rap is hip hop: November 2016

Highest Selling Rap Albums of the Week

A Tribe Called Quest is still killing shit...their new album, We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service is the highest selling rap album on the Billboard chart for a second week running. The album sold 55,141 copies this week, and has currently sold a total of 190,737 in two weeks. Congrats to them.

Below is the full list of the top selling rap albums of the week.

A Tribe Called Quest- We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service- 55,141(190,737)

Rae Sremmurd- Sremmlife 2- 38,470 (xxx,xxx)

Back in the early to mid 2000s, most big name rappers in New York were beefing with each other. Jay Z going at Nas, Mobb Deep going at Jay Z, Nas going at Mobb Deep, Camron and 50 Cent beefing, etc. But, most of if not all those beefs have been squashed over the years. In his recent interview on 50 Cent's media company, This Is 50, Camron was asked by the interviewer how he ended his beef with 50 Cent (which started in 2007), and he said...

Charlamagne Speaks on Staying Calm During Interview with Birdman

A couple of months ago, Birdman went on The Breakfast Club show all angry at radio host, Charlamagne, and he kept repeating, 'put some respek on my name.' That phrase has become very popular since then. But what really caught my attention from that 2:30 seconds interview was the fact that Charlamagne was calm all through, even though Birdman was obviously angry at him and had come to the radio station with about half a dozen of his goons. So, why was Charlamage so calm? He answered it in an interview on VLAD TV.

Granted, this interview is about 4-5 months old, but I just saw it lately, and I thought it would be interesting to share it. VLAD himself asked him how come he was so calm, and he answered with...

"I'm the radio guy. You know what I'm saying. I'm not out here proclaiming to be a thug. Am not out here proclaiming to be a gangster. I ain't ever told nobody 'pull up on me, you gone see what's up...what's what.' You know. I'm a man at the end of the day. But go pull up on the guys that's being tough with you. Trick Daddy came to the Breakfast Club and said you don't know if you want to be a Blood or a Crip. You don't know whether you want to be a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Why run up on the radio guy?" (VLAD TV Interview)

First Week Sales Prediction of Drake's 'More Life' Album

Drake stays killing the charts, so it is only right I try to predict what his upcoming album is going to sell in its first week out. He has said More Life is not going to be a mixtape, and it is not a full length album. He said it is more like a playlist, and it would contain songs from not just him, but other artists on his OVO label. Based on Drake's star power alone, I predict More Life would sell between 600-850k first week. And you can take that to the bank.

Drake has never sold less than 450k first week with any of his albums. Even his 2015 mixtape, If Your Are Reading This It's To Late sold 500k copies first week.

I have always known Jay Z was a big Nas fan from him sampling Nas twice, and even rapping about Nas on his early albums, but it is good to hear someone from the industry confirm it. In his recent interview on VLAD TV, legendary music producer, Clark Kent said he and Jay Z used to drive around listening to Nas's early songs even before Nas got a record deal.

In case you don't know who he is, let me say, Clark Kent is a music producer who started out as a DJ back in the early 90s. He produced a lot of songs for Jay Z, Biggie, and Puff Daddy around 94-97. He and Jay Z were close friends back in the early to mid 90s.

Could this be so? Did Nick Cannon marry Mariah Carey just so he could sleep with her? Well, it seems that was what happened. Although they are divorced now, Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey got married in 2008 after just knowing each other for a few months.

During his recent interview on Power 105.1 radio, Cannon was asked by one of the hosts whether Mariah Carey made him wait till marriage before letting him have sex with her, and he said...

A couple of days ago, Kanye West ended one of his shows 30 minutes in and walked off the stage. He has been going on some crazy 'kanye rants' lately...a lot more than usual. And then yesterday, news broke out that he had been admitted at the hospital because of exhaustion. So what is really wrong with Kanye West?

Apart from the fact that I feel he has burnt himself out, he is using too much of his brain power and creativity. Creative work is not like normal physical work, it takes a lot more energy to get creative work done than it does to get physical work done, but if you have never tried to create (write a song, a story, design a dress, come up with a groundbreaking idea, etc), you may not really understand this. When you overwork yourself physically, you get tired physically, but when you overwork yourself mentally, you get mentally tired, and it affects other parts of your whole human system.

Rick Ross has been in the game for ten years and he is about to release his 9th album...not bad. He announced the album at the AMAs over the weekend. and said it is going to be titled 'Rather You Than Me.'

Pics: Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj at an Event

These are pictures of Meek Mill and his girlfriend, Nicki Minaj at an event from yesterday. They are sure a power couple. Two very talented rappers doing really good individually.

Highest Selling Rap Album of the Week

Legendary rap group, A Tribe Called Quest shine on the charts this week. Their latest album, We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 For Your Service is not only the highest selling rap album of the week, it is also the number one album (in any genre) in America this week. After a full week in stores, the album sold 135,596 copies. This is their 5th album. The last album they released was 18 years ago, in 1998. By the way, R.I.P Phife Dawg.

Below is the full list of the top selling rap albums of the week.

A Tribe Called Quest- We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service- 135,596 (135,596)

Rae Sremmurd- Sremmlife 2- 41,672 (xxx,xxx)

Drake- Views- 31,559 (x,xxx,xxx)

Official First Week Sales of A Tribe Called Quest 'We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service' Album

I watched Mr. Church yesterday night; a lovely movie staring Eddie Murphy and Britt Robertson. What caught my attention in the movie was a scene in the beginning where the little girl walked into the kitchen while Eddie Murphy was cooking, and quietly walked back upstairs to wake her mom up and say, "Mom, there is a black man in our kitchen cooking eggs." It was like to her, that was an abomination. Yea, it is a movie, but most movies portray what really goes on in the real world. That part of the movie was set in 1971, so I still understand that racism in America was really high back then. But I never believed it was still really that bad in America of 2016.

I guess Meek Mill stopped by Rick Ross's Georgia mansion yesterday, and decided to take a tour of the home. Below are pictures of Meek Mill in different parts of the 109-room mansion. The property formerly belonged to legendary American boxer, Evander Holyfield.

Pics: Ice Prince Chilling in LA (California)

One of the hottest rappers in Nigeria, Ice Prince is currently in Los Angeles, California (U.S.A) for a show, and he shared some pictures of himself chilling in L.A, on his Instagram page. Nice Roc Nation cap on.

Pic: Fabolous and Dave East at an Event Yesterday

This is a picture of Fabolous and another New York rapper, Dave East at an event yesterday. Dave East has really been buzzing on the music scene since he signed that Def Jam deal some months ago. He is still on Nas's Mass Appeal label though...but he is did a partnership deal with Def Jam. Cool move.

Pic: Fabolous and Son Looking Classy

Checkout this picture of New York veteran rapper, Fabolous and his 8 year old son, Johan looking classy. His son is truly a chip of the old block.

Angie Martinez Speaks on Her Past Relationship with Q-Tip

I am just finding out myself. Actually, veteran radio personality, Angie Martinez and legendary rapper/producer, Q Tip (member of the rap group- A Tribe Called Quest) dated for a while back in the 90s. In her recent interview with The Breakfast Club crew (DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne), she spoke on how people didn't even know she and Q-Tip were dating till after they had broken up.

Pic: Fat Joe, Remy Ma, and DJ Khaled Pose for a Photo

It is good to see the old Terror Squad back together again. Remy had her falling out with Fat Joe about 7 years ago and then went to jail afterwards. And DJ Khaled got too big for Terror Squad, but it is good to see they are back together again, and working on music. This is a picture of Fat Joe, Remy Ma, and DJ Khaled Fat Joe put on his Instagram yesterday.

Pic: 50 Cent at Fat Joe's Sneaker Store (UP NYC)

10 years ago, I would have never seen this happening. This is a picture of 50 Cent at Fat Joe's new sneaker store, UP NYC from the opening last week. Good to see them dudes leave the past in the past and support each other.

Pics: Rick Ross and Meek Mill Chilling

Meek Mill put up these picture of him and Rick Ross chilling in a living room on his Instagram a few hours ago. He captioned the picture below "Big fish.... lil fish." It's interesting how he is still very humble in Ross's presence even though he is almost as successful as Ross himself. I guess he a real loyal dude.

Pic: O.T Genasis and Scott Storch in the Studio

This is a picture of O.T Genasis and Scott Storch in the studio which was taken a few hours ago. I wonder where O.T Genasis has been up to. I hope they make a banger...Scott Storch needs a comeback.

Fat Joe Speaks on What Caused His Isssues with Nas

I'm sure they are cool now, but there was a time Fat Joe was not speaking to Nas for what he felt Nas did wrong. Before then, they were cool buddies. Below is what Fat Joe had to say about the problem he had with Nas in 2005 when Nas squashed his beef with Jay Z.

Whether it is Nas collaborating with a younger Jadakiss, or working with the late Big Pun before his passing, or working with Game, I always get elated when my favorite rappers end up having a great chemistry in the booth. Game and Nas have done about 5 songs together so far, and in this old interview with Hip Hop DX, Game spoke on how he met Nas.

Highest Selling Rap Albums of the Week

Surprisingly, Rae Sremmurd's Sremmlife 2 is the highest selling rap album of the week. Sremmlife 2 sold 38,829 copies this week.

Below is the full list of top selling rap albums of the week.

Rae Sremmurd- Sremmlife 2- 38,829 (xxx,xxx)

Drake- Views- 32,631 (x,xxx,xxx)

Meek Mill- Dreamchasers 4- 25,474 (108,805)

Jeezy- Trap or Die 3- 21,465 (108,944)

Travis Scott- Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight- 20,560 (306,177)

Chicago rapper, Common has been in the rap game for over 20 years, and it is good to see him still dropping albums. Even though he is heavily into movies now, he still makes out time to give his fans some good music.

Meek Mill's Car Collection

That boy Meek Mill ain't joking...he is a real dream chaser...always doing shows and touring, getting paid from his hard-work. He has quite a number of cars. He owns three Maybach S 600s ($200,000 each). Yea, you heard me right; Meek Mill has 3 black Maybachs. Maybach music for real, right?.

He also owns a Rolls Royce Ghost ($250,000), a black Bentley Mulsanne ($350,000), a black Bentley Bentayga/Bentley Truck ($380,000), a black Mercedes Benz G63 ($120,000), a black Range Rover ($100,000), a Rolls Royce Wraight ($400,000), an Aston Martin Rapide ($220,000).

The cars appear as they are listed above.

Pic: Rick Ross and Nas Chilling

Checkout this picture of Rick Ross and Nas chilling, having drinks. I can't tell if this was at an event, or at someone's crib. Ross posted it on his Instagram yesterday with no caption.

Pic: Juelz Santana, Meek Mill, Jim Jones, and Dave East in the Club

This is a picture from last night, of Juelz Santana, Meek Mill, Jim Jones, and Dave East up in the club. Dave East posted the picture on his Instagram page some hours ago. This most have been in a club in New York, cos all of them are Harlem, New York rappers, except from Meek Mill, who seems to be everywhere these days.

Pic: E 40, Steve Stoute, and 2 Chainz at an Event

Checkout this picture of west coast rap legend, E 40, Steve Stoute, and 2 Chainz. The picture was taken at an event last week.

Top 10 Hot Rap Songs on Billboard This Week

Below are the top 10 hot rap songs on Billboard this week.

10. Tiimy Turner- Desiigner

9. Chill Bill- Rob Stone feat. J. Davis & Spooks

8. Sucker for Pain- Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic, Ty Dolla Sign feat. X Ambassadors

7. Sneakin'- Drake feat. 21 Savage

6. Caroline- Amine

Good day people. Every day, I will bring you this list to help you catch up on songs that are hot and trending online in the last 24 hours. The list is compiled by the people at Billboard, and it comprises of the most shared songs on Twitter over the last 24 hours. Twitter is more or less the most active social media site when it comes to songs and news, that is why I am using it as a benchmark to get this list.

10. Closer- The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey

9. 2100- Run the Jewels

8. Bad and Boujee- Migos

7. Starboy- The Weekend

6. Setting Fires- The Chainsmokers

Meek Mill Gets Himself a Bentley Truck

Meek Mill is winning right now. He just got himself a new ride, the Bentley Bentayga...A.K.A the Bentley Truck. The ride cost about $240,000. Well, his new mixtape, Dreamchasers 4 just sold 83,000 copies first week, and if he is making $3 on each sale, he sure can easily afford this ride. Congrats to him. This another addition to his crazy car collection.

Pic: Young M.A and Naturi Naughton at an Event

This is a picture of rapper, Young M.A, and actress, Naturi Naughton at a Nike function in Soho yesterday.

Rappers React to Donald Trump's Victory

Donald Trump beating out Hilary Clinton in the just concluded U.S presidential elections was something a lot of African American rappers never expected, and most of them are in shock right now. They believe Trump is a racists and his hate for black people would affect their lives in America. Below is what some of them had to say about Trump's victory.

Wow so Trump is the new Potus... 🤔Ain't shit gonna change... CARRY ON!!!
— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) November 9, 2016

Will some straight up unfiltered racists feel empowered? Yes. Will that empowerment congeal in2 a new Nazi party checking muslims papers? No
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) November 9, 2016

Pic: Game and Candace Parker at a Football Game

Below is a picture of rapper Game and professional basketball player, Candace Parker at the Los Angeles Rams versus Carolina Panthers game...at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stadium on Sunday.

Jimmy Henchman Says He Never Intended to Have 50 Cent's Friend Killed

Back in 2007, when Game and 50 Cent were still beefing, and Game was being managed by the infamous Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond, Tony Yayo and a crew of 50 Cents affiliates assaulted Henchman's son, who was 14 years old at the time. The main person that put hands on the kid was Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher, a G-Unit affiliate. Two years after this incidence, Lodi Mack was murdered in the Bronx (New York). Investigations linked Jimmy Henchman to the killing, and he was convicted in court, and has been in jail since 2014. But, this week, that case was overturned in court, which simple means the original verdict has been declared null, and there will be a retrial on the case. And this happened because, although the man that killed Lodi Mack was an affiliate of Jimmy Henchman, he has let the world know that Jimmy only sent him to bring Lodi Mack to him for a man to man talk, and not for him to kill Lodi.

Guys, what do you think? Personally, I think there is something wrong with this picture. That's Rihanna kissing her niece. This picture has gotten a lot of people talking since she posted the pic about an hour ago.

Pic: Erykah Badu, India Arie, and Brandy

This is a picture of three beautifully talented singers- Erykah Badu, India Arie, and Brandy. They were at an event together a few hours ago, and decided to take this picture. I love all three of them. Brandy kinda looks different though. I wonder what she's been up to.

Highest Selling Rap Albums of the Week

Someone finally knocked Drake's Views album off the top. This week, Jeezy's Trap or Die 3 album is the highest selling rap album on the Billboard chart, and also the number one album overall in America. This is Jeezy's third number one album. Trap or Die 3 sold 87,479 copies. Below is the full list of the top selling rap albums of the week.

Jeezy- Trap or Die 3- 87,479 (87,479)

Meek Mill- Dreamchasers 4- 83,331 (83,331)

Drake- Views- 34,801 (x,xxx,xxx)

Pic: Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill at a Basketball Game

You know A-List celebrities get those courtside tickets. This is a picture of celebrity couple, Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill at a basketball game over the weekend. They look great together.

Pics: Michael B Jordan and Nas at an Event

Checkout these pictures of actor, Michael B Jordan (Red Tails, Fantastic 4, Creed), and New York rapper, Nas at a Lauryn Hill concert from two days ago. The pictures were taken backstage at the concert.

Pic: Game and Demi Lovato at the Stadium

Checkout this picture of California rapper Game, and actress/singer, Demi Lovato at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stadium. The picture was taken yesterday at the Los Angeles Rams versus Carolina Panthers game.

Official First Week Sales of Young Jeezy's "Trap or Die 3" Album

The numbers are in, and Jeezy did real good on the charts. His 7th studio album, Trap or Die 3 sold 87,479 copies in its first week in stores. Not bad for someone who has been in the game for ten years plus. It's the number two album in America right now, and Meek Mill's Dreamchasers 4 is the number three album.

Data courtesy of hitsdailydouble.com

Official First Week Sales of Meek Mill's Dreamchasers 4 Mixtape

After a full 7 days in digital stores, Meek Mill's Dreamchasers 4 mixtape has sold 83,331 copies in it's first week. Kudos to him for this success. It is very rare to see a mixtape sell these many copies. I guess he used the beef with Game to the best of his advantage by dropping some great music for his fans, who wholeheartedly supported him.

Data is courtesy of hitsdailydouble.com

Celebrities Halloween Costumes 2016

The Halloween holidays is one of most celebrities best holiday cos they get to show their creative/crazy side. Today, I am going to bring you some of the best Halloween costumes of 2016.

Below are pictures of some of your favorite celebrities dressed in very creative costumes for Halloween. They are appear as I have listed them.1. Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian, and their children as Marvel's Avangers...Scott is dressed as Captain America. 2. Mark Zuckerberg and his wife are dressed as Vikings, and their daughter is a baby dragon. 3. Leona Lewis is a vampire. 4. Lilly Allen as the Corpse Bride. 5. Lindsay Lohan as Harley Quinn. 6. Justin Timberlake, his wife, and his son are a Troll family. 7. Beyonce and Jay Z are Barbie and Ken in a box, with Blu Ivy checking them out. 8. The Chainsmokers are the legendary rock band, KISS. 9. Singer, Halsey is Harley Quinn. 10. Khloe Kardashian and her boyfriend, Tristan Thompson are Storm and Black Panther respectively. 11. Paris Hilton is Little Red Riding Hood. 12. Emma Roberts is a skeleton. 13. Emily Ratajkowski is Cleopatra

Pic: DJ Envy, Sheek Louch, Jadakiss, and Common

This picture was taken two days ago, Wednesday night precisely, at Styles P, and Jadakiss new Juice Bar (Juices for Life) opening in Brooklyn. They have a couple of them bars scatted all around New York. I wish them the best with the line of business.

That's DJ Envy, Sheek Louch, Jada Kiss, and Common.

Pic: Fetty Wap Sitting on His BMW i8

Checkout this picture of Fetty Wap sitting on his dope ass BMW i8. I love this ride. The car cost about $150,000. I think it is worth it.

9 Things You Might Not Know About DMX

DMX remains one of my favorite rap artists of all time. I love rappers that do this rap thing from the heart, and not just play around with it. I think we forget hip hop heroes so fast. Someone new drops a hot album, and people are quick to name him the greatest rapper of all time, forgetting the many that have released multiple great albums in the past. I think that is unfair to rappers like DMX that (even though he isn't what he once was) put in so much work at his peak...having 5 albums, back to back debut at number 1. on the Billboard albums chart, and all attaining platinum status isn't something to be overlooked.

Today, I decided to write an article celebrating this great man, and letting the new rap listeners know about some dope rappers that came before the Meek Mill's, the Drake's, and the Lil Uzi Vert's. I am going to list 9 things you might not know about Dark Man X (DMX)...the good, the bad, and the ugly. So...here we go again...