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R&B’s Iconic Konvict on his Mission to make Africa “Lit”
Multinational recording artist Akon did well in kindling dance floor lights through his music. In recent years, R&B’s Konvict stepped away from stage lights and began a movement to light up Africa—in a very different way.
Through the combined efforts of Akon, Malian entrepreneur Samba Bathily, and political activist Thione Niang, the Akon Lighting Africa movement was launched in 2014, and since then the ALA have managed systems in 11 nations, including Senegal, Mali, Niger, Benin, and Sierra Leone.
With two years of constant work expansion, the company is still currently concentrated on achieving its goal of providing solar power to over 600 million African homesteads lacking access to electricity. Progressively, the ALA also
Read moreThe Notorious South Park Psycho, still Reaping… err, Rapping, at 47!
Ever heard of Horrorcore Hip-hop? Nope, it isn’t the latest slasher flick—it’s actually its own subgenre which has in fact been stalking about in the Hip-hop scene for over 30 years. Today just happens to be birthdate—or to appease the horror-esque theme, spawn-date—of one of its biggest co-founders.
Lewayne Williams, better known as Ganksta N-I-P, was born August 28th 1969. Hailing from South Park, Houston, Texas, Williams cofounded the South Park Coalition along with another Houston-native, K-Rino. The Coalition reached nationwide recognition in William’s 1992 debut record South Park Psycho, which he distributed under Rap-a-Lot.
Produced by The Terrorists, Doug King, John Bido, an
Read moreRising Artist Wash Returns with New Video “Where You Been”
Young artist Wash enjoyed a breakout season last year with his video “Can’t Trust These Thots” going viral, which also won recognition from Billboard. Paving the way to his well-earned spot in mainstream R&B and Hip-hop, “Thots” gathered several peak-level rankings and the attention of many through the track’s contagious vibe, which actually flaunts taking cues from TLC classic “No Scrubs”.
With all that hype going around, fans and followers have perceived much pressure weighed down on the rising star. The built-up anticipation, however, reaches its cathartic end as Wash releases his latest track video “Where You Been”.
Directed by Edward Tran (who worked with several artists inc
Read moreHip-hop Icon slash Neo-Pilgrim Reaches 39 Today
2 out of 3 Hip-hop fans will hear the name Ma$e and remember the several hits he offered as the Florida-born, Harlem-raised rapper. On the other hand, many others also respect his identity as simply Mason Durell Betha, the talented rapper-turned-pastor and motivational speaker.
August 27 (tracing back to 1977), Betha was born in Jacksonville, Florida, then migrating to Harlem when he was three; His ties with certain notorious crowds, however, brought him back to his hometown at age 13. His journey into the realm of Hip-hop began when he returned to New York as a teenage Betha began dabbling into rap as a simple hobby.
On the contrary, his partial pursuit led him to a certain Cudda Love (manager of the iconic Biggie Smalls), who then led Betha down to Atlanta, where h
Read moreKEXP Dedicates Twelve Hours to De La Soul's '3 Feet High and Rising'
On Friday, August 26, starting at 6 a.m. PDT, Seattle radio station KEXP dedicates twelve hours to De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, the groundbreaking hip-hop classic. KEXP DJs will play the entire album, plus related B-sides and rarities, and all the original recording. They will also sample sources, including songs by Johnny Cash, the Turtles, Hall & Oates, Funkadelic, and James Brown. New interviews with members of De La Soul and producer Prince Paul, conducted by Street Sounds host Larry Mizell, Jr., are also included.
According to poducer Prince Paul, he and De La Soul weren’t intentionally seeking out strange samples for the album. “It wasn’t looking for things that were, ‘man this is just bizarre!&rs
Read moreWest Coast MC Vince Staples Releases New EP Prima Donna
After receiving widespread acclaim from audiences with his debut two-disc album Summertime ’06, West Coast rapper Vince Staples returns with the release of his latest work, Prima Donna, debuting August 26, 2016.
The EP will release one track above its previously-reported description. Staples shares his enigmatic rendition of the hymnal classic, “This Little Light of Mine”, fronting as the collective’s introduction track.
Prima Donna packages seven tracks including a track featuring multi-talented Kilo Kish, and another with A$AP Rocky who also guested on his premier studio album. The track “War Ready” includes inte
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