Hip Hop Weekly May 2019

Indie Grind Spotlight: Meet ST. Louis Artist Slap

Celebrities And Fans

Pay Tribute To

Nipsey Hussle After His Death

J Cole’s Dreamville Festival

James Prince

ON THE INSIDE James Prince DC Young Fly

DC Young Fly

Ryan Destiny

Derez De’Shon

Derez De’Shon Jacquees

Casanova Outspoken, Brash, and Free At Last VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 • May 2019

COVERING THE ENTIRE HIP HOP CULTURE

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 HIP HOP WEEKLY THINK TANK Publisher CBJ Investments LLC Editor-In-Chief KimSoMajor Art Director Alex Mooney

Senior Photo Editor Briana Crudup Contributing Columnists Ashley Searight Ayisha Williams Briana Crudup Cara Atchison Cherish Holland Druine Santana Durell Westbrook Essence Blount Kash Jones Kevin Keise Krystal Ketcham Martie Bowser Maurice “GL” Sapp Michelle Visa Robert Welch Royal Bey Tiffany Muller 6sixgvd Contributing Photographers Briana Crudup Cameron Kirkland Fox Getty KimSoMajor Setor Tsikudo Editorial/Photo Requests and Submissions: Info@HipHopWeekly.com Subscription Management CEO: Clearance Bradley COO: Theodore Travis COO: Richard Ibeh CCO: Cara Atchison Advertising: Nick Iacona Newsstand Distribution CJB Investments LLC 9663 Santa Monica Blvd. Ste. 526 Los Angeles, CA 90210

Cover photo by Cameron Kirkland

COVERING THE ENTIRE HIP HOP CULTURE

12 LIFESTYLE

DC Young Fly Exclusive

24 STYLE FEATURE

30 ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

HGC Apparel

Ryan Destiny Q&A

44 BEHIND THE BEATS OG Parker

40 SOUNDCHECK

46 IN THE LAB

Derez De’shon

Dreamville Recording Artist Cozz

IN EVERY ISSUE Shot Callers Word on the Street

6 10

Style 24 TV & Film

36

Show Time

55

Web Watch

56

Twit Hop

57

Net Chicks

59

ON THE COVER

Outspoken, Brash, and Free At Last, Casanova is Not a Persona. See page 14.

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SHOT CALLERS

Growing up HIP HOP ATLANTA

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Jermaine Dupri

Jhonni Blaze

(Left to Right) Miss Mulatto, Da Brat, Masika

Eva Marcille

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

SHOT CALLERS

(Left to Right) Charlie, Waka Flocka, Tammy Rivera

Karlie Redd 7 HIP HOP WEEKLY

SHOT CALLERS

TI’s “Dime Trap” Listening

TI

Trae Tha Truth 8

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

MESSIAH Harris

SHOT CALLERS

Party In Atlanta, GA.

DJ Drama

Big Tigger

Domani Harris 9 HIP HOP WEEKLY

WORD ON THE STREET

OPENER

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE… TO MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS! 11-YEAR-OLD JABARI TALBOT UNJUSTLY DETAINED IN POLK COUNTY, FL.

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Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation, continues to set a blueprint for the nation as they battle destructive social injustices by supporting those in need under Team Roc; the label’s philanthropic department. Team Roc was informed of the violation of the Constitutional rights of minor, Jabari Talbot, an 11-year-old, sixth grade student attending Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland, Florida. On February 4, 2019, Talbot was unlawfully arrested and charged with disrupting a school function as well as resisting arrest simply because he refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance; even though, he did so in a nonviolent manner.

It was also documented that a Hispanic student who did not stand was not addressed, but African-American Talbot was singled out in the incident.

Constitutional rights of freedom of speech.

Furthermore, it is imperative to highlight that children at this age are at the most vulnerable stage in their lives, which can yield excessive backlash and negative behaviors. However, Talbot approached the situation with control, poise, and conviction throughout this unjust ordeal.

When confronted by Ana Alvarez, the substitute teacher responsible for Talbot and others in the class during the incident, Talbot reportedly asserted to school personnel that “the flag was racist and the national anthem was offensive to Black people;” therefore, he refused the pledge of allegiance. Alvarez inappropriately retorted that he should leave the country if he reserved these unwavering feelings about the flag. Moreover, the sixth grader responded, “They brought me here.”

Alvarez continued to engage in a power struggle with the student, insinuating that if he came from Africa, then that is where he should be. Although Talbot was in a verbal exchange with an adult, he was simply exercising his First Amendment

“Jabari is a courageous and intelligent young man who deserves all the credit for standing up for his beliefs. He should’ve never been arrested or entangled in this situation—his freedom of speech rights were clearly protected under the 1st Amendment.”

Team Roc swiftly jumped into action by providing the family with legal aid and ongoing advocacy support. Attorney Alex Spiro immediately stepped in as an ally and accepted the case pro bono to assist the family attorney, Roderick Ford in defending Talbot. All charges were immediately dropped in Polk County Juvenile Court.

Spiro made a statement regarding the nature of the matter:

His mother, Ms. Dhakira Talbot asserted, “Although Jabari’s case has been dismissed, I do want people to know this isn’t just about my son—this prejudice happens to African-American kids all across the country. The fight isn’t over, which is why I have a civil right’s complaint pending with the U.S. Department of Education. At the end of the day, I want to ensure that no child ever has to experience this injustice

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May June2019 1, 2018 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

again and we will appreciate everyone’s continued support.” Ford, a discrimination attorney of the Cochran Firm in Tampa, Florida, served as the family’s main legal counsel. He made a statement indicating that the case is not expected to go to trial, although he is fully prepared for a legal battle. On the contrary, he has high hopes that the Department of Education will unite all parties through this clear divide to reach a “fair and just resolution of this case.”

He went further to thank every athlete, entertainer, and supporter who publicly advocated for the middle schooler’s rights and freedom.

NEWS!

WORD ON THE STREET

OPENER

JUSSIE SMOLLETT

R.KELLY

21 SAVAGE

Oh, what a tangled web we weave! It’s been a crazy start to 2019 for Empire star, Jussie Smollett. On January 29th, the 35-year-old actor filed a report with the Chicago Police Department stating he was attacked by two masked men shouting racist and homophobic slurs after a 2 a.m. food run. Smollett also reported that his attackers poured what he believed to be bleach all over him and put a noose around his neck in his Streeterville neighborhood; an upscale suburb of Chicago.

When a bruised and swollen face photo of the actor appeared in the press, Jussie received an outpour of support and encouragement on social media from celebrities and fans.

The support from the LGBTQ community was unwavering, and when Smollett’s manager reported to police that he heard the alleged attackers yelling, “This is MAGA country!” the authorities started to treat the alleged attack as a full-blown hate crime.

For decades, the allegations of inappropriate relationships with underage females have plagued the legend known as R. Kelly. From the mysterious marriage to beloved singer/ actress Aaliyah, at just 15 years of age, to the infamous and disturbing sex tape (known as the “pee tape”) which surfaced online and hit almost every street corner in America back in 2002. Whispers of sexual misconduct floated through the industry for years, but nothing ever seemed to stick. Kelly had been able to continue making hits, touring, and sitting on his throne as one of the undeniable “Kings of R&B,” until Summer of 2017 when rumors went viral of Kelly’s alleged sex cult in his Atlanta home via Buzzfeed. Details were released to the media and one of his alleged victims gave indication she would be releasing a book with all the horrid details; birthing the #MuteRKelly movement and triggering the #MeToo movement to get involved.

Surprise! Surprise! No one would have ever guessed Atlanta-billed rapper, 21 Savage, was not, in fact, a native of Zone 6. On Super Bowl Sunday, Savage (Born She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) was detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) whom stated he was an “unlawfully United Kingdom national” who had overstayed his Visa from his move as a child. Savage who recounted details of his youth in London to a number of different media outlets never denied his citizenship status, but simply wasn’t sure if he needed a Visa.

Smollett made his first appearance following the attacks on February 1st; giving his recount of the events, but as detectives started to dig deeper, questions began to arise. When a video of the alleged attackers was released to the public, revealing two Nigerian men purchasing items allegedly used in the attack, the dark clouds of doubt started to roll in.

Since then, there have been reports of Smollett sending messages containing racist language and death threats to himself on the set of his hit Fox show. He has reportedly admitted to a drug addiction, and a suspicious check was issued by Smollett to the alleged attackers in the amount of $3500.00 for some type of “training”.

Smollett was arrested and released on bond in late February after questioning. Latest reports indicate that Smollett was indicted and charged by a grand jury of 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report. However, shortly after, all charges were dropped.

Initially, the rumors and memoirs couldn’t even keep people from “stepping in the name of love,” as Kelly still enjoyed his celebrity status. This all came to a screeching halt in January following Lifetime’s six-part docuseries, Surviving R.Kelly. The threeevening event explored the sexual abuse allegations piling up against the disgraced R&B singer. While Kelly refused to participate with production and insisted all documented allegations were false, there was no shortage of people from different walks of his life whom chose to appear onscreen.

His younger brother Carey “Killa” Kelly to a longtime personal assistant, former head of security, backup singers, ex-wife and numerous ex-girlfriends count themselves among the survivors of his abuse. Since it’s release, numerous survivors have felt empowered to tell their story and recount the terror they’ve allegedly suffered at the hands of R. Kelly.

Born in the United Kingdom, Savage legally moved to the United States at the age of 7, along with his family he stayed in the United States until 2005; leaving for one month to visit the U.K., and moving back to the U.S. under a valid H-4 Visa on July 22, 2005. He’s maintained residency in the United States of America ever since.

Savage stated he felt his arrest was “targeted and deliberate” as he states he was never read his rights and heard ICE’s officers say “we got Savage” upon being taken into custody. Savage and his legal team have remained consistent with the narrative of Savage being targeted because of his tireless work within the community; especially his financial literacy program, 21 Savage Bank Account Campaign; focused on youth within the inner cities of Atlanta, Ga. Savage was released on bond on February 13, 2019.

On February 10, 2019 Kelly was indicted on 10 counts of felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

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LIFESTYLE FEATURE

DC Young Fly

By Mr. GL

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW!

HHW: You sing, rap, act, comedy on lock, hosting, you have anything else going on?

DC Young Fly: I got a barber shop on the way, I have a car dealership on the way. So you know, I’m trying to work.

HHW: Let’s talk about this music. Curb Music is out?

DC Young Fly: Out everywhere!

HHW: It’s some heat, can you tell me about the process of you making music?

DC Young Fly: I been doing music for a long time. I use to sing in the choir, I sang at my 5th Grade graduation. I use to sing for the females in school. I couldn’t sing and sell dope. So you have to choose. I just happen to have the platform to continue do it. For those that don’t know, I been releasing projects since 2013. Curb Music is my 8th one since 2013. So up under the comedy world, I’ve been grinding with the music.

HHW: You’re putting your life into this music. Is that what we’re hearing from you when you spit?

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DC Young Fly: I got 2 different sides to me. I got the comedy side and my side where I get to release my other tension and stress; like my anger. I can’t really be aggressive with my comedy, it’s not going come off how I want to. When you see my comedy, I’m a people person. When you hear my music, you’re like “I don’t know if I can walk up on buddy.” I give you that side of me with my music. It’s definitely coming from real life shit. I’m definitely giving people something they can relate to, that they can listen to because I’m not hearing it. The music isn’t motivating me to do nothin’ but go to the club and I don’t want to go to the club.

HHW: You hit a milestone a lot of us Black boys want to do. You bought your momma a house. That’s like the black boy American dream.

DC Young Fly: I had to! Just knowing I was out here. I don’t have a house, but I have an apartment that’s out the hood. I’m living out the hood and my momma not out the hood, so that’s what I was working towards every time I’m on a show, putting money up trying to get myself together. When you realize where you really come from, when you go other places and come back, you realize I’m from the hood for real and need to be proud of where you going. We from the dirty for real.

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

HHW: Becoming so successful happened quick for you, social media is a beast. If no one knows it, you know it. It started with the roast sessions on Vine, then people start noticing you. What was that like?

DC Young Fly: I jumped off on the Vine 2013, started going crazy on the Vine then moved to Instagram 2014. Went crazy on Instagram and then before you know I hit a million followers. Then I had the audition on Wild’n Out, I didn’t think I made Wild’n Out. They called me 2 weeks before they flew everybody out. Almost Christmas opened the doors for other stuff like Hip Hop Squares, The New Edition movie, and TRL. Now almost 5 projects done with movies.

HHW: So we’re about to see you everywhere?

DC Young Fly: Yeah! I Got the Hook Up 2 coming out in May 2019, The Trap with TI and Mike Epps, Two Minutes of Fame with Jay Pharaoh and Katt Williams. So we locked and loaded.

HHW GETS THE LATEST WORD ON HOOK-UPS AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CELEBRITY WORLD

NICKI MINAJ

FINDS NEW LOVE

JUELZ SANTANA & KIMBELLA

QUAVO & SAWEETIE

DATING

MARRIED

COUPLES 911

HHW GETS THE LATEST WORD ON DRAMA AND BREAK-UPS IN THE CELEBRITY WORLD

BIG SEAN & JHENE AIKO

SPLIT AGREE TO CALL IT QUITS

AFTER 3 YEARS BOW WOW AND KYOMI

SPLIT AFTER FIGHT

G HERBO & LONG TIME GIRLFRIEND ARIANA

FLETCHER ARE

FINISHED 13 HIP HOP WEEKLY

MAIN FEATURE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

CASANOVAOUTSPOKEN, BRASH AND FREE AT LAST

By KimSoMajor

New York Rapper Casanova shares his ‘Free At Last’ collaborative process, some of his most challenging moments, and reveals his effort to process his new found fame and more.

Casanova made his debut in Hip Hop Weekly Magazine’s July 2018, Weekly Punchline with “Set Trippin” - “Give it to a n---- right in broad day/ On his block, f--- a warning shot, let ‘em all spray” You don’t just believe what he says, you believe him because of how he says it. Casanova’s commanding presence was shaped by his Flatbush upbringing, where he learned to deal with a variety of people and situations at an early age. The rapper reveals that he wants to be a force to be reckoned with and will continue to keep making good music. It’s undeniably been a busy year for Casanova and he’s only getting started.

“The past six months I have been working and staying busy.

I think the music is very challenging for me, because of my aggressiveness. I felt like they were trying to put me in a box, the hooligan box” Casanova shares.

Speaking again with Roc Nation artist Casanova, it’s apparent that some things have changed. Casanova has a more calm and focused energy then the first time we met back in July of 2018. Still charismatic, the BK native is more poised and talks freely about the challenges and triumphs he faced transitioning from an incarcerated man to new found success and fame, his recent trip to the Motherland Africa, bonding with his 11 year old daughter and more.

Casanova admits the last time he said sorry to anyone was Philly Rapper, Meek Mill. “The last time I said was sorry was to Meek Mill. It was a small altercation and I caught myself again.

I was like ‘I’m going to be the bigger person and put my pride to the side and apologize.” Cas’ continues “Transformation, I hope that doesn’t go over your head. It is hard to do, but you have to transition in anything you do. You’ve got to claim your spot and be comfortable. That word got through me a lot.”

The once self-proclaimed party guy went on to explain how he readjusted moves as his popularity increased. ”I used to go out with like 20 people and now I’ve cut it down to five. If you’re not a part of my camp, I usually don’t rock with you anymore.

I moved out of New York and I’m definitely like, more focused on music. Before I was still in the streets and now I’m like, hold on I’m a celebrity, let me not do this. Let me not be around a lot of people that could get me into trouble. I’m grateful for music because it allows me to venture out into other things.”

Known to be very vocal on social media, Casanova speaks

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ADVERTISEMENT

MAIN FEATURE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! freely regarding clout chasing... “The music industry is fake. It’s like being a drug dealer and your work has died. The fame doesn’t mess with you when the work is good. As soon as it gets bad, they will go to another drug dealer. Or if they think you don’t have anymore, they will go to another one. I said this in a quote, If you want to be loved, keep making good music. If you mess up, it’s over for you!”

He was staying ahead of the industry jook through careful observation, Casanova says, “We looked at it outside looking in.

You look and you try to judge people like no way that guy isn’t like that. When you’re inside of it, you really get to see some of the people you really admired, but you get next to them and they’re not who they say they are. You’re just in shock like I thought you were a certified gangster. You love their music, but not the individual. That’s where I’m at with certain people right now. I don’t blame anybody because that’s how you feed your family, but I like to be around people I can relate to when art imitates life.” Brooklyn has birthed some of the hardest rappers in the game… Sean Price, Old Dirty Bastard, Notorious B.I.G, Jay Z, and now Casanova. The Commissary rapper is out to deliver exactly what his day one listeners expect to hear while electing to also show a more not so serious side with the delivery of his latest body of work ‘Free At Last.’ Casanova explains, “As of lately, I’ve been doing better with my music and in a better place. So I’m able to make better music, more fun party music. That’s definitely something that I’ve overcome

because I didn’t even know I could make music like that. I kept it fair and I put some street records on it. Everything is really gritty still, so I didn’t lose it.”

On ‘Free At Last,’ BK bred Casanova opted to lunge into Africa’s bassy tribal sounds with assistance of his lead single and video “2AM” featuring Davido. Produced by 30 Roc, the Meji Alabi directed video takes viewers through the rugged streets of Nigeria and into a local club.

“Working with Davido was dope! I was supposed to leave a couple of days earlier and ended up staying longer with him and 30 rock, he’s a great producer. I told him we should do a project together so we locked in. But I wanted the project to be more about me rather than a lot of features.”

Cas continues, “I went to Africa and I loved it! We shot “2 AM” in the projects of Africa actually. They said the people who live there don’t even go there and I went. It was wonderful, it was dope, it was beautiful.

They embraced me overall and I’m just ready to let the world know I’m capable of making hits.”

Casanova reveals going to Africa was a reflective time and he experienced some survivors remorse moments while working there. “I went to an orphanage and I felt like, me being a rapper we should definitely do more for Africa, for anybody that needs help. I felt like we as a people need to get together and do more. I wasn’t really into giving before because in New York you really don’t see the less fortunate

unless you get outside and start walking the streets. In Africa, it’s everywhere! Kids come up to the car at the light and even if they have been hustling, they still need the money. One of my goals is definitely going back next year and help out major!”

Casanova details his effort on transitioning back to society after being incarcerated for several years. “It was really hard! Even to this day it’s hard. You have to make decisions that you put your pride to the side. Dealing with the industry you got to understand how to handle it, but I always relate everything to jail. Even when we were in jail, I had to follow certain rules in general. Casanova continues, “With technology, I had to ask the family members how to post, how to tweet, but you get it after like six or seven months.” As he keeps fine-tuning the most important elements of his life, Casanova shares the challenges he faced building a bond with his now 11 year old daughter due to being locked up. “It was really hard because she didn’t know me at all. My daughter was born and I wasn’t there at birth. At first, I wanted to give up and just be like I don’t even care no more. But something in me wouldn’t let me give up. I started taking her trick or treating and just giving her candy. Every time I pick her up, I would have like a bag of candy for her and now she loves me to death.”

“The last thing I prayed for was to stay free.”- Casanova

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HIP HOP FEATURE

Hip Hop Artist TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2019

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HHW STAFFERS ARE EXCITING ABOUT THESE EMERGING ARTIST.

Who’s next?

It’s the single question that encloses the visionary viewpoint of hip-hop culture. Rap fans, artists, and critics delight in the genre’s rich history and frequently grow wistful but, above all, what we want is new and thrilling the people who personify rap’s dynamic cultural changes.

With that in mind, here are 9 hip hop artists who are self-confident to become some of the biggest stars to look out for in 2019.

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FLIPP DINERO

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Although his parents banned him from engaging into rap music, the 23-year-old Haitian American from Canarsie, that did not stop him from signing to Cinematic Music Group, besides DJ Khaled’s We the Best Music Group and Epic Records, Dinero dropped his debut EP The Guala Way in 2017. He continued with his hit single “Leave Me Alone,” that was on the rise at 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It’s not quite the Soundcloud depressing sound, different from Juice WRLD, but it obviously hits familiar chords of relatability, its catchiness and gloomy throwback quality that listeners recognize and enjoy.

AKBAR V Z

Atlanta’s very own, Akbar V, is a treasure in the rap industry. Since her father wasn’t a part of her life and her mother becoming addicted to drugs, she was brought up to provide for her siblings in the streets of Atlanta’s historic Cleveland Ave neighborhood. Although she has a tough childhood, it did not affect her music career from taking off. As one of the hottest female artists coming up, she is definitely one artist we can look out for this year. Especially since she is influenced by artists like Mase, Nicki Minaj, K.Michelle, 21 Savage, and Missy Elliot.

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STEFFLON DON

Stefflon Don presents herself as a rapper willing to taking the risk. In 2016 she released her Real Ting mixtape, were the anticipated moody party jams and switches among aggressive lyrics, sluggish patois chat, and self-observing biographical pondering.

The usual endeavors to compare Steff to several female artists are ambiguous, she’s can definitely hold her own with the best of any gender. Her versatility on the mic that is obviously engaged in working on beats that repel from reused classics or hip hop stereotypes.

She has amazing skills with releasing a hook that could lead her to international praise.

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

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HIP HOP FEATURE

VALEE

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Besides his fastidious mutter style that makes everyday detail sound remarkable, Valee raps gently and his mien on expanding is more soothing than drawing attention. His melodies are concise and he’s peaceful to listen to, with perspicuous and easygoing lyrics that sound like he’s indifferently in control but a little perplex too.

J I D

CONWAY Looks like Conway is making a comeback into the music scene. The rapper from Buffalo, New York signed to his brother, Westside Gunn at the beginning of his career. From surviving a shooting back in 2012 and becoming paralyzed on one side of his face, he continued to drop different projects. So, will Conway bring the heat this year?

The 25-year-old rapper from East Atlanta, who became the newest Dreamville Records signee, is a determined artist working hard to reconnect the way people view both Atlanta hip-hop and the next generation of upcoming rappers overall.

He grew up freestyling and dropping his Dicaprio EP back in 2016. He collaborated with Spillage Village to drop Bears Like This Too Much In 2016 as well. He became one of XXL’s freshman class in 2018 and made a standpoint during his cypher. So we can’t wait to hear what J.I.D has in store for 2019.

RICO NASTY

TThe mixed-race rapper from New York, but was raised in Maryland shifts her familiar styles of Yachty enthusiasm to straight-forward diss tracks, Rico Nasty captivates an unparalleled range and flexibility. This method finds a similarity in her aspirations as she inspires to be a superstar in Asia. With her creative sense of fashion that keeps everyone attention, she gives us a reason to wonder what she has planned for 2019.

YELLA BEEZY A Dallas native who has released project after project and had the opportunity to perform at the BET Hip Hop Awards, Beezy is the true definition of being a trendsetter. With his No. 1 single “That’s on Me” reaching the top spot on the Mediabase urban radio chart, and his album Ain’t No Going Bacc releasing on November 16 of 2018, It has us wondering what can we expect from Yella Beezy coming into 2019.

r3

b lb LIL MARLO

hJ Coming from the streets of Bowen Home projects on the Westside part of Atlanta, Lil Marlo is already becoming the next biggest rapper from his city. He acknowledges CEO of Quality Control Pee as his “pops” and other artists like Lil Baby and Gunna as his homies. With Marlo aligning himself with the right people to enhance his music career, he is definitely making 2019 his year to shine.

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Lollapalooza Pictorial Lollapalooza 2018, four day festival in the city of Chicago featured some of the biggest names in Hip Hop and R&B.

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J.Cole's Dreamville Festival Made North Carolina History It’s safe to say that J.Cole and the participants of Dreamville Fest made history on Saturday, April 6th, 2019; with 40,000 ticket holding attendees, countless vendors, staff, crew and media. It’s vetted to possibly be the largest gathering of it’s kind held in North Carolina.

Fans took over Dorothea Dix Park; a 300-acre valley located in Raleigh, North Carolina and transformed it into a place where dreams really came true.

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Celebrities and Fans Pay Tribute to Nipsey Hussle Ermias Asghedom August 15th, 1985 - March 31st, 2019 The Marathon Continues

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STYLE BEAUTY FEATURE

HGC Apparel Exclusive

By Maurice “Mr. GL” Sapp HHW: HGC apparel, that’s your brand. Most people know it by Black by Popular Demand, what does HGC stand for?

Marcia: HGC stands for Hot Greek Couture. I use to have a Greek line for Divine 9 Organizations at Howard University and once I expanded, I condensed the name to HGC. So people could still be with me and in this journey and fight with me.

HHW: Black by Popular Demand, everybody knows it, seen it and know it’s there for fashion and black people. I know culture is really important to you.

What impact do you want to have on culture?

Marcia: First and foremost, I exude Black Love. As long as you’re exuding love in and of itself, then it’s going to come out through the clothing. So I just wanted to show people the epitome of self-love which is through myself and through my culture. Being black is all I know so I have a whole brand about it.

HHW: The brand is so dope because it’s a melting pot of culture, art, being eclectic and brings back some nostalgic memories of the 80’s. You think of Spike Lee and Do the Right Thing, Cross Colors and Fubu. The inspiration is outrageous. What is your process when you’re creating?

Marcia: Just to always pay homage to the forefathers as you just said. The Cross Colors, Fubu, Karl Kani, Spike Lee, my 90’s heritage, my growing up. I wanted to pay full homage to when I was growing up just listening to rap and hip hop.

Like when I came in with my Ladies First hat on, showing love to Queen Latifah and having pride in myself. I wanted to exude for the culture. So when I design, I always want to design so you can have it on and exude your Black pride in its fullest form.

HHW: Where do you get your inspiration?

Marcia: Just through any movies, any piece of culture. Really it’s from your block.

When you’re walking up and down your block the inspiration comes from everywhere. You get it from your culture, your grandmother, the church, from the streets. That’s where you’re going to breed fashion.That’s where my inspiration comes from; just day to day life and trying to be fashionable while doing it.

HHW: What is your take on the state of black culture?

Marcia: That’s a loaded question. Generally, for my lane, we need more love, more communication between one another. That’s why I have the phrases in my brand like Respect, Protect and Love the Black Woman, Keep Black Culture Black, Black Men, I Love You. All of these phrases, we need to hold them dear and practice them on a day to day basis so we can have better relationships with one another. That is what this brand is for and how I choose to impact.

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STYLE CELEB TRENDS

SPRAYGROUND EXCLUSIVE

Q&A WITH DAVID BEN

DAVID

BY ROYAL BEY

E V I S XCLU

E

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W E I V INTER

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

Founded by David Ben David (DBD) in 2010, Sprayground exploded into the scene and was at the forefront of the backpack movement. Growing up in the Bronx, painting, skating and surfing, DBD was always on the go and would pack his whole life in his backpack. It only made sense years later to start an art-inspired backpack line. Most recently, Sprayground has collaborated with Chris Brown, Christina Milian, Spike Lee, Iman Shumpert and Coco and Breezy. All of Sprayground products are made in limited quantities and never produced again.

Hip Hop Weekly got a chance to chat with David during his Pop-Up Shop titled House of Villians in the middle of Times Square.

Founded by David Ben David (DBD) in 2010, Sprayground exploded into the scene and was at the forefront of the backpack movement. Growing up in the Bronx, painting, skating and surfing, DBD was always on the go and would pack his whole life in his backpack. It only made sense years later to start an art-inspired backpack line. Most recently, Sprayground has collaborated with Chris Brown, Christina Milian, Spike Lee, Iman Shumpert and Coco and Breezy. All of Sprayground products are made in limited quantities and never produced again.

Hip Hop Weekly got a chance to chat with David during his Pop-Up Shop titled House of Villians in the middle of Times Square.

HHW: Tell me about Sprayground. How did that happen? How did you create Sprayground?

David: I was always into fashion, and I didn’t want to start a traditional T-shirt company and my current bag was just black. In the market there was just black, blue, yellow, red. That’s fine but what if like we could really turn up on the bag and make it like this new accessory. That was just a dream, so I did it with one bag, and then it started.

We got into top boutiques and we started to collaborate, and we were just like “Holy sh*t this is something real!”

HHW: What’s your inspiration behind the creation of each bag?

David: I took the word “Spray” from graffiti and the word “Ground” from underground street art. That’s kind of what inspired me to just put your expression onto a product. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it feels good that it’s out. It looks good.

HHW: Do you have a background in fashion? Did you go to school?

David: I was raised by 3 sisters and a mom, so it started there. Then I went to The School of Visual Arts. Then

I was just always inspired looking at Vogue; looking at Cosmopolitan; looking at all my sisters magazines.

That inspired me to be in design.

HHW: What did you do between school and Sprayground?

David: I went straight, it was ballsy. I applied to 100 jobs, and no one took me, so I just started to do my own thing.

HHW: Who have you collaborated with?

David: It started with Chris Brown, and then trickled into The Game, Young Thug, Odell Beckham Jr, Spike Lee, and then bigger corporations reached out to me to collaborate from Viacom, to Warner Bros., NBA, NFL, Marvel, Naruto, Dragon Ball-Z; all those cool exciting things and taking their products, and making it edgy, and rebellious.

HHW: How heavy is Hip Hop when it comes to fashion?

David: I think Hip Hop is kind of fearless to fashion. They just wear whatever represents them and that’s what I appreciate about that culture. That’s why I’m influenced by that culture. I’ve traveled the world and I haven’t really seen it that much when people are just being themselves. Maybe in Japan, but they’re inspired by the Hip Hop community.

So, it’s really just the Hip Hop community. It’s just a train of thought just to be free. While I’m designing, I’m listening to music so it’s all just coming from that place.

HHW: Were you brought up in New York?

HHW: Was it scary to get into fashion? Did people try to persuade you not to do it or to try a safer field?

David: Yes, that’s the normal thing when someone has an idea then everybody kind of shuts it down, so you just have to ignore that and know to ignore that.

9/10 people listen to the people around them and I would say listen to nobody but your gut because that’s the only thing giving you direction.

HHW: What is the future of Sprayground?

What do you see in a year?

David: To challenge creatively. You can’t be too comfortable with where things are at.

Analyze, pretend like it’s bad, and then try to figure out how to motivate yourself to get to the next level because everyone’s trying to climb this mountain, but I see it as trying to go farther and farther. Just like creating music to enhance their senses, to create an environment like a hotel. It’s going to be nuts.

HHW: What’s going on with the pop-up shop?

David: It’s called House of Villains. I stole artifacts from around the world from other museums. These museums classify these pieces of art as like “It’s worth $14 million!”

It’s bullsh*t. So, I’m saying out with the old, in with the new. Welcome to new! Welcome to exciting! Welcome to bold! Welcome to fun! Welcome to color! Cause the history involved with the history of that weren’t in good times. It’s good to have culture and history, but we’re only grabbing and creating the story of what we were able to find.

David: Yes, I was born in the Bronx, then when I was older, I moved to Florida. Then I moved back to New York to go to Art school.

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

TUBE TALK

ENTERTAINMENT TV

TOP 10

NETWORK TV SHOWS of 2019 (First Quarter) According to Thrillist Entertainment Despite turning the world into complete lunatics, fans are continuing to fight The Good Fight. The CBS All Access original law drama returned for Season 3, and the madness picked up right where it left off.

This new spinoff, to The Good Wife have people psyched in. Last season the suspicious murders captivated the crowd now we are tuned in to see if we’re going to maintain sanity while Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) tries to function in a crazy administration while Adrian Boseman (Delroy Lindo) and Liz ReddickLawrence (Audra McDonald) are battling with their new law world where facts are nearly irrelevant for winning lawyers. It’s all about who tells the best stories.

We can’t forget about, Lucca Quinn (Cush Jumbo). She going through a new transition. She’s balancing a new baby, a new love, and Maia Rindell (Rose Leslie) finds new daemons in dirty lawyer Roland Blum (Michael Sheen).

The new season begins on March 14 available exclusively through the CBS All Access streaming services.

1. THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY NETFLIX

2.GAME OF THRONES HBO

3.TRUE DETECTIVE HBO

4.DOOM PATROL DC

5. THE WALKING DEAD AMC

6. DIRTY JOHN BRAVO

7. RUSSIAN DOLL NETFLIX

8. SEX EDUCATION NETFLIX

9.THE PUNISHER NETFLIX

10. GREY’S ANATOMY ABC

Photo: Boston Herald

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ENTERTAINMENT TV

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

EXCLU

USIVE INTERVIEW!

ENTERTAINMENT TV

Ryan Destiny Opens Up Q&A Interview

By KIM SOMAJOR

The Talented Beauty Chatted Recently W/ HHW About Her New Music And Song “The Same”, Life On Set, Her Ultimate Late Night Tape With BF Keith Powers And Much More!

23 year old actress, Ryan Destiny mostly known for slaying her character Alexandra Crane on Fox’s hit drama, STAR, is also a triple threat in real life. Killing it on the telly in her lead role as singer/songwriter/dancer of the pop R&B trio, Take 3, all while launching her solo career with the independent release of her lead single, “The Same,”. which Destiny admits people claim it as a single, but she doesn’t.

RD says, “I literally just wanted to put a song out that was from me. As a representation of who I am as an artist.”

Destiny is ready to take her music career to new heights with her forthcoming debut, appropriately titled On One’s Own. STAR on Fox Season 4 returned March 13th 9/8c.

HHW: If you could play any other character on STAR who would it be and why?

Ryan Destiny: Simone. I really like Simone! I have always said that though, like since season one. She is just so like nonchalant and I think she’s the closest to who I am as a person and character. So that would be fun!

HHW: How long does it take you to remember your lines?

Ryan Destiny: People think it takes longer, but when you’re really into it, playing a character for a few years, you just have this instinct with them. You have an idea of what they feel so it makes it easier to remember their lines and what takes place in each scene. Sometimes it’s a little confusing since everything is out of order. Also, you do it bit by bit so it’s not too overwhelming.

HHW: How is it working with Lee Daniels?

Ryan Destiny: It’s really cool working with him because it’s something I never thought would happen. It made me realize how many endless possibilities can happen in my career. There are so many people on this show as actors and actresses that I never thought I’d work with as well. So it’s opened up a lot of doors for me. And I am grateful for it!

information. She is just a wise, humble human being that just exudes all this greatness. Literally everything that she does is kind of a lesson in itself. I’m learning from her almost every time we’re on set, whether as an actress or just as a person working in the industry as a black woman.

HHW: As a black woman what’s one thing you would change in the industry for us?

Ryan Destiny: I would change the typical stigma of us not being enough or universal to sell a vision. I would want people to realize that we can do it all and relate to all people just as much as another race. People are growing out of it and learning, so I am thankful for it. I wish it was never a thing, but it is. So we are just going to keep fighting and proving people wrong.

HHW: What was your experience when you released your first single “ The Same”?

Ryan Destiny: It was really cool! People claim it as a single, but I don’t. I just wanted to put a song out that was from me. As a representation of who I am as an artist. I’m putting out an EP soon titled, On One’s Own, I think I might still put a few surprises in there. Once I get an actual release date, I will let everyone know.

HW: Describe your personal style?

Ryan Destiny: My personal style is very much so who I am and it’s usually laid back but at the same time it’s very eclectic. Sometimes I like to pull different styles and whatever I feel at that moment I kind of tie into what my normal style is too.

HHW: Give us a list of 4 songs you’ll have included on a late night tape after a date with Keith Powers?

Ryan Destiny: CPR by Summer Walkers, Hallucination by Dvsn, Shadow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, and Gentleman by Gallant.

HHW: Have you gotten any great music or industry advice from Queen Latifah?

Ryan Destiny: Yes, she’s like a walking plethora of

IG @RyanDestiny

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ENTERTAINMENT TV

Exclusive interview with 9 Mag founder, Ryan Henry explains how he reclaims his throne as the shop’s boss and Chicago’s tattoo kingpin. Henry says he’s also finally putting himself first professionally and personally after recently becoming single and suffering a heart attack at the young age of 32. VH1’s “Black Ink Crew: Chicago” airs Wednesday, at 9/8c.

Ryan Henry: It’s becoming one, I started 9Mag with the notion of helping people and pulling from an empty glass with it. I kind of fell under that night. So now knowing how bad it can get, I have to rearrange things, friends, people in business and now I’m putting Ryan first as opposed to everybody else to get the best outcome for everybody.

HHW: Last season we didn’t see you on camera as much, was that a conscious decision to pull back from filming?

HHW: What advice do you have for young tattoo artists, who are looking to go into the business and own their own shop?

Ryan Henry: Well yeah! But it wasn’t so much of me pulling back from filming, it was the fact that I had to get myself together. The things that I put on film, I wasn’t really a part of any more.

Everything that makes a party, the kickin it, and drinking all that stuff. I was at a whole different level of resetting because I wanted to get myself right to make a good enough come back.

HHW: Is this the vision that you had hoped for with 9Mag?

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Ryan Henry: When it comes to going into becoming a tattoo artist, there is a tattoo budget. I advise every aspiring artist to make sure that they learn the ropes from notable artists. Know an artist that’s going to actually put you into the game and grow into great detail and also test a great audience.

HHW: What area of a person’s body would you recommend not to get a tattoo at?

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

Ryan Henry: Pretty much the foot is my worst ever so I wouldn’t recommend anybody to get a foot tattoo.

HHW: I wanted to ask you how did you honestly feel about Lily’s apology?

Ryan Henry: When it came down to it, I’ve never had a problem with Lily. She wanted to rant on something and when it was proven that it wasn’t the right thing, I accepted it, maybe at a better point to where I didn’t want to be around negative energy.

HHW: Do you think sometimes the staff on “Black Ink Crew: Chicago” feels like they need to ratchet up a little bit just to stay relevant or compete with “Black Ink Crew: New York?”

Ryan Henry: I don’t feel like we need to keep up. You see what we’ve established ourselves to be in our own genre and our own personal taste and people take a liking of it. The people around the world, they see us as outside of New York and

ENTERTAINMENT TV

Ryan Henry And The Future Of 9 MAG

By KIMSOMAJOR

VH1 “Black Ink Crew: Chicago” Ryan Henry, “I Had a Heart Attack, and I’m Only 32 Yrs Old” EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! know Chicago is different. In some senses there are things you can do in New York that you can’t do in Chicago. All the parties and the strippers they might have in New York, they can’t do that in my shop. So I don’t pander to the extracurricular stuff, but yeah you definitely see people do that to try to keep up.

HHW: There’s a lot of misconceptions about Ryan Henry, what will we see this season that you clear up for the audience?

People really feel like Ryan has always just been a giving person and real timid.

That’s allowed people to kind of walk over me because all I wanted to do was to help out. Which didn’t allow me to conduct business the right way and my shop got disrespected, shop ended up falling. So I’ve learned ways to grow myself to where things like that are not interrupting and disrupting my personal life. It’s disrupted my health and I will never let any day come to the forefront anymore.

HHW: How do you balance being on

Reality TV and sharing your personal life in certain sensitive situations?

Ryan Henry: I was putting everything else and everybody else first instead of taking care of myself. I consistently wanted to help others build, but that stopped. So now I could care less about trying to cater to egos and you’re either going to do it this way in business or you’ll have to be a part of the mess. I will not let it stress me out!

I had a heart attack last year and I’m only 32 years old. In that sense, it was about letting the opinions of others affect my relationship.

HHW: Who do you think has the hardest music out?

ride with my homie Nicki Minaj to death.

She did lay down the law for the last 10 years plus. You got to give it to Cardi B for having a glow up within a year, but maybe she hasn’t done it long enough. There was nobody in the last two years who could stop Nicki and for somebody who could hold your own on the “Monster” track with Kanye. There’s a reason why she’s so resilient.

HHW: Are you still good with Van? Ryan Henry: That’s something you would have to wait and see on the season. You definitely want to stay tuned!

IG: @RyanHenryTattoo

Ryan Henry: I like the big battle of the younger crowd, Lil Baby and Gunna give me a lot. I listen to these guys when l work out.

HHW: The females rappers are coming too, which ones are you familiar with?

Ryan Henry: Yeah, you know I’m going to

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ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS

James Prince Sits Down with HHW To Discuss Book, The Art & Science of Respect EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW!

BY K IM SOM A J O R

HHW: What advice do you have for kids coming from broken homes who feel stuck and only see what’s in their immediate surroundings?

J. Prince: You don’t have to be a victim of the community you grew up in. I stand as a testimony. That shouldn’t be enough to hold you down but it’s important to feed your mind and spirit with things that are bigger than the bondages in the hood. It’s important to read, and from there you want to align yourself with people with the same goals. Association brings about similarity.

HHW: In the book you speak about your spirituality, and how often you go to God. Can you talk about that for our readers?

J. Prince: That was a part of my life where I made a transition from the streets to corporate America. All my life I’ve been a praying man. In the midst of things I was doing in the streets, I asked God before you take my freedom or my life, give me a sign.

He answered that prayer for me. I became obedient. I understood that there’s bigger things in life to accomplish than to chase short term goals. I didn’t want to ball for a few years, and it cost me a life sentence.

HHW: Hip Hop Weekly has a huge following inside the penitentiary, and often they’re overlooked. We know you employ a lot of people who were once incarcerated. How important is it for people to get second chances?

J. Prince: America is a place that doesn’t feel you should have a second or third chance, I choose to differ because none of us are without sin. To be forgiven you have to forgive. I feel people deserve second chances, and third chances as long as they have it made up in their mind they want to do right. Those are the people I embrace. I built a number one record label for years with ex-convicts, ex-dope attics; with people who America say doesn’t deserve a second chance.

HHW: Based on the current state of Hip Hop, if you could go back and reintroduce an artist from the early RapA-Lot days how would you approach it now?

J. Prince: It’s only one way to approach it and that’s through social media. I would use that to the best of my ability, and it would be much easier for me. I would have access to all the powers that be; that have all these followers and can get my message out. For example, I had to self-publish my book, did everything on my own without a major publisher. That is verification that I can still get things done. I know how to adjust to the current environment.

HHW: What impressed you about Drake?

J. Prince: When I first heard him, I didn’t like the music, but that goes to show that my ears wasn’t as good as Jas ears. My son could hear it all along, sometimes you have to accept that some people can hear better than you and that was the case with Drake. What impressed me the most about Drake was his work ethic. He hit the ground running.

HHW: How do you feel about the south running the Hip Hop industry?

J. Prince: I feel vindicated. I’m loving it because I always told the east coast y’all a piece of bread, I told the west coast y’all a piece of bread and the south was the meat. When they do their homework, they find out their grandmothers and different ancestors are from the south anyways. We got the game in a headlock and it doesn’t look like the pressure is coming off the headlock at all.

HHW: Currently who’s on the Rap-A-Lot roster?

J. Prince: We’re partners with the YBN movement, (YBN Almighty Jay, YBN Ahmir, YBN Cordae). We’re excited about them along with our involvement with Drake. We embrace opportunity as it presents itself.

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ENTERTAINMENT FILM

!

W E I V R E T N I EXCLUSIVE

e o J Fat

f O t s i L s i H o Adds Acting t

s t n e m h s i l Accomp T E R V I E W Q&A IN

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

by KimSoMajor

Bronx Rapper Fat Joe is known for his body rocking anthems, but he’s also taking his latest role on the big screen just as serious as creating chart topping tracks.

Hip Hop Weekly spoke to Fat Joe about his role in the Malcolm D. Lee directed film Night School; which is now available online from a successful theatre run.

“I’m super excited I get to work with Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Rob Wiggle, Al Madrigal, Romany [Malco]. These are all guys I’ve always watched their movies and looked up to them. It’s an honor.”

HHW: Explain your character in the movie.

FAT JOE: My character is Bobby. Bobby is in jail. He’s taking his GED to get out of jail early.

He’s taking his classes via Skype. So, you get to see Bobby’s world through the computer screen and see him get into fights and all types of jail sh*t going on in the background.

Meanwhile, he’s trying to figure out what the Pythagorean theorem is. At the same time, he gets to see all the craziness that goes on in the class every night. It’s a group of people looking for a second, third and fourth chance and they figured out they need to come to night school to get ahead. And it’s just hilarious.

HHW: What was it like behind the scenes when the cameras weren’t rolling?

FAT JOE: Man, it was crazy! Kevin Hart was tweaking, tweaking, tweaking off that juicy B, huh? [laughs] He had a scene on there where he was high. It never made the movie, but he was tweaking. Tiffany Haddish was like “Yo! You high boy.” It was hilarious! It’s on the lost tapes now, you know.

HHW: Are you on the soundtrack?

FAT JOE: No, I’m actually not. I missed out on that... I guess I played myself, you know.

HHW: Well we see you in the exec role and a lot of behind the scenes music stuff.

FAT JOE: I’ve always been behind the scenes to help PUN, Khaled, Remy Ma, Cool & Dre, Pitbull, Bryson Tiller and you know, so many people I’ve been behind the scenes working with for years. I have a new artist, she’s 19 years old and her name is Angelica Vila. I’m very excited about her and a few other rappers that I’m really excited about.

Like UFO Fev, it actually happens to be his birthday today. We are just working man.

I got a single out with Dre called “Family Ties.” A single with Chris Brown & Dre called “Attention.” Y’all got to go stream “Attention.”

HHW: We loved you in Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It. FAT JOE: Wait until season two. Season two is crazy! We just wrapped it up.

HHW: What stood out about this role in Night School that made you want to play that part?

FAT JOE: Working with Will Packer, Malcolm D. Lee; working with Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart, the most lit people in the world right now.

HHW: Outside of the cast, what made you want to do this particular movie?

FAT JOE: Well I’m seriously getting into acting and being able to work with some of the greatest actors on Earth right now is a blessing. It’s a really great learning experience, and I’m all about being optimistic. I’m all about second, third, and fourth chances. Something like Night School that’s showing people going back to school to change their lives really appeals to me.

ENTERTAINMENT FILM

TOP 10

BOX

OFFICE OF 2019 (First Quarter)

HHW: Did you get your high school diploma?

FAT JOE: Unfortunately, I didn’t. I was a bad guy during high school. I was always into trouble, but I stress to the kids and everybody, education is everything. You can have jewelry, you can have cars, you can have money; they’re things. Anything could be taken away from you, except for your education. So I stress education.

HHW: Any advice that you can remember from Director Malcolm D. Lee? FAT JOE: Malcolm Lee is straight up. Straight up and down, stand-up guy; all business and he wants you to deliver. If he picks you for a movie, he knows you can do the job. He’s not trying to hear nobody. He’s straight business and you have to admire him for putting it all together 17 hours a day.

HHW: How hard was it to keep your composure and not laugh at Kevin Hart?

FAT JOE: That was the hardest part of the movie to keep your composure and not laugh. It was crazy.

HHW: What did you learn during the filming of Night School while working with the cast?

FAT JOE: Man, I learned everything from them. I was soaking it all up like a sponge.

They’re so talented! The whole cast is talented. So, I was soaking it all up. Just wait till you see She’s Gotta Have It - Season Two. You’ll be like “Man, Fat Joe stepped his game up.” I learned a lot from Night School.

HHW: Do you have any other movies or television projects you’re working on?

FAT JOE: No, not right now. Just Season Two of She’s Gotta Have It.

1. ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL 2019

2. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 2018

3. A STAR IS BORN 2018

4. GREEN BOOK 2018

5. THE FAVORITE 2018

6. FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY 2019

7. THE DIRT 2019

8. CAPTAIN MARVEL 2019

9. SPIDER-MAN INTO THE SPIDER VERSE 2019

10. ROCKETMAN 2019 37 HIP 37 HIP HOPHOP WEEKLY WEEKLY

MUSIC MAIN FEATURE

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

MUSIC MAIN FEATURE

HHW Asks Rel Money 5 of Your Most Asked Questions B Y AY ISH A WILLIAMS HHW: I remember the song “Young Nigga” featuring Que that caught my attention and made me notice the Migos. Was that the song that gained attention first?

Rel: Yes, that was like the first song that was really on the radio and people were starting to understand what we were doing. Birthday Bash, they called us to perform that was the song that got us noticed in the city really.

HHW: How did Migos get on that record with Que? Rel: Well he’s from the same side of town, Que went to Norcross with Offset. We already kind of know him and Sony Digital went to school with him too. He was a big producer at the time. We were all just hanging out and this shit just happened.

HHW: Was artist management your career goal?

Rel: No, I wanted to play sports. I wanted to play basketball.

HHW: Do you still kick it with some of the people that you used to kick it with from day one?

Rel: Most of the niggas that was close to us are still around us. We give them a position, you know, let them work. We got a couple of them do some stuff. We got a couple of them rapping. We just ask them what is it you want to do. That’s when we put them in the position to do that.

HHW: How did the QC situation happen?

Rel: I met Coach when we was at Gucci studio. Gucci called my phone and I didn’t know who he was. I thought he was lying. He was like, “I want to sign the Migos. This is Gucci Mane,” and I hung up on him. I was like, This ain’t no damn Gucci Mane. He called back he was like, “Aye! This is Gucci Mane. I want to sign the Migos. Tell them pull up to my studio,” and he sent the address. Three days earlier Quavo had ran into Zaytoven at a club. So, Quavo called Zaytoven and was like, “See if this address is real. Somebody acting like they Gucci Mane called us and told us to pull up to a studio.” He sent him the address, and Zaytoven was like, “Yeah! That’s his real studio.”

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MUSIC SOUNDCHECKS

Derez De On Baby,

BY K IMSOMAJOR

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

MUSIC SOUNDCHECKS

e’Shon Sounds Off ‘Pain 2’ Featuring Lil ,Russ, YFN Lucci & More!

Derez De’Shon mixes street anthems with melodic tales that continue to push his brand to the forefront of the hip hop conversation. After a successful release of Pain, his first noted musical effort, with singles “Hardaway,” “Beat The Odds,” and “Whaddup Doe” garnering him national attention outside of the usual ATL music scene, De’Shon returns with Pain 2.

“I dropped a new mixtape Pain 2 in December 2018 that got over 60 million streams to date and album features with Lil Baby, Russ, YFN Lucci, Lil Durk, Yella Beezy, Moneybagg Yo, Dreezy, Trouble, and more. The Derez De’Shon movement is from the heart. It’s for the hustlers, strugglers and anyone who is surviving to feed their babies, families and do better in and for their community” explains Derez De’Shon. Derez has no plans on slowing down with the release of his latest project Pain 2 and was named one of the faces for Sean John’s Spring 2019 Campaign.

“It’s an honor to represent an iconic brand like Sean John for a new generation. I’m doing this to give the big guys of the world confidence in themselves because we sexy too.”

HHW: Can you tell us how the evolution has been from Pain to Pain 2 and your inspiration behind your latest project?

HHW: “Hardaway” was one of your biggest tracks from Pain 2. Is there a standout track on Pain 2 that’s your favorite?

Derez De’Shon: Basically, it’s like a plant that has grown from the ground. It’s just naturally what comes to mind in reality; which is much different from the current one. It’s more personal and fun, now that I’m trying to expand with my music. The music itself speaks about changes in friends and the girls who didn’t want me. Now they have a picture of what my life is, and they want to have my baby. It’s crazy!

Derez De’Shon: Personally no, but a lot of people like “What’s the Frame” at the moment.

HHW: Speaking of changes in friends, how many friends did you have to cut off? Was it a few or like a whole new team?

Derez De’Shon: I had to cut them off so that I could see who was really supporting what I am doing as a career. The ones who remained the same are who I rock with now. The ones who changed, forget them.

HHW: At what point did you know in your career that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life?

Derez De’Shon: When I got in the top 10. I knew I was going to do this forever, because a lot of people aren’t going platinum right now. When they awarded me with the platinum plaque, I was like oh snap I’m in the game!

HHW: Just the other day I posted a song with you, Bigga Rankin, Ball Greezy, Major Nine and YFN Lucci called “I Deserve It All.” How did that song come about?

Derez De’Shon: I was doing a show and somehow, I met Bigga Rankin. He told me how he liked my music and me as a person. He was also saying how he only socialize himself with a selective few people and he wanted to put me on a song.

HHW: What advice do you have for people who are trying to beat the odds and going through pain in their lives?

Derez De’Shon: First and furthermore, you have to keep the faith. Keep God first! You have to make sure and believe that whatever you choose to do as a career is what you want to do. Keep working and stay focus.

Follow Derez on Instagram @derezdeshon

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16 BARS JAY- Z VE R S E

“WHAT’S FREE” MEEK MILL ft RICK ROSS & JAY-Z

In the land of the free, where the blacks enslaved Three-fifths of a man, I believes the phrase I’m 50% of D’USSÉ and it’s debt free (Yeah) 100% of Ace of Spades, worth half a B (Uh) Roc Nation, half of that, that’s my piece Hunnid percent of TIDAL to bust it up with my Gs, uh ‘Cause most of my niggas won’t ever work together You run a check up but they never give you leverage No red hat, don’t Michael and Prince me and ‘Ye They separate you when you got Michael and Prince’s DNA, uh I ain’t one of these house niggas you bought My house like a resort, my house bigger than yours My spou- (Come on, man) My route better, of course We started without food in our mouth They gave us pork and pig intestines Shit you discarded that we ingested, we made the project a wave You came back, reinvested and gentrified it Took niggas’ sense of pride, now how that’s free?

And them people stole the soul and hit niggas with 360s, huh I ain’t got a billion streams, got a billion dollars Inflating numbers like we ‘posed to be happy about this We was praisin’ Billboard, but we were young Now I look at Billboard like, “Is you dumb?”

To this day, Grandma ‘fraid what I might say They gon’ have to kill me, Grandmama, I’m not they slave Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, check out the bizarre (Ah) Rappin’ style used by me, the H-O-V Look at my hair free, carefree, niggas ain’t near free Enjoy your chains, what’s your employer name with the hairpiece?

I survived the hood, can’t no Shaytan rob me My accountant’s so good, I’m practically livin’ tax free Factory, that’s me Sold drugs, got away scot-free That’s a CC, E-copy Guilt free, still me And expect me to not feel a way to this day You would say y’all killed me Sucker free, no shuckin’ me, I don’t jive turkey Say “Happy Thanksgiving,” shit sound like a murder to me Smoke free, all of y’all callin’ out toll free Label rob you for millions yet you wanna put a hole in me Sugar free, seasoned but I’m salt free You lay a hand on Hov, my shooter shoot for free I promise World War Three Send a order through a hands free Kill you in 24 hours or shorter, you can’t ignore the hand speed On god, it’s off the head, this improv but it’s no comedy Sign I fail? Hell nah (Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha) Hahahahahahahahaha

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

Writers Block

MUSIC WRITERS BLOCK

B Y KI M S OM AJO R

HHW: Could you give a little on your background and when your love for music started?

out. When he heard it he was like, “We done, we don’t need anymore and I’m going to do this whole verse.” He was taking piece by piece. So the third verse in “Pray For My City” is the verse I wrote.

HYPNO CARLITO: I’m from Chicago, Illinois and I signed to Lil Durk in 2015 with OTF Def Jam. I just started writing from there.

So I’ve always been a writer but, that’s when all the connects coming together and I was able to work with people and do music with people. Things just started to come in life around 2015.

HHW: It makes me wonder, how important is it for you guys to get the proper writing credits? Like how does that work? Especially, when you’re really trying to build a relationship with someone.

HHW: When you’re writing creatively, do you have the artist in mind first or does the music come first?

HYPNO CARLITO: Both! Sometimes I write songs before I even get with someone and I’d be like this is good for this person or for that person. I’m going to try to pitch it to them and then sometimes I’m in the studio and they need help right then and there.

HHW: What qualities do you think a songwriter has to have to be effective and productive?

HYPNO CARLITO: That’s a good question.

You always need to have fresh material because I’ll get up with certain people and then I’ll show them 20 songs and then they might say, “Oh I only like two.” So next time you see that person, they want more music. They do not want to hear or see the same records you were showing them the last time. It’s just consistency work. You have to keep working, keep producing, and keep it relevant.

HHW: Since this is about writer’s block, have you ever experienced this before?

HYPNO CARLITO: Yes a lot! Whenever I have writer’s block, I just freestyle. I’m good with punching in so I’ll do a line for line, if I really can’t write anything. I never put it on hold or be like I’m going to wait until later. I just do it right now but I’m just not going to write sometimes. When I write its good and when I freestyle its good as well.

HHW: Did you work on Lil Durk’s last project?

HYPNO CARLITO: No, actually he worked on his own project. I was just around for a lot of it. And if I did help, it was just for quick lines. It was nothing word for word.

I have worked on some of his previous music.

HHW: You did a song on Spike Lee’s Chiraq movie, is that where your Oscar nomination was for?

HYPNO CARLITO: Yeah “Pray For My City”

by Nick Cannon.

HHW: You wrote that song for Nick Cannon?

HYPNO CARLITO: Yeah pretty much!

HHW: First congratulations on being Oscar-nominated and with Spike Lee winning his first Oscar this year, what’s your thoughts on that?

HYPNO CARLITO: That’s big! It was one of those situations that were bound to happen. I really wanted it to happen for him. I was happy for Spike, I want him to get it. I had texted and told him congratulations.

It’s love and I just appreciate Spike for giving me my first real run as a songwriter.

HHW: How did you even land that opportunity to create a song for the motion picture and soundtrack of Chiraq?

HYPNO CARLITO: I got a call. I was in Chicago on the Southside from somebody and they were like, “Man you need to get down there to the studio Nick Cannon is looking for Chicago songwriters to give that Chicago feels.” I had rushed downtown and was told I had 10 minutes, but I made it down there in 30 minutes. When I got there Nick had a room of writers like Young Choppa and other known writers. At the time I felt like he didn’t need me anymore. This wasn’t even the record that got me the “Pray For My City” joint. It was a whole different record that they were working on for the movie and then I had just stepped out of the room and because and just wrote a verse in like five minutes and I went back to Nick and I was like check this

HYPNO CARLITO: I’ve written so many songs for many people but it’s certain songs that I can’t even claim. Well, I wouldn’t say can’t claim, I can claim all day but you don’t want to burn those bridges nor kill those relationships. One thing about all of these rappers and these singers are is they’re trying to finesse.

So they looking at it like, man if you don’t know or have the knowledge to whatever the rights are we’ll just put our name on it...The way our record is broke down it’s like the producer automatically gets 50%.

So where’s the other 50% going and it’s like the writer nine times out of 10 want like 40-45%. Especially if he/she wrote the whole song so that leaves the artists with like 5% and then it’s like the label looking at it like if you’re not already a big-time artist selling millions and millions and millions of records they really don’t want to pay for their record because it’s like we don’t get enough to offer. So you just don’t want to burn bridges and sometimes I fall back. Spike and I actually get into an argument. He called my phone like, “Man f*** this I’m not doing it.” We went back and forth for like two weeks and one day Spike just called me and we basically just came to an agreement.

HHW: So you’re we’re fighting for what you felt was right with Spike Lee? HYPNO CARLITO: Yeah I thought I was gonna lose that battle.

HHW: What artists have you been working with lately? Can you share with us anyone that you might have like ghostwritten for or things like that?

HYPNO CARLITO: “If I wouldn’t, I Could” for Lil Durk. “All Hustle And No Luck” with French Montana, Durk, and Will I Am. The song Nick Cannon has for Mariah Carey it’s called “Oh Well”. I’ve written three songs for French Montana. It was Travis Scott, French Montana, and Durk song called “Five Mo” I co-wrote majority of French verse for that.

43 HIP HOP WEEKLY

MUSIC BEHIND THE BEATS

OG PARKER

BY KRYSTAL KETCHAM

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! HIP HOP WEEKLY: Do you remember making your first beat?

OG PARKER: My first beat…I think it was on FL in FL Studio, probably like in 2007, in the 7th grade. My homie had the demo, I was at his house and I was just messing with it.

HHW: How have you evolved since then?

OG: I mean I was really just messing with it back then. When I got in high school, I got it again and that’s when I really started taking it serious.

HHW: So, every aspiring producer wants to know how did you get on?

OG: I really got in with OG Maco he got signed to Quality Control (QC). So, when

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he got signed to QC I just started coming around, and started with the Migos, Johnny Cinco, and everybody at QC, Rich the Kid, and just happened naturally.

HHW: OG Maco has been pretty quiet lately, what’s your relationship like with him now?

OG: Oh, that’s still my brother. He’s like overseas. It’s a little different; he kind of switched his vibe up.

HHW: Once you got signed to QC, what was that experience like?

OG: It’s like a family over there, so we’re always over there working. There’s someone in the studio every night: Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Migos sometimes; there on the road everyday but sometimes they pull up to. Everybody is working.

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

HHW: How many beats are you making a day under Quality Control?

OG: I don’t know, I’ve been kind of, a little lazy lately because I’m trying out different sounds a lot because I’m trying to work on different genres. I’m trying to do at least two or three every day.

HHW: What’s it like being in the studio with the Migos and Lil Baby?

OG: It’s really free, everybody is chillin’. It’s not like a strict environment, where I’m just like playing them beats and they’re like no, yeah. We are in there having fun, drinking, turnt, making fun of each other, laughing. It’s really like hanging out with my homies.

44 HIP HOP WEEKLY

TOP 15

PRODUCERS 1. CARTER LANG & LOUIS BELL “Sunflower” Post Malone & Swae Le

2. J. COLE & T-MINUS “Middle Child” J. Cole

3. LOUIS BELL AND FRANK DUKES “Wow” Post Malone

4. SCUM BEATS “Thotiana” Blueface

5. ROGÉT CHAHAYED, CUBEATZ, OZ, HIT-BOY & TAY KEITH

MUSIC BEHIND THE BEATS

WEEKLY PUNCHLINE Question How many faking they streams?

(A lot) Getting they plays from machines?

“Sicko Mode” Travis Scott feat. Drake & Swae Le

(A lot)

6. THE STEREOTYPES & BRUNO MARS

I can see behind the smoke and mirrors

”Please Me” Cardi B & Bruno Mars

7. SMKEXCLSV “

Niggas ain’t really big as they seem

Murder On My Mind” YNW Melly

(Hmm)

8. WESTEN WEISS & WHEEZY “Going

I never say anything

Bad” Meek Mill Feat. Drake

9. J. WHITE DID IT & DJ DAHI “A Lot” 21 Savage

10. TURBO

“Drip Too Hard” Lil Baby & Gunna

11. J. WHITE DID IT “Money” Cardi B

12. D.A. DOMAN

“ZEZE” Kodak Black Featuring Travis Scott & Offset

(Nah), everybody got they thing (True) Some niggas make millions, other niggas make memes (Hmm)

13. NICK MIRA “Robbery” Juice WRLD

14. JAHAAN SWEE

J Cole – “A Lot”

“Look Back At It” A Boogie Wit da Hoodie

15. TARENTINO, DY KRAZY, TREPOUNDS & BRUNO MARS “Wake Up In The Sky” Gucci Mane X Bruno Mars X Kodak Black

45 HIP HOP WEEKLY

MUSIC IN THE LAB

HHW Caught Up To Dreamville

Recording Artist Cozz For A Quick Q&A

BY CHERISH HOLLAND HHW: What does Cozz mean and where did it come from?

HHW: What mentality do you feel is needed to make it in this industry?

Cozz: It means 100% real all the time, but I got it from high school. I needed a name and people started calling me that and it stuck. My real name is Cody.

Cozz: You must love yourself first and be confident in what you do. Also, be patient and know that it takes time. You have to keep a clear mind.

HHW: What is it like working with J. Cole?

Cozz: He’s humble and super real and I feel like we’re the same. I’m really low key and like to be private. It’s not in me to be flashy and he’s the same way.

HHW: Who are your role models in and out of the industry?

Cozz: In the industry I listened to Eminem, OutKast, Cassidy, Notorious BIG, Lil Wayne and Drake. Out the industry the obvious would be my mom and dad. My sister was the one person who always understood me and is a huge role model to me.

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HHW: How does it feel being a boss in your own lane?

Cozz: I’m doing my own work, and nobody can take that from me. You should be the boss of whatever you do and make sure you’re the best at it. Compete with yourself and be the best you can be.

HHW: Who would you like to collab with that you haven’t worked with yet?

Cozz: Kendrick Lamar, even though we already worked together. I want to actually do something collectively, rather than him just jumping on a track. Trippie Red, because he’s different, I like different vibes and of course Drake.

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

MUSIC IN THE LAB

47 HIP HOP WEEKLY

THE BEST

HAIR & BEARD GROOMING PRODUCTS MONEY CAN BUY

w w w. R I C H b y R i c k R o s s . c o m

MUSIC NEXT TO BLOW

NEXT TO BLOW Rico Pressley Atlanta, Ga Rico Pressley is a breakthrough rap artist from Atlanta Georgia. His raw talent caught the attention of Grammy-Award Winning Producer Mike WiLL Made-It, who inevitably signed him to his imprint, Ear Drummers. His debut singles, “I.F.W.I” and “Socialite” encapsulate the energy that Rico first revealed at SXSW, opening for label mates, Rae Sremmurd. Rico spent 2018 touring and opening up for some of today’s largest acts in rap such as - Gucci Mane, Juice Wrld and hitting the road on Wiz Khalifa’s “The Blazed & Dazed Tour” featuring Rae Sremmurd, Lil Skies and O.T. Genasis. Rico’s latest single, Betty Boop,featuring Swae Lee, has taken over the Internet, with the fun dance record. His debut EP, Rico Pressley, is expected to drop Spring/ Summer 2019.

Q Da Fool Largo, MD Roc Nation rising star, Q Da Fool, is a Maryland native hip hop artist. Q Da Fool has quickly carved out his own lane in the rap industry and is carrying the DMV on his back with his viral hit single “Guns N Bells”  February 1st, Q released his new project, “Bad Influences” featuring top EDM producer, Kenny Beats, with lead single “Win”. The project is steadily climbing on the streaming charts, proving Q will maintain longevity in the industry.

Stay Connected With Q Da Fool Instagram @_qdafoolrs

49 HIP HOP WEEKLY

INDIE GRIND

SPOTLIGHT

Angel Moreno North Carolina

Angel Moreno is definitely on the rise! His new single “No Cap” gives you that throwback R&B flow that you can definitely ride to! He’s coined as North Carolina’s best-kept secret. He’s organically grown a worldwide fanbase via all social media platforms. His trials and tribulations of his life are a true depiction of his music. Visit apple music now for his latest music!

SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram @angelmorenomusic

Big Hookz

Africa/Germany/DMV Big Hookz is a true triple threat, artist, executive-producer, entrepreneur and CEO of indie powerhouse StrTeam Ent., and no newbie to the music industry as he’s keeping the momentum going with his last single “Pull Out Cash” featuring Kevin Gates.

Having already shared the stage and collaborated with countless high-profile artists such as Eminem, 50 Cent, Xzibit, The Game, Mike Jones, Kevin Gates, Styles P and more, Big Hookz is literally right on the cusp of taking the urban music world by storm.

Big Hookz is a force to be reckoned in the music industry.

Hailing from Germany where he honed his music and production skills, Hookz has a unique style that he brought to the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area where he is captivating fans with his energetic voice and stage presence, as his versatility is an asset but it is his hustle that separates him from the pack, an exceptional artist for all of the right reasons, with his musical ear and soulful upbringing gave him a sound unlike no one out today, while his trials and tribulations have given him an insight and grit that compares to none and that’s how he created the new smashing hit single “No Love” featuring Atlanta own’s artist , song writer, producer & sound engineer “LexC”.

SOCIAL MEDIA * Website: www.strteament.com * Facebook: www.facebook.com/bighookz * Instagram: www.instagram.com/hookzstr8team * YouTube: www.youtube.com/str8team * Twitter: www.twitter.com/bighookz * Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/bighookz

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

E. Bandit Roanoke, VA.

E. Bandit takes pride in creating projects that stretch the viewer’s imagination and emotions. Her projects are conceptual and tell stories,sometimes distorting color and imagery to complement her lyrics.The chick in the mask has always taken pride in her individuality. For her, it’s important that the listener knows and feels that it’s okay to be different and tells her story however she sees fit.

SOCIAL MEDIA https://www.instagram.com/ayyitsbandit/ https://www.facebook.com/officialebandit/

Natalac

Lucciano Da G

Florida’s finest, Sheldon Martinez Davis, “Natalac” is currently signed to his own record label named “Natalac Records”. The company is known for taking the southern rap to the next level and this new album in 2018 is expected to create a major buzz in the industry. According to the artist, all the rappers featured on this album have worked really hard in close collaboration in making this album a success and they are expecting a phenomenal response from the fans worldwide. Salute to the Pimp and watch his journey continue to soar!

Lucciano was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, the city of Winfall to be exact. The long nights, adversity and hardships endured for the betterment of not only his musical career, but also for his family, have rightfully earned Lucciano Da G the appropriate title as a pure hustler.

Growing up in North Carolina was a dynamic experience for Lucciano Da G, which he effortlessly conveys throughout the context of his music. His gritty-lyricism and brazen demeanor in conjunction with an unmatched work ethic has enabled Lucciano to acquire the attention of many, and he has not disappointed in the slightest fashion. His prowess as an artist has enabled Lucciano Da G to manifest his dreams into a form of currency, hence, securing his bag to say the least.

It’s officially Bagg Season.

Jacksonville, FL.

SOCIAL MEDIA instagram @natalac74 www.natalacrecords.com

Winfall, NC.

SOCIAL MEDIA IG: dareallucciano Label/Management: King Music Corp. www.KingMusicCorp.com

kCAne MarkCO St. Louis, MO.

kCAne MarkCO has works with Zaytoven Beats [Fit n Thick II] and NY.Bangers [ Elevate The Block] who also produced “Oouu”

by YOUNG MA and “Dont Run” by CASANOVA. The ST.Louis native has toured NYC, ATL, Philly, the Midwest and beyond, using the tutelage of his mentors Street Execs DJ Teknikz, DJBigO317, NERVE DJ’s DjJohnnyO, and Big Heff. NuORDER Ent is AlphaPak(kCAne, Black NRC and CBG). Music and Videos can be found on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, and Apple Music.

SOCIAL MEDIA http://www.twitter.com/kcanemarkco http://www.facebook.com/kcanemarkco1 http://www.youtube.com/pitboss314 http://www.instagram.com/kcanemarco

Slap

St. Louis, MO Slap is drawing a major buzz in his hometown and across the world! He’s bringing the fire and setting the stage for major success within the Hip Hop Industry. His sound and lyrics are inspired by his everyday life experiences. He’s proud to build his business relationships with some of the hottest artist in the game like Lil Baby and Yella Beezy. Slap anticipates on working with other major artist in the future.

SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram @Imslap_bfe

51 HIP HOP WEEKLY

MUSIC INDEPENDENT LABEL ON THE SIDE

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

52 HIP HOP WEEKLY

MUSIC INDEPENDENT LABEL ON THE SIDE

Ralo The Great HI FI10 TIDAL HHW EXCLUSIVE:

MEET RISING LABEL OWNER OF MBK4L RECORDS We had the opportunity to catch up with independent label owner Rodney Lewis, infamously known as Ralo, for a Hip Hop Weekly exclusive that was based on music, philanthropy, career growth, and civic engagement. Ralo is at the forefront of YBK4L Records, a Birmingham-based records and promotions label that is home of YBN Day Day, Lil Bam, J Gucci, and Rudy Ru just to name a few. Currently, “Draco,” “Questions,” “Smooth Kriminal,” and other singles have been getting millions of streams, seeing rising views, Sound-Scans, and experiencing heavy clout on social media. Go check that out, Ralo says, “You won’t be disappointed!”

The CEO emphasizes that My Brother’s Keeper 4 Life is a family-based label that “spilled off of loyalty,” 18+ years of genuine friendships, brotherhood, and longevity and then turned into a business. Since Birmingham is the epicenter of new artists on the rise, it’s important to highlight how Ralo sets MBK4L aside from other entertainment groups who cultivate freshman talent. “We do have a chance, we really have to give the guys the opportunities to be on the same platform as other cities… to live their dreams.” Every administrator, artist, and otherwise stakeholder involved with the label understands that the platform is a constant grind to paint a wide variety of distinctive pictures for their listeners ranging from valid reasons to carry the Draco to social issues that they encounter in their home environments.

Under YBN Day Day’s leadership, the label has been using hip hop music as a platform to unite a growing movement of artists from the upcoming generation who can vibe out together to create these various melodic movies illustrating what is currently going on in the streets and society. These projects turn into hits and forever leaves their mark on the hip hop industry.

Ralo understands that putting out hits is only one aspect of success within this industry, however. He discussed the importance of artist visibility and emphasized how the platform that he co-creates with the entertainers should also yield opportunities for them to appear on blogs, TV shows, promotions, interviews, etc. so that they are seen, heard, and have their work discussed on a global scale in different communities. Ralo explains that even when it gets slow, down time should be used as grind time for extra shows, marketing, and any other exposure for their up-and-coming talent.

BY BRIANA CRUDUP

While on the topic of different immersing artists into a myriad of communities to extend their reach, Ralo shared how MBK4L Records & Promotions sponsors the Wenonah High School Dragons Sports Teams in West Birmingham, recently equipping the baseball team with pink and black uniforms and gear to spread breast cancer awareness. In and out of the booth, on and off stage, MBK4L is the epitome of their name, remaining accountable for family is taken care of and they keep their influence in their communities strong. Another one of the label’s strong-suits is not only supporting the upcoming generation, but recruiting like-minded people who are driven in their own unique style. Ralo explained that the love, commitment, and passion for music will carry an artist and their team through the less glorious times experienced in the industry; for example, financial droughts, since initially the money is an investment and not profit.

Being in the game for 7+ years also allowed Ralo to keep this heavy and respected presence in every circle he has traveled in. He also touched on being a student of the game, just like the young, developing athletes who he supports. Through trial-and-error, he learned that from his mistakes and schools our readers to always ensure that when planning and executing a project, business affairs should be handled first. Contracts, logistics, etc. should always be in order before proceeding so that a lot of things do not need to be done backwards. “As they say, wise people learn from the mistakes of others and smart people learn from their own mistakes, so take this gem with you in life, Hip Hop Weekly family.”

Be sure to check the MBK4L fam on social media at the following handles: @bigflipralo @_lilbam2x @ybndayday @iamwhitt_ @rudy_ruu

TOP

STREAMS 1. POST MALONE FEAT SWAE LEE SUNFLOWER

2. TRAVIS SCOTT FEAT DRAKE SICKO MODE

3. POST MALONE WOW

4. J. COLE

MIDDLE CHILD

5. BLUEFACE FEAT CARDI B THOTIANA

6. YNW MELLY

MURDER ON MY MIND

7. MEEK MILL FEAT DRAKE GOING BAD

8. CARDI B MONEY

9. 21 SAVAGE A LOT

10. LIL BABY GUNNA DRIP TO HARD

53 HIP HOP WEEKLY

DJ TOP FIVE

PICKS

DJ SCREAM

96.7 The Beat WRDG Atlanta, GA @DJSCREAM

Project Pat & Lightskin Keisha – “LIKE THIS “ Davido – “IF” Kalan FRFR – “FINE ASS” Offset – “RED ROOM” Blueface – “THOTIANA”

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HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

DJ Showtime Houston, TX. TOP 5

Gunna – “SPEED IT UP” Future – “FIRST OFF” Dababy – “21” Cardi B ft Bruno Mars – “PLEASE ME” Meek Mill ft Ella Mai – “24/7”

DJ RICK GEEZ 103 Jamz WOWI Norfolk, Va @DJRICKGEEZ

Schoolboy Q – “NUMB NUMB JUICE” Da Baby – “BLANK BLANK” Smif-N-Wessun – “OCEAN DRIVE” Afro B – “DROGBA (JOANNA)” Shordie Shordie – “BETCHAU”

SHOW Hip Hop

TIME

WEEKLY GUIDE TO BOOST YOUR NIGHT LIFE

KODAK BLACK Maplewood, MN May 1st, 8pm

ELLA MAI Pittsburg, PA May 8th, 8pm

MONEYBAGG YO Baltimore, MD May 24th, 7:30pm

WU TANG CLAN Mountain View, CA June 22nd, 7pm

LIL PUMP Detroit, MI May 5th, 8pm

TRAVIS SCOTT Gulf Shores, AL May 17th, 8pm

RICK ROSS Las Vegas, NV May 26th, 10:30pm

CARDI B Los Angeles, CA June 22nd, 6pm

GUNNA Houston, TX May 6th, 7pm

JUICE WRLD Boston, MA May 23, 8pm

POST MALONE Manchester, TN June 15th, 12pm

SNOOP DOGG Chicago, IL June 29th, 8pm 55 HIP HOP WEEKLY

WEB WATCH CELEBRITY

POSTS & PICS Instagram Celebrity Post & Pics Here’s What We’re Liking At The HHW Office by 6sixgvd

Visit us on Instagram.com/hiphopweeklymagazine 56

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TWIT HOP WEEKLY

Twitter.com/hiphopweekly | by @6sixgvd

Cardi B

21 Savage

Im OD honored for all the love Houston gave me! I remember the first time I came to Houston I came out here to strip and people showed me maaaaaa love and Houston was the first place me and set when on a date The love have really grown .

I haven’t entered 2019 yet it’s too much pussy shit going I’m still in 2018 I’ll see y’all when it goes away

@iamcardib

Soulja Boy

@21 savage

Toby Nwigwe @TobyNwigwe

Don’t put me inna position where I gotta show you how cold this heart gets

MOMENT OF GRATITUDE I wanna relish in this moment.. because how my life is set up right now.. a whirlwind of life altering events are happening on a regular basis. BUT I will NOT act like having @fatbellybella SURPRISE me during my performance, wasn’t THE DOPEST experience EVER.

Asian Doll

Barack Obama

If I ask you to take me a picture & they all come out ugly bitch you a hater.... cut off

Young people have helped lead all our great movements. How inspiring to see it again in so many smart, fearless students standing up for their right to be safe; marching and organizing to remake the world as it should be. We’ve been waiting for you. And we’ve got your backs.

@souljaboy

@ImAsianDoll

Chance The Rapper @chancetherapper

S/o to the son of God. We rockin witchu over this way

Kodak Black @kodakblack1k

@BarackObama

Future @1future

STOP CAPPIN ON MY NAME..I love all women.

6lack @6LACK

self love ain’t selfish

My Turtle Died I Want Smoke

Megan Thee Stallion @theestallion

Sooo solange was dancing to big ole freak in the strip club last night in Houston I fainted

Kevin Gates @iamkevingates

I believe When something doesn’t go your way - it could be God saving you from something Or I’m one of them niggas - who appreciate a little -

57 HIP HOP WEEKLY

Boston George and Diego

10 PILE UP

09

Soulja Boy ft. OMB Bloodbath, Peso Peso, Sauce Brazy, Young Saint Louis & Murdah Baby

On Gang

08 2x Screaming Yungeen Ace

07Slime Belief NBA Youngboy

avage tt & 21 S avis Sco Tr . ft t e Offs

06Thotiana Remix 05 Down Below 04Legacy Young M.A

Roddy Ricch

03 Highway Full Of Pain 02Thug Harmony Zoey Dollaz

SPOTTEMGOTTEM

ZI 01

Eazy OMB PEEZY ft. G

No Keys

10 HOTTEST

STREET HEATERZ 58

HIP HOP WEEKLY | May 2019 | HIPHOPWEEKLY.COM

NET CHICKS MODELS OF THE WEEK

ASHLEY D Atlanta, GA Bookings: infoAshleyD@gmail.com IG: @IAmAshleyD

QUEEN STAR Detroit, MI IG: @queenstarcandy_ www.queenstarcandy.com

CHOSEN ONE IG @1chosen_one Montgomery, AL

59 HIP HOP WEEKLY