Music is definitely the vice that is going to carry us through the troubling times of 2020. Here is some new flavor from an up-and-coming artist, London McKoy, who’s new single “Sometimes” addresses some of our current mental stresses with a harmony that is perfect for your RnB therapy!

     Who is London McKoy you may ask? She is an eclectic singer who is the first lady of the musical label and collective artist called Blck Mrcy (pronounced Black Mercy) who has given us some fresh tunes to pull us closer to summer 2020.

     She is also a part of DJ Duo The Don Dadas. Her Co-DJ Lola Benjamin, who is a legacy DJ, have combined forces not only to make sure our Friday nights are lit but to also tackle mental health with their event Press Play Namaste. This event is a different take on your typical yoga class. It includes a live DJ taking you away from the traditional yoga sounds and taking you anywhere from “A Tribe Called Quest” to “Dip set” while you’re working on your warrior one pose!

`London first caught my eye years a ago with her Single Bittersweet  and her growth as an artist definitely shines though  on her new single “Sometimes.” You can find out more London and Lola who was a guest on the “House of Boom” Podcast below.

#houseofboom #Houseofboompodcast #Grindseason #Workhardplayhard

The post London McKoy drops new single ‘Sometimes”, talks Dj Duo Don Dadas and Yoga appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

What a bittersweet end for one of the most iconic forces in Hip-Hop (and music, period). Late last month, A Tribe Called Quest liberated a new visual — and their last — for “The Space Program,” which is taken from We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service. The clip sees the remaining trio (Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhummad and Jabari White) departing a violent, hatred-filled Earth in a spaceship before finding themselves stranded elsewhere. At the end, a noted tribute to late legend Phife Dawg can be seen (“For Malik”).

In addition to the departing sci-fi theme, the video — which is directed by Warren Fu — also sees cameos from many of Tribe’s peers: Pharrell Williams, Vince Staples, Anderson .Paak, Common, The Roots‘ Black Thought and Questlove, Talib Kweli, Alicia Keys and more.

It’s truly hopeful that these guys continue to bless the world with more music; until then, enjoy “The Space Program” via Apple Music.

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The post A Tribe Called Quest Deliver Their Final Video, “The Space Program” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

From Snoop Doggy Dog, to Grandmaster Flash, we’re hopping in a time machine as we go through Hip-Hop’s 25 Most Memorable Album Covers.

25. Juvenile, 400 Degreez (1998)

From the diamonds and flames, to the Z in “Degreez” being a dollar sign…There’s just something about the WordArt feel of this album that keeps fans coming back.

24. Wale, Attention Deficit (2009)

The obvious shoutout to a digital world reigns as the focal point for this album cover. A strong, yet simple message burns through the vibrant cool colors, and captures your attention immediately.

23. De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)

You’ve probably seen these flowers before, or maybe even these 3 talented young men. Fun fact, rap group De La Soul actually hates this album cover. They felt that everyone would be associating them with flowers, peace, the whole hippie movement, when that wasn’t them at all!

22. Kanye West, 808s and Heartbreak (2008)

The minimalism in this cover is the beauty of it all. Kanye was hurting, simple as that!

21. 2Pac, Me Against The World (1995)

This album shook the charts, and you couldn’t go anywhere in 1995 without seeing it. 2Pac rocked the world right before his unfortunate passing, and sold hundreds of thousands copies of the album.

20. Run-D.M.C., Run-D.M.C. (1984)

Run-D.M.C.; Pioneers, legends, superstars. This classic cover had to make the list!

19. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Firstly, it’s Lauryn Hill etched into a school desk. This album taught everyone a couple of things. No further explanation needed.

18. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Doggystyle (1993)

From the dogcatcher in the back to the Snoop Dogg lookalike on top of the dog house, this album cover is full of style, steeze, and comedy!

17. Eric B. & Rakim, Paid in Full (1987)

Money. Harlem was all about money. Eric B. and Rakim made it clear that they had it, and there was never any problem getting it! The Dapper Dan Gucci sweatsuits, the huge rope chains… The aesthetic of it all represents a very transitional era in the development of Hip-Hop music.

16. Ice Cube, Death Certificate (1991)

Ice Cube next to Uncle Sam’s corpse. No further explaining to do.

17. Missy Elliott, Supa Dupa Fly (1997)

Missy Elliott has always held more swag than most artists in the music industry, remaining humble and subtly stunting on everyone! This cover embodies exactly who she is; chilling for the moment… but don’t forget that she’s fly.

18. Wu-tang Clan, Enter the Wu-tang: 36 Chambers (1993)

This album cover is actually kind of wild. Firstly, no face, no case. Secondly, does the guy in the front have a finger gun? This album cover is great for its immense mystery.

17. Jay-Z, The Blueprint (2001)

Jay-Z wearing a Rocawear jean jacket smoking a cigar. He won.

16. A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders (1993)

The various facial expressions in the background, the bulging eyes… What do we look at first?! This album cover is great because it leaves so much space for interpretation, the colors on the cover represent so many things, and everyone would formulate their own meaning.

15. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

We need to take over the White House… and keep it. Bring our culture, our families, our music… make it OUR country. Simply put.

14. Kanye West, The College Dropout (2004)

We all know the bear. This bear costume (that Kanye FOUND, by the way) looks like any college student during the longest finals week ever: TIRED. The album cover is warm, relatable, and not complex; perfect in a sense.

13. Grandmaster Flash, The Source (1986)

Do we start off with the fly guy with this legs crossed, or old boy with the red leather hat to match his shoes? This album cover embodies the true start of Hip-Hop. B-boys, spitting bars in New York City’s uptown train station, even down the pager on homeboy’s hip!

12. Snoop Doggy Dogg, The Doggfather (1996)

The Godfather is a critically acclaimed cult classic, and Snoop Dogg actually might’ve done something, by simply switching 2 letters! This was Snoop’s final album on Death Row Records under his name of Snoop Doggy Dogg, and he was owning the game. The West coast made no moves without you hearing about Snoop, rightfully making him the Doggfather.

11. NWA, Straight Out of Compton (1988)

One of the most controversial groups, with one of the most rebellious albums of all time. These young men all banded together and shook the West coast with words that everyone in Compton couldn’t bring themselves to say.

10. The Fugees, The Score (1996)

Firstly, Lauryn Hill AND Wyclef Jean on ONE album cover… That’s art. The beauty lies in the minimal yet intense typography, and the 3 beautiful black faces.

9. Nas, Illmatic (1994)

This kid is too cute. Too cute for the cover, and too cute for the hood he reigns from. Nas showed that everyone was suffering and surviving, even the young.

8. Master P, The Ghettos Tryin To Kill Me! (1994)

The lace bra hanging from Master P’s name, the Boosie fade, my man creeping in the window “Cell Therapy” style… The lo-fi quality wraps it all together, you feel like you’re watching a movie, and you’ve barely even looked at the cover.

7. DMX, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)

This album cover is bloody and gory, in every sense. Its beauty lies in the naive state of such a “Ruff” guy, and almost goes to show that the black man is one of the most sensitive species.

6. Redman, Dare Iz a Darkside (1994)

Redman is stuck buried in this Children of the Corn looking field, and its freaking me out. I love it.

5. Outkast, Stankonia (2000)

This album cover is great for 3 reasons: One, Andre 3000 was having an amazing hair day. Two, so was Big Boi. Thirdly, it calls out the entire country, so subtly, being a black and white world. We all knew… But did we really know?

4. Gang Starr, Daily Operation (1992)

Gang Starr is really giving off intellectual and successful vibes, and who doesn’t love that? “The goal is money, and this is how we get it. Don’t ask no questions, I thought this through.” Guys from the hood are smart too!

3. Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Return of the 36 Chambers (1995)

Have you seen the O.D.B tv special, where he took America into the food stamp office in Brooklyn, and got his money right? This man never cared, was never too embarrassed to live his life and let whoever wanted to look come and see. Hoping his unbothered soul is resting in peace.

2. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die (1994)

Foreshadowing? This was Biggie’s debut album, and just as his career was being born, he was ready to die. Sadly, he would pass away 2 years after its release. But in those 2 short years, he conquered the world. He started off on top, and he achieved what he needed to; he was truly ready to die.

1. Geto Boys, We Can’t Be Stopped (1991)

This man… Is in a hospital bed. The rap trio is standing in a hospital, posed for an ALBUM COVER. Who was stopping the Geto Boys? NOTHING! They literally cannot be stopped, no matter the circumstance. This cover is full of hustle and desire to reach success, and has to be respected as THE most memorable. Who’s forgetting this?

Do you have any albums you think should’ve been on this list? Leave a comment below and let us know!

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Photo Credit: @Richhomiequan

Rich Homie Quan‘s latest project Back To The Basics is here. RHQ’s major debut is taking a while to drop but he’s still making music to keep you dancing.

The new Motown Records signee released the new set on Friday after teasing fans with tracks like “Replay,” “Da Streetz,” “Heart Cold,” and “Word Of Mouth,” and the streets are loving it.

Rich Homie Quan/ Twitter

Aptly named, Rich Homie takes it back to square one on the 11-track set with a blend of party music and vivid storytelling which first got the blogosphere buzzing about him in 2013.

This time around, Rich Homie mixes it up and keeps his audience entertained with creative aesthetics. The project title as well as Rich Homie’s look in the visual to “Da Streetz” points to influences from Jamaican dancehall artist, Beenie Man.

And if you listen closely to his delivery on the hook you’ll hear inflections of dancehall reggae as well.

I ain’t know nothing ’bout no drink until the age of 13 I ain’t know nothing’bout no money ’til the age of 14

Do you notice it in the video below?

Though it’s something new coming from Rich Homie, it’s not new to hip-hop.

The trend of hip-hop artists employing dancehall reggae music in their body of work was showcased in the 80s and 90s by various hip-hop artists including KRS-One, and A Tribe Called Quest.

In the last two years, there’s been a resurgence of reggae music in hip-hop with both old-school and new-school artists like Jada Kiss, Tory Lanez, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar.

So it wouldn’t hurt for RHQ to dabble in it a bit. Fans are quite thrilled to have him back either way while they wait for his studio album to drop.

Back To The Basics is all RHQ save one guest appearance from Jamaican-American artist, Cyko. Stream the new project on Spotify and view the Back To The Basics visual below.

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The post Rich Homie Quan Gets ‘Back To The Basics’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Thursday’s are prime time, little did you know! It’s the Friday before Friday, the breath before the break, the eye of the storm. Here are some tunes that will roll you over into the end of your busy work week, or get that 4-day weekend started.

1. Rihanna – Consideration (ft. SZA)

2. Miguel – Coffee

3. The Notorious B.I.G – Party and Bullsh*t

4. WZRD – Teleport 2 Me, Jamie

5. LION BABE – Rockets

6. Jesse Boykins III – Prototype (COVER)

7. Kendrick Lamar – Night of the Living Junkies

8. De La Soul – Buddy (ft. A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Monie Love, and Queen Latifah) 

9. Stevie Wonder – Jungle Fever

10. Frank Ocean – Songs for Women 

11. Chance the Rapper – Juice

12. Soul II Soul – Back to Life (Acapella)

13. Stwo – Fill the Void (ft. Amir Obe and Daniel Caesar)

14. Tyler, the Creator – She (ft. Frank Ocean)

15. LL Cool J – Hey Lover (ft. Boyz II Men)

Listen and comment what you think below. Stay thirsty, and finish off strong readers!

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Following their socially-charged clip for “We The People,” legendary Hip-Hop group A Tribe Called Quest have liberated a beautiful new video for “Dis Generation,” the latest single to be taken from last year’s release We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service.

Directed by Hiro Murai (Atlanta) and premiered courtesy of Noisey, the black-and-white visual sees Q-Tip, Jarobi White, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and extended member Busta Rhymes in a continuously-moving scene of travelers, concert attendees and parking lot loiterers. The late Phife Dawg — who tragically passed away last year from diabetes complications — can be heard throughout.

Check out “Dis Generation” below (which they also recently performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!) and pick up We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service here. In related news, the Tribe will be hitting up some festival dates this Summer, including Pitchfork, FYF, Panorama and (Europe’s) Parklife.

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Just a week ago, A Tribe Called Quest returned from their hiatus with their 16-track album We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service. The well-known conscious group of lyricist are back waking people up with their newest visual, “We The People…”

This track is no drop off from how they once were and the video isn’t either. The visual addresses nearly every issue we face in America today. Watch how the group’s rap rally gather citizens through various forms of media outlets to discuss the xenophobia, homophobia, racism, and media control that this country suffer from today. Late member Phife Dawg also appears in the video as an animated graffiti portrait, rapping. Watch A Tribe Called Quest’s woke video for “We The People.”

Their recently released 16-track album The new album We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service will give you an clear indication of what hip-hop used to sound like. The album has guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Elton John, André 3000, Consequence, Busta Rhymes, and more.

Watch A Tribe Called Quest’s woke video for “We The People.”

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