Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell caught up with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio. Photo Credit: The Scoop B Brand

Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell chat with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson and name their gospel music Mount Rushmore on Scoop B Radio.

“In the corners of my mind, I just can’t seem to find a reason to believe, that I can break free! Cause you see I have been down for so long, feel like the hope is gone, but as I lift my hands, I understand, that I should praise you through my circumstance!”

Even if you’re the most casual gospel music listener, you’ll attribute the lyric above to multi-Grammy Award winning gospel group Mary Mary and their single, “Shackles” (Praise You) from their 2000 Thankful album.

If it doesn’t ring a bell like Sunday’s at 12 o’clock, perhaps you’re more familiar with sisters, Erica and Tina Campbell from their WE tv reality television show, Mary Mary which shows the day and the life of the two balancing marriage, motherhood, career and holding on to their faith.

Nonetheless, the two bridge the gap between respected gospel artists like Andrae Crouch, Shirley Caesar, Daryl Coley, Dottie Peoples, John P. Kee, Yolanda Adams and more.

In American history, former United States Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are encapsulated as  iconic symbols of the United States thanks to a sculpture in Keystone, South Dakota,

Sports took hold of that and remixed it. While doing an interview with NBA TV’s Steve Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James listed his Mount Rushmore of NBA players that includes: Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson.

James added that he’d one day be “one of the top four that’s ever played this game.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wasn’t too pleased with that list and being left out, telling the Salt Lake Tribune’s Aaron Falk:

“I don’t know what LeBron was thinking. He didn’t even see Bill Russell play. He has no idea what Bill Russell did. Eleven championships in 13 years? Eight in a row? LeBron isn’t going to get anywhere near that. I don’t get it. And here he didn’t want Bill Russell on his Rushmore. I think today’s players have a very limited perspective on the game.”

But I digress.

In the day and age where everything is debatable here’s a query for ya: Is there such thing as a gospel music Mount Rushmore?

“That’s a good question,” Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell told me on Scoop B Radio.

Well, Google says no.

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson are carved into Mount Rushmore. Photo Credit: South Dakota Tourism

So guess what? Mary Mary has now created the first gospel Mount Rushmore!

“I would say Marvin Winans, Darryl Coley, Yolanda [Adams] and Donnie McClurkin,” said Erica Campbell.

Easy breezy, right?

Tina Campbell took us back further in the gospel music registry.

“The Clark Sisters,” Mary Mary’s Tina Campbell told Scoop B Radio.

For those tardy to the party, the Clark Sisters are literally five people. Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise Clark Bradford, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Karen Clark Sheard.

For those keeping score at home, The Clark Sisters, Ha-Ya was sampled by Jay-Z and Beyonce on 4:44’s Family Feud.

Start the video at the 1:01 mark to check it out.

But back to Mary Mary: Yo, a Mount Rushmore has four people!

But who cares?

This sounds interesting Tina, keep it going!

“Harvey Watkins Jr., Shirley Caesar, because she’s a beast,” she said.

The last of the Mount Rushmore??

“Commissioned,” she said.

That’s more than one person! That’s like a whole entourage, literally.

The original members of the Detroit, Michigan gospel group were Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Keith Staten, Karl Reid, Michael Brooks, and Michael Williams. The group made hits like “Love Is The Way,” “Running Back To You” and “Ordinary Just Won’t Do.”

Commissioned’s “I Can’t Live Without You” is a classic

For the gospel historians out there, Marvin Sapp was once a member of the group.

The group would go on to have solo careers with Hammond and Sapp having mega success. Evander Holyfield once used Fred Hammonds Glory To God as his entrance music to fight Mike Tyson and others. 

While on the topic of individual careers, Tina Campbell’s new album, It’s Still Personal drops this Friday, September 29. “Too Hard Not Too,” is the first single from the album and it’s decent.

Collectively, Erica and Tina celebrate season six of their reality show Mary Mary which debuts Thursday night on WE tv. Both sisters held a screening of the new season at The Cutting Room in New York City. “We are excited about the final season, we have enjoyed sharing our lives with our fans,” said Erica Campbell.

Erica hosts the four-hour nationally syndicated radio show, Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell.

While both are celebraing individual success, the two are expected to produce another joint album. “There will be another Mary Mary album–but I just can’t tell you when,” joked Tina Campbell.

The new journey starts this Thursday on WE tv.

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The post Scoop B: Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell & Tina Campbell Name Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Others To Gospel Music Mount Rushmore appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The Knicks’ 90s glory days are long-gone. The club has just three winning seasons in the past 16 years. At 27-42, the Knicks stand at 12th in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. After the loss to the Nets last night at MSG, they officially clinched their fourth consecutive losing season. Man oh man, the ’90s Knicks were a team that New York City still holds in high regard and misses. John Starks, Charles Oakley, the late Anthony Mason, Doc Rivers and of course, Patrick Ewing.

Ewing played 17 years in the NBA, 15 of those as a Knick before he was traded to the Seattle Supersonics for Vin Baker. Ewing finished his career averaging 21 points and a shade under 10 rebounds per game. Ewing and the Knicks had some memorable moment. Lets see, there was the time in 1990 when the Hoya Destroya scored 51 points on Kevin McHale, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird at The Garden.  ​

Hey, remember Game 5 of the ’94 Finals when he pummeled Olajuwon, scored 25 points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocks on the Olajuwon-led Rockets. There was also that 22 points, 22 rebounds and 7 assist outing in game 7 of the 1994 NBA Playoff Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. That game sealed the deal and propelled the Knicks to the ’94 Finals against the Houston Rockets.

Simply put, Ewing was the man in N-Y-C.

Rapper, Pusha T thinks so too, apparently. Appearing on today’s episode of Scoop B Radio Overtime, the rapper who reps both NYC and Virginia to the fullest chatted about some of his all-time favorite sports uniforms. He likes the old Washington Bullets uniforms from the days of Wes Unseld. The Bullets, of course are now the Washington Wizards. The Wizards even retro’ed thos unifors a time or two when Michael Jordan made a brief cameo on that team. The team has even incorporated a similar design to their current uni’s to make it whole. Someone get Mitchell & Ness on the line! We need that Jordan Throwback.

But I digress.

The meat and potatoes of the interview with King Push was his admiration for that Knicks squad that were both hustle and muscle and the nostalgia of even Spike Lee donning the orange and blue fabric. “Definetly the Knicks, of course,” Pusha T told me.

“You gotta remember. For example, like, the Knicks, if I was messing with the Knicks, it was like there was a Ewing component to it. Or a Spike Lee Component to it. They were so culturally relevant at the time. They were champions of the team and they were like to me, cool guys! So I was like oh man, this is fresh. Anyrhing they put on was fresh. They were definetly representing the Knicks organization at that time.”

Spike Lee, like Jack Nicholson is probably the original super fan; the orginiator. His engagement with players is what stands out. Who can forget his classic duels with Reggie Miller?

The new Knicks are nothing worth watching, but the nostalgia of the old Knicks, still lives on.

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The post Pusha T on Patrick Ewing, Spike Lee & 90s Knicks: “They were so culturally relevant at the time” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo by
Martin C. Pariseau ©

Kevin Celestin uploaded his first track, “Voices from Heaven,” onto Soundcloud almost a year and a half ago. Since then, the Montreal based, Haitian-born producing machine has earned more than 13  million plays off of his signature style of fruity loop beats. Barely two years into the game, this 21 year-old has made his mark by seamlessly mixing  elements of hip hop, R&B,  black soul, and electronic music into groovy jams we just can’t get enough of. Maybe it’s because his impressive sample pool includes favorites like Janet Jackson, Amerie, K-OS, Robert Glasper, and Missy Elliot? Or maybe it’s because his last music video, “At All,” finally gave us a reason to get up and go to the gym? Either way, this young talent has a lot to offer and his fans are more than eager to pick up everything he’s putting down. If you’ve managed to catch him live during the past year, we’re sure you can agree that 2014’s breakout producer, Kaytranada, is definitely not one to be slept on any longer.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

Which one of your upcoming tour dates are you most excited about?

I’m excited to go to Europe. Actually this weekend I’m doing the Wildlife 2014 show with Disclosure , so I’m pretty excited about that. The do-over for the Coachella after party- I don’t know when its happening, or whats up with that- but I’m really excited for that show too.

Is tour wearing you out right now? You’ve been on the road almost all year!

Yup, but I’m having a break right now. I’m just chilling for the next three more months.

What’s your favorite part about performing live?

I don’t know. I really love having a good crowd response. I don’t really have a favorite part about mixing except for just playing around and doing stupid stuff. The fact that I can do whatever I want is great. Just playing with two songs at the same time and getting a good transition is pretty cool. But definitely the crowd is my favorite. I like it when the crowd gets hype and has a great response.

What are your secrets to keeping yourself a awake and alive with such a crazy tour schedule?

I don’t even know- maybe just drinking water. I started drinking water for the last two months and it really helped me get back.

Wait, you never drank water before?

Yeah, you know, the way I eat and the way I drink is not really healthy. Just having water has really helped me.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

I know you were in Brooklyn in the fall for the Electronic Music festival, and you were also there recently recording “My Block” for Mobb Deep’s new album. How do you feel about Brooklyn as a music center right now?

I really love Brooklyn. I wanna live in Brooklyn, but its way too expensive. It’s about money right now, so I can’t live in Brooklyn. But I get excited every time I come to Brooklyn- just New York in general.

Any crazy stories from the last time you were there?

Not really much. Pretty much the fact that we partied. There was this weird after party in my hotel after the festival. Its not really a big story, but in the other room Tommy Kruise was chillin, having another after party and we got to go back and forth. Its not really a crazy story, but it was fun.

I heard you used to dance and draw before you were completely committed to music. What kind of dancing were you doing?

I was just doing Hip Hop dances, you know, back when the Harlem Shake was hot. I’m still the Harlem Shake god, I’m lot gonna lie. And you know when Jersey club dances were really hot?  They’re still hot, but you know, when there was a lot more excitement about dances like the sponge bob and stuff.

What kind of art were you into?

I used to draw a lot, I used to dance a lot, and I was really into every kind of art. I was growing up listening to music with my dad- whatever he would listen to- and he used to paint, too, so painting was really interesting to me. Really any kind of art was interesting to me- dance, music, whatever.

Are these things you still get to play around with in your free time, or are you still too busy with music now?

I feel like I’m not doing anything at all right now [laughs]. I’m off of tour and I’m really just chilling. I’m not doing much production, even though I try to be creative. My creative block is really hard to get over. Sometimes I go to other people’s studios to try and collab with other producers. Actually that’s what I’m thinking about right now. I don’t do any other types of art. I wish I could get back into drawing and painting- all the other types of art I used to do- but music really just took over everything.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

What do you usually do when you have creative block? What are your rituals or pick me ups?

I’m always looking for inspiration. So I’ll go to other people’s studios, not to bite their style or anything, but just to see them making beats. That really inspires me as well. I also listen to brand new records- like a Brazilian sample or another type of foreign sample will inspire you to make a beat or any kind of new stuff. I just keep listening to stuff I’ve never heard before.

What are favorite places to crate-dig in Montreal?

My favorite is called Aux 33 Tours and its great. They have a lot of secret jams in there, and a bunch of Montreal stuff. I just got into the Montreal jams. I never dug into there and I never new they had some crazy shit.

Really?

Yeah they do

No, I’m not surprise they have great music from Montreal; I’m just surprised that you were never into Montreal music. So what did you usually dig for before you started looking up music from Montreal, just American music?

Yeah, just soul music, new wave. I never really checked the soul music for sampling, I just really like to listen to soul music on my own. For sampling I just checked on the grooves, new wave, psychedelic rock. In Montreal I’ve been sleeping on the Canadian stuff, but I’m learning that they do have a lot of crazy good stuff.

What do you usually order when you go to La Banquise?

Oh, I’ve never been actually, I know it’s crazy! I always plan on going after I party or something, but I’ve never been ever in my life. No one ever wants to go when I want to go, so I always go to this other spot that’s sort of looks like La Banquise. My friend went and he told me its not all that, so whatever. It is the most talked about spot. I’m sure it’s one of the best in Montreal for poutine.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

How do you get inspired when you’re looking for cover art for your music?

I just get inspired by old records and the fact that they used to draw and make illustrations for covers. That’s what inspires me to make covers with illustrations.

Do you make all of your cover art?

I used to back in the day when I used t make the beat tapes; you know, just an easy photoshop effect and that’s what I used to do with the beat tapes. Now I’m just trying to do photographs with a cool lens or a rare picture. I just like covers without the title.

Some of my favorite covers that you have is the “Massively Massive” cover with the sloth and everything, as well as the “Charles Barkley” cover. Both of those were covers for The Celestics. Can you talk a little bit about the Celestics and your music relationship with your brother?

Yeah, The Celestics is something that we planned way back before the Kaytranada thing got big. We wanted to be famous together, and eventually that didn’t happen. Now we’re trying to make that happen with the next mixtape we’re working on. It’s called “Supreme Laziness,” and it’s about to be a good album. It’s going to show a lot of what I was doing on the hip hop site, because lately I’ve been dropping more electronic stuff and that’s what people know me as. But I’m still on the hip hop tip and I’ve just been saving all of the good beats for my brother for this project. I really want this project to be big.

Is your brother older or younger than you?

He’s younger. He’s 19.

Are you the oldest?

No my two sisters are the oldest

You have one video on your YouTube channel right now, “At All,” which is hilarious. What was it like working on that video project?

The video idea and concept came from my friend Martin Pariseau. He did the Tommy Kruise video, the brand new one. He came up with the idea for the muscle girls and the whole thing about it. I wasn’t really down with the idea, but when we started filming I thought it was kind of nice, so I didn’t get made about it. Actually it was fun, getting carried by the muscle girls, and getting in the gym hanging out with the body builder girls. People in the gym were looking around us like, “Whoa, what is going on?,” but it was a really fun day.

Any more videos you’re thinking about doing in the future?

Yeah, I’ll probably do more videos by the same director maybe, because he has a lot of good ideas. I would definitely like to do Celestics videos with him. He’s a good director, you should check him out.

I heard you’re a basketball fan, is that right?

Yeah, I’m really into the vintage basketball.

What’s your team?

Back in the day I loved the Celtics with Larry Bird and everyone in there. Also I like the Atlanta Hawks but really it’s not about a favorite team. It’s more about how cool it was the NBA back in the day. I can’t really remember exactly how it was in detail, but I remember how much more exciting and raw it felt. The stories behind the vintage NBA thing, there’s some good stories in there.

Are you team Playstation or Xbox?

I have an Xbox at home. I wish it was a Playstation ’cause you know the Xbox has a lot of problems. Like in the last days of Xbox 360 you really wish you had a Playstation 3. My next console is definitely a Playstation 4.

Games?

Fighting games like Mortal Kombat. I’m still into the old school games. Marvel vs. Capcom, I got that on Gamecube. I’m more of a retro dude with the old school games and the wrestling games.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

What are you listening to right now on your Ipod?

I’m listening to Brazilian music right now like Bossanova. There’s this singer called Gal Costa and she’s really dope. And I’m mostly listening to that new Freddie Gibbs and Madlib record. I really love that album. I think it’s by far going to be the best album of the year, for real. I’m a big Madlib fan and I’ve been waiting for an album for years. So, I was really happy when it came out and its a good album.

Are you fluent in French?

Yeah I speak French and Creole. I have a French accent from Montreal. I really speak French at home; we speak French, Creole, and English all mixed together

Obviously you have a lot of support from Canada, but you also have a huge fanbase here in the States as well as around the world. How does that feel?

I don’t know, sometimes it just happens. I know a lot of people may not listen to Canadian music and underestimate it just because it’s Canadian. It’s really awesome that they like me, I’m not mad about that, especially because the American music really influenced me. It influenced the whole world really. So the fact that I’m in there and doing it, that means I did it right since Americans like me.

Do you really think people underestimate Canadian music right now, even with Drake and Justin Bieber and all that?

Yeah everyone except Drake and Justin Bieber. I’m talking about like Chaos, High Klassified,  Julie Black and all these other dope people. There’s more than just Drake and Justin Bieber.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

I know you got your first name, “Kaytradamus” from Nas’ album Nastradamus and then you changed it Kaytranada when Flosstradamus blew up first. Is Nastradamus actually your favorite Nas album?

I haven’t heard Nastramadus because everyone says its a wack album. That’s at least what I’ve heard.

You should check it out. It’s not my favorite either, though, but I like God’s Son after Illmatic.

I love God’s Son. Illmatic, I like it, but I don’t think it’s the greatest greatest album. I really like his newest album, too. Nas has problems picking good beats, that’s what bugs me with Nas, that’s it. But it’s okay because his voice is dope and whatever he says is ill. He has a nice flow, and God’s Son is probably one of my favorite albums from him.

What was the first album you ever bought?

My first album I ever bought with my own money was Clipse’s Lord Willin’ and it kind of changed my life.

Have you met Flosstradamus yet? Do you ever mention the name thing?

I saw them and they weren’t talking to me. They don’t know me, so I might as well not talk to them.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

What music production software do you use?

I’ve never changed it up, I’m still a fruity loops guy. I’m not gonna try anything else other than fruity loops right now.

How long does it usually take you to make your synths?

They actually take me a long time, because the way I work is kind of weird. I don’t have any midi keyboards and stuff, it’s all done by mouse and typing on the keyboard. I just take my time to get the perfect bass line and then add the synths. I just play roads to get the key in the chords right so I can create new melodies. I just change the preset and put my own signature synths and any other dope shit. All that is done in about 25 minutes because I usually take time with my cords.

How do u know when a song is finally finished?

It just depends how you feel [and] how excited you are over it. If you feel your beat and you’re like , “Oh this song is done, alright it’s perfect, ” that’s good. Sometimes it’s only half done or something and you just have you to work on that a little later. Or sometimes I’ll decide I’m just never going to work on it again and start something else.

Who do you want to collaborate with the most right now?

There are so many people I want to collab with, but Erykah Badu is definitely the main. Other than that, I don’t care. I just want people to understand me, so I can understand them and we can just click. The only other person I can think of is Madlib, but I know he doesn’t collab; he only collaborates with rappers not beat makers. Oh, and Flylo and Thundercat.

What are you excited about for the summer?

I’m gonna do a bunch of festivals. I’m also doing a European tour with Sango and Stwo in the beginning of July. Also I’m gonna do a bunch of festivals and looking forward to being home. Last year I just missed summer so I’m looking forward to staying home.

How was your family been reacting to your new fame?

They really like it. They didn’t really understand it at first. They didn’t want me to be just a DJ or a producer because they didn’t know what that means. It’s hard to explain to Haitian parents what that is. But eventually with the tour they see that that I’m out and touring, doing something serious. Then they saw the money coming in so they were like, “Okay you’re doing something great .” Now they can’t really say anything [laughs]. But they are proud of me.

I know you  said your brother is a rapper. Are there any other professional musicians in your family?

My dad used to be in a music group back in the day when I was a little kid. My dad was the singer and the group was called “Moustique” which means Mosquito. It didn’t really have big success. My mom used to sing gospel in churches and stuff like that. My sister is a singer, also.

Do you sing?

I don’t sing. I wish it could. I would kill the game. That’s my dream, but I can’t sing so it sucks. My sister used to play clarinet too. We all were involved in music. I think my dad kind of forced us, but now I really understand why he did that. Its really cool to have musicians in the family.

Who in your family are you most alike?

Really, only my brother. My sister is crazy like me, but we’re all crazy. My two sisters are the oldest.

If Jaydee was still alive what’s one thing you’d been dying to ask him?

Can I have your drums? [Laughs.] I don’t even know, I don’t know how he’d be. Actually, I wouldn’t even talk to Jaydee because I respect him so much and I wouldn’t want to bother him. It’s like me when I saw Pharrell at the airport.

You didn’t say anything?

I didn’t say anything but he nodded at me.

So, he knew who you were.

Yeah, he nodded and I said, ‘Hey’ and just walked away [laughs].

You still get starstruck?

Oh yeah all the time. Talking to those people, those childhood heroes, is surreal.

If you happen to be across the pond this summer, make sure you check out Kaytranada on his European Tour!

The post Interview: Kaytranada, Soundcloud’s Newest Star appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Ski Beatz’ 24 Hour Karate School Pt. 2 is a producer compilation alongside Dame Dash that features top contenders in the game like Freddie Gibbs, Mikey Rocks and GLC. Of course, Maybach Music Group’s Stalley holds his own too with some strong bars on “Larry Bird.” Honoring the only man who kept Magic Johnson on his toes, this Shruti Parekh-directed video is short, but the single verse over a bassline riff is a cry for more “Black Larry Bird” tracks. Stalley’s reissue of The Lincoln Way Lights drops on November 1.

The post Video: Ski Beatz feat. Stalley – Larry Bird appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.