Month: December 2024

Ill Gordon – BarzOnDeck 2 (Album Review)
Album Reviews

Ill Gordon – BarzOnDeck 2 (Album Review)

You’ll never find Ill Gordon doing what everyone else is doing. The Chicago rapper hit new levels of excellence on BarzOnDeck. Ill Gordon is known for his hard-hitting rhymes and has one the best voices in Hip-Hop. How are Hip-Hop artists defined? What makes a good artist? This is something that can generate a myriad of responses. The truth is that a good artist is one who gives us something of meaning.

On the sequel to the 2017 release, Ill Gordon recaptures the same energy, serving up those fast paced rhymes from the very beginning. The hard-hitting drums and horns call on the spirits of the warriors. Ill Gordon is one-of-one and on the intro track stays as perfect a fit for Gordon as his high-energy provides a peak into the album’s pace.

This is business as usual for Ill Gordon. Whenever you look for BarzOnDeck 2 to fade it keeps raging with speed of an 100 mile per hour fastball. Gordon tells us to stay focus on ‘Get Wit It’ he is cooking rhymes without a recipe. Ill Gordon seems to take us to church with the heavy piano track, “High Horse.”

On “Villain” Gordon brings the heat like Erik Spoelstra. “Grace Of God might be the brightest track on the album. Gordon says it is by God’s grace that he doesn’t kill rapper with coke lines he spits. If there is one thing you need to enter Ill Gordon’s world, it’s a mind open enough to reject the norm in Hip-Hop today and the grace of God.

Gordon, who closes out the project on the back end not being modest but by giving a warning on “No Smoke.” He can swing from wry one-liners to telling guys they don’t want fire from him. “Work” suggests how much Gordon gives to his craft; in a delivery that sounds more door-to-door salesman than rapper, Gordon envisions his own death: “Getting paid time and a half, you can that tell I spend time on my craft, I should be locked in a lab” he asserts before describing the way he puts work in.

On “Outro” Ill Gordon lets it be known that he does not write raps to become known better, he writes them for his own pleasure. “I was told not to rap about how good I am, ’cause they don’t really want to hear it, you could lose some fans, understand I don’t five a f*ck about opinion, more concerned with if the bars match in every sentence” raps Gordon. Not allowing the opinions of others get in the way of the of his creative process, Gordon focuses on the task at hand. Which is writing rhymes that people remember. Returning to his BarzOnDeck franchise and overtaking the original just asserts that he always gives you something, even if it’s never what mainstream is looking for.

Get the album today. https://illgordon.bandcamp.com/album/barzondeck2

Source: SpitFireHipHop.com

Shaquille O'Neal Forced To Explains Relationship with Tiger King
News

Shaquille O’Neal Forced To Explain Relationship with Tiger King

Picture: Getty

Appearing on Tiger King could cost Shaquille O’Neal business relationships.

Joe Exotic has received support from celebrities such as Cardi B and an outpouring support via viewers watching on Netflix and posting reactions on social media. Well support Joe is not a good thing if you are Shaquille O’Neal. The Big Aristotle as he is sometimes called makes a surprise appearance in Netflix’s new documentary series Tiger King, which tells the true story of Joe Exotic, an Oklahoma man who ran an exotic animal park and is currently in prison for a murder-for-hire scheme. Understandably, O’Neal is now distancing himself from Joe Exotic.

Shaq like many celebrities these days he took to his podcast, “The Big Podcast With Shaq” to address this issue. He addressed his appearance in the first episode of the series, in which he is seen holding two tiger cubs and later claiming to have “got two more.”

“So we go in there, and it’s a beautiful place, and the character that was there was Exotic Joe,” O’Neal began. “We’re there and I dropped some donations for the tigers’ foods and all that. We take pictures with [the] tigers. We went back a couple times. Then we go back another time and we found out that he’s involved with all the stuff, and then, actually, I stopped going.”

Shaq say he does not own any tigers himself. “I don’t harm tigers,” he said on the podcast. “I love tigers. I love white tigers. Do I put donations to these zoos to help these tigers out? I do it all the time. Do I own tigers personally at my house? No. But I love tigers. Listen, people are going to make their own opinions, but, again, I was just a visitor. I met this guy — not my friend. Don’t know him. Never had any business dealings with him, and I had no idea any of that stuff was going on.”

Chuck D & Flavor Fav No Longer On Same Page
News

Chuck D & Flavor Fav No Longer On Same Page

CREDIT: IBL/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

The rift between the two prominent remaining members of Public Enemy has to hurt those that grew up with the group being the voice of the people.

If you grew up in the 80s and were a Black kid in the inner city with pride for your people, Public Enemy was one of the groups that you followed. Their first album, ‘Yo! Bum Rush the Show’ was release in 1987. Then the following year they released ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’. The titled only gave fire to those who were fighting “the powers that be.”

If we are honest with our selves, we know that Black people in America have had to fight for everything that they have managed to acquire to date. When Public Enemy hit the scene it that generation wind under their sails to push on. Public Enemy was the barometer for young people. The group managed to fight the system and say what many wanted but could or did not. Public Enemy was not the type to confirm to what the United States wanted Black people to be, as they fought “the powers that be.”

That is why this situation between Flavor Flav is difficult for me to fathom. With all that Public Enemy stood for, it seems that a politician has torn them apart.

In late February Flavor Flav’s attorney sent a cease and desist to Bernie Sanders asserting that Sanders’ rally used Flav’s “unauthorized likeness” and “image” to promote the event.

“While Chuck is certainly free to express his political view as he sees fit — his voice alone does not speak for Public Enemy. The planned performance will only be Chuck D of Public Enemy, it will not be a performance by Public Enemy. Those who truly know what Public Enemy stands for know what time it is, there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav,” the letter states.

Chuck D decided to respond on Twitter to the legal letter, saying, “It’s not about Bernie with Flav” and that Flav doesn’t “know the difference between Barry Sanders or Bernie Sanders.” This is a funny statement from Chuck D becuase as we know now, many Garth Brooks fans don’t know the difference between the two.

It seems that Chuck D was over Flavor Flav and no longer wanted to deal with Flav and his antics. Chuck D also explained his reasons for supporting Sanders. He said his (Sanders) focus on healthcare and childcare were the main reasons why he’s supporting the Democratic candidate. He posted on Twitter that the issues became priorities for him after his father passed away in 2016 and his granddaughter was born.

As a founder of the group, Flavor Flav was taken aback as 35 years of brotherhood seemed to be thrown away because of a difference of political opinion. It appeared that exact thing had happened. The group was falling apart over politics. Flavor Flav responded to Chuck D once again on Twitter.

Chuck D and other members of Public Enemy responded to the claims that Flav was removed from the group because of “politics.”

“Public Enemy did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views.
Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work.

Public Enemy Radio toured Europe and co-headlined with the Wu-Tang Clan in May 2019 without Flavor. They have also done numerous benefit shows without Flavor.

While Public Enemy Radio was moving forward, Flavor Flav was starring on the reality show “Growing up Hip-Hop New York,” where an episode featured his children discussing an intervention and putting him into rehab.

It’s time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well.”

View this post on Instagram

Official Statement; Public Enemy did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views. Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work. Public Enemy Radio toured Europe and co-headlined with the Wu-Tang Clan in May 2019 without Flavor. They have also done numerous benefit shows without Flavor. While Public Enemy Radio was moving forward, Flavor Flav was starring on the reality show “Growing up Hip-Hop New York,” where an episode featured his children discussing an intervention and putting him into rehab. It’s time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well.

A post shared by Chuck D ? (@mrchuckd_pe) on

I really hope the two can work through and bring the group back together. While they are working out, they should call Professor Griff and bring him back into the fold. This may be a stretch but I still believe in Public Enemy.

Source: SpitFireHipHop.com

Chauncey Billups has the answer to why Carmelo Anthony remains out of the NBA
Sports

Chauncey Billups has the answer to why Carmelo Anthony remains out of the NBA

Chauncey Billups has the answer to why Carmelo Anthony remains out of the NBA

Chauncey Billups says he knows why Carmelo Anthony remains on the outside looking in. Carmelo was a star with the Knicks and Nuggets but has not played in the NBA since he parted ways with the Rockets in mid-November.

The reason he’s not in the league – because he’s still worthy – he hasn’t mentally taken that step back to say ‘Okay, I’ll come in and play against backups. I’ll try to help the team out. I know I might not be able to close, but I just want to help the team out,'” Billups said during a recent interview with SiriusXM radio. “He’s not there yet.”

A 10-time All-Star, Carmelo and Billups were teammates with Denver and New York from 2008-11.

“I feel bad for Melo and here’s why,” Billups said. “Melo was like a good teammate, man. Melo practiced every day. He didn’t miss any games. Now, the one thing I will say – and I’ve even told Melo this – scoring 30 meant too much to Melo. … Because, he could have games where he had 20, 22, we win the game, and he’s mad. He might have 36 … we lose the game and he’s in there (the locker room) picking everybody up.”

Some say the Los Angeles Lakers have interest in signing Carmelo. However, they have made many other roster moves and he was not included.

Jess Abran & Stephen Voyce - Molly
Music

Jess Abran & Stephen Voyce – Molly

Jess Abran & Stephen Voyce - MollyJess Abran & Stephen Voyce – Molly

Molly’, a fusion of pop, jazz and R&B, is the first single off of the impending EP, ‘First Born Last’, from Jess Abran and Stephen Voyce and is now available across all digital stores. This summer release, which launched on July 28th 2017, features guitar riffs composed by Malcolm Sargent. It is the 3rd commercially released track by the duo.

Timothy Bloom - Work It Out
Music

Timothy Bloom – Work It Out

Timothy Bloom - Work It Out

Timothy Bloom – Work It Out

Chosen by MIDEM to be one of the artists selected to participate in their Artist Accelerator Program, Timothy Bloom is on the move. Timothy’s refreshing voice and sound reflect the multiple influences of his musical heroes and his varied upbringing. He attributes his unique blend to the styles he heard growing up.  Rock, Folk, Gospel, R&B—all these elements and more add to his unique, signature style.

Joe - So I Can Have You Back
Music

Joe – So I Can Have You Back

Joe - So I Can Have You Back

So I Can Have You Back” was written and produced by JOE and is the lead single to JOE’s forthcoming 12th studio album, “My Name Is Joe Thomas” available globally on November 11, 2016. Joe dazzled the world last fall with his rendition of “Hello” from global superstar, Adele.  Joe’s rendition garnered more than 5M views in less than a week and it reminded the masses that JOE is not just a singer, but an artist. Joe’s unprecedented career as singer, songwriter and artist has yielded over 15 million units sold worldwide.

Daisha - Good Life
Music

Daisha – Good Life

Daisha - Good LifeDaisha shares her new single, “Good Life.”

GOOD LIFE” is a 90’s inspired cover originally done by Inner City, but remade by Swagg R’Celious.  “It’s a feel good record about loving life. Sometimes you just want to escape and have 3 and a half minutes of bliss,” shares Daisha. “The 90’s feel good vibe will never die. I love to blend timeless beats with today’s sound,” she adds.

Becca Krueger - Everybody Else But You Video
Videos

Becca Krueger – Everybody Else But You Video

Becca Krueger Premieres New Music Video “Everybody Else But You.”

Becca Krueger debuts the music video for her newest single “Everybody Else But You” today. The record radiates a new sound for this young artist, encompassing all of the elements necessary to guarantee a smashing summer anthem. The fusion of dance-pop inspired production and a big chorus with an insanely catchy melody are sheer perfection. Shown exquisitely throughout her career, Becca Krueger is undoubtedly bold enough to explore new realities and self expression.

Staged in a night club, the video for the record exposes Becca Krueger like never before. Her striking look and maturing sound are undeniable as she provides a genuine and emotional vocal delivery. Her sense of inner strength beams through the lights, lasers and smoke, leaving Becca standing on her own two feet despite feeling alone in a crowded room. Watch the video, filmed and directed by KMGLife Inc., by clicking the link below.

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