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.

Photo Credit: The Last American B-Boy

Blood Before Pride are paying homage to rap royalty in the new video for their debut single, “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun.” It’s a head-banging, rap-meets-rock cover of one of the Beastie Boys’ hardest tracks, and it features guest vocals from Brownsville bruisers Rock and Lil Fame.

Fronted by Staten Island’s own Phil Anastasia, and including group member, bassist Ryan Kienle of Matchbook Romance, Blood Before Pride are clearly ready to make some noise with this riff-heavy banger that sounds straight from the classic Judgment Night soundtrack. To that end, it’s a bit rowdier than the Beasties’ original that appeared on their seminal release, Paul’s Boutique, making it all the more unique.

And then there are the features from Lil Fame (of M.O.P.) and frequent collaborator Rock, the latter of whom’s new album was actually executive produced by Anastasia. Rather than simply add a few bars here and there, both rappers integrate perfectly into the vocals throughout the entirety of “Looking.”

The tag team-based approach makes for one of the better rap-rock combos to be released in a minute, and it certainly bodes well for BBP’s upcoming album, Mimesis, Catharsis, and the Imitation of Art in Life. Not only that, but it adds even more life to the spectacle of the video, which was directed by The Last American B-Boy.

Check out the visuals for “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun,” above, which is now available as the debut instant grat track off the iTunes’ pre-order  for Mimesis, Catharsis, and the Imitation of Art in Life, which is due out October 20 via Digital Deja Vu Records. The 12 track LP is now available for pre-order for digital download, and on CD through Fat Beats!

Album Pre-Order (Smart URL): http://smarturl.it/BloodBeforePride

Tracklist: Mimesis, Catharsis, and the Imitation of Art in Life 
01. The Colosseum
02. Move Units (feat. Sean Price)
03. The Revelation
04. The Storm
05. The Descent
06. The Unspoken
07. Stress
08. Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun (feat. Rock and Lil’ Fame)
09. The Plague
10. The Ascent

Twitter: 
• Blood Before Pride: https://twitter.com/blood_b4_pride
• Rock: https://twitter.com/_ROCKNESS_
• Fame: https://twitter.com/FameMOP

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The post #PeepTheVisual: Blood Before Pride (feat. Rock & Lil Fame) – “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Fans of gully, hard-bodied Hip-Hop should consider today a damned holiday with the release of “FaxMachine,” an all-out banger from Rock that features none other than M.O.P.

While the three Brownsville natives have worked together before in varying capacities, “FaxMachine” may just be their finest—and toughest—collaboration yet. The track is fueled by some wild production by Ford Tuff and Pascal Zumaque, whose beat sounds like an epic fight between the Autobots and Decepticons.

It’s only fitting then that Rock delivers a clever nod to the Transformers franchise when he spits that he and M.O.P. are like “the cannon on Megatron’s arm/ And that ain’t gon’ change just ‘cause MegaSean gone.” It’s that sort of subtle reminder that point out not only Rock’s love for his lost partner-in-rhyme—Sean Price, of Heltah Skeltah, who passed away on August 8th of 2015—but also that he’s more than prepared to do his thing on the solo tip. It’s been a long time coming for the emcee’s full-length debut, Rockness A.P., which is finally set to drop this Friday, September 22nd.

“FaxMachine” is the seventh and final instant grat track available for download off the iTunes’ pre-order for, Rockness A.P. and is now available for stream in its entirety, right here courtesy of RESPECT. In addition to M.O.P., the 14 track LP includes guest features from Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Ras Kass, Kuniva (of D12), Ron Browz, and more, and is executive produced by Phil Anastasia (of Blood Before Pride). The album is now available for pre-order on CD as well as through the digital retailer of your choice via Digital Déjà Vu Records.

Pre-Order Rockness A.P. (Smart URL): http://smarturl.it/RocknessAP

Tracklist:
01. Just Rap
02. Wishin (feat. Kuniva)
03. GW BaG
04. Camp-Wu (feat. Instpectah Deck, Method Man, & Tek & Steele)
05. Rumble for Me (feat. Kofi Black & Ron Browz)
06. O.G.
07. FaxMachine (feat. M.O.P.)
08. The Purge
09. Poof (feat. Buckshot)
10. Declaration (feat. Raekwon, Ras Kass & The Last American B-Boy)
11. Rockness A.P.
12. F.A.M. (feat. Young Noble)
13. Shine Down (feat. Kofi Black)
14. Da Streets Want Blood (Ron Browz Remix)

Twitter:
• Rock: https://twitter.com/_ROCKNESS_
• Billy Danze: https://twitter.com/BILLDANZEMOP
• Lil Fame: https://twitter.com/FAMEMOP

Rock Online:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocknessbcc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrRockness

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The post RESPECT. The Collab: Rock (feat. M.O.P.) – “FaxMachine” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

German-based producer Superior’s new video for “Rapper Shot” is a grimy, bad-ass take on your favorite Saturday morning cartoon—just with more hybrid-robo animals, epic space battles and explosions galore.

The video was put together by the team at StreetHearted Videos (M-Dot, King Keil), who were clearly inspired by this brassy banger. On its own, “Rapper Shot” is a hard-nosed posse cut featuring tough bars from Don Streat, Termanology, and Lil Fame; precise cuts from DJ Grazzhoppa on the hook; and a horns-driven instrumental courtesy of Superior.

And in its visual form, “Rapper Shot” transforms into a viewing experience that blends the slick style of Japanese anime with the explosive scenery of your favorite ‘80s action flick. All four of the featured artists are animated by the Street Hearted crew, and they eventually meet up with the all-powerful Superior to absolutely tear apart their nemeses headquarters. They also took out a rabid robo-bear because hey, why not?

Check out the visuals for “Rapper Shot” right here courtesy of RESPECT., and be sure to support Superior’s new album, The Journey, which is now available for pre-order via iTunes, and drops February 17 through all major digital retailers and streaming platforms through Below System Records. The 15 track LP will also be available on vinyl in limited quantities!

Tracklist: 
01. Make The World Go (feat. Blu & Edo G)
02. Guarantee That I mean That (feat. SkyBlew)
03. Earn It (feat. M-Dot & Revalation of EMS)
04. Superiority (feat. REKS)
05. Open Letter (feat. Lyric Jones)
06. Fleshed Out (feat. Shaman)
07. Burn (feat. Moe Pope & Mike P)
08. Supreme (feat. Wildelux)
09. Daylight Savings (feat. Mad Flows)
10. Onslaught (feat. Supreme Sol)
11. Mastermind (feat. Verbal Kent)
12. Rapper Shot (feat. Don Streat, Termanology, Lil Fame & DJ Grazzhoppa)
13. I Got You (feat. Rocdwell)
14. The Breakdown (feat. SPNDA)
15. Freedom (feat. Verbal Kent)

The Journey (Pre-Order): http://smarturl.it/SuperiorTheJourney

Vinyl Pre-Order Links:
• Below System Records: http://bit.ly/TheJourneyVinyl
• HHV: http://bit.ly/2j5K7Ws
• UGHH: http://bit.ly/2jJCPcS

Twitter:
• Superior: https://twitter.com/Superior_Prod
• Don Streat: https://twitter.com/DONSTREAT28348
• Termanology: https://twitter.com/TermanologyST
• Lil Fame: https://twitter.com/FameMOPreal
• DJ Grazzhoppa: https://twitter.com/DJGRAZZHOPPA

Superior Online:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superiorprod1
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/superior-productions-1

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The post #PeepTheVisual: Superior – “Rapper Shot feat”. Don Streat, Termanology, Lil Fame & DJ Grazzhoppa” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Where are they now? Take a look below.

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige has had her music featured on numerous film soundtracks, been featured magazine covers and has acted in film and television shows. She has also gone on to win 9 Grammys. Mary J. Blige is currently the host of Real Talk on Beats 1 Radio. The show premiered in November and has featured Jada Pinkett Smith, Tyrese Gibson, Demi Lovato and other guests.

The Notorious B.I.G.

May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997

On March 9, 1997,  The Notorious B.I.G. was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His double-disc album Life After Death, released 16 days later, rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in 2000, one of the few hip hop albums to receive this certification. Two more albums have been released since his death.

Foxy Brown

Foxy Brown is an American rapper, model, and actress. On August 14, 2012, Foxy Brown appeared as a special featured guest on Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Tour in New York City. On August 15, 2013, Foxy Brown appeared on MTV Rapfix and announced her fourth studio album tentatively titled Bandz Up and a single of the same name, produced by Joe Milly, which was set to be released December 24, 2013, but was not released for unknown reasons. Foxy has also had a slew of legal trouble and personal health issues regarding her hearing. Recently Brown said her hearing is fine now, and is excited about recording and performing again. According to NY Daily News, she also received a key to the city from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams recognizing her as one of the “Leaders of Tomorrow” for her music.

Memphis Bleek

Memphis Bleek currently hosts parties and making vlogs. Since Reasonable Doubt he discovered Rick Ross.

Sauce Money

In 2006, he appeared at Jay-Z’s ‘I Declare War’ concert to perform “Reservoir Dogs.” Sauce Money also released a 2008 single entitled “Listen 2 Me”, sampling the Oompa-Loompas from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Big Jaz

Besides being an emcee, he has produced songs for several hip hop artists other than Jay-Z, such as Group Home, M.O.P, Ras Kass, Rakim, Kool G Rap Neilleon and others.

Mecca

In 2014 his single “ZOOM ZOOM” was featured in numerous workout DVD’s as well as VH1’s Single Ladies and Fox’s Red Band Society, and then featured again in Chasing Life on ABC Family (now FreeForm) in 2015. His single “FLAT STOMACH” was the premiere single at the 2014 Labo Ethnik Fashion & Lifestyle week in Paris.

Pain in Da Ass

Has a budding acting career and continues to appear on multi-platinum albums.

DJ Clark Kent

DJ Clark Kent is a hip-hop DJ and producer. He is well known as a sneaker collector and has worked with Nike a handful of times in creating sneakers, many of them carrying his signature 112 look. According to SneakerNews.com, Kent has also teamed up with Adidas Originals under the Quickstrike monicker featuring a two-pack of classic three stripe silhouettes with subdued woodland camouflage accents throughout.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z has been a busy man since his Reasonable Doubt days. The 21 time Grammy winner is not only a music power house but a business mogul as well. His empire, according to Business Insider, includes:

Roc Nation, LLC 

An American entertainment company founded by rapper Jay-Z in 2008. The company has offices in New York City, London and Los Angeles. It is a full service entertainment company housing a record label, talent agency, touring and concert production company, music, film, and television production company as well as a music publishing house. The company is home to a diverse roster of recording artists, musicians and record producers such as J. Cole, Big Sean, Rihanna, Kanye West, Grimes, Demi Lovato, DJ Khaled, T.I. and Rita Ora. The company also has partnerships with global management companies Three Six Zero and Philymack. The firm has a multi-year partnership with live event company Live Nation. In June 2009, Roc Nation signed a 4-year distribution deal with Sony Music. In 2010, Roc Nation partnered with London-based entertainment company Three Six Zero Group. In February 2013, Roc Nation signed a worldwide music publishing administration deal with Warner/Chappell Music. In April 2013, Roc Nation formed a new sports management division, Roc Nation Sports, a subsidiary dedicated to sports representation for professional athletes. Shortly thereafter, Roc Nation Sports also launched a boxing promotion division. After the Sony deal expired, in April 2013, Roc Nation signed a multi-year partnership with Universal Music. In February 2015, Roc Nation and Three Six Zero Group announced the formation of Three Six Zero Entertainment, a division representing clients in film, television and the literary arts.

The New Jersey Nets

Jay-Z is a part owner of the NBA team the New Jersey Nets. Last year Forbes valued it at $269 million.

The 40/40 Club

Jay-Z founded The 40/40 club, a chain of sports bars with a club atmosphere. The club now has eight locations, including Tokyo and Macao.

The Spotted Pig

After investing in the semi-famous chic New York bistro in the West Village, Jay-Z bought the entire building. The place is Michelin-starred and doesn’t empty.

Rocawear

Jay-Z founded Rocawear back in 1995 and has promoted the hell out of it since, and it’s worked. He sold the company for $204 million in 2007, but retains creative and operational control.

Carol’s Daughter

Jay-Z co-owns the Carol’s Daughter line of perfumes and beauty products. The line has been featured on shows like the Tyra Banks Show and Oprah.

Decoded

Jay-Z is publishing a book called Decoded, built around his lyrics and that is, according to the WSJ, “a hybrid of music history, social commentary and memoir.”

What’s interesting here from a business perspective is the innovative promotion: Jay-Z got Microsoft to put up $1 million to promote the book as part of an initiative with Bing. Pretty cool.

Reebok

In a four-year partnership, Jay-Z became the first non-athlete to have a line of Reebok shoes named after himself, the S.Carter line, which was popular.

Budweiser Select

In 2006 he didn’t just star in ads for Budweiser Select, but he also helped craft them.

Cherry Cola, HP, Translation Advertising

Coca-Cola, the world’s greatest brand, brought in Jay-Z to advise on the redesign and relaunch of Cherry Coke. Most of these brand partnerships (Budweiser, Coke, HP) go through the ad agency Jay-Z cofounded with Steve Stoute, a serial entrepreneur who had sold his previous company to Interpublic, the third largest ad agency conglomerate.

To read up more on Reasonable Doubt, hit up the respect-mag.com site. It’s Jay Day, All Day Baby!

The post ‘Reasonable Doubt’: Where Are They Now appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Paterson, NJ’s Ran Reed first broke ground in the mid ‘90s. After building a substantial catalog under the tutelage of his fellow Garden State beatsmith/deejay, Nick Wiz (Rawkus Records, Rakim), the talented emcee/producer would eventually drop a retrospective greatest hits of sorts, in the form of Respect the Architect. Although this project wasn’t released until January of 2012, via No Sleep Recordings, it makes one wonder if his full potential has yet to be realized. Well it seems as if that’s all about to change as Reed gets set to drop a barrage of hay-makers in promotion of a forthcoming, full length effort.

Although a release date or title have yet to be determined, that hasn’t stopped the Silk City native from wetting our appetites with a taste of what’s to come. This ors d’oeuvres of sorts comes in the form of “Gun Boy Anthem,” which features the lyrical pandemonium of none other than Hip-Hop’s first family, M.O.P. Reed’s electrifying synths and racing drums welcomes his laid back, albeit menacing, flow that sets the stage for the reckless abandonment of Lil Fame and Billy Danze. If this is what we can expect on his album than it’s going to be a cold winter, better bundle up. Hit that play button below!

The post New Music: Ran Reed Feat. M.O.P – “Gun Boy Interlude” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The post New Music: Maticulous Feat. Masta Ace & Blu – “Bet Your Life” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.