Some NEW hip hop and R&B for ya ears with The Game headlining this post, comin’ thru w/ a deep, lyrical slow jam (hip hop slow jam.. not R&B slow jam, haha.) Definitely some thought-provoking lines in there, and of course the prerequisite double digit name-drops in the track, but at least it comes off more clever than annoying in this case. Down below, some T.I. trax that I didn’t really dig, esp the RMXs where I felt Trina, Foxy Brown, & Rick Ross didn’t add anything 2 the respective trax. And finally, R&B fans will enjoy the latest from Johnta Austin & Israel! I’m feelin’ “Killing Me” a lil’ more from the Filipino singer (represent!). Oh, and I didn’t forget… Luda said in the conference call last week that the video for “Undisputed” would drop this week and there it is @ the bottom! Def lookin’ forward 2 Theatre Of The Mind in November, but I think fellow ATLien T.I. will more than hold me over w/ Paper Trail, which I’m waking up early for 2morrow! Jyea! Enjoy!
GWHH is proud to present yet another EXCLUSIVE interview with WR of the Chicago Bears, Brandon Lloyd, who has some real talent as an upcoming rapper under the name B. Lloyd! Out of all the interviews I’ve conducted, I was most impressed with B. Lloyd’s humble, intelligent mindset and with that came a connection that I felt was friendly and genuine throughout the interview and we were even able to talk some football in between. I have no doubt B. Lloyd will succeed as a rapper like he has as a professional wide receiver in the NFL and for my hometown Chicago Bears! We posted his HOT first single, “She All Mine” f/ Bobby Valentino, back in late August, but I know some of you missed it, so you can DL that below as well! Look out for more exclusives from B. Lloyd in the near future and GWHH would like to send another special thanks to Brandon for his time and input as well as Stacy S. & Nancy B. for all their work to make it all happen! Without further adieu… Enjoy!
GWHH: I wanted to jump in right away and talk about your first single with Bobby Valentino called “She All Mine”! It has already gained a nice buzz on Gowhere Hip Hop with over 1600 downloads already and people are definitely listenin’ so I was wondering if you can elaborate on the message behind the track and also give us some behind the scenes input on how it came together with Bobby?
BL: So, I wrote the song last year took my wife and my son for vacation after the season. So we went out there and I took some time out just to do a little writing. And the concept of the song just came to my head. Just your basic, classic, hip hop love song. Just a classic song. The lyrics came to me and I wrote ‘em. And when I got back to the States and starting training down in Arizona, in February, I met up with Giggolo, the producer. And this was the second song we’ve recorded together, I just had the concept and he built the beat right there in the studio. And brought another singer in just got one of our friends, just a local cat from Arizona to sing the hook so we had the lyrics, Giggolo built the beat, and we had the verses. So it’s kinda backwards. Usually you build the song with the beat and the hook, and then you put the verses in later. So we built the song, and then we had the verses for the song after he built the beat but then we built the hook last. The way it came together - it was just awesome. We collaborated on the hook. Giggolo wrote the hook out and one of my friends from Arizona come and sing it. Once we finished the song, we were like, thats a single. Everybody who is an artist who records a song, just knows when it’s a single, but this one was just so undeniable just the way Giggolo had built that beat and used the live instrumentation, used live guitar, used live bass guitar. It was just incredible to do that in the studio. So after we finished the song, I contacted one of my friends who knows Trey Songz. To have Trey Songz to sing it, but his manager wouldn’t let him do it. He actually heard the song and was down, but his management wouldn’t let him do it. So then we reached out to Bobby Valentino. Those are the 2 guys who after I wrote the song, I was thinkin’ these guys’ voices would feel real on there. And so I contacted him, Bobby said he would do it, we sent him the song, and he rocked it. So that’s how the song came about, hahaha.
GWHH: Yeah, my truthful opinion, is yeah, that is a professional sounding track right away. And you know, when I first saw athletes in general when they try to step into the rap game, you know, a lot of them don’t succeed. And right when I heard that song, I didn’t think of you as an athlete, I thought of you as the artist. And I think that’s the thing that’s really important for you to be respected as an artist - he’s not just an athlete trying, he’s actually an artist.
BL: And that’s kinda the, that’s my whole thing, is that my music is going to be competitive with what’s out there. I’m not skipping any levels. I’m not trying to, you know, have my homeboys make some beats, try to cut any corners. I went after this project like any major artist, like any independent artist would go after it. And that’s where recording, and a professional studio, and a professional production on a project, that’s where it starts. Without that, I don’t have anything. So I didn’t cut any corners when it comes to production.
GWHH: Alright. That’s the way to do it. And that kinda leads into my next question: what are the bigger plans for B. Lloyd? Can we expect an album in the near future and can we expect any other big-name artists or producers like Bobby Valentino?
BL: The album is going to be released in February. I think it’s like February 2nd or 3rd - the first Tuesday of February, and that’s through Universal under Still Hustlin’ Records. There’s no other special guest features right now, but I’m still workin’ a couple other songs. I have The Game in my scope right now, I’m tryin’ to get him on a record. I got a record perfect for him, again produced by Giggolo. Just like heavy strings, a straight up west coast track. So we’re tryin’ to get The Game. We reached out to their management so that’s somethin’ we’re hopin’ to get knocked out.
GWHH: Cool, yeah. If you get that, that would be great for you. And I’m sure Game would jump on it and just kill it.
GWHH: I mean, let’s hope for that, let’s hope for that man. So, at what point in time did you decide to put in the serious effort required to succeed as a rapper? Was it in college sometime?
BL: Yeah, it was definitely in college. [University Of Illinois!] The day I came to campus, we were makin’ music on the computer, with some of the older guys and with some of the guys my age. And then when I got to my 2nd and 3rd years in school and so, I kinda pulled back. But then guys were kinda like, “Hey, when you goin’ to make that a CD?” Haha. Really, I didn’t know you guys liked it that much. So that’s what kinda brought me back and that was probably in the year 2000. So that brought me back to the music. But I gotta say, I fell in love with hip hop when Nightmare On My Street - DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince. And I’ll tell ya what, I fell in love with rap music when Tru 2 The Game - Double Disc came out. Hahaha, in.. ‘96. So I’ve been in love with the art form for a long time, but once I got into the NFL and I was able to really steady some substantial amount of money on makin’ my stuff sound good.. that’s when it was really serious. I recorded a project out in San Francisco my rookie year and that’s when it became really serious.
GWHH: Yeah, I can definitely see that. And you already touched on it, that was my next question. Who are some of the hip hop artists - past and present - that have directly influenced your style or even someone that you play before gameday to get you pumped up?
BL: Yeah, that was you know, Nightmare On My Street, you know, Tru 2 The Game - Double Disc - and then once I really started to try and perfect my craft, I was starting to listen more musical cats. I was startin’ to listen to Jay-Z, Nas, and then more of the current guys, you know, Kanye West, you know those are the influences behind my music. I consider myself a product of the new school. I really love new music, I love new artists, I love the evolution of hip hop today. It’s an ever-changing, living organism and that’s what I love about it.
GWHH: Yeah, I definitely appreciate that. And I’m definitely a new school guy myself. Definitely during my formative years, this is the type of music I’m growing up with myself. So I was also curious if you had any other musical influences outside of rap, like R&B, and even outside of that, outside influences like football or things in everyday life that you take to the studio with you?
BL: Yeah, as far as the R&B guys, I just really enjoy the creativity of artists like The Dream, you know, but the topics are creative. T-Pain. Like the topics are creative. You know, first and foremost, I’m a fan of music. Before being an artist/rapper, I am a fan of music. So listening to T-Pain, yeah, he may lack some of the technical aspects of being an R&B singer, but the topics are great and he’s very entertaining. So I really respect the cats like T-Pain, The Dream, Usher, you know, you can go on and on. But as far as my influences in the studio, it’s pretty much the day to day things that I encounter. I don’t see myself having, you know, really, any rough, any tough times. My music is more positive in dealing with the quote, unquote “haters” out there and naysayers, the people that say you can’t do things. Just making feel-good music for the mind.
GWHH: Ok, and you know, I just got a question off the top of my head. You know, in your short time in Chicago, have you experienced the hip hop culture, the hip hop scene there? Can you share some experiences that you’ve seen so far in your short time here?
BL: Well, I haven’t been able to, you know… being in Illinois, going to the University Of Illinois, I was really able to submerse myself into the house music. You know, doin’ the footwork, doin’ that whole culture. And that’s what I’ve really enjoyed having such a passion for hip hop. Right when I leave high school, I get to come here to Chicago; it’s such a rich environment for music. Being in Champaign, which was close. I had a lot of people out there that have an influence. And then be out there in San Francisco, and be involved into the whole Bay Area movement. It’s been great, really great. And then go out to D.C. and have that whole house music deal going on. And it’s really been a fun ride and going from team to team, and seein’ the different ways people creatively express themselves in those places. I haven’t really got a chance to get into the hip hop and house music out here in Chicago but I look forward to it.
GWHH: Yeah, well, this is your first home game actually comin’ up this weekend (on 09.21 vs. Tampa Bay), so understandably so. Haha, you’ve been away from home all this time.
GWHH: So nowadays, there’s a ton of rappers out there doin’ their thing, doin’ what makes them special. So what we want to know is what is that something special that you can bring to hip hop? What is that something special about your style that you feel is different from the rest and that you feel people would enjoy?
BL:Well, I said before that being a professional athlete is a glamorous lifestyle that people want to know about. They want to see what’s going on with it. And I feel that I’m going to be the first athlete to paint that in a picture and present it to the people in a way which is appealing. It’s music. You know, it’s not a guy spittin’ on the microphone and not a guy, like I said earlier, cuttin’ corners just to be accepted because I play football. You know, I feel that the lifestyle of a professional athlete is glamorous, people want to know about it, and at the same time, it’s legit. It’s legal. You know, it’s a better lifestyle than rappers painting themselves as drug dealers or criminals, and you know, they’re not. So that’s what I feel like I can bring to the table.
GWHH: Ok, wow. Yeah, I really appreciate that mindset, you know. Like you said, you’re not going to use your status, but rather you want to help the people connect to your status and just kind of bridge that gap between a normal person and a glamorous athlete.
BL: Well thank you. It’s not like, I’m not the greatest athlete, I’m not the greatest football player. I know that. You know, so it’s about the music. I’m not trying to ride my coattail about being an athlete or anything. It’s about the music. And I feel my music is competitive, if not better than what these guys are doin’ full time. They’re doin’ this full time and I don’t have the opportunity to do it full time and I feel my part is still competitive.
GWHH: Yeah, I gotta say that’s pretty cool. And you know, tying in with this athlete theme, what are some of the attributes that comes with succeeding as a professional wide receiver that you think will help you succeed as a hip hop artist?
BL: I think.. you know, being humble. Everytime you come around in professional sports, there’s people trying to replace you. You know, being humble in that way, and being humble with already being moderately successful in this industry [football]. I think that really helps me as far as crossing over into this industry [hip hop] and understanding that. You know, I’ve had articles written about me since I was fifteen, sixteen years old, since I was in high school, 8th grade, junior high school. I’ve learned to not get caught up in that kind of popularity or receiving that kind of fame; I think that helps me.
GWHH: Yeah, that’s pretty cool. So yeah, that’s pretty much all got for ya, except that we can end on this fun question. You know, are you the best rapper in the NFL? And maybe, it’s not even a question of that, who else has got some style to do the same things you are?
BL: You know, I’m not really in the business of saying that I’m the best or whatever. But at least I don’t know if this comes across anybody else’s minds. Haha, so, you know.. I look at myself like a pioneer, you know what I mean. There’s gotta be a guy who’s the first. And so I’ll be the first. I’ll be the first. I’ll be the pioneer. And that’s the way I look at it. I was never raised on believing I was the best, I was the fastest, or I was the anything. My father always taught me to always be watching my back. There’s always a kid out there better than you. That’s what my dad always told me. I’ve always kept that with me. So I’m not in the business of sayin’ that I’m the best or I’m better than anybody, but I feel I got some pretty cool things to say and I’ll be the first to kinda set this music off.
So there ya have it! A couple last reminders to DL the FIRST SINGLE FROM B. LLOYD featuring Bobby Valentino below, if you haven’t yet already. It also just hit the iTunes store this week as well, so make sure to check it out there! I also wanted to give my homie KayCee some love with her interview with GemStones last nite that can be viewed HERE! Oh, and finally, be sure to vote for us for the BT Digital Music Awards in the upper right (voting ends tomorrow!) and if you missed our most recent interviews, be sure to check them out as Max G. & I were interviewed by InChiCity.com and we were able to ask Ludacris a question recently as well! Hope ya enjoyed the interview!
Producer: Omen - FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming album, Troubles Of The World*Tibs Fav.™
Props 2 KayÇee for the FULL version of this HOT NEW track from FNF’s GemStones! Wow, I feel like everyone (myself included) can connect 2 this song on first listen. It’s got a sick, uptempo beat from Omen and the lyrics are sung clearly and beautifully from Stones and his female counterpart on this song, Chu Chu! Expect more from Gem 2 come 2 GWHH soon! Down below, ur typical batch of daily hip hop and R&B, including Ludacris’ nice verse on the “Pop Champagne RMX” that he alluded 2 in our talk with him that he used the autotune very slightly. A bunch of nice trax 2 be had, so don’t delay! Enjoy!
Expect another GWHH interview in the near future, as late as Friday! Keep checkin’ back
OH YEAH… KayCee told me Gem is opening for Lupe @ the Congress Theatre in Chicago on Halloween… SICK! Maybe Tibs and/or Max G. will be there as well!
Shouts 2 Bullet for sendin’ this thru this morning, another HOT track featuring himself and another Chi rapper from his crew, Lottery! The lyrics are really on point and are emphasized by their flow as they slow it down, which matches a beat that’s more mellow than a banger. Def check that out above as well as a couple trax f/ another virtually unknown Chicago rapper, DP Da Phranchise. “The City” f/ GemStones has been out for almost 6 months now, but the CDQ version just hit the web via RubyHornet as well as another track from DP’s upcoming mixtape.
And be sure 2 check out some more hip hop below f/ Lil’ Wayne (who recites the entire alphabet… still baffles me how ppl think he’s the GOAT), Gym Class Heroes, Cassidy, Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck and the latest video premiere from the singer, Brandy! Enjoy!
The Lupe vault is opened once again, courtesy of former producer Prolyfic and Andrew, and this is yet another track featuring Lupe & GemStones back from ‘01 or ‘02. The track is alrite; like many of the old, unreleased tracks from Lupe, it contains moments of clever lyrics and Lu’s high-quality flow throughout, but it is nothing special. These tracks are illustrating the growth of Lupe Fiasco and GemStones as artists - for instance, throw on “Go Baby” after hearing this track and u’ll see just how much these 2 have stepped up their game since. Down below, some hip hop and R&B featuring some big names like Mos Def, T-Pain, Flo Rida, Chris Brown, & Trey Songz! I’m really feelin’ Casely on the hook of the Pitbull track as well as Songz showin’ why he already has one of the best voices in R&B on “Love Song (Different For The Other)”! Also peep the Dem Franchize Boyz / Lloyd video premiere! Enjoy!
Producer: Saki XL - FULL, CDQ, Track off upcoming mixtape, Windy City Stick Up Kids*Tibs Fav.™
Here’s another hot, Chi-Town track that ya’ll should DL, from the rapper Daytona 5 Bill, featuring FNF’s GemStones! It talks about dealing with the ups/downs and responsibilities of being a rapper and they both do a sweet job over the unique beat. It’ll be on the upcoming mixtape from Chicago Embassy Music, which looks promising for some more up and comers from the Chi. (Thx 2 Hunnid Grand for the send thru!) **Warrants mentioning that this track may be a rare one also since GemStones refers 2 himself as Gemini…?? Down below, another Chicago & FNF artist, Bishop G, comes through over an old Lloyd Banks beat and kills it; I’ve never heard it, but it may actually be an old track (saw it over @ lupEND), and also another leaked track from The Recession by Young Jeezy. Finally, take a peek at some videos f/ Q-Tip and Chi-Town’s/G.O.O.D. Music’s GLC! Enjoy!
***UPDATED LINK, FORMATTED FOR YOUR iTunes!!!*** (8:03PM)
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Daaamnn, great timing! Bout 2 head out but this literally popped in our e-mail (and others’) a few minutes ago (shouts again 2 KayCee) and I included her DL link.. I’ll update it with the GWHH format for ur iTunes (as usual) but it’ll take some time, time that I don’t have. It’s all about the music so DL it above! Again, updated format for ur iTunes AND my thoughts after I give it a listen will be added 2 this post, so keep checking! Enjoy!
***UPDATED LINK, FORMATTED FOR YOUR iTunes!!!*** (8:03PM)
Ok, so I’ve been listenin’ 2 this in the car and at the comp all nite… SICK! Gem brings it on every track and u can tell the transformation from Gemini 2 GemStones on the very first track with a couple verses over the ridiculous “Free Chilly” beat from Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool. Every track has something meaningful behind it, covering a various amount of topics - life’s experiences, social analysis, relationship issues, etc. You can’t ask for much more if you want to be enlightened through music and the mixtape, mind you this is only the MIXTAPE, really touches the listener and provokes their own analysis… and on the first listen also! GemStones is one of the few artists who grabs me with his lyrics on the very first listen and that’s what I was trying to look for 2nite. His passion and talent is undeniable and before you know it, you’ll be hearing GemStones’ name a lot more in the public, further progressing the FNF movement and impact of the city of Chicago on the world! There’s too many Tibs Favs to list on here, but some of the trax that were never previously posted, that u have GOT to have… “I Love Her”, “A Song To You”, “Free Chilly”, “Fly Away”, “When I Get On”, “Superstar” (his version w/ Matthew Santos) and well, I can keep going. Bottom line: awesome mixtape 2 the Fahrenheit series and if this is how hot the mixtape is, I can’t wait 2 see how Troubles Of The World - GemStones’ debut album coming this year? - will turn out! PLEASE do urself a favor and DL above! Enjoy!
In case u haven’t seen Gowhere Hip Hop’s lengthy, EXCLUSIVE interview with GemStones…
Another HUGE update for ya (sry, going 2 be inconsistent w/ timely updates the next few days…) with the feature track being the HOT, Swizz Beatz-produced?, RMX of Alicia Keys’ latest single “Teenage Love Affair” featuring LL Cool J! LL’s male perspective definitely adds 2 this song that was lyrically brilliant in the first place. Another big RMX below is from Usher for his latest single “Moving Mountains” featuring Hood Fella. Not sure if that’s official, but Hood Fella adds 2 the original beat pretty well also. More songs 2 add 2 ur collection include the latest GemStones track “Never Give Up”, which features the new and improved GemStones - meaningful, conscious lyrics and a beautiful, passionate chorus that brings the cliche some depth. The mixtape should be hitting the web within the next couple days as it’s finally done (unfortunately we couldn’t hit up the mixtape release party last nite). It’s just a matter of time and once it pops up in our e-mail or around the other blogs, u’ll see it on GWHH. Be sure 2 scroll below for the boatload of new hip hop and R&B trax, requests, and videos as the Keyshia Cole Letterman performance is especially worth ur time! Enjoy! (Big ups 2 FSD & NMC)
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!
***Scroll down below for 2day’s NEW MUSIC f/ a Lupe Fiasco/GemStones collaboration & MORE! Our editorial will be on top all day! Give it a read ;)***
(Originally published 06.10.08 @ 6:28AM)
GWHH are now the officially proclaimed Hip Hop Examiners for the city of Chicago. We Pioneers are on the forefront of a new wave of change. Not only could I reference the Obama campaign, the rise of Gas prices, the rebirth of Hip Hop, but no; what I speak on is the wave of knowledge and information. People all over the country will change how they receive their daily information about…well Life. What I’m referring to is what will be another “home” of ours, called t
The Game “Through My Eyes” f/ Mars - MORE
