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Nelly Says He’s Still Hip-Hop, Despite Crossover Success

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I think you’d be an idiot to not do what works for you,’ Nelly tells MTV News of making hit records. By Rob Markman Nelly Photo: MTV News When Nelly first stepped on the scene in 2000, he was hip-hop to the core. There was no denying the street appeal the multiplatinum hitmaker displayed in his debut “Country Grammar” video wearing an oversize baseball cap, baggy jeans and backward football jersey. The St. Louis standout has exhibited a ton of growth in his 11-year career, and while his 2010 single “Just a Dream” shot to #1 on Billboard ‘s pop charts, it didn’t do much to bolster his hard-core rap cred — and that’s OK. Nelly is still in tune with his rap roots. He even presented LL Cool J with his I Am Hip Hop Icon Award at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards. “At the end of the day, I am urban, so you can’t run from that fact,” Nelly told MTV News as he walked the black carpet for the awards show. “At the end of the day, it’s another successful brother, stepping and breaking ground for the next brother to come along and do it.” The rhythmic “Just a Dream” was produced by Jim Jonsin and Rico Love, the same team that handled Kelly Rowland’s R&B hit “Motivation.” Still, it isn’t a different formula than the one used on his Patti LaBelle-sampled hit “Dilemma” in 2002. Nelly has always stretched the boundaries of hip-hop, maybe most exemplified on his country duet “Over and Over” with Tim McGraw. The hip-hop star didn’t reveal which musical direction he’d be going with his upcoming, yet-untitled seventh album, but it’s safe to assume he’ll do as he always has. Nelly is willing to let the chips fall where they may. “You do what works for you,” he said. “I think you’d be an idiot to not do what works for you. They don’t want me to be smart about it? They wanna see another dumb brother not succeeding because he tried to do something that wasn’t smart? That’s what they say about us: We don’t think first. Well, this brother thinking first. I plan on being here.” What are you expecting from Nelly’s new music? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Nelly

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Rick Ross Doing ‘Good’ After Plane Scare

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Maybach Music boss hit Twitter after reports he suffered a seizure; crew confirms to MTV News that MC is OK. By Rob Markman Rick Ross (file) Photo: Akshay Bhansali After reports surfaced on Friday (October 14) that Rick Ross suffered from a seizure that rendered him unconscious, MTV News has learned that the Bawse is OK. The Teflon Don even sent out a message via Twitter downplaying the incident. TMZ broke the news on Friday, reporting that at 12:55 p.m. ET, Rozay — who was traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Memphis perform a show — fell unconscious just after his plane took off. According to the site, the plane had to make an emergency landing while a doctor onboard administered CPR. Several members of Ross’ Maybach Music Group camp have confirmed with MTV News that Rozay is doing better now. None would confirm that the rapper had suffered a seizure, however, saying only said that he was “good.” Wale, who is signed to Ross’ label, took to Twitter to end online speculation that Rozay may not pull through, even getting in a bit of promotion for the Miami MC’s upcoming God Forgives, I Don’t LP. “I just talked to Ross…he’s 100 pct ok…@tmz #dontpanic #dontpanic #mmg !!!! #gfid dec 13th!,” he wrote. Ross DJ Sam Sneaker, also hit Twitter, writing , “I’m wit @rickyrozay now he good.” MMG’s videographer SpiffTvFilms also weighed in with a tweet : “Just Got Off The Phone With My Brother @rickyrozay He’s Good Don’t Believe The Hype #Godforgivesidont Dec 13Th.” In response to Rap Radar founder’s Elliott Wilson’s tweet pleading, “@rickyrozay Don’t scare a n—a like that. Thanks,” Ross himself fired back “@elliottwilson never dat homie..we ouchea #mmg powercircle!!!!” At press time, MTV News had not heard back from representatives at Def Jam Records, where Ross is signed as an artist. Stick with MTV News for more on Rick Ross as the story develops. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Rick Ross Related Artists Rick Ross

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Drake ‘OK’ With Being Dropped From Kanye West’s ‘All Of The Lights’

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Drake ‘OK’ With Being Dropped From Kanye West’s ‘All Of The Lights’

‘Kanye’s creative process is ever-changing,’ Drizzy tells Shade 45. By Alvin Blanco Drake Photo: MTV News Even if Drake and Kanye West aren’t best friends, Drizzy still counts the Chicago rapper/producer as one of his musical idols. Drake dropped into Shade 45’s morning show Thursday (December 9) and chatted it up with host Elliott Wilson on a variety of topics, including being removed from the final version of Yeezy’s “All of the Lights.” An early version of the song, whose crowded guest list includes Elton John, La Roux’s Elly Jackson, Charlie Wilson and Ryan Leslie, had previously leaked that included Drake, but the Toronto rapper is nowhere to be found on the version that appears on West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. “Kanye’s creative process is ever-changing,” Drake said, adding that he doesn’t know why he was removed. “We make music differently. I make what comes to me and I hate changing it, whereas ‘Ye will change something 30 or 40 times to get it perfect. To each their own, and the change was to put all those people on it, and I wasn’t one of them. That’s completely OK.” Since Drake came to national prominence with the release of his So Far Gone mixtape, the MC has been compared to West — not just for his introspective lyrics, but for his overall sound as well. Back in August, Drake’s main producer, Noah “40” Shebib , relayed a story about Kanye West cursing him out for using his production style. Add to that mix the fact that Drake and Kanye have appeared on relatively few songs together — including “Forever,” with Lil Wayne and Eminem — and conspiracy theorists feel there must be tension between the two. “I can never sit here and tell you that’s not one of my idols, that’s not one of my favorite rappers,” Drake said of Kanye during the Shade 45 interview. “Whatever energy I’ve ever felt is irrelevant. When you ask me, ‘What do I think of Kanye West,’ I’mma always have something positive to say.” The host then interjected by asking, “But sometimes the energy is not always where you want it to be?” “I feel like we can co-exist,” Drake answered. “I feel like hip-hop is broad enough that we can both exist and give great music without feeling like it’s one or the other. I might be the only one that feels that way, though.” Drake stressed his reverence for Kanye West. At only 24 years old, the Canadian MC said he missed the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac era, and Yeezy is a personal favorite artist whose career he can personally trace since its inception. What do you think about Drake’s thoughts on Kanye? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Drake Kanye West

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Q-Tip Explains His Issues With A Tribe Called Quest Documentary

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Q-Tip Explains His Issues With A Tribe Called Quest Documentary

‘It’s not only Tribe’s story; it’s all of ours,’ MC says of his concerns. By Jayson Rodriguez Q-Tip Photo: Mark Von Holden/WireImage Last week, Q-Tip stirred things up online when he tweeted that he was not in support of Michael Rapaport’s A Tribe Called Quest documentary . The MC and the director remained silent on the matter, refusing interview requests from a number of outlets. On Tuesday, however, Q-Tip appeared on satellite-radio station Shade 45’s morning show and explained his message. The veteran lyricist spoke with fill-in host Elliott Wilson of Rap Radar and said his opinion has nothing to do with his group being the focus of the doc, but with his role as a producer. “I’m a producer on this film; Tribe is a producer on this film,” he said. “When I speak, I’m speaking for the whole group. A lot of people think I’m speaking individually, even though I addressed it as ‘I’m not supporting’ it. In reality, as producers, there’s just different things that need to be done, edit-wise. The sentiment of the film is there. We feel like it’s 80 percent here. It’s just not there [all the way].” The Tribe MC said he and his groupmates have a final say over the project, per the agreement they made with Rapaport, an actor and first-time filmmaker. Although Tip wouldn’t specify the exact nature of his discomfort with the project, he said because the project is the first of its kind — “an extensive cinematic documentary about a hip-hop group” — it’s more than just a Tribe issue. “There’s so much riding on this,” he said. “It’s not only Tribe’s story; it’s all of ours. So we got to make sure sh– is down right.” Will you check out the Tribe documentary? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists Q-Tip A Tribe Called Quest

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Wale Joined Onstage By J. Cole In New York

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Hottest Breakthrough MC finalist Diggy Simmons opened show at Highline Ballroom Monday night. By Jayson Rodriguez Wale (file) Photo: Alli Harvey/ Getty Images NEW YORK — If Wale is looking for a nickname, “Mr. Do It Yourself” might be appropriate. The Washington D.C. rapper released a new mixtape earlier this month called More About Nothing, the sequel to his breakout “Seinfeld”-inspired set, The Mixtape About Nothing. The set is meant to bolster his bona fides after a tepid response to his debut, Attention Deficit . Within days of releasing More About Nothing, the rapper announced a headlining set at Manhattan’s Highline Ballroom. And on Monday night, Wale was blue-collar in his rhymes and production. “Who got a camera,” he asked from the stage. He then proceeded to set up video shots from the sides of the stage. Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com , which served as media sponsor for the show, recorded from the stage. “I don’t care,” Wale said about potential piracy. “It’s about y’all. We got the right angle, we got the left angle.” Wale delivered a rousing set, backed by a nine-piece band, infusing a go-go music sound along with his punchy rhymes. “Mirror, tell me I’m the realest,” he rapped over the bouncy “Mirrors.” “Since all these other n—as got gimmicks, not lyrics/ It’s all gun busting, it’s such a lack of the subject/ Could I be that n—a rejuvenating lovers?” Fabolous and J. Cole were in attendance during the set, and 2010 Hottest Breakthrough MC Top 5 finisher Diggy Simmons opened for Wale. J. Cole joined Wale onstage for their collaboration “Beautiful Bliss.” Cole then took over for a song as the upstart MC performed his latest underground number, “Blow Up.” Wale then took back the reins to perform one of his earlier breakout tracks, “Nike Boots.” “The revolution will proceed, unification of the DMV,” he rapped. “I will achieve, indeed, I decree/ I’m forming a new alliance/ Instead of one poising the minds, they lying/ I am only a fighter, in the form of a writer/ In the form of a poet, potency in the mic.” Were you at Wale’s show last night? Tell us what you thought of the performance in the comments! Related Artists Wale J. Cole

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