The hip hop heads should already be familiar with the ATL’s Stat Quo, who was a rapper I first heard a few yrs ago and liked everything he was droppin. He is still with Shady/Aftermath from what I heard, but his debut album, Statlanta, has been constantly delayed and while it has apparently been completed for awhile, the label has yet 2 release it. The song above is Stat telling that story, along with other stories about his journey in the industry, Proof’s death, & more! Some pretty heartfelt lyrics attracted me right away on the 1st listen and reminded me why I liked Stat Quo in the first place. So if ur a big hip hop head, def give Stat a chance and DL 2day’s feature track above! Below, plenty more hip hop and R&B.. some thoughts on the trax below… Twista kills “The Business RMX”, Songz kills the hook on “Love For Money”, & I’m tryin’ 2 love Chris Brown’s “Captive”, but its slightly disturbing me that the song is in fact written in a girl’s perspective (a demo for the Pussycat Dolls… I can see Nicole S. on that Polow beat makin’ the radio for sure…). There’s also a couple videos featuring more from hip hop with Kidz In The Hall & Skillz! Enjoy!
Producer: Jazze Pha - FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming album, Paper Trail*Tibs Fav.™
Some MORE NEW T.I. - this time a brand NEW track featuring The Dream called “Like I Do”! Jazze comes thru with a real nice, uptempo beat that matches T.I.’s fast flow and The Dream’s high voice on the chorus. This one could easily be another radio hit down the line. I’m enjoyin’ all of T.I.’s verses and the subject matter is similar 2 that of “Whatever You Like”, which could be good or bad, depending on ur view. I like songs about that specific subject matter, but there might be people wanting something a lil’ more fresh. Even so, the 2 songs are still different, but both are pretty sweet. DL the NEW track above and also peep some more updates below, including the much-talked about live performance of a NEW Jay-Z track, produced by Kanye West. I’m not feelin’ it that much, but the masses sure will. Kanye released the official video of the performance and there’s already an audio rip for ur iTunes below along w/ some more hip hop trax-n-vids f/ Kardinal Offishall, Lloyd Banks, & Bun B! Enjoy!
Consequence Behind The Scenes @ The “Disperse” Video
If you have the time, definitely take a great inside look (moreso than the previous videos) of the making of the video “Disperse” - one of my favorite hip hop trax of 2007 by Consequence f/ GLC & Really Doe! Lupe & Cons dancin’ in the beginning is great, Kanye makes a cameo as well, and GLC chillin’ w/ one of the many fine ladies at the end (also showed in yesterday’s update). The video will finally premiere on Monday so check back here for that! Down below, some interesting, solid trax 2 be had with the return of Whitney Houston, collaborating w/ Akon on a song that will likely hit the radio. Whitney is definitely trying 2 comeback and appeal to the younger mainstream audience as she already has Timbaland & Danja on board for her upcoming album, currently slated for November. Peep the rest of the trax below & enjoy!
Producer: Scram Jones - FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming album, El Che*Tibs Fav.™
Some brand NEW Rhymefest for ya ears (shouts 2 Andrew) and its a ridiculous, good hip hop track that speaks at u on first listen! The catchy “Ya’ll ain’t heard it from me” sample scratched in as the chorus is a great mesh for the whole song with a simple, nice beat and Rhymefest and Wale speakin’ on the game w/ Rhymefest setting the tone in the first verse with the ear-catching line,“Records ain’t sellin’, what the f*** is my incentive, captain?” Yeah, this is some real hip hop that ya’ll should add 2 ur collection that rings especially pleasing 2 this Chicagoland native, just as the slow, dirty south beat of Mistah F.A.B.’s “2MPH” f/ Bun B, Paul Wall, & Chamillionaire will ring the right chords with the Houston crowd! U can also check out a couple NEW trax from Mickey Factz with some guest features and some ridiculous lines! And don’t forget, down below.. a couple vid premieres from Clipse and the sexy songstress, Ashanti! Enjoy!
Kidz In The Hall: Double-O (The Producer) & Naledge (The MC)
Gowhere Hip Hop is proud to present another EXCLUSIVE interview as I was privileged enough to talk to both members of Kidz In The Hall - Double-O & Chicago’s own, Naledge! Both members had some very interesting things to say about the creative process behind their work, influences in hip hop and elsewhere, the success of “Drivin’ Down The Block”, & their endorsement of likely Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama! It is definitely a MUST-READ for all you hip hop fans so check out the transcript of our conversation below! And be sure 2 scroll down for an all-NEW track by Kidz In The Hall, along with a couple more goodies!Enjoy!
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GWHH: Well, the first question I have for you guys is: What is the story behind the formation of Kidz In The Hall? And how did you guys meet and eventually collaborate to form the duo?
Double-O:Well, we met at school at the University of Pennsylvania and we started working together and basically there was nobody else in our crew. We were trying to make it in the industry and basically we were the only ones so, you know, we decided that we would rely on each other to make that happen.
GWHH: Nice, so I guess moving on, how does the creative process work between you two when developing a track? For instance, does Naledge come up with some lyrics and come to you for a beat, or vice versa, or is it something in between?
Naledge: All of the above. Yeah, all of those ways. I think more now than ever, he [Double-O] just comes up with stuff that I would probably like because he already knows what I probably would want to get on. And I might come up with somethin’ that day or if the track speaks to me right away.
GWHH: Alright, cool. Any input from you, Double-O?
Double-O: Yeah, yeah! I mean, it’s one of those things that we’ve been working together since 2000 so we know kinda where we wanna go so we can speak without speaking most of the times when it comes to the music.
GWHH: Ok, cool. Yeah, that’s interesting. I’m always curious as to how that process works behind the scenes, in the studio, especially with another person.
Double-O: Yeah, I mean it depends. I mean, if we’re together, then, you know, there’s always be a lot of back and forth in terms of tweaking things here and there and otherwise, it might take a little longer, but we can go back and forth, you know, trying something, going back, trying it again, kinda thing that would take a little longer when we’re not together.
GWHH: So yeah, going along with that, can you guys talk about how each of your styles play off each other to make each other better? For instance, Naledge, how does Double-O’s production style affected your growth as a rapper, and vice versa?
Naledge: Well, I mean, obviously.. [..breaks up..] he has to inspire me to do what I do. It’s not like.. he can make a song, and to write a rap, but to create a song, there has to be inspiration. The beauty of it is that, you know, while he knows my comfort zone, he sometimes pushes me outside of it. If I go on a beat that I normally wouldn’t get on, then I see a reaction, it’s like, ‘Wow! He was right!’. When a lot of times, I’m stubborn and I hear people saying go over this beat over and over versus the type of record I want to make. You know, going foreign, and going a lot of places has opened my eyes to a lot of things. Like I was straight hip hop, R&B, jazz, just the coolest black music. And then travelin’ and goin’ around the world, like I’m gettin’ into different things… like a Daft Punk record, or a Justin record, or, you know what I mean? Like even tho they’re big, like a Duran Duran, or a Pink Floyd. Like that shit I haven’t really thought about. And going to Europe and seeing how it is now, its stuff that Double-O can incorporate into the music and probably knowing that that’s what’s up outside of the backpack realm. And now I listen to it and understand it and am more comfortable with it.
GWHH: So Double-O, have you felt that Naledge has contributed to your growth as a producer as well?
Double-O: Yeah, oh definitely! Because the reality is, like.. as a producer sometimes, the hardest thing is to be able to make a record that still allows the MC to shine, you know? Like, you still have to make a record that the people can get into and listen to. So that the whole song is not just one dope beat and a few dope lines; it’s everything put together. So I think that, you know, a lot of just workin’ with him is learning his nuances, and knowing when to go in and out and really just build off his style and then building the records around him. So when they start as a [..breaks up..] and then it builds out into the whole song, once it’s recorded, then I can go back in and say, ‘Ok, this line is crazy’ or ‘This whole part is crazy’ and then I can make sure that it’s really shown.
GWHH: Yeah, so the beat can enhance it, you know? So, cool, yeah. I can definitely see that. So, obviously with the big record, “Drivin’ The Block”, that was a huge hit for you guys. Did you guys imagine just how big the success of that record would be in hip hop and in the mainstream?
Double-O: We knew it was going to be good, cuz it was one of those things where you know you have that type of record that could definitely work. You know, until.. what I think we didn’t plan on, was people really taking to it like in terms of radio DJs and people like that.. Like DJ Enuff, and those types of people, and rocking it without even really having that little push that major labels give it sometimes. They just played it cuz they loved the record. So I think that caught us by surprise, but we knew it was going to get a positive reaction.
GWHH: So along with that, how do you feel its success is in the progression of underground hip hop?
Double-O: Well, I mean.. I don’t know. I’m not underground.
GWHH: Well what I mean by that - kinda like the more conscious hip hop style that is becoming more prevalent now, transitioning now from that gangster type rap and ringtone type rap, like do you guys just feel like this can pave the way for artists like yourselves?
Double-O: Well, I think that there’s an entire shift that’s happening right now that incorporates us at the forefront of it, which is like, the shit is not necessarily from gangster rap to an alternative form of rap, as much as it is old to new. There’s a lot of older heads that are graduating to that next level, where not to say that they’re not going to put albums out, but they’re going to cater to a much older audience, whereas we can now cater to the mainstream, current audience. And I think you can see a lot of the other groups, The Cool Kids, and people like that, coming out and breaking new ground, and becoming the leaders of the New School. Like, that is the biggest shift to me.
GWHH: Oh, I see, I see. I like that approach, yeah. Naledge, do you have anything to add?
Naledge: Oh, I mean, honestly.. inspiration is what you do in life. I feel like, how do you become conscious? Like is everybody dead? Like whatever your reality is, you want to be at the forefront, you want to be as the main guy as possible. Like, who as an artist wants to be confined to a small realm? I think what happens is that artists get comfortable in the realm they can be in and it’s easier to get comfortable then come with an edge. Oh, because these are the people that have always done somethin’ for them and for them, and so then they learn the specific type of record that that person wants and they just sit in that zone. But a true artist always wants to bring more people and break new boundaries, so it’s not really about.. it’s just about reaching as many people as possible. It’s not like we’re, you know, going to make the same record next time around. It’s just a snapshot; it’s almost like an art collection. Picasso is not going to give you the same fuckin’ collection of pieces every time around, you know what I mean?
GWHH: Cool. Yeah, I see that. So another question that we have, that we pretty much ask every artist we interview is, how do you guys feel about the state of hip hop today and how do you see the genre progressing into the future? And I know you guys have already touched on that a lil’ bit…
Double-O: Yeah, we already started answering that question, but I think the evolution right now is a lot of, you know, it’s breaking into the ground where you just have… Hip hop needs to split up into two generations and I think that’s starting to happen. Like, the older generation is starting to get comfortable with the fact that they don’t need to love Soulja Boy. They don’t have to love what’s on the radio because they have other options to listen to like artists they grew up on who are still making good records. So it’s kind of like, just listen to them. There’s nothing wrong with just listening to that. So I think that is the big progression now. And hip hop has to get to that point where you can have the Easy Rock listening station. And you know, the Easy Hip Hop listening station, the Adult Contemporary Hip Hop, and you can still have the stuff currently right now - 3rd level of hip hop that is definitely a certain level of that as well. So it has to bridge that gap that rock has as well.
GWHH:Hmm I see, ok. Naledge, anything else you wanna weigh in?
Naledge: I think the game is just moving to a place where people are free. You know, I think rap being a more.. ever since day one, it’s been viewed as a comedy, you know what I’m saying? Now it’s viewed as a true art form. People today in hip hop - they use the perspective of their constraints that they were born out of. Now we’re at a point where it’s a global thing. The language of you. It’s not just the language of blacks in the ghetto. Now you have everybody weighing in with their perspectives, so it it’s diversifying and at the same time, it’s a lovely thing. With the money, and the fact that it is a business and all this money is being generated from it, you can’t take the artist’s dream, you can’t make some of the things more formulated. Just see on MySpace, you can see that there’s a rapper from every place with every story and every style that you can even think of and that’s a beautiful thing. You know, we can go all the way to Ireland, somebody walks and freestyles for us. Take it even further, going to Germany, they have rappers and they have their own style, their own culture, their own streetwear apparel, their own brand. That’s how far this has gone; to see how this is progressing, it’s a beautiful thing.
GWHH: Yeah, and being in the States, I don’t have much exposure to artists out there and I know you guys just came from out there and were able to see that. And that’s somethin’ the whole world has to offer in hip hop..
Naledge:Yeah, and even just black and white people in America. For a long time, in the 90s, you only saw a certain type of person. It was very two-dimensional. Now you’re seeing artists that are able to make a good ol’ record and then turn around and make a record about politics and then turn around and make a record about the (gun trade?). It’s something now where you’re not rapping at yourself. It’s really an art form. It’s really about skill at this point and that’s a beautiful thing. Being able to explore the artistry of it. With jazz, or rock groups, with blues groups, or all those art forms.. we’re at the point also where anybody can have access to the art form. And that could be a good thing or it could be a bad thing and that’s where it’s going. The bad thing is that you’re going to have an influence from artists and rappers - rap music with different styles. And that could be a good thing as well. The problem that I have is people that don’t take it seriously and are in it more for other things, but throughout all of that I find people that are pushing boundaries and are going to be the next superstars and trying to push it forward and that’s what we’re trying to do.
GWHH: Yeah, I can see that going both ways, exactly. I was wondering if there are any specific artists in hip hop or outside of hip hop that you enjoy and that influence your style?
Naledge:I mean, it’s been well documented that I kinda came up on Common, but also Q-Tip. I felt like he’s very slept on, very underrated. I feel like when people mention the top MCs, a lot of times they leave him out and I feel like, I was just explaining to somebody, that he’s the master of a certain type of flow. Like he’s able to get a lot of confidence with only a few words. Nowadays, and the type of rap that we do, your verses can get so criticized, and when he was doin’ it, his style was so different that I think people would sleep on him lyrically.
Double-O: For me, it’s more of everything. Like it can be a small element of somebody else’s record, a small element of somebody else’s song, that really inspires me to do, you know, everything, a little detail anywhere.
GWHH: Cool, yeah, I can see that approach. Another thing I noticed in The In Crowd, Naledge, was a lot of references to the NBA, and being a big NBA fan, it drew me closer to your record. I was just wondering how outside influences like the NBA or other interest make an impact in your lyrics?
Naledge:We’re social commentators. We’re all social commentators at the end of the day. You know, everything that you soak up, everything that is a part of popular culture, I’m very aware. I’m always, you know, watching television, reading the paper, on the internet. Sports was a big part of my life. I was an athlete all the way up through college. ESPN is one of my favorite webpages, SportsCenter is one of my favorite TV shows, so you know what I’m sayin? I collect baseball cards. Like, there’s a lot of things. I was a big sports fan, I watch sports all day everyday. You know, anything that I do or see, movies that I’ll watch, everything like that will pop up every now and then in the rhymes. I reference movies all the time, I reference a lot of different things. The WWF, I’ll reference that every now and then.
GWHH: With Double-O, is there anything like that, not necessarily sports, but maybe like art or something like that maybe kinda has an influence on your style?
Double-O: Honestly, like I literally, you can just soak up a conversation and it’ll make you kinda wanna do something a different way. Like I said, it’s just paying attention and being mindful of what the hell is going on around you. Like it could be a random, you know, ability or instrument on a TV commercial that makes you want to go and make a beat, you know what I’m sayin?
GWHH: Well, lastly, I got one last question for ya. In 2007, you guys became the first hip hop group to publicly endorse likely Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama. I was wondering if you guys can both weigh in on what makes Obama the right leader for the country in the future, and also why do you feel it’s important for artists like yourselves to support him publicly?
Double-O:Well, I mean for me, moreso than the artist, as a man, like, if I want to make a statement or back somebody, I’m going to do it. I think that we need to not always see ourselves as artists as much as we are people that have a certain level influence. For me, why I like Obama, because it took me a few seconds to get behind him, was just like inspiration. He can do a lot in a simple speech that people have been trying to do for 30 years and hasn’t been able to. I think that’s going to be important in office because it becomes now a situation where, you’re going to have to work in conjunction with him to get anything popped off. Like, you’re not going to be able to just, think that and everything’s going to be better. You’re going to have to work as hard in your area to change the things around you, and you can through [Obama] in office. Just the other day, it’s run by the people man and if we wanted change, then we have to do so as well. So for me, that was the biggest thing is that he actually convinced to an audience that hasn’t had anyone talk to them in a long time.
Naledge: I mean, he covered all bases and for me, coming from Chicago, that’s a natural thing. But, to show support for Barack Obama, just seeing what he did to help the country. I think that, and what he’s thinking about and being able to take that to a national level. No one has been able to inspire Chicago since Harold Washington died. And you know, as a young kid.. as an organizer, he would not take no for answer. And Chicago is not one of those cities that’s easy to crack, especially if you’re not somebody who’s born and raised there or not part of the old guard. So, for him, with immersing himself in the community, a lot of people look at it as a weird thing and they thought the importance of, why don’t you just go out and get yourself a corporate job and stay outta the community and not function. And work in a way, so diligent and when it comes to the people, and he learned how to motivate. And he’s a fighter! He lost 2 elections before he ever won, he considered leaving politics altogether. You know, he’s a fighter! He’s what we need, running our country. He’s the type of model that we need to follow. I’d rather have that than what we have already.
GWHH: Right, yeah. Cool…well, that’s pretty much all I got. I hope we covered a lot, if you got any shout-outs 2 say, feel free…
Naledge:The In Crowd is in stores now! Everybody gotta go get that. Visit us on kidzinthehall.com or visit us on MySpace or visit us on Facebook. Last but not least, I wanna make sure that people understand that backpack rap is in. We are not hipsters, we are a team. And we the best new group in hip hop today. Put us up against anybody you want, we’re better than them. It doesn’t matter. Beats, lines, hooks. We can battle in the streets, if you want, whatever. We’re better. 2008, everything. Hip hop. There ya go.
Producer: Double-O - Track from 2008 album, The In Crowd *Tibs Fav.™
Above is an all-new track by the Kidz - the West Coast RMX of “Drivin’ Down The Block” that is hot! It features some up and coming West Coast rappers and incorporates some old school Dr. Dre into the original “Drivin’ Down The Block” beat! The two trax below that are old, but good ones if you don’t have them already. The first track is the RMX to the Kidz’ song supporting Obama featuring Bun B & Talib Kweli and the second is from the album, The In Crowd, and features some of the NBA references that I mentioned in one question (NBA nuts will marvel at the lines name-dropping Shane Battier & Ahmad Rashad… listen up!). Lastly, GWHH would like to thank Kidz In The Hall for their time, input, and cooperation with the interview and Wes for making it all possible! Be sure 2 check out a couple, related GWHH links below! Enjoy!
Here’s a clip of a speech by Lupe Fiasco stressing how hip hop belongs and people will be entertained by hip hop as much as rock or whatever other genre. It’s a nice lil’ clip with the crowd going nuts. Head over 2 lupEND for downloads of the speech and performance and peep the small blurb on BET about his performance that is the biggest news of Lu’s performance in the U.K. last night…
“During his set at the Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. last night, rapper Lupe Fiasco spoke out about “tyrannical world leaders”, clumping Zimbabwe’s longtime dictator and the American president in the same category “F*@K Robert Mugabe, F*@K George Bush,” he said. F*@k politics, democrats, socialists, the Labor party. Music’s what it’s all about.” It’s likely there won’t be any blowback from his American fans for his comment considering the current political climate. But remember just a few years ago the Country music group, Dixie Chicks, were bashed for much milder comments they made about the President in the U.K. Fiasco drew an excited crowd to his performance which included his hits “The Cool,” “Food and Liquor,” “Hip Hop Saved My Life” and ‘Kick Push.’”
Wow, some strong words then from Lupe Fiasco and more power 2 him. He’s truly a strong and passionate artist as u can tell above and in his music. Down below, check out a few NEW trax, with my favorite of the bunch being the NEW version of “Diamond Girl” including a better, less repetitive beat than the original. Definitely a MUST-HAVE for the R&B fans! Peep the rest of the trax below and the Day26 video premiere! Enjoy!
Producer: The Neptunes - Freestyle over the Common single, “Universal Mind Control” *Tibs Fav.™
LARGE update here so here’s some thoughts… first and foremost, Bullet.. straight up stepping his game up. DL his ridiculous freestyle of Common’s latest single “Universal Mind Control”. Perfect beat for Bullet 2 shine on with his fast, twisted Chicago flow and they got creative with chopping up his voice in a couple instances. (Not 2 mention Common killed this as well…) He’s on the verge of being the next big thing out of the Chi so don’t sleep. Below, a TON of NEW trax f/ the long-awaited return of Lil’ Wayne on “A Milli”, celebrating his million copies sold of Tha Carter III in the first week. Some more big names of hip hop and R&B featured below like Nas, The Game, Day26 as well as quality trax from some lesser known names like Mickey Factz & The Cool Kids, Dwele, & perhaps my favorite song from the batch below, “Can’t Do Without Ya” by R&B singer, Francisco! Scroll below and you’ll find somethin’ u like and u can also check out some videos featuring Bun B, The Roots, Bobby Valentino, & MORE below! Enjoy!
And for all u Chicago visitors, GemStones is throwin’ a bday bash and mixtape release party TONIGHT!! All the info is on the flyer at the very bottom with GemStones himself performing at midnite (along with some FNF friends, maybe Lupe??). Thanks 2 KayCee and hopefully Max G. & I will be there 2 see ya there! Also, last-minute addition of the K-Salaam & Beatnick RMX of Common’s “Go” & Lil’ Wayne “On Me” that u can DL below (spotted @ HHU)! Enjoy!
Producer: Deezle & Jim Jonsin - FULL, CDQ *Tibs Fav.
Now if you’ve been followin’ GWHH for awhile, u’ll know I’m not the biggest fan of Weezy, but in fact, “Lollipop” was one of his songs that I didn’t have 2 switch right away and now Kanye brings it on the autotuner with the highly anticipated RMX! I’m not huge on the autotuner trend that is hitting all the major artists now as well and I can see it getting out of hand fast, but not yet at least. U already know Kanye is ridiculous in his first verse, just like u already know, our boy Lupe Fiasco straight up kills any beat, like the dirty south collaboration with friend Bun B! Love their verses. Below, there’s another good hip hop track from the legend KRS-One. Also, u may recognize “Body On Me” from a couple weeks ago with Nelly and Akon only, but it turns out it is Ashanti’s song and her next single. And Yung Berg also drops his next single so peep and DL all the NEW trax above & below! And take a look at the video PREMIERE of N.E.R.D.’s “Everyone Nose” while u wait! Enjoy!
Producer: The Neptunes? - FULL, CDQ, Rumored track off upcoming album, Here I Stand *Tibs Fav.
NEW USH & Skateboard P! I shouldn’t even have 2 hype this one up, ya’ll are already prolly clicking the link, but yeah, another hot track from 2 of the smoothest in R&B. Not a smooth beat, however, but its got that Pharrell/Neptunes unique sound that is real cool. Not sure if this is going 2 be on Here I Stand actually since I haven’t seen it on a tracklist, altho there hasn’t been an official tracklist as well. We’ll find out soon enough tho cuz Here I Stand is hitting stores on May 27th! “Moving Mountains” is also slated 2 be the next single, following Usher’s formula from Confessions with a banger first and slow jam second. Below, you can see some new music featuring Ne-Yo (sweet long snip), Akon, Dwele (awesome on that chorus), and Lil’ Wayne among others. Peep & DL what u like above & below. Enjoy!
Above is the official? RMX 2 Lupe Fiasco’s next hit single, “Paris, Tokyo” featuring the legendary C.L. Smooth! I say “official?” because I hear it is just a Mick Boggie Mix and that’s why I was hesitant to post it when I saw it a little bit earlier in the week I think. Either way, I figure I would share it as this week has finally cooled off for me a lil. Haha, anyway, there’s some more Tibs Favs below by Immortal Technique & 2Pac, Kidz In The Hall f/ The Cool Kids & more and a sweet Ne-Yo feature - all of which you guys should DL and give a try. Below them, you can find the latest video premiere for Rihanna and a sick freestyle by ‘Quence, Nelly, & Murphy Lee (where’s he been at the past few yrs?) I’ll be back early Sunday for Old School Sundays and looking forward 2 a good week in music, with hopefully the full version of the Busta Rhymes/Linkin Park track, a NEW T.I. track, and albums from The Roots & Estelle (out here in the States.) For now, enjoy!
Stat Quo “Dear Summer Pt. 1″ - MORE
