was running for President was shocking enough, and it’s almost as if we did not take him serious…but he’s dead serious.
Kanye addressed the crowd in a bullet proof vest as he campaigned for signatures necessary to be placed on the candidate list in South Carolina but he has already missed the deadline to submit his candidacy in many key voting states which makes this seem even more for public attention.
It seems as if Kanye was having a mental episode as also broke down in tears as he discussed abortion issues in America.
"My mom saved my life. My dad wanted to abort me. My mom saved my life. There would've been no Kanye West because my dad was too busy. — I almost killed my daughter.” - Kanye West
Oh my God, what is happening pic.twitter.com/4wWgT6tw8O
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 19, 2020
Kanye also proposed a plan to have "no more Plan B," but to go with "Plan A" by proposing $50,000 per year to aid women in child care and said, "It takes a village, no matter how much money you have. Society has been set up for single mothers to never have a village."
In reality, Kanye has no chance of winning an election this late in the game, but it is extremely embarrassing to see him use his platform during this time to make a mockery of the people who are and have fought for injustices in this country, for example, Harriet Tubman. It’s time we all acknowledge that Kanye needs real help that goes beyond just “canceling” him.
Kanye also addressed how we felt about the election results saying “I don’t give a f—k if I win the presidency or not” and said that was important was being “of service of God.” Hopefully things turn out for the best for Kanye but definitely needs an intervention.
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Lauryn Harris Talks Her New Single "Cocoon"
Texas singer Lauryn Harris dropped a new single titled “Cocoon'“!
“The inspiration for this song is about having a crush so intense you just want to keep to yourself, enjoying the fantasy without any complications.”
By: Omar Cook
Texas singer Lauryn Harris dropped a new single titled “Cocoon'“! Lauryn brings a dope neo-soul sound to this track showing resemblance of greats like Erykah Badu. The lyrics of the song are relatable as she discusses breaking out of her shell to pursue a new love interest.
“The inspiration for this song is about having a crush so intense you just want to keep to yourself, enjoying the fantasy without any complications. It's also about being able to feel for someone new after past heartbreak. “
The lyrics of the song are relatable This singer has been slowed down releasing music since her last EP Inside My Head but her new track is a preview of what’s to come as she is ready to release a new project soon!
“I don’t have any specific date this year but I’ll be dropping a tape. I’ve grown from my past music and I’m ready for my listeners to grow with me and my experiences.”
Lauryn Harris continues to evolve with the music she releases and this song serves as a good motivator that it is okay to showcase your feelings. Listen to the track below!
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Lylo Gold Drops Foreplay (Baker Aaron Refix)
London singer Lylo Gold dropped a refix to her song “Foreplay”, giving a sample of what’s to come on her forthcoming EP release of Open, which is set to drop this summer.
By: Omar Cook
London singer Lylo Gold dropped a refix to her song “Foreplay”. Lylo Gold brings a trap-soul influenced sound while delivering a chorus reminiscent of the likes of Brandy the Lylo, Baker Aaron, Sunset Drver. Lylo is making sure UK R&B considers this a reintroduction to the realness. “Foreplay” is a sexy teaser for what’s to come on her forthcoming EP release of Open, which is set to drop this summer. This version of “Foreplay” features an a faster tempo than the original and it is still a great vibe to get you in your mood.
Lylo Gold - Foreplay (Baker Aaron Refix)
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William Prize Talks His New Album "I AM PRIZE, Vol 1"
North Carolina rapper William Prize shines his light with his new 11 track album I Am Prize, Vol 1.
“In light of all the racial turmoil and inhumane treatment of blacks by this justice-less system, a must listen is the bonus track, “Ceiling Flows ll” featuring Cidy Pyramid’s.”
By: Omar Cook
In the midst of countrywide chaos, North Carolina rapper William Prize shines his light with his new album I Am Prize, Vol 1. “The title is a phrase within my stage name “William Prize” and also the acknowledgement of ones self-worth.” This project comes off of the heels of his last mixtape A Light Tape 2 which he dropped in 2019.
“This project wasn’t supposed to happen, firstly. I’ve been working to develop a sound where I can be played in the clubs without sacrificing my artist integrity and with this project I think I’ve done just that. Whenever someone taps into this project , they’ll prolly be riding in the car, getting dressed for the club/pregaming but also there’s songs that’s gonna give you that old school vibe.”
This project features 11 tracks and a bunch of features from other rising artists including DJ Eze, Fazenc, Kareem Trip, Carolina Dreams, Villeboy Rand, Fat Mack, and Cidy Pyramids. You definitely get that true old school hip hop feel with tracks like “French Blues”. Prize switches up the mood of the project to a mellow feel with his track “Spennanight” featuring Carolina Dreams and picks the pace back up with “Poison NV” featuring VilleBoy Rand. This project has something for everyone.
“In light of all the racial turmoil and inhumane treatment of blacks by this justice-less system , a must listen is the bonus track, “Ceiling Flows ll” featuring Cidy Pyramid’s. It is real bars, my real emotion, and thoughts on the justice system over a smooth, gritty yet soulful chop, produced by kingsclass!”
This project is a must listen and Prize is definitely improving from project to project emerging as an artist that needs to be on everyone’s radar. “People can expect HIGH energy! Lyrics! And meaningful content for sure. Be on the lookout for my REAL project coming later this year, UP FROM HERE.
William Prize - Cidy's Garage (feat. DJ Eze)
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Tory Lanez Urges Other Entertainers To Speak Out And Protest
Tory Lanez took to social media to call out other entertainers to use their platforms to speak out on social injustices and to aid in protests.
By: Omar Cook
The murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police has sent people around the country and the world into an uproar. Protests have broken out all over the country and more and more people are beginning to speak out on social injustices. What’s been interesting is that at a time like this where an incident affects the entire country, you are starting to see people’s true colors about how they feel and what they truly think.
Everyday you log into social media, you see a new entertainer or celebrity being “canceled” for something they have said.
List of people cancelled:
— The Queen (@WorldofJayona) June 1, 2020
Doja Cat
Desi Banks
B. Simone
T.I- on probation for that Wakanda comment
Who else?
Tory Lanez took to instagram live to call out entertainers to disagree with how some of them have voiced their opinions against the protests. He also encouraged them to get out and walk in the protests themselves to see it first hand as he was seen protesting in Miami as well.
A lot of people have disagreed with how the protests have turned from peaceful to violent, and have included vandalism and looting. The counter argument has been that Black people have been degraded for so long that, the vandalism is warranted at this point and that this is the way to gather people’s attention. A good amount of the looting and destruction has also been done by people who aren’t Black and are using this as an opportunity to push their own agenda. People are hurting, that is the bottom line behind all of this.
Lil Wayne made a very controversial statement recently saying “if we want to place the blame on anybody, it should be ourselves for not doing more than what we think we’re doing.” Crazy. Tory Lanez took to twitter to address this very statement.
And to any of my black peers in this entertainment industry .... if your opinion on this matter at hand is ANYTHING along the lines of “ we need to blame ourselves ... and it’s not the cops fault “ or “u gotta look at both sides” .. personally from me to u ... FUCK OUTTA HERE
— Tory Lanez (@torylanez) May 31, 2020
With emotions running extremely high around the country, it is imperative that people with major platforms are using their voices to influence this world for change. Silence is also a major statement in itself as being silent accomplishes nothing for us and lets us know that you are complacent in the way the world is going. It’s time for major changes.
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Album Review: Future's "High Off Life" Does Not Disappoint
Future released his new album “High Off Life” featuring 21 new tracks, after riling up fans on twitter.
By: James Teague
One of the intriguing things when it comes to being part of a fanbase for an artist is being a fan of an artist long enough to know exactly when they’re getting ready to release an album. It all started right around Mothers day when Future decided to tweet Happy Mothers Day to all of the important women of his life who happen to be the mothers of his children. Some days after that, Future then started letting off some cryptic tweets that caused the timeline to be in an uproar.
Some were not thrilled at the tweets which then caused some of the tweeters to throw their own triggered subliminals to the Atlanta Rapper (I don’t know why as if he was going to even respond to them) . The whole time as I’m watching the chaos unfold, there was only one thing that came to mind: Future is gearing up to drop an album. And low and behold the announcement was made to the people for his new upcoming album, High Off Life, like clockwork.
To be completely honest, I was somewhat surprised that he decided to release a new album during this Pandemic because most of his music created is made to hit more while you’re outside and active whether at the club, bar, day party, or working out in the gym. But at the same time. we were eventually due for a new Future album. If you’ve a VIP member of the Freeband Baptist congregation aka Future Hive, then I can already assure that this album is a solid listen.
Coming off of his last album, The Wizrd, we got the hints from the music and interviews that Future was closing down a chapter and heading into a new chapter with his music. Coming into High Off Life, we find that Future is still livings life the rockstar lifestyle. I’ve seen some mention that there was an attempt towards a rebrand on this album. But listening to the music, we still find Future in his usual trap element with songs such as “Trapped in the Sun” and “Hi-Tek Tek“.
When it comes to album intros, Future proves with “Trapped in the Sun”, that he is undefeated in setting the tone for each new album. The first half of the albums starts on a strong foot all the way up until we get to “Trillionaire” with NBA Youngboy. The highlights coming from the features on this album came from Future and Travis Scott teaming up for “Solitaires.” Listening to the duo, the chemistry and vibe was effortless and showcased us the “Rock star lifestyle Might Dont make it” vibes. Needless to say, the other features on this album minus the bonus tracks “Life is Good”, “Last Name”, and “100 Shooters”, the rest of the features were lackluster.
When looking at the tracklist for High Off Life, I just look at all of the last 5 singles after “Accepting my Flaws” as album bonus cuts because those 5 records have already been available prior to High Off Life being released. Listening to “Accepting My Flaws” rings off as an indicator that this is the album closer. All in all, as a fan of Future’s music i thoroughly enjoyed this album for the purpose it served. The tracks that stood out the most to me were “Hi Tek Tek”, “Solitaires”, “Ridin Strikers”, “Posted With Demons”, “Too Comfortable”, and “Accepting my Flaws”. However when compared to the last album The WIZRD, High Off Life does fall short. The difference between the two is that with The WIZRD, the body of work is much more complete and the sound is more fresh whereas with High Off Life certain moments throughout the album sounded uninspired and rushed.
Don’t get me wrong the album is still a good solid project but you cant help but think if whether or not this was just put together and thrown out there for something to hold the masses over. So if you’re a member of Future Hive, then it’s a high chance you’ll be satisfied with this album regardless simply because the “Future formula” was familiar. However if you’re a casual listener then I can understand one was to feel how they feel in regarding the album.
Future - Trapped In The Sun (Audio)
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Erykah Badu And Jill Scott Was More Than A Battle, It Was An Iconic Moment Between Queens
Erykah Badu and Jill Scott share a history of shaping what our music of Neo-Soul sounds like today. These inconic singers were able to come together to uplift each other and give a backstory of how far they’ve come since the jumpstart of their careers in the music industry.
By: Lauryn Bass
The quarantine has proven to be very eventful. One of the highlights out of quarantine was the Verzuz battle of Erykah Badu versus Jill Scott. The two queens were the first females to be headlined on the Verzuz platform, which hyped up the dishing out of their music against each other. This which swept through the media masses and turned out to be deeper than we all thought.
The two singers, who share a history of shaping what our music of Neo-Soul sounds like today, were able to come together to uplift each other and give a backstory of how far they’ve come since the jumpstart of their careers in the music industry.
Hosted on their personal Instagram pages, the two artists went live sharing their hottest songs back and forth. Fans were able to leave comments of praise as they listened to the hottest hits of each singer. As the two vibed with the crowd, Jill Scott begins to share her love for Badu and explains how she influenced her life.
“I was given the opportunity to write a song for the first time, which happened to be for you, and it took off,” Jill explains.
The conversation between them then goes into detail about a performance that Jill Scott opened up for Badu. Jill Scott exclaims how nervous she was to even greet Badu.
“I was told that you were going to be backstage but by the time I got myself together, you had already left.” Scott continues.
Erykah responds with just as much love and how she loved how “dope” the song was that Jill had written for her. She also tells Jill how much she loves her as an artist and how much respect she has her work.
“You had this look and sound that stood out to me,” Erykah reminisces.
Throughout the live, what many believed to be a battle turned out to be an uplifting atmosphere of two humble women in the music game, who prize each other for their art. They shared advice to the viewers about doing what they love and just going for it. Many enjoyed the intimate setting created by the two. It truly was a joy that was even more contagious than COVID.
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Nayome Talks Her New Single "Do You Mind"
Texas singer Nayome, dropped her jazzy new single “Do You Mind”!
“I stemmed inspiration from wanting to experience someone on a deeper level. Knowing someone and really having fun in the process of discovering / experiencing them”
By: Omar Cook
It’s been a minute since Texas singer Nayome, dropped her last EP R E C O V E R E D +, but she is back with her jazzy new single “Do You Mind”!
“I stemmed inspiration from wanting to experience someone on a deeper level. Knowing someone and really having fun in the process of discovering / experiencing them. I think for the future my songs hold more value when it comes to translating my personal experiences. It’s important that I share my experience in my unique way and hope it resonates with others.”
The track produced by Sam Houston and engineered by Sam Hinds features a dope saxaphone melody from saxaphonist Kevin Antoine. This track is a good preview to what’s in store for Nayome as she is working on a new project that she hopes to release by July. The single will be released on all platforms on May 16. Check out the single below!
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Jeh $inatra Talks His New Album "God Intentions"
New York artist Jeh $inatra dropped his new album God Intentions! $inatra talks the creation of his album, cultural empowerment, and the importance of self awareness!
“Listen to the music. Digest the words...but most importantly absorb the message that it brings. Life is much more than just flashy material things...LOVE LIVE LIFE unconditionally and unapologetically ”
By: Omar Cook
New York artist Jeh $inatra dropped his new album God Intentions! The album is positive and uplifting to Black culture, speaks on spirituality, and also touches on some deep subjects such as police brutality.
“We all have intentions to do the right thing, live our lives according to the way God wants us to. Despite the cards we’ve been dealt in life we can always look to God for that light, that beacon of hope to get us through our toughest situations no matter how challenging they may be. We all intend to live our lives accordingly through God.”
The album features 8 tracks, with one of our favorites being “Halos & Crowns” for the line of “They quick to shoot Trayvon but never shoot Rachel. It’s gotta be something in they blood that make em’ hate you, make em’ wanna be racial.” When asked about what track is a must listen, Jeh $inatra said:
“All of them lol. Each is an individual part of a full length story if listened to in the proper sequence...but if I had to choose one I would say God’s Gift. Too many of our beautiful sisters lack the love and encouragement to properly function in today’s society not to mention we get everything from a woman from life itself to the love we carry with us throughout this thing called life.”
Last year $inatra dropped a 4 track EP titled For the Family which was dope for sure, but this project is a much more complete project due to the story telling on every track. Speaking on what to expect from this album, $inatra says:
“Growth. Awareness of who I am and the legacy I want to leave behind as a man who stood for more than just self prosperity but a man who always took into account the prosperity of his people and his culture. I hope these words can help carry someone through Life proudly.”
God Intentions shows the musical growth from his last project and shares a great message for the culture. $inatra discusses what people can expect from listening to this project.
“Complete transparency of the man I’ve become today and what I truly stand for. The advancement of my people and the empowerment of them as well. My integrity is truly intact and I have an abundant amount of self awareness I hope the listener can hear on this project.”
Listen to the album below!
Jeh $inatra - Heaven on Earth (Intro)
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Ray Lavender Talks Building His Music Career, Lessons and Sacrifices, and Keys To Success!
R&B singer Ray Lavender hit the music scene in 2007 with his hit single “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend”! After over a decade in the music industry, Ray discusses the building of his music career, lessons and sacrifices throughout his career, and what it takes to be a successful artist! Check out the interview here!
“When you listen to Ray Lavender, I want you to feel me through my music. I want you to know that I love the craft, I love the art and I love that I am blessed with the gift of song.”
By: Omar Cook
In 2007, R&B artist Ray Lavender hit the music scene in a major way, dropping his debut album X-Rayted which featured his hit single “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend”. Ray Lavender was the first artist to be signed to Akon’s Kon Live Records, which was a joint venture with Geffen Records. Ray made his way Atlanta by way of Monroe, Louisiana where he began to pursue a successful music career. 13 years later since making his debut, Ray is still producing music and has also dived into the world of acting and is preparing himself to be a mogul with a record company owner and movie production company.
Ray Lavender - My Girl Gotta Girlfriend (Dirty Ray, Closed Captioned)
We talked with Ray Lavender in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
How long have you been making music and how did you break into the music industry?
I’ve been making music for a long time ever since I can’t remember. I remember when I was 12 years old and one of my favorite songs was a song called “Two Occasions” that was written by Babyface. That’s when I began the songwriting process. I can remember writing my first song when I was 12 years old and I recorded it with no music on a little tape cassette. The song wasn’t really that good but it was my first song and that’s when the writing process began. I broke into the music industry professionally at the age of 18 years old. That is what I met Akon and Dallas Austin.
What was the creative process behind your hit song “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend” and how did your career shift due to its success?
When I wrote “My Girl Gotta Girlfriend”, I was in a really creative space at the time. I was already signed with Interscope records and Akon‘s record label but at the time the single that they had for me wasn’t a single that I wanted. So I chose to go back in my life and pick out one of the highlights of my life and I wrote a song about it. The world ended up loving that song and it became my first single but the inspiration came from two young ladies and I thank them for putting me through that stress because now I have a hit single from it. Lol.
What projects can we look forward to in the future?
My future projects consist of my new EP Quarantine and Chill with my first single “100”. I’m also doing a lot of acting in stage plays and in movies coming up and am also writing a Christmas movie at this current time.
What motivates you and how do you define success?
What motivates me is knowing that I am very talented at what I do. I wake up every day trying to outdo what I did the day before. What also motivates me is knowing that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ blessed me with an amazing talent and that’s the gift of song so that I can share it with the world. My definition of success is you being happy and doing what it is you love.
Ray Lavender - Stay
What do you believe is the formula to being a successful artist in today’s hip hop culture?
The formula to success is simple and that’s being creative and thinking outside of the box of whatever it is that you are seeking to do. But you have to work hard at it or else it’s not going to work. You have to understand that hard work really pays off and nothing is going to come to you. You have to do your best to make it work.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
My greatest inspiration first and foremost ... is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because without him nothing will work. After that it’s my parents. They took amazing care of me and my siblings and they always told us to work hard to become great. So with that they are my inspiration. And I can’t leave out Sam Cooke for being amazing inspiration to me musically.
How do you generate new ideas for your music?
I generate new music ideas by what’s going on in my life at the time. I’m really creative, witty, and clever when it comes to writing and putting words together so when I think about my life and what I’m going through, I put them all in song because i’d rather be rapping or singing it.
What lessons have you learned over the course of your music career?
I’ve learned to make sure you read all of your contracts. I’ve also learned to make sure you know where all of your money is going at all times. I’ve learned that no one is really your friend when it comes to money and business and you have to separate the two. I’ve also learned that hard work will win every time someone tries to do you wrong.
What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?
What encourages me to make music is that I am really talented at it. I love to hear a new song by me. It excites me to hear the end of the song and all the harmonies and all the runs that I selected to go into that song. Music is not just music to me, it’s a form of art and I don’t write songs, I paint them. I make moments in time and that’s what excites me. I get discouraged when I make these amazing records and then financially I’m cheated out of the money. When you work so hard on the composition, you want to be properly compensated for it and sometimes the people that you deal with treat you unfairly.
What sacrifices have you had to make, to build your career in music?
I’ve sacrificed a lot of time away from my family. A sacrifice finishing college and playing basketball. I sacrificed watching some of my kids be born because I had a show to do. I sacrificed a lot of time and a lot of my hard earned money to become successful.
What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?
To upcoming artists trying to break into the music industry, my advice is to learn the music business. Learn your craft. If you’re trying to sing, go study the greats and figure out why they became great. Never give up no matter who tells you that you’re not good enough. Stay the course and you will win.
Where do you see yourself and your career in the next 10 years?
In the next 10 years I see myself as a big Music Mogul with the Wrecker company that has multi platinum Artists sign to it. I also see myself with a movie production company and producing my own movies.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?
When you listen to Ray Lavender, I want you to feel me through my music. I want you to know that I love the craft, I love the art and I love that I am blessed with the gift of song. I want you to understand that I want to be great and I am going to be great. When you think of music, I should be one of the ledges that pop up in your head long after I’m gone. I need you to understand that that’s what I’m working on and that is what will happen. Just like fine wine, you have to wait for it to get the best taste from it. And I’m almost ready!!
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Jhamasa Goes Animated With A New Visual To Her Single "Blue Baby"
Los Angeles singer Jhamasa dropped a dope visual to her single “Blue Baby”! Check it out here!
By: Omar Cook
Los Angeles singer Jhamasa dropped a dope visual to her single “Blue Baby”! The song produced by produced by Tour Love featuring Yapi Drew and Amadi, was already a vibe to begin with, but Jhamasa took it to the next level with a unique video concept.
The video is all in animation which was co-Illustrated and animated by Jessica Claypool. The song is a toned down R&B track that is perfect for a late night drive and a big switch up from her last video “Bad Mamma Jhamma”. Jhamasa continues to build her resume with consistent bangers and it’s hard to find a miss in her music catalogue.
“Blue Baby” explores a modern concept that every millennial can relate to, which is dating in the social media era and checking out the person you’re dating to make sure they check out. Watch the video below!
Jhamasa - Blue Baby (Official Music Video)
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Lylo Gold Drops A Seductive New Single "Foreplay"
London singer Lylo Gold dropped a seductive new single, titled “Foreplay” which is the second release from her upcoming project Open!
“I want foreplay and I wanna do it your way.”
By: Omar Cook
London singer Lylo Gold dropped a sexy new single, titled “Foreplay” which is the second release from her upcoming project Open, which is set to drop this summer! Lylo teamed up with producer Sunset Drver, to deliver this passionate, sensual track.
Lylo Gold steps outside of her normal vibe to showcase an intimate and seductive sound that is influence by the trap-soul genre. This is a perfect quarantine song and is great for the bedroom. The collaboration between Lylo Gold and producer Sunset Drver is big moment for UK R&B and a quick teaser for what’s to come on her new project. Check it out below!
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Babyface and Teddy Riley Break Instagram Live Record In Iconic 'Versuz' Match-Up
Babyface and Teddy Riley broke the instagram live record in an iconic match-up on "Versuz". Recap the event here!
By: Omar Cook
The first couple tries didn’t go as planned do to sound issues, but when it finally got rolling, it was major. 2 iconic producers in Babyface and Teddy Riley went head to head for the best “Versuz” matchup to date on instagram live.
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have teamed up to create an instagram series to take advantage of everyone sitting at home by pitting top notch artists and producers against each other in song for song match-ups. Some of the match-ups include RZA vs. DJ Premier, Ne-Yo vs. Johntá Austin, Mannie Fresh vs. Scott Storch, French Montana vs. Tory Lanez, The-Dream vs. Sean Garrett…but this was by far the best match-up.
Teddy Riley and Babyface teamed up to break the instragram live record by attracting over 500,000 viewers. The playlist was crazy between the 2 featuring artists such as SWV, Ready or Not, Tevin Campbell, Doug e Fresh, Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, Blackstreet and many more!
Babyface recently battled the covid-19 and recovered which pushed the date back but it definitely did not disappoint. Babyface has a decorated resume writing and producing 26 #1 hits and earning 11 Grammys while Teddy Riley has 2 Grammys as well. This was a historic moment in music as 2 producers who are responsible for a lot of the songs we grew up on gave us an epic battle. If you missed it, check it out below!
Teddy Riley Verzuz Babyface - RnB Hits Broke IG Live [Full Version]
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10 Years Later, Wiz Khalifa's "Kush & OJ" Is A Certified Classic
10 years ago, Wiz Khalifa dropped his classic mixtape Kush & OJ, which is arguably his best project to date.
By: Omar Cook
Nostalgic and iconic are two appropriate words to describe Wiz Khalifa’s Kush & OJ mixtape, which debuted 10 years ago on April 14, 2010. That’s right, a whole decade ago. Crazy! If you’re an avid hip hop fan, you very well know the significance of this project.
At a time when digital mixtape culture was reaching new heights with sites like datpiff and livemixtapes.com pumping out all of the latest music, Kush & OJ blew up to millions of downloads to kick off the new decade. At this time WIz had already dropped some classic mixtapes with Flight School, How Fly, and Burn After Rolling, but you could argue that this was his most complete project. This project embodies the phrase “No Skips” as you could run through this tape from start to finish and it would be virtually impossible to choose a favorite song.
The tracklist was crazy, featuring songs like “Mesmorized”, “Up”, “The Statement”, “Spotlight”, “The Kid Frankie”, “Never Been”, “In The Cut”, “Still Blazin”, and “Glass House”. It’s no secret that Wiz has tailored most of his music content to the weed smokers, but even if you don’t indulge, it’s hard to deny the musical production of this project and not enjoy it. For those of us that were in high school, college, early 20s, this projects brings back great memories of a simpler time.
This was Wiz in his prime, the Wiz we hope to hear anytime he drops a new project. He dropped some dope projects soon after with Cabin Fever, Taylor Allderdice, and Cabin Fever 2, but neither of those will match the presence of Kush & OJ. 10 years later, this is still one of the hottest mixtapes to drop. Thank you Wiz for the memories. Listen to the mixtape below!
Wiz Khalifa - Waken Baken
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WAASIKeso Drops New Visual To "Poppin"
Florida rap duo, WaasiKeso, dropped a new visual to their song “Poppin”! Check it out here!
“We just wanted to create a wavy vibe that people can play on some late night drives or riding down south beach. Something smooth for people to enjoy.”
“We just wanted to create a wavy vibe that people can play on some late night drives or riding down south beach. Something smooth for people to enjoy. ”
WAASIKeso is definitely a group that has been flying under the radar but they bring a true hip hop feel to every track. From their first project Waasikeso to Training Day, you can definitely see the growth. The duo of WaasiShade and JiggyKeso plan to release more heat coming soon.
“As far as the future goes we’re consistently working, we have a lot of unreleased music but we’re also going to provide people with more visuals so stay tuned.”
Check out the video below!
WAASIKeso X Poppin (Official Music Video) Dir. Raw Def Digital
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Tory Lanez Drops Highly Anticipated Album "The New Toronto 3"
Tory Lanez dropped his highly anticipated 5th studio album The New Toronto 3. This album marks the last album that Tory is contractually obligated to release through Interscope Records after creative differences with the label.
By: Omar Cook
Tory Lanez dropped his highly anticipated 5th studio album The New Toronto 3. This album marks the last album that Tory is contractually obligated to release through Interscope Records after creative differences with the label.
This album puts Tory center stage as he only has 2 features on the entire 16 track album with Lil Tjay and Mansa as opposed to his last project Chixtape 5 which had a host of star studded features. Tory admitted that a lot of the music he put over the past 4 years were songs to get fans by and fill his quota, as he neared the end of his deal. On his track “Letter To The City 2”, he details his frustrations about his experience during the past few years dealing with his label.
Tory built a major recent buzz lately capitalizing on most of the world being stuck in the house due to the pandemic by creating a live instagam series which he calls “Quarantine Radio”, which has gathered hundreds of thousands off viewers at a time. Perfect timing to drop his album, which definitely did not disappoint.
The album features a vibe for just about anyone from turn up tracks like “Stupid Again” to more mellow tracks like “Penthouse Red”. Tory is one of the few artists that has the versatility to switch between raw rap lyrics to singing R&B. The project is fire to say the least and if this is foretelling of whats to come from Tory, expect some dope creative releases real soon as an independent artist. Check out the project below.
Tory Lanez - Pricey & Spicy (Visualizer)
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Meet Va’rai Unique, Media Correspondent for 247 Live Culture!