Photographer Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio TV

Photographer, Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed checked in with Scoop B Radio podcast’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Press Play Below To Listen!

If you read articles on the internet then you’ve seen his work. Photographer Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed has photographed the latest and greatest.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama, Dwyane Wade, Jay-Z, Fabolous, DJ Khaled, P.Diddy and many more have been photographed under the keen lens of Calligrafist.

His photography is a bridge between fashion, lifestyle, hip hop and culture.

He’s everywhere!  Literally!

Homeboy’s work has appeared in reputable publications such as Billboard, ESPN, Bleacher Report, HBO, CBS Sports, Complex, Catch Restaurant, Reebok, Nike, Adidas, New York Fashion Week, DJ USA, Hot 97, Power 105.1, S.O.B.’s, Tidal, BET, VIBE, Mass Appeal, The Shade Room, Hype Beast, The Source Magazine, REVOLT, RESPECT Magazine, Bleu Magazine and Elliot Wilson and Brian ‘B.Dot” Miller’s Rap Radar.

All of that said…guess what? He’s not comfortable! 

“The kind of person that I am, I just want to do more,” Calligraist told RESPECT Magazine today by phone.

“This is just the beginning.” 

Forever Uptown… it’s a Harlem Thing. | #CalligrafistChronicles | www.CalligrafistPhotography.com

A post shared by Ismail اسما عيل Calligrafist™ (@calligrafist) on Dec 15, 2017 at 7:12pm PST

Harlem, NY bred and globally influenced, Calligrafist actually didn’t aspire to be a photographer. In fact, he fell in love with the art of graffiti and calligraphy; hence the nickname, ‘Calligrafist.’

A man of faith, the devout Muslim is college educated at Jamia Madinatul Uloom University in Trinidad & Tobago, where he studied Quranic Studies and Arabic reading and writing.

Calligrafist acknowledges seasoned hip hop photographers like Johnny Nunez and Jonathan Mannion  who have undoubtedly paved the way for on-the rise photographers such as himself. Calligrafist emphasizes that he’s glad to sit at the table with them and eat, while also gaining their respect for his skin in the game. “It’s genuinely cool to have intimate conversations with them,” he said.

“It’s more humbling that I am able to have direct access to people that I look up to like them and someone like Lenny S., DJ Clark Kent, Emory Jones, that have a name in the industry, people that have a place in the culture, for people to acknowledge me for more my work; that’s an honor. That’s more humbling. But it moves me to want to do more.”

For more information on Calligrafist and his photographic/art movement, visit www.calligrafistphotography.com and scroll up and press play to listen to our chat on Scoop B Radio! 

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The post Scoop B: Photographer Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed is a rising star who has stayed true to both his Islamic faith & his craft appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Indie artist JopauL chats with Scoop B Radio. Photo Credit: Jam Sphere

JopauL chats with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about a recent video shoot while appearing on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below To Listen!

I’ve written extensively about Staten Island, New York recording artist JopauL since Spring 2016. Proud to see his growth and what his future holds. 

JopaL and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Scoop B Radio

He’s talented and his story is inspirational. In today’s digital age, many artists choose the fast food method of success by simply being seen rather than building a firm foundation to reach the masses. For indie pop artist JopauL, visions of music began when he and his twin brother were in his mother’s womb. Their father would place big, bulky headphones on mom’s stomach and play songs like Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed” and Chicago’s “Saturday In The Park.”

Years later, his music interest is still intact. But now, he’s simply added a catalogue and a body of work.Previously choreographing and penning songs under the name Lyric Inforca, he often credits hip hop legend Ice-T for taking him under his wing early in his career. “He let me appear in promotional runs for Icewear and assist with a jingle for his old energy drink,” JopauL told me in Billboard last summer.

Along the journey, he’s been a business relations manager at Chase Bank and before that, remembers vividly driving a beat up 1992 Toyota Corolla. The doors were so broken that he had to climb through the windows to enter the driver’s seat. Those broken doors carry a symbolism that he’d never forget. “The doors that don’t get knocked down with force, doesn’t open up a path to righteousness,” he says.

“You can’t take no for an answer. If you don’t create your own opportunity, nobody is going to do it for you. It forced me to create my own opportunities and create my own path.”

Still working, still grinding, still staying relevant, his latest project is worth a view or two or three or ten!

Speaking of videos, make sure to press play at the top of the page and listen to JopauL’s appearance on Scoop B Radio where he discusses some of the crazy mishaps behind the scenes while filming the video for his single, “You Got It.”

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The post Scoop B: JopauL discusses journey & behind the scenes of recent Costa Rican video shoot appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Pop singer Inas X and sports and entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: The Scoop B Brand

Singer Inas X hit the blog world last week when she was spotted at the Sherri Hill fashion show and a Us Weekly bash in New York wearing a see-through top and no underwear.

That particular  trend seems to have been made popular by both Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez.

Inas X. Photo Credit: Getty Images

Inas X is a rising star who has dropped hits like “No Games,” “Open Letter,” “Stupid” and “Love Is.”

They’ve all buzzed in the last couple of years.

For the record, Love Is reached #11 on Billboard’s dance club songs charts. Inas X wrote “Love Is” after the Supreme Court ruled that states must allow same sex marriages.

She calls this her true identity song and her message is for others to know that they are all worthy of love no matter their gender or race. 

The track was remixed by Remy Boy Monty. Stupid, details a toxic relationship that Inas X couldn’t walk away from, no matter how many times she tried. The track featured  PnB Rock, with the video premiering on MTV.

On Scoop B Radio, Inas X discussed her rise and working in the studio with the likes of Timbaland.

Check Out Inas X and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chat on Scoop B Radio

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The post Scoop B Selects: Checking In With Rising Pop Star Inas X appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Fetty Wap is accomplished beyond measure after smash hits like 679, My Wap and Trap Queen that lit up the airwaves like Christmas in July.

The Paterson, NJ native won Billboard, BET and MTV awards for his accomplishments and many in the New York tri-state area are proud of his success.

With the success that he’s received, one person is complaining that business dealings with the artist have not gone successful. In an interview with DJ Tarzan and Cliff Po on the Henny & Redbull Podcast, local artist Muscle Team Fuzz who also produces and promotes club functions claims that he helped Fetty Wap build his brand during his climb. Muscle Team Fuzz, also from Paterson, NJ native says that while he and Fetty Wap have had no problems and thinks the world of Fetty Wap, he believes that Nitt da Gritt is responsible for changing Fetty Wap’s perception of him. From that, their business relationship went sour.

Listen To The Show Below

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The post Henny & Redbull Podcast: Muscle Team Fuzz Explains Why He, RGF, Fetty Wap Parted Ways appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Frank released his visual Endless just before Blond, which could be seen as a way of getting out of his Def Jam deal and being able to release Blond as a fully independent endeavor. Blond was released under Ocean’s own label.

Although the release of Endless and Ocean’s repayment of recording costs to Def Jam effectively fulfilled his contractual obligations to the label, the question remains as to whether UMG has the grounds to take legal action against Ocean for the Blond‘s release.

Additionally, Endless reportedly marks the last time Universal Music Group will ever do a streaming exclusive of any kind.

According to Billboard.com, this could cut out any revenue from the “proper” album that’s headed to the top of the charts on the strength of  225,000 to 250,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending August 25.

Besides the anticipation of the Billboard numbers for Ocean’s Blond, Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book became the first-ever streaming-only release to reach the Billboard 200 albums chart, debuting at No. 8 as an Apple Music exclusive in May.

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The post Frank Ocean’s ‘Blond’ is Available For Streaming on Pandora appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

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Luckily for fans, Breezy already has plans on the horizon for the months ahead, revealing that a new album is set for release this fall.

The upcoming project will be a follow up to the previous X production, which added heat to the streets last year.

If the last LP is anything to go by, we can expect something special from the “Autumn Leaves” artist, as he continues to put in work, bringing endless energy to the industry.

Although we don’t have much of an insight just yet, the recent single “Liquor” which surfaced online, is a joint from the new album, in accordance to Billboard.

As well as applying studio time dedicatedly, Chris Brown is more than occupied with his scheduled performance at the BET Awards, June 28th, which is sure to be fire at the least.

Not only this, but the One Hell Of A Nite tour is listed to be a major event, adjoining the hottest names, in Fetty Wap, Omarion, Teyana Taylor and Kid Ink.

Stay ready for a turnt up year, Breezy style.

The post Chris Brown Set To Drop A New Album This Fall appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.