Did you know Kanye West doesn’t talk on the phone? To get in touch with him, you have to email him. At least that’s what French Montana claims … and that’s why he didn’t sign with him. French Montana was in talks with a bunch of people, but ended up taking his talent to Bad Boy Records after a bidding war … and it turns out, Kanye’s lack of phone has something to do with his choice. French Montana claims he didn’t sign over to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label because it was too hard to get in contact with him. “Kanye doesn’t have a phone. If you need to get in contact with Kanye, you have to email him,” the 27-year-old New York rapper told Angie Martinez . “You can’t tell me how to do that. I don’t know how to use an email, so I guess me and you is never gonna talk, and I’ma put my career in your hands? He’s definitely talented and I felt like if I went there, we would have definitely made history.” RELATED: Amber Rose’s Ex-Publicist Accuses Her Of Stealing Money From Kanye French Montana Signs To Bad Boy, Will Diddy Ruin His Career? Amber Rose Breaks Down In Tears While Explaining The Backlash Of Being Kanye’s Ex [VIDEO] 10 Facts Learned From Kanye West Tweets
Diddy and his label Bad Boy Records has been criticized for killing the careers of the artists who get signed, but Diddy doesn’t think he deserves that reputation. He doesn’t deny that some people (Black Rob, Craig Mack, Dream, Shyne and G-Dep to name a few) have fallen off after, but says the same has happened at Def Jam. Read more about Diddy’s comments here , or listen to the full interview below. RELATED POSTS: French Montana Signs To Bad Boy, Will Diddy Ruin His Career? Are Diddy And Cameron Diaz Hooking Up? [AUDIO] Did Diddy Make Jennifer Lopez Cry? Diddy Saves Boys & Girls Club Of Harlem SOURCE
The people have spoken, and MGK has beat out Lil Twist and Mac Miller in MTV News’ annual poll. By Rob Markman Machine Gun Kelly Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News Hate it or love it, the underdog is on top! Since he first began to make noise with his 2010 mixtape Lace Up, Machine Gun Kelly has worked his way into hip-hop’s collective consciousness. It wasn’t always pretty (see MGK’s August flash-mob arrest or his tiff with Yelawolf ), but it’s always been passionate. Now, thanks to that passion, Machine Gun Kelly can stand alone as MTV News’ Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011, it was revealed on “RapFix Live.” The competition was tough, and ever since the fan-driven Hottest Breakthrough poll opened on the RapFix blog last week, Kells was jockeying for the #1 position, fighting off Lil Twist and Mac Miller. A$AP Rocky, Future, French Montana, Freddie Gibbs, Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill and Roscoe Dash were also in contention, but in the end, it was MGK who held the crown after hundreds of thousands of votes were tallied. When all the math was complete, MGK finished with 44 percent of the vote. Miller, whose Blue Slide Park debuted at #1 last month, was an early favorite. Twist, who finished in the #2 spot with 39 percent of the vote, proved to be MGK’s most formidable competition, thanks to his die-hard fans, Young Money team and best friend Justin Bieber, who all tweeted in support. In August, MGK appeared on “RapFix Live” and announced that he had signed with Diddy’s storied Bad Boy label, but rather than try to force him into the marketplace before his time, it was decided that the record company would continue to grow Kells organically. One of the things that first impressed Puff was Kelly’s dedicated fanbase, the same one that voted him the Hottest Breakthrough MC. “He has just such a movement, just hundreds and thousands of loyal fans that came from the place he came from in different parts of the country,” Diddy gushed during that “RapFix Live” appearance. “He wasn’t always the coolest kid in school, and just the process of growing up and the problems that they all encounter, they relate to him in such a way.” Influenced by DMX, Cleveland’s Machine Gun Kelly began battle-rapping around 2004 while he was still in high school. His passion grew from the corner ciphers to the studio, where he would lay tracks for his 2006 mixtape, Stamp of Approval. Back then, the MC (who got the Machine Gun part of his moniker because of his rapid-fire raps) was just getting his feet wet. In 2010, MGK would drop two mixtapes, 100 Words and Runnin’ and, his most notable tape, Lace Up. From there, the energetic spitter would develop his following thanks to his spirited live performances. From the very beginning of the competition, MGK had his eyes set on the #1 spot. “To be considered for the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011, it’s obviously an honor, but I want to be the hottest. I’ve never been comfortable with sharing anything: I was a single child,” Machine Gun Kelly said on “RapFix Live.” Congratulations, MGK! Who did you vote for in the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 poll? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs Related Artists Machine Gun Kelly
Don’t miss ‘RapFix Live’ at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com to see which rookie rapper comes out on top. By Rob Markman Photo: Getty Images There has been a ton of new hip-hop talent to emerge this past year, but there can only be one 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC . On Wednesday’s “RapFix Live,” the winner of MTV News’ Hottest Breakthrough poll will be announced and appear on the show. Last week, Machine Gun Kelly, Meek Mill, Kendrick Lamar, Roscoe Dash and A$AP Rocky all stopped by “RapFix” to kick off the Hottest Breakthrough MCs race. On Tuesday (November 13) at 11:59 p.m. ET, the polls will close, the votes will be tallied, and the Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 will be crowned Wednesday. Over the past week, A$AP, Future, Freddie Gibbs, French Montana, Lamar, Mac Miller, MGK, Meek Mill and Lil Twist have been battling it out as fans vote for their favorite MC. It’s been a tight race so far, with Miller, Twist and Machine Gun Kelly jockeying for the #1 spot. Will either of the three take it, or will another MC make a last minute push for the top? You have to tune in to “RapFix Live” to find out! All this will lead up to MTV News’ next Hottest MCs in the Game list. On Wednesday, “RapFix” host Sway will make a special announcement about MTV’s much-talked-about list. In 2010, Eminem was voted the #1 Hottest MC in the Game by the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust, but who will take top honors in 2011? Only time will tell. Tune in to “RapFix Live” on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com to see who will be crowned the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC . Be sure to join in the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive! All this week, watch “AMTV” on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs
Courted by the likes of Kanye West, Rick Ross and Jay-Z before joining Diddy, Montana earns a spot on MTV News’ 2011 list — vote now! By Steven Roberts French Montana Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News From the very moment the horns from the Lords of the Underground’s 1993 classic “Funky Child” sound until the moment that “Shorty got potential, I could be her sponsor” is heard, it was evident that French Montana had a hit on his hands with “Shot Caller.” Montana’s rise to prominence wasn’t that instantaneous, however. French Montana has been making noise on New York City’s underground rap scene since the early 2000s with his “Cocaine City” DVD series. Montana hoped the street series — showcasing interviews with big-name artists like T.I. and then unknowns like Nicki Minaj and Waka Flocka — would help broaden his fanbase in the same way other up-and-comers hoped their mixtapes did. He started gaining a lot of momentum later on in the decade, especially when he and Max B teamed up to drop the Coke Wave mixtape series. That momentum slowed when the Biggaveli was incarcerated, but Montana never stopped working. Fast-forward a couple of years and he found himself in the middle of speculation concerning whether he would sign with Kanye West, Diddy, Rick Ross or Jay-Z — two of the Bronx MC’s suitors, Rick Ross and Diddy, even hopped on the remix of “Shot Caller.” Wherever Montana landed, it was clear he wanted to be the main attraction. “I rather be LeBron in Cleveland than LeBron in Heat, so you read between the lines,” French said. “Wherever I go, I’d rather be the star than have to sit there. I worked this hard to get here so when I step in, I have to be the main focus.” On Thursday, French ended the speculation when he hit BET’s “106 & Park,” making a splashy appearance with his new label boss: Diddy. With rappers assembling crews like a game of dodgeball during PE, Montana promises to be a star as he puts his John Hancock — insert obligatory “pause” — on a Bad Boy contract. And with the already streets flooded with mixtape material and a joint LP with Waka on the way, there’s no question that the work ethic is there. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang General beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. This year, you can vote for Machine Gun Kelly (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, we’ll spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude on December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs Related Artists French Montana
Ross has recorded hundreds of songs for God Forgives, I Don’t, producer tells Mixtape Daily. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Ade Mangum Aone Photo: MTV News Behind the Beats: Aone Every rap crew needs a go-to destination for their beats. Rick Ross is aware of this and inked producer Aone, who is building up quite a reputable discography, to his Maybach Music Group. Aone produced “10 Bricks,” featuring YMCMB’s Birdman , which appeared on Rozay’s Ashes to Ashes mixtape. The upstart has also hooked up tracks for MMG members, including Triple C’s and Masspike Miles, as well as the Outlawz, French Montana and others. He is also working on a project with former G-Unit rapper Young Buck called Bond Money and will be handling all of its production. Not bad for a guy from another continent. “I’m actually from Nigeria,” Aone told Mixtape Daily. “I came out here about eight years ago, and I just started working with a couple of people. Mobb Deep — I started getting in the studio with them. I was influenced by Havoc just making beats and [DJ] Toomp and a lot of other producers.” Of his particular sound, Aone said, “I do a lot of sampling: I like to sample, but I twist up my samples. It’s a mix of the South, and it’s a mix of New York. It’s a mix of everything. It’s something different.” The producer is making sure to reserve his best beats for the home team. He revealed that Ross has recorded hundreds of songs for his forthcoming album God Forgives, I Don’t . “Ross is winning right now. I did a couple of joints for the album, but Ross, he’s always working,” Aone explained. “He’s in the studio; he’s recording over 200 tracks, so you never know. We did over six records already featuring different people. But Ross, he likes to take his time like a masterpiece. He got a bunch of work, so when it’s time, we gonna know. But we still working right now. I’m getting back in the studio, and we doing more stuff. God Forgives, I Don’t : It’s coming; get ready.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Artists AOne Rick Ross
DJ Khaled, Birdman, 8Ball & MJG and others make cameos in new clip. By Rob Markman Rick Ross Photo: Spiff TV There are plenty of legal ramifications to selling dope off your iPhone, but in their new video for “9 Piece,” Rick Ross and Lil Wayne throw caution to the wind and put their devices to work. The video opens with Ross orchestrating a narcotics transaction from the driver’s side of his car, negotiating prices while speaking on his cell phone. Not even nearby police officers can dissuade the Maybach Music Group CEO from his high-tech trafficking. The track, which first appeared on Rozay’s 2010 Ashes to Ashes mixtape, originally featured T.I., but Ross added Weezy to a new version of the song this past April. As it stands now, the track is slated to appear on Ross’ upcoming fifth solo album, God Forgives, I Don’t. On the “9 Piece” hook, the rotund Ross gives a nod to Memphis hip-hop veterans 8Ball & MJG, as he raps referencing cocaine measurements and the celebrated duo simultaneously: “Nine piece, straight eight balls, MJG, bitch, I got eight balls.” The group makes a cameo in the clip, but it is Wayne who steals the show as he performs his verse from the inside of a nightclub while shooting pool. The eight ball on the pool table provides yet another not-so-subtle parallel to the drug measurement. Weezy raps into his phone as well, spitting, “It’s Lil Tunech, what up, though?/ I’m talkin’ white girl, Marilyn Monroe.” The video then goes NSFW, as the next scene takes viewers into a strip club, where women dance topless for Ross and his crew. Cameos are in abundance: DJ Khaled, Birdman, French Montana, Gunplay and Torch from Ross’ group Triple Cs all make appearances. As the video wraps, there is no grand finale or great reveal, just Ross and Wayne reaping the spoils of a drug dealer’s lifestyle, minus the pitfalls. Have you seen Ross and Weezy’s video? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists Rick Ross (Hip-Hop) Lil Wayne
Houston rapper reveals his connection to the hip-hop pioneer, in Mixtape Daily. By Rob Markman Trae Tha Truth Photo: MTV News Celebrity Favorites: Trae Tha Truth Trae Tha Truth doesn’t care about hip-hop acceptance; he has a co-sign from the inventor of hip-hop. DJ Kool Herc is widely credited as hip-hop’s originator, after using two turntables to elongate record breaks during his parties in the Bronx, New York, in the late 19070s. Herc surprised many this past Monday when he attended Trae’s first headlining NYC show at SOBs in Manhattan, where he was promoting his upcoming album, Street King. “It was amazing, man. I came into SOBs not knowing what it was gonna be like, but it was packed front to back,” Trae told Mixtape Daily. “I got a lot of support from just New York City as a whole with the fans and then Kool Herc came out, Jadakiss, Styles P, French Montana, Fred the Godson, Maino.” While, some of NY’s finest artists rolled out the red carpet, it was the rap pioneer’s presence that stood out most for Trae. The Southern rap veteran clued us in on his relationship with Herc. “Little do they know that me and Kool Herc go back for years,” the Houston rapper revealed. “I got old videos in vaults at home of just me, Kool Herc, MC Hammer and a gang of people onstage. So it goes way back with me and him.” Though revered among hard-core hip-hop circles, Trae hasn’t had an easy career path. After a shooting incident following his 2009 Trae Day charity event, the rapper was criticized by a local radio disc jock at Houston’s KBXX 97.9 “The Box” for the incident. After Trae responded with a dis record, his music was banned from the station. It’s incidents like that that makes Herc’s support special to Trae. “He always accepted me, and plus he told me, ‘Man, I don’t care if they accept you in hip-hop or not, I accept you, so it is what it is, man. You’re raw,’ ” Trae recalled. “That’s my homey, man.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Artists Trae Tha Truth Kool Herc
Houston MC talks to Mixtape Daily about teaming with host Don Cannon and a gang of rap faves like Wiz Khalifa on latest tape. By Rob Markman Trae The Truth Photo: A.B.N. Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Headliner : Trae Tha Truth Mixtape : Undisputed Key Cameo : “Getting Paid,” featuring Wiz Khalifa Essential Info : A lot of MCs claim to be your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper, but judging from the amount of love that Houston’s Trae Tha Truth has been receiving lately, he may have sole claim to that crown. Just check the track list on his latest mixtape, Undisputed, which includes appearances by Young Jeezy, Pusha T, Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa. It’s clear that Trae gets his respect. Undisputed comes as Trae is putting the finishing touches on his new studio album, Street King. The tape is hosted by DJ Don Cannon, and for Trae, the union between he and Cannon, is significant. “It was kinda something that was overdue with me and Cannon’s career. We’ve been in the talks of it for a minute but we both was real tied up,” he told Mixtape Daily. “Cannon actually hit me maybe two to three weeks before we put it out and was like, ‘It’s time.’ When he told me it was time, I came back into Houston , kinda stopped what I was doing, and got it going.” Despite being well-respected in the industry, Trae still feels that he and Cannon have a long way to go in terms of mainstream notice. “We were doing the tape just off the strength of us, just because we feel a lot of people overlook me for what I do on the music and a lot of people overlook him as far as what he do on the DJ game,” Trae explained. “We’re both household names, but we still gotta show a lot of people what it is.” Driven by hard-core street cuts like “Gettin Paid,” featuring Wiz Khalifa, Trae continues to reign as underground rap royalty, his stock rising with each release. On “Inkredible (Remix),” producer StreetRunner adds a new beat to Trae’s 2010 single, while Jadakiss adds a new verse. Now that the tape has dropped, Trae seems to have picked up the right momentum as he prepares the release of his full-length Street King on June 28. A week before the album’s release date, Trae will touch down in New York City for a rare headlining performance at SOB’s. Fred the Godson and French Montana are already confirmed guests, but Trae promised Mixtape Daily that there’ll be some surprises. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: Trae The Truth
‘The song is about partying, living the Harlem life,’ Vado tells Mixtape Daily of his breakthrough single. By Shaheem Reid with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes Cam’ron and Vado, “Boss Of All Bosses 2.5” Photo: Gangsta Grillz Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Headliners : Cam’ron and Vado Co-Starring : DJ Drama Mixtape : Boss of All Bosses 2.5 Songs We Can’t Stop Playing : “Speakin Tongues,” “I Don’t Believe N—as” (featuring Fabolous) and “Amberlamps” Essential Info : If you haven’t heard Vado’s “Speakin Tongues” yet, find the MP3 on the Net or go to the club tonight. The record is going to be a summer anthem. The Cam’ron-assisted cut could be the young Harlem spitter’s breakthrough single. “I don’t know what nobody thought,” Cam laughed last weekend in Atlanta when asked about the song. “It’s me. This is what I do for a living. But shout to Vado. It’s his record. He got the beat and all that. I was like, ‘Nah, we gotta put that out immediately.’ ” “The song is about partying, living the Harlem life. Ballin’. You already know,” Vado added. Everyone is talking about that long-awaited Diplomats reunion , which Cam and Jim Jones are still trying to work out now, but Killa isn’t waiting. He’s still focused on his new clique. “Let me break it down: We’re the U.N. That’s the name of the team,” Cam described. “The U.N. is ‘Us Now.’ We got an album coming out in August that’s gonna be stupid. Vado’s solo joint, look towards December [for that one]. But I want everybody to be focused on that U.N. album, ’cause when that comes out, it’s gonna be bananas. Stupid. This August. [‘Speakin Tongues’], this is the first single off of it.” As of now, the U.N. is officially just Killa and Vado; they have three other artists who are down with them but not signed. Cam and company have 10 videos coming to the Web in the next several days, including “Ooh Baby” “Large in the Streets” and “Stop It Five.” Vado is going to put out his solo mixtape with DJ Drama, Slime Flu, soon, and that brings us the business at hand: Boss of All Bosses 2.5. “At first, it was like the lost tapes. Tracks that were throwaways, then we added more flavor to it,” Vado explained. “What happened with the 2.5, ” Cam clarified, “we gave Drama maybe 25 songs [for Boss of All Bosses 2 ]. He was like, ‘You might as well come back with 2.5 in two weeks.’ But we were doing so much new music, we might as well call it 4.8. It’s crazy. It’s about 20 songs.” Other Heat This Week
