HIP HOP News

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Hip-Hop Videos, Soul/R&B Videos

David Banner, who is releasing his upcoming album, Sex, Drugs and Violence, as a free download, for a $1 donation, has concocted a similarly creative visual concept for his song "Amazing," which features Chris Brown.

The stop motion clip, which was directed by KTJB, features Banner and Breezy as bobblehead dolls, rolling around town in a toy convertible and picking up some plastic chicks. The effort even features an appearance by a toy figurine Michael Jackson, performing a dance routine with Brown.

"The goal of Sex, Drugs & Video Games is to show the world Urban music is still valuable," Banner explained of his new album, before thanking comedian Louis C.K. for inspiring the model.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News

The Maybach Music Group team has unveiled the tracklist for Self Made Vol. 2 and the effort features some hip-hop veterans and a few newbies. Set to drop June 26, Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill, Stalley, Gunplay and Omarion unite on the album, which is comprised of 14 tracks.

The tracklist debuted on Ross' RozayRaw.com Friday (May 18) with a link to a pre-order of the album. The LP finds respected MCs Nas ("This Thing of Ours"), T.I. ("Bury Me a G") and Bun B ("Black on Black") rapping on songs while new school artists Wiz Khalifa ("I Be Puttin' On"), Nipsey Hussle ("Fountain of Youth") and Kendrick Lamar ("Power Circle"), among others, also serve verses.

Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill, Stalley, Gunplay and Omarion all lay claim to at least two tracks on the album, with the aforementioned collaborators assisting.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News

Since Da Brat's release from prison last year, the Funkdafied rapper has showed up to red carpet events in sophisticated attire that includes dresses. However, on Thursday night (May 17), in Atlanta, the 38-year-old rhymer posed for photos at a private screening of the film "Battleship," starring Rihanna, dressed in gear that looked like she was heading on a camping trip or hitting a theme park with her crew.

An orange fitted cap, her braided hair covered by a bandana, an oversized black-and-white striped, collared shirt, camouflage shorts, sneakers and a neon green MCM backpack aren't the usual choices for red carpet wardrobe, but it's what Da Brat selected for the event, held at the AMC Phipps Plaza.

Take a closer look at the "Ghetto Love" rapper's outfit and voice your opinion on The BoomBox poll below.

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50 Cent was hospitalized earlier this week, facing stomach surgery after eating a bad hamburger, but kind words from his mentor Eminem helped him push through. "[Eminem] goes, 'Yo Fif, you were shot nine times man if you die over a burger, this shit ain't gonna go right. People ain't gonna be feelin' this,'" 50 Cent shared. [HipHopDX]

MTV2's "Hip Hop Squares," debuts on Tues., May 22, at 11PM ET, featuring Mac Miller, Fat Joe, Machine Gun Kelly, Ghostface Killah, DJ Khaled, Tech N9ne and host Peter Rosenberg of Hot 97. Comedy. [MTV]

Also on the MTV tip, T.I. has revealed that he is still working on collaboration albums with two fellow ATL MCs. "I got a few albums that I'm workin' on: the Man and the Martian project with B.o.B; me and Jeezy been talkin' about doin' this project for a minute. It wouldn't take us long to do," he told MTV. "We got maybe 30 or 40 [percent done]. Between the two of us, we probably got five or six records." [RapFix]

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Kanye West has unveiled the title of the forthcoming G.O.O.D. Music compilation, Cruel Summer, which also shares the name of the rapper's new short art film. Set to debut in Cannes, France, during the Cannes Film Festival, on May 23, the project is a seven screen experience, MTV News reports.

Comedian Aziz Ansari, rapper Kid Cudi, Lebanese actress Razane Jammal ("Djinn") and Palestinian actor Ali Suliman ("The Kingdom") are all set to star in the film. West produced, wrote and directed the visuals, which are based on an Elon Rutberg screenplay -- Rutberg is the associate director of West and Jay-Z's "N----s in Paris" video.

The My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy creator and Kid Cudi filmed scenes for the movie in Qatar, located in the Middle East.

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Drake's Club Paradise tour touched down in Houston Thursday night (May 17) at the Toyota Center, where fans were treated to a surprise appearance by Rick Ross. The Maybach Music Group head honcho graced the stage with Drizzy to perform "Stay Schemin'," a track off Ross' Rich Forever mixtape.

French Montana joined the rappers as well, moving through the lauded song for the first time since the hip-hop trio recorded the effort's video.

2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Waka Flocka Flame and J. Cole were also in the building to rap their sets, which spanned an average of 30 minutes each.

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Teairra Mari leaves her inhibitions at the door in the visuals for "U Did That," the 2 Chainz- assisted lead single off her sophomore album, Sex on the Radio, due this summer.

"This is one on my favorite videos that I've done for a couple of reasons, starting with the mixture of grit and glam, the fact that the settings are very gritty and dark and I'm still serving glam," Teairra tells The BoomBox of the video, which was shot in Los Angeles.

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Forbes released their annual Celebrity 100 list earlier this week, and it's reason enough for Rihanna's frequent exhaustion spells. The "Where Have You Been" singer clocked in at No. 4, three spots behind the No. 1 seeded Jennifer Lopez.

Beyonce -- the current "Most Beautiful Woman" -- is considered to be the 16th most powerful celebrity, behind Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Dr. Dre led the way for rappers on the list, landing at No. 26, ahead of Jay-Z (No. 38), Diddy (No. 42), Kanye West (No. 45) and Lil Wayne (No. 69).

Unlike other Forbes lists -- i.e. "400 Richest Americans and World's Billionaires" -- that strictly tally net worth and money, the Celeb 100 measures earnings and the not-so tangible nor calculator-friendly property that is fame.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News

Rap Genius is supplying The BoomBox with the top lyrics of the week and serving a meaning behind the raps in the process. This week found the release of some of the most anticipated albums of recent months. Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music and Ab-Soul's Control System lived up to their considerable hype. Childish Gambino, last seen in the depths of offensive Trayvon Martin joke purgatory, wormed his way back onto our list this week as well. Otherwise, Jay Rock sticks up for his crew; Nitty Scott, MC juggles some elaborate wordplay; and Yasiin Bey drops a shady metaphor.

5. "On that shit, take a whiff/ Move in silence like a _thumbnail.gif," -- Childish Gambino, "Fuck Your Blog" Lyrics

Leave it to Donald Glover to find the humor in what is perhaps the web's most unfunny invention: those small, soundless moving pictures known as .gif files. Here, Gambino nods to all of the terrible "American Idol," "Martin" and "Twilight" excerpts with "funny" captions that people try to pass off as amusing.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop News, Soul/R&B, R&B News, Say What!

Chris Brown may have "put his name on" ex-girlfriend Rihanna's "Birthday Cake," but it's his current girlfriend's birthday cake -- and party -- making headlines now. Breezy dropped some serious cash on his new lady, aspiring model Karrueche Tran, to ensure that she had a birthday she'll never forget.

According to WENN, Brown reportedly spent a staggering $10,000 on a lavish Los Angeles soiree in honor of his boo's 24th year. Looks like that online puppy selling venture is doing well! The singer rented out part of the West Hollywood supper club Greystone Manor for the night and documented the debauchery on Twitter.