Tag Archives: alvin-blanco

Curren$y Says One Alchemist Song Turned Into Covert Coup Mixtape

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘You work with artists, and then that way, your music will stand,’ Curren$y tells MTV News of picking producers. By Alvin Blanco Curren$y Photo: MTV News New Orleans rapper Curren$y has a fresh deal with Warner Bros. Records, but it’s not stopping him from releasing free music. The former Young Money Records signee made his name in the hip-hop world via prolific mixtape releases that helped land him on the cover of XXL Magazine’s 2009 Freshmen cover. Now, Curren$y will be releasing the Covert Coup mixtape April 20. The album will be available for download at CurrensySpitta.com . Covert Coup is produced by Alchemist (Eminem, Mobb Deep, Nas), and guests include Freddie Gibbs and Prodigy. The mixtape came together after Spitta and Alchemist connected to record only one song. “I was going to do one record and give it away, that night, but we did three,” Curren$y told MTV News. “We did one; I was like, ‘We’ll give this one away.’ Then [Alchemist] was like, ‘Well, we need another one to make up for that one.’ So we did one, and I was like, ‘Yo, let me hear that other beat that you played before you played the one we just did,’ and then that turned into another one. And three is, like, 10. You might as well go ahead and get it done.” Curren$y is comfortable collaborating on projects where one producer oversees the bulk of the beats. He released a pair of albums last year ( Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk 2 ) that were handled almost entirely by Ski Beatz (Jay-Z, Camp Lo). “Producers, that’s an art. So you work with artists, not hustlers,” Curren$y explained. “Not people just milling beats. It’s like beat mills, don’t do that. You work with artists, and then that way, your music will stand. You’re not trying to sell 10 million records right now. Sell that over time. Sell it to where you’re 50 and your records still selling because people who grew up with you are trying to show their kids what’s effed up about the game, and then they go to the record store and buy your record to play that for them.” On the day of Covert Coup ‘s release, Curren$y will kick off a nationwide Jet Life Tour that runs through June. Its first show, in New Orleans, will be streamed live to Los Angeles and New York. The Covert Coup track list, according to Warner Bros.: 1. “BBS” 2. “The Type” (featuring Prodigy) 3. “Blood Sweat and Gears” (featuring Fiend) 4. “Ventilation” 5. “Life Instructions” (featuring Smoke Dza) 6. “Smoke Break” 7. “Double 0 7” 8. “Scottie Pippen” (featuring Freddie Gibbs) 9. “Full Metal” Will you check out Curren$y’s latest tape? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Curren$y

Go here to read the rest:
Curren$y Says One Alchemist Song Turned Into Covert Coup Mixtape

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ludacris ‘Inspired’ By Aspiring MCs At ‘Live Large’ Competition

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s all about competition,’ he tells MTV News about Magnum-sponsored freestyle contest whose winner will get to perform with Luda. By Alvin Blanco Ludacris at the “Live Large Project 2” competition on Monday Photo: Dave Kotinsky/ Getty Images Ludacris is a marquee hip-hop artist but he has no problem lending aspiring rappers a hand. On Monday, the Atlanta-based MC/actor was at New York City’s Highline Ballroom for the Magnum-sponsored Live Large Project 2, a hip-hop/freestyle competition that gives contestants a shot at a cash prize and the chance to perform alongside Luda at Springfest 2011 in Miami. It’s the second year Luda has participated in the event, and the Disturbing Tha Peace Records founder said it always makes him remember his days as a hungry unknown. “I remember being an aspiring artist and up-and-coming rapper and wishing I had opportunities like the one that Magnum Live Large Project is giving out — $5,000, a trip to Miami, able to perform — all of these different things is good, man,” Luda told MTV News. “It’s all about competition. That’s what hip-hop is all about anyway.” The Highline stop was just one of four regional events that span the West Coast (Bay Area), South (Miami) and the Midwest (Detroit). The top three contestants from each region, as well as a fifth selected via YouTube, will make the trip to Miami to compete for the $5,000 prize. New York’s top three winners were Perelli, Renegade and Pumpkinhead, who won $1,000 for being the fan favorite. According to Ludacris, anyone who’s achieved his level of success should feel obligated to support events like this one and serve as a source of inspiration. “It’s definitely important for me to give back to MCs coming up,” he said.”That’s part of the reason we do what we do. You can never forget where you come from or how you came up. I’m very excited to be doing this. And don’t get it twisted, I’m getting inspired my damn self by watching the up-and-coming rappers and it’s making me realize and remember back in the day when I was the same way.” A rap industry neophyte that Ludacris thinks highly of and can relate to is Big K.R.I.T . After making strides independently, the Meridian, Mississippi, rapper and producer signed with Luda’s label home, Def Jam, last year and recently released a new mixtape, Return of 4Eva. Luda, along with Bun B, makes an appearance on the remix of “Country Sh–.” “When [Big K.R.I.T.] speaks, you can feel his heart,” Luda told us. “His heart is on the outside of his chest. He’s talking about his experience and being from the South and being from Mississippi. Just respecting the fact that he’s the production side as well as spilling his heart out on the beats, I can respect that.” Ludacris is working on his eighth album, Ludaversal, due out later this year. Related Artists Ludacris

Read the rest here:
Ludacris ‘Inspired’ By Aspiring MCs At ‘Live Large’ Competition

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ludacris ‘Inspired’ By Aspiring MCs At ‘Live Large’ Competition

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s all about competition,’ he tells MTV News about Magnum-sponsored freestyle contest whose winner will get to perform with Luda. By Alvin Blanco Ludacris at the “Live Large Project 2” competition on Monday Photo: Dave Kotinsky/ Getty Images Ludacris is a marquee hip-hop artist but he has no problem lending aspiring rappers a hand. On Monday, the Atlanta-based MC/actor was at New York City’s Highline Ballroom for the Magnum-sponsored Live Large Project 2, a hip-hop/freestyle competition that gives contestants a shot at a cash prize and the chance to perform alongside Luda at Springfest 2011 in Miami. It’s the second year Luda has participated in the event, and the Disturbing Tha Peace Records founder said it always makes him remember his days as a hungry unknown. “I remember being an aspiring artist and up-and-coming rapper and wishing I had opportunities like the one that Magnum Live Large Project is giving out — $5,000, a trip to Miami, able to perform — all of these different things is good, man,” Luda told MTV News. “It’s all about competition. That’s what hip-hop is all about anyway.” The Highline stop was just one of four regional events that span the West Coast (Bay Area), South (Miami) and the Midwest (Detroit). The top three contestants from each region, as well as a fifth selected via YouTube, will make the trip to Miami to compete for the $5,000 prize. New York’s top three winners were Perelli, Renegade and Pumpkinhead, who won $1,000 for being the fan favorite. According to Ludacris, anyone who’s achieved his level of success should feel obligated to support events like this one and serve as a source of inspiration. “It’s definitely important for me to give back to MCs coming up,” he said.”That’s part of the reason we do what we do. You can never forget where you come from or how you came up. I’m very excited to be doing this. And don’t get it twisted, I’m getting inspired my damn self by watching the up-and-coming rappers and it’s making me realize and remember back in the day when I was the same way.” A rap industry neophyte that Ludacris thinks highly of and can relate to is Big K.R.I.T . After making strides independently, the Meridian, Mississippi, rapper and producer signed with Luda’s label home, Def Jam, last year and recently released a new mixtape, Return of 4Eva. Luda, along with Bun B, makes an appearance on the remix of “Country Sh–.” “When [Big K.R.I.T.] speaks, you can feel his heart,” Luda told us. “His heart is on the outside of his chest. He’s talking about his experience and being from the South and being from Mississippi. Just respecting the fact that he’s the production side as well as spilling his heart out on the beats, I can respect that.” Ludacris is working on his eighth album, Ludaversal, due out later this year. Related Artists Ludacris

See more here:
Ludacris ‘Inspired’ By Aspiring MCs At ‘Live Large’ Competition

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Ace Hood Keeps Motivating With ‘Hustle Hard’

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Remix for Blood, Sweat & Tears cut features Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Rahman Dukes Ace Hood Photo: MTV News Ace Hood might have a DJ Khaled co-sign and a Def Jam recording contract but the only way to keep your spot in the rap business is by making hits. The Miami rapper’s latest club and street heater is “Hustle Hard,” the lead single from his upcoming third album, Blood, Sweat & Tears . “The concept behind this record is: Just whatever you may do or whatever you do in life, what you choose to do, really go hard at it,” Ace told MTV News. “I felt like I was in a circumstance at that point in time in my life where I felt like it’s either this or that. OK, what are you going to do when your back [is] against the wall? I felt like [the] only thing I could do is hustle hard. Soon as I laid it down … it came out crazy.” The “Hustle Hard” remix features Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. Rappers including Maino, Young Jeezy and Joell Ortiz have created their own versions of the song, using its relentless, Lex Luger-produced beat. But according to Ace, it was a leaked version of the song that included a Rick Ross verse that prompted the quicker release of its official remix. “The remix always [included] Rick Ross and Wayne,” Ace explained. “But I had it in the can. My hook and Ross’ verse, that’s the only thing that leaked. So being that that version leaked, I was like, ‘Ya know what? I might as well put the Wayne part since Ross is a part of the remix.’ Why not? I had to give it to them early. It ended up being huge.” Ace Hood, who is signed to Def Jam via DJ Khaled’s We the Best imprint, retreated from the spotlight after releasing his sophomore album, Ruthless , in 2009. The rapper wanted to figure out his direction as an artist and felt compelled to assert that he wasn’t getting over simply because he was Khaled’s artist. “I was just really trying to find my niche,” he said. “What’s really going to make the people accept Ace Hood? I’ve always created good music, the hit records. People know me from … being a part of ‘Out Here Grindin’.’ I always created that motivational music: the ‘Overtime’s, the ‘Champion’s. For that time being, I was really in the dungeon.” Now back on the grind, videos for both official versions of “Hustle Hard” have been created. Ace potentially has the hit record that he hopes proves he belongs with rap’s top-shelf artists. “I just wanted to show people that I was able to do this on my own and that I am capable of creating records of this caliber,” Ace said. “I was just happy to see the reaction from the people that, ya know what, the same format and the same mind frame I was in when I created this ‘Hustle Hard’ record, people are in that same state of mind and they understand the struggle that I been through within the rap game.” Does Ace Hood’s music motivate you? Sound off below! Related Artists Ace Hood

The rest is here:
Ace Hood Keeps Motivating With ‘Hustle Hard’

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Odd Future Say ‘People Just Choose To Be Offended’

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Tyler the Creator’s L.A. collective lands Billboard SXSW cover. By Alvin Blanco Odd Future on the cover of Billboard magazine Photo: Billboard L.A. collective Odd Future are continuing to bolster their rep as hip-hop’s latest phenomenon, landing on the cover of Billboard magazine . Billed as its South by Southwest 2011 preview issue, the magazine’s cover line reads, “Shock rappers, skate kids, rule breakers, content creators, DIY evangelists, disrupters, Odd Future just may be the future of the music business.” The feature story, written by Andrew “Noz” Nosnitsky, details Odd Future’s seemingly meteoric rise and evaluates their chances of continued success. Much has been said about Odd Future’s music being offensive, thanks to liberal doses of violence, sexism and bugged-out videos. “People just choose to be offended by stuff,” Syd the Kid, the group’s sole female member, told Billboard . “If they are, then that sucks and I’m sorry, but they don’t have to keep listening. Words are words. They don’t act out what they say, they just say it.” The motley crew of brash and unfiltered MCs also known as OFWGKTA (short for Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All) includes rap duo MellowHype (Hodgy Beats, Left Brain), Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis and others, with Tyler the Creator as its most-prominent act and de facto leader. MellowHype recently signed a deal with Fat Possum Records to formally release their BlackenedWhite album this summer, and Tyler the Creator signed a one-album deal with XL Recordings to release Goblin in April. Despite sold-out shows at small venues and labels clamoring to align with the Odd Future crew, Billboard notes that their actual sales have been only modest. “Sandwitches” and “Yonkers,” the only songs from the group (credited to Tyler the Creator) available on iTunes, have sold only about 6,000 and 12,000 units, respectively. Whether Odd Future is even seeking commercial notoriety is debatable. But their youthful exuberance and confidence is indisputable. “I could be a complete failure come June,” Tyler told Billboard . ” Goblin could brick. Everyone could hate it. The hype could be over. I could be back to trying to fill out junior-college [applications] … But I don’t see that happening. I see Grammys.” Odd Future are scheduled to perform at the 2011 MTV Woodie Awards , airing live Wednesday on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU. Do you expect Odd Future to have commercial success? Sound off in the comments below! Related Artists Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All

See original here:
Odd Future Say ‘People Just Choose To Be Offended’

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Waka Flocka Flame Goes Nude In Latest PETA Ad

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Waka bares all, save for some strategically placed chains, in ‘Ink, Not Mink’ campaign to promote animal rights. By Alvin Blanco Waka Flocka Flame poses nude for PETA Photo: PETA Atlanta’s Waka Flocka Flame is baring it all — well, almost — for PETA. The rambunctious rapper is part of the animal rights organization’s “Ink, Not Mink” campaign and his anti-fur ad was revealed on Tuesday (March 8). In the brand-new ad, Waka wears nothing but a well-placed set of iced-out chains that includes a jewel-encrusted Fozzie Bear. “Be comfortable in your own skin, and let animals keep theirs,” the ad copy reads. PETA selected Waka for the campaign, in part, because of the numerous tattoos that decorate his upper body, which is on full display in the advertisement. In a behind-the-scenes video of the photo shoot posted to PETA’s website , Waka asserts, “I love animals. As a kid, I had dogs, fish, iguanas, lizards. … “I don’t want nobody to skin my puppy.” The Queens-born, Atlanta-representing rapper had an eventful 2010, one marked by some personal lows but bolstered by professional highs. His debut album, Flockavelli, was released in October and debuted at #6 on the Billboard albums chart thanks to hits like “Hard In the Paint” and “O Let’s Do It.” Later that month, Waka came in at #8 on MTV News’ Hottest MCs list. While Waka isn’t the first celeb enlisted to participate in PETA’s ongoing campaign, he is the first hip-hop artist to make an appearance in the “Ink, Not Mink” series. Other stars who’ve stripped down to their birthday suits for the ads include NBA players Gilbert Arenas and Amar’e Stoudemire, rocker Dave Navarro and R&B singer Mario. What do you think of Waka’s new PETA ad? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Waka Flocka Flame

Follow this link:
Waka Flocka Flame Goes Nude In Latest PETA Ad

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

‘American Idol’ Elimination Episode Crushes TV Competition

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Idol’ puts up biggest non-sports Thursday ratings numbers since 2007. By Gil Kaufman Steven Tyler holds up his swear sign on “American Idol” Photo: FOX Simon who? Perhaps putting to rest any fears that “American Idol” would nosedive without iconic judge Simon Cowell, Thursday night’s first elimination episode of season 10 put up some stellar numbers for the singing competition. On a night when most of the competition on rival networks consisted of reruns (including, count ’em, six episodes in a row of “The Office” on NBC!) after the vaults were emptied last month during sweeps, “Idol” raked in 25 million viewers to win the ratings crown. In fact, the impressive numbers for “Idol” gave Fox the most-watched non-sports Thursday night number of any network over the past four years. The two-hour extravaganza, which not only shaped the top 10 , but also featured six performances by singers vying to score three wild card spots — not to mention the debut of judge Jennifer Lopez’s “On the Floor” music video — was a 29 percent increase of last season’s first elimination night, according to Billboard With an 8.1 rating in the 18 to 49 demo, numbers were also up 13 percent over last Thursday’s “AI” episode. As you might expect, ratings climbed during the pivotal final half-hour of the broadcast, going from 25.96 million between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. to 26.66 million for the final half-hour. The good ratings news bodes well for the start of live competition next week, when new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez will have to finally show their stuff during two real-time broadcasts a week after charming viewers during the season’s pre-taped episodes. Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With MTV News’ Jim Cantiello Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Top 24

The rest is here:
‘American Idol’ Elimination Episode Crushes TV Competition

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Lil’ Kim Says She Was ‘Greeted With Open Arms’ In Prison

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I met a lot of good people in there who are still my friends to this day,’ she tells ‘RapFix Live,’ also recalling a package from Oprah Winfrey. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway Lil’ Kim on RapFix Live Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News When Lil’ Kim spent almost a year in a federal prison , she managed to create some fond memories behind bars. During MTV’s “RapFix Live,” the Brooklyn rapper detailed some of her experiences while serving time for a perjury conviction. “When I first got to prison, I slept so good for the first three weeks,” Kim told MTV News. “I was working that whole two months before, nonstop, trying to finish an album, doing promo, doing the TV show [BET’s ‘Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown’ ], doing shows, doing all types of things. So I never slept, never [rested] at all for two months straight. … When I got there, I kind of just collapsed.”

Read more:
Lil’ Kim Says She Was ‘Greeted With Open Arms’ In Prison

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Lil’ Kim Says She Was ‘Greeted With Open Arms’ In Prison

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I met a lot of good people in there who are still my friends to this day,’ she tells ‘RapFix Live,’ also recalling a package from Oprah Winfrey. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway Lil’ Kim on RapFix Live Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News When Lil’ Kim spent almost a year in a federal prison , she managed to create some fond memories behind bars. During MTV’s “RapFix Live,” the Brooklyn rapper detailed some of her experiences while serving time for a perjury conviction. “When I first got to prison, I slept so good for the first three weeks,” Kim told MTV News. “I was working that whole two months before, nonstop, trying to finish an album, doing promo, doing the TV show [BET’s ‘Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown’ ], doing shows, doing all types of things. So I never slept, never [rested] at all for two months straight. … When I got there, I kind of just collapsed.”

Continue reading here:
Lil’ Kim Says She Was ‘Greeted With Open Arms’ In Prison

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lil’ Kim Says She Was ‘Greeted With Open Arms’ In Prison

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I met a lot of good people in there who are still my friends to this day,’ she tells ‘RapFix Live,’ also recalling a package from Oprah Winfrey. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway Lil’ Kim on RapFix Live Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News When Lil’ Kim spent almost a year in a federal prison , she managed to create some fond memories behind bars. During MTV’s “RapFix Live,” the Brooklyn rapper detailed some of her experiences while serving time for a perjury conviction. “When I first got to prison, I slept so good for the first three weeks,” Kim told MTV News. “I was working that whole two months before, nonstop, trying to finish an album, doing promo, doing the TV show [BET’s ‘Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown’ ], doing shows, doing all types of things. So I never slept, never [rested] at all for two months straight. … When I got there, I kind of just collapsed.”

Here is the original post:
Lil’ Kim Says She Was ‘Greeted With Open Arms’ In Prison

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,