Popular hip-hop podcast Drink Champs signed an exclusive licensing deal with Warner Music Group’s podcast network, Interval Presents. New episodes are expected to go live with the network on Jan. 27 Drink Champs Exclusive Licensing Deal Hip-hop podcast Drink Champs recently agreed to a deal with Warner Music Group’s podcast network, Interval Presents. The network produces […]
Popular hip-hop podcast Drink Champs signed an exclusive licensing deal with Warner Music Group’s podcast network, Interval Presents. New episodes are expected to go live with the network on Jan. 27 Drink Champs Exclusive Licensing Deal Hip-hop podcast Drink Champs recently agreed to a deal with Warner Music Group’s podcast network, Interval Presents. The network produces […]
While the booziest podcast in Hip-Hop almost guarantees a great time to be had by all; sometimes things do go left. Things got tense but N.O.R.E. says it was unintentional.
Complex is reporting that that the Queens rapper had some explaining to do after the latest episode of Drink Champs. A couple weeks ago the Slimefather shared a trailer clip of Lamar Odom putting him on notice for what he deemed to a lack of courtesy. “I feel disrespected,” he said. What followed was a very awkward exchange between the former baller and N.O.R.E. Naturally the teaser got everyone wondering what went wrong.
Last week the full episode dropped and apparently the lengthy sit down was going well until the two hour mark where Odom thought he was being trolled. “I don’t want to make it a beef but put your shoes on my feet. Like I f*ck with you. This whole angle on this interview went like crazy” he said. But the Super Thug claims innocence.
“I kept bringing up the fact that he has a ring, but I did not know that he actually lost his rings,” N.O.R.E. revealed. “So in retrospect, he might’ve thought I was joking or making fun of him. So, he basically lost his rings, which he thought was public knowledge, but I didn’t know. He thought that I was clowning him so he was upset with that. And I made it known that I wasn’t aware.”
Still the episode was jarring to say the least when you consider Lamar’s history of drug abuse and the crew were encouraging him to drink and even had him smoking marijuana. Several fans expressed their disappointment on how the crew handled the interview.
If Drink Champs removed alcohol for Royce Da 5'9", they could've did it for Lamar Odom
In the late 1990s, Eminem and Lil Wayne burst onto the Rap around the same time. Both MCs’ careers date back earlier into the decade. However, the same 1999 Marshall Mathers released The Slim Shady LP, The Hot Boys’ Weezy dropped breakout solo, Tha Block Is Hot. Each artist had respected veteran producers at the helm in the form of Dr. Dre and Mannie Fresh, respectively. From there, each artist took flight into superstardom during the next decade. Although an Eminem and Wayne collaboration may have seemed unusual to some Rap fans in the ’90s, the two men worked together several times. 2009’s “Forever” linked Em, Weezy, Kanye West, and Wayne’s protege Drake for a blockbuster single. Later that year, Marshall appeared on Wayne’s Rock song “Drop The World.” A year later, Tunechi returned the favor with a feature verse on “No Love.”Royce 5’9 & Kxng Crooked Discuss Who Was Better On Renegade: JAY-Z Or Eminem (Video) Appearing on Drink Champs (episode #195) for the release of his January 31 album, Funeral, Wayne describes the level of competition that he feels with Eminem. “I did a few joints with Em, that’s my man,” Lil Wayne says. Co-host N.O.R.E. brings up Eminem’s propensity to out-rap his collaborators—a claim once popularized by Nas during the feud with JAY-Z. “You’re probably the only person that did a record with Em that [the fans] said that Em didn’t body,” N.O.R.E. says at 35:30. “How do you feel about that?” Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne Have Fire In Their Bellies As They Slay This Track Wayne responds, “I can humbly say that I expected [to stand up for myself]. When you get on that joint, it’s like a championship game. And [then] you win it, and they ask you, ‘How do you feel?’ I came in with my game plan, and I expected my game plan to work. When you send a song to Em…yeah, I tried to attack it like that, like, ‘Nah, you’re not gonna do me [like] this. So I’ma put it all out there [too]. Either we gon’ be right here with it, and we’re going to make a beautiful great song, but you ain’t gon’ do me that.’ Nobody ever said [anybody bodied each other]; I just made sure that he didn’t body me, ’cause that boy is a monster.” N.O.R.E. asks if Wayne is competitive, and the guest says “yeah” with wide eyes. He adds that that includes his pupil, Drake. “All day. I make sure he knows that when he sends [the beat]. ‘Make sure your mama don’t be listenin’ to this.'” Lil Wayne’s Manager Reveals Cash Money Blocked The Release Of Carter V & A Big Check (Video) Wayne also credits his mentor and adoptive father Birdman with his competitive spirit. Before speaking of Em specifically, Weezy said that on Hot Boys’ songs, Cash Money Records’ co-founder always put the best verses up front. “Being in Hot Boys was perfect, but I looked at it like school. That’s a test: ‘I’ma go pass the test when I get to that studio; my verse gon’ be the hardest.’ And with Baby, it was always about who he wanted to go first…That always let us know he liked your verse the most. Now go back and listen to how I start off on all them songs.” N.O.R.E. also reads a text from Tidal’s JAY-Z. “When [Lil Wayne] rapped [a mixtape version of] ‘Show Me What You Got,’ I had to take a long walk and look at myself in the mirror, and I said ‘are you sure you still got this?'” After hearing Jay’s words, Wayne recalls getting Shawn Carter’s rare praise for Da Drought 3’s“Dough Is What I Got.” “[JAY-Z] let me know ‘you comin’ for me, boy!’ It’s just a privilege. I can’t get on that [song] and play with it, man.” Wayne likens the thrill to his favorite NFL team: Green Bay. “You don’t understand, I’ma about to walk out of here like the Packers won!” Wayne adds that he feels that Eminem made him feel like Jay’s sentiments. He also says that his “Hello Brooklyn” verse (which includes a reference to Capone-N-Noreaga) for JAY-Z was something Hov heard on a Wayne mixtape and asked him to re-purpose for American Gangster. Elsewhere in the discussion Weezy also points out that his mixtape catalog earned him no money. Lil Wayne Has Settled His Lawsuit For Cash Money & More The interview finds Lil Wayne crediting Missy Elliott as one of his favorite rappers. He describes the love and loyalty that JAY-Z showed him during hard times. The MC also describes writing none of his bars down since an early 2000s mixtape. It is believed to be 2003’s SQ7: 10,000 Bars tape with Squad Up. He also details his fandom of the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Red Sox, Louisiana State University, and the Packers. Funeral features 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Lil Baby, Takeoff, and veteran Young Money artist, Lil Twist. Notably, the LP is 24 tracks long. Following the Jay Rock-assisted “Bing James,” there is a 24-second moment of silence. This week, Wayne confirmed to Skip Bayless that both gestures are signs of respect to Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday (January 26).
.@RealSkipBayless: Your 13th studio album ‘Funeral’ just dropped. What do you want this one to say in the totality of your career?@LilTunechi: To show where I’m at in my career, show the hungriness. To show younger artists that there’s still hunger, and you don’t lose it. pic.twitter.com/WO5qBv26Mi
Hip-Hop veteran N.O.R.E has decided to weigh on Kanye West’s latest release, Jesus Is King and the review is nothing short of comical.
During an interview with Nick Cannon on Power 106 in Los Angeles, N.O.R.E was asked about his thoughts on the newly released project, when the “Super Thug” rapper frankly labeled it “trash” before poking fun at Kanye for what he deemed as fumbling the Clipse reunion.
“I love Kanye,” N.O.R.E said. “I wanna be clear, how the f*ck you got Clipse on a record that’s not good? Jesus is mad at this n*gga.”
But the album wasn’t the only thing that rubbed N.O.R.E. the wrong way about Kanye’s latest release, the Queens Hip-Hop veteran also revealed that Kanye’s lack of Black outlets regarding the stops during his current press run to promote the album also made him a little upset.
“I’ma be honest, I’m a hater. I’m kinda hater. Let me explain why,” N.O.R.E. continued. “Zane Lowe is a person that I respect but I don’t respect. As a person who made the War Report album, I’ve done records with Mariah Carey. When I see you ever go to any place other than us—the culture—I have a problem with that.”
N.O.R.E may have an issue with Kanye’s press run stops, but Kanye himself has already let his Black fans know that their opinion really doesn’t matter. During his interview with Big Boy of the Big Boy’s Neighborhood, Kanye said he “doesn’t care” about Black Twitter’s opinion of him, only God’s, this before stating that he does care about white Twitter.
”I was having a conversation with Jay Brown and we were talking about everything and I remember I just went off and was like ‘I don’t care about your opinions. I don’t care about what Black Twitter or what anyone has to say, the only opinion I care about is God’s,” Kanye said.
He added, “I am happy that [white Twitter] is a term, because I do care about it. I care about Jack Dorsey the owner and good friend of mine that comes over to my house for dinner, gives me business advice and looks over my contracts and respects me. He is my favorite founder.”
The last two years Troy Ave has kept a very low profile and for good reason. He is now discussing that ill fated night from 2016.
As spotted on Hot New Hip Hopthe Brooklyn native was a guest on the Drink Champs podcast. The appearance took many by surprise as he has not conducted many formal interviews since the infamous shooting at Irving Plaza. In the almost three hour sit down Harry Powder finally discusses the incident where he allegedly confronted Taxstone and the exchange turned physical. A gun was eventually drawn and his friend BSB Banga died in the process.
He details the affects of the tragedy. “I lost so much money and, more importantly, I lost custody of my kids. N***a, I’m still out on bail right now, half a million dollar bail” he revealed. With Taxstone’s trial set to start in a couple of weeks he adamantly denied all allegations of ratting out the podcast personality. “Now when people sayin’ I’m telling this person and telling that person whatever, I said in a line that I’m only loyal to my fam, middle finger from the stand, you saying it’s me when it’s you. That means that that person already went and said it was me. Period! This is court documented.”
He would also hint that Taxstone implicated him in the situation without directly naming him. “That person already went and implicated me in crimes that I had nothing to do with. I’d be in jail right now if I had something to do with it. I had nothing to do with it.”
You can listen to Drink Champs episode 176 below with your Tidal subscription.
In the last two weeks, the three members of De La Soul have been at the center of a discussion surrounding ownership of catalog and the fairness of record label contracts. That discourse stems from the trio of Dave, Maseo, and Posdnuos notifying fans on social media that they are unhappy with former label, Tommy Boy Music. The home of De La Soul from the late 1980s into the early 2000s planned to release the trio’s first six albums digitally, for the first time. That celebratory news was marred with dissatisfaction from the group. The artists alleged that they were told that they would receive 10% of the royalties from streams and digital sales. Several social media posts, along with a revealing Sway In The Morning interview rallied peers and fans. JAY-Z, Nas, Questlove, Jarobi White, and Masta Ace are just some of the artists who called for action against the nearly 40-year-old label. Tidal responded by declining to host the six albums until a satisfying contract was in place. Subsequently, Tommy Boy responded by postponing its plans, in hopes to reach such an agreement. Joe Budden Breaks Down In Tears Discussing De La Soul’s Economic Plight (Video) As of March 9, no settlement has been reached. 1989’s 3 Feet High AndRising, 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead, 1993’s Buhloone-Mindstate, 1996’s Stakes Is High, 2000’s Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump, and 2001’s AOI: Bionix all remain off of digital retailers and streaming platforms. However, all three members of De La Soul appeared on Drink Champs to discuss the matters with hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN. Notably, N.O.R.E. has firsthand experience with Tommy Boy and its namesake founder, Tom Silverman. In a partnership with Penalty Records, Tommy Boy released Capone-N-Noreaga’s seminal debut, 1997’s The War Report as well as the host’s solo debut, 1998’s N.O.R.E. Both efforts are certified gold. However, N.O.R.E. alleges that he was always told that neither album recouped from its budget. Last month, De La Soul spoke about a “phantom $2 million debt” that their former label has cited. Like De La, N.O.R.E. said that he unsuccessfully tried to buy back his early releases in years past. Tommy Boy Has Agreed To Negotiate Better Terms With De La Soul For Their Music In an exclusive segment of De La’s Drink Champs episode, the group spoke about where they are right now. Together, two former Tommy Boy acts discuss the renewed focus of ownership in 2019. “We had a few record exec people reach out behind the scenes,” Posdnuos reveals, surrounding the status of De La Soul’s Tommy Boy catalog. “Big up to Steve Stoute; he reached out,” Maseo adds ahead of the 7:00 mark, referring to a veteran manager and UnitedMasters founder whose career is closely tied to Nas, JAY-Z, and Will Smith. De La Soul Speak In Detail About What Went Wrong With Their Record Company N.O.R.E. responds, “It’s kinda fly now to own your masters. Like back [when we signed our first contracts], we wasn’t really thinkin’ like that. I’m speaking for myself, not you guys—like I was thinking about an advance, gettin’ some jewelry [and other material goods]. Now, it’s fly to actually own your material because we want to leave something to [our] children. You ever seen a person that lives in the projects for 30 years? They don’t own [the apartment], but it’s their house! That’s what it feels like!” The group affirms the statement as N.O.R.E. says he has family members who can relate to that declaration. “A good thing for [the housing authority] to do is to say, ‘You know what? You should own that.’ Tom Silverman, if you’re listening—’cause I know you are—this is the best time for you to lead the pack! You lead the way and say, you know what, I’m gonna stop doin’ business in this way. You could take this, Tom, and you could flip this whole sh*t, and you could be the winner! You could say, you know what? I’ma give them 50% of their sh*t so everybody [can make money].” N.O.R.E. adds that other former acts from Tommy Boy’s legendary run such as Queen Latifah, Naughty By Nature could benefit and celebrate. Maseo responds claiming that he wants to give people the opportunity to “change because we have been given the opportunity to change.” “I think he has an opportunity to lead the way,” N.O.R.E. echoes at 27:00. “‘Cause there’s a lot of people who need these albums—beyond wanting, need these albums. That is a part of Hip-Hop [and this] is a piece missing in Hip-Hop. You can’t tell the story of Hip-Hop and then not have that there,” the host charges. “There’s dual value; The value is in the culture and the history, as well as your pocket. And if you’ve only got a concept of one [idea], that’s where the problem lies,” Dave responds. T.I. Joins Roc Nation, Announces Part Ownership In Tidal While N.O.R.E. suggests a 50% partnership, the group says, in no uncertain terms, that they seek ownership. The host asks the Native Tongues co-founders, “what is your [desired] end result?” At 11:30, Plug 3 says, “At this point, ownership. Owning my catalog, that would make a world of difference. That’d make it easy to show up for work and do what we need to do.” N.O.R.E. embraces the DJ/producer as the live studio audience applauds. The Queens, New York MC-turned-host proclaims, “It’s time to make that right. I feel y’all so much.” Maseo adds that since 2002, De La Soul has exclusively done partnerships. That includes releases with Sanctuary Urban, Nike, a crowd-sourced album, and an upcoming DJ Premier and Pete Rock-produced release in conjunction with Nas’ Mass Appeal Records imprint. Maseo adds that following a Super Bowl Halftime performance, he understands that Missy Elliott sold more than a million downloads of catalog hit “Work It.” Thus, he feels that following President Obama’s 2016 personal request to perform on The White House lawn, De La Soul could have made significant revenue from the now-30-year-old “Me, Myself & I.” However, the song was digitally unavailable. Despite hurdles such as this, 3 Feet High… has reached The Library Of Congress archives and achieved other esteemed feats. Xzibit Explains Why Pimp My Ride Was Profitable For Everyone But Him At 13:30, the interview broaches what De La Soul seeks in negotiation. “What can the fans do?” DJ EFN asks the Grammy Award-winning trio. “I would sincerely ask in support of the fans and the culture, yo, don’t press play. If [the catalog] actually comes up online, don’t press play until we give it a go—’til we actually say, ‘Yo, we’re happy. Thumbs up, guys. Let’s rock. We kissed; we made up.’ Until we say [that], do not press play. If anything, you can get The Grind Date [as well as] and the Anonymous Nobody…; you can get those two [albums].” DJ EFN suggests that fans are still hungry to hear the music. “At the end of the day, it’s your choice,” responds Mase’. “I want [fans] to have it; I really do. But sh*t ain’t right. Period. So let’s get it right. And if you want to support, don’t press play.” N.O.R.E. likens the fans’ struggle with the NFL boycott surrounding Colin Kaepernick’s protests. Maseo, whose son, Tre Mason, was in the NFL for several years, agrees. “Absolutely. Because you’re a fan of players out there, you know people out there that’s playin’, you’re connected to the game your whole life, it’s America’s thing. Just like Hip-Hop. It’s America’s thing, the world’s thing, an international thing. Yeah, and we ain’t really still playin’ it fair.” The Man Who Guided Nas’ Career Has $70 Million To Help Hip-Hop Artists Keep Their Masters At 26:30, N.O.R.E. reveals that through a third-party, Tom Silverman was invited to participate in the episode discussion. Silverman, who founded his label in the early 1980s, reportedly declined in effort to progress with negotiations. “That’s all we’re trying to do: We just want to find a happy place with all this, man” Dave notes, after acknowledging that reported decision. Pos’ adds that many people have had a constructive dialogue with the group during the last two weeks. He suggests people that know Tom Silverman and the label staff do the same in hopes of reaching an agreement or understanding. N.O.R.E. speaks about his former employer near the close of the clip. “It’s his chance to say, you know what? These are kids that I signed, these are kids that I was part of their career, and now they’re grown men. Let me do business with them as such.” The group harmonizes the last two words in the statement with the Drink Champs host. “This is your turn to do that, and you can lead the way.” DJ EFN adds that such a move would “revamp the way business is done.” N.O.R.E. interjects, “You can rectify the situation and say, [let us] be business partners from here on out. ‘Partners’ is the keyword.” The host asserts that in addition to De La Soul and Tommy Boy, Hip-Hop is now at the negotiation table. Kendrick Lamar Is Now A Part Owner Of His Record Company
The full De La SoulDrink Champs episode premieres on March 28 on Revolt and March 29 digitally.
In more than two years, Kanye West’s career and public image have become a point of discourse in the mainstream, especially for the Hip-Hop and Black communities. Months after the release of 2016’s The Life Of Pablo, a turn of events transpired. West’s wife, Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in France while Kanye was on tour. Kanye later admitted that he was addicted to opioids during this period. It was around this time that the music superstar began a series of outbursts at concerts that ultimately prematurely ended that run. These words compromised his relationship with onetime mentor JAY-Z, temporarily distanced him from protege and collaborator Kid Cudi, and eventually landed the G.O.O.D. Music founder UCLA Medical Center. During that same period, West began campaigning of then Presidential candidate Donald Trump. The two met in 2016 and cultivated a relationship that has only grown in the eyes of the public. West has publicly worn Trump’s “Make America Great Again” red hats and went as far as telling the controversial Commander-in-Chief that he “loved” him during a recent White House Oval Office visit. “Uncle Ruckus” Praises Kanye West For His Stepping & Fetching (Video) In a springtime video interview with Charlamagne Tha God that West arranged, Kanye admitted he had mental struggles. He also suggested that he was not taking medication as prescribed. “I think I’m at a stronger place than I ever was, after the breakdown—or [as] I like to say, the breakthrough,” he described. In the same conversation, ‘Ye stated, “When I left the hospital, how many pills do you think I was given? Seven. I went from taking two pills to taking seven. So the reason why I denounced, why I dropped those tweets and everything because I was drugged the f*ck out, bro. And I am not drugged out. These pills that they want me to take three of a day, I take one a week maybe, two a week.” On the latest episode of Drink Champs, N.O.R.E. brings up Kanye West’s recent activities near the 34:00 mark. He asks Talib and dead prez founders M-1, and stic.man about ‘Ye’s current head-space. “I want y’all to describe to me the difference between the brother that y’all first met [and who he is today]. Are y’all around this guy now, or… We don’t really know. Is [it the same person]?” Talib and dead prez go back roughly 20 years with the producer-turned-superstar. Drake Speaks In Detail About How Kanye West Betrayed Him (Video) Talib responds first. “I think [he is] the same dude. Kanye West is an icon of our time; he’s a genius—but he’s a musical [and fashion] genius, and [smart about] things that he knows about that I can’t f*ck with him on. His knowledge is just infinite when it comes to certain things. There’s a lot of things that he’s misinformed about. When I first started doing shows with dead prez, we’d do a lot of fundraisers and work with organizations like The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and Refuse & Resist!, and [others]. One thing that I took to heart back in the day was the real activists would give us political education before we got on stage. I feel like dead prez have a lot more political education than most. I feel like I got a lot more political education than most people. But even us, we needed more pointers and steps to know what the talking points for the movement [were]. We had O.G.’s. I feel like Kanye is the leader of a generation who looks up to him, who [are] about retweets, likes, and engagement, and there’s no O.G.-knowledge in there. There’s no political education.” Moments later, Kweli continues. “I think Kanye is severely misinformed. I think he’s not reading. Based on my conversations with him, spanning from 15 years ago to two months ago [I believe] that he doesn’t know politics, he don’t know history, he don’t know. I think the problem is that when it comes to his career as an entertainer, he’s been so brilliant and so successful that everything he’s done has been correct.” Kanye West Or Shakespeare: Who Is More Relevant Right Now? (Video) Kweli confirms that he and ‘Ye had begun recording a collaborative project. “We made five songs together. I was in his house a year ago. [In the studio] he says to me how living in Calabasas while Drake was [also living there] was hard on him because he felt the competitive energy, and how when Drake moved away, he had this creative rush. Which, to me, I’m like, Yo, how you let this next man affect your energy? This is something that I felt, but I didn’t speak on at the time. Now I see how the years played out, and I feel like a lot of what he’s doing [is because] Kanye wants to be #1. He wants to be talked about all the time. He spent all of the last year talking about how dope Drake was in every interview. ‘Drake’s the #1 rapper.’ I feel like he’s triggered by Drake. I feel like he’s triggered by [President Barack] Obama calling him ‘a jackass’ [after the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards]. And I feel that he just wants to be liked, and he’s misinformed.” Kanye’s relationship with Drake has always been complicated. Despite almost constant collaborating on songs, music videos, and both working with brands such as Adidas, the two have criticized one another in interviews. Last month, Drake told Lebron James’ The Shop that he believes Kanye West shared private information with Pusha-T. That information, surrounding Drake’s son, became strategic warfare in a diss between Push’ and Drake. On one song produced by West, Pusha dissed Drake. On another, he leaked information about his son, while attacking his parents and OVO producer. Pusha-T has refuted Drake’s suggestion that Kanye leaked that information. Back on Drink Champs, M-1 recalls 15-hour studio sessions with ‘Ye from back in the day. “I’m not trying to take any liberties here, but [Kanye West] says he knows me, according to Rolling Stone, and I know him. I know him.” After DJ EFN mentions the fact that Kanye West may not be in the best mental health, M-1 responds. “I don’t think we should judge this moment, clearly, because I don’t think the man is clear.” Kanye West Releases A Song That Proves Anyone Paying Attention To Him Is A Fool (Audio) Moments later, stic.man provides his take. “With ‘Ye, I think there’s a lot of richness to the situation…you get a reaction from the masses of people, right? If ‘Ye do this or ‘Ye do that [people still react]. You could predict the reactions…I don’t feel like we’re having a real conversation, as far as the community, around this. ‘Cause there’s mental health, which has nothing to do with the other stuff, in a certain way. I believe that 99% of the planet got mental health issues. Ya’nahmean? Like for real, for real—including myself. I feel like as we’re growing and evolving, the choices we make—like, we pour our own poison and we don’t call that mental health issues…So if Kanye really is dealing with mental health issues, the way the people in the community is treating him—if they really believe that he got a mental health issue, it’s terrible. So that’s one thing. The second thing is Kanye is an artist with a platform. He chooses songs he wants to make; he chooses the position he wants to take. When you like what he’s saying, he’s the man. But when he feels like he sees something different, it’s ‘Aw, this is the worst coon ever.’ To me, that’s more fickle on the community. But then, the other layer though, is you got Donald Trump and what he represents. [Then there is] this alignment that’s not really clear where it’s coming from or where it’s going. So when you mix all that together, and people think like sheep, they’re gonna automatically assume whatever they want to assume. They don’t know Kanye. They don’t know Kanye’s agenda. They don’t know Kanye’s mental health. Everybody’s just talking and exploiting that condition for their own benefit.”
Moments later, stic continues, “In our community, when a person is like, ‘I want to look at a situation [differently]; I just want to consider a different angle, a different picture—how can you really do that [and] break out the sheep cycle if the whole world attacks you? You’re supposed to be a puppet.” Black Star’s Talib Kweli & Yasiin Bey Define What Hip-Hop Means To Them Today (Audio) Supporting stic.man’s point, Talib adds that he supports the notion of Kanye West being “a free thinker.” He says, “I’m with all of that. The problem is—I’m not a Democrat—but don’t assume I’m a Democrat and call me a slave on the Democratic plantation because I don’t agree with the Republican concentration camp.” M-1 adds, “We know some free thinkers. There’s some people that have been down this road and are doing some amazing work who are not Right, not Left, and I support those people. And if Kanye sees himself in that circle, I’m with it, 100%. That being said…what’s real is, we think he’s done all this damage, our people are fickle. Our people [have a] short-term memory…In one year, Kanye will be a hero to some people.” He appears to suggest that some of the same people who vilify West now will be throwing his parade in a year.” Talib jumps back in to do the talking. “It’s not like Candace Owens or Larry Elder, or one of these mothaf*ckas could come out with a jam and say, ‘Oh, I’m down with the movement.’ We [in the community] won’t believe them. We believe Kanye can come back because of the work that he’s put in already. [M-1 is right]; we throw our heroes out—whether it’s Common, whether it’s Kendrick Lamar, whoever—if they say one wrong thing [we dismiss them].” dead prez, Juvenile & Trick Daddy May Seem Like An Unlikely Team, But They Are Survivalists (Audio) On AFH TV, there are currently two stic.man videos, including an episode of “Where It All Began.” Additionally, in the DJ Eclipse library, there is a rare Fat Beats in-store freestyle by Talib Kweli (and others by Kanye West). Last year, Talib Kweli released Radio Silence, named one of Ambrosia For Heads‘ best albums of 2017. He also partnered with Styles P for The Seven. dead prez’s last studio album release was 2012’s Information Age. That was followed by a collaborative project they did with Kentyah, Brian Jackson & The New Midnight Band called Evolutionary Minded (Furthering the Legacy of Gil Scott-Heron). In 2015, dead prezwas part of a song organized by DJ EFN called “Survival.” It also featured Juvenile and Trick Daddy.
Yesterday, Swizz Beatz released his POISON album. For the Bronx, New York representative, it is his third retail release over the last 16 years. Rather than bring attention to his catalog, the Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, DJ, and musician has spotlit so many moments for his peers in Rap, R&B, and Pop.
In early 2017, Swizz Beatz challenged Just Blaze to a battle in his studio. As Swizz tells Drink Champs in his second full-length interview with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, there was real competition at play. Just Blaze had admitted to Swizz that he had felt a competitive urge since 1998’s “Money Cash H*es” by JAY-Z. There have been tweets, some verbal sparring, and more leading up to last year’s battle. While Swizz admits that the rivalry is decorated with respect, there was a score to settle, and the Ruff Ryders’ hit-maker was up for the challenge.
The event was filmed. After nearly two-and-a-half hours of music, Swizz Beatz played an unreleased record by JAY-Z, Nas, DMX, and Jadakiss. The small in-studio crowd went crazy. Just, who frequently plays unreleased recordings from his days with Roc-A-Fella Records and others, took audit.
On Drink Champs, at 26:00, Swizzy tells the hosts about the battle and the song. “I knew [Just Blaze] was gonna play ‘PSA.’ I knew he was waiting too long to play it,” explains Swizz as to why he went in the vaults.
N.O.R.E. admits that he would have leaked it such a song. Swizz responds, “I’m not holding it because I want it. You named a bunch of complicated people that’s on that record. Mothaf*ckas is talented, but they’re complicated. I’m not kissing nobody’s ring, so we can forget that part. You just named the most complicated people in Hip-Hop.” Moments later, Swizz clarifies his remark and gives hope to fans. “There’s some respectable reasons [why that song has not released]. But the world’s gonna get more than they asked for.”
N.O.R.E. changes the subject a bit. “Busta Rhymes, one of my closest friends in the world called me and said, ‘Swizz Beatz has the best Nas verse since Illmatic.’ Now let me [be careful], because I don’t [remember] if he said ‘the best Nas verse’ or ‘the best Nas project.’ I don’t remember.”
“It’s both of those,” replies Swizz. DJ EFN interjects, “We’re gonna talk about that project.” Swizz corrects, “Nah, Nas [is] gonna talk about it.”
In July, Nas told Angie Martinez just weeks following the Kanye West-produced NASIR that he had a project with involvement from RZA and Swizz Beatz. The Queens, New York added that half of a full collaborative project with Swizz had been previously recorded. The producer had also told Pitchfork about a 2016 album with Nas that did not surface.
Swizz elaborates on that idea in his response to Noreaga. “I’m not gonna have an iller album than Illmatic; let’s get that cleared up. You’re talkin’ a lot of big talk, but we ain’t gonna talk that big talk. Let’s be all the way 1,000. What we have is a great body of work that I think people appreciate that love Illmatic. It’s not taking you out of the zone of one great poet that’s in his prime.”
N.O.R.E. listens, then responds. “You’re on Drink Champs. So that answer that you just said sounded like you said that you have the better album than the one he just dropped, [NASIR]. I’m just being honest.” Swizz says, “I feel that I have a different body of work.” N.O.R.E. asks Swizz if he feels his new one is better. “I do,” responds the guest.
I bomb atomically
