Tag Archives: Hip Hop

Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Hip Hop Film ‘Wild Style’ Debuted in Theaters 41 Years Ago

Wild Style

Wild Style is arguably the very first movie and one of the very few that shows the true essence of what Hip Hop is about. When Hip-Hop was being passed off as a fad that wouldn’t last beyond “Rapper’s Delight,” a vivid reenactment of the introduction of this artistic culture to the world was made. In 1983, film director and cultural artist Charlie Ahearn premiered the flick in Times Square, breaking records by selling out at all screenings for the three weeks it played.

A member of the collective artist group Collaborative Projects, Ahearn was initially exposed to Hip Hop in the late 70s through graffiti when he went to film the youth in the projects in Manhattan’s Lower East Side that studied martial arts. He was soon approached by Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Braithwaite about making a movie encompassing all elements of Hip-Hop (emceeing, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti). Fab 5 Freddy brought legendary graff artist Lee Quinones to meet Ahearn to discuss further the approach of filming graffiti and introducing it as a legitimate art form. Ahearn found out that Lee was the same graf king whose work he admired while filming in LES. With Ahearn as producer and director, the three began embarking on a journey to gather the individuals who would be the faces of this landmark film.

Developing its name from an abstract letter design made famous in the graffiti world by graff king Tracy 168, Wild Style featured some of the most prolific pioneers from all aspects of Hip-Hop. The Cold Crush Brothers, Rock Steady Crew, and Grandmaster Flash were just a few of Hip-Hop’s trailblazers that debuted on Wild Style’s silver screen. The Furious Five could not appear alongside Flash and had to be cut from the film because of prior obligations to another more mainstream motion picture depicting the development of Hip Hop that came out later called Beat Street. This is why Afrika Bambaataa, the New York City Breakers, The Treacherous Three, or female pioneer MC Sha Rock were not seen in the film. Other notable legends included Busy Bee Starski, graff legends Dondi, Zephyr, and Revolt, who designed the Wild Style logo and the Fantastic Freaks.

Lee Quinones played the main character “Zoro,” the anonymous graf phenom introduced to the art world by his pal and fellow graffiti writer “Faze,” played by Fab 5 Freddy. Faze introduces Zoro to Virginia, a journalist portrayed by cultural icon Patti Astor, who later shows Zoro to art’s world stage of galleries and museums. The story is an accurate historical account of how Hip-Hop, in general, was introduced to mainstream America and, later, the rest of the world. It also showed the poverty and despair that existed in the South Bronx, out of which the culture of Hip Hop emerged.

Over 30 years later, Wild Style is still an American pop culture icon. The players that participated and performed in the movie have made themselves legends in their own right. However, most will recognize their appearance in the film as the catapult of their career. The movie has been sampled on various classic Hip Hop albums, including ATCQ’s Midnight Marauders, Common’s Ressurection, and the Five Mic classic, Nas’ Illmatic. Wild Style was voted one of the top ten rock n’ roll movies of all time by the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame, and VH1’s Hip Hop Honors acknowledged the film’s influence in Hip Hop with a tribute in 2007.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Hip Hop Film ‘Wild Style’ Debuted in Theaters 41 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Cult Classic Hip Hop Film ‘Wild Style’ Debuted in Theaters 41 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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Stefan Rossi and Keith Kugo Deep Dive Sonic Exploration in Lucid

When an innovative sonic master producer/artist with beautiful exploration like Keith Kugo & and intricate writer with performative force like Stefan Rossi get together.. you get an explosive combinational hit of stylistic & relatable music.

Lucid’ their first single off their upcoming EP hears a calm yet catchy groove that always has you engaged, singing along with bursts of excitement throughout.

With their debut single “Lucid,” the duo sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating musical journey. Seamlessly weaving together calm yet catchy grooves with bursts of excitement, “Lucid” invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world of sonic exploration. From the opening notes to the infectious chorus, each moment is infused with a sense of creative energy that leaves a lasting impression.

But “Lucid” is just the beginning. With an upcoming EP on the horizon, Keith Kugo and Stefan Rossi offer a tantalizing glimpse into the diverse range of flavors awaiting listeners. From introspective ballads to high-energy anthems, this duo refuses to be confined to one genre or style. Instead, they embrace the freedom to experiment and innovate, pushing the boundaries of what modern music can achieve.

In an industry often saturated with predictability, Keith Kugo and Stefan Rossi stand out as a breath of fresh air. Their commitment to artistic expression and sonic exploration makes them a duo worth remembering. So, keep an eye out for Keith Kugo and Stefan Rossi as they continue to redefine the musical landscape one electrifying track at a time.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Soundwaves Radio Exclusive Interview with Cam Gnarly + Guest DJ Set from Oje

I got the opportunity to sit down with Cam Gnarly to talk about his latest release, Northend Gnarly. He gave me the details on the creation of the new album. We talk about the inspiration behind the “Space & Opportunity” video, as well as the subtle dedication to a friend on”Dro’s Interlude”, all the while breaking down the intelligent tie-in with the re-election of San Bernardino Councilman Ben Reynoso.

We also got a dope guest DJ mix from Oje of Soulection fame on the show, check out his mix at the 53:00 minute mark. The interview with Cam Gnarly starts at around the 1:25:00 minute mark. Press play and enjoy!

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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The Royal Blu EP Showcases Great LA Rhymes & Beats

BLU & Roy Royal have dropped their collaborative EP for the world to hear. We gave y’all a taste of what to expect with “The Royal” and “LA Blue” videos. Check out the EP below:

Standout tracks include ‘The Same OG’, ‘LA Blue’, and the Cashus King-assisted ‘The Priceless’. The boom-bap and soul samples are heavily infused into this project. After hearing the EP from beginning to end, I look forward to any Roy Royal-produced tracks.

Here’s a heads-up about the Royal Blu EP Release Party/Show. PayDayLA is hosting a celebration of its 6th Anniversary on Friday, Feb 23rd inside Hello Stranger in LA. Pull up for a good time!

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Seafood Sam Drops “Saylo” While Prepping Debut Album

Seafood Sam, an emerging hip hop artist out of Long Beach, CA will release his debut album Standing On Giant Shoulders on April 19. Sam says his son, Salem, inspired and motivated the release of the lead single “Saylo”. Sam’s effortless flow sits properly on top of the lush production from Tom Kendall. Check out the video below and let us know what you think.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Black Milk Spills 2 Tracks “Act Like” & “In The Sky”

Detroit-based Black Milk just dropped two new tracks last night. He’s gearing up for a European Tour and decided to bless us with new music.

“Act Like” is a very smooth track and features vocals from Brandon Myster. This joint showcases the classic snare-heavy drums that I’ve come to expect from Milk. It sounds like a great blend of R&B + Rap vibes.

The second offering is “In The Sky” and this track takes you on a flight! The experimental drum patterns compliment Black Milk’s rhymes. His flow fits the pocket perfectly. Check them out below!

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Black Milk Spills 2 Tracks “Act Like” & “In The Sky”

Detroit-based Black Milk just dropped two new tracks last night. He’s gearing up for a European Tour and decided to bless us with new music.

“Act Like” is a very smooth track and features vocals from Brandon Myster. This joint showcases the classic snare-heavy drums that I’ve come to expect from Milk. It sounds like a great blend of R&B + Rap vibes.

The second offering is “In The Sky” and this track takes you on a flight! The experimental drum patterns compliment Black Milk’s rhymes. His flow fits the pocket perfectly. Check them out below!

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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BLU & Roy Royal Link Up For “The Royal” Ahead of Their New EP

Los Angeles-based rap legend BLU has been steadily releasing new music since the new year started. He is prepping to release a collaborative project with producer, Roy Royal. Check out their latest drop above and the teaser to the album below.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Cam Gnarly’s “Blessed With, Stressed With” Video Kicks Off His 2024 Posi-Wave

Cam Gnarly recently dropped his new album “Northend Gnarly“. Check out his video for the latest single “Blessed With, Stressed With“. This track takes me back to the original G-funk sounds of the 90s West Coast classics.

The San Bernardino, CA representative has filled the album with solid productions and great raps. Press play and check it out below. Look forward to an exclusive interview dropping here very soon!

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Pete Rock On Hip-Hop: ‘We Lost Our Integrity Chasing The Money’

Pete Rock @ The Brookyln Bowl in 2016

As we celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop, we always remember to pay homage to the GOATs that came before us. This includes Pete Rock, who recently shared his sentiments on the current state of Hip-Hop as a whole.

Sharing to his one million followers on Instagram, Pete Rock posted a clip of Erick Sermon addressing how the genre of Hip-Hop has become unrecognizable, even suggesting changing the name.  

Pete Rock added his two cents in the caption: “They should change the music too WTF 🤦🏾‍♂️ tryna create a narrative that aint working. Pile driving the culture straight in the ground. We created real history! idk what da hell they creating today but it damn sure aint history or hip hop thats a fact.”

Of course, Pete Rock is valid in saying he created real history, is revered as one of the greatest producers of all-time.

He continues, “We lost our integrity chasing the money. The bag as they say has become the problem and the focus point in the culture. Makes it corny when yall make it about money smh 🌽 Everyone extra sensitive about opinions smh. Soon as you have an opinion your a hater automatically lol. Clown shit 🤡 we all out here working to make better music. Why dont try and do the same thing 🤷🏿‍♂️🤨🤦🏾‍♂️

The clip derives from an interview Erick Sermon did with Say Word! Podcast back in November of last year. 

The post Pete Rock On Hip-Hop: ‘We Lost Our Integrity Chasing The Money’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Pete Rock On Hip-Hop: ‘We Lost Our Integrity Chasing The Money’ appeared first on The Source.

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