Orlando based wordsmith MidaZ the Beast and NYC native sound craftsman SHARP have announced an upcoming collaborative project “LIVEN****RAP.” For those familiar with the works of MidaZ and SHARP, you know you’re getting real raw Hip Hop that captures the essence of the culture. This is Hip Hop that places you on the iron horse or on the outskirts of a cipher on the corner. Inspired by the standout Mobb Deep featured track of the same name off Nas‘ classic album “It Was Written,” Midaz and SHARP carry on tradition and build upon their compact but potent EP “A Bad Day At Black Rock.” For those who missed out, be sure to stream the project below, and keep a look out for more announcements to come for “LIVEN****RAP” soon!
New York rapper Nas knows the importance of June 15. The hip-hop veteran and lyrical emcee has come forward to acknowledge his first-born daughter Destiny Jones‘ 27th birthday with some heartfelt words. In celebration of their inseparable and unbreakable bond, we’re looking at 6 snapshots of the duo together and living it up as a […]
From its humble beginnings in a South Bronx community center room at 1520 Sedgewick Avenue to a billion dollar industry over the past 47 years, Hip Hop has earned its space in American pop culture. Now, almost a half century old, cultural legends and curators are preparing to celebrate the game’s tenure in traditional, yet original Hip Hop fashion.
According to a report from Variety, Hip Hop living legend and Mass Appeal partner Nasir “Nas” Jones and Mass Appeal CCO Sacha Jenkins are gearing up to bring Hip Hop 50 to the Showtime network, the same outlet that aired Jenkins’ Emmy-nominated docu-series Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics And Men. Hip Hop 50 chronologically shows the highlights of the game’s illustrious history through the eyes of some of the game’s most prolific emcees, deejays, graffiti artists, b-boys and other people that occupy spaces created by the culture.
In his interview with Variety, Nas says, “There are so many more stories. I’m opening up with this, but ‘Hip Hop 50’ is a multi-tier initiative, created by Mass Appeal [in partnership with CBS Viacom], and we built this platform to ensure the anniversary of hip-hop is celebrated in a real iconic way, and that everybody should be involved with this. This is something that’s coming up that we don’t want to just pass by like it’s small. This is the biggest birthday in the world. You’re going to see the stories from every element of hip-hop, whether it’s the street stories, whether it’s the MCing. Whatever it is, we want to celebrate and push this birthday party to the max.”
The Hip Hop 50 will feature various documentaries on the different stages of Hip Hop history including the “Untitled Ralph McDaniels Documentary,” the marijuana-laden “Hits From the Bong,” the Roger Gastman directed , graffiti-focused “Rolling Like Thunder,” the female/b-girl driven “Push It” as well as other unscripted shows that have yet to be named.
“[That] our voice is everywhere. We see what’s happening in society today — whether it’s voter suppression, police brutality, all kinds of inequities that we face — [and] we’re still able to have a voice that’s powerful,” says Jenkins of what people should get from Hip Hop 50. “When we look at the breadth of what ‘Hip Hop 50’ is, you see that our influence to fashion, to language, to sound, visuals. Our influence is global, and it has affected generations, and it’s the dominant voice right now.”
“Hip Hop 50” programming begins later this year and runs through 2023.
Nas let you know what his investment portfolio looked like on the “Sorry Not Sorry” single, but now the King of Queensbridge has entered another partnership.
Billboard reports, The Orchard, an independent music distributor, and a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, has agreed to a new deal with Nas and Mass Appeal Records.
In the partnership, Mass Appeal will sign artists and offer the full suite of The ORchard’s services, which include full-service marketing, sync licensing, video services, transparent data analysis, advertising, rights management, and radio, among other resources.
“This is a full circle moment for me,” Nas said in a statement. “To come back to Sony Music with my own label is a major milestone. We see this multi-phase initiative as an opportunity to continue to push the culture forward, educate and inspire.”
Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard said in a statement, “As a company and strategic partner, The Orchard will continue to empower and reinforce their creative vision and help all artists under the partnership [to] expand their global reach.”
Critically the album has been hailed as the only proper sequel to his breakthrough debut album, The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick. Due to continuous run-ins with the law, the public was never really able to fully experience Slick Rick as an artist. For the same reason, the world will never know what his outstanding ability and outspoken persona could have done for Hip Hop culture. What is apparent is that when the master storyteller has the time, he can pen and deliver a masterpiece.
The Art of Storytelling was Slick Rick’s most commercially successful album, peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts. The album even went gold during its first week of sales. True to the title, the album is full of narratives that could only be crafted by the pen that scribed the famous “Children’s Story.” And although he has not strayed away from his signature rhetoric, The Art of Storytelling shows improvement and Slick Rick’s ability to stay relevant as far as his own style blending with the popular sound of the time. As a whole, this album is deserving of all accolades and is a proper farewell to Slick Rick as an album rapper.
The Universal Hip Hop Museum is finally in progress and the Hip Hop Bible was in the building to exclusively cover the groundbreaking ceremony.
LL Cool J, Nas, Fat Joe, and Grandmaster Flash all spoke about their introduction to Hip Hop and reflected on the evolution of the genre, which was once considered a fad and is now the most influential musical genre in the world.
Hip Hop started off with a small party in the Bronx hosted by DJ Cool Herc, and now the culture’s heavyweights and giants will be immortalized in the very same place.
“The beat started in Africa then went to Puerto Rico and traveled through the Caribbean, and they tried to take the drum hundreds of years ago because that was our only form of communication,” Nas said. “But guess what? That drum they was trying to stop just turned out to be one piece of the science we bring to this planet.”
Fat Joe shared a sentimental story that further emphasized his point that “Blacks and Browns built Hip Hop together.
The “Lean Back” rapper revealed that his brother used to work as a crate boy for Grandmaster Flash, and that’s how his passion for rhyming was ignited.
Fat Joe reveals his brother was a crate boy for Grand Master Flash during the Universal Hip Hop museum groundbreaking ceremony. pic.twitter.com/NJ8lopjnBg
In addition to the museum, “Bronx Point’s first phase will deliver 542 units of permanently affordable housing to the Lower Concourse neighborhood, along with approximately 2.8 acres of public open space. Additionally, the project will deliver an array of cultural and community-focused programming, including the permanent home of the Universal Hip Hop Museum, an early childhood space run by BronxWorks, and outdoor science programming run by the Billion Oyster Project,” as per the press release.
The Universal Hip Hop Museum groundbreaking ceremony was also co-hosted by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Council Member Diana Ayala, Mayor DeBlasio, and more city officials.
The ceremony also marked the launch of the Universal Hip Hop Museum’s capital campaign.
Some of the biggest names in the rap game pulled through in the Bronx today. New York heavyweights Nas, Fat Joe, LL Cool J and Grandmaster Flash appeared at a groundbreaking ceremony with developers, founders, fellow artists, politicians and community in support of the Universal Hip Hop Museum. Nas, LL Cool J + Fat Joe […]
Hip-hop icon Nas is celebrating the genre’s birthday in a special way. The New York rapper has partnered with Showtime to release a documentary series honoring the culture named, “Hip-Hop 50.” Nas Celebrates Hip Hop’s Birthday Nas is jumping at the chance to recognize hip-hop’s impact on not only him but the world in “Hip-Hop […]
Music moguls JAY-Z and Nas are coming together for late Ruff Ryders icon DMX. New details have surfaced on X’s posthumous Exodus album including some standout guest features including the former Def Jam trio. JAY-Z + Nas will reunite on X’s last album With anticipation building for the project’s May 28 release, both song titles […]
New York rapper Nas knows he did much more than just drop a hot song with his “Sorry Not Sorry” anthem. God’s Son has lit up social media with a shot of himself looking bossed up alongside the song’s producer DJ Khaled. Nas’ Still Living Out ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ Lyrics Nasir Jones hit up Instagram […]
