Actor, rapper and producer Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson and sports and entertainment journalist Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Courtesy of Scoop Vision Media

50 Cent is probably one of the most brilliant minds you’ll ever meet. The creator of the Starz Network hit show, Power, 50 Cent’s brought you hits like: ‘In Da Club,’ ‘Wanksta,’ ‘Candy Shop,’ ’21 Questions,’ and a ton more.

Those songs are fan favorites, but one of the most underrated songs that 50 ever put out never went mainstream was ‘How To Rob.’

‘How To Rob’ was a single off 50’s Power of the Dollar album, 50 Cent’s first album.

Yes, his first album! Get Rich or Die Trying was 50’s second album. Power of the Dollar was originally set to be released in 2000 via Columbia Records.

It never dropped though because Columbia Records found out that 50 was shot nine times. Columbia dropped him, a huge mistake on Columbia’s part and a gain by 50 who went on to have a huge career with he and G Unit.

Quips at folks like late rapper ODB, hip hop legend Lil Kim, gospel singer Kirk Franklin, Bishop T.D. Jakes and other notables like Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and even late rapper Heavy D was 50’s way in the late ninetys/early 2000s that he was hungry and he was coming!

Heck, 50 let you know what time it was with lines like: 

The bottom line is I’m a crook with a deal. If my record don’t sell I’mma rob and steal. You better recognize, n***a, I’m straight from the street. These industry n***as is starting to look like something to eat.I’ll snatch Kim and tell Puff, ”You want to see her again? Get your ass down to the nearest ATM.

And:

I’ll rob Pun without a gun, snatch his piece then run/This nigga weigh 400 pounds, how he gonna catch me, son?

And a chorus that said:

This ain’t serious/Being broke can make you delirious/So we rob and steal so our ones can be bigger/50 Cent, how it feel to rob an industry n***a?

Did you know that Sirius/XM’s DJ Whoo Kid broke that record?

“You gotta imagine him just giving me that record and I’m like: ‘I gotta play this? Like you serious,” DJ Whoo Kid told me on Scoop B Radio. “And I’m like alright as long as you got my back.”

DJ Whoo Kid spinning records. Photo Courtesy of World Red Eye

Whoo Kid caught hell for releasing that track too!

“I was getting like threats, texts, you get like a phone call and then somebody hang up, like all kinds of craziness,” DJ Whoo Kid said.

Check Out DJ Who Kid and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio

“Part of it, cause, like dealing with 50 Cent and remember, I used to DJ for like CNN, Capone-N-Noreaga before that and they went through like hell. Those guys were like killing and shooting and before that, I was with Juvenile. So I’m like super old school. I can’t even believe I even did all that s**t. But um rolling with Juvenile, he introduced me to the south and all the violence they do and white chicks, like I didn’t know what a white girl was until I met Juvenile because he had [the song] ‘Back That Ass Up.’

‘How To Rob’ appeared in a movie too.

Yup!

It was on the soundtrack for the film, In Too Deep, which starred Omar Epps, LL Cool J and Nia Long.

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The post Scoop B: DJ Whoo Kid Says He Got Backlash After He Released 50 Cent’s ‘How To Rob’ Record In The 90s appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

One moment we couldn’t stop talking about was Dave East‘s freestyle on Hot97 during the Funkmaster Flex show. Bringing two and a half minutes of straight bars, you know he made the list. We also snatched up the impromptu live streamed DJ set from Mad Skillz as he came “Live From the Basement” with his special mash up tribute to legendary music icons Michael Jackson and Prince.

Bringing a new element to his legendary freestyle segment, Sway not only blessed us with some bars from Mir Fontane & Don Flamingo, but some banging production from Mike Zombie. Noreaga, Remy Ma and Memphis Bleek teamed up and quietly dropped their blazing track “4 Da Win” and Brasstracks gave lyricists everywhere an epic beat from an unexpected source on Rhythm Roulette.

Check out the videos of This Week’s Hottest Unofficial Hip Hop Moments below, thank us later.

Dave East Freestyle on Hot97

Mike Zombie, Mir Fontane, & Don Flamingo Freestyle on Sway in the Morning

Mad Skillz live in the Basement

Noreaga, Memphis Bleek and Remy Ma Team Up “4 Da Win”

Brasstracks Shows You How To Do This On Rhythm Roulette

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The post [Watch] RESPECTit: This Week’s Hottest Unofficial Hip Hop Moments appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

We’ve all heard the stories of record labels and the ups and downs being contracted with one may cause.  Here and now BET network is taking us all behind the scenes of some of the greats.  Tonight, May 17th at 8:00 ET and 9:00 ET make sure to tune into the first part of the eight-episode-docs-series.  Uptown Records is the first up in the spotlight to dig into all the dirt, good and bad with a Part I and Part II episode of the journey.  Some of Hip Hop’s most iconic labels will be featured  in the eight-week series for one-hour long like, Grand Hustle, Loud Records, Slip-N-Slide, Terror Squad, Ruff Ryders, Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP), and Murder Inc.  

Founder, Andre Harrell will be among the industry insiders like, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and Guy’s Teddy Riley and Damion Hall giving they’re unique takes on Uptown’s success, legacy, and so much more.  We can expect to see some never-before-seen footage in an up close, first-person narrative kinda way.  The series is executive produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions and DTP co-founders Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Bridges’ manager Chaka Zulu, and Jeff Dixon.

“The dreams and visions; the successes and failures … we want young aspiring entrepreneurs to have a blueprint as to what really goes on in this business and understand how much work it takes,” says DTP’s Dixon of the inspiration behind the series. “We [as African-Americans] also want to document our own history, especially in this industry. This is like our natural resource. No one can tell these stories like us.”

According to Billboard, these are some of the other power players that will be “playing” in each episode of Inside the Label:

Uptown Records: Andre Harrell, Diddy, Jay Z, Mary J. Blige, Babyface, Teddy Riley, Damion Hall, Brett Ratner, Laurieann Gibson, Robin Thicke, Sanaa Lathan, Doug E. Fresh, Al B. Sure, Eddie F, Kim Porter, Father MC, Jeff Redd and Monifah.

Grand Hustle: T.I., Jason Geter, Young Dro, Kevin Liles, Lil Duval, Killer Mike, DJ Toomp and B.O.B.

Loud Records: Steve Rifkind, RZA, Xzibit and E-Swift.

Slip-N-Slide Records: Ted Lucas, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina and DJ Khaled.

Terror Squad: Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Noreaga, Cool & Dre and Jesse Terrero.

Ruff Ryders: Joaquin Dean, Darren Dean, Chivon Dean, Swizz Beatz, Eve, The Lox, Irv Gotti, Drag On, DJ Clue, DJ Kool Herc, Lyor Cohen and Jimmy Iovine.

Disturbing Tha Peace: Ludacris, Chaka Zulu, Jeff Dixon, Chingy, Bobby Valentino, Shareefa, Lil Scrappy, Bangladesh, Lil Fate, I-20 and Poon Daddy.

Murder Inc.: Irv Gotti, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Charlie Baltimore, Kevin Liles and Lyor Cohen.

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The post BET Network Takes us ‘Inside the Label’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Cover Art: @cepenwhy

You can ride waves in any weather with Hus Kingpin’s bodies of work. Not just ride the wave, but feel the cool breeze and euphoric undertones. They’re rich lyrics – which should leave you with a new found respect for emcees who can handle their wordplay. Did we mention the amount of co-signs and green lights he has received over the years from some of our pioneers and current staples? (see interview below)

Aside from the aesthetics, let’s note his consistency these past few years. On the independent scene, we all know that’s beyond crucial. Hus never leaves his fans to run for dry – always releasing random, sporadic singles with little warning. This is commendable and appreciated. Rookie emcees – take notes.

But forget all the fly words here – listen for yourself and catch up on his previous releases if you haven’t yet. Peace and love:

If someone is just now getting familiar with Hus Kingpin, how would you describe yourself in a few short words?

I’m a Brooklyn born MC representing Hempstead NY – half trini, half Bajan – wavy rhyme lord influenced by Nas, Noreaga, Dj Premier, Roc Marciano, Jay Z, Trap Music (laughs) – strip clubs in Atlanta – warm cognac and LA weed.

You live on the west coast now but still represent your hometown Hempstead in a lot of your records. Can you talk a little bit about your experience on the west coast and how the relocation has improved your craft, if so?

The first person I met when I moved to LA was Planet Asia. He came and scooped me and we copped some jerk chicken. Asia then took me around to meet everyone from Krondon, to Evidence, to Alchemist, to his GCM crew. Planet Asia also introduced me to Raekwon for the first time. I love PA. Everything in LA is glorious. Good weed always helps me with writers block. There are also great shows out here. Shout out to Fashawn as well, he’s a good genuine young shooter.

One thing listeners may notice is your open ended, free flowing content and your ability to allow us to paint our own pictures with your lyrics. What’s your writing process look like?

Writing process is all about energy for me, the perfect time is usually fresh out of the weed dispensary or when I’m with Rozewood who also lives in LA now. I usually go to the studio and smoke, chill, then I’ll probably fall asleep, I hate writing in the studio, but I’ll do it with the right energy

You really excercise the moniker “Lord Wavy”. It goes beyond the typical rapper’s nickname – so much that your rhymes often feel like we are riding a sonic wave. Was the Lord Wavy stamp a natural development? How did it come to frution?

“Lord Wavy” came from listening to Max B in NYC. I liked his style. It’s unfortunate about his situation. And yes it was pretty natural to form into Lord Wavy after meeting Big Daddy Kane in Queens when I was 18. He told me he’s leaving the torch for me. That was a bugged out moment in time.

The Winners is a powerful team of recording artists with some of the most natural chemistry we’ve heard in a while. Can you discuss how the team operates? And is longevity instores for The Winners?

The Winners is like TDE meets Wu-Tang. We’re all rhyme lords but not mega conscious with it – it’s all about the style and saying things that people have never said before. We have SmooVth from NY, Rozewood from NY, Sean Rosati from Boston, JuneLyfe from Boston, Sage Infinite from New Jersey, Marvelous Mag from NY, Giallo Point from UK, and singer El AY from UK. We’re going to wave up this year. Mega longevity – be on the look out!

To close this out, what does Hus Kingpin have planned for 2016? Any live shows, projects, collaborations etc.?

I’m dropping my debut in-studio full length album finally with some fly guests. Planet Asia is executive producing one of my LP’s coming. Roze and myself are finishing the Snowgoons album. Audible Doctor and myself have a project coming. SmooVth is going to break the Internet with his new ‘SS96J’ release. I got some beats from A$ap Ty from A$ap Mob. I got some new material with Marco Polo and a few other secrets underway.

Do you have any shoutouts? If so, shoot, shooter.

Shoutout Tommy Boy Records, Planet Asia, Evidence, Alchemist, Big Twins, Jazz and anyone else I forgot! Thank you.

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The post Hus Kingpin – “House of Kingpin: The Revamp Edition” + Interview appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Check out “Built Pyramids,” the latest visual from Noreaga’s upcoming sixth album Student of the Game. The track is produced by Large Professor and the album is slated for release on April 13th.

The post New Video: N.O.R.E. (aka P.A.P.I.) feat. Large Professor – “Built Pyramids” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.