[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zAiocWMzcw]
“504-377-5928”
On tour with the Mighty Mos in the Chi, Mr. Electronica co-signs Dante’s declaration a few months ago that the Jay-Z’s of the world need to leave their millions at home and bring their skills to the battle.
Um, well… it’s not gonna happen, guys.
Props: St. James St.
Previously: Mos Def Still Wants To Battle Jay-Z or Kanye
Wow, can’t believe my dude might soon actually be able to touch the town. According to HipHopDX, who spoke to Shyne’s lawyer, he’ll be a free man in a couple of months. He’s due in court tomorrow at a parole hearing to determine whether there will be any restrictions that may hinder him from reestablishing his recording career. Good luck, Po!
Sidebar: I was so tight when this cover came out. Ha!
Oh shit, Ci-Ci’s stylist blows up her spot. Much ado about nothing. There was no haircut. It’s a wig, y’all.
Ciara’s known for having amazingly long, voluminous hair. This is a big change for her.
Yeah, of course it’s partially extensions, but her hair is long anyway. She’s in LA for the Summer and wanted something lighter, something different.
Her new style is a hair piece, right?
Yes, it’s a hair piece. She still has really long hair—this look is just for the Summer.
How did you come up with it?
Ciara has such a little, petite, cute face, and she told me that she wanted to go short. She wanted to do the Halle Berry, but I thought “We need a little sexy, we need a little swagger in front, so let’s just give it a little bit of lift.” But I didn’t want it to look like Rihanna’s cut, either.
Wow at least those other chicks actually shaved at least some parts of their head. You can’t trust anyone nowadays. Smh.
Props: New York Mag via Bella Sugar
Previously: Ciara’s Bad Haircut
And it don’t stop. Another tribute to the King of it all. But this time, he shares the stage with fellow American icon Farrah Fawcett, who passed away on the same day. I can dig it. Stay classy, Mr. Carter.
Props: Fish Bowl NY via Memo Pad
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGHKaVQeaHQ]
Pop Quiz: Can you name all the members of Weezy’s crew? Don’t fret. Only a few can. But no worries, YN is here to provide a service. Y’all ain’t ready for all this and for a taste of Minaj at the end, you need to click on that lower left link. Drake’s down. The soldiers must march on.
Bonus: KC backstage with her peoples.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olcrBBXpTv8]
Prior to his moonwalk, Chris played Spliff Starr to Young Money as they performed “Every Girl In The World” last night in Virginia. If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time Chris rocked a crowd since the, um, “incident” last February. But give the guy a break YN. Even Ghostface admitted to goin’ up side his wiz’s head once. Hell, you even own a couple Ike Turner records. I got dirt on you doggie! I thought you light skinned negroes stuck together. Where’s the unity?!
Wow, this is what it’s come to. Mariah Carey’s upcoming Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel will feature a 34-page mini-mag inside the CD booklet. It’s being produced by Elle magazine and will feature ads from a few upscale brands. Big boss, Antonio “L.A.” Reid explains the thought behind the process:
“The idea was really simple thinking: ‘We sell millions of records, so you should advertise with us,’ ” said Antonio “L.A.” Reid, IDJ’s chairman. “My artists have substantial circulation — when you sell 2 million, 5 million, 8 million, that’s a lot of eyeballs. Most magazines aren’t as successful as those records.” Reid said Carey was “very open” to the idea when he showed her a mock-up of the magazine with brands that fit her jet-setter lifestyle. “I wouldn’t want to do Mariah Carey and Comet abrasive cleaner,” Reid said. “I wanted things that really reflected her taste.”
If all goes well, similar deals could be cut for other IDJ acts like Rihanna and Kanye West.
Reminds me of custom publishing, back in my XXL days. Definitely feel like many will follow suit to MC’s move.
Great breakdown of Statik Selektah’s *Round Trip*! Honestly, this 2023 Mass Appeal release is pure boom-bap bliss from start to finish. Statik really outdid himself with those smooth, jazzy sample flips and turntable scratches, creating the exact kind of laid-back, golden-era hip-hop vibe you want playing in the background while relaxing at Denmark holiday cottages over a quiet weekend. The guest list alone is stacked—having legends like Posdnous kicking things off on the opener "Round Trip (For Dave)" alongside heavy hitters like Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Inspectah Deck on "Unpredictable" makes every track feel like a proper event. Even the newer-school features like Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, and Joey Bada$$ fit effortlessly over the dusty, soulful production without a single wasted verse. Definitely one of his most cohesive projects in years and an easy front-to-back spin for anyone who appreciates real hip-hop craftsmanship.