Aug 25

French Montana On Donating $500K To Ugandan Health Clinic: "Healthcare Should Be A Right"

Shooting the video for “Unforgettable” with Swae Lee in Uganda last year was a transformative experience for French Montana.

Since then, the Moroccan rapper has been heavily involved with charitable efforts in his African homeland.

During a recent interview with CNN, French revealed he’s already donated $500,000 to the Suubi Center, an underfunded maternity and children’s health clinic in Uganda.

“Me coming from Morocco in North Africa, I feel like it should be a soft spot for anyone that has a mother or a child,” he said. “I think that’s got to be one of the worst things, not having the right healthcare. When I went to Uganda, I felt obligated to [help].

“I feel like every woman and child deserves the right healthcare. It shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a right.”

Shortly after his first trip to Uganda, French kicked off the #Unforgettable Healthcare Campaign with Global Citizen’s #2BSTRONG Campaign and the United States-based non-profit organization Mama Hope.

French said he was moved by the Triple Ghetto Kids who appeared in the “Unforgettable” video. He believes they “dance better than Chris Brown.”

“They are like my sons, my daughters,” he said. “They’ve got a big spot in my heart … and I just feel proud of them. They killed it, they danced, they did the choreography.”

ONE STEP AT TIME !! First mission completed 300 thounsand ??❤️now we going for 450 thousand mothers and kids ❤️ thank u to #cnn ❤️

A post shared by French Montana (@frenchmontana) on Aug 24, 2018 at 2:01pm PDT

To further propel the movement along, he’s teamed up with Maroon 5 singer Adam Levin for the “Famous” remix, a song that was originally found on his 2017 Jungle Rules album.

French has decided to donate the royalties from the single to the Suubi Center as well.

The 33-year-old, who became a U.S. Citizen in June, says immigration will be a major theme on his upcoming album. The project is expected to arrive in the next six weeks. 

Watch the new “Famous” video below.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.48180/title.french-montana-on-donating-500k-to-ugandan-health-clinic-health-care-should-be-a-right

Aug 25

Wiz Khalifa’s Los Angeles Home Reportedly Broken Into

Los Angeles, CA – Wiz Khalifa’s Los Angeles home was reportedly broken into on Saturday morning (August 25).

According to TMZ, two men wearing hoodies smashed some glass to get into his San Fernando Valley home at around 4:45 a.m. local time. The noise woke up a member of Wiz’s team who was playing house-sitter while the platinum-selling rapper was out of town.

The perpetrators then took off. Law enforcement reportedly said no property was taken. The broken glass it the only damage to the home.

Police are investigating.

The break-in follows another Los Angeles-area burglary. Pop singer Christina Milian’s home with boyfriend M. Pokora was broken into on Friday night (August 24). This time, the thieves got away with around $100,000 worth of jewelry and watches.

Austin tonight ?‼️Lets make some memories‼️ #dazedandblazedtour #taylorgang

A post shared by Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) on Aug 25, 2018 at 7:27am PDT

Wiz is currently on the Dazed and Blazed Tour with Rae Sremmurd, Lil Skies, O.T. Genasis. He’s expected to perform in Austin, Texas on Saturday night (August 25) and Dallas on Sunday (August 26). 

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.48181/title.wiz-khalifas-los-angeles-home-reportedly-broken-into

Aug 25

Kobe Bryant Says There’s "A Zero Percent Chance" He’ll Play Basketball Again

New York, NY – Despite Ice Cube’s intent on getting NBA legend Kobe Bryant to play in his BIG3 basketball league, it looks like that’s never going to happen.

In a new interview with The Rich Eisen Show, Kobe unequivocally states his basketball days are over.

“There’s about a zero percent chance that I come back and play,” Kobe says around the 10:15-minute mark. “Nothing. Done. That’s it.”

He continues, “Here’s the thing. For us athletes, it’s really hard to transition from that [playing every season]. I was really personal about it when I wrote Dear Basketball. But that is the true challenge of finding what comes next and finding something that you love to do every bit as you loved your first passion. That is the challenge for us.

“Unfortunately for us athletes we’ve been pigeonholed into thinking we can only be one thing.”

Kobe goes on to say that he took that as a “personal challenge” and wants to prove that he’s not just a one-dimensional person.

TMZ Sports caught up with Cube earlier this week and it he definitely had his doubts Kobe would ever step foot in a basketball arena again.

“I think he’s done,” he said.” 

[This article has been updated. The original version was published on August 22, 2018.]

Although a rep denied Kobe Bryant was on board to play in the BIG3 basketball league earlier this week, Ice Cube isn’t giving up quite yet.

In an interview with ESPN’s Outside The Lines, the West Coast gangsta rap icon joked that he’d take extreme measures to get the NBA legend to join the league.

“To me, he’s the biggest name out there for us to get,” he said. “He’s going to have to get a restraining order on me to leave him alone about this.”

Cube predicts nature will take its course and the BIG3 will reel Kobe in organically.

“I think we just keep doing what we doing putting on great basketball and I think we have a lot of retired players looking at our league and they want a piece of this,” he added. “And we’ve got a lot of players that are at the end of their career that are looking at our league.

“If you got the itch, we got the scratch. We just keep putting on a great product and if he wants to play, he’ll come play.”

The rumor started to circulate on Wednesday (August 21) after Basketball Society’s Brandon Robinson said Kobe was ready to join the BIG3. The news reportedly came from league co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz.

By that afternoon, Chief Marketing Officer of Kobe Inc. Molly Carter shot that rumor down and confirmed he wouldn’t be playing next year. 

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.48152/title.ice-cube-isnt-done-with-his-kobe-bryant-big3-recruitment

Aug 25

Ellay Khule’s Benefit Show Turns Into Project Blowed Reunion

Los Angeles, CA – It was only a month ago that Ellay “Rifleman” Khule was shot in the neck and rushed to a Los Angeles hospital. After a seven-hour surgery and several days in a hospital bed, the L.A. underground Hip Hop staple survived but he still has a long road to recovery.

On Thursday night (August 23), many of his Project Blowed peers were on deck during a benefit show for Ellay at the LA Commons art gallery, including Aceyalone, 2Mex, Myka 9, Abstract Rude, Self Jupiter and Medusa.

@bsidechannel @skyxists @tha_medicine @gotkoke @2mex @aloeblacc @toquon_tha_mc @laevents

A post shared by Medusa — Gangsta Goddess (@legendmedusa) on Aug 20, 2018 at 3:49pm PDT

The event was basically a full-on Project Blowed reunion and gave those in attendance just a glimpse of what the ’90s underground Hip Hop scene was like on in Los Angeles.

“I had a great time seeing all the people come out to support me and the tragedy that was bestowed upon me,” Ellay tells HipHopDX. “I felt the love of the underground big time last night.

“All the greats came out and performed. And the fans came out and donated. The graffiti guys donated murals. It was really one of the dopest things I’ve ever been a part of.”

@abbeyrizzle @enkone two la legends and true Cali Classics. My brothers for a dub now ,#ogcaliclassics #lahiphop ,salute #caliclassics #graffitiart #icons #projectblowed #goodlife #atu #hiphopkclan #brothers

A post shared by Cali Classics Music Apparel (@og_cali_classics) on Aug 24, 2018 at 12:57pm PDT

The bullet that hit Ellay severed a nerve in his neck, which surgeons were able to repair, but it left him with 85 percent paralysis on the left side of his face. Doctors are hopeful he will see more movement on that side in the next six to 12 months. He also lost 80 percent of his hearing in his left ear, which is likely temporary.

Despite everything he’s been through, Ellay walked away and learned a valuable lesson.

“We should start more celebrating life events instead of waiting on tragedy,” he says. “Let folks know that you love them while the are still here.”

Check out more photos and videos of the event below.

It’s on now @kaosnetworkz @projectblowedla celebration of life and survival for #ellaykhule #therifleman #projectblowed

A post shared by L. Scatter/Brain Gretzky (@lscatter) on Aug 23, 2018 at 8:59pm PDT

#therifleman #khule #goodlife #ellaykhule #blowed #projectblowed @ellay

A post shared by DelGodz (@reaxh909) on Aug 24, 2018 at 11:06am PDT

CLASSIC…salute the big bro OG Rifleman.. Straight soldier.. #ProjectBlowed #HipHopKlan #EllayKhule #Aceyalone #Myka9 #Nocando #JSmoov #Namek #JohnBlack #LScatter #Spec #Arkyve #JahOrah @og_cali_classics @aceyalone1

A post shared by Namek (BudEBoyEnt-Chamber-KTF) (@namek626) on Aug 24, 2018 at 2:47pm PDT

Me and @iamsistaasia last night. Two real survivors coming at you in hd#ogcaliclassics #lahiphop#caliclassics #survivors #hiphop #icons #

A post shared by Cali Classics Music Apparel (@og_cali_classics) on Aug 24, 2018 at 10:45am PDT

Salute Legendary MC Ellay Khule All the legends in attendance And yourselves for the outpouring of love demonstrated last night LA Hip Hop Underground is alive and well #ellaykhule #ellaykhuleakarifleman #projectblowed #caliclassics ?: @tamitemple #lahiphopevents

A post shared by LAHipHopEvents.com (@lahiphopevents) on Aug 24, 2018 at 11:42am PDT

@ Rifleman’s life celebration @ Leimert Park with L. Scatterbrain (@lscatter) #rifleman #ellaykhule #leimertpark #projectblowed #kickrocksentertainment #leggoteevee #lscatterbrain #lahiphop #hiphop #celebration #westcoast  #dj #djs  #djing  #mc #mcs #losangeles  #letsgo

A post shared by Leggo (@kickrocksentertainment) on Aug 24, 2018 at 12:54am PDT

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.48177/title.ellay-khules-benefit-show-turns-into-project-blowed-reunion

Aug 25

Geto Boys’ Founding Member DJ Ready Red Passes Away

New Jersey – Founding member of the Geto Boys, DJ Ready Red, has passed away. According to an Instagram video posted by fellow Geto Boy Willie D, he died of an apparent heart attack on Friday (August 24).

“Bad news,” he says. “DJ Ready Red died today of an apparent heart attack. Red was the Geto Boys’ first DJ and producer. He gave us our sound. He was responsible for most of the production on the early stuff and all of the production on my first album Controversy. 

“To say he was a pioneer would be an understatement. Red was before his time. There’s a lot of producers today that are eating off of Red and don’t even know why their bellies are full.”

#RIP DJ Ready Red

A post shared by Willie D (@williedlive) on Aug 24, 2018 at 3:44pm PDT

The Houston-bred Geto Boys was founded in the late ’80s and became a flagship artist of Rap-A-Lot Records.

Red produced the group’s first three albums, including 1988’s Making Trouble, 1989’s Grip It! On That Other Level and 1990’s official self-titled debut The Geto Boys.

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In recent years, Red was noticeably absent from Geto Boys reunions, something he explained on the Murder Master Music Show in 2013.

“I was an artist and a producer on [Rap-A-Lot Records],” he began. “In the beginning, we all got paid evenly split four ways. When I came back, I was offered to do shows for like $100-$200. I was thinking, ‘Y’all must be crazy because I started this thing, and y’all are trying to do me like that,’ because I would never do y’all like that. I left [the group] because I got tired of the B.S. that was going on.

“I stood my ground … I have no regrets all these years later because I see that nothing has been accomplished. [J. Prince] still has all the money. Everybody has been through something dealing with this record company and nobody has anything. I’m glad I got out.”

Red was 53.

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Condolences have started pouring in on social media from fans and peers alike, including Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Gang Starr legend DJ Premier. 

Check out a few of those below.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.48178/title.geto-boys-founding-member-dj-ready-red-passes-away