Spring Valley hip-hop artists Fat Westbrook and Cedric St. Louis have joined forces to collaborate on an upcoming joint EP called Castor + Pollux. Due out in spring 2023, the duo kicked off the promotional run with their latest single, “Mike Tyson.“ An uptempo rap song that’s been in the works since early 2020, the record has been a fan favorite at the group’s live performances. Fat Westbrook and Cedric both are confident and cocky all while keeping it fun and lightweight. Meanwhile, the duo exchange jabs in the video while interchanging equally lively flows.
The Spring Valley duo is bringing a different flavor to the current music landscape. Notably, hip-hop artist, rapper, and instrumentalist Fat Westbrook shares the culmination of his experiences through music. Drawing inspiration from both his hometown and Haitian identity. Moreover, his music features raw stories, hard-hitting beats and a charismatic word-flow. His music is meant to help those who wish to identify, feel, laugh and love.
Fat Westbrook and Cedric St. Louis are a hard-hitting duo out of Spring Valley
Likewise, Cedric St. Louis has also long shared the same dreams as his counterpart. The Spring Valley native has ambitions to not only make an impact in the hip hop world, but music as a whole. As a Black gay man navigating in the Hip Hop world and Alternative industries, the quick-witted rapper hopes to empower listeners in his songs, helping them gain a sense of self-identity.
Rapper Troy Ave has upped the ante in his beef with Taxstone. The Brooklyn-bred rapper released a diss track and music video after testifying in the court case that led to Taxstone being found guilty of manslaughter, assault and weapons charges. “Dear Hater I Won” sees Troy Ave celebrate the former podcaster’s incarceration, strutting and dancing in front of the same Manhattan courthouse where the verdict was reached.
Troy Ave sports the same 3-piece suit in the “Dear Hater I Won” video that he wore to court.
Furthermore, he rehashes and sums up his talking points over the last few years. Notably, he once again accuses Taxstone of writing a letter to the judge in the hopes of getting off. He then rehashes the fatal Irving Plaza incident that saw his friend and bodyguard Ronald “Banga” McPhatter shot and killed.
After wrestling the murder weapon away from Taxstone, Troy Ave fired off several shots of his own. The “Chuck Norris” rapper has since denounced street culture after agreeing to testify against Taxstone. The verdict and record is a conclusion to the 2016 Manhattan shooting that drastically altered the lives of both Brooklynites.
What began as a disagreement because of comments the popular podcaster made regarding the “Your Style” rapper’s music eventually resulted in gun-violence. In turn, what was once a burgeoning voice in the podcast scene has now been silenced. Meanwhile, Troy Ave has seen his once-prominent buzz completely fade.
Queens Public Library (QPL) has announced their commemoration of The 50th Anniversary Of Hip Hop, through an international partnership with over thirty organizations including libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and archives.
Born in the Bronx, hip hop has been making a global artistic and cultural impact on the world since August 11, 1973. In recognition of Queens role in hip hop’s ascension from a local art form to an international phenomenon, the QPL established a hip hop program in 2015.
Hip hop coordinator, Ralph McDaniels, also known as “Uncle Ralph,” constructed programming to educate the public about Hip Hop culture and its five core elements: MCing, DJing, graffiti, breakdancing, and knowledge. QPL also preserves hip hop’s legacy through its collection of artifacts such as photographs, periodicals, audio tapes, video tapes, writings, news articles, flyers, and oral histories from people involved with the genre from its origins until now.
QPL’s hip hop program has drawn people of all ages and backgrounds to our spaces and has created a unique community connected by a love for music and knowledge.
-Dennis M. Walcott, QPL President and CEO
Queens Public Library was founded in 1896 and offered free access to more than 5.4 million books in addition to materials in 200 languages, technology, and digital resources. Prior to the pandemic, the independent, non-profit organization hosted over 87,500 educational, cultural, and civic programs annually and welcomed 11.4 million visitors through its doors.
The six-month celebration “Collections of Culture: 50 Years of Hip Hop Inside Libraries, Museums and Archives” is financed through a $267,760 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Dozens of in-persons and virtual programs including panel discussions, author talks, educational forums, and workshops will be hosted by participating institutions. The program aims to examine the history and influence of hip hop on American culture and the contributions of its musicians, DJs, dancers, MCs, graffiti artists, stylists, directors, photographers, entrepreneurs and educators.
For More Information On The Events Scheduled, Visit The QPL Website Here.
Araya, a Thai-Chilean NYC native and multi-hyphenate artist announced the release of a track from his forthcoming ARENA EP, “Poison”.
If you have recently experienced a gruesome heartbreak, “POISON” is the song for you. Araya’s new track brings life to the feelings you cycle through while healing from challenging breakups. This is especially for instances where although someone isn’t right for you, they still have a strong hold on your heart. The drop in bass along with Araya’s voice symbolizes a sinking heart along with the remembrance of the relationships’ highs and lows.
Araya’s music video of “POISON” is an introduction into the world he’s created with this new music. It warns listeners of the deeply felt emotions that the lyrics replicate.
“Poison is one of the most honest songs on ARENA as it acts as a sort of confessional for me, acknowledging my part in toxic cycles that I felt like we’re bigger than me. I’m realizing both in my writing & in this song specifically that I always leave myself a trail of hope for a better me, even if in that moment I can’t project that into my actual life. Poison is my submission to a cruel love; accepting that & my previous choices, in hopes of eventually growing from it all.”
-Araya
Born and raised in Long Island, Araya attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and trained to become a graphic designer while dreaming of a career in music. Araya’s struggle with purpose, identity, and spirituality are visible through his music in how he mixes vintage and futuristic sounds into a mesmerizing blend of R&B, soul, hip-hop, and electronic music. The young star uses music as an outlet to comprehend and channel life experiences into reflective tales of self-acceptance and understanding.
In the February of 2022 Araya released his sophomore LP, Ethos. Following the release of Ethos, Araya has collaborated with a myriad of producers & artists such as CLIP, Y2K, Yeek, Monte Booker, Junior Varsity and Cautious Clay. “POISON” can be bought or streamed here.
Fresh off his second full-length LP, Staten-Island raised and LA-based MVW returns with another mashup of cultures, sounds and styles. This time, the classical composer turned hip hop producer, has recruited the likes of Tia Corine and Lil Cherry for a syrupy ode to female empowerment and pleasure.
“Tru Tru” sees MVW remain on his experimental journey. Since breaking through in hip hop, the former La Monte Young understudy has used his signature blend of minimal classical compositions with trap-heavy hip-hop influences. Hence, on “Tru True” MVW uses piano arpeggios, flutes and trap synths to create a sultry, inviting and abstract record.
Things have been tightened over the last few years across the world, and with one another – I feel like friendships are truly being tested. A song like ‘Tru Tru’ is about giving people this psychedelic, anime trap dream world to escape into. That escapism feels especially important right now, and can help bring us together.
– MVW
Keeping in theme, MVW recruits the likes of Lil Cherry and TiaCorine to complete the record’s sensual vibe. “Tru Tru” is a global trap track that combines the best elements of MVW’s favorite genres. Blending the ominous feel of classical music, the bluntness of trap drums and the way TiaCorine and Lil Cherry’s soft croons and low hues compliment it all.
Bitch I’m colder than the snow on the Polar Express” hilariously boasts Tia. With her rousing, raspy whisper-rap flow adding to her aura. Meanwhile, Cherry infectiously swats away male groupies with a self-assured, “I’m the man, bitch, duhhhh!”
Ultimately, MVW swerves the listener. In short, the record’s sensual production offers the thought of more somber lyrics. However, TiaCorine — whom Rolling Stone pinned as a rapper set to make it big in 2023 — and K-Hip Hop sensation Lil Cherry exert their control.
On the heels of his latest studio album, Me Vs Myself, A Boogie wit da Hoodie has teamed up wit Vevo for a performance video of his song “Secrets” as part of the music video network’s Ctrl series. Vevo’s Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians making an impact in today’s music scene – both emerging and established. A Boogie’s performances follow sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Push T, Fat Joe, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Fabolous, A$AP Ferg and more. The Bronx native also previously worked with Vevo in 2015 for two “Live at Vevo” sessions featuring “Drowning” and “The Bigger Artist.”
As for this latest video performance, A boogie maintains his melodic fervor as he expounds on dealing with fame and status. The maturity in tone, subject matter and music choice is evident in-between his Vevo live performances. However, his nonchalant flows, memorable hooks, trap beats that make plenty of room for melody, and the occasional hint of R&B smoothness are all still part of the A Boogie package that have kept him as a major label star for nearly a decade.
In 2022, Boogie continued his commercial hot streak as many hit-records spawned from 2020’s Artist 2.0 and Me vs. Myself. In addition, Boogie handled some of the production on Me vs. Myself. Consequently, the album debuted in the Top Ten of the Billboard charts.
When TMZ first reported on February 12 that De La Soul’s Dave “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur had passed away, there was an outpouring of respect and support throughout social media. And for good reason, the 54-year-old Long Island native was not only one of hip hop’s most innovative rhymers, he had the catalogue and accolades to back it up. However, Plug 2’s value to the hip hop community isn’t based on his achievements on a commercial scale. For many, De La Soul represents the happiest times of their formative years, the boom era where hip hop wasn’t this high-functioning corporate machine, but when the art was still based around thoughts, feelings and the power to dare to be different, the organic way.
Hailing from the same Long Island outskirts that produced the likes of Chuck D, Rakim and Biz Markie, De La Soul’s contributions to hip hop and the black experience overall was one of normalcy. In an ever-changing rap landscape that had adopted an in-your-face brashness amid Public Enemy, NWA and Rakim’s rise, De La Soul served as the buoyant middle ground between the brazen and squeaky clean rappers of the day. While the group’s success is the product of four like minded creative vanguards (Posdnous, Trugoy, Maseo and Prince Paul) there’s no doubting that Trugoy embodied their very essence. Even as their music matured in between 3 Feet High and Rising and Stakes is High, Dave’s laidback effervescence remained a constant.
https://youtu.be/tD_crXNhzKs
Trugoy and De La Soul’s Impact
In an era where black extremism seemed to be the new norm in hip hop, De La Soul brought a fresh point-of-view to life as a black young adult. With their quirky melodies, lighthearted approach, and genre-bending use of samples and rapping styles, the Amityville Memorial High products helped bring the other black experience to prominence. The one where you had fun, nobody got hurt, police was not involved and everything was okay. As a result, their music offered an alternative to contemporaries as their experiences as suburban black youth afforded them a broadened, colorblind view to artistry.
Consequently, their idiosyncratic point of view saddled them with a “hippie” gimmick from their record label. After all, black plight had long been one of America’s main soundtracks. For their part, De La Soul refused to portray themselves as victims to anything but wacky outfits. With their D.A.I.S.Y. (Da Inner Sound Ya’ll) mantra, De La Soul epitomizes hip hop’s ethos of “keeping it real.” Along with other members of the Natives Tongues, De LA Soul brought about a musical and social balance to the hip hop landscape. However, they remained true to themselves, refusing to be boxed into the alternative hip hop mold that was building around them.
De La Soul is Dead was a backlash of feeling that way about the industry. About how our art was being compromised. I think people’s point of view of what we were trying to do — it seemed as if they were pointing their hands at us like, these guys are basically here to represent something that we believe that they are, and they’re going to act the way we think they’re supposed to. It was like, no, that’s not who we are. It’s not what we’re doing, and it’s not what we feel. You feel emotional when things happen inside, and we just gotta let it out through music.
At the heart of it all was Dave, whose creatively juxtaposing role as Trugoy resonated with many around the world, with De La Soul serving as an inspiration and pushing the budding careers of several acts, including Yasiin Bey and Common. With iconic group’s back catalogue set to hit streaming services on March 3, we can be assured that De La Soul will never be dead.
De La Soul is everything to me. They embraced me! They took me on tour with the@ and changed my life. They featured me on a song and changed my life again. I literally lived with them! We love you Dave. May God bless your soul! pic.twitter.com/y1UBYXYSLv
History is said to repeat itself. In fact, we study textbooks and learn from our past as a means of avoiding it. In the case of hip hop, a genre that began as a social movement by-and-for the local community of African, Latino, and Caribbean Americans, we’ve had the luxury of having monumental moments captured for us by some of histories greatest orators. 50 years after its inception, the best rap songs are time capsules into their respective eras. Keeping in theme, Swedish photography museum Fotografiska have decided to chronicle hip hop’s emergence for its 50th anniversary. From its creation in the Bronx in 1973 and culminating in the worldwide phenomenon it has become 50 years later.
Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious chronicles the genre beginning with its origin in the Bronx
What is Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious?
Created in partnership with Mass Appeal, Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious delves deep into the genres origins, identifying the individual creatives involved in the movement. It is a fitting name considering the intended and inadvertent effect of what is now the world’s most popular genre. Located in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park neighborhood, the show’s layout is by chronology and geography. Additionally, the exhibition brings audiences through five decades of history, culminating in recent imagery of today’s biggest names.
Beginning with formative figures such as DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, the display captures the era’s larger cultural climate, painting a picture of wthe influential factors that helped inspire the genre’s proprietors. Correspondingly, the show’s imagery features breakdancers, graffiti artist, b-boys and even gang culture which Sacha Jenkins — the exhibition’s co-curator –explains “was the precursor to hip-hop in terms of creating an identity for yourself,” especially regarding the culture’s core philosophies around self-identification.
Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious runs from January 26 until May 21, with focus areas that include the early years, the regional and stylistic diversification; and the turning point when hip hop became a billion-dollar industry. In like manner, the set of women who trailblazed hip hop’s male-dominated environment are also extensively documented.
Women’s contributions to hip hop are celebrated thoughout the exhibition.
We made a thoughtful effort to have the presence of women accurately represented, not overtly singling them out in any way,
– Sally Berman, co-curator of Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious
You’ll turn a corner and there will be a stunning portrait of Eve or a rare and intimate shot of Lil’ Kim that most visitors won’t have seen before. There are far fewer women than men in hip-hop, but the ones that made their mark have an electrifying presence—just like the effect of their portraits interspersed throughout the show.
-Sally Berman
Why should you go see this exhibit?
Hip Hop’s comeuppance is no small feat. What began as humble break parties in the Bronx has emerged to inspire millions around the globe. It’s representation of youthful urban culture is now the cultural norm. However, for those who trail-blazed the movement, hip hop meant freedom and the ability to express unfiltered thoughts and emotions. Sadly, time has faded the memory of the movement’s many vanguards. Several key figures played roles in amplifying this energy shifting movement and now many of these forgotten pioneers will get their proper due.
In addition to the genre’s periphery figures, world-famous photos like Geoffroy de Boismenu’s 1994 portrait of Christopher “Biggie” Wallace staring at the camera with an off-center blunt in his mouth, Run DMC’s feet under the table at The Fresh Fest press conference, a 20-year-old Mary J. Blige in New York, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean on an East Harlem rooftop while shooting the music video for “Vocab” and many more iconic photos will feature heavily throughout the show.
It’s easy to forget that there was a time before hip-hop was an industry and before it made money. It wasn’t conscious of itself. It was just existing with young people living their lives, dressing as they did, trying to entertain themselves with limited resources and creating an aesthetic that registered amongst themselves. It wasn’t for the world; it was for a very specific community. Then there was an exponentially paced transition where hip-hop culture became a conscious of itself as an incredibly lucrative global export. The exhibition’s lifeblood is the period before hip-hop knew what it was.
– Sacha Jenkins, exhibition co-curator and Chief Creative Officer of Mass Appeal
Information about Fotografiska New York and Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious can be found here.
Vevo, the world’s peerless music video network, announced the celebration of its 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop. Vevo’s celebration of its anniversary serves as tribute to all aspects of hip hop. Music from “Legends In Concert,” “Hip-Hop International,” “2K Hip-Hop Legends,” “Rock Meets Rap,” “70’s Sampled Songs,” ‘80’s Sampled Songs”, and more will encompass the commemoration.
The celebration begins with an exclusive behind the scenes viewing of Public Enemy’s groundbreaking music video “Fight The Power” by Chuck D. Chuck D explains the writing process, concept for the video, the intermix of sounds used and public reception of the Spike Lee-directed video.
The anniversary allows you to enjoy Vevo footnotes, a series that takes viewers behind-the-scenes of their favorite videos. Come celebrate with your favorite artist to enjoy this honoring of hip hop. Expect to see stars like A$AP Rocky, Common, Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Grand Puba, Havoc (Mobb Deep), Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Macklemore, Mack Maine, MC Serch (3rd Bass), Naughty by Nature, Public Enemy, Raekwon, Salt-N-Pepa, Souls of Mischief and T.I.
“Hip-hop hasn’t just shaped music; it’s shaped culture as a whole – from fashion, language, sports, even politics and beyond, and music videos have been there to aid in propelling those cultural shifts forward,”
Jordan Glickson
Since 2009, Vevo has been connecting an ever-growing global audience to high quality music video content. Vevo offers fans an abundance of premium content to choose from, showcasing official music videos alongside a constantly developing lineup of live performances and trailblazing programming. From top superstars to rising new talents, Vevo brings incomparable cross-promotional support to artists across the musical spectrum. Vevo is available on YouTube, Samsung, Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Pluto TV, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Echo Show, Freevee, Apple TV, Google Tv, etc. More information on Vevo can be accessed here.
“Hip Hop turning 50 means that there can be no doubt, no argument, no ignorance
about its consequence in the world. Back when PE was coming up, it was in the days before social media. Videos were the only way to connect with hip hop fans around the world. They delivered songs in a full package of sight, sound, story and style. A truly underrated art form. Vevo keeps that connection solid, not only for us but for hip hop artists
from every corner of the globe. Here’s to the next 50.”
Rock The Bells — the hip hop culture platform founded by LL Cool J — have announced the lineup for their Timeless Hip Hop Cruise. Aptly tittled, Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience, the media entities partnership with Sixthman will see a host of hip hop legends perform on the Miami-to-Bahamas getaway.
Rock The Bells began as music festival in Queens and will now be going abroad
Setting Sail on November 13, performers on Rock The Bells’ Timeless Hip Hop Cruise will include hip hop stars of various eras. Headliners include the likes of Rick Ross, Lil Jon and Big Boi. While Ghostface Killah, Big Daddy Kane, Just Blaze and a host of other legends from hip hop’s golden era will make apperances. MC Lyte, Trina & Trick Daddy, Too $hort, Slick Rick, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinderella, Mannie Fresh, Pete Rock, DJ Quik, Rah Digga, EPMD, Bun B, Bahamadia, Grandmaster Caz, DJ Scratch, The Finisher Mister Cee, DJ EPPS, DJ Nina 9, Grandmaster Dee, Technician The DJ, and DJ Critical Hype. Hosted by Roxanne Shanté & Torae, attendees will also experience a pool deck party series presented by world-renowned party rocker Kid Capri.
At Rock The Bells, we believe classic and timeless Hip-Hop deserves to be served on a silver platter and we can’t wait for Hip-Hop lovers across the globe to be immersed in the culture for five days, on five stages. We’re excited to partner with Sixthman, who bridges the gap between artists and fans, creating unforgettable guest experiences.
– Rock The Bell’s President James Cuthbert
What to Expect at Rock The Bells Hip Hop Cruise?
The expedition kicks-off with a special “Welcome to Miami” performance by Miami hip hop legends Trick Daddy and Trina on the ship’s pool deck. Attendees who purchased their cabin before January 18 will be able to hang out with Trick Daddy and Trina at a private cocktail happy hour prior to setting sail. Moreover, attendees can expect dozens of performances and intimate experiences from some of Hip-Hop’s classic MCs, DJs and producers. In effect, Rock The Bells will be taking over every corner of the ship with pool deck parties presented by world renowned DJ Kid Capri. Other fun endeavors will include MC and DJ battles, rap karaoke, interactive graffiti, live podcasts, roller skating, open mic nights, movie screenings, masterclasses, art galleries, custom grillz, tattoos, basketball and The Trill Mealz Food Court.
The Norwegian Pearl will play host to “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience.”
How could I not Rock the Boat with the Goat? LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells keep the culture afloat. Please believe it.” Too $hort added “Rock The Bells is Hip-Hop History, and they’re working to MAKE history!
