Showing posts with label ll cool j. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ll cool j. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Can Red Cafe return Bad Boy Records to Prominence?
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Early in its run, Bad Boy Records dominated the game. The label quickly built around The Notorious B.I.G. and Faith Evans. Founded by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Bad Boy Records was quickly becoming a second-generation Def Jam. While Combs established himself a new-and-improved Russell Simmons, B.I.G. never had the chance to have a legacy like LL Cool J, as he was brutally murdered.
Bad Boy Records has had a number of hits over the past fourteen years, but the label has never had another flagship artist like their original. Immediately following Biggie's death, Mase became the new face of the label. However, during the promo run of his sophomore album, Mase decided to quit rap to become a preacher.
In 1999, Shyne became the new flagship artist for Bad Boy, but he was soon arrested and serving time in prison. Loon stepped up to the plate in 2003, but his career quickly fizzled, also. In 2009, Combs announced he had signed Red Cafe to the label. During the fall, Bad Boy Records left Atlantic Records for a new deal at Interscope Records. Diddy said Red Cafe would now be the focal point of Bad Boy Records.
Aside from being Bad Boy's new flagship artist, Red Cafe was also the head of his own Shakedown movement. Red Cafe has been working for well over five years, trying to gain exposure and release his debut album. After two years of delays, on Bad Boy, Diddy announced Red Cafe would soon be taking his rightful place as the new flagship artist of Bad Boy Records. Red Cafe also discussed the situation and announced his debut album would be released on Valentine's Day 2012.
But, for nearly ten years, Bad Boy Records has been struggling. Bad Boy Records has been struggling two years longer than the New York hip hop scene. Long before his Bad Boy days, Red Cafe was said to be the artist who would return New York to hip hop prominence. Now, he is being hailed as the man who can make the same happen for Bad Boy Records. However, Red Cafe does not have much more buzz than any of the other New York rappers in the game.
Once Red Cafe gets the Bad Boy machine behind him, will he be able to re-ignite New York hip hop and, in turn, place Bad Boy Records back on top of the game? Read more...
LL Cool J's acceptance speech at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
In 2008, more than likely, fans heard LL Cool J's final album, Exit 13, as he began his run as Sam Hanna on "NCIS: LA" the same year. While he is currently one of Hollywood's most-bankable actors, LL Cool J began his career as a rapper. LL was Def Jam's first artist.
For well over twenty years, LL Cool J managed to release a series of hits and platinum albums. Along the way, LL was involved in a number of beefs. Following each feud, LL Cool J always came back stronger and all of this fed into his legendary career.
BET honored LL Cool J's legacy at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards. LL Cool J was given the "I Am Hip Hop" award. When he was honored with the award, LL Cool J read off his acceptance speech.
Read the entire speech below:
“My acceptance speech/what I won't do is try preach/I won't assume that I am smarter than you and try to teach/What I will do is set an example for you and inspire you to reach for the stars that's beyond mars that space bars can't delete/Because without a dream fulfilled your life's incomplete/A hearst, a limousine without a backseat/the worst, this Usain Bolt without feet/Real life aint Hollywood, it's Halloween/Every day is trick or treat/It aint a red carpet it's a bloody sidewalk from the wolves eating red meat/and these spotlights don't come with money they come with police/Millionaires cry about raising taxes on the elite/they won't feed us, as they'd rather defeat us/like an aborted fetus/but your greatest feat is to get back up on your feet/Did I mention, life aint a sprint it's a marathon/Really stressful on your tendons/and with the shape the economy is in today, you better run to the polls like skinny Kenyans/26 miles miles and two hours and three minutes/It wasn't weeks or months/It took us 400 years to raise the debt limit/So don't lose faith, there's a sweet life out there and one day you will taste/And just like any marathon, you must monitor your pace/and watch out for the haters pushing drinks up in your face/maintain your focus through the ups and downs and debates/and when you win your award, make sure you put in a safe place/and be prepared for whatever…just in case." Read more...
Friday, September 23, 2011
LL Cool J to receive "I Am Hip Hop Icon" award at 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Three years ago, LL Cool J released Exit 13, which was his final album with Def Jam. Over twenty years before, LL Cool J helped launch the label with his music. After a highly successful career as a rapper, LL Cool J decided to move into the movies.
LL Cool J currently stars in "NCIS: LA" as one of the main protagonists, Sam Hanna. His roles in films and television shows led to LL to devote all his time to the screens. Previously, LL Cool J would take time out to record an album.
Despite being fully focused on television projects now, LL Cool J has considered coming out with another album. While LL has no new album in the works, he will be honored for his work on previous albums. At the upcoming BET Hip Hop Awards, LL Cool J will be given the "I Am Hip Hop Icon" award, which has previously been awarded to Ice Cube, Russell Simmons, Grandmaster Flash, KRS-One, and Salt-N-Pepa. Read more...
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Ace Hood talks LL Cool J and Canibus
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Recently, Ace Hood revealed relatively surprising news to his fans, telling about his favorite artists. Not many would have expected Ace to say he was a big fan of Canibus. In an interview last week, Hood admitted he was big on Canibus.
Ace Hood has said this several times since then. Canibus is in the news over his disses towards Slaughterhouse. Ace Hood has defended him a couple of times. The Florida rapper spoke on how big of a Canibus fan he is.
Briding three different generations, Ace Hood said he was listening to the Canibus man during his epic feud with LL Cool J. Ace Hood revealed he is a major fan of New York hip hop. The reason he follows it so closely is because he wants to be as versatile as possible. Read more...
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Rakim, The Forgotten Legend
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
When discussing the best rappers of all-time, most hip hop fans mention The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, and sometimes Jay-Z. In recent years, the fans of Lil Wayne have been pushing to add him to the discussion. For many reasons, many rappers could be considered one of the best, but Rakim is usually left out of the equation.
Rakim has been in the game since 1986, but most fans do not remember him until 2002. The rapper's most famous rhymes of the 21st century came on Truth Hurts' 2002 song, "Addictive." A number of fans of the song assumed he was a new rapper. But, for those who know their history, they know Rakim has been around for years.
In 1987, Rakim released his debut album with Eric B, as a part of the duo Eric B & Rakim. Eric B was the producer and Rakim was the lyricist. While LL Cool J was riding the top of the charts and winning the hearts of girls all over the world, Rakim was putting together some of the wittiest lyrics of all-time. His first album, Paid in Full, was a critical success, but it was not very popular with fans. Even with the strong lyrical content, the album did not sell like records from Run-DMC and the superstar, LL Cool J.
During the 1990s, gangsta rap took over the air-waves. Hip hop was more interested in hearing NWA and social rapper, Tupac Shakur, at this time. Rakim disappeared during the 1990s, as The Notorious B.I.G. emerged and brought New York hip hop back to its prominence. Also, Tupac Shakur signed with Death Row and emerged as the toughest gangsta rapper of them all. Not only was Tupac the most-popular rapper in the game, he was also critically-acclaimed. Each of his albums were met with positive reviews, despite his switch from social rap to gangsta rap.
Unlike Biggie, who often rapped Mafioso stories, Rakim was able to change his style up and still make people think if they actually took the time to listen. Rakim was not a gangsta rapper by any means, but he did rap what he felt at the time. There are not many rappers who are as versatile as Rakim. LL Cool J is credited for reinventing himself several times in order to still be appealing. Rakim has been able to switch his flow, but still be the same style of rapper. Despite most fans forgetting about Rakim, most rappers do credit him as their inspiration.
When 50 Cent signed to Interscope Records, in 2002, he was immediately compared to Tupac Shakur, but he denied the similarities. Even in some of his lyrics, he quoted the late legend, but when he was asked who his favorite rapper was, 50 Cent said Rakim was who really made him love rap music. Many other rappers, who are considered legends by today's standards have hailed Rakim as one of their favorite rappers. But, fans do not know much about him because he never had much mainstream success. In 2009, he was in the news after he finally released The Seventh Seal. Read more...
Friday, January 14, 2011
Throwback Video of the Day: LL Cool J ft. Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe, and Foxy Brown - "I Shot Ya (remix)"
Monday, November 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Keith Murray clarifies Tupac comments
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Legendary EPMD member, Keith Murray recently found himself in a bit of trouble. The rapper was speaking about the earlier years in his career when one comment was taken the wrong way. Murray is known by most casual hip hop fans for his contribution to both versions of LL Cool J's "I Shot Ya."
In 1995, there were rumors of a feud between Tupac and LL Cool J in the wake of the East/West feud. Tupac released a diss record aimed at the veteran and after Tupac was shot, LL recorded this song. On the remix, his verse takes aim at an unnamed rapper. LL Cool J promised not to mention his name on that record, but he would the next time.
The next time never came because Tupac was literally stopped dead in his tracks right in the middle of his crusade. An untold story was a meeting between Tupac and Keith Murray. Following the release of the song, Tupac confronted Murray over his participation on both versions of the song. When Murray initially spoke on the situation, he made it seem as if he ended up fighting Tupac.
However, after the hip hop media picked up on his comments, the New York rapper came out to set things straight. Murray said he did not disrespect Tupac in the video clip. All he was doing was giving the fans a hip hop history lesson. When Tupac got shot, the "I Shot Ya" record was released and Keith Murray spotted the recently shot Tupac to let him know there was no beef. In the end, the two rappers had a friendly conversation, shook hands, and walked away from each other. Read more...
Monday, June 14, 2010
Jay-Z compares his longevity to LL Cool J
Coming off his debut album, which did not even sell gold and with no hit singles, Jay-Z was determined to be a star. Only one year younger than LL Cool J, Jay-Z decided to hit the streets. While LL was rapping, Jay was on the streets selling drugs. Both men were very wealthy, but only one was legitimate.
Said to have crossed the million dollar mark in 1988, Jay-Z sought to exit the crack game for the rap game. His first two albums spoke heavily of his past wrongdoings. Over time, Jay-Z was able to cut back on his rawness and tell his story over smooth beats. Slowly, but surely, the fans began to love Jay-Z.
Starting with his third studio album, Vol 2. ... Hard Knock Life, the rap game belonged to Jay-Z. Even before the release of this album, Jay-Z was relatively popular. Each year, from his debut album until his "retirement," Jay-Z released a new album. Every album Jay-Z released was met with positive reviews, featured three hit singles, and ended up going platinum. However, LL Cool J chose to stay away from the game, releasing albums every now and again.
Within every half decade an album has come from LL Cool J and he prides himself on being in the game for over twenty years and only releasing 13 albums. He said he was unlike other rappers who crammed so many albums into only a few years. Jay-Z realized he was hot and the only way to stay hot was to keep himself out there. Each time LL Cool J releases an album, he has to win the fans back over. Jay-Z said this is the downfall for rappers like him.
Jay-Z spoke of how he usually releases a new album every year and has the legendary status of the likes of Biggie and Tupac. In the same breath, in 2010 hip hop, Jay-Z is just as popular as Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne. Meanwhile, LL Cool J is relevant, but he will never dominate the game. He spoke of how LL Cool J was upset when his singles were not popular with the radio. Jay-Z said the reason his record was not popular was because he is a New York rapper making music for the South.
While he never mentioned LL Cool J by name, Jay-Z said the reason rappers like him cannot get back into the game is because they still try to act young. LL Cool J came into the rap game as a teenager, but as he got older, he still tries to market himself to the younger generation. Jay-Z, on the other hand, has allowed his music to mature with his age. He used to rap about selling drugs, but once this was no longer a part of his life, the focus went to rapping about his clothing line. Jay-Z used to also be the biggest womanizer in the game.
However, since he has been in a relationship with Beyonce, Jay-Z has not rapped about sleeping with multiple women. LL Cool J is married with grown children, but he still raps about winning the heart of the girl next door and Jay-Z said he would never re-enter the game this way. Jay-Z suggested LL stop using slang words and rap about the life he lives today. Rolling Stone's interview with Jay-Z comes only days after LL Cool J announced his official return to the rap game. Read more...
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
J. Cole discusses Eminem and Canibus
Now, over a decade after they emerged into the game, J. Cole is here and looking poised to take over the game. For the past few years, hip hop has been taking a lot of heat. The game used to focus on lyrics. But, now, the game is centered around gimmiks and ad-libs.
However, many people have pinned the future of hip hop on the shoulders of J. Cole. In the past, he has talked about some of his influences. Like most rappers, J. Cole has credited the likes of Nas and Jay-Z. But, recently, he opened up about his all-time favorites.
His response may come as a surprise to a lot of people, as he listed Canibus as one of his favorites, along with Eminem. The reason picking Canibus is so odd is because of the fact that Bis has been a running joke ever since his LL Cool J feud. J. Cole said he used to hang raps by Eminem and Canibus up on his wall because he loved them that much. He said he has yet to meet Eminem, but he hopes Em has heard about him and likes what he hears. Cole said he still listens to music from Canibus and is looking forward to the release of his next album.
J. Cole's debut album should be coming sometime before the end of 2010 through Roc Nation. Read more...
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