Tag Archives: shaheem-reid

Lloyd Banks Influenced By Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake On Next Album

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘A lot of people don’t know I write more than rap music,’ MC says. By Shaheem Reid Lloyd Banks Photo: MTV News Lloyd Banks may be joining the recent ranks of Jay-Z ( The Blueprint 3 ) Raekwon The Chef ( Only Built 4 Cuban Linx … Pt. 2 ) and Capone-N-Noreaga ( The War Report 2 ) by making his album a sequel — The Hunger For More 2. Banks posted the title on his Twitter page, although the tweet has since been deleted and the G-Unit said the title is not official. Still, fans are encouraged that Banks is thinking about taking it back to his best effort. In a recent chat with Mixtape Daily , Banks said that going overseas on tour with the G-Unit for two months would be “dangerous” because he was going to devote his free time in the hotel room tp writing his LP. “It’s gonna be dangerous for me, because I’m gonna come home and record anywhere between 40 and 50 records, literally,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll have the bulk of my album from that.” The youngest member of the Unit also said that his sound would be expanding past the gritty beats you hear on his mixtape. Banks wants to add hit records to the mix after hearing what his former Interscope labelmates like Will.I.Am and Timabaland brought to the table. “The music overseas, the party atmospheres — it’s incredible,” Banks offered. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the club scenes in New York city and the States, [but] when you go overseas, you might hear ‘Toniiight’s gonna be a good night.’ You’re hearing that in the club 10 times. So if you didn’t know that joint, I come back over here like, ‘You don’t know that record. You’re buggin’ — that’s poppin!’ That record, Justin Timberlake, Timberland, Lady Gaga — you’re hearing so many different records, it makes you want to expand as an artist and get records that’s enjoyed by all people. They’re definitely gonna hear those kind of records from me too. “A lot of people don’t know I write more than rap music,” he continued. “I can write R&B records. I can write hit records — just put it like that. Hopefully I’ll be writing for a few more people in the future.” Lamborghini Lloyd also says that he would possibly put the call into Will.I.Am for beats. “I chopped it up with him a couple of times,” Banks said. “I seen him in L.A. and he wanted to work on the tail end of Rotten Apple. But between me touring, it was crazy. I didn’t get a chance to hook up with him. But hopefully we can make something happen on this record.” Related Artists Lloyd Banks

Read more here:
Lloyd Banks Influenced By Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake On Next Album

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

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

Tech N9ne Says He Found Success On The Road

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The independent rapper explains to Mixtape Daily how touring builds his fanbase. By Steven Roberts, with reporting by Shaheem Reid Tech N9ne Photo: MTV News Cornerstone Credentials Tech N9ne certainly isn’t a household name. He isn’t necessarily a big name in the realm of hip-hop either, but thanks to appearing at festivals like Rock the Bells and touring on his own, he’s been able to sell over a million records and build a solid, dedicated fanbase. As he prepares to drop his newest album, The Ollie Gates Mixed Plate, named after a restaurant in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, he told Mixtape Daily about the unconventional road he took to get here. “Being involved in all of those major labels in the past, nobody knew really how to do me, how to put me,” Tech said. “But who knows how to do me better than anybody: me.” He and his business partner, Travis O’Guin, formed their independent Strange Music label in 1999. Since then, they have enjoyed complete autonomy to do whatever they wanted with their music and their appearance. That’s also meant that he’s been able to go on tour to places where no one knew who he was. Tech said that they would play small-town shows with only 10 people in the audience, and he would still perform. When they came back the next time, there would be 30 people, and 200 people the following time. “If you want to be the hip-hop president, you’ve got to get out there and politic,” reasoned the rapper who won the Left Field Woodie Award from mtvU last year. Tech estimated that he does about 200 shows per year, a schedule that’s more typical of a rock band. All the money they make on tour is pumped back into Strange Music as they sign other artists to the label. They’ve also built a huge $1.2 million facility in Kansas City. He isn’t surprised that other artists have started to go independent and tour heavily to support themselves. In the digital world, artists have had to find new ways to sell their music to the people. Meanwhile, he said major labels are failing because they don’t take the time to build their artists’ fanbase. “We have that core fanbase that’s always going to be there, so whether we put out CDs, whether it’s going to be on iTunes or whatever, our fans are always going to be there,” Tech N9ne said. “A lot of these major cats don’t even have that. A lot of these major cats have sold over a million copies, but can’t get 1,000 people to come see them. … That ain’t for us, though.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines .

Go here to read the rest:
Tech N9ne Says He Found Success On The Road

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Nicki Minaj Explains Why She Skipped XXL’s Freshmen 10

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘With all due respect, we felt like we kinda had graduated from the freshman class,’ MC says of her and Drake’s exclusion from the issue. By Shaheem Reid Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News Nicki Minaj said she told XXL magazine, “No disrespect, but no thanks.” The sexy rapper declined the invitation to be a part of the 2010 Freshmen 10 issue because, like her Young Money compatriot Drake , she felt she should have been down last year. ” Drake and I, we love XXL, ” she told us recently on the set of her video for “Massive Attack.” “We just shot for XXL. With all due respect, we felt like we kinda had graduated from the freshman class. We felt that XXL missed the mark when they didn’t put us on the cover prior to that. They have to pay for that. They can’t say, ‘Hey, get on the next one.’ But we love XXL. That’s like a hip-hop classic. So we said, ‘can we have something just a little bit more catered to us, so that we feel like have still grown as artists, so we’re not at all disrespecting the magazine?’ They were cool with that. “We didn’t dictate, we just asked nicely,” Nicki smiled. “Technically, we were freshmen when they didn’t put us on,” Drake told ImFLashy.com in February. “I feel now it’s just returning the favor.” Earlier this month, the publication revealed their Freshmen 10 . The roster consisted of OJ Da Juiceman, Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock, Pill, Donnis, Fashawn, J. Cole, Wiz Khalifah, Freddie Gibbs and Big Sean. Related Artists Nicki Minaj Drake

See the original post here:
Nicki Minaj Explains Why She Skipped XXL’s Freshmen 10

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , ,

T.I. And ‘Tiny’ Cottle To Marry ‘This Year,’ She Says

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer is fed up with people asking ‘what’s taking so long.’ By Shaheem Reid T.I. and Tiny Photo: BET Wedding bells for for T.I and fianc

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

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

Ty Fyffe Remembers Meeting Michael Jackson, Announces Contest

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| 1 Comment

‘This is a way for me to reach out to people,’ he tells Mixtape Daily about his talent competition. By Shaheem Reid Ty Fyffe Photo: Courtesy of Ty Fyffe Behind the Beats: Ty Fyffe Queens native Ty Fyffe has them all from The G-Unit to Michael Jackson. “It was a life-changing experience,” he said about visiting Michael Jackson at the King of Pop’s home. At the time in the early ’90s, Fife was under the tutelage of Teddy Riley and living in Virginia. “Ted was working with Mike heavy after the success of Dangerous, ” Fyffe added. “He took me and one of his boys down to Neverland. Mike was working on the ‘Addams Family Values’ soundtrack. It was crazy that I went to the joint. We was in his movie theater.” After Riley, Fyffe went on to learn from Erick Sermon. “That was my second half of learning production,” Ty offered. “He showed me so much on the funk side of things — I started studying funk music, the heavy bass lines on the tracks. You could hear it on my work.” Eventually Ty broke out on is own, working with 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Snoop Dogg and Cam’ron on the classic Come Home With Me. After mingling so long with vets, Fyffe wants to spread the love to new jacks. “I got a contest for my new compilation,” he said. “The first installment of Ty Fyffe Presents — it’s raw and uncut its hosted by DJ Kay Slay the Drama King. It’s a global competition I’m promoting all over the Internet. I got sponsors like Digiwaxx. It’s a great opportunity; it’s the chance of lifetime. I wanted to get the fresh talent from people out there. We’re getting so many submissions from people in Las Vegas, Texas, Virginia — it’s a great way to get yourself out there. This is a way for me to reach out to people trying to get with me and give them a shot. Fyffe’s contest ends on April 15. Next Wave of Flav On Jim Jones : “He’s going for big records. He’s trying to catch that big record look. He’s gonna always have the streets; he’s affiliated with the streets. I just wanna take him to the next level.” On Busta Rhymes : “I got two on The Chemo. I’m still submitting for him. We had a lot of success on the last record. I did the ‘Hustler’s Anthem’ with T-Pain. Busta is incredible, hands-down one of the best. He’s so creative, he’s mastered flows — the new records are energy. I’m making big intros [for him]. When the beat drops, its over.” On Drake : “They didn’t pick the joint yet. We’ll see what happens. I hope I make the album. It’s looking pretty strong. I’m gonna keep feeding the album.” On Juelz Santana : “Amazing. I’m feedin’ him batches. I know they hearing me right now.” Five-Star Stellar Hits (Separately and Together)

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Music

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

Drake Says Jay-Z Gives Him ‘Different’ And ‘Influential’ Advice

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘We have a real funny rapport. I always enjoy my conversations with Jay,’ MC says. By Shaheem Reid Drake Photo: MTV News It was Jay-Z that alerted Timbaland to Drake’s skills , and Drizzy himself said that when he talks with Hov, the Jiggaman drops wisdom on various subjects. Drake and Jay collaborated for a record called “Light Up” off of the 23-year-old newcomer’s Thank Me Later LP. “It’s just me and Jay both rapping on it for an extended period of time,” Drake told MTV News on the set of his video for “Over.” “It’s real rap. It’s real rap. I do sing on it, but it’s just on the hook — but it’s rap. It’s great. The perspective, the dynamic on the track — it’s me and Jay’s relationship on the song, basically. When you hear it, people will be like, ‘Oh man.’ That’s how we are — just the two. He definitely has guided me a lot, as far as his words and his advice. We have a real funny rapport. I always enjoy my conversations with Jay. It’s good.” Drake also said the jewels Jay drops on him are almost like the advice Lil Wayne gives, but different. “Sort of the same thing. [Jay] does it in this way — when Jay says something, it’s different from anyone else. It just means that much more. Jay just has this aura about him. It’s like, ‘That’s why you’re Jay-Z.’ For a guy like me who grew up wanting to be Jay-Z, it’s influential — it’s very, very influential. We have great conversations. Just life. I’m not an AWOL type of character that you have to sit down and instruct. I’m pretty aware of myself and how to go through this whole process. The conversations are just funny and good and settles my mind.” Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Drake

Visit link:
Drake Says Jay-Z Gives Him ‘Different’ And ‘Influential’ Advice

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Raheem DeVaughn Wants To Master Love And Peace On His New Album

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

First single from The Love & War MasterPeace, ‘Bulletproof,’ features Ludacris. By Steven Roberts, with reporting by Shaheem Reid Photo: Rick Diamond/ WireImage Raheem Devaughn has never had a chart-topping single or a smash in the clubs. Despite his commercial shortcomings, DeVaughn has been a bit of a critical darling and a favorite amongst neo-soul fans. With the release of his third album, The Love & War MasterPeace, earlier this month, the Grammy-nominated DeVaughn said that he’s just thankful for the chance to release the project. “A lot of artists don’t get the opportunity to even [do] that these days. So I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful for the feedback that’s coming back in the streets. It’s all humbling — a humble journey to take,” DeVaughn said. While calling the album a “MasterPeace” would suggest otherwise, DeVaughn said that it’s simply a play on words. “When you hear the word ‘masterpiece,’ you initially think, ‘Oh aight, this better be a masterpiece,’ ” he explained. “Or it’s a level of arrogance like, ‘How could you call your own album a masterpiece?’ ” He clarified that the title is about people mastering peace within their world. Whether it’s dealing with inner peace, your love life or a peace of mind at work or home, DeVaughn hopes his music helps listeners gain that. “I feel like music can be therapeutic for all of us, not just music lovers, but the artists that create it.” The album’s first single, “Bulletproof,” features Ludacris. He said that Luda and the DTP fam have been very supportive of his movement from the beginning. The singer notes that he sent them the record and Luda recorded his verse without even asking to get paid. “He did the record with us doing no business or none of that, like, ‘Yo I gotta get paid right now.’ It was like, ‘Yo I’m really feeling this and whatever I could do to make it work [I will].’ And he’s done that.” Related Artists Raheem Devaughn

View post:
Raheem DeVaughn Wants To Master Love And Peace On His New Album

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , ,

Snoop Dogg Plans ‘Music, Comedy’ Tour With Mike Epps

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I had to find somebody who I could match and who could match me,’ MC says of his comedian co-headliner. By Shaheem Reid Snoop Dogg Photo: MTV News LL Cool J went from Hollis to Hollywood, and Snoop Dogg plans to take it from Long Beach To Las Vegas. The hip-hop legend starts a tour of Casinos on April 30 in San Diego along with co-headliner Mike Epps. The Dogg says the two performers’ worlds will combine well onstage. “Mike Epps is exceptional,” Snoop said. “He’s the equivalent to Snoop Dogg in comedy. People love him. They respect his comedy, his views, his vision. He’s not too political, he’s not too raunchy. He’s not too offensive. When you say Mike Epps, people laugh. They smile. They associate him with funny. When you say Snoop Dogg, people get excited and start singing songs and thinking about certain moments in time when certain records took them to the next day. I had to find somebody who I could match and who could match me as far as putting my show with his show and making our show — a show of all shows that people could talk about for years.” Snoop noted that he and Epps share a lot of the same loves and influences in comedy and music. “We both love the same things: Flip Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson — we was trying to figure out how could those worlds come together and make people enjoy themselves. So we sat down, spent a couple of days together and shot out a couple of ideas. We said, ‘Me and you onstage together is great, but if we’re onstage together and doing a real show, where we’re interacting with a big screen, where it’s movie scenes we shot beforehand, where it intercuts onstage live — music, comedy — it’ll just be a great show.’ The way we putting it together, we’ll be in Vegas one day getting paper. Watch out, Beyonc

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Drake Still Hopeful For A Collaboration With Sade ‘One Day’

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Stepping outside your zone can jeopardize your brand,’ Drizzy says of Sade’s no-collabo policy. By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Matt Elias Drake Photo: MTV News Drake said he wasn’t upset when he heard that Sade — an artist he had wanted to collaborate with on his upcoming Thank Me Later debut — said she’s not into guest-starring on anyone’s project . “I don’t think they have contacted me,” Sade, 51, told Canada’s National Post last month. “I’ve never collaborated because I’ve always avoided working outside my safety zone — I can be exactly who I am and can fail or succeed within the moment. I feel safe working like I do. I wouldn’t want to work in a situation where I am expected to deliver, because I think I wouldn’t deliver.” Drake said he might not get with her this time, but maybe on a future album. “That’s great. Her brand is always protected. That’s why,” Drake said of her comments on the set of his “Over” video last week in California. “Other people’s visuals, other people’s songs, stepping outside your zone can jeopardize your brand. It can bring you down as opposed to bring you up. I personally feel we could have done something amazing. But I don’t think she really knows who I am, really, my genre of music. I put it out there. It was more of a hopeful thing. It was a very early stage where I was at when I said that I was hoping. One day. Maybe after this album comes out. “I’m very influenced by her,” he added. “She does something that I do. She doesn’t do too much with harmonies, and she keeps her vocals very clean. Single vocals. Haunting melodies. I’m influenced by her a lot. One day.” Would you like to hear a collaboration between Drake and Sade? Who else do you think Sade should hook up with? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Drake

Go here to read the rest:
Drake Still Hopeful For A Collaboration With Sade ‘One Day’

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

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

Diddy, Rick Ross, More Join Waka Flocka Flame On Video Set

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

A crew including Fabolous, Shanell, DJ Green Lantern and more show support for Waka on Atlanta set of ‘O Let’s Do It’ remix. By Shaheem Reid Waka Flocka Flame (file) Photo: MTV News A host of guest stars came down to Waka Flocka Flame’s video set at Atlanta’s Central Station to shoot the clip for his upcoming “O Let’s Do It” remix. Diddy, Rick Ross and Fabolous all rap on the track, while Young Money’s Shanell and Lil Chuckee, Jazze Pha, Lyfe Jennings, DJ Green Lantern and DJ Trauma came down to show support. Of course a highlight was Diddy sitting on top of a Rolls Royce Phantom wearing a fur coat, gold teeth and speaking his clout: “Bi—es come in combos/ Pictures of Christopher on my wall all in my condo/ I don’t f— with fake ho’s/ All I touch is J.Lo’s/ All I drink is my sh–/ Ciroc by the caseloads.” Diddy’s verse has been getting heavy love in the ATL. “Puff Daddy went ham!” Waka told MTV News last month. “Rick Ross went ham! Gucci, that’s my partna — I ain’t even know he jumped on that. He went ham. That’s like the only people I heard jump on it. They went crazy. I respected them for that. I got the official remix. Puff on there, Rick Ross and Gucci. I feel their verses were crazy. Puff went crazy!” Waka — who has dealt with a rough 2010 so far, suffering a gunshot wound in January after a robbery attempt and a recent arrest for probation violation in Houston — debuted his new jewelry pieces in the clip, an iced-out Gumby and Pokey. Related Artists Diddy Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)

More here:
Diddy, Rick Ross, More Join Waka Flocka Flame On Video Set

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,