Tag Archives: reminisce-over

Pete Rock Wanted To Assist Lupe Fiasco On ‘T.R.O.Y.’ Remake

‘I want to give you that same impact that I had when I put that record out,’ Pete Rock says about ‘Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free).’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Pete Rock Photo: MTV News Pete Rock and CL Smooth ‘s “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” is an iconic, classic and unforgettable track that hip-hop fans across the world hold near and dear. But as special as the 1992 track is to the listener, it means even more to the creator, who originally made the track in dedication to his fallen friend Troy “Trouble T Roy” Dixon. So when producer Pete Rock first heard Lupe Fiasco ‘s remake, “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free),” on the radio last week, he was quite upset. “At that point, my emotions were working — I’m still thinking about Heavy D and Troy is a dear friend to me, and my emotions got the best of me, and I expressed myself on Twitter,” Pete Rock told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway on Tuesday, a week after Lupe released his single. Dixon, a former member of the hip-hop group Heavy D & the Boyz, passed away in 1990 after an accidental fall while he was out on tour. Two years later, Pete Rock and his partner CL Smooth released “T.R.O.Y.” to pay homage. The song took on even greater meaning for Rock after Heavy D, his cousin, passed away in November 2011. The Soul Brother said he was approached by Lupe’s label and management to use his classic beat for their new track. Rock agreed, under the one condition: that he was involved in the recording process. “I thought from that point I would be involved with Lupe and being in the studio, tweaking the beat, but I never heard from the record label, and then I turn on the radio, and hear it on the radio,” Rock explained. Instead of involving Pete Rock, Lupe and his team re-created the beat from the original 1967 Tom Scott sample from which “T.R.O.Y.” was crafted. “No disrespect to lupe fiasco and i like him alot but TROY should be left alone. Feel so violated, the beat is next to my heart and was made Outta anguish and pain. When it’s like that it should not be touched by no one,” Rock tweeted after hearing the track. “I’m not flattered @ all. Dat sh– is wack, and the producer should be ashamed of his f—in self. Smh.” The two soon got on the phone, and their respective differences were thought to be solved. “I just got off da phone with lupe, we worked out our difference and we bout to get it in,” Pete tweeted May 23. “Gonna be epic and we gonna give Troy and hev the proper respect they deserve and make history.” The very next day, an irate Lupe phoned into the “Sway in the Morning” radio show and blasted Pete Rock for what he said was a premature tweet. “He wasn’t supposed to say that,” Lupe said in response to Pete’s tweet about plans to collaborate, which has now been deleted from his account. “He was supposed to say the same sh– he said on the phone: ‘Yo, man, it was my bad, that was wack, it was f—ed up for me to say that, it was disrespectful, I was 100 percent in the wrong, I apologize.’ That’s what he was supposed to say.” The two artists clearly have different views, but Pete contends that his aim was to make peace. “When he called, he was upset, and I just tried to talk him through that and say, ‘Look, man, at the end of the day, let’s just fix this thing,’ ” Rock explained to MTV News. “My whole goal was to just squash this thing, fix the music and just move on.” Pete said he’s still a Fiasco fan — naming “Paris, Tokyo” and “Kick, Push” as two of his favorite songs — but he also stands by his original condition: If anyone is to remake “T.R.O.Y.,” he wants to be involved. “If you’re using my track, I want to give you that same impact that I had when I put that record out,” he said. “They Reminisce Over You” has already been redone several times — on mixtapes as well as commercially released albums. Rock said he can’t control the unauthorized mixtape versions, but he would like to be a part of all official remakes, as he was on Mary J. Blige’s 1993 What’s the 411? Remix album. “The Mary J. Blige remix was dope because she involved us and she put CL Smooth on her remix,” he said. What do you think about Lupe Fiasco’s “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)”? Sound off below! Related Artists Pete Rock

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Pete Rock Wanted To Assist Lupe Fiasco On ‘T.R.O.Y.’ Remake

Questlove Wants Pete Rock To Reconsider Fiasco With Lupe

‘I’m glad that Lupe did it,’ Questlove tells MTV News of Lupe Fiasco’s ‘T.R.O.Y’ sample on his new single ‘Around My Way.’ By Rob Markman Questlove Photo: MTV News Lupe Fiasco took on a ton of criticism this week when he sampled Pete Rock and CL Smooth ‘s “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” on his new single, “Around My Way,” but Questlove is in full support of the Chicago MC. “I would hope that Pete would reconsider his position because it’s clearly an homage to his legacy,” the Roots drummer told MTV News on Wednesday. After Fiasco dropped his new single on Tuesday, Pete Rock took to Twitter to chastise Lu and the song’s producers for remaking the song, which he and CL Smooth released back in 1992 as a dedication to their fallen friend and Heavy D & the Boyz group member Troy “Trouble T” Dixon. “I’m not flattered @ all. Dat sh– is wack, and the producer should be ashamed of his f—in self. Smh,” he wrote. On Thursday, a livid Lu phoned into MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway’s “Sway in the Morning” radio show and revealed that he didn’t actually sample Pete Rock’s 1992 “Reminisce,” but instead crafted his track from Tom Scott’s 1967 jazz record “Today.” But he was, in fact, attempting to honor the famed hip-hop producer and Questlove believes that’s a good thing. “I’m certain that people will know that’s ‘T.R.O.Y.’ by Pete Rock and CL Smooth and it will seem familiar to them, and that will give Pete the 20-year resurgence and boost that naturally comes with this type of music,” the Roots maestro reasoned. “I’m glad that Lupe did it because as a DJ, sometimes it’s hard to convince people that are younger than the music that you’re spinning that this is worth dancing to. “I think it’s a good thing. He’ll get over it,” Questlove said. What are your thoughts on Lupe Fiasco’s “Around My Way”? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Lupe Fiasco Addresses Pete Rock Related Artists Questlove Pete Rock Lupe Fiasco

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Questlove Wants Pete Rock To Reconsider Fiasco With Lupe

Lupe Fiasco’s ‘T.R.O.Y.’ Remake Is ‘Wack,’ Pete Rock Says

Catch Lupe Fiasco on ‘RapFix Live’ this Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. By Rob Markman Lupe Fiasco Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage When Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth dropped “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” 20 years ago, the celebrated rap duo was still reeling over the unexpected death of their dear friend Troy “Trouble T” Dixon of Heavy D & the Boyz. What began as the most personal of lyrical eulogies soon became an iconic hip-hop track, so when Lupe Fiasco reworked the “T.R.O.Y.” instrumental for his new single “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)” on Monday, things were all good until Pete Rock chimed in. “No disrespect to lupe fiasco and i like him alot but TROY should be left alone. Feel so violated,the beat is next to my heart and was made Outta anguish and pain. When it’s like that it should not be touched by no one,” Rock tweeted on Monday after hearing the track. While Lu’s new single clearly is a nod to “T.R.O.Y,” the original track isn’t exactly an original composition, as it samples from jazz musician Tom Scott’s 1967 song “Today.” It’s possible that “Around My Way,” which was produced by Simonsayz and B-Sidet, sampled a portion of their track from Scott’s version. This isn’t the first time that Lupe has paid homage to Pete Rock either, he once freestyled over the “Reminisce” beat for his “Dopeboys” freestyle with Wale and Kardinal Offishall. Lyrically, Lu continues to push rap’s topical boundaries on “Around My Way,” choosing to rhyme about social-political ills in Ghana and corruption in the oil industry. Rock stressed that he did not have a personal problem with the Chicago rapper, he just didn’t appreciate the remake. “I’m not flattered @ all. Dat sh– is wack, and the producer should be ashamed of his f–kin self. Smh,” he wrote . On Tuesday, Lupe began tweeting links to other “T.R.O.Y.” remakes, including Mann’s J.R. Rotem-produced “Reminisce” and a remixed version of the song which featured Journalist, Mr. Cheeks and Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth themselves. Finally Lupe took the high road and tweeted a YouTube link to the original Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth video with the hash tag “#20YearsLaterStillTheBest.” Catch Lupe Fiasco on this week’s “RapFix Live,” Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. Do you side with Pete Rock? Should “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” remain untouched? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Lupe Fiasco Pete Rock

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Lupe Fiasco’s ‘T.R.O.Y.’ Remake Is ‘Wack,’ Pete Rock Says

Lupe Fiasco’s ‘T.R.O.Y.’ Remake Is ‘Wack,’ Pete Rock Says

Catch Lupe Fiasco on ‘RapFix Live’ this Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. By Rob Markman Lupe Fiasco Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage When Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth dropped “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” 20 years ago, the celebrated rap duo was still reeling over the unexpected death of their dear friend Troy “Trouble T” Dixon of Heavy D & the Boyz. What began as the most personal of lyrical eulogies soon became an iconic hip-hop track, so when Lupe Fiasco reworked the “T.R.O.Y.” instrumental for his new single “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)” on Monday, things were all good until Pete Rock chimed in. “No disrespect to lupe fiasco and i like him alot but TROY should be left alone. Feel so violated,the beat is next to my heart and was made Outta anguish and pain. When it’s like that it should not be touched by no one,” Rock tweeted on Monday after hearing the track. While Lu’s new single clearly is a nod to “T.R.O.Y,” the original track isn’t exactly an original composition, as it samples from jazz musician Tom Scott’s 1967 song “Today.” It’s possible that “Around My Way,” which was produced by Simonsayz and B-Sidet, sampled a portion of their track from Scott’s version. This isn’t the first time that Lupe has paid homage to Pete Rock either, he once freestyled over the “Reminisce” beat for his “Dopeboys” freestyle with Wale and Kardinal Offishall. Lyrically, Lu continues to push rap’s topical boundaries on “Around My Way,” choosing to rhyme about social-political ills in Ghana and corruption in the oil industry. Rock stressed that he did not have a personal problem with the Chicago rapper, he just didn’t appreciate the remake. “I’m not flattered @ all. Dat sh– is wack, and the producer should be ashamed of his f–kin self. Smh,” he wrote . On Tuesday, Lupe began tweeting links to other “T.R.O.Y.” remakes, including Mann’s J.R. Rotem-produced “Reminisce” and a remixed version of the song which featured Journalist, Mr. Cheeks and Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth themselves. Finally Lupe took the high road and tweeted a YouTube link to the original Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth video with the hash tag “#20YearsLaterStillTheBest.” Catch Lupe Fiasco on this week’s “RapFix Live,” Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. Do you side with Pete Rock? Should “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” remain untouched? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Lupe Fiasco Pete Rock

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Lupe Fiasco’s ‘T.R.O.Y.’ Remake Is ‘Wack,’ Pete Rock Says

Jennifer Lopez Planning Greatest-Hits Album

Vocal producer Kuk Harrell tells MTV News he’ll team with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream for the project. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Vanessa White Wolf Jennifer Lopez Photo: Mike Coppola/ Getty Images Jennifer Lopez certainly has had some big hits. Since releasing her debut album, On the 6, in 1999, J.Lo has commanded pop radio with tracks like “If You Had My Love,” “I’m Real,” “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” and “Jenny From the Block.” And she hasn’t stopped. This year, she released Love?, featuring club bangers like “On the Floor.” Now, J.Lo plans to give her fans a proper greatest-hits album. “I just got the call a week ago that the greatest-hits album for Jennifer Lopez is coming up,” vocal producer Kuk Harrell told MTV News. “Now I’m just waiting for them to put on the schedule [and] let me know what songs we’re actually cutting and stuff like that.” While he didn’t have too many details about what fans should expect on the album, Harrell did share who else Jenny is hitting the studio with. “I think [when] I find out what the direction is, I will definitely go in the lab. I will get in the lab with Tricky Stewart and The-Dream and see what we can come up with for it.” Harrell has certainly been busy this year. He worked with Rihanna on her Talk That Talk album , Justin Bieber on Under the Mistletoe (and will work with him again on his next album) and now has plans to hook up with Lopez. He’s grateful for all the opportunities he’s been given. “I’m so fortunate to be able to work with Rihanna and Justin Bieber … and Jennifer Lopez for that matter, so anytime a call comes in to work with the three of them, it’s always ‘yes,’ because it’s just assumed [it’ll be good],” he said. “They’re superstars, so how are you going to turn them down? Unless we have a scheduling conflict, but it’s always a ‘yes.’ It’s always an immediate ‘we’re gonna kill it.’ That’s when my competitive edge comes out. It has to be the best. It has to be better than anything we’ve ever done.” What tracks do you hope to see on J.Lo’s greatest-hits album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Jennifer Lopez

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Jennifer Lopez Planning Greatest-Hits Album

Tupac Shakur Was ‘Mad Talented,’ Phife Dawg Recalls

Phife will appear on ‘Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts’ on MTV2 on Sunday. By Rob Markman Tupac Shakur Photo: Steve Granitz/ Wireimage During its history, “Yo! MTV Raps” documented the rise of hip-hop’s most revered artists. One of rap’s most iconic figures, Tupac Shakur , gave the show many memorable moments; one in particular found a fiery ‘Pac airing out his beef with “Menace II Society” film directors Albert and Allen Hughes. Still, as controversial as Tupac was, he sure did get a lot of love. “Dude was just mad talented,” Phife Dawg told MTV News of Tupac. “He’s a human being, he’s made some mistakes along the way, blah, blah, blah, but the love was there. You couldn’t tell the ladies nothing about Tupac. Now that I live on the West Coast, I really see for myself firsthand how much love that dude gets.” Phife, a former member of A Tribe Called Quest , will appear on “MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts” on December 4. He made his bones in the early 1990s, much like ‘Pac. While they both hailed from New York, Shakur called California home. “A lot of people forget he’s originally from Harlem, went to school in Baltimore with Jada Pinkett Smith — they forget that he’s actually from the East Coast,” Phife explained. “But one thing I heard ‘Pac say is, ‘I learned the game of life from the West Coast.’ So I guess he can say West Coast is home.” When the topic of the greatest MC of all time comes up, Shakur’s name is usually mentioned, but in Phife’s opinion, when out in California, there’s not even an argument: Tupac reigns supreme. ” ‘Pac is king on the West Coast,” he said. “Nobody touches Tupac out there.” Watch “MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts” on December 4 at 12 a.m. ET, immediately after the “2011 Sucker Free Awards.” Related Videos Reminisce Over The Return Of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ With These Classic Clips

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Tupac Shakur Was ‘Mad Talented,’ Phife Dawg Recalls

BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #66: Teddy Riley Moves To VA, Meets Neptunes

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Where: (click below to visit venue on Foursquare) Future Records Recording Studio 4338 Virginia Beach Boulevard Virginia Beach, VA 23452-1238 4338 Virginia Beach BoulevardVirginia Beach, VA 23452-1238 When: 1990 What: Harlem native Teddy Riley was instrumental in the rise of New Jack Swing; R&B infused with Hip-Hop flavored beats. After making his move to VA he would influence a number of new producers, including VA natives Timbaland, Missy Elliott and production duo The Neptunes. PREVIOUS | NEXT In celebration of Black Music Month, TheUrbanDaily’s “It’s All Black Music” presents  100 Rewarding Black Music Moments , sponsored by Southwest Airlines . Each Black Music Moment is associated with an actual place that you can visit. During the month of June, check in to at least three of these places on  Foursquare to unlock TheUrbanDaily’s exclusive  “It’s All Black Music” Badge . Check out the locations and details on our  Foursquare page !

BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #66: Teddy Riley Moves To VA, Meets Neptunes

BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #65: Trouble T-Roy Dies

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Where: (click below to visit venue on Foursquare) Wishard Hospital 1001 West 10th Street Indianapolis, IN 1001 West 10th StreetIndianapolis, IN When: July 15, 1990 What: While horsing around after a show, Troy “Trouble T-Roy” Dixon, one of Heavy D’s dancers, fell off a balcony and died from his injuries. T-Roy’s passing, though tragic, inspired a beautiful tribute. Pete Rock & CL Smooth recorded “They Reminisce Over You(T.R.O.Y)” in tribute to their late friend. PREVIOUS | NEXT In celebration of Black Music Month, TheUrbanDaily’s “It’s All Black Music” presents  100 Rewarding Black Music Moments , sponsored by Southwest Airlines . Each Black Music Moment is associated with an actual place that you can visit. During the month of June, check in to at least three of these places on  Foursquare to unlock TheUrbanDaily’s exclusive  “It’s All Black Music” Badge . Check out the locations and details on our  Foursquare page !

BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #65: Trouble T-Roy Dies

Vaya Con Dios 2009: The 20 Most Anticipated Movies of 2010

As far as movies go, 2009 lined up some serious heavy-hitters and great deal of swing-and-miss-ers . Continue reading