‘This is everything that I’ve got to say,’ Nas tells MTV News of the material on his 10th album. By Nadeska Alexis Nas Photo: MTV News released his last solo album, Untitled, in 2008, and although he followed that up with the Damian Marley collaboration LP Distant Relatives in 2010, the Queens MC still has a few years’ worth of material that he’s ready to share with fans on his upcoming 10th album, Nas told MTV News that the project will find him opening up about all of the experiences he’s been unable to communicate over the past few years. “It’s been a long time, it’s been years since I released a solo studio album, so this record is everything,” he says. “This is everything that I’ve got to say–I guess you’ve got to live a little and you put that in your music, so it’s coming from my life.” The album will also see Nas experimenting with new beats and pairs unexpected production with his thoughtful lyrics. “A lot of the tracks have [come from ideas] where I would take an idea from one of the guys that I’m working with and try to put it together with a different sound that I had in my head, or with someone else,” he explained. “[I] just try to get people to collaborate who are not really used to working together and to get something different from me.” Nas dropped the album’s first single “The Don” earlier this month, with production from Salaam Remi, Da Internz and the late Heavy D, and the entire project is tentatively slated to arrive by June. “It’s a summer album,” Nas tells MTV News. “We’re gonna shoot the video for ‘The Don’ and get ready for the next song that’s in the chamber. It ain’t gon’ stop. It’s a whole story. ‘[The] Don’ just dropped, so we’re just letting that bubble and setting up the next one.” Related Artists Nas
50 Cent performs his 2003 album “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” with some help from Marshall Mathers. By Nadeska Alexis 50 Cent and Eminem perform March 16 Photo: Sam Hendrick/ MTV News 50 Cent made a rare appearance in Austin, Texas on Friday night to perform his classic 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in its entirety, and fans who were hoping for that rumored Eminem performance were not the least bit disappointed. The opening lineup at the SXSW Shady 2.0 Showcase included 50 Cent’s new G-Unit artists Paris and Kidd Kidd, plus Action Bronson, Black Hippy’s Schoolboy Q, Don Trip and Big K.R.I.T. Yelawolf was forced to cancel his appearance due to an injury but his fellow Shady Records signees, Slaughterhouse, took the stage before Fif dishing out freestyles, in addition to singles like “Hammer Dance” from their upcoming album welcome to: Our House . 50 Cent hit the stage shortly after 11pm, launching into “What Up Gangsta?” decked out in an appropriately nostalgic outfit–a camouflage bullet-proof best and Yankees cap. Throughout the week there had been whispers of an Eminem guest appearance during Fif’s set, and Marshall Mathers confirmed those rumors on the second song of the night. Fifty rolled right into “Patiently Waiting,” spitting his first verse and within seconds Em burst onto the stage, delivering the hook and his verse, casually decked out in jeans a baseball cap and his signature hoodie. At times, Fif’s commentary during the show was just as entertaining as the actual songs. “It’s been 10 years. That album sold 13 million copies,” he told the crowd, marveling at the success of Get Rich or Die Tryin.’ “The money came so fast, I couldn’t f— it up,” he added, getting some laughs from the crowd. “I was trying everything I could think of.” Tony Yayo hung by Fif’s side as the crowd continued to go wild for tracks like “Many Men,” and “In Da Club.” And although the Queens rapper was in great spirits, he still managed to get in a bit of a rant, taking aim at some of his critics. “I guess it’s not what have I done, but what have I done for you lately, is that right?” he said, the annoyance evident on his face. Still, Fif treated fans to a few more songs, including an encore performance and a freestyle over Eminem’s “Till I Collapse,” which commanded another Shady appearance on stage. “Wanksta” was the closing number of the night, and though fans stayed put, expectantly, for another few minutes, that was it folks. Related Videos South by Southwest 2012 Related Photos SXSW 2012 50 Cent, Eminem Collab At SXSW Related Artists Eminem 50 Cent
50 Cent performs his 2003 album “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” with some help from Marshall Mathers. By Nadeska Alexis 50 Cent and Eminem perform March 16 Photo: Sam Hendrick/ MTV News 50 Cent made a rare appearance in Austin, Texas on Friday night to perform his classic 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in its entirety, and fans who were hoping for that rumored Eminem performance were not the least bit disappointed. The opening lineup at the SXSW Shady 2.0 Showcase included 50 Cent’s new G-Unit artists Paris and Kidd Kidd, plus Action Bronson, Black Hippy’s Schoolboy Q, Don Trip and Big K.R.I.T. Yelawolf was forced to cancel his appearance due to an injury but his fellow Shady Records signees, Slaughterhouse, took the stage before Fif dishing out freestyles, in addition to singles like “Hammer Dance” from their upcoming album welcome to: Our House . 50 Cent hit the stage shortly after 11pm, launching into “What Up Gangsta?” decked out in an appropriately nostalgic outfit–a camouflage bullet-proof best and Yankees cap. Throughout the week there had been whispers of an Eminem guest appearance during Fif’s set, and Marshall Mathers confirmed those rumors on the second song of the night. Fifty rolled right into “Patiently Waiting,” spitting his first verse and within seconds Em burst onto the stage, delivering the hook and his verse, casually decked out in jeans a baseball cap and his signature hoodie. At times, Fif’s commentary during the show was just as entertaining as the actual songs. “It’s been 10 years. That album sold 13 million copies,” he told the crowd, marveling at the success of Get Rich or Die Tryin.’ “The money came so fast, I couldn’t f— it up,” he added, getting some laughs from the crowd. “I was trying everything I could think of.” Tony Yayo hung by Fif’s side as the crowd continued to go wild for tracks like “Many Men,” and “In Da Club.” And although the Queens rapper was in great spirits, he still managed to get in a bit of a rant, taking aim at some of his critics. “I guess it’s not what have I done, but what have I done for you lately, is that right?” he said, the annoyance evident on his face. Still, Fif treated fans to a few more songs, including an encore performance and a freestyle over Eminem’s “Till I Collapse,” which commanded another Shady appearance on stage. “Wanksta” was the closing number of the night, and though fans stayed put, expectantly, for another few minutes, that was it folks. Related Videos South by Southwest 2012 Related Photos SXSW 2012 50 Cent, Eminem Collab At SXSW Related Artists Eminem 50 Cent
‘He just had to cancel a couple of shows just so he could get right,’ Royce da 5’9″ tells MTV News in Austin, Texas before SXSW Shady showcase. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Nadeska Alexis Yelawolf Photo: Joey Foley/ Getty Images There’s a Shady party scheduled to go down at SXSW on Friday night (March 16), but sadly Yelawolf will not be performing with his labelmates 50 Cent and Slaughterhouse . The Gadsden, Alabama, MC was hospitalized March 2 with an injury to his spleen after a stage-diving accident in Madison, Wisconsin. “I have [spoken] to him, I spoke to him, I called him and checked on him. I think he stage-dove or something like that,” Royce da 5’9″ told MTV News of Yela’s status when we caught up with the MC in Austin, Texas. “I don’t know if people know this because Yelawolf is such a mild-mannered, laid-back kinda guy, but he gets real rowdy onstage and he doesn’t mind putting his physical health in danger as well as the fans’, which makes for a greater show.” No doubt, Yela has earned a reputation as an energetic performer, mixing both rap and punk-rock elements into his stage show. Unfortunately, after the Wisconsin show, doctors recommended he cancel a number of dates, including a concert at Saint Andrew’s Hall in label boss Eminem’s native Detroit and, of course, tonight’s SXSW showcase. Not that the Shady 2.0 show will be without highlights. 50 Cent is set to perform his 2003 classic debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, in its entirety and Slaughterhouse will take the stage in what is expected to be a lyrical free-for-all. Big K.R.I.T., Schoolboy Q, Action Bronson and XXL freshman Don Trip are also scheduled to hit the stage. As far as Catfish Billy, Royce expects his buddy to make a full recovery. “He’s well, he’s doing well,” he said, “He just had to cancel a couple of shows just so he could get right.” SXSW is under way in Austin, Texas, and MTV News has you covered with all of the action. From the Woodies on March 15 to behind-the-scenes scoop on festival showcases from Lil Wayne, T.I., 50 Cent and many more, stick with us for unprecedented access! Related Artists YelaWolf Royce Da 5’9″
Grand Hustle artists were joined by Wale, Meek Mill, Curren$y at Warner Music showcase. By Nadeska Alexis T.I. and B.o.B perform at SXSW Photo: Universal Pictures AUSTIN, Texas — There was no shortage of options in Austin, Texas, on Thursday night if you happened to be a hip-hop fan at SXSW on the hunt for a good show. While Lil Wayne and YMCMB put their talents on display at Austin Music Hall, just five minutes down the road T.I. , B.o.B , Wale , Meek Mill and Curren$y brought down the house at the Warner Sound showcase. MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway hosted the event at La Zona Rosa, where Grand Hustle Records had a triumphant night and Maybach Music Group continued to rep their expanding roster. Curren$y, Kirko Bangz and XV got the packed house adequately warmed up for a night that easily stretched into the wee hours of Friday morning (March 16). Grand Hustle announced their arrival with B.o.B’s raucous entrance to “Beast Mode,” backed by a live band. His next number, “How Bout Dat,” commanded a fleet of backup dancers. He followed that with the upbeat single “Magic” off his debut album, B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. The song faded into a dubstep beat, pushing the dancers front and center to showcase their moves before the venue finally went dark. With nothing to see or hear, the crowd hung back, wondering what would be next. That would be Mr. Grand Hustle himself. “They say Grand Hustle is in the building,” Tip announced over the mic, followed by a long pause before “I’m Back” came booming through the speakers. “Rubberband Man” was a natural choice to follow, sending the crowd soaring along with “U Don’t Know Me.” Tip took a break only to plug his upcoming eighth album, Trouble Man, which is tentatively due out this summer, before continuing with fan favorites like “What You Know” and one of his more recent singles, “Pyro.” From there, B.o.B and T.I. continued to tag-team the set, and Tip was proud to announce that this was the first time he and his signee had “done a full show together.” Playboy Tre was on hand for “Bet I Bust.” “Don’t Let Me Fall” was delivered on acoustic guitar, and T.I. even threw in “Whatever You Like” to round out Bobby Ray’s “Airplanes” and “Strange Clouds,” the title track of his upcoming album. It was already after midnight when MMG rappers Meek Mill, Stalley and Wale finally took the stage. Meek and Stalley were up first, with energetic singles like “I’ma Boss” aiming to keep the crowd going. Wale did his part to keep the energy alive, performing his hits “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “Slight Work” and commanding a guest appearance from Travis Porter. The D.C. rapper closed out the night with his street anthem “Bait” and the cult favorite “No Hands.” Related Artists T.I. B.o.B Wale Meek Mill
‘My goal is to migrate the cultures,’ Swizz tells MTV News about his new partnership with Korea’s O&Media. By Nadeska Alexis Swizz Beatz Photo: WireImage Swizz Beatz is notorious for having his hands in a few different projects at once. In addition to outside-the-box ventures like working with Christian Louboutin to score the music for Paris’ Crazy Horse cabaret, the producer is currently focused on developing his joint venture with O&Media, which aims to introduce Korean pop music, or “K-Pop,” to mainstream America. “My goal is to migrate the cultures,” Swizz told MTV News. “It’s not about me being a feature or just producing K-Pop music; it’s about migrating musical cultures around the world. And I just felt like starting with K-Pop, starting in Asia and opening up different outlets to something cool and new.” To spearhead this project, Swizz teamed up with popular Korean entertainment group O&Media. “That partnership has been coming about for a couple of months now,” he said, detailing the progress they’ve made together so far. “We have a TV show component, a tour company component, a production company and a label. We’re just active as the tunnel for artists that want to do things in the West, or artists in the West that want to do things in Asia. This is about a whole migration of cultures coming together under our umbrella to have an outlet to express themselves.” Part of Swizz’s goal is to use elements from each music culture to help grow the other. “They still do artist development [in Asia], where back here in the States, the labels and our culture lacks artist development,” he said. “Nowadays, an artist can go into the booth, put out a song the next day, and that person thinks that they’re a superstar. But within the K-Pop movement, artists actually go through artist development. They take music classes that allow them to be ready for when they do become that big star. “I think that introducing different cultures of music can help everybody out, and that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop doing hip-hop or R&B music,” he added. “I have love for all genres of music, because it’s all art, and I just want to take the boundaries and lines of segregation and make them invisible.” In the simplest terms, the super-producer wants the love to be spread evenly across the musical world. “When we go to these different countries — Korea, Japan, China — as artists from the United States, we get treated like kings,” he said. “We get treated like real stars. And I feel that when they come over to the States, as successful as they are, they should get treated the same.” What do you think about Swizz’s K-Pop efforts? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Swizz Beatz
Mr. Folarin’s tireless work ethic and an assist from Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group lands him a spot on MTV News’ Hottest VII list. By Nadeska Alexis Wale Photo: Getty Images Wale’s sophomore LP, Ambition, debuted at #2 on the albums chart in November, and the title couldn’t have been more appropriate. The Washington D.C. rapper reinvented himself in 2011, claiming a new space in the hip-hop stratosphere after a sound, but commercially disappointing, debut two years earlier. Wale’s tireless work ethic, along with a deal from Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, were the keys to his success and his #10 slot on MTV News’ Hottest MCs in the Game VII list. After releasing Attention Deficit in 2009, Wale parted ways with Interscope Records and decided to continue on his mixtape grind. In August 2010, he dropped More About Nothing, the second installation of his “Seinfeld”-themed series. And if Wale was putting out feelers for his fanbase, it worked. The mixtape became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter, and pulled in 100,000 downloads in a matter of hours. Fans weren’t the only ones paying attention though. Rick Ross, in the midst of constructing his MM Group empire, also took notice. Want to Join the Debate? Just Hit us on Twitter using the hashtag #HottestMC! By February 2011, Wale was officially signed to MMG under the Warner Bros. umbrella. With the release of Maybach Music’s Self Made Vol. 1 compilation last summer, Wale demonstrated his ability to deliver bangers on hits like “600 Benz,” and from there his star only continued to rise. “Wale really touched on a broad scale, when it comes to an audience, it’s hard to dispute that,” said Yomi Desalu, MTV’s senior director of music and talent programming strategy. The criteria to be considered a Hottest MC are based on a combination of impact, buzz, sales, lyrics, swag and the intangibles. Mr. Folarin pretty much touched on them all. He performed with the Maybach crew on shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” finally getting his mainstream shine. With the right support system behind him, Wale began to prep his sophomore album, but he teased it with another excellent mixtape, The Eleven One Theory, in August 2011. In addition to proving that he was still a very talented lyricist, singles like “Bait” reinforced the fact that he’d finally found a sound that would appeal to a wider audience. By the time November 1 rolled around, Wale had built plenty of anticipation for his second album. Thanks in part to Rick Ross — who demonstrated his uncanny talent for branding in 2011 — #Ambition took on a life of its own in the world of social media, with its inspirational undertones. Lead single “Lotus Flower Bomb,” plus the Kid Cudi-assisted “Focused” , “Slight Work” (featuring Big Sean) and, of course, the title track “Ambition” (featuring Meek Mill and Ross) struck just the right balance between Wale’s sometimes-dense rhymes and radio-friendly numbers. “Lotus Flower Bomb is a #1 record and Wale’s album was very balanced and diverse,” MTV Jams’ Tuma Basa noted. In the post-release madness, Wale appeared alongside Rick Ross on the cover of Billboard , dropped verses on the Bawse’s Rich Forever mixtape and even recruited Chris Brown to direct the visuals for “Slight Work.” After shaking off the disappointment of his debut album and surviving the dreaded sophomore slump, things are only looking up for Wale. Tune in to MTV2 on Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT to catch ” MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts ,” then watch “Hottest MCs in the Game VII” immediately after at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT before capping the night off with ” Sucker Free Certified ” at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Related Videos ‘Hottest MCs In The Game VII’ Related Artists Wale
Coveted nomination follows #1 debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, and a string of well-received mixtapes. By Nadeska Alexis J. Cole Photo: C. Flanigan/FilmMagic It’s been a long road to release for J. Cole, who finally dropped his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, in September after putting out several mixtapes. Now, the Roc Nation signee is seeing his hard work pay off with a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2012 Grammy Awards . Cole World debuted at #1 in September and has sold more than 500,000 copies to date, making it an impressive freshman LP for a rapper. Make no mistake, though, Jermaine Cole’s success has been a long time in the making. After dropping his mixtape The Come Up in 2007, the North Carolina native polished his craft and released The Warm Up two years later, catching the ear of Jay-Z — specifically with the hit single “Lights Please” — and landing himself a record deal at Roc Nation. Even with Hov as his mentor, however, Jermaine continued to push things along with his own solo efforts. His debut album was hit with a series of delays and he made up for the wait by releasing his late 2010 mixtape Friday Night Lights. Between his tapes and a few free-floating singles he’d recorded over the years, Cole had enough material to warrant an opening spot on Rihanna’s Loud Tour in June. When that wrapped, Cole kicked off his Any Given Sunday series in the summer of 2011, which found him releasing new tracks or EPs weekly, leading right into the debut of his first studio album. That persistent grind resulted in noteworthy album sales and a Grammy nomination, which Jay-Z said is well-deserved . “I think it’s great for him, because I’m sure it’s a dream of his. We grew up seeing Michael Jackson, and I’m sure he grew up seeing whatever moment stuck in his mind, so I know it’s great for him to do that,” Hov told MTV News. “I think he’s already won Best New Artist, to me. His journey is what I’m really excited about.” Tune into the Grammys on Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m. ET to see if Cole takes home the award for Best New Artist. His competitors in the category are Nicki Minaj, Skrillex, Bon Iver and the Band Perry. Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don’t miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn’t end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off! Related Videos A Guide To The Grammys 2012 Related Artists J. Cole
His dad, rapper Peter Gunz, confirms report to MTV News: ‘To go to a precinct and see your son in handcuffs, it’s heartbreaking.’ By Nadeska Alexis Cory Gunz Photo: Oluwaseye Olusa/MTV Veteran Bronx MC Peter Gunz confirmed to MTV News early Sunday (January 29) that his son, rapper Cory Gunz , was arrested for gun possession in the Bronx, New York, on Saturday afternoon. “The details are still sketchy, but I can confirm that he was arrested with a firearm yesterday in the Bronx,” Gunz told MTV News. “They caught him around 2 p.m. in the afternoon with a loaded gun in his knapsack. “It was definitely an illegal search,” Peter added. Gunz was unable to disclose full details on the incident just yet, but he explained the events leading up to his son’s arrest. “I spoke to the arresting officer, and so far, what I’m hearing from him is that they got a phone call at the station saying they should ‘look out,’ ” Gunz said. “According to [the officer], they didn’t know he was Cory Gunz. They just saw a bunch of kids following him around. “What I will say is that the officer that arrested Cory actually happened to be a cool dude,” Gunz continued. “After arresting Cory, sitting down with him and talking, he felt bad about the situation.” The 24-year-old rapper was brought to the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx on Saturday, but officials there say he has since been transported to Central Booking, on E. 161st Street in the Bronx. While this is Cory Gunz’s first brush with the law, his father is still worried about the potential fallout from a firearm charge. “At the end of the day, there’s a reason for everything, but at the same time, in New York, it’s mandatory jail time,” he said. “To go to a precinct and see your son, your junior, in handcuffs, it’s heartbreaking. Anytime you see your child in jail, in the cell, in handcuffs, it’s very hard. He’s walked down some of the same paths that I walked down, but you never want to see your kids go through what you went through. “This is Cory’s first offense, but sometimes they like to make an example out of rappers and people with any kind of celebrity to them.” In April 2011, Cory Gunz and his father starred in the six-part MTV docu-series “Son of a Gun,” which charted the young rapper’s rise to fame. The younger Gunz is signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money label. Related Artists Cory Gunz Peter Gunz
