Juicy J and Pusha T sit down for a candid interview on SKEE Live with DJ Skee on AXS TV. Take a look as the artists give their take on Hip Hop’s new controversial verse which has stirred up a lot of attention after the Compton MC proclaimed himself the “King of New York” and lyrically set his sights on a handful of rappers.
Stalley, Rockie Fresh, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Omarion and DJ Scream sit down for a lengthy interview with Hot 97. The label collectively discusses Self Made Vol. 3, Dreamcashers 3 and Stalley gets the opportunity to talk Honest Cowboy and shares his desire for commercial recognition. Ross also speaks on their recording process in the studio while Meek gets into details on his battling roots and downplays the back and forth currently going on between him and Kendrick Lamar by reassuring fans its all in good fun.
Sitting down with Vlad TV, Just Blaze addresses Jay Electronica’s album delay and admits that he has nothing to do with any setbacks. In fact, Just makes it very clear that Jay Electronica basically does whatever he want’s and operates at his own pace. However, the producer does reassure fans that Electronica is definitely in a creative zone and still moving forward on eventually releasing his debut album. Before heading out Just Blaze also fills DJ Vlad in by explaining that the album for the most part is put together and done.
Check out the short clip below of Lil Wayne from Madonna’s “Revolver” which is currently showcased on her MDMA tour dates across the jumbotron. Weezy also stopped by Katie Couric’s daytime talk show yesterday and opened up about his addiction to pills and lean. The Cash Money artist also addresses his health issues with seizures and says he did some digging into his family tree and found out he has family who’ve suffered from them apparently in the past.
Lil Wayne Interview with Katie Couric:
“I’ve come full circle in the music game,” said Rodriguez. “I went from just being a full on producer, to writing songs, to now performing songs so, that’s who Tito Rodriguez is at the moment.”
With a modest attitude and honest demeanor, Rodriguez is the type of individual who sees the brighter side of things and goes out of his way to help wherever he can. He stresses he prefers to contemplate over positive thoughts and credits his outlook on life from his experiences endured during his humble beginnings.
“In the past I got to produce for a bunch of acts out in Long Beach, most of the long beach rap crowd, rap circle,” said Rodriguez.
Still, it would be Rodriguez’s decision to start a band with a unique sound that would take his career in a different direction after meeting lead vocalist Mike Brophy sometime in the early 2000s. The duo randomly found themselves crossing paths after being introduced by a mutual friend.
“That’s how I met him, I was introduced to him by a mutual friend who owed me money and I was just trying to get my money back and he brought Brophy over,” Rodriguez explains with a smile on his face. With the band’s stage name still undecided, Rodriguez recalls suggesting his ideas by stating, “I said what about The Pricks?” “He was like you know what, perfect, you’re a prick I’m a prick, that’s it.” After recruiting keyboard player Chris Medina and catching the attention of KROQ’s Kat Corbett, The Pricks would go on to win 2006’s “Battle Of The Bands” contest and play venues throughout Hollywood.
However, in 2012, Rodriguez reveals the group decided to collectively disband after eight years together with each member now focusing on their individual careers. Though he’s optimistic The Pricks will eventually find their way back to the studio, Rodriguez makes it clear he’s proud of what the band has been able to accomplish but is ready to step up to the microphone and deliver his upcoming The Message LP.
“I’m doing music with messages, I just didn’t want to make music just to make music, I really wanted to give the people, really my family more than anybody, I want to make my mom proud you know, and I want my daughter and my son proud, my family,” Rodriguez continued. “There’s no cuss words, I’m giving nothing but good messages, good vibes, I’m trying to inspire the people…trying to get people something they can relate to in time of need, or they’re sad or they’re depressed, give them some kind of hope through music, it’s just some words of encouragement.”
“I got to do it by myself…I really got to go deep in my mind and think outside of the normal,” said Rodriguez. “I think what happens when you record with other people you’re trying to please them so you get lost on what you’re really trying to do. The process has been more of, I’m getting to do what I want, no one is influencing me, there’s no opinions, I really enjoyed the process, this has probably been the most fun thing I’ve done…it’s a blessing in disguise.”
With his new music video for “Angel” currently in the works, Rodriguez shares the concept behind the visual which finds the artist hitting the streets of his hometown and giving back.
“I got Diamond Supply, I got them to donate thousands of dollars worth of product…I got Stance socks, I got Br4ss Underwear…I got Frito-Lay, I got Sara Lee bread, Monster Energy Drink…and I got to go back to my community, my neighborhood…all of Long Beach…and gave it all away to less fortunate families and the homeless.”
Beyond the beats and rhymes, Rodriguez keeps the spirit of the group alive and stays busy with his new clothing line named after The Pricks. The evolution of the brand and its significance is something he stresses the importance of.
“The brand surpassed the band by miles I could say, we managed to do tons of skateboards, we did some surf boards, we’ve done shirts, hats, accessories, you name it,” Rodriguez continued. “As far as you making money, unless you’re a Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift, somebody who’s got that kind of momentum and that kind of steam and that kind of machine behind them, you’re not going to see no money from your music unless you’re independent and you sell 80,000 copies or something and it’s all going to you. That’s the part that people got to learn how to master first…branding what you got if you want to be successful in the game.”
“I got artists from all over the world, I have art in my studio from everywhere, ready to hang up and ready to go, that’s the best thing about it, when you put out good vibes, good vibes come back, we pride ourselves on being standup guys,” explains Rodriguez. “You know they say you reap what you sow? It’s definitely true and you know that’s a testament of us being that kind of people that people want to help us.”
Mass Appeal drops off part two of Noah Callahan-Bever’s interview in Jamaica with rapper Pusha T. To catch you up to speed in case you missed part one, Pusha T was out in Jamaica to film his music video for “Blocka” when Noah on behalf of Complex reached out to the G.O.O.D. Music rapper for an intimate interview. In part two, Pusha points out the music he enjoys listening to is a lot different than the music he releases to his fans and shares insight behind why he chooses to collaborate with different artists such as Future. The Clipse member goes on to open up on his relationship with his brother Malice and shares a story of a run-in with police which got the rapper to thinking to that his street past always finds a way to come back and haunt him from time to time.
Big Sean checks in with JAY Z’s Life+Times and decodes his song “First Chain” off his new album Hall Of Fame. Breaking down all the details during a candid interview, Sean reflects on the creative direction for the track and shares the meaning behind his lyrics. “First Chain” is Big Sean’s latest single featured on his new Hall Of Fame LP which is now available in stores.
DJ Premier kicks his feet up with Mass Appeal and discusses the inspiration behind the group’s iconic logo and the creative direction that went into making their street hit “Mass Appeal.” According to Premo, the logo is the brainchild of Guru and Big Shug and was introduced to fans in 1990 on the artwork for Step In the Arena.
2 Chainz links up with The L.A. Leakers over at Power 106 and discusses the inspiration behind his DONDA designed B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time LP artwork and his use of symbols. The G.O.O.D. Music artist also shares his motivation behind being a tastemaker and lets fans know that white and gold is the new color combination to follow until further notice. Check out what Chainz had to say below.
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