A DOSE of LA...: 2012-07-01

Thursday, July 5, 2012

New Rap Chick: Brianna Perry

The B.E.T. Awards aired on this past Sunday and when the category for Best Female M.C. came up the nominees were scarce. Of course Nicki Minaj won, hands down. But there was a random girl on there that everyone asked, "Who is that??" BRIANNA PERRY is her name. She hails from Miami, Florida. I won't even front on shorty...She's NICE! Check out her Letter to Hip Hop.

Will I AM Defends Nicki Minaj (Says F Hip Hop)

Will I Am sat down with Vibe Magazine and when asked how he felt about the Nicki Minaj selling out hip hop situation, he had some strong words to say.

“I’m proud of Nicki. You can’t listen to this stuff about not being real hip-hop. You gotta go and get it. Whatever the music is called that’s what it’s called whether it’s hip-hop, pop, rock, gospel or a freaking musical, who cares? Nicki is an artist and she is expressing herself. Why limit yourself?”

“Hip-Hop was broadening itself in the ‘90s,” he says. “You had A Tribe Called Quest and Death Row…you had Lauryn Hill singing and rapping. You had Too Short, Outkast, Nas and the Roots. Hip-Hop was broadening itself. Now hip-hop is limiting itself. If hip-hop is going to continue to limit people I say ‘F-ck hip-hop.’ It’s likethe most unhealthiest community.”
“People should really be tripping off the fact that all of our hip-hop heroes are dying. Heavy D is dead and Erick Sermon recently had a heart attack. And we still talking about Nicki Minaj doing dance music? Get the f-ck out of here. I want Nicki to continue to show the world what hip-hop can be. It doesn’t have to always be about f-cking this stripper girl or getting money. I would rather be interested to hear what Chuck D thinks than some blogger or radio host.”

I can't say I disagree with him. Cause "Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense. But I did 5 mill. I ain't been rhyming like Common since." - Jay-Z

Take the LIMITS off! This is why our bounce artists had a hard time for so long to go nation. #NOLIMITS

Open Letter: Frank Ocean Comes Out

Before I post this letter I will say this. Homosexuality is a struggle that alot of people deal with. Some deal with it alone,because of fear, guilt or shame. It is okay if you are dealing with this. The best thing for you to do is be REAL with yourself. As for Frank Ocean, he was. He was real with himself, the guy he fell in love with and now the rest of the world. It is not for us to bash or judge him for his actions. Nobody's perfect. Nobody walking this Earth surface is. Not that I support homosexuality. But I do support Frank's decision to be HONEST. See his letter below:

Frank Ocean’s Open Letter:

Whoever you are, wherever you are, I’m beginning to think we’re a lot alike. Human beings spinning on blackness. All wanting to be seen, touched, heard, paid attention to. My loved ones are everything to me here. In the last year or 3 I’ve screamed at my creator. Screamed at clouds in the sky. For some explanation. Mercy maybe. For peace of mind to rain like manna somehow. 4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too.We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence … until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiation with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life.

Back then, my mind would wander to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with. I reminisced about the sentimental songs I enjoyed when I was a teenager … the ones I played when I experienced a girlfriend for the first time. I realized they were written in a language I did not yet speak. I realized too much, too quickly. Imagine being thrown from a plane. I wasn’t in a plane though. I was in a Nissan Maxima, the same car I packed up with bags and drove to Los Angeles in. I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, knowing I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best. But he wouldn’t admit the same.He had to go back inside soon. It was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn’t tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years. I felt like I’d only imagined reciprocity for years. Now imagine being thrown from a cliff. No, I wasn’t on a cliff. I was still in my car telling myself it was gonna be fine and to take deep breaths. I took the breaths and carried on. I kept up a peculiar friendship with him because I couldn’t imagine keeping up my life without him. I struggled to master myself and my emotions. I wasn’t always successful.

The dance went on … I kept the rhythm for several summers after. It’s winter now. I’m typing this on a plane back to Los Angeles from New Orleans. I flew home for another marred Christmas. I have a windowseat. It’s December 27, 2011. By now I’ve written two albums, this being the second. I wrote to keep myself busy and sane. I wanted to create worlds that were rosier than mine. I tried to channel overwhelming emotions. I’m surprised at how far all of it has taken me. Before writing this I’d told some people my story. I’m sure these people kept me alive; kept me sane … sincerely, these are the folks I wanna thank from the floor of my heart. Everyone of you knows who you are … great humans, probably angels. I don’t know what happens now, and that’s alrite. I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore. There’s probably some small shit still, but you know what I mean. I was never alone, as much as I felt like it … as much as I still do sometimes. I never was. I don’t think I ever could be. Thanks. To my first love. I’m grateful for you. Grateful that even though it wasn’t what I hoped for and even though it was never enough, it was. Some things never are … and we were. I won’t forget you. I won’t forget the summer. I’ll remember who I was when I met you. I’ll remember who you were and how we’ve both changed and stayed the same. I’ve never had more respect for life and living than I have right now. Maybe it takes a near death experience to feel alive. Thanks. To my mother, you raised me strong. I know I’m only brave because you were first … so thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man. If I listen closely … I can hear the sky falling too.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

MMG: Wale and Rick Ross Shoot Video in New Orleans (Calliope Projects)

MMG is still at WORK. Today they dropped down to the 504 to shoot Rick Ross's new video, "Hold Me back." They stopped by the Calliope Projects to show the less fortunate kids some love. Rick Ross and Wale can be seen below sitting on a porch in the project with the people.

Events: R You On the List Tour Feat: B.O.B., Flo Rida, Kirko Bangz & Cee lo Green

L.A.!!!!!!! Get this in your life. ARE YOU ON THE LIST??? B.O.B., Kirko Bangz, Flo Rida and Cee Lo Green all under one roof, One Night, Sunday July 8th!!!!! Check out the flyer for tickets:

Events: Juggie, DJ Poppa, Toya Wright & Kevin Hart Hosts Republic Night Club (Essence Music Fest Weekend)

Republic Night Club in New Orleans has some strong events Essence Fest Weekend. Thursday Night Q93's Juggie along with DJ Poppa on the 1's and 2's, Friday Night will be hosted by Toya Wright of B.E.T.'s "Toya's Family Affair," and Saturday Night kicks off Kevin Hart's B-Day Bash. See the flyer below for info on tickets/bottles and VIP sections:

New Music: Pusha T Feat. Kanye West "New GOD Flow"

Kanye West shut down the B.E.T. Awards with his verse from Pusha T's next single off his upcoming album "Cruel Summer." This is definitely looking like Pusha T's year. Check it out:

Monday, July 2, 2012

Video: Update: Maino Shooting is From a Movie He's Filming

Man this is crazy. Rapper Maino gets shot while on stage performing for his fans. Well, not actually. It was a scene from a movie he was filming. Someone put it out there as if he got shot for real.....smh. He tweeted an hour ago