Tag Archives: shaheem-reid

T.I.’s ‘Takers’ Character ‘A More Interesting, Challenged Villain’

Tip talks about his ‘complex character’ in film, due August 27. By Shaheem Reid T.I. Photo: Columbia Pictures T.I. is treacherous. He’s cold, he’s calculating and he’s out for millions. As the character Ghost in the upcoming film “Takers,” the beloved King of the South is all of the above, but he also sneaks in a few hysterical one-liners. It’s these multifaceted aspects that lured him to his role in the film. “I wanted to play a more interesting, challenged villain,” Tip said. “I think Ghost, in the end, is the villain, but initially he’s the guy you feel sorry for. Like, ‘Why you doing Ghost like that?’ He got shot, he went and did time. Now they don’t want to do his job. Why not? Later you find out why. He’s a bit of a complex character.” In “Takers,” T.I. plays one in a crew of bank robbers along with Idris Elba, Hayden Christensen, Paul Walker, Michael Ealy and Chris Brown. Ghost was shot and captured during one of the collective’s heists years ago. Fresh out of the pen, Ghost has the info for a mother lode multimillion-dollar job. The catch is, the group just pulled off a robbery and they like to take at least a year off between jobs. Ghost’s plan is to rob an armored car, but they only have a few days to plan and pull it off. At the film’s Hollywood premiere on Wednesday, Tip said he didn’t get an opportunity to take part in many of the movie’s stunts . “To be candid, they wasn’t allowing me to do many stunts myself due to the circumstance of my personal [troubles],” he said. “I witnessed a lot of them: the explosions, the shoot-outs, the chase scene with Chris. They’re outstanding. “We worked hard,” he added. “I think all of this is just a result of the hard work that was put into the project. Everybody gave 150 percent. Nobody laid back, nobody took off — everybody went hard. This is the result of that.” Related Photos ‘Takers’ Premiere Seizes Hollywood Related Artists T.I.

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T.I.’s ‘Takers’ Character ‘A More Interesting, Challenged Villain’

Game’s Brake Lights Tape Is ‘Like A Real Album,’ DJ Skee Says

‘This time around, it’s a lot higher [quality],’ Skee tells Mixtape Daily. By Shaheem Reid DJ Skee Photo: MTV News The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive If you’ve been following the Game’s new Twitter page, you’ll see that his fans have given resounding kudos to his new mixtape, Brake Lights. The project was produced by Cool & Dre and hosted by DJ Skee and was released at midnight Tuesday online. “Reason we named it Brake Lights is because it’s something you don’t see if you’re following us often — we don’t stop,” Skee said from his SkeeTV headquarters. “We just had to talk about it. Plus we just did The R.E.D. Album with Game. The biggest difference between this and The Red Room [mixtape] is, I think, the quality of records. This time around, it’s a lot higher. We got some crazy features, more original stuff. It’s not really any freestyles over other people’s beats. It’s all original music. So it’s really like a real album. We’re going back to those classic Game/ DJ Skee street-album days. It’s gonna be pretty crazy.” Included on the tape is “Street Riders,” on which guest MC Nas references Pharrell Williams by name and throws some subliminals at 50 Cent. “I showed n—as their first Bentley/ How the f— I window shop?” he raps. “We’ve actually had it done forever,” Skee said. “It was actually supposed to be on the Doctor’s Advocate album. It didn’t make it for one reason or another. There’s been a bunch of different reincarnations of the song. … I actually have eight different versions of the song. Game, he went back in. He said, ‘It’s time to do it.’ Cool & Dre did the beat. So we was like, ‘Let’s throw it on the mixtape. It’s probably never going to come out other than that.’ I played a snippet of it on the radio years ago, and fans have been going crazy since then. We threw that on. Game did two new verses. He wanted to make it more relevant for today. You have a crazy Nas verse. Akon kills the hook. It’s one of the craziest, darkest Cool & Dre beats. It’s one of my favorite Game records ever. So it’s finally out, Brake Lights, it’s official.” The Compton star brings in another West Coast giant on “Trading Places.” “It’s the second song on the mixtape,” Skee described. “The beat, when I heard it, it just sounded like something different. Game and Snoop Dogg on a record. West Coast — what more could you want?” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: Drake, Bun B

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Game’s Brake Lights Tape Is ‘Like A Real Album,’ DJ Skee Says

Busta Rhymes Is ‘Indecisive’ About The Chemo Album Title

‘The album is pretty much at the 85, 90 percent mark,’ rapper says of upcoming LP. By Shaheem Reid Busta Rhymes Photo: MTV News Busta Rhymes is sure about the music. He’s just not sure about the album title. The New York veteran has the heater “Stop the Party” with Swizz Beatz out right now; he just dropped the remix featuring Ghostface, T.I., Cam’ron and DMX; and a video directed by Hype Williams is on the way. Both are from his upcoming LP, which he was going to call The Chemo, but now he’s having second thoughts. “To be honest with you, to clear it up, I haven’t given the album title a title yet,” he explained to MTV News recently. “I think what’s creating the back and forth is that I officially had the name of the album as The Chemo, but the selected few ears that I trust that have come in the studio, that heard the [new] album, they have been declaring that’s it’s developing into something that’s feeling like what Extinction Level Event felt like. I thought that was an unbelievable honor to hear that coming from the opinions of the ears that I trust and respect. As artists, you wanna, make sure the co-sign is a never ending co-sign, whenever you’re at a point that you’re ready to share your music or your body of work with the ears that you trust. It felt good to hear that. “For me, I still was leaning towards The Chemo, ” he added. “But the way I’m getting beat up about it, I’m now at an indecisive place. We always try to appease and cater to what the demand is, what the people want. I’m still working. The album is pretty much at the 85, 90 percent mark. Between now and the next three to four weeks, we’re gonna be able to give some confirmation on what it’s gonna be. Stay tuned.” Do you think “The Chemo” is a good album title? Sound off in the comments. Related Artists Busta Rhymes

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Busta Rhymes Is ‘Indecisive’ About The Chemo Album Title

Drake’s ‘Fancy’ Was Mary J. Blige’s Song First, Swizz Beatz Reveals

Producer also says Drizzy wanted Andre 3000 on the track along with him and T.I. By Shaheem Reid Drake Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage Drake ‘s new single “Fancy” almost ended up on two other albums before it finally landed on Thank Me Later. ” ‘Fancy’ has been well-traveled,” said Swizz Beatz, who produced the song. “It started off as a Swizz record. Then I got Mary [J. Blige] on it. It was supposed to be on her [ Stronger With Each Tear ], but we missed the deadline. Then I pulled it back for my [upcoming] record. Then five o’clock one morning, on the phone speaking with Drake, he’s in a different time zone, we’re trying to figure out what he needs [for his album]. He’s like, ‘Yo, I just need a record for the ladies.’ I’m on my computer playing him joints over the phone. Then I played him ‘Fancy.’ I was like, ‘You want something like this?’ But I was playing it as a reference.” On the original version of “Fancy,” Swizz raps about an educated girl who works at the Guggenheim Museum, while MJB sang about an independent female. “She got it all together,” Blige sings. “She don’t need you to help her/ She got her own paper/ She don’t need you to take her on a shopping spree/ My girl’s fancy, fly and free.” Drake didn’t want something like what Swizz played; he wanted that exact song for his album. “He was like, ‘That’s the record I need,’ ” Swizz recalled. “I said, ‘OK, I’ll make you that.’ ” Drake replied: “No. That’s the record I need.” Swizzy gave up the goods. “I’m a producer first,” Swizz said. “So he can have the record. I’m still on it, it’s still love. He’s a heck of an artist, and I feel no ways but honored.” The finished version of the song we hear on the album features Drake, Swizz and Tip, but at least one other MC was on the wish list to be on the song. “Andre 3000 was supposed to be on ‘Fancy,’ ” Swizz revealed. “Drake had a group of people he wanted to be on it: Andre, Tip, this one, that one. But the deadline for the album rushed a lot of things. [Drake] can tell you the rest, but Tip just wound up being on it. Which I’m cool with, cause that’s the homie.” Drake is filming the videos for “Fancy” and “Miss Me” this week in Atlanta. Are you glad “Fancy” ended up with Drake? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos ‘Drake: Better Than Good Enough’ Related Photos Drake’s Style: From A To Drizzy

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Drake’s ‘Fancy’ Was Mary J. Blige’s Song First, Swizz Beatz Reveals

Tony Yayo Urges Fans: ‘Don’t Forget’ About Haiti

‘Keep donating,’ says the G-Unit rapper, who is of Haitian descent. By Shaheem Reid Tony Yayo Photo: Getty Images While reflecting on the tragic earthquake and aftershock in Haiti just a half a year later, Tony Yayo said he has a message for everyone: “I want to tell people it’s only been six months,” he told MTV News on Tuesday (July 13). “Don’t forget what happened. And all the people that donated [before], keep donating and do what you got to do.” Yayo — who is of Haitian descent — suffered the loss of a relative and some friends in the disaster but said he and his family are just like the rest of the people in Haiti: recovering. “My family is good. We lost one cousin. That was tragic. But everybody is kinda taking it in stride,” Yayo said via phone from Brazil, where he’s on tour with 50 Cent , Lloyd Banks and DJ Whoo Kid. “I was watching CNN the other day, and one of the things I saw was all the Haitians happy about the World Cup,” Tony continued. “That was amazing that a soccer game could uplift, that people that were in a tragic situation could be happy over a soccer game.” Yayo acknowledges the recovery efforts going on in Haiti but feels more can be done — by himself and others. “It’s crazy, man, because they said there are [hundreds of millions of dollars]. I’m not sure of the number, but they say they can’t touch some of the money yet,” Yayo said. “I don’t understand that, but it’s crazy the relief efforts generated that much money. “Last time, we did Funkmaster Flex’s car show and Wyclef came onstage with me, 50 and Banks,” he added. “I’m sure you’ve seen that. The mission now is for [the G-Unit] to get to Haiti. That’s our thing, is to get down there, but we want to send clothes and more stuff down there.” Wyclef Jean blogged about continued earthquake-relief efforts for CNN on Tuesday, asking that progress be expedited because it’s “being made at the speed of a turtle.” What more can be done to help Haiti? Share your ideas in the comments. Related Artists Tony Yayo

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Tony Yayo Urges Fans: ‘Don’t Forget’ About Haiti

T.I. Is ‘Taking The World Over’ On King Uncaged, Swizz Beatz Says

‘We’re growing as artists,’ Swizzy says of collaborating with Tip. By Shaheem Reid Swizz Beatz Photo: MTV News When Swizz Beatz and T.I. link up in the lab, the result will probably be epic. First, they landed Tip a smash single with “Bring Em Out,” then they trumped themselves with “Swing Ya Rag” from Paper Trail. The pair recently collaborated on the King of the South’s upcoming King Uncaged. “What we just did is bigger than those,” Swizz said about the two new records he produced for Tip. “It’s bigger than ‘Swing Ya Rag,’ it’s bigger than all of those. We’re growing as artists. That’s one of the things I wanted to focus on with Tip, was: ‘We did that already. We don’t need to compete with nobody. You up there.’ Everything we gotta do, we gotta stay leaders. That’s how we got to where we at now. He gave me his OK on that. Gave me the clear lane. And we’re gone. Trust me on that. The first joint, it’s nice. Crazy! The second joint is taking the world over. It’s a positive message, and I’ll let him explain the rest of the story, because he would be glad to. [It’s] very musical, but still with that swag in it.” T.I. completed a yearlong prison sentence in March for weapons charges. Swizz said one of their collaborations delves into that experience. “The other one is more heartfelt,” the producer said. “Story to tell. Think about the real things that’s going on in the world. He just finished dealing with a real situation. Besides his situation, there’s a million of other real situations going on in the world. So the feel is more worldly. African congas, symphony violins, what I told I was gonna do. I told y’all I was gonna switch the sound thing up.” King Uncaged is due in September. Are you looking forward to hearing more T.I./Swizzy collabos? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Swizz Beatz T.I.

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T.I. Is ‘Taking The World Over’ On King Uncaged, Swizz Beatz Says

Shawty Lo Calls Marriage Proposal Video Leak ‘All Good’

‘I didn’t know that many paparazzi was gonna be there,’ the Atlanta MC jokes to MTV News of friends posting clip online. By Shaheem Reid Shawty Lo Photo: MTV News Shawty Lo puts the “L-O” in L-O-V-E. The Atlanta fan favorite recently popped the question to his girlfriend of more than a decade, Ecreia Perez. To his surprise, video footage of his proposal was shot by one of the couple’s friends and posted on the Internet . “Believe it or not, I didn’t know that many paparazzi was gonna be there,” he laughed over the weekend in ATL. “But it ain’t no secret. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m very shy. That’s my longtime lady. We been together for 10 years so I felt like it was time. It was all good. I had a rooftop pool party for her birthday in Buckhead.” Lo confessed that before he pulled out the ring, he had to have a few gulps of liquid courage. “I was too nervous,” he explained. “I really don’t drink. I took eight to nine shots of Patr

Drake Says Original ‘Light It Up’ Verse Was ‘Way Harder’

In MTV’s ‘Better Than Good Enough’ documentary, Drizzy is seen recording new rhymes for Jay-Z-assisted track. By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Shaheem Reid Drake Photo: MTV During MTV’s “Drake: Better Than Good Enough” documentary, the Toronto MC is shown making last-minute adjustments to two songs the day before his debut album, Thank Me Later, is set to be mixed and mastered. One of those tracks, the Jay-Z-assisted “Light Up,” features Drake’s last-minute rhymes. “I like these bars better than the other bars,” he tells his road manager after laying down the new verse and listening to a playback. ” ‘Cause the other bars are so, like, ‘Oh, it’s kiddish.’ This is, like, I really think I’m the sh–, and then Jay comes and puts me in my place.” In an interview with MTV2’s “Sucker Free,” Drake revealed that his original verse was more aggressive and that he used it on a collaboration with a certain Kanye West prot

Bun B On Michael Jackson: ‘Let That Man Rest In Peace’

‘I just wish that people would leave well enough alone,’ ex-UGK MC says. By Shaheem Reid Bun B Photo: MTV News Friday marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson , and as fans reflect on his life and musical legacy, Bun B says we should preserve his memory by remembering what a remarkable entertainer he was, rather than all that other stuff. “I just wish that people would leave well enough alone,” Bun said. “It’s still a lot of mess surrounding [his death], it’s a lot of people that are willing to entertain people who are looking for mess. I’m not going to name names, ’cause everybody deals with grief differently. I think they should leave well enough alone. If they want to have one thing a year for Mike, that’s fine — of course, however they choose to honor him [privately is fine]. But I think they just need to let the fans do their thing [in celebrating]. Let that man rest in peace.” Bun also feels that Michael’s three children should be kept out of the spotlight. “I think they should definitely pull the kids back,” he said. “Take his children and pull them back. Dude ain’t never want that for his kids. I think that for a life of being misunderstood, and [having]miscommunications and not discussing a lot of what was going on with himself, I think the one thing we could all draw from him was that he didn’t want anybody bothering his children. He didn’t want them to deal with the type of craziness and madness that comes with being in this industry. Unfortunately, it looks like some people want to pull them in this mess for money, which is unfortunate because the estate of Michael Jackson isn’t hurting for no money. A lot of people should leave well enough alone.” Related Videos Remembering Michael Jackson – One Year Later Related Photos Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos Related Artists Bun B

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Bun B On Michael Jackson: ‘Let That Man Rest In Peace’

Will Roscoe Dash’s Party Anthems Earn Him ‘Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010’ Title?

Fans decide our ‘Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010′ — vote now! The winner will be revealed July 25. By Shaheem Reid Roscoe Dash Photo: MTV News “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” Candidate: Roscoe Dash Over the weekend at Atlanta’s Birthday Bash , Roscoe Dash performed in front of 20,000 hometown fans. The crowd at Philips Arena is one of the realest you can perform for; if they’re not feeling you, your time onstage could seem like an eternity. But backstage before his set, Dash was on straight chill mode. “This my first [Birthday Bash]. I’m finnin’ to put on for my city,” he said, looking at everyone from behind a pair of shades. “I try not to think about it too much so I won’t get nervous. I’m just gonna go in here and give it my all, give them a good show.” Dash had every right to be confident, because his song “All the Way Turnt Up” is not just one of the most popular songs in the city, but in all of hip-hop. The record by itself could have qualified Dash to be a candidate for “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010.” “Turnt Up” built instant excitement in the clubs with an undeniable bass-laden track and lyrics tailor-made to sing along to, not to mention Roscoe’s off-key but melodic sing-songy flow. “Its amazing, man,” Roscoe said of his success. “I’ve been doing music my whole life. So for me to find a way to finally get my foot in the door, and give these people me as a person, rather than just an artist, I’m enjoying it.” “Turnt Up” was so popular, Soulja Boy agreed to appear on the album version of the record, while lauded MCs such as Ludacris and Lupe Fiasco freestyled on the track. In the past few weeks, Dash has evaded the tag of one-hit wonder with another certified banger, “Show Out.” The second single from Dash’s Ready Set Go! debut (due July 20) basically follows the same formula as “Turnt Up,” and the results are similar too. Cam’ron and Rick Ross have already made unofficial remixes, while DJs have made it a favorite in clubs and on radio. “I just go in,” Dash said about setting up a string of party anthems. “I just do me. I never wake up and go to the studio and say, ‘I’mma make an album song or a mixtape song.’ I just go in and just do me.” But breaking through requires more than just a couple of hits. You have to have a deeper impact when it’s all said and done. Roscoe said he already knows what he has to do to cause an earthquake in the game. “Hard work and dedication, same thing that got me here,” he assessed. “I gotta keep doing it, man, and not let it break me down. This industry has its ups and down. It’ll take a toll on you. It’s about moving forward.” Roscoe and 19 other up-and-coming MCs are in the running to become MTV News’ “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” — and the winner will be decided by you! Cast your vote for the “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010” right here! The top five will be revealed beginning July 19, and the winner will be announced on the “Sucker Free Summit” July 25!

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Will Roscoe Dash’s Party Anthems Earn Him ‘Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010’ Title?