Stalley Speaks On The State Of Ohio Finally Being Recognized In Hip Hop

Stalley says producers aren't being very "innovative” with their music, comments on artists being signed vs. independent.

While Midwest Hip Hop has usually been associated with the likes of Chicago and Detroit a number of Ohio rappers are beginning to put the state of Ohio on the map when it comes to music. Among them is Ohio rapper Stalley who spoke on Ohio finally getting the shine it deserves in a recent interview.
“We are Midwest rap…Ohio has a lot of talent.

We’ve had a lot of talent, but now we’re starting to get the recognition with guys like myself and Cudi, Chip Tha Ripper, Machine Gun Kelly, and artists like that coming out,” Stalley explained in an interview with 90.5 KSJS. “We finally getting enough voices out there to bring attention to the state. But we’ve always been there. We’ve always been talented and had talented artists there.”
As a newly signed artist, he signed to Maybach Music Group in April, Stalley also spoke on artists who choose to sign to a label and those who choose to remain independent.

“I mean I’m not sure if it’s better either way,” said Stalley when asked if it’s better being signed to a label. “I just think that it depends on the artists and the situation. Some people don’t need a major label or don’t even want a major label. Some people don’t need it and they still use it as a tool to gain more recognition or help with exposure…It just depends on where you wanna go with your career. What you trying to make out of it. And if you fit better.”

When asked if there’s any producers he’d like to work with in the near future Stalley explained that there aren’t many producers who are bringing something new to the table but did state that he’s a fan of Boi Wonda, Swizz Beatz, T-Minus, and more.

“It’s not really a lot of producers that I think are being innovative at this time. Everything kinda sounds copied, cut and copied, or whatever you wanna say. But I mean there’s a few,” Stalley explained. “I’m a fan of Kanye. I like 40, T-Minus, Boi Wonda. I think they got some dope sounds. I mean you got Swizz Beatz. There’s a lot of dope producers, but there’s also a lot of bad ones so I guess it depends on who I would vibe with.”

by Danielle Harling

Birdman Refutes That He Purchased Copies To Boost Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter IV" Sales

Baby explains that it would be "hustling backwards" to buy extra albums to bolster first week sales.

Yesterday, it was announced that Lil Wayne had sold 964,000 copies of his latest, Tha Carter IV, in its first week. But some cried foul, speculating that the label purchased extra albums to try to push the album past the million sales mark.

During an interview with MTV News, Birdman refuted the rumors, claiming that buying extra copies of the LP is opposite of what the label stands for.

"Nah, man, that really don't make no sense. Why would we do that?" he said. "I press and distribute 'em. Ain't no need for me to buy 'em. That's hustling backwards; we ain't in it for that. I ain't ever been a part of that type of scheme to be buyin' records. We don't do that, homey. We be working too hard to be — that don't go with what we do. We truly what we do. We're real about what we do, we work hard every day at it, and we work for the people.

That's what we do music for: for people. And we appreciate the love they give us back. But no such thing as me buying no CDs. I wouldn't even play it like that."
Baby did explain that the label makes about $10 per album sale, which would tally up direct revenue from the album to almost $10 million.

by Steven J. Horowitz

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J. Cole Talks Upcoming Album

J. Cole discusses his long-awaited Roc Nation debut.

J. Cole's debut album has been in the making for years, and it doesn't appear he's ready to commit to a release date.

"I know my fans are frustrated with me, because I won't give a date," said Cole in an interview with pressofatlanticcity.com.

"I only gave a date one time in my career last year, and I smacked myself in the face because it was so unrealistic. Now I say it's coming soon, and it's really true, because we're in the final stages right now."

"I think of my own expectations and my pressure on myself," he added, while describing his album as "heavy" and "emotional." "I don't worry about what the world wants me to do. I'm worrying about meeting my expectations."

Cole also described his relationship with Jay-Z, which fell in line with previous accounts that Hov allows his artists to make their own way. "He's definitely a mentor," said Cole. "I just appreciate the fact that he lets me learn and grow on my own. When I need information, I can come to him."

by Slava Kuperstein

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Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg Event Rumored To Take Place On Memorial Weekend

The Good Doctor and The Doggfather may be reuniting for a Memorial Weekend event but details are still unclear as to how this reunion will shape up.

Reports have surfaced about a possible reunion between Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in the form of a Memorial Day Weekend event in Miami, Florida. According to top Hip Hop blog, You Heard That New, this will be a "massive event" but no official details have been released and little is known about the plans.

The two first linked up when Dr. Dre signed Snoop Dogg out of Long Beach, California. The two have since been linked based on their partnership in the early 90's, a bond that allowed them to create Snoop's 1993 debut, Doggystyle and other memorable cuts since. However, they have not collaborated consistently in years. 

While many supporters will be pleased to hear of this rumor, it wouldn't be the first time plans for a Dre/Snoop reunion failed to come to fruition. Snoop once announced that he and Dr. Dre would team up for Break Up to Make Up, an album that never came to be. Most recently however, the rapper/producer duo reunited for "Kush," the first track released for Dr. Dre's highly anticipated Detox album.

For more on this event, stay tuned to HipHopDX.

by Andres Vasquez

Kanye West To Perform At Museum Of Modern Art's "Party In The Garden"

After enlisting help from George Kondo and Marco Brambilla, Kanye West ventures further into the art world by assisting the New York Museum Of Modern Art.

On Tuesday, May 10, Kanye West will lend his support to the art world by performing at the Museum of Modern Art’s Party In The Garden. The annual gala benefits the Museum’s general operating fund and supports educational programs as well as the care, study, and exhibition of the collection. This year’s event will honor Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, Mimi Haas, Jill Kraus, and Sharon Percy Rockefeller.

No stranger to the art world, West has previously enlisted painter George Kondo to create the controversial artwork for his latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The multiple editions of the album’s artwork has since been used by Parisian design team M/M for a collection of scarves. Similarly, West collaborated with Marco Brambilla for what he described as a “moving potrait” of his “Power” video. Brambilla and his design team incorporated elements of Neo-Classical iconography and cutting-edge design technology.

More information about the Party in the Garden is available at the official Museum of Modern Art website.
by Rashad Phillips

Unreleased Recordings From 2Pac, Nas, DJ Quik, Ice Cube Part Of Lawhouse Records' Return

Producer Laylaw is opening up the vaults to uncover some recordings by Hip Hop's biggest names.

California producer Laylaw was one of the architects of the G-Funk sound. His work with Dr. Dre has appeared on releases for Ruthless Records, Death Row Records, and Aftermath Entertainment. Laylaw also served as advisor to Eazy E during his days with groundbreaking gangsta- rap group N.W.A. After that the producer created music with the late 2Pac, their association starting with the rapper’s sophomore album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

Knowing all the connections Laylaw has made with historic members of the Hip Hop community it is unsurprising but, exciting nonetheless, that his vaults would be crammed with unreleased gems. Now, with his Lawhouse Records imprint, the producer plans to release some of those lost gems. First up is the triple disc, box-set “Lawhouse Greatest Hitz.” That album will feature both released and unreleased music from Ice Cube, 2Pac, DJ Quik, E-40, Above The Law, Eazy-E, MC Ren, Nas, Flo-Rida, Pharcyde, Luniz, Michel’le, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, among others.

Laylaw is also planning on exposing some new talent to the world with Lawhouse Records. His most prominent signing is South Central, Los Angeles rapper Chuck Crazy, who recently released his first single, “L.A. Waves.”

by Kevin S. Gary

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FBI Names Eazy-E And 2Pac As Extortion Targets In Unsealed File

A week after releasing their Notorious B.I.G. files, the FBI releases a 2Pac file including accounts of ties to organized crime allegations and a closed Jewish Defense League extortion investigation.

The N.W.A. family tree looms large, and you can easily connect the dots between many of today’s emcees and Eazy-E, MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and even DJ Yella. But a recently unsealed FBI document links both Eazy-E and Tupac Shakur to an alleged extortion attempt by the Jewish Defense League. As with many redacted government documents, many key names were omitted.

“On September 11, 1996 [omitted] reported that JDL, and others yet unidentified have been extorting money from various rap music stars via death threats,” the report states. “The scheme involves [omitted] and other subjects making telephonic death threats to the rap star. Subjects then intercede by contacting the victim and offering protection for a ‘fee’. Source reported that ERIC WRIGHT, also known as EAZY-E, who owned RUTHLESS RECORDS, Woodland Hills, California, was a victim of this extortion scheme prior to dying from AIDS. [Omitted] had also reportedly targeted TUPAC SHAKUR prior to his recent murder in Las Vegas, Nevada.”

This is not the first time there has been a connection between Ruthless and the JDL. Ruthless co-founder Jerry Heller said he enlisted help from the organization when he and Eazy-E were allegedly physically threatened into releasing artists from the label. Heller also mentioned the connection in his memoir, Ruthless.

“Eric Wright had a questing, restless mind,” Heller wrote. “He was always surprising me. ‘I want to do a movie about the JDL,’ he told me shortly before his death. He always had a hundred ideas going at once. He was obsessed with the Jewish Defense League and their motto, 'Never again.' 'Man, I can't get that out of my head,' he said. ‘Never again.’ That's dope.’”
In may of 1999, the FBI closed a two-and-a-half-year investigation on the JDL, citing an inability to corroborate the source information that spawned the probe. The FBI document also links Shakur and other unidentified victims to a separate extortion attempt by “a known organized crime figure,” whose name is omitted from the public version of the report.

“On October 17, 1996, a preliminary inquiry was initiated at Los Angeles Field Office to corroborate source information that [omitted], a known organized crime figure, along with a group of unidentified individuals were utilizing death threats in the furtherance of extortion attempts targeted towards two former prominent rap musicians from the Los Angeles area and other victims yet unidentified,” the report reads.

The full report, which is now public record, is available at the FBI website.

by Rashad Phillips

Wiz Khalifa Sets Dates For Rolling Papers World Tour

Rappers Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean to perform in close to 30 U.S. cities as part of the Rolling Papers World Tour.

With a successful debut album now behind him Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa is yet again ready to hit the road. This week tour dates and cities were announced for the rapper’s Rolling Papers World Tour which will take place this summer.
Joining Wiz on his tour will be fellow rapper and G.O.O.D. Music signee Big Sean and Taylor Gang rapper Chevy Woods.

The Rolling Papers World Tour will kick off in Maryland Heights, Missouri on June 12 and hit about 30 cities before concluding in Canandaigua, New York on August 3. Though it’s titled a “world tour,” so far no cities outside of the U.S. have been added.

The announcement of the tour dates comes just days after the release of Rolling Papers, Wiz’s first studio album. Following its March 29^th release Rolling Papers has gone on to sell over 200,000 copies.
Tickets for the tour will be available for purchase to the general public beginning on Wednesday, April 20. Tour dates for the Rolling Papers World Tour is as follows:

June 12 - Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
June 13 - Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
June 15 - West Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
June 18 - Broomfield, CO @ 1st Bank Center
June 21 - Stateline, NV @ Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa
June 22 - San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
June 23 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
June 25 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
June 27 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
June 28 - Mesa, AZ -- Mesa Amphitheatre
June 29 - Tucson, AZ - Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre
June 30 - Albuquerque, NM @ Albuquerque Convention Center
July 2 - Gran Prairie, TX @ Verizon Theatre at Grand Place
July 3 - Cedar Park, TX @ Cedar Park Center
July 6 - Houston, TX @ Reliant Arena
July 7 - New Orleans, LA @ Lakefront Arena
July 10 - Cleveland, OH @ The Warner Cable Amphitheatre @ Tower City
July 15 - Boca Raton, FL @ Sunset Cove Amphitheatre
July 18 - North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
July 20 - Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre
July 21 - Greensboro, NC @ White Oak Amphitheatre
July 22 - Portsmouth, VA @ Ntelos Wireless Pavilion
July 23 - Charlottesville, VA @ Ntelos Wireless Pavilion
July 24 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 27 - Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
July 30 - Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
August 3 - Canandaigua, NY @ Marvin Sands PAC

by Danielle Harling

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Mobile gadgets like Apple's iPad and iPhone could offer glasses-free 3D courtesy of a new, developing technology created by researchers in France.

Known as Head-Coupled Perspective, the technology uses the front-facing camera on a mobile device to create a glasses-free monocular 3D display. By tracking the position of the user's head, the projected 3D image can change its perspective and offer greater interaction. Even further, the technology doesn't rely on the accelerometer built into the iPhone and iPad, so it could conceivably work for other types of mobile devices.

The researchers behind this budding technology are Professor Laurence Nigay and Ph.D. student Jeremie Francone in the Engineering Human-Computer Interaction research group at the Grenoble Informatics Laboratory in France.

In an e-mail to CNET, Francone explained how the technology works.

"Our technique uses the front-facing camera of the device to detect and track the face of the user," Francone said. "This way, it is possible to know 'how' the user looks at the display: does he look from the front, or from the right? Is the display close or far from the user's face? Knowing such information enables us to adapt the display accordingly, giving the user the illusion that he looks at a small window instead of a 2D flat screen."

Francone said that such a technique is not new and has in fact been studied over the past 15 years as part of the research into virtual environments. But what is new is adapting the technology for mobile devices. The researchers feel that mobile devices are well suited to the technology because they allow for greater interaction and take advantage of the user's ability to move.

The team started working on the project in January. The iPad version was quickly adapted from the iPhone version, which was then adapted to the iPad 2 with only a few changes, according to Francone.

How far away is this technology from the marketplace? Francone said that it works on current mobile devices with no other equipment required. So it could hit the marketplace without delay. But there are limitations due to the limited view of the built-in camera in which the perspective is unable to adjust if the user moves out of the shot.

Overall, though, the user tests performed so far have yielded "very encouraging results," Francone added.

by Lance Whitney

Alicia Keys Releases 10th Anniversary Edition Of "Songs In A Minor"

The multiple Grammy-winning "Songs In A Minor" gets the deluxe treatment.

Few artists hit a grand slam their first time at bat but that is exactly what Alicia Keys did when she released her debut album, Songs In A Minor, in 2001. That record went on to sell over 12 million copies and earn its creator five Grammy awards. So it is not surprising that Keys would want to celebrate that album’s tenth anniversary.

To do so she will be releasing to distinctive editions of the record, a two-disc Deluxe Edition and a three-disc Collector’s Edition. Both will feature unreleased tracks, alternate versions (including the “A Woman’s Worth” Remix which features a guest verse from Nas), new liner notes, and other bonus material. The Collector’s Edition will feature a documentary about the making of Songs In A Minor on its third disc.

Keys is also planning a one-night-only solo performance on June 30^th  at the Beacon Theater in New York City which will see her play her debut in full as well as other tracks from throughout her career. Tickets for that show will go on sale May 6^th. For more information about the show and the two special editions of Songs In A Minor visit the singer’s website, www.aliciakeys.com.

by Kevin S. Gary

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Air Jordan 2011 Tech Grey/Black-Orion Blue-Chlorine Pictures

This particular pair is slapped together using Tech Grey and Chlorine Blue throughout the upper,  White on the midsole, Black on the inner lining and Orion Blue on the tongue and translucent outsole.

A nice summery look to go along with the Air Jordan 7 Retro “Orion Blue”.

No official release details have been announced at this time, so stay tuned to Sneaker Obsession for further updates.

Freddie Gibbs Explains Signing With Young Jeezy

UPDATE: In an exclusive interview with DJ Smallz, Freddie Gibbs says the decision to sign with Young Jeezy was based on a gut feeling, and the clock is ticking on a collaboration.

Last week it was reported that Freddie Gibbs was in talks with Young Jeezy to sign to Jeezy's Corporate Thugz Entertainment.
Saturday (April 9), the announcement was confirmed in Chicago, as Freddie Gibbs surprised his fans during his show by bringing out Jeezy. In an exclusive interview with DJ Smallz, Gibbs explained his rationale for signing with Jeezy’s Corporate Thugz Entertainment label.

“It’s always good to work with people that you respect,” Gibbs said. “I bump Jeezy and I think that he carved his own lane in the game, and that’s what I’m trying to do. What better way to elevate myself to the next level than doing it with somebody that I admire and respect? The situation with CTE—with Jeezy and Kinky B—it felt correct.

CTE’s lone major label project, Young Jeezy Presents U.S.D.A.: "Cold Summer:" The Authorized Mixtape was released in 2007 on CTE/Def Jam. But Jeezy has always had a strong touring presence due to his seemingly endless string of mixtape releases. Gibbs was courted by several other major labels, but he says the right opportunity never presented itself until now.

“Like I said, this was a long process for myself,” Gibbs added. “I just made the right decision and went with a gut feeling instead of just going off of impulse or signing with somebody because they’re hot. I ain’t wanna be a dick rider. I see a lot of that in the game, and I just wanted to do things my way.”

Mixtape was released in 2007 on CTE/Def Jam. But Jeezy has always had a strong touring presence due to his seemingly endless string of mixtape releases. Gibbs was courted by several other major labels, but he says the right opportunity never presented itself until now.

by Slava Kuperstein

Lil Wayne Rep Denies European Tour Reports

A rep for Weezy's "I Am Still Music Tour" says that the rapper has not applied for a visa to enter the U.K.

Reports recently hit the internet that Lil Wayne was denied a visa to tour in Europe because of his criminal record. According to a rep for Wayne's "I Am Still Music Tour," the rapper has yet to even file an application for a visa.

"No visa was ever filed, nor were there any tour dates announced or  tickets sold," said the rep to MTV News. "Lil Wayne is  currently headlining his 'I Am Still Music Tour' across the U.S. and  Canada with plans to extend the tour through North America this summer.  We hope to bring the 'I Am Still Music Tour' to the U.K. in the later half  of the year."

Currently, the tour is set to end May 1 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. His opening act, Nicki Minaj, is in talks to join Britney Spears' upcoming tour.

Snoop Dogg notably had difficulty getting admitted into the U.K., but was finally granted entry last year.
by Slava Kuperstein

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Wiz Khalifa Explains Singing And Using Harmonies In Rhymes

With the number-two album in the country, Wiz Khalifa breaks down how singing became part of his style.

When Nielsen SoundScan released its weekly sales report, Wiz Khalifa found himself trailing Britney Spears by only 80,000 units for the country’s top-selling album. Even with some lukewarm reviews, Wiz pulled in a mix of loyalists and new fans with his melodic mix of rhyming and singing on Rolling Papers. To hear Wiz tell it, this was a style he stumbled on accidentally.

“While rapping on instrumentals, there would be a lot of different types of beats,” Wiz told the Associated Press. “I might pick an R&B beat, and there would be points in the beat where the singing part would sound good. But I didn’t have anybody to sing it. So I would really hit those notes, and when it really started sounding good I blended it into my style a little bit and it just took over. It was like, ‘This is what I’ma do. I’m gonna make my own little style of singing and harmonizing and run with it.’”

Wiz said he dabbled with some singing on Show And Prove, but in the absence of live instrumentation, he just pulled melodies from the beats he had access to and benefited from being able to craft a catchy hook. Of course, it never hurts when your lead single becomes the anthem for an NFL team with Super Bowl aspirations.

“It really surprised me because I thought the song was going to be more regional than anything,” Wiz said of his number-one hit, “Black And Yellow.” In addition to being adopted by his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, the song spent 22 weeks on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 singles chart. “It just took off and grew legs on it’s own. The melody of it kind of stuck.”

by Rashad Phillips

Lil Wayne Cancels European Tour

A denial of his visa application by the UK means Lil Wayne's "I Am Still Music" tour won't hit Europe anytime soon.

In America, Lil Wayne was welcomed back from an eight-month prison stay with parties, as some fans even camped outside Rikers Island awaiting his release. Former President, Bill Clinton was even one of Wayne’s well-wishers. In the United Kingdom bureaucrats at the UK Border Agency met the multiplatinum rapper with rejection as he filed a visa application to bring his top-grossing “I Am Still Music” tour to Europe.

Wayne was expected to perform in a series of European dates, but the Border Agency rejected his application based on his criminal history. In addition to the prison stint, Wayne has drug charges that date back to 2007. The drug charges presumably wouldn’t be an issue, since Wayne is under a probationary order that prevents him from drinking alchohol or taking illegal drugs without returning to prison.

There is a precedent for similar visa denials. Snoop Dogg was banned from the UK after an incident at London’s Heathrow Airport. In 2008, Busta Rhymes was similarly denied entry into the UK due to a weapons possession charged that was then unresolved in the states.

by Omar Burgess

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