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DJ Young Mases’ The Takeover 3 received a mention on MTV’s Mixtape Mondays column.
This is The Takeover series’ third time on Mixtape Mondays. MTV has also recognized efforts by DJ Exclusive and DJ Babe in the recent past but considering their anti-hip hop roots, would they still be on board if hip hop’s bubble were to burst? Just sayin…
Here’s The Takeover 3’s first video for “I’m ready”, featuring Young Mase, K-deezy, Stretch Money and Tone Tone.
Kelley L. Carter of the Free Press looks at the Rock the Bells Tour which comes to metro Detroit tonight.
On Wednesday, the Rock the Bells Tour comes to DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, featuring an all-star lineup of talent. On deck to perform at the outdoor concert hall are Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Talib Kweli, MF Doom, Pharoahe Monch, Immortal Technique, Slum Village and Phat Kat.
Some folks call it backpack hip-hop, but that simplifies what these musicians do.
It’s a snappy way of saying that what these guys have in common is substance.
Here’s a look at a documentary of the original Rock the Bells in 2004 which saw Wu-tang reunite on stage.
The film is getting great reviews all-around as is prepares for release. More information is available at www.rockthebellsmovie.com.
Biba Adams sat down with Iron Fist Records’ Supa Emcee and select members of the Almighty Dreadnaughtz to speak about their future and Supa’s recently released Hood Hero Album.
From the interview in the Michigan Citizen:
MC: Since I have all of you here, when is there going to be another Almighty Dreadnaughtz album? [Five years have past since the last project from the 13 man crew that has been called Detroit’s Wu Tang Clan.]
Kris Steel: There will definitely be a Dreadnaughtz project in 2008—by hell or high water. After Supa, my mix CD, and Guilty’s project, of course. [Dreadnaughtz member, Guilty Simpson is working on one of the most anticipated rap projects which will be released on Stones Throw Records.]
MC: Supa, how do you feel about this project and the solo thing?
Supa Emcee: The project is really not for me or for anybody in particular other than Big Proof. It’s me doing it, it’s my vehicle but it came out of a time when I was really hurt. It came out of a really chaotic time, so in essence, when I’m saying the Hood Hero, I’m not talking about no Detroit s**t or no Highland Park s**t, I’m talking about Big Proof. But, I think I climbed musically with the project and showed personal growth.
MC: Can I ask you guys to reflect on the last year? What do you think the direction is? And what should the direction be, now that we are getting past our grief and moving on?
Konphlict: First and foremost, I feel that it’s organization. That’s one thing that we are looking towards doing that hasn’t been done. That’s one big problem with Detroit, getting people together to really do something that will take us to the next level and really going through with it.
Kris Steel: I think that organization is a factor. But also in Detroit, you have a lot of jealousy and envy, those are human emotions, once we can kinda get over those emotions you will see us elevating our talent. That other stuff is a waste of time. With all of those people who we have seen become successful, Proof, J. Dilla, Slum, Em, it’s like we had our own movement. It’s up to us to show and prove again.
MC: I hear you. As far as a movement, do you think Detroit Hip Hop is still a movement?
Kris Steel: Can a movement be a movement if it’s not moving? That’s something that we should focus on, awakening our movement here in the D. [Everyone nods]
MC: Supa, there are a lot of love songs on the album…
[Everyone erupts into laughter.]
Kawshuz: She just came out of left field with that one.
MC: Hey, I peeped it.
Kris Steel: I was proud of him for that.
Konphlict: He showed a side a lot of people don’t see.
Supa Emcee: A lot of different experiences led to me making some of those songs. It represents people, places, times and experiences with different females with whom I have that understanding.
MC: How was it working with all of the different artists and producers? You got a track from Black Milk, Mr. Drummin…
SE: Yeah, that was crazy. DJ Genesis produced a track for me and Neeco Redd, and she made it from scratch, she is a dope producer. Everything just came together. The song with L. Renee, Movin On, sometimes I just listen to it while I go to sleep.
Read the entire interview and article here.
Origix from WHFR’s The Zone Radio with Origix and DC has taken over the hip hop section of Real Detroit’s weekly Four Track column.
Origix updates us on DJ Butter and DJ King David’s Dip Set & Byrdgang Invades Detroit mixtape.
This summer, Detroit mixtape veterans DJ Butter and DJ King David dropped their latest project together, Dip Set & Byrdgang Invades Detroit. “The mixtape is meant to promote Crime’s LP (Streets Is Contagious), and all of the Dip Set’s up coming releases,” King David says. Harlem Rappers Jim Jones and Hell Rell combined with Detroit’s late Blade Ice Wood and Royce da 5’9” show that our rap scenes have a lot in common. Get a copy from Detroit to NYC at myspace.com/djbutter or myspace.com/djkingdavid313….
…The Zone Radio with Origix & DC airs Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on 89.3 FM. Stream audio at whfr.fm, and visit myspace.com/thezoneradio.
Originally printed in Between the Lines news.
They hail from the Conant Gardens neighborhood on the East Side, and their hearts remain in their city as they travel the globe. And Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village came home last week, teaming up with Remy Martin to donate $7,500 to AIDS Partnership Michigan.
The donation, which was presented Friday at APM’s Detroit office, was part of the popular cognac maker’s Black Music Month program, which kicked off in June. Remy Martin picked 10 up-and-coming artists to play shows in their hometowns. Each artist or group picked a charitable cause, and the company made a donation on their behalf.
“It’s a big epidemic going on in the city of Detroit - and in the black and Latino community especially,” said Slum Village’s T3, R.L. Altman, explaining why the group picked AIDS as its cause.
Slum Village recorded for the Capitol Records label before going independent. It has recorded five albums to date, the latest being a self-titled disc released in 2005.
While at APM, Slum Village met 17 of the agency’s employees and learned what each did. When it was her turn to speak, executive director Barb Murray talked about the agency’s history.
“In the early days, to be blunt with you gentlemen, we helped a lot of people die,” she said. “Now we help people live.”
- Jason A. Michael
Obie Trice was arrested Tuesday by Oakland County cops according to the Detroit News.
Detroit rapper arrested
Detroit rapper Obie Trice was arrested Tuesday in Oakland County and released Wednesday from Oakland County Jail pending investigation. Oakland County Sheriff’s officials weren’t able to comment on the arrest Thursday. Trice, 29, has released two albums on Eminem’s Shady Records.
BallerStatus reports that D12’s Bizarre is planning on releasing his second solo album this October on Koch Records.
D12’s Bizarre is readying a new album called Blue Cheese ‘n’ Coney Island, which is slated to drop in October on Koch Records.
“I named it Blue Cheese ‘n’ Coney Island basically because in Detroit we’re known for our Coney Islands (hot dogs),” Bizarre explains. “A lot of people that visit there may think it’s nasty, but only a true Detroiter can appreciate that. I still live in Atlanta, but if you’re from Detroit, you just can’t get it out of your system. So I have to go back every two weeks or so to stay in tune. I’m just a Detroit guy.”
The first single from his sophomore release is “Fat Boy,” produced by Eminem’s early collaborating producer Jeff Bass. He feels the track is sure to keep fans simultaneously packing the dance floor and falling out of their seats with laughter.
Read the entire article here. Download some of Bizarre’s recent tracks at his MySpace and his BizarresWorld.com website.
Adam Graham of the Detroit News has written about tonight’s Detroit Hip Hop Awards show.
Killa Kaunn, K-Deezy and Marv Won are among those nominated for this year’s Detroit Hip-Hop Awards, which will be handed out tonight at Plan B in Detroit.
The show, now in its fifth year, aims to celebrate and reward the brightest and best in the Detroit hip-hop community.
“It’s an event that says, ‘We recognize what you’re doing. Maybe others don’t, but we do,’ ” says Mike “Money Mic” Matkin, who along with DJ Knice co-founded the event in 2003.
Awards will be handed out in almost 20 categories, including Song, Album and Video of the Year fields. Performers include Trick Trick, Tone Tone, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk and more. Phat Kat will be receiving the Detroit Recognition Award, a top honor that in previous years has gone to Proof, DJ House Shoes and Eminem’s manager, Paul Rosenberg.
The awards themselves are voted on by visitors at detroithiphop.com, which Matkin runs.
Matkin says he hears from nominees that the recognition from the awards show gives them the fuel they need to pursue their hip-hop dreams on a larger scale.
“It gives them that boost so they can say, ‘I’m doing what I should be doing,’ ” he says. “It’s not a Grammy, but it’s a Detroit Grammy.”
You can reach Adam Graham at (313) 222-2284 or agraham@det news.com.
Detroit Hip-Hop Awards
9 tonight
Plan B
205 W. Congress St., Detroit
Tickets $10
Call (313) 226-1200
Detroit Hip Hop in the news