Mar 13

Countdown To HipHopDX At SXSW: Jay Park

Seattle’s Jay Park displays pride in his Korean-American heritage by singing his music in Korean as well as in English. His fourth studio album, Everything You Wanted, proved how this has allowed him to connect with a worldwide audience by reaching #3 on Billboard’s World Albums chart.

Thanks in part to his international reach, Park has been able to devote his time and use his platform to support important social causes. Park’s independent Hip Hop label, AOMG, had artists perform at the World AIDS Day Red Party in Seoul, South Korea. And in addition to his already successful music label AOMG, Jay has recently created another label, H1GHR that caters to international musicians both mainstream and underground.

HipHopDX had an opportunity to catch up with Park as he prepares to perform at HipHopDX’s SXSW showcase.

HipHopDX: Have you ever performed at SXSW before? If so, what makes this year different than previous ones?

Jay Park: Yes, I have. I performed in 2014. What makes this year different is back then I came for Korean night. This year, I’m doing my thing more on the Hip Hop side, which is dope. Also, aside from AOMG, I started another label last year called H1GHR music and SXSW gave us our own stage. Excited for the H1GHR music artists and excited to experience different stages.

What are you most excited about performing at the festival?

Excited about everything. Just the whole energy of SXSW I think is gonna be very inspirational.

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

Yeah, if I get the chance. I enjoy watching other artists perform to enjoy their stage presence and gain inspiration.

What’s been the best and worst part about preparing for the performance?

Hasn’t been too bad ’cause I perform a lot, so I’m used to this kind of thing. Light work.

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

Aside from the U.S. and Korea, I’ve performed in Thailand. Weather was great, food was good and women were beautiful.

What was your first paid gig?

Me and a group of boys entered my high school talent show and won $100 if that counts.

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

Can’t really pinpoint the “best” article but just the site, in general, is very informative and dope. I can definitely appreciate the detailed album review breakdowns.

If you could have your fans know one unique thing about you, what would it be?

I take garlic shots every day so I don’t get sick.

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

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46194/title.countdown-to-hiphopdx-at-sxsw-jay-park

Mar 13

Twitter Has Mixed Reactions To Lil Yachty’s Funk Flex Freestyle

Hot 97’s Funkmaster Flex and Lil Yachty have long been at odds, with Flex throwing shade at the 20-year-old more than once over the past year. The two appear to have set aside their differences, at least for the moment, because Yachty dropped by the studio to drop a freestyle for the veteran DJ.

Flex recently called out Yachty as an example of a wack rapper on Instagram and was seemingly impressed by Lil Boat not only responding but also showing up to the studio.

“At least I can say I did it, whereas I would have been at home wishing I did it,” Yachty said before dropping a two-minute plus freestyle over Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin’” instrumental.

Yachty didn’t get too diverse –or deep — topically, dropping bars like, “Young nigga I’m a prince, could have bought a house in Bel-Air” and “I don’t even watch sports but my backyard like a golf course.” Yachty has never claimed to be a lyrical phenom and apparently, that wasn’t his aim. He showed up to prove he’s not only capable of holding his own on the mic but also unwilling to back down from a challenge.

Online response to the freestyle was mixed. Check out a sample of the reaction below.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46195/title.twitter-has-mixed-reactions-to-lil-yachtys-funk-flex-freestyle

Mar 13

Lil Pump Reportedly Signs New Deal With Warner Bros.

Lil Pump is back where he started. The “Gucci Gang” rapper has reportedly inked a deal with Warner Bros. Records, ending a bidding war for the teen sensation.

Pump became a free agent in January when his original deal with Warner Bros. was voided because he’s underage and it wasn’t validated by a court. The voiding made him one of the most sought-after artists with DJ Khaled and Gucci Mane expressing interest in signing him.

According to TMZ, Pump will received an $8 million advance as part of his new deal. The seven-year contract reportedly begins at $9000 in its first year before moving up to $12,000 in the second. Pump will earn $15,000 each year for the rest of the contract’s duration. He’ll also receive 14% of his royalties in the U.S.

HipHopDX has reached out to reps for Pump and Warner Bros. for further elaboration on the story. Keep it locked to HipHopDX as this saga is still developing.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46196/title.lil-pump-reportedly-signs-new-deal-with-warner-bros

Mar 12

CeeLo Green Reveals Story Behind Exploding Cell Phone Stunt

Los Angeles, CA – For the second installment of HipHopDX’s new video series, Soulful Sundays, DX Editor-In-Chief Trent Clark broke bread (cornbread, to be specific) with the inimitable CeeLo Green.

During the course of the meal, the Goodie Mob vet discussed a wide range of topics, including trap music, the Dungeon Family, his best feature and that infamous gold outfit he wore at the 2017 Grammy Awards.

Regarding that 2016 video appearing to show Green’s cell phone blowing up in his face and who exactly that Gnarly Davidson guy was, well …

“It’s an interesting story,” Green says. “The character was Gnarly Davidson, which was a play off of Harley Davidson, which was an extension off Gnarls Barkley. While me and Danger Mouse were discussing availabilities to start work on the new Gnarls Barkley album, which we’re doing now, I decided to amuse myself with a vignette project, a vanity project as they call it.

“I said, ‘Well a play off of Harley Davidson with Gnarly Davidson just means I’m just going to ride alone on this one. How can I distinguish it?”

He continued, “I figure, alright how do people reinvent themselves? I put in the context of superhero — something traumatic happens and all of a sudden you get the power. So, we took real life events, with the Samsung situation … we took those events that were going on. Those were current events at the time.

“Initially, I was going to try to get a liquor sponsor and say, ‘Yo, Puff man, let me get a bottle of Ciroc.’ I’m going to sit it on the soundboard and tip it over, the shit going to blow up and I’m going to be Gnarly Davidson.”

But all didn’t go according to plan and he said he had family members “petrified.”

“It was scary for a lot of people,” he said.

From Ice Cube to Louis Farrakhan, many people (including some in Green’s circle) were trying to figure out if he was really hurt. While he admitted the stunt led to a momentary “pause” on his musical output, he was happy there was at least one interesting development.

“Marvel Comics reached out to me,” he said. “They were interested in making Gnarly Davidson an authentic Marvel Comic character. It would have been historic.”

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46182/title.ceelo-green-reveals-story-behind-exploding-cell-phone-stunt

Mar 12

Rick Ross Reunites With Gucci Mane After Hospitalization

Rick Ross is apparently feeling much better following his health scare earlier this month. After being released from the hospital last Monday (March 5), Rozay linked up with his old pal Gucci Mane over the weekend.

“Ross I’m glad u Good Vato!” Gucci wrote on Saturday (March 10) as the caption to a photo of himself and Ross.

Ross I’m glad u Good Vato!

A post shared by Gucci Mane (@laflare1017) on Mar 10, 2018 at 5:52pm PST

Guwop also shared another picture alongside the Maybach Music Group boss, this one teasing the Eskimo Boyz Vol. 1 project. Ross was in promotion mode too, hyping up his Port of Miami sequel — an album originally announced one year ago — in an Instagram post of his own.

“Port of Miami II Coming! #MMG,” he wrote.

Port of Miami II Coming! #MMG

A post shared by The Boss Rick Ross (@richforever) on Mar 10, 2018 at 5:38pm PST

Since Ross’ release from the hospital, the 911 call that prompted his stay has emerged online. In the audio, the caller is heard telling the dispatcher about Ross shaking and struggling to breathe. The caller also said Rozay was throwing up blood.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.46183/title.rick-ross-reunites-with-gucci-mane-after-hospitalization