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Kendrick Lamar was at the video shoot for Dr Dre and Tupac’s ‘California Love’

During a 2012 interview with WGCI’s “The Morning Riot”, Kendrick Lamar revealed seeing Tupac and Dr. Dre shoot the music video for ‘California Love’ in Compton inspired the then 7-year-old K. Dot to pursue a career in hip-hop.

The music video for Tupac and Dr Dre‘s collaboration ‘California Love’ was shot near Kendrick Lamar’s house.

“I was in Compton and they were shooting the first version of it,” he said. “They stopped right in front of the middle of the street. My pops had seen them and came back to the house and got me. My father went to the house to get me and put me on his shoulders to watch them shoot.” Kendrick Lamar said.

Watch the full interview

Read: Kendrick Lamar made Rich The Kid remove other featured artists from “New Freezer”

Kendrick also tells the story to the Recording Academy

“I was about eight years old, they was shooting a video in my neighborhood in compton. My father see them, went two blocks down and got me, by the time he got me everybody was out there it was pandemonium, he put me on his shoulders and there they was, Dr Dre and Tupac right there…”

“I think it was a white bentley… that moment right there, whether I knew it or not, branched me off to what i’m doing now, it was already designed in destiny. 15 years later i meet Dr Dre and i explained that story to him and he remembered that same exact moment and he remember them kids that was out there and i said Dre, I was one of them kids that was there, it’s a crazy feeling.” Kendrick Lamar says.

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June 22, 2019
The Notorious B.I.G. now has his own street in Brooklyn

The new Christopher “Notorious B.I.G” Wallace Way sign in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn Via Reuters

It was all a dream! The corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place in Clinton Hill has been renamed “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way”

Hip-hop legends, fans and Bedford-Stuyvesant locals gathered around and celebrated the renaming of the corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place in Clinton Hill to “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way”. Biggie grew up just steps away at 226 St. James Places

“I always knew this day was gonna come, I used to dream about a street being named after Biggie, because it was only right.” Lil Kim says

City Council finally approved the co-naming of the corner of St. James Place and Fulton Street, Christopher Wallace Way last fall, following a controversial, years-long push by local activists to get the designation.

The Notorious B.I.G. now has his own street in Brooklyn

The corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place in Clinton Hill has been renamed “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way” pic.twitter.com/ZBACBCeuWX
— DailyRapFacts (@DailyRapFacts) June 11, 2019

June 21, 2019
Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes went to high school together and they once battled in the cafeteria

Jay Z and Busta Rhymes both attended Brooklyn’s George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School and they’ve battled each other in the cafeteria. DMX and Notorious B.I.G are also famous alumni and they all attended school around the same time, Busta Rhymes and Biggie were born a day apart and Jay Z was two and half years older.

Over the years, Jay and Busta Rhymes have often reminisced about their teenage rapping rivalry during interviews. In a 2015 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Z mentioned that he once rap battled Busta in the lunch room. When Kimmel asked who won, Jay Z modestly shrugged and mouthed the word, “me.”

Busta Rhymes has actually spoken on this a few years back on MTV, and gave a more in-depth recap than Jay of how it happened.

“One day, somebody came up to me and was like, ’Yo, Hov is in the cafeteria.’ They weren’t calling him Hov at the time; they were calling him Jay. ’Do you want to step to him on some rhyme sh–?’ So I go. At the time, when we were rhyming, it was speed rap. That was the thing to do. I knew how to freak it, and he knew how to freak it. And at the time, he was so ill, ’cause of the people he was with at the time, Jaz-O and them, it was their thing [that style]. He kind of got the best of the situation. I got to give it up. He was so ill and his arsenal was so long that he had more than what I did. I spit my one rap, and my tank was empty real fast. He came with two or three after that, and I was like, ’Here we go.’ But I gave it my best.”

“That was probably the fist time that I lost a battle that mattered. Jay-Z always exemplified greatness as an MC. He was a scientist with it.”

In a different interview with Fuse

“I didn’t know Biggie rhymed in school ’cause in school we was cuttin’ a lot of class and we was smokin’ a lot of weed and bullshittin’,”

“I knew Jay Z was rhyming ’cause me and Jay Z battled in school, speed rapping. He had finessed the speed rapping phenomenally at that time and I was new with the speed rapping, but losing that battle to Jay in speed rapping is what made me one of the most dangerous speed rappers today … Jay know he can’t see me in no speed rapping today.”

Watch Busta Rhymes explain how it went down.

Purchase our 100 Hip-Hop Facts (1973-2000) Book

https://youtu.be/qq4uJwjfIMk

June 21, 2019
Post Malone’s ‘rockstar’ originally featured T-Pain and Joey Badass

T-Pain and Joey Badass have revealed that Post Malone‘s smash hit ‘rockstar’ originally featured both of them. In a now deleted tweet, Joey Badass confirmed that not only was he featured on the song, he also helped write it, making it his first #1 record.

In an interview with Billboard, Post Malone confirmed Joey Badass was in the studio during the recording of ‘Rockstar’ but he didn’t mention his contributions to the record.

“I was in New York, and we were at Quad Studios. Some kid came in, and I guess he was in the session next door and he was like, ‘Hey? Can I play you some beats?’ I’m like, ‘I guess so.’ You know, I’m a nice guy, I like music. I’ll listen to your beats. He played the beat and it was incredible. His name is Tank. He’s a really young guy, and a really talented producer,” Post Malone explained. “So we did that, and Joey Badass was in there. We were just vibing on it and the melody was sick. We just cut like a little scratch vocal and we took it back to LA. I finished my part and sent it off to [21] Savage—and there it is.”

Read: T-Pain has three kids named Lyriq (Lyric), Musiq (Music), and Kaydnz (Cadence)

Listen to the original version of ‘rockstar’ below.

June 21, 2019
An official XXXTentacion documentary is confirmed on the way

On the one year anniversary of XXXTentacion‘s death, his estate has released a trailer for his upcoming documentary, which the announcement says is “releasing soon.”

Watch the trailer below, it includes narration from X himself, captures quick flashes of him reuniting with family and friends, engaging with fans, and working on new music. In the voiceover he says, “There’s definitely a difference between Jahseh Onfroy and XXXTentacion. This is the story, this is the full story, this is the last time I’ma tell it.” There is no release date for the documentary yet but fans can expect it in 2019. XXXTentacion’s estate has also confirmed a new XXXTentacion album is on the way.

June 19, 2019
Tyler, The Creator originally wrote ‘EARFQUAKE’ for Justin Bieber or Rihanna but they both turned it down

Tyler, The Creator & Playboi Carti‘s first official collaboration ‘EARFQUAKE’ has been the breakout song from Tyler, The Creator’s latest album, IGOR, but Tyler didn’t originally make the song for himself. During a full performance of the album in Los Angeles, Tyler told his fans he wrote ‘EARFQUAKE’ with Justin Bieber in mind. When Justin Bieber passed on the record, Tyler pitched it to Rihanna, who turned the song down as well.

Read: 5 facts about Tyler, The Creator’s album IGOR

Tyler told the crowd, “I made it in 2017. I wrote it for Bieber. He didn’t take it, So I hit Rihanna’s people up like, ‘Hey, I got this song. I would love for her to sing the hook. I think it’ll be big.’ I just want to write pop songs, honestly. I didn’t hear back from them, so I left my [reference] vocals in.”

This isn’t the first time Tyler has admitted to writing for another artist. In September 2017, Tyler said he was saving his Flower Boy record, ‘See You Again,’ for ZAYN.

fun fact: i wrote 'see you again' for zayn but that bitch flaked on studio time twice, so i kept the ref for myself, worked out actually
— T (@tylerthecreator) September 16, 2017

June 19, 2019
Drake spent $888 on J. Cole’s ‘Born Sinner’ CD’s

6 years ago today, J. Cole released his second studio album ‘Born Sinner’. On the night ‘Born Sinner’ released, Drake and J. Cole took a late night trip to Best Buy in New York to physical copies. They took every copy of Born Sinner and a copy of French Montana’s album. Drake also bought a copy of The Weeknd’s ‘Trilogy’, and his own ‘Take Care’. Drake spent a total of $888.

June 18, 2019
Ten Projects Celebrating a 10 Year Anniversary in 2019

Let’s take a look at some of 2009’s hip-hop projects that are celebrating a 10 year anniversary.

Man on the Moon: The End of Day – Kid Cudi

September 15, 2009

Cudder’s debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day proved to be an instant classic. Whether it is your favorite album from the Cleveland rapper or not, Man on the Moon birthed fans for years to come. From his introspection to galactic sound, Cudi released a project that set the hip-hop world on fire.

Essential tracks: Soundtrack 2 My Life, Solo Dolo (Nightmare), Day N Nite, Cudi Zone

The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z

September 8, 2009

Thirteen years into his illustrious career, HOV released The Blueprint 3. With star-studded features like Kanye West, Drake, Rihanna and more, this project is sonically much different than the original Blueprint but stays true to the New York native’s motif of success.

Essential Tracks: D.O.A (Death of Autotune), Empire State of Mind, Hate, Young Forever

The Warm Up – J. Cole

June 15, 2009

J. Cole made his introduction into the music world with the emergence of The Warm Up in 2009. This 22-track mixtape highlights the arrival of one of hip-hop’s most consistent artists. Cole grapples with women, self-improvement, and striving to reach the upper-echelon of his craft.

Essential Tracks: Lights Please, Dreams, I Get Up, Losing My Balance

So Far Gone – Drake

February 13, 2009

Drizzy has been incredibly successful – no pun intended – since the appearance of his third official mixtape So Far Gone. Despite Thank Me Later providing major hits and more insight to Drake, SFG prefaces the emotional and in-tune nature that October’s Very Own has made a career of. SFG found its way to major streaming platforms as of this year.

Essential Tracks: Houstonlantavegas, Successful, Say What’s Real, Uptown

Bastard – Tyler, the Creator

December 25, 2009

A not-so-jolly Christmas day release in 2009 gave us Bastard. This project is a stark difference when compared to newer projects like Flower Boy or IGOR but gives listeners an inside look at Tyler’s polarizing mind. Heavy with Odd Future features, Bastard is as honest as it is dark.

Essential Tracks: Bastard, Seven, VCR Wheels, Sarah

Relapse – Eminem

May 15, 2009

Em’s sixth studio album Relapse was debuted 10 years ago following a five year layoff from Encore. Divisive as its content may be, this album further projects Eminem‘s ability to use wordplay and raw energy to rap. With perennial hip-hop legend, Dr. Dre, beside him for another album, Em gets another chance to showcase his irreverence and overall talent.

Essential Tracks: 3 a.m., Bagpipes from Baghdad, We Made You, Crack a Bottle

Flight School – Wiz Khalifa

April 17, 2009

A 22-year-old Wiz gave us Flight School in 2009 following his second mixtape Prince of the City 2. Wiz Khalifa keeps it simple on this project: stay fly. We see the development of the marijuana mogul as he realizes a high ceiling for himself through Flight School. When it comes to Wiz mixtapes, Kush & O.J. and Cabin Fever are highly favored but keep this one in mind, too.

Essential Tracks: Boarding Pass, Teach You to Fly, Sky High, Hollywood Hoes

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II – Raekwon

September 8, 2009

Now, while this album doesn’t compare to its predecessor, OB4CL Pt. II still delivers with Raekwon at the helm. Anything to do with Wu-Tang should lead you to believe the lyricism will be sharp and the production clean. This 24-track project puffs its chest out as Raekwon shows he can thrive as the main emcee.

Essential Tracks: House of Flying Daggers, Gihad, The New Wu, About Me

The State vs. Radric Davis – Gucci Mane

December 8, 2009

Despite its unconventional rhyme schemes and cadence, Gucci Mane delivers a menacing yet catchy project. With help from artists like Waka Flocka, Soulja Boy, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, The State vs. Radric Davis lets Gucci boast about his circumstances. This heavy trap album also happens to sneak in some feelings with Usher and Jason Caesar to complement R&B tracks.

Essential Tracks: Lemonade, All About the Money, Im a Dog, The Movie

Deeper Than Rap – Rick Ross

April 21, 2009

Florida’s finest dropped Deeper Than Rap in 2009 with an emphasis on a smooth delivery, a life of luxury, and working through adversity. Ricky Rozay proved to his public doubters that he would not relent. Consistent low-key funk and lyrics show this is one of Ross’ most complete projects.

Essential Tracks: Mafia Music, Usual Suspects, Rich Off Cocaine, Valley of Death

June 18, 2019

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