Mar 14

G-Eazy Reveals 4th Album Is “Almost Done”

Denver, CO – G-Eazy illuminated Denver’s 1ST BANK Center last Tuesday (March 6) as part of The Beautiful and Damned Tour. During his set, which included songs like “Me Myself and I” and “Sober,” he dropped a subtle line about his next project.

As he was performing “Calm Down” from 2016’s When It’s Dark Out, he switched a line in the song to say, “Been sittin’ on the charts like a beach chair/ My last album spent 52 weeks there/ Almost finished with the fourth/ You should be scared,” alluding his follow-up to The Beautiful Damned is on its way.

On stage, The Town native appeared genuinely grateful for his current position in life despite his love-hate relationship with fame, a topic he’s dissected multiple times in his music.

“I’ve been working on it,” the 28-year-old told HipHopDX. “I feel like I’m in a good place right now. I can accept it. I’ve been working on it, but I feel like I’m in a good place right now, so I’m happy.”

He adds, “You know what you’re getting yourself into. And at the same time, I think nothing can really fully prepare you for it.”

Denver, I thought that was always the plan!?: @nathangroff

A post shared by G-Eazy (@g_eazy) on Mar 8, 2018 at 3:35pm PST

Since releasing his major label debut, These Things Happen, in 2014, G-Eazy’s star power has grown exponentially. From collaborations with pop icon Britney Spears to a recent Saturday Night Live appearance, he’s made giant strides since he was rapping under his original moniker, MC Generic. But over the past few years, he’s had to learn to take the bad with the good.

“It’s like you’re gonna lose anonymity forever, your privacy and your schedule’s going to get crazy,” he says. “It’s gonna be insane. I don’t know. There’s always something. You never really get time to breathe or be a person, or go home or see family. And at the same time, you’re gonna get to travel the world and you’re gonna get to do really cool stuff, and you’re gonna get to make a living making art and performing it for people.”

While he’s maintaining his acquired fame at this moment, current rap is like a revolving door of artists. He’s well aware of the semi-permanence even the most successful artists can experience — which he admits is “a lot” — but it’s that idea of losing his proverbial crown that keeps him motivated.

“I’m in the public eye,” he says. “You know, you’re under this pressure to stay relevant, to stay there because if not it’s like, ‘Oh, fuck, what happened to that guy?’ Like, ‘Damn, he fell off’ or ‘He’s not as big as he used to be,’ or whatever. But that kind of like drives me in a weird way. And I just want to consistently keep putting out music that matters and resonates with people, that reaches an audience, that let’s me do what I like to do.”

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46213/title.g-eazy-reveals-4th-album-is-almost-done-during-denver-concert

Mar 14

Wu-Tang Clan Offer Fans Rare Merch In New Charity Initiative

Detroit-based StockX — the world’s first and only “Stock Market of Things” — announced it’s joining forces with the Wu-Tang Clan’s Wu-Tang Foundation for a charity initiative dubbed C.R.E.A.M. (Charity Rules Everyone Around Me). Tuesday’s (March 13) announcement comes as part of the launch of the company’s new StockX Charity IPOs, aimed at partnering with the world’s biggest celebrities for the world’s most important causes.

“With the launch of Charity IPOs, we can turn one-of-a-kind and highly sought after celebrity products into real dollars that directly help those in need,” StockX CEO and co-founder Josh Luber says.

The Wu-Tang Foundation’s mission is to utilize the Wu-Tang brand drive awareness and raise funds for various social initiatives. The foundation believes StockX can help in doing so.

“Our foundation helps those who are in communities with racial disparities,” Co-Director Tareef Michael sats. “Communities plagued by violence, the lack of proper education, unemployment and more. We are certain that with StockX we will continue to supply support to those in need with the money we raise.”

Wu-Tang fans who donate $10 to StockX in support of C.R.E.A.M. will automatically be entered to win autographed merch and one-of-a-kind Clan rarities. Raekwon’s hat and poncho from the “Can It Be All So Simple” video, a Wu-Wear Hoodie, a Cherchez La Ghost Hoodie from Ghostface Killah and 6 O.G. Wu-Wear basketball jersey/short sets are among the items up for grabs.

Donations can be made over on StockX’s website. Check out all the prizes below.

Wu-Tang Charity IPO Prizes include:

Raekwon: Polo Ralph Lauren Snow Beach Hat and Poncho, Signed from “Can It Be All So Simple” video

Method Man: x Adidas Forum Mid x Def Jam 25th Anniversary Collaboration Sneaker, Signed

Ghostface Killah: Worn and signed Wu-Wear Hoodie, and Cherchez La Ghost Hoodie, Signed

DJ Mathematics: Traktor Z2 Mixer from Show, Signed

Inspectah Deck: Wu-Wear Wu-Tang Clan #36 Baseball Jersey, Signed

Masta Killa: Clarks Wallabees worn on stage and Signed Shoebox

U-God: Worn Jacket from the Wu-Tang Clan/Rage Against the Machine Tour signed, Wu-Wear football jersey signed, and pre-release and autographed copy of Raw: My Journey Into the Wu-Tang

GZA: Autographed Brazil National Team 2012 Home Soccer Jersey worn on stage at GZA’s inaugural performance in Brazil

Wu-Tang Clan: Original Black Basketball Jersey and Matching Shorts, 1 of only 6 Wu-Wear Stash

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46210/title.wu-tang-clan-offer-fans-rare-merch-in-stockxs-new-charity-initiative

Mar 14

Delicious Vinyl Co-Founder Matt Dike Has Died

Matt Dike, producer and co-founder of the iconic Los Angeles Hip Hop label Delicious Vinyl, passed away on Tuesday (March 13). According to a press release on the label’s website, Dike died at his home after a brief illness. He was 55.

Dike established Delicious Vinyl in 1987 with fellow co-founder Mike Ross. He produced timeless hits for everyone from the Beastie Boys to Tone-Loc. The latter’s single, “Wild Thing,” went on to sell over two million copies. Tone-Loc’s platinum follow-up “Funky Cold Medina” and Young MC’s hit “Bust A Move” solidified the imprint’s legacy.

Most notably, Dike lent his sampling skills to Beastie Boys’ sophomore album, Paul’s Boutique, which was produced in his apartment with production assistance from The Dust Brothers. The album is lauded for being almost completely sample-based with the exception of Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D’s voices. Although it was initially considered a flop by Capitol Records’ standards, it has since gone double platinum and is considered one of the best Hip Hop albums of all time.

Although Dike left Delicious Vinyl in 1992, giving sole ownership to Ross, he left an indelible mark on Hip Hop forever. The logo itself has become iconic and the music Dike left behind marks a permanent chapter in the Hip Hop history books.

Dike is survived by his brother, sister and nephew.

Tributes have started to come in on social media, including one from Questlove who regretted never being able to meet him.

“imo his crowning achievement was as one of the producers for one of THE greatest timeless hip hop albums ever #PaulsBoutique,” The Roots drummer wrote on Instagram. “It simply gets better with time (will be 30 years old in 2 years) it took 10 years to go double platinum and was considered a flop at the time of its release. But EVERY creative agrees that this album was not only @beastieboysofficial finest hour —but one of hip hop’s finest hours as well.”

Dog. This is crazy. So upset I never got to meet up/chat w #MattDike. Proprietor of @deliciousvinyl records. Creator of some of the most timeless fratty party hip hop ever (“Wild Thing” “Funky Cold Medina””Bust A Move”). Signing some stellar artists that were out of the norm at the time: #BrandNewHeavies #MellowManAce #ThePharcyde) but man, imo his crowning achievement was as one of the producers for one of THE greatest timeless hip hop albums ever #PaulsBoutique. It simply gets better with time (will be 30 years old in 2 years) it took 10 years to go double platinum and was considered a flop at the time of its release. But EVERY creative agrees that this album was not only @beastieboysofficial finest hour —but one of hip hop’s finest hours as well. It was my dream to nerd out and ask him ( the dust brothers too) about how they defied the laws of sampling gravity made some of the most groundbreaking work ever. Rest In Beats.

A post shared by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on Mar 13, 2018 at 3:36pm PDT

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46211/title.delicious-vinyl-co-founder-matt-dike-has-died

Mar 14

Sean Price & Illa Ghee’s “Metal Detectors” EP Gets Release Date

Sean Price’s death was a major blow to the Hip Hop community, but the Boot Camp Clik member recorded a ton of material before his passing that’s helped to keep his name in the public eye. Price’s effort in the studio has allowed for multiple posthumous releases, including 2017’s Imperius Rex album and a new collaborative EP with Illa Ghee due out on March 16.

Ghee revealed the EP’s release date alongside Price’s wife Bernadette in a video uploaded on Tuesday (March 13). The project, titled Metal Detectors, was already in the works before Price passed away three years ago.

“Here ye here ye… Me @illaghee2k Bern @bernadettealwayshumble has an announcement to make!!!” Ghee wrote in Instagram caption to the video. “The EP ‘Metal Detectors’ will be dropping March 16th 2018. oh my fuckin gawd.”

Here ye here ye… Me @illaghee2k Bern @bernadettealwayshumble has an announcement to make!!! The EP “Metal Detectors” will be dropping March 16th 2018.. oh my fuckin gawd #IllaGhee #SeanPrice #bernadetteprice #EP #metaldetector #new #music #ruckdown #2018 #hiphop

A post shared by INCREDIBLE MATH’MATICS OF RAP (@illaghee2k) on Mar 13, 2018 at 9:15am PDT

Duck Down Music, Price’s longtime label, is handling the release. The imprint, which was co-founded by Dru-Ha and Boot Camp Clik’s Buckshot, also shared the above video on its social media platforms.

In a 2015 interview with HipHopDX, Ghee said the grieving process following Price’s death was a significant obstacle to completing Metal Detectors.

“I just have to get my mind right before I deal with that,” he explained. “I kinda chilled out with it for a minute because after losing a friend, I just want to chill and grieve for a minute until I’m feeling a lot better.”

No additional details, such as the tracklist or cover art, for the EP have been revealed at this time.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46212/title.sean-price-illa-ghees-metal-detectors-ep-gets-release-date

Mar 13

Lil Wayne & Birdman Reunite With Hug At Miami Nightclub

Miami, FL – The relationship between Lil Wayne and Birdman appears to be improving. A video of the two hugging at LIV nightclub in Miami on Sunday night (March 11) has surfaced online.

The minute-long clip shows Wayne and Birdman sharing a quick hug then chatting for a while. According to TMZ, the New Orleans Hip Hop heavyweights simply ran into each other during a night out at the club.

Full 1-minute video of Lil Wayne and Birdman reuniting at LIV nightclub in Miami last night! #lilwayne #birdman #livmiami #cashmoney #lilwaynehq

A post shared by LilWayneHQ YoungMoneyHQ (@lilwayneymhq) on Mar 12, 2018 at 7:28am PDT

This isn’t the first time the LIV nightclub has played host to an apparent reunion between Weezy and the Cash Money Records co-founder. In January 2016, the two were seen performing together at the venue.

Wayne and Birdman haven’t been on good terms since 2014, which is the year the above photograph was taken. The two sides have been embroiled in a legal conflict since Weezy filed a lawsuit against Cash Money Records in 2015. A major sticking point in the dispute has been the status of Tha Carter V album, which Wayne has been unable to release.

Although Wayne has been very vocal about his displeasure with Birdman and Cash Money over the past few years, his label boss has maintained the broken relationship would be mended. In a February interview with Wendy Williams, he declared fans would see him and Wayne working together again “at some point in life.”

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46192/title.lil-wayne-birdman-reunite-with-hug-at-miami-nightclub