Def Jam’s recent signee 2 Chainz releases Like Me track which samples The Weeknd’s The Birds Part 1. The track is produced by Kanye West’s DJ Mano.
March 13, 2012
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli is one of the few rappers making music that speaks volumes and is still commercially feasible at the same time. The Brooklyn rapper came onto the music scene in the late 1990’s as a member of Black Star, educating and entertaining people with his music, which is perhaps why he was named by Jay Z and 50 Cent as their favourite rapper.
After the release of many albums and singles, himself and long time manager Corey Smith launched Blacksmith Music, signing an exclusive deal with Warner Bros with artists such as the highly respected female rapper Jean Grae, and super group Strong Arm Steady which includes Xzibit, Krondon, Mitchy Slick and Phil The Agony. Talib Kweli’s new album ‘Prisoner Of Conscious’ will be out this year, with the first song off it ‘Distractions,’ released two months ago. Talib will be back in the UK this month on tour, with support from Lowkey and Mic Righteous.
1. Your first name in Arabic means ‘student’ or ‘seeker’. Do you feel that you have lived up to this name, and if so what would you consider that you are a student of?
I strive to live up to my name. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. I always study details so I am a student of everything I see. But mostly of music.
2. How would you order money, power, and respect if you had to list them in order of importance and why?
Respect, Power, Money. Success is measured in happiness not paper. The power that a respected man commands trumps the power a rich man commands. It’s in the long run, so it’s hard for people to see.
3. Do you think that it is possible to achieve money, power and respect without any compromise?
Depends on what compromise you mean because everyone compromises something in life even you and I, but if you mean without compromising integrity, then certainly yes.
4. Do you feel that your educated background ever made it harder for more impoverished listeners to relate to your content?
Yes, I feel that there are times when my lyrics may get too nerdy, but I feel I’ve learned how to embrace it without alienating the listener who may not get it. This took time, and it wasn’t easy.
5. What do you feel your position and role in hip hop is?
I feel like I’m a connector. I connect with like-minded artists like Yasiin, Hi Tek, Kanye, Mad Lib, Jean Grae, Common, The Roots etc and I feel I somehow keep these artists connected. I also find a way to connect with artists who do different genres of hip hop than what I do, and newer artists as well.
6. What section of society do you think your music appeals to most?
Those who appreciate quality. Regardless of age, race, creed or region.
7. You are often described as the most underrated artist in hip hop. Would you agree with this appraisal and why do you think this is?
There are artists more underrated than me. But I certainly ain’t overrated I know that much.
8. As your career has progressed and moved forward your content has naturally evolved. Do you feel any pressure or constraints to stay true to the style and content that people first fell in love with?
I like the sound I’ve developed over the years, I enjoy it. On top of that I feel that I owe something to the people who have invested in my sound over the years. So I will always have an album or mix tape or something out that represents that style. But as an artist I get bored easily and have to try new stuff, whether fans like it or not. It’s always about striking a balance.
9. Jay Z formerly shouted you out on ‘Moment Of Clarity,’ and you responded on ‘Ghetto Show.’ How did it feel to have your lyricism appreciated and publicly praised by arguably hip hops most successful artist?
It felt right. Jay Z has always been one of my favorites from Original Flavor days, and I always looked to him as an example. Still do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JlWDgOe_Is
10. What were the reasons that led to you selecting Lowkey and Mic Righteous to support you on your UK tour?
I didn’t select them; I usually am not involved with the selection of openers. But I am glad they were chosen. I’ve heard great things from them and I look forward to sharing the stage with them.
11. You will be touring in the UK soon. Where in the world would you next like to go on tour that you haven’t been to yet?
Iceland. Or the Middle East.
12. What single character trait or attribute do you most respect in another artist?
Honesty
13. What are you liking about the UK hip hop scene at the moment?
Not really up on the UK scene. But Low Key and Mic Righteous are both ill, and I’m not just saying that because they are on the bill. I rock with Kano too, and my man Sway.
14. Any plans for a future collaboration with any UK artists?
I get down with whoevers nice and serious about getting down.
15. Following ‘Prisoner of Conscious,’ what is next for Talib Kweli?
San Juan. I want to move to Puerto Rico.
Quick Fire Round
- Artists you respect the most?
Bjork
- Most powerful person in hip hop?
Kanye West
- What would you prefer money, power or respect?
Respect
- What can’t money buy?
Happiness
March 12, 2012
Jay-Z & Kanye West Settle Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over ‘The Joy’
Jay Z is being hit again with a lawsuit, this time with Kanye West over a copyright infringement on their bonus track on the Watch The Throne album The Joy.
The duo have now settled with veteran soul singer Syl Johnson, who sued them in October for using a sample of his song Different Strokes without authorisation.
Pete Rock who produced the track was also not happy as the sample was added on after he had finished producing it, and was not told about it. He took to Twitter afterwards to clear his name…
“just to clear the air about WTT,i never sampled that syl johnson record,if u sample syl u gotta show him sum respect and clear the sample.”
Jay Z is still facing a lawsuit for his track Big Pimpin by the nephew of Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdy over the rights to the hook which they claim he sampled.
February 9, 2012
Jay-Z & Kanye West – Ni**as In Paris
This video is crazy and was shot doing part of their Watch The Throne Tour.
Watch the video for Ni**as In Paris here
January 23, 2012
T-Pain, Bringing Soul Back To Hip Hop
Hailing from Tallahassee, USA, multi-platinum selling artist T-Pain burst onto the music scene in 2005 with his debut album Rappa Ternt Sanga, featuring the first hit single ‘I’m Sprung’ and second ‘I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper)’. Showing he is different to his peers in the music game, he’s bringing soul back to hip hop. He has worked with some of the most successful music artists in the US, including Lil Wayne, TI, R Kelly, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Ludacris and DJ Khaled. Flavour catches up with T-Pain ahead of his fourth album release Revolver…
Tell us about your name T Pain and what ‘Pain’ means to you?
The ‘Pain’ bit is the pain and the struggle it took me to get out of the T. It sucked: it was very terrible trying to get out of Tallahassee. There are not a lot of music execs and record companies that come to Tallahassee looking for talent; it was a hard deal trying to get out of there.
You were tired of the borders that divide hip hop and soul – how have you brought them together?
I think I did it pretty well [laughs]. It’s been working out so far. I came from a hip-hop background, with all my brothers and my dad around, and I just felt more love for R&B and soul, and it’s meshed together really well.
You turned your bedroom into a recording studio at 10. You must have been a pretty wise 10-year-old then?
At this point I had no idea what I was doing, I wasn’t too smart. I knew myself in my heart and my mind – that’s all you do really know at 10 years old. There was no major money involved; I had my parents. Nothing really came about at that age; I just got rid of my bed and turned it into a studio.
You started off rapping and then singing – why did you switch?
There was too many people rapping at that time; we had too many rappers in my hometown. I just wanted to be different and do something else. When you have enough of the same thing, I just felt I had to switch it up.
Did you ever think that by making your own version of ‘Locked Up’ – ‘I’m Fucked Up’ – that Akon would hear it and sign you?
I didn’t think he would sign me at all. I didn’t even think he had a record label [laughs]. When I heard the song, Akon hadn’t been signed for too long. It was kind of weird that he was the one who called me up – you always think you’re going to get a call from a huge record label or company. I thought it was a joke at first, but when I found it wasn’t, I wasn’t sure if Akon could do the same thing as a huge record company.
You told AllHipHop.com that you vow never to use Auto-Tune again. How is the T Pain effect better, and what exactly is it?
The T Pain effect is better because I’m T Pain and I’m better at a lot of things [laughs]. I think the effect reflects everything I do, and I get to control it. Every time I used Auto-Tune, I wished I could do this or this on it. So now I’ve made my own one, I can do everything I want. With Auto-Tune you just get pitch correction; with the T Pain effect you get everything I use in the studio: you get my reverbs, my chorus, my delay, my distortion, the compression – everything I use; it’s a one-stop shop.
Do you think you will ever not use any pitch correction technology?
There’s always songs I don’t use it on; people don’t realise, though, that’s why I don’t make a big deal about not using it. On some of my biggest songs there is no Auto-Tune, like ‘Low’ with Flo Rida. People never notice; I always put two songs on my album that use no Auto-Tune, and those seem to get noticed the least.
How do you start to write? Where does the inspiration come from?
Just real-life experience. It’s not too hard to write a song about something you’ve already been through; it’s harder to make something up. If you don’t have money, you cant make a song about money. If you have money, you can’t make a song about not having money. I think it’s harder to come up with catchy stuff, other than just writing from the heart. That’s why Lil Wayne doesn’t write any more, because if he writes, it’s not going to be real. Real situations shouldn’t have to be witty and catchy.
Your new single is ‘5 O’Clock’. How did the collab with Lily Allen and Wiz Khalifa come about?
With Lily Allen it was an automatic collaboration, which was dope. Wiz Khalifa, I was looking for him; I’ve been waiting to do a song with him for a long time, it was well overdue.
Tell us about Revolver?
I think this is going to be one of my best albums. I’ve gotten better as a musician and learnt more things that make my music better. I explore more instead of being afraid to try things.
How has your music evolved from the first album to this one?
I’ve matured as an artist. I listened to my old albums and said to myself this is better [laughs]. Sometimes I try and find out why people liked my first album, but it was just me and that is what I wanted to put out.
Follow T-Pain on Twitter @TPAIN or visit http://www.t-pain.net/uk
* published in Flavour Magazine
January 13, 2012
The Brit Award Nominations 2012
Last night was the Brit Awards nominations, so here they are for 2012
British Male Solo Artist
Ed Sheeran
James Blake
James Morrison
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Professor Green
British Female Solo Artist
Adele
Florence & the Machine
Jessie J
Kate Bush
Laura Marling
British Breakthrough Act
Anna Calvi
Ed Sheeran
Emeli Sandé
Jessie J
The Vaccines
British Group
Arctic Monkeys
Chase & Status
Coldplay
Elbow
Kasabian
British Single
Adele – Someone Like You
Ed Sheeran – The A Team
Example – Changed The Way You Kissed Me
Jessie J ft Bob – Price Tag
JLS ft Dev – She Makes Me Wanna
Military Wives/Gareth Malone – Wherever You Are
Olly Murs ft Rizzle Kicks – Heart Skips A Beat
One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
Pixie Lott – All About Tonight
The Wanted – Glad You Came
International Female Solo Artist
Beyoncé
Bjork
Feist
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
International Group
Fleet Foxes
Foo Fighters
Jay Z/ Kanye West
Lady Antebellum
Maroon 5
International Breakthrough Act
Aloe Blacc
Bon Iver
Foster The People
Lana Del Rey
Nicki Minaj
Outstanding Contribution to Music
WINNER:
Blur
Critics Choice
1st – Emeli Sandé
2nd – Maverick Sabre
3rd – Michael Kiwanuka
British Producer
Paul Epworth
Flood
Ethan Johes
January 5, 2012
Kanye West Cheated On Amber Rose With Kim Kardashian
Radar reported that Star Magazine had an interview with Amber Rose where she told them directly that Kim Kardashian was the reason why her and Kanye West split. They directly quoted her saying,
“Kim is one of the main reasons why me and Kanye are not together,” Amber exclusively told Star. “She’s a homewrecker!”
“[Kanye and Kim] were both cheating,” Amber, 28, said. “They were both cheating on me and Reggie [Bush] with each other.”
Amber says it was Kim, 31, who instigated the whole affair by calling, texting and sending racy photos of herself to Kanye.
“She was sending pictures, and I was like, ‘Kim, just stop. Don’t be that person,’” but apparently Kim didn’t care enough to respond when Amber emailed her for an explanation.”
“I thought at least she’d be woman enough to respond to me. She never responded.”
Amber slammed Kim for her cheating ways. “It’s very important that us women stick together and we don’t f**k each other over like that.”
“I want to thank her,” she said about Kim. “Because if she was never a homewrecker, then I never would have met Wiz, and I wouldn’t be as happy as I am now.”
December 16, 2011
Jay Z Compares Having Kids To Running Roc Nation
Jay Z spoke to MTV News in New York about becoming a father soon.
“I think running a label is a bit like having kids,” he told MTV.
He is known to let his artists take the lead, and has an off hands approach when it comes to them.
“When you know someone needs more help, you help them,” he explained. “When you see that someone can make it on their own … you see Kanye or J. Cole, you see that sort of talent — you let that talent be. You let that talent find its way.”
“Of course you’re not gonna let any harm befall it,” he added. “You pretty much let people find their way.”
“I’m just really here to provide opportunity. I’m not here to do anything else.”
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