Mar 17

Countdown To HipHopDX At SXSW: DJ Olivia Dope

Brooklyn native Olivia Dope is a highly sought after triple-threat. Starting her career as a classically trained dancer who performed with many well-known artists, Dope eventually found her calling as a DJ, incorporating her talents as a dancer and a fashion designer to make for an unforgettable show. Her unique style as a DJ has been recognized by former clients such as Lil Kim, Russell Simmons, Essence Magazine, and Adidas.

HipHopDX got a chance to have a quick chat with Olivia before she performs at our SXSW showcase.

HipHopDX: What are you most excited about performing at the festival? 

DJ Olivia Dope: Really excited for the HipHopDX Rap Rising, honestly. To share a stage with the likes of Just Blaze and DJ Drama is a dream as a DJ.

Do you plan on watching other performances? Which one are you most likely to see?  

Wu-Tang, Jhene Aiko and got to see Kelela last night. Excited for Saweetie to rock the HipHopDX stage though!

Can’t stop, won’t stop… GET GUAP. ?✨???❄️? #HighMaintenance #IcyGang #HennyForBreakfast

A post shared by • DJ Olivia Dope • (@oliviadope) on Mar 16, 2018 at 10:57am PDT

What’s been the best and/or worst part of preparing for the performances? 

Best part is sharing your love of music and creativity with the masses. Worst part is waiting that last hour until you hit the stage. I get anxious like a little kid on their way to Disney World.

What was your first show outside your hometown and what was the best memory of it? 

My first show outside of NYC was DJing in Boston for Justine Skye. Great experience. The crows showed a lot of love.

What was your first paid gig? 

My first paid gig was when I DJed a house party in Brooklyn, NY. I was so nervous but it was fun.

What was the best article you’ve ever read in HipHopDX? Did you agree or disagree with it? 

My favorite article from HipHopDX is the story about Kendrick Lamar overcoming industry pressures, staying true to himself and still winning. Rare to see nowadays so it’s inspiring.

What’s one unique fact that you want your fans to know about you?

One unique fact about me is one of my favorite things to do is read the liner notes in CD booklets and album sleeves. I love knowing who are the producers and writers, and where certain songs get their samples from. Kinda gives me insight to what went down in the recording process I just love know as many music facts as possible just in case its an answer on Jeopardy.

Check out Olivia Dope at DX’s Rap Rising showcase at SXSW on March 16 at The Parish.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46243/title.countdown-to-hiphopdx-at-sxsw-dj-olivia-dope

Mar 17

Snoop Dogg Just Dropped His Gospel Album “Bible Of Love”

After teasing a gospel album last May, Snoop Dogg has delivered his godly effort, Bible Of Love. 

Featuring a wide array of guests appearances, including Faith Evans, music legend Patti LaBelle, West Coast rap vet Daz Dillinger and Doggystyle Records’ signee October London, the soulful effort clocks in at 32 tracks.

It’s a hard left from The Doggfather’s latest offerings — Make American Crip Again and the 220 EP — which were a return to Snoop’s gangsta rap roots.

Check out the Bible of Love album stream, cover art and tracklist below.

Screen Shot 2018-03-16 at 2.51.03 PMScreen Shot 2018-03-16 at 2.51.03 PM
  1. Thank You Lord (Intro) f. Chris Bolton
  2. Love For God f. Uncle Chucc, The Zion Messengers K-Ci
  3. Always Got Something To Say
  4. Defeated f. John P. Kee
  5. In The Name Of Jesus f. October London
  6. Going Home f. Uncle Chucc The Zion Messengers
  7. Saved f. Faith Evans 3rd Generation (Bereal Family)
  8. Sunshine Feel Good f. Kim Burrell
  9. Sunrise f. Sly Pyper
  10. Pure Gold f. The Clark Sisters
  11. Pain f. B Slade
  12. New Wave f. Mali Music
  13. On Time f. B Slade
  14. You f. Tye Tribbett
  15. One More Day f. Charlie Wilson
  16. Bible Of Love (Interlude)
  17. Come As You Are f. Marvin Sapp and Mary Mary
  18. Talk To God f. Mali Music and Kim Burrell

  19. Changed f. Isaac Carree Jazze Pha
  20. Praise Him f. Soopafly
  21. Blessing Me Again f. Rance Allen
  22. Blessed Highly Flavored (Remix) f. The Clark Sisters
  23. Unbelievable f. Ev3
  24. No One Else f. K-Ci
  25. Chizzle f. Sly Pyper Daz Dillinger
  26. My God f. James Wright
  27. When It’s All Over f. Patti LaBelle
  28. Crown f. Tyrell Urquhart, Jazze Pha Isaac Carree
  29. Call Him f. Fred Hammond
  30. Change The World f. John P. Kee
  31. Voices Of Praise
  32. Words Are Few f. B Slade

(The original version of this article was published on February 3, 2018 and can be found below.)

Snoop Dogg said this would happen. During an interview with Beats 1 Radio last May, the O.G. Long Beach rapper revealed he was working on a gospel album and now, we have a release date and title. According to iTunes, Bible of Love, Snoop’s 32-track double album will arrive on March 16.

To mark the occasion, the D-O-Double-G has unveiled the seven-minute album closer, “Words Are Few” featuring B. Slade, and an accompanying visual.

As Snoop explained to Beats 1 last year, “It’s always been on my heart. I just never got around to it because I always be doing ‘gangsta’ business or doing this or doing that. I just felt like it’s been on my heart too long. I need to do it now.”

On Thursday (February 1), Snoop made an appearance at the 19th annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in Minnesota. While on stage, Snoop reportedly touched on the album and explained, “The record’s all about love from start to finish. That’s the way you change the world, by putting love in it.”

Snoop has reinvented himself a few times over the years. In 2013, he adopted the persona Snoop Lion and dropped a reggae album called Reincarnated. Most recently, he went back to his gangsta rap roots for Make America Crip Again, which he delivered last October.

Bible of Love features several guest vocalists, including Tye Tribbet, the Clark Sisters, Faith Evans and Rance Allen.

Check out the “Words Are Few” video above.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.45869/title.snoop-dogg-announces-release-date-for-gospel-album-bible-of-love

Mar 17

Lloyd Banks Ends Shortest Retirement In Rap History

Fans of rapper Lloyd Banks flooded his timeline following what appeared to be a retirement announcement Friday morning (March 16), but it seems the G-Unit’s most lyrical MC isn’t going anywhere.

Banks squashed the whole situation by posting a clip of Ric Flair’s infamous speech on the November 26, 2007 episode of WWE Raw to where he announced: “I will never retire.”

“Just goes to show you what a mess the industry has become,” the rapper wrote via Twitter. “They’d rather cover everything that happens around the music than the actual music itself.”

“I hope all these outlets support me when I drop,” he concluded.“

(This original version of this article was published on March 16, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. and can be found below.)

Since the dropping the 2002 mixtape 50 Cent Is the Future, G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks has established himself as a lyrical force. Now, after a storied career that includes 16 mixtapes and three studio albums, Banks announced he’s hanging it all up.

“I fell in love with Hip Hop over 25 years ago … it was that thing I turned to during good times and bad,” he tweeted on Thursday (March 15). “I just wanna say thank you to the artists that inspired me.”

“[I want to] send my appreciation to everyone that supported me till this day,” he continued before adding, “I think it’s time to lay it down.”

Fans immediately shared their disappointment and many begged Banks to reconsider.

Hip Hop has seen its share of false retirements over the years. Too $hort retired in 1996, only to return in 1999 with the LP Can’t Stay Away. JAY-Z also gave retirement a shot.

It’s unclear if Banks will stay away or drop any projects before hanging it up for good. 

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46241/title.fans-beg-lloyd-banks-not-to-retire

Mar 16

Kodak Black Reportedly In Solitary Confinement

Broward County, FL – After allegedly violating a prison rule, Kodak Black is reportedly in solitary confinement. According to TMZ, the Pompano Beach, Florida rapper (real name Dieuson Octave) was removed from general population for using the prison phone to ask someone to call a person he was forbidden to contact.

He received 30 days in solitary for the violation.

The Project Baby 2 mastermind was arrested in January after he posted an Instagram live-feed video showing him flaunting a gun around a child and smoking marijuana. He was originally facing seven felony charges, including child neglect, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and marijuana possession.

Last month, three of those charges were dropped and he pleaded not guilty to other two.

Newly filed legal documents reportedly ask the judge to allow his tutor to visit while he’s in solitary so he can continue working on getting his GED. The judge has yet to make a decision on his latest request. 

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46236/title.kodak-black-reportedly-in-solitary-confinement

Mar 16

Countdown To HipHopDX At SXSW: Lil James

To cope with the early loss of his mother, Detroit native rapper Lil James turned to music to work through his pain. Lil James says that after finding himself in and out of jail as an adolescent, creating music became the outlet to help keep him off of the streets. As one of the latest artists to be signed to fellow SXSW performer DJ Drama’s label Generation Now, alongside artist such as Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Uzi Vert, Lil James has released his two singles “Followers” and “Can’t Do It.”

HipHopDX had a quick chance to chat with his ahead of his performance at our Rap Rising showcase.

Have you ever performed at SXSW before? 

No, this is my first time.

 What is the artist most excited about performing at the festival?

To see the reaction of the crowd to his music face to face.

Do you plan on watching other performances? Which ones are you most likely to see?

Yes, but nobody in particular.

What’s been the best and/or worst part of preparing for the performances?

Rehearsals, I hate doing something over and over and over again.

There are thousands of artists performing at SXSW. Why should people come and see you?

It’s not a matter of why. I just wanna attract the people who are going to relate to it.

What was your first paid gig?

 Trappin.

If you’ve watched The Breakdown, what was your favorite episode? Did you agree or disagree with it?

My favorite episode was Jay Z, Nipsey Hussle The Art Of The Deal.

What’s one unique fact that you want your fans to know about you?

I make really good ramen.

Check out Lil James at DX’s Rap Rising showcase at SXSW on March 16 at The Parish.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46237/title.countdown-to-hiphopdx-at-sxsw-lil-james