(HipHopNews) SC’s Top 15 Hip Hop Artists

I had the pleasure of opening up today’s The State paper and seeing an article written by entertainment writer, Otis Taylor (of the same paper), naming and ranking South Carolina’s own.

“I consulted knowledgeable people – rappers, writers, producers – for informal polling as a way to check against my thoughts. “

Taylor goes on to add that the list doesn’t focus on just lyrical ability, but also based on potential with the main focus being the buzz or popularity of the artist. Work ethic, honor, creativity and the respect of fellow MCS.

The list goes as follows:

1. Collard Green : “Green may not be the most lyrically skilled, but the vibe he presents is infectious.”

2. Nard Dinero: “He can talk money, cars and clothes or he can rap about social awareness and wisdom… sometimes in the same verse. that epitomizes the rap definition of flow.”

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3. Mantiz : “Merges tough talk- let’s say real talk- with the kind of soulful rhymes and bests that make listeners think of new beginnings, new possibilities. “

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4. Ben G : “Head of B-Familia… Waka Flocks Flame posted a photo of {his} crowded parking lot concert at an unofficial St. Pat’s stage. You can say the local boy is definitely going hard in the paint.”

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5. FatRat Da Czar : ” FatRat is still a player, but, with The Boom Room recording studio, he’s become a coach, too.”

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(News) T.I. Talks About Andre 3000′s Outstanding Feature On “Trouble Man”

T.I. talks about Andre 3000′s feature on the track “Sorry” on his upcoming “Trouble Man” LP, and how incredible the verse is.

The King of the South, T.I., has been hyping up his much anticipated Trouble Man LP for quite some time now. After giving a listening party for twelve of the tracks featured on the album, it looks like Tip’s latest project will be ready for the December 18th release date. One of the most talked about tunes is his collaboration with Andre 3000 on “Sorry”. Recently, T.I. talked about recording the record, and how Three Stacks came into the studio and dropped an outstanding verse, which might just be the best on the entire album.

The ATL natives had been trying to link up for a collaboration for some time but things had not come together, until one day the Outkast emcee called up and said he was ready to record. “My phone rang, I missed a call, and then Miley say ‘hey 3000 called’,” T.I. explains Andre said to him, “He say, ‘you know what, I know we been trying to record this song since 2006, but today, I’m ready.’”

T.I. left 3000 alone to work on his verse, and before he knew it Andre had dropped some incredible bars, “He sits down, I leave, work on another record in another studio…I come back, and this nigga done reconstructed my whole goddamn song in 45 like minutes.” Andre’s verse was so good that Tip was tempted to re-record his own verse, “If it was anybody else but him, I’d a changed my verse and got busy, but however, that was the homey, and it was like, a lot of the shit he said, that shit was really sentimental.”

There are some big name features on Trouble Man, but this ATL collaboration might be the one fans are most hyped for.

(HipHopNews) Mayweather Jabs Back At Fifty

The beef between Money Mayweather and 50Cent seems to be heating up as Mayweather took to his twitter in the early Saturday morning hours to bash his one time and business partner, 50Cent.

“SMS = Snakes Manuver Slick”

“SMS = Sisters Managing Sports”

“SMS = Similar Mayweather Show”

Fifty and Mayweather were once tapped to become business partners in a boxing promoting venture. However, the two BFFs split after they couldn’t agree to terms. Since then, Fifty has created SMS promotions and, well, there goes the jabs Mayweather is so famous for (quoted above).

Mayweather, also, posted a series of pictures with entertaining noteworthy captions. Check em out.

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“A male boxing groupie.. hold my belts because your album sales have declined”

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“Fuck Boy you look cute in that jacket”

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(News) Scoop DeVille Reveals 50 Cent Wanted “Poetic Justice” Beat

Scoop DeVille talks about the decision to give his beat for “Poetic Justice” to Kendrick Lamar instead of other rappers, including 50 Cent. Praise for Kendrick Lamar’s debut album has been plentiful since it’s release, and one of the producers integral to its success has been the man behind two of K.Dot’s biggest singles, “The Recipe” and “Poetic Justice”, Scoop DeVille. The producer reveals that there were other suitors trying to snag the instrumental for “Poetic Justice”, one of them even being 50 Cent.

After the success of the Cali anthem “The Recipe”, Scoop and Kendrick knew they had to continue working together, as DeVille explains in an interview with Q104.7 (via HHDX), “once I got with Kendrick and everybody, they were just really vibing with the record a lot, and after ‘The Recipe’ came out, it was just mandatory we just started doing more stuff.” Even from the beginning, anyone who heard “Poetic Justice” was feeling it, “That was one of the records that stuck out with the label and Dre and everybody…I’m happy where it went and it got Drake on it, it got cleared by Janet, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, so that’s just amazing on its own.”

Scoop says that several people were interested in using the beat, but he’s glad it went to Kendrick, “A couple artists wanted the record, I was playing it for a couple selective people at the time I was vibing with, like for 50 [Cent] and a couple other people,” adding, “I’m just happy it went where it went ‘cus it was a special project as it is…[it went to Kendrick because] it was more so just playing him all the special records that I had and I think he would appreciate.”

(News) 2 Chainz On His Work Ethic & Legalizing Marijuana

Seemingly everywhere this year, 2 Chainz talks about his strong work ethic, how blessed this year has been for him, and chimes in on the legalization of marijuana. 2 Chainz has grown into prominence recently, but has been in the game for awhile. This year he seemed to appear as a feature on nearly every big album, and countless singles. He attributes his success to his relentless work ethic, and even says he doesn’t do much besides work and smoke weed. In a recent interview with DaxTV.com, Tity Boi shared his opinion on the legalization of Mary, and just how special this year has been as a whole for the rapper.

Speaking about his tireless effort, the ATL rapper described what a usual day looks like for him, and it includes music and smoking, “Work, work, work, I work for what seems like some slave masters or something…music is my job I enjoy what I do.” 2 Chainz says his day is typically like this, “when I wake up in the morning, I smoke one, I eat some breakfast and it’s time to do something musical.” On the subject of weed, the rapper was asked if he feels it should be legalized, and he was open about his use and feels it’s “therapeutic” saying, “Ya, of course I do. I don’t do anything else, I don’t drink, I don’t do any other drugs. To me, weed is just a therapeutic drug.”

Not just for his career, but this has been an eventful year in Tity Boi’s personal life as well with the birth of his daughter, and the unfortunate passing of his father. Overall, he described the past 12 months as the highlight of his career. “The best moment of my career was this whole year, No.1 record, No. 1 song…it was not one thing, it was a combination of things. ‘The Mercy’ track helped me out, ‘Bees In Da Trap’.”

(News) Hit-Boy Says He Recorded Verses For “Cruel Summer” That Were Cut

On top of producing some of the biggest beats on the album, Hit-Boy says he recorded some verses for Cruel Summer, but they were left out of the mix. The talented roster on G.O.O.D. Music runs deep, and hit-maker producer Hit-Boy dropped a couple monsters on the compilation Cruel Summer LP including “Cold (Theraflu)” and “Clique”, but says some verses he recorded did not make the cut.

Known mostly as a producer, Hit-Boy is trying to follow in the steps of Kanye, and after making a name for himself as a producer is trying his hand at rhyming. This summer he dropped his mixtape Hit-Story, but because of the abundance of talented emcees on G.O.O.D., he was not featured lyrically on the album. In an interview with MTV, the producer/rapper says, “I actually did a couple verses, but there was so much going on and so many different artists trying to get in there and do theirs that none ended up making this project, but I’m still in hopes that one day I’ll rap on a song with Kanye West.”

Similar to how ‘Ye made talent like Big Sean, make it themselves before receiving help from him, Hit-Boy realizes this is a process, “This is just all a learning experience. I’m still growing and learning about myself as a rapper, as well, so I was getting certain pointers while I was in the studio working with Kanye.” He is not deterred and feels that he can grow as a rapper, off what he has learned from the process “the stuff that he’s told me, I’m applying it to what I’m doing now. And I know that my next stuff is going to be way better than everything you guys have heard so far.”

Could we possibly see Hit-Boy featured as more than just a producer when Cruel Winter drops?

 

(News) Rakim Reportedly Working On New Music With Pharrell

Rakim has been in the studio with Pharrell recently, and plans to release a single before the year’s end. Legendary old school rapper Rakim is reportedly cooking up some music with new age producer/rapper Pharrell. The Detroit Free Press (via HHDX) spoke to Rakim when he performed in Detroit earlier this month, and reports that Rakim is currently in the studio with Pharrell, and has plans to release a single before the year’s over. Rakim’s last album was 2009′s The Seventh Seal so fans are probably itching for new music from The God Emcee. It will be interesting to see what the two create.

(News) Gucci Mane Disses Nas By Implying He’s Broke

Gucci Mane Strikes Again!!

In a behind the scenes video, Gucci Mane says Nas doesn’t make the kind of money he does, and implies Nas is broke. Rap beefs seem to be popping up all over the place, and one of the key figures in a couple of the more notable beefs is Gucci Mane, who is never afraid to speak openly, or hate openly. In a recent video of a behind the scenes shoot following Rocko, one of Gucci’s affiliates, Mane had some unflattering things to say about Nas.

Rocko was discussing with the man filming the scenes how impressed he was with Nas’ numbers on his most recent hit album Life Is Good, and how it was accomplished with minimal marketing and promotion. Gucci then came into the studio and chimed in, and said that the Queensbridge veteran actually doesn’t have much, even saying “Nas fucked up right now.” He then continued to talk about the rides him and Rocko has, and insinuates Nas has nothing.

“Did Nas make 150 blood money first week off a mixtape? Yeah, blood money. Nas fucked up right now,” Gucci said in an interview posted on Complex. He then continued, speaking to Rocko, “You got a Rolls Royce. I just bought me a … Don’t you got a drop top and your brother got one with the hard top? You got the white one and I am getting the black one?,” then asks, “ Nas got one?” It will be interesting to see if Nas catches wind of this and bothers responding, or if any type of friction comes out of this.

(News) Meek Mill Says He “Ain’t Tripping” Over “Dreams & Nightmares” Album Leak

Although Meek Mill’s MMG debut leaked yesterday, the rapper isn’t giving it a second thought. Yesterday many fans of the “Dreamchasers” rapper, Meek Mill, noticed his debut album, Dreams & Nightmares, sprung a leak. This is something that almost seems unavoidable in today’s day and age, and Meek Mill took it in stride. While talking to Sway Calloway during RapFix Live, Meek said he’s not upset about the leak.

As Meek points out, if someone is going to buy your album, they’ll buy it regardless of the leak. “I ain’t tripping,” Meek said.” “If people wanna buy your album, they’re gonna buy your album whether it’s gonna leak or not,” ”If you were going buy the original, you were always gonna buy the original,” he said, showing faith in his fans. “If you were gonna bootleg it, you were gonna bootleg it — period.”

(News) Shyne Trashes K.Lamar; Fans Trash Shyne

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“Yoooo Kendrick Lamar is talented with a lot of potential but the album is traaaaash!”

Strong words from Shyne, the has been once promising rapper currently deported in Belize. Shyne goes on to explain that Lamar’s beat selection was the basis of his argument that the album could have been better stating “his lyrics and word play top class. Beats ruined everything.” Hating or constructive criticism? Kendrick Lamar fans believes its hating and let Shyne HAVE IT in his mentions.

“Hey b***h nicca jump in your Delorean and go back to the 90s when you was relevant @OriginalShyne you hoarse mouth bastard!!” – @OuttaDissWorld

Wait there’s more:

“We all know @OriginalSHyne AIN’T EATIN!!!!! N***** ain’t Had a Hot verse since 01″ -@ScHoolboyQ

and still more:

“@OriginalShyne give that man a tampon!” – @RealTerrifique

Shyne, of course, fired back:

“All kendric lamar d#%^ riders & nut huggers! His album was trash!
Good kid! Terrible album!”

Where’s Internet security when you need them? Sheesh. Someone should tell Shyne is tampon string is showing.

By the way, Kendrick Lamar’s first week album sales projection is for over 200 thousand. Take that and smoke it in ya peace pipe, Shyne. Shalom.

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(Music News) Tracklist Revealed For Freeway’s “Diamond In The Ruff”

Freeway’s Diamond In The Ruff album drops on November 13th but today we get a look at the tracklist.

Check out the tracklist below. He’s released one single thus far, the hard-hitting ”Jungle.”

1. Right Back (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)
2. Greatness (featuring Vivian Green)
3. The Thirst
4. Wonder Tape
5. No Doubt
6. Dream Big (featuring Musiq Soulchild)
7. Early
8. Ghetto Streets
9. Numbers (featuring Neef Buck)
10. True (featuring Wale)
11. Sweet Temptations (featuring Nikki Jean)
12. All The Hoods (featuring Miss Daja Thomas & Alond Rich)
13. Hottest Akhi
14. Jungle
15. Money Is My Medicine
16. Lil’ Mama

(News) Kendrick Lamar Addresses “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” Comparisons To “Illmatic”

Today Kendrick Lamar officially released his overwhelmingly anticipated and hyped major studio debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city and first look at the critical response is that the album has potential to become a classic. Some people have even described the album as the voice of this generation of hip hop, and compared it to Nas’ lyrical opus Illmatic. Now, an always humble K.Dot, chimes in on the lofty comparisons, and feels they are due to the relatable stories on the album. The Compton native then retells how Andre 3000 reacted the first time Lamar played the album for him.

An album does not become a “classic” upon release. It takes time, and its music’s longevity, such as with Illmatic, that sets a work apart as important to a generation. The Top Dawg rapper, was slightly overwhelmed at comparisons to his and the QB rapper’s work. In an interview with 2DopeBoyz he says, “Illmatic? For people to even put my album in the light of that, is an accomplishment. It’s crazy to even be mentioned with it but it’s scary at the same time.”

The Black Hippy artist knows how influential that album is to people of a certain age because it was integral for him, “That era – I wanna say the age range now would be 30, 30 to 40 – they can recognize this was the album. Illmatic’s the album for the ’90s era when I was growing up.” He continues to elaborate on the response he has heard from fans, and says, via HHDX, “The stories he was telling was something I can relate to. From the response, just from the leak…these kids out here, they’re all saying the same thing: this is the feel for this era…it’s just a weird feeling to be in that same type of light.”

Realizing that his work is yet to stand the test of time, K.Dot adds, “it takes a whole lot of responsibility to keep that up in the long run and longevity, and that’s something I don’t have yet…so Illmatic will always be number one.” One legendary rapper who was not shy about heaping praise on Kendrick Lamar was Andre 3000, who got a sneak peak at the album and was one of the first people to hear it. When asked how three stacks reacted after hearing the album, the Compton native said, “[He] stood on the couch, put his hands up, said ‘this is golden’.” Kendrick’s debut album with Aftermath-Interscope, good kid, m.A.A.d city is available now. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=565833795

 

(News) Wiz Khalifa Talks Missing Drake Verse And Wanting To Collabo With Nas

In the summer, Wiz Khalifa had shown how much clout he has in hip hop now, by announcing two massive features on the remix for “Work Hard, Play Hard” in the form of Lil Wayne and Drake. Although he was replaced by another notable name, Wiz discusses why he did not include Drizzy’s verse, and even mentions he would like to collabo with Nas.

The Taylor Gang rapper looks up to the legendary NY rapper, and says he would welcome a chance at collaborating with Nas. The Pittsburgh emcee mentions that not many are on Nas’ level lyrically saying in an interview with Montreality, via HHDX, ““I want to get in the studio with Nas. That would be cool. I think just lyrically that would take me to another level. I just been listening to a lot of his old CD’s.” In addition to his classic LPs, Wiz mentions that even presently not many rappers can bring the intensity Nas does, “Musically, I feel like he’s in the zone that a lot of people don’t even really, really understand. So I wanna do some shit with Nas.”

While Drake was noticeably absent from the “Work Hard, Play Hard” remix, Wiz was able to get Young Jeezy on the track. Some were disappointed, and now the Taylor Gang front man explains that it just didn’t come together, “He boofed me man. He was supposed to do his verse and he ain’t do it so we had to put it out, but it ain’t no love lost.” Khalifa says this is not rare, and actually happens frequently, “People get that done all the time in the industry, but yeah I got boofed.” The single will be featured on Wiz Khalifa’s sophomore studio effort which has been delayed and is now slated for a December 4th release.

 

(News) Pusha T On Working Solo And Current Status Of Clipse

Lord Willin’, the debut album from Clipse, is heralded as one of the greatest street-talk albums of all time, but ten years after the album’s release Pusha T is focused more on his solo projects, and as a result has teamed up with G.O.O.D. Music to create recent buzz. With a solo LP due out in early 2013, the Virginia rapper talked about why he has been delaying the release, the method of recording with Kanye and G.O.O.D. Music family, and the current status of The Clipse.

Although he is respected by a lot of the older heads, Pusha felt it was important to introduce himself to the new generation of hip hop listeners, and as a result has pushed back the release of his album. In an interview with Pitchfork, Pusha Ton says, “All of this is about timing and prepping the public. I feel like when people first heard my sound on G.O.O.D. Music, they were like,” continuing, “But I treated my progress like a totally new artist: I wanted to be on records, drop a mixtape, do virals, and go on the road for records that don’t really have a true body of work to attach themselves to. I want people to delve into what the hell I’m doing, the purity of the rap.

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