Tupac Shakur: The Life of a Born Rap Soldier

 

It's Saturday, the sun's rays of heat makes it another golden, California day...and June 16, 1971 is the day one of hip hop's greatest emcee's in the rap game - Tupac Shakur [aka: 2Pac, Makaveli] - was born. 

Anyone with half a brain and exposure to mass media pretty much knows, or will eventually hear about, the celebrated life and legendary lyrical 'spit-flow' of a born rap soldier:

 Tupac Amaru Shakur

While most rappers do just that - rap, Pac was, and obviously still is (2K12 hologram at Coachella), much more than an MC, or a thug for that matter. 

A spiritual-soldier of great intellectual fortune, Makaveli was blessed with unprecedented and unmatched skills (writer, actor, MC, activist, producer, poet, revolutionary, screenwriter, humanitarian) and a voice that penetrated the heart & soul of massive audiences the world over - one love! 

And even though murder was the case they gave him, executed in Las Vegas - 1996, Pac gave us all 100% real, raw, rough, and romantic insight into the mind of [a] prophetic genius who became a threat to many forces...and some might argue, even to himself.

Regardless of how his spirit transcended our sense of dimension, time and space -- the life and 1-LOVE-THUG-PASSION of Tupac Shakur, no-doubt, lives on...and rocks beyond the break of dawn. Happy 'born-day', Pac. Hit em up!

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Big SHOUT-OUT to his mother, Afeni Shakur,

and the 'party' that helped raise a son who reminded us of hip hop's universal message of [thug] love, peace and unity. 

   "A coward dies a thousand deaths... a soldier dies but once." -Tupac

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"Shakur has sold over 75 million records worldwide as of 2010,[2] making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. Rolling Stone Magazine named him the 86th Greatest Artist of All Time." [source: wikipedia]

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well Respected in the Rap Game:

Tupac Amura Shakur

 June 16, 1971 - September 13, 1996

He was 25 years young

Tupac: Resurrection

Flip Gates - "The Hip Hop Billionaire" (aka Lil Flip), Boosts Stock and Cashes in on Corporate Deal with UVMF

GlobeNewswire reports UVMF and rapper, Flip Gates do 'corporate' verse deal for mix tape

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Apparently street-swagg is still marketable in corporate America...and Flip Gates - "The Hip Hop Billionaire" is cashing in on his share in exchange for corporate verses! The United Vision Marketing Firm - UVMF will be launching a mix tape project (The Owners Box) this summer, which features Flip spitting a 'corporate hip hop verse'. 

"After reading in a press release about UVMF's offer to give 1 Million Shares of their Pre IPO stock to a top Hip Hop Artist to rap about corporate moves with a street swag, Flip Gates and his people moved diligently on an opportunity that fits his vision and business model."   [source: GlobeNewswire]

Dr. Nono Pearson, Chairman and CEO at UVMF, expressed confidence in Flip's corporate/street-swagg [brand] and mass appeal to the extent of considering the Houston rapper for a role in a movie production called, "Hustler's Redemption".

Best known to rap fans for hits like The Way We Ball, Sunshine and Game Over...

'The Hip Hop Billionaire' 

sold over  8 million  units 

and over  1 million  Hip Hop Ringtones!

Beastie Boys Rap Pioneer, Adam Yauch - 'MCA' dies at age 47

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The hip hop community and fans worldwide are shocked and saddened; a rap pioneer - Adam Yauch

(better known as MCA of the legendary group -- Beastie Boys), has died at age 47. But although MCA's 'physical' is no longer perceivable, hip hop celebrates the spirit of those, like Adam, who've helped blaze its revolutionary trail through popular culture.

 

 

As [a] founding member of the Beastie Boys rap group, MCA rocked the mic with fellow group MC's - Mike D and Ad-Rock, and Mix Master Mike spinning the tables to their funky, funky hits. 

Before the group decided to express their combined art through rap music, they first chose hardcore punk as the genre of choice. In 1983, the 'B-Boys' started flirting with hip hop and expressed their new-found love like most MC's do...they released a 12 inch single:  'Cooky Puss'.

A year later, in 1984, the Beastie Boys and hip hop were married to the rap game, and their first offspring [album] was Licensed to Ill, released in 1986.

"It was the first hip hop LP to top the Billboard 200  chart. It was also Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut record to date and sold over 9 million copies." And judging from the group's worldwide impact and fanbase following, being married to hip hop has been mighty good for one of hip hop's illest group of MC's.

They were pioneers, no doubt!

"They are one of the longest lived hip hop acts worldwide and continue to enjoy commercial and critical success in 2011, more than 25 years after the release of their debut album. The group has been selected as part of the 2012 induction class into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, after being eligible since 2007."  [Source:  Wikipedia]

Adam Yauch was a true representation of what

hip hop culture was, is, and should [forever] be  --  a unifying force of loyal expression of self, for the benefit of humanity. 

In spite of his battle with a cancerous parotid salivary gland, which is the likely cause of [his] death, in his personal life, Yauch practiced and became a voice for Buddhism, and the struggle for independence of the Tibetan people, specifically. 

He was so devoted to his spiritual practice and beliefs that, in the spirit of hip hop, he put his money, and his heart, where his mouth was. "He created the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization devoted to Tibetan independence, and organized several benefit concerts to support the cause." 

RIPMCA
04.05.1964 - 05.04.2K12

                           Way to spit the ill, 

raspy rhymes!  

     "If you can feel what I'm feeling then it's a musical masterpiece. If you can hear what I'm dealing with then that's cool at least. What's running through my mind comes through in my walk. True feelings are shown from the way that I talk"  
-MCA, [Pass the Mic - 1992]

Extra, Extra: Nas' new single - "The Don" bangs hard from NYC!

 

After 20 years in the game, Nas - "The Don" still bangs 'flowetically' hard, from NYC!

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It should come as no surprise that Nas' new joint, "The Don"  symbolizes what's likely to be another sizzling success from the rappers upcoming album - Life is Good, scheduled for release this summer (07.17.2K12). 

  

 

As he bangs loose on New Yorker's and MC's worldwide, Nasty Nas gets active [in] good life, swagg fashion. "The Don", 

rather harsh and matter-of-factly, reminds MC's and rap fans what two decades in the rap game can produce -- legendary, intelligent, poetic, and gritty flawless flow!

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DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW; Nas...

is 

nasty

on the 

mic!

 

  

DMX shows heart and soul for moms on 'Couples Therapy'

"Never once did she say she loved me"

It takes a real man to admit when he's been emotionally scarred, and it takes great courage to share his pain with the world. Rap star - DMX did just that recently on VH1's reality show - 'Couples Therapy'. 

Known for his hard 'thuggish-ruggish', bad to the bone [rap] flow and iconic 'dogg' style, when talking about his mother, DMX keeps it passionately "real". 

"I used to always turn to drugs when I was feeling a certain way and now that I’m not doing that, sometimes the pressure builds up, I’ll call [someone] and say, I just wanted to say ‘Mommy.’ I wanted to say that word. Mommy. Not ‘My mother,’ you know, I wanted to say mommy. I just wanted to talk to her. I haven’t talked to her in years and I just wanted to be able to say ‘Hi, mommy. I love you.’ Never once did she [say she loved me.] …. [crying] …. You know what, I think people lose sight of the fact that no matter how strong you are, as a man, no matter how tough you are, we  all need to be somebody’s baby."  --DMX

Way to 'man-up', X! And don't even trip on loved-1 for showin' some thug passion for his moms...who wouldn't? Even the hardest of hearts break down when it comes to something so essential to a healthy life - love from moms. And we all know dudes front like sh#t don't matter, but even the illest menace to society 

has a bleeding heart for the woman who gave him life. 

Many young fans, especially those who find themselves living in foster homes or childcare facilities, for instance, will be blessed by DMX's example. Too many of these youngsters sincerely believe that no one wants them, especially their mothers'. Confronting and sharing childhood trauma will no doubt help those who also feel the pain of love's absence. 

And above all, in spite of his ups-n-downs with the "industry", his career is [still] all-good, but never more important than confronting the source of his suffering.

"And judging from the show, DMX has rightfully acknowledged [the] turmoil and is clearing the way for better days and better ways. That's what's up." -T.F. Hodge

One love and keep shining, dogg!

 "I gotta make it out, or move quickly. Can't allow the past to restrict me, bet this time around they won't skip me. I am the last hope." --DMX

 

The 'Hood' goes to Coachella Valley: Dr. Dre, Snoop and Kendrick Lamar to Perform at Music and Arts Festival

Legendary west coast rap stars' - Dr. Dre and Snoop,

along with Compton, California's young good-fella', lyricist - Kendrick Lamar are scheduled to "give it up" at this year's 2012 - Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California. Considering hip hop music has not always been the festival's dominant music genre, rap fans living in or near Riverside County will finally get to see "real G's" bless the mic without spending major 'ends' on gas for the long drive to one of L.A.'s many major venues. And, you can bess-believe that the skies over [the] Coachella Valley will be smoked and choked-out when Dre and Snoop hit the stage on Sunday, April 15th and 22nd.

For those who appreciate new 'spit', after taking major shots to the chronic dome from legendary originals' like Dre and Snoop, young swagg - Kendrick Lamar promises to get your head right with his 'barific' elixir of verbal ghetto consciousness!

Kendrick Lamar Live @ CVMAF

Friday, April 13th and 20th

Celebrating the life of one of rap's greatest MC's - 'The Notorious B.I.G.'

Tomorrow, Friday, March 9, 2012 marks a date in hip hop history that fans, friends and family wish never occurred -- the murder of one of rap music's most 'illest' MC's, Christopher George Latore Wallace (aka:  The Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, Big Poppa, BIG, The Black Frank White). 

No one could ever know if Brooklyn's king rap singer was ready to die on that fateful night in Los Angeles, California in 1997, he probably wasn't, but during his short time living, B.I.G. did it BIG! He spit dope rhymes with a flow so sick, and a swagg so smoov -- he took New York, hip hop and, ultimately, popular culture by storm...like being hypnotized!

With 17 million units of certified sales, street credibility and raw rap game, MTV, and more importantly -- the streets and hip hop fans, consider Notorious B.I.G. 

to be one of the greatest MC's of all time. 

Already a bonafide hustler and freestyle bad-boy on the streets of Brooklyn, by the time C. Wallace laced the track with game, his delivery was fierce, fabulous and flawless! In 1995, two years before he was killed, The King MC was named Billboard magazine's best rap artist of the year for serving up platinum hits like 'One More Chance' featuring R&B songstress - Faith Evans.

No question about it, when this instantly "classic" cut hit the club(s) the ladies were grabbin' dudes' and headed to the dance floor to get their smoov groove and grind on! 

While the list of hits and raw spit well-defined the persona of The Notorious B.I.G., those who knew him best...personally, and even those who loved his music, will forever celebrate and cherish the incredible gift and memory of Christopher Wallace.

"It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine. Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine. Hangin' pictures on my wall. Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl, I let my tape rock 'til my tape stopped..."  ~Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher Wallace - The Notorious B.I.G.

May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997

Nicki Minaj: All 'Game' or Insane at 2012 Grammy Awards?

What was expected to be an emotional night of celebration for outstanding achievement(s) in music, and remembrance in tribute to legendary music and entertainment industry icon - Whitney Houston (the queen of pop), this year's 2012 Grammy Awards show was, as many described, "distastefully stained" by [the] controversial and shocking performance of 'Roman Holiday', by female rap star - Nicki Minaj (aka: Barbie, Martha, and Roman).

Well known for her 'out-of-the-box', ultra-bizarre, flamboyant, highly provocative, and unorthodox style of [rap and entertainment] flow, many fans, award show attendees, and especially religious followers, were straight-up offended by the rappers untimely and perplexing display of "art". 

No doubt, if Nicki's "Madonna-esque" premeditated 'game' was to piss-off the Catholic Church or garner more fame, fortune, attention and hyped-up buzz for her "brand", she definitely did that...and some! 

So what did or will Nicki Minaj (or any of her alter-ego's) gain by taking a page out of Madonna's book of controversial performances? Obviously, she captured, although negatively, the attention and horror of thousands, if not millions, of viewers. 

But will this sort of publicity increase [her] record sales and fan-base or turn people off? 

We've witnessed many instances where controversy sells, but do consumer's, in the long run, support this sort of perceived "demonic" approach to free speech and artistic expression? 

Although controversy, as well as sex, sells products - satanic controversy may not be the best approach to retaining and, moreover, increasing a fan-base. 
Unless Nicki is suddenly interested in attracting those in society who delve in the dark side of spirituality, in exchange for those [fans] who are opposed to it, she might consider explaining the situation with her own words -- if that will help any. 

She did, in fact, explain her performance and related issues to 102.7 KIIS FM radio show host - Ryan Seacrest the day following her Grammy performance (click here to listen to full radio interview).

Outraged critics described the rappers performance as "terribly shocking", "hideous", "grotesque", "disrespectful", "insulting", "offensive", "highly satanic", "like Frankenstein", "hellish", "untimely", "sad", "inappropriate", and so on. While many upset viewers and critics question the appropriateness of her "train wreck" performance, especially considering the shocking news of Whitney Houston's sudden death the night before the Grammy's, religious practitioners, among others, wasted no time dissing Nicki and those responsible for scheduling her performance. 

"None of this was by accident, and all of it was approved by The Recording Academy, which puts on the Grammy's. Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question, but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy. Never would they allow an artist to insult Judaism or Islam."

While many have taken offense to Minaj's performance, the controversial rapper suggests that her loyal fans, and those who follow the evolution of her alter egos, get where she's coming from and therefore understood the, arguably tasteless, metaphoric message demonstrated in her 'Exorcism of Roman' performance. 

Call it 'game', demonic possession, or just plain insane, Nicki Minaj and Grammy Award show shot-callers may have succeeded, intentionally or not, in casting a dark shadow over a musical moment in history (that should have highlighted the beautiful tribute to Whitney Houston by R&B vocalist - Jennifer Hudson), but the love and admiration for Miss Whitney Houston will shine far beyond this gross misstep of unfortunate, untimely and distasteful circumstances. 

As for Miss Nicki Minaj (the female Weezee) - don't let smooth taste and alter egos fool you. Although she may rub some people the wrong way, she's gettin' her [self] pimpin' on. And as long as she continues to find and create ways to widen her sphere of influence and popularity, by promoting her movement, brand and style of 'hustle & flow', she remains the baddest bitch in the [rap] game...

 

 

...like, love, hate her or not -- she may not be darling, but she is Nicki Minaj!

'SuperSwaggin' Cee Lo Green and Pop Diva Madonna to 'get-it-in' at NFL Superbowl XLVI - plus, Mike Epps Ambassador!

As far as NFL Superbowl halftime performances go, this year's 2012 show promises to be 'superswagged-out'!

No doubt, pop star - lady Madonna will bring her unique taste, talent and creativity to the stage, as expected, and all the swagg and extraordinary 'fantabulism', embodied in the personification of Cee Lo Green, 

could make for one of the most interesting and entertaining halftime performances, by a duo, in NFL history. Why? 

While it's not an unusual thing to witness performances by a duo during halftime shows, Superbowl XLVI promises to deliver "one of the biggest musical milestones this year!" 

Although hundreds of millions of viewers will witness America's biggest show on February 5, 2012 - this will be the first time the NFL's halftime production promises to be the "hype"; it will be imagined by Cirque du Soleil and Jamie King (Madonna's career choreographer).

And with a venue as large and accommodating as the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, besides the New York Giants and New England Patriots, Madonna, Cee Lo, and Cirque du Soleil will display quite an exciting, memorable, and spectacular array of talent.
 

Oh, and by the way...if you have any complaints about the show or wish to express your satisfaction, feel free to 'holla-atcha-boy'  --  comedian, actor, and this year's 2K12 NFL-SB ambassador 

Mike Epps 
(OA) Official Ambassador - Super Bowl XLVI 

 Yuh digg?

Ultimate 'Swagg': Hip-Hop's Royal Couple, Jay-Z and Beyonce celebrate new family addition!

Years ago, when word first hit the streets that Jay-Z and Beyonce were hookin'-up, they were obviously rounding second base by the time word was bond about their romance. The next thing we [all] knew they were writing, recording and performing hits together...and then - married! They were Mr. & Mrs. Carter and hip-hop's most famous couple. At first, the reaction was lukewarm and a bit surprising; some ignorantly judged their relationship based on who looked better, or who was worth more, financially. But through it all, and as crazy as it seemed at times, popular culture and fans the world over have continued to support and express big love for hip-hop's flavor of Bonnie and Clyde. Now that there's a new life to care for and a new mouth to feed, quite naturally, they'll be some changes to how Jay and B approach the game of parenting, while balancing life as a couple and as individual performers. 

 

No doubt we've all heard the good news about Hov and wife, Beyonce's new addition to the (hip-hop) royal family - congrats, Carter family! Already, their little star - Blue Ivy is shining brighter than mom and dad did when they were her age. The newborn star "enters R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at No. 74 with a song called "Glory", where her rapper daddy proudly professes his love to her while she's cooing and crying. The song has got 1.7 million audience impressions on 54 radio stations, according to Nielsen BDS." 

To date, baby Blue Ivy is the youngest person in history to ever appear on a Billboard chart. Like any proud father, Jigga is just as passionate and committed to giving his daughter and family the best, including strength to ignore all the hateful comments about the name, Blue Ivy, and how she looks, for instance. After visiting a host of sites to view comments about Jay and B's new family addition, most of them were positive - as they should be. But as always, haters were represented among web-heads. Not surprisingly, these are probably the same haters who diss everything about Beyonce and young Hov. 

Before you even think of asking: Swagg won't bother to quote any of those insulting disses, by the way; "we don't get-down like that". Though we live in a superficial, materialistic, fake society - we do not have to eat of its ills. Hip-hop is, and should be, about unity, expression, cooperation, beautiful struggles, truth, integrity, and most importantly...love. For the Carter's, their extended family, friends, and loyal fans - Blue Ivy is the rebirth and extension of hip-hop's love, for which there is no sustainable power of disapproval.