By: SB

SuperbBeatmaker Interview

The post SuperbBeatmaker Talks Balancing Family, Music & Career appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

You can check out the dates below. Tickets can be locked in here come this Friday.

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A post shared by DMX (@dmx) on Feb 4, 2019 at 10:02am PST

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The 45 year old rapper was released from a year long sentence stemming from an arrest in 2017 after federal prosecutors in New York say he concocted a multi-year scheme to hide millions in income from the IRS and skirt $1.7 million in existing tax liabilities.

Last March, he was sentenced for tax fraud after admitting in November of 2017 to evading over a million in taxes.

The post Every Dog Has His Day: DMX is Finally A Free Man appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Mad Skillz may have hung his MC hat up for turntables, but the veteran emcee kicked off 2018 showing Uncle Murda why he’s listed as one of the most sought-after emcees in Hip-Hop.

For nearly twenty years, fans heavily anticipate the annual year-end “Rap Up” from Skillz which reflects over the previous year, over the last few years Uncle Murda among many others have “borrowed” Skillz concept to recreate their own. However, the G-Unit artist stepped into the crosshairs after he told Power 105.1‘s The Breakfast Club that he and Skillz were “arguing” online over the song.

“I told him, ‘I took your sh*t, homie. You know how Brooklyn do. I took your sh*t.’”

It seems as if Skillz was tired of giving passes because right before he addressed Murda he released the following screenshot revealing that the two were not “arguing.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdfhEQpnhML/?taken-by=skillzva

Not only did Skillz release the screenshot refuting the claim, but he also used the radio interview clip to open the lyrical thrashing dropping the diss right as DJ Envy asks what Skillz had to say and his response taking us back to 1998 to the Ruff Ryder/Rocafella/Murder Inc. collab “Murdergram.”

The opening verse alleges that in 2015, DJ Clark Kent contacted Skillz suggesting a collaboration between the two after hearing Murda’s version of the song; to which Skillz declined.

“I’m like, ‘Clark. You must be faded / Why the f*ck would I collab’ on some sh*t that I created?’ / Y’all jaded / If you don’t get the f*ck off my phone / And tell that old-faced-ass ni**a to leave me alone / Get gone.’ Clark you know I ain’t that dude/ yeah I done fell back from Rap but don’t get it confused. Shit lit my fuse/ Yiu wouldn’t call Hov and say 21 Savage wanna do 22 2s.”

The diss goes on stating that Murda signed to G-Unit 10 years too late and aims at his project  Respect The Shooter, which was released after Murda was shot. Skillz also drags the former Roc-A-Fella artist pointing out that he isn’t a Top 20 Brooklyn bred MC  before going on to list Brooklyn spitters M.O.P., Masta Ace, Joey Bada$$, Joell Ortiz, Skyzoo and Fabolous as all being the elite.

We are not sure where this will go, but one thing is for certain, it is great to have 2018 kick off with lyrics and a diss for the culture.

Check out the diss and the interview that triggered it below.

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The post Mad Skillz Kicks Off 2018 with “Murda Gram” Aimed at Uncle Murda For Copying “Rap Up” [Listen] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Who remembers the above video? That’s NYC Hip-Hop vet DMX, who decided to “perform” a remix of the classic holiday jingle “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” during a visit to The Breakfast Club back in 2012. Now, as part of Spotify’s Singles Holiday Playlist, fans now get to hear an official version of DMX’s remix, produced by Divine Bars.

The Christmas theme music you didn’t know you really wanted can be streamed below.

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The post DMX Really Recorded His Own Version of “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” 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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The post 25 of Hip Hop’s Most Memorable Album Covers appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

After more than two years of hitting the studio and dropping teasers, DMX and Swizz Beatz have finally decided to bless fans with new music to kick off 2017.

With their new single “Bane iz Back,” Swizz and X are hitting hard with classic production and bars from X ripping anyone who stands in his way. Packed with gritty, braggadocio bars and his signature in-your-face attitude, the track is a prime example of an old school vet taking the reigns back.

“Man cats now a days be spittin that f**k s**t/Bird ass ni**as spittin’ that duck s**t/ I’m from the old school and that there we don’t f**k with/Been locked down on lock down, suck a d**k”

No word on whether the single will appear on X’s long-awaited follow up to his 2012 Undisputed album, but earlier this month, in an interview with DJ Whoo Kid, Swizz spoke again of new music from DMX. This time, revealing that X was more focused and had “converted himself.”

“See, the thing is you can always want something for somebody, but they have to want that for themselves. Right? Like, we can all want DMX 100,000 times. But if he’s not mentally there and spiritually there, it’s an empty space. This man’s been showing up to the studio before me, been showing up to shows before me, being on time.”

Soon after, Swizz posted an image on his Instagram account of a gold skull with silver teeth and the letters “DMX” emblazoned over it, which fans originally suspected was the cover art to the new album, but now know it’s the cover to the new single. Either way, if “Bane iz Back” is the preview of what we can expect from X’s new project, we are all for it.

Check out the new single below:

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The post DMX and Swizz Beatz Team Up for New Single “Bane iz Back” [Listen] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.