#8 - Spring 2014
STOP THE
SEXUALISATION
OF WOMEN IN
HIP-HOP
PLUS
KID INK RISE OF
THA ALUMNI
T-Pain • Nipsey Hussle • Jacob Banks eRIC bellinger • Clement Marfo + More!
Editor’s Letter We’re back again, And we’ve been busy! HELLO! A few months have whizzed past since the Beatz Awards in issue 7. January brought us a few chucks at Pharrell’s fedora and everybody suddenly became avid American football fans for one night only when Bruno Mars headlined the half time show at the Super Bowl. Beyonce put out a breathtaking surprise album before firing her manager and hiring Jay Z to take over. Do you remember the time she fired her own father? Whilst all this and more was happening we took a look at Forbes Richest Rappers list and wondered how a select few rappers made their millions through business deals, companies and involvement in the fashion industry. We dwelled on the concept of money and why you don’t need racks on racks to dress fashionably and why you definitely don’t need to resort to illegal activities and jail time to have a successful music career. We grabbed interviews with T Pain at his Paris concert, Kid Ink at his album listening party, Nipsey Hussle right before his UK tour plus Clement Marfo, Jacob Banks, Dora Martin and Darcus Beese at The Ultimate Seminar. We visit The Ultimate Seminar every year, hosted at The University of Westminster and soak up all of the wisdom and experience of the panelists, before going backstage to interview everyone on the artist panel. We hope you enjoy reading as always and tweet us @Beatzmag with your thoughts! See you on the other side!
A Forrester5 Andy Forrester Editor-In-Chief
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Andy Forrester Andy@beatzmag.com MANAGING DIRECTOR: Ayaz Hussain, yaz@beatzmag.com DEPUTY EDITOR: Simran Gill, simran@beatzmag.com INTERVIEW EDITORS: Gregory Linford, greg@beatzmag.com, Raychel Addo, raychel@beatzmag.com FASHION EDITOR: Chardaé Jones DESIGN: Maddy Rueda, Sophie Spencer, Kate Monaghan, Lee Shaw, Paul Magosfalvi, Crystal Cré Teya, Selorm Amuzu CONTRIBUTORS: Jesse Dodoo, Sam Maffia, Sham Makhecha, Rory Foster, Yasmin La Ronde, James Llewellyn, Lasé Anthony Laleye, George Rowland, Simon Phelan, Jack Roberts, Laura Garner, Alice Michelle Oadie, Blaine Evans, Alice O’Donker, Jasmine Abbey
4
Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
Socialize with us
facebook.com/beatzonline twitter.com/beatzmag instagram.com/beatzmag youtube.com/user/beatzmagtv WEB: Brendan Davis, Davis@beatzmag.com, Uthman Olomide, Ashley Torres-Vidal © 2014 Beatz Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced, in part or full, without written permission from the publisher. Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure that the information in this magazine is correct, changes can sometimes occur which affect the accuracy of the copy, for which Beatz Magazine holds no responsibility. The opinions of the contributors of this issue do not necessarily bear a relation to those of Beatz Magazine or it’s staff and we disclaims liability for those impressions.
KID
#8 - Spring 2014
STOP THE
SEXUALISATION
? W O N K DID YOU
OF WOMEN IN
HIP-HOP
RISE OF THA ED. S I ALUMNI M I T P O E L I E IS MOB
IN
BEATZ MAGAZ
• Nipsey Hussle • Jacob Banks PLUS T-Pain eRIC bellinger • Clement Marfo + More!
Our website www.beatzmag.com is fully supported by most tablet devices and smartphones. Simply click here and scroll through the pages by swiping the screen left or right www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine
5
CONTENT
March 1st Issue 8
Regulars
8
Gossip The latest chatter broken down
10
Mailroom We dig the mountain of reader letters
28
Top 5 The 5 artists that you should keep an eye on in 2014
52
It’s a UK thing We give UK artists a chance to speak
54
Reviews We break down the best music of the last 3 months
56
Fashion Some of the hottest fashion items all on one convenient page
Features
12
Richest rappers What could they buy with their money?
14
Does Jail Time lead to success in the rap game? 6
Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
Pharrell Williams
16
Pharrell Williams has established himself as a record producer, singersongwriter, rapper, drummer and fashion designer in his own right; each strand a reason as to why he is part of the power elite of music
42 d e ur
t a fe
From running the streets in LA as an independent artist, to signing with major label Sony RCA; producer and rapper Kid Ink has finally found his Own Lane.
18
Eminem How Shady beat the odds to become an all time great
20
Diddy Dirty money or music mogul?
22
Dr. Dre The million dollar question is where it all began for Dre
26
Sexualisation of women in Hip-Hop Is it necessary?
34
Clement Marfo The rapper returns as a solo artist with a whole new sound.
36
Jacob Banks The Renowned family cross the Atlantic
38
Eric Bellinger We chat about his career and new album, ReBirth.
Interviews
30
48
24
You don’t have to be rich to follow Fashion
Nipsey Hussle From New age Crenshaw hustlin to $100 mixtapes
T-Pain Mr Autotune evolves into The Stoicville Phoenix www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine
7 
Gossip By Sam Maffia
W
e all remember Lethal Bizzle from back in the day, his track Pow became an instant classic within the grime scene. But trying to remember another track by Lethal B without searching Wikipedia is challenging to say the least. These days Bizzle is known for his clothing line and online beef with Dappy, not his award winning music. The rappers have constantly sparred words back and forth with each other via Twitter and this month see’s no change at all. Following Dappy’s appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, the Pow rapper tweeted
BEATZ MAGAZINE’S OWN GOSSIP COLUMNIST SAM MAFFIA BREAKS DOWN THE HOTTEST GOSSIP OF RECENT WEEKS.
“Well done Nappy, don’t forget to pay the taxman & the bailiffs.
Dappy has yet to respond, but I do feel it’s time for Bizzle to stop repeating the same dryed out jokes about Dappy’s alleged bankruptcy and music career. Not only has Dappy got three platinum albums and countless awards under his belt, but his music with N-Dubz contributes to UK Hip-Hop history. Lethal B can tweet and throw shots at Dappy as much as he wants, but to me, if his success is as large as he presents, why does he come off so insecure? Is it because his own music is fast food and Dappy’s has depth? After all didn’t Lethal B come into the industry as a rapper, not a fashion designer.
#Cbb” which was followed by a screenshot of his bank balance.
Hot Not Who’s
Macklemore
The rapper continued his success and won big at The Grammy’s this year, winning four awards including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
Ms. Dynamite With her new single “Dibby Dibby Sound” being A-Listed on Radio 1’s playlist and boasting over 4 million youtube views, it looks like Dynamite could finally make her big comeback!
Who’s
Jamelia
The former singer/Loose Women presenter was found guilty of driving without insurance.
Christina Aguilera Despite selling millions of album’s worldwide, the singer’s last two albums both failed to set the charts alight. Insiders say Aguilera is close to being let go from the RCA label.
Neon Jungle Ja Rule & Fat Joe Recently signed to RCA, the girl group have notched up their first top five single titled ‘Braveheart’.
8 BMagazine e a t z M| awww.beatzmag.com g a z i n e - w w w. b e a t z m a g . c o m 8 Beatz
Both rapper’s disappointed fans by cancelling their gig at Musicalize after failing to obtain access to the UK due to Visa issues.
1
Five tracks’ that were written for other artist’s Rita Ora- ‘R.I.P’
3
Before R.I.P was R.I.P. it was titled ‘I’m Ready For You’ and featured a much calmer R&B sound featuring the vocals of Drake who wrote the song with Rihanna in mind for her album ‘Talk That Talk’.Rihanna passed the track, leaving Rita Ora to gain her second UK numberr one single.
Britney- ‘Baby One More time’
4
Justin Timberlake - ‘Rock Your Body’.
Originally written for the king of pop Michael Jackson, it was revealed that the track was originally planned for Jackson’s last studio album ‘Invincible’. Jacko passed it up and gained Timberlake a worldwide hit in 2002.
2
Originally written for R&B legends TLC, however the group felt it didn’t quite suit their feisty, female empowered sound. TLC’s T-Boz explained: I was like, I like the song but do I think it’s a hit? Do I think it’s TLC? I’m not saying ‘hit me baby’. No disrespect to Britney. It’s good for her. But was I going to say ‘hit me baby one more time’? Hell no!” The song sold 10 million copies worldwide and launched Spears to her superstar status.
Jay Z & Kanye West- ‘Ni**as in Paris’ Rihanna- ‘Disturbia’ Written by Chris Brown, the track was intended to be on the re-release of Brown’s ‘Exclusive’ album, when hearing the track mastered in it entirety, he felt it was more of a female anthem. The R&B star sent it on to his then girlfriend at the time, Rihanna. The track went on to sell over 5 million copies worldwide.
5
Possibly the track that put Hit-Boy on the map as one of HipHop’s most promising producer, the beat was initially intended for rapper Pusha T. “I tell people all the time that I don’t know if I would’ve attacked it that way,” he said in a 2011 interview, “which means the record might not have been as special once I got on it.” www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 9
The MailRoom LETTER OF THE Month! Wiz Khalifa Unsigned Artists?
The Wiz Khalifa interview that was in the last issue was absolutely amazing. I didn’t realise how passionate he was about his music! Will we be seeing more of him in the magazine in the future?
Donny Metcalf, Via Facebook
Hi D-Dog! Most people think of Wiz Khalifa and they simply think about his his free-spirit and love for “Mary Jane”. However, through the interview he really shows that there is more than meets the eye. He opens up about being a husband and a father. He talked about how things have changed for him. He was one of our most humble interviewee’s to date! We will definitely feature him again.
Trendsetters
So, I’ve just finished checking out the fashion re-design in the last issue and I wanted to let you know that it is visually stunning! You also seemed to pick out some AMAZING items! You really are becoming trendsetters! One thing though, Feature some kicks!
Alex mountford, Via Facebook
Wow, thanks Alex! We are humbled! Regarding the lack of kicks being featured, we had already planned to feature some in this issue! Flip to page XX to find the footwear we’re repping from the Footlocker range! It’s like you read our mind......
Win £100
I love both the magazine and website. However, I would really love to see more unsigned artists being featured. Is that something you will look into doing in the future?
G-Man, Via Email
Thanks G-man (great name!)! Yes! We are going to be featuring more unsigned artists. We have began to accept submissions of music and material from unsigned artists for our weekly feature #UnsignedBeatz, on which we feature one artist for a whole week. Visit www. beatzmag.com/unsignedbeatz to get more details on how to enter. Thank you for your support!
Rizzle Kicks
Thank you soooooo much for interviewing Jhene Aiko all the way back in Issue 1! I only just discovered her on the track with Drake and I saw her live at Future Festival and I instantly remembered the interview! Will you be catching up with her any time soon?
Claire, Via Twitter
Most definitely Clare, we’ve been huge fans of Jhene since the beginning, We can’t wait to see her when she’s in the UK this summer.
Here is your chance to appear in the pages of Beatz - and get paid for doing it! All you have to do is send us your letters, jokes, funny pictures to mailroom@beatzmag.com, via Facebook (www.fb.com/beatzonline) or through twitter @BeatzMag. The sender of the issues best letter wins the awesome cash prize of £100! Terms & Conditions: 1. Competitions are open to UK/Channel Island residents, except staff of Beatz Magazine and their families. 2. There is no alternatives to the prize. 3. Winners will be notified by email/phone 4. Editors decision is final. 5. Entry implies acceptance of these terms.
10 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
Kid Ink
My Own Lane
Includes hit single “Show Me” featuring Chris Brown
Out Now!
RICHEST RAPPERS
$150 MILLION
$260 MILLION
$350 MILLION
NET WORTH
BIRDMAN
You can buy 67 flawless round cut 10 carat colorless diamonds, each costing $2,226,150
50 CENT
MASTER P
You can buy almost 4 super yachts like Diddy for $72 million for each.
You can buy just over 17 islands at about $20 million each, 16 more than Jay-Z bought for Beyonce.
100
67
0
i
Drake Splits With His PR Firm After A Twitter Debate With Rolling Stones Magazine
12 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
$580 MILLION
$500 MILLION
$360 MILLION
DR DRE
You can buy 60 One of a kind Maybach Exelero’s. Priced at $8 million.
JAY Z
You can buy 23,674 pounds of Gold for $1320 per ounce.
DIDDY
You could buy 6,270 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow, Black Dial, White gold watches each priced at $92,495
Kanye West To Executive Produce Tyga’s “The Gold Album” www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 13
Does jail time really lead to success in the rap game?
R
ap music has been associated with crime since its inception. Renowned artists were known just as much for their criminal activity and time in prison as they were for their music. Yet with the recent influx of artists with ‘clean’ criminal records, an interesting question arises - is jail time key to rap success? It is understandable why rap music largely revolves around crime. Hip-hop and rap have provided many individuals in deprived communities with an opportunity to bring the lifestyle of the street to the forefront of public attention. Artists still involved in gangs and illicit activity were suddenly cast into fame and fortune on a national level. This coupling of prior depravity followed by instantaneous recognition and wealth proved to be overwhelming - many viewed themselves as above
14 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
the laws they had previously broken simply to live. Such attitudes saw gang warfare between rap artists move into the international spotlight. For many, it was deemed that ‘committing crimes and doing time’ was a formality to becoming a successful rap artist. Fast-forward to 2013 and rap music has dramatically evolved. A genre previously only heralded in the United States is now popular globally, with its leading stars not embroiled in criminal activity but successful businessmen and women. At the head of the pack no doubt is Jay Z, who moved from the Brooklyn streets to become one of the world’s most successful business men. Such shunning of the gangster lifestyle paved the way for others to follow in his footsteps. Nowadays a whole host of successful rap artists have not had serious altercations
with law enforcement. In his new album Nothing Was The Same, Drake repeatedly makes reference to his middle class upbringing and his gratitude at avoiding the hardships and complications that come with a life growing up surrounded by crime. Similarly artists such as Ludacris, Lupe Fiasco and J Cole are all enjoying successful careers despite never doing ‘jail time’. Even artists with lengthier careers, such as LL Cool J and Ice Cube, have avoided jail time whilst branching outside of music. Such artists not only gain praise from critics but are also lauded by their peers; clearly demonstrating that jail time no longer means credibility in the in the rap industry. Although incarceration is certainly no longer necessary for success in the rap game, this article is not meant to chatise individuals who have turned to crime in their
childhood or to provide for their families (although this statement should be taken in context as certain crimes are inexcusable). It is more of a statement against those artists who continually feel illicit behaviour and the resulting repercussions simply enforce their ‘brand’ and are what makes the identity of a successful rap artist. Some throw around the ‘old habits die hard’ counter however this is not a valid excuse - as individuals with a platform and place in the public eye, the responsibility to society is heightened. Instead of falling back into jail for involvement with drugs, gangs or even violence, such individuals should use their status to help others break out of such environments. www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 15
pharrell williams A perfect candidate for the power elite, Pharrell’s still raising the bar.
G
rammy Award winning musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams has established himself as a record producer, singersongwriter, rapper, drummer and fashion designer in his own right; each strand a reason as to why he is part of the power elite of music. After amassing huge success as part of the production duo The Neptunes and as the frontman of the Eclectic Hip-Hop-Rock band N.E.R.D, Pharrell stomped down
(footwear). Popular sports brand Reebok was set to release the clothing line alongside ICECREAM but, when disputes and setbacks began to crop up between Pharrell and Reebok, only the trainers were released and the clothing line was not; which led to the brand being launched as a partner company to A Bathing Ape and then later, a further partnership with Jay Z’s label, Rocawear in 2011. Like any creative artist, Pharrell’s style, skill and credits
Pharrell Williams has established himself as a record producer, singer-songwriter, rapper, drummer and fashion designer in his own right; each strand a reason as to why he is part of the power elite of music. the path of success to work on solo material and other projects. The single ‘Frontin’ featuring Jay Z was released and met with success in the early 2000’s and his first solo album ‘In My Mind’ followed in 2006. The mini hiatus from The Neptunes and N.E.R.D occurred (we’ll stick with the word hiatus because let’s face it, did he ever really leave?!) towards the end of 2004 and the fashion arena became his new playground. Partnered with Japan’s fashion icon Nigo, the founder of A Bathing Ape (BAPE), Pharrell birthed two new premium streetwear lines called Billionaire Boys Club (clothing) and ICECREAM
i
continued to blossom, opening the doorway into composition for Film and TV, notably working alongside renowned composer Hans Zimmer (Man of Steel, The Amazing SpiderMan) and also on the soundtracks of Despicable Me and its sequel, Despicable Me 2 where he not only composed but wrote a significant amount of the soundtracks. Fast forward to present day, further music projects now include the likes of Usher, Mika, Frank Ocean, Miley Cyrus, Azelia Banks, Daft Punk and the controversial smash hit ‘Blurred Lines’ with Robin Thicke ft T.I; a worldwide hit, peaking at #1 on Billboard Hot 100, also reaching #1 in 13
countries including the UK and Germany, marking Pharrell’s third Billboard Hot 100 #1 single. Design remained a constant in Pharrell’s career as he co-designed jewellery and a glasses range for Louis Vuitton, created sculptures with Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin and Domeau & Pérès and launched i am OTHER, a multi-media “creative venture and way of life” that serves as an umbrella for all Pharrell’s projects (Billionaire Boys Club & ICECREAM, his YouTube Channel i am OTHER, the textile company Bionic Yarn to again name a few!). The channel was launched in mid-2012 as part of YouTube’s $100 million dollar original channel initiative. The i am OTHER channel focuses on culture, music, the arts and of course; fashion “a cultural movement dedicated to Thinkers, Innovators and Outcasts.” For an artist to look at the arts and try to unify them is no small feat, accepting the weird and wondrous and turning it into something spectacular. Since the beginning of his career in the early 90’s, Pharrell has gone onto accomplish this and much more and still continues to do so. A perfect candidate for the power elite and he’s still raising the bar.
Iggy Azalea Reveals Album Artwork And Announces ‘The New Classic’ Tour
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THE
MAN THE BEH BRA IND ND
Asher Roth announces volume 2 of The GreenHouse Effect w w w . b e a t z m a g . c owww.beatzmag.com m - B e a t z M a| gBeatz a z i Magazine n e 1 7 17
emin m e
From humble beginnings in Detroit, to the most famous rap film of all time. Eminem A.K.A. Slim Shady beat the odds to become an all time great.t
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n 1999 an angry blonde burst on to the Hip-Hop scene yelling about sticking nine inch nails through each of his eyelids. His vulgarity simultaneously caught the attention of critics and followers globally. The violence and drug fuelled lyrics inspired by childhood traumas and lifetime struggles allowed Eminem to connect with audiences around the world. There are numerous factors that elucidate how Eminem maintains his predominance in Hip-Hop fourteen years after the release of his official debut album: Slim Shady LP. His controversy has undoubtedly been enthused by rappers that preceded him. The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Ice T and NWA are artists that Eminem grew up idolising. There are many different elements to Eminem’s style; he is notorious for bringing comical value into his tracks and videos, he usually pokes fun at people currently in the public eye, from presidents to pop stars. On some of his songs he adopts the role of a story teller, from the first bar of the track right until the last beat you feel compelled to listen continuously as you are eager to discover the outcome of the characters he has so vividly described. Eminem concurrently fuses together his talent for writing empathetically, metaphorically and intelligently
18 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
with his passion and adoration for producing beats; the results are extraordinary. The most significant element to Eminem’s success is his ability to connect with his fans. From Infinite to Marshall Mathers LP 2, Eminem has shared his triumphs and his downfalls in his personal life with his colossal fan base. He covers sensitive subjects that affect the majority of the population such as poverty, addiction and family estrangement. This has allowed fans to relate with Eminem throughout his career. Regardless of which persona he assumes be it Slim Shady, Eminem or Marshall, individuals are able to understand where he is coming from. Writing music wasn’t the only route that Eminem chose to vent his pent up emotions through, as a child he also frequently drew comic book characters. This later led him to do the artwork for the album: The Re-Up. Asides from his phenomenal contribution to music he is a dedicated father, he starred in hit movie: 8mile, manages a record label: Shady Records, participates in advertising campaigns such as one with Chrysler, has a radio show: Shade45 and owns a clothing company: Shady Ltd. Eminem keeps his fingers in many pies, which guarantees that his name is always
in peoples’ mouths. In summary, his aptitude of multitasking ensures his popularity. From the formation of Shady Records in 1999, artists such as Yelawolf, Bad Meets Evil, Slaughterhouse have gone on to sign with the label along with D12 and for a brief period 50 Cent and Obie Trice. Overall, Eminem is prolific; he has achieved a multitude of accolades from having the fastest selling hip-hop album of all time with his second album Marshall Mathers LP, being the biggest selling artist of the 2000’s, being the first rapper to ever receive an Oscar and most importantly being named the biggest selling rapper of all time. But, as Eminem noted “A plaque and platinum status is whack if I’m not the baddest”. His sole objective is to gain respect from his peers and make music that people can relate to. Conclusively, his ambition has therefore been exceeded.
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www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 19
DIRTY MONEY OR Music mogul
I
’m an entrepreneur, I’m the heart of the city/I’m a part of the sewers, I’m the honourable Diddy - that is how Sean “Diddy” Combs describes himself on the Kanye West produced track Everything I Love. Boastful and egotistical though it may seem to some, most will know that Diddy is amongst the few living hip-hop figures to have earned his right to rap so freely and arrogantly. Yet in these few lines Diddy sums up his position within hip-hop, he is no longer seen as a prominent (nor lyrically dexterous) rapper as he was decades ago, but instead as a pioneer – a mogul of the New York rap scene. His confession that he is now perhaps more entrepreneur than he is rapper is honest and true, and there is little doubt that he has been at the heart of the New York hiphop scene for well over two decades. But his declaration that he is “a part of the sewers” points towards a more ominous history, one which makes it very clear that however business-savvy Diddy may be, his steely demeanour is a result of decades of involvement with many of the less glamorous parts of the rap game. So where does Diddy stand in modern day hip-hop? Is he the musical mogul which his sharp public image would suggest? Or rather an increasingly irrelevant and somewhat shady pioneer of the rap game whose best days are long gone? To answer these questions, it’s necessary to elucidate parts of Diddy’s past. It is no secret that Diddy – or Puff Daddy as he’d have been known – was a central figure in the coastal feud that overwhelmed hip-hop in the 1990’s. His high-profile split from Jennifer Lopez came soon after a nightclub incident which resulted in fellow rapper Shyne being sentenced to ten years in jail. And of course, Puffy was only moments away from Notorious B.I.G as he was shot, having left an L.A club with the deceased legend. Yet amazingly, Sean Combs has escaped from all of these events – and several more – relatively unscathed in the public’s view. In fact
20 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
Diddy
some may even suggest that they have helped to shape the man (and the mogul) that Diddy is today. If there is one thing that is most certainly evident – it is the fact that the turbulent past which Combs has endured has given him a resolve which most rappers, and indeed entrepreneurs, would kill for. How exactly Diddy made the transition from rapper to businessman is rarely asked; but few can deny his place amongst the powerful elite of hip-hop entrepeneurs. With an estimated net worth of $580 million, Diddy yet again topped Forbes’ Hip Hop Cash Kings list in 2013, having topped Jay-Z’s earnings by $7 million, despite the latter’s sellout tour and platinum album release this year. He even made $10 million more than Dr Dre, whose Aftermath roster boasts considerably more talent (including Kendrick Lamar and Eminem) than Diddy’s own Bad Boy label now does, and continues to build his Beats Electronics brand. There is little doubt that Diddy’s inactivity as a rapper has not affected his competence or effectiveness as a businessman. And his career-defining business venture? Surely Bad Boy Records, one would assume. The 20 year-old record label has released albums by artists such as Craig Mack, Mase, Faith Evans, 112 and The Notorious B.I.G. Not to mention six albums by Diddy himself, and numerous more by the extended Bad Boy family. However when considering Bad Boy’s current roster, few names stick out. French Montana lacks the lyrical ability to truly compete at the higher echelons of rap given the current abundance of talent, MGK’s fanbase is loyal but not extraordinary, and whilst Cassie’s most recent material has been decent, she too pales in comparison to her many female R&B competitors. Janelle Monáe’s ability and style is beginning to excite fans and observers, and she is perhaps Bad Boy’s most promising upcoming talent. So if not from Bad Boy itself, how is Combs still making his millions? The simple answer is through
adaptability. Whilst not the rapper he once was, Diddy’s business acumen is second to none in the rap game. His long term investments include the clothing line Sean John, branded and built in his own image, and reflecting his own timeless style. But a clothing line is no longer unique for hip-hop icons, and Diddy faces stiff competition in this market from fellow superstars Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams. What is unique however, is a 50% share in one of America’s most demanded Vodka brands, Ciroc. In Combs’ six years as a brand ambassador, the company has seen sales rise from 40,000 cases a year to a staggering 2.1 million cases a year; not least because of the countless references Diddy makes to it in his guest verses. He’s tapped into markets which reflect his style; they are timeless, classy, and distinctly bourgeoisie. Whilst Diddy’s style may remain high-end, his business approach is deceptively simple. He is a firm believer in applying common sense in business, a fact which he openly shares with young and aspiring entrepreneurs. His development as a mogul has mirrored his growth as a human being, and his willingness to share his business secrets with upcoming generations is admirable, especially as he himself continues to launch new projects (including a television channel, Revolt TV, only last year) to solidify his position at the top. So where does Diddy stand in hiphop’s elite? At the very top, of course. The reality is that Sean Combs is an entirely different man to Puff Daddy. Nightclub incidents are now replaced by intelligent business ventures; time spent in the studio is sacrificed for time spent with his children. In transforming himself from a young, brazen rapper to a wise and established mogul, Diddy has successfully escaped many of the dangers that rap entails, whether it is ‘beef’ with fellow rappers, or failing the ultimate test, that of remaining relevant over time.
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Boastful and egotistical though it may seem to some, most will know that Diddy is amongst the few living hip-hop figures to have earned his right to rap so freely and arrogantly. www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 21 
Beats
by Dre T
he iconic coloured headphones with the globally recognisable insignia on the ear exploded in 2008 and to date has been spotted as the must have headphones by artists such as Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, Will.I.Am and hundreds of other celebrities and sports stars. The million dollar question is where it all began for Dre and was it his latest venture which has made him into the mogul that we see today? Many hip hop stars have turned into entrepreneurs in an attempt to make millions outside of the music world. From Diddy’s clothing brand, Sean John and his stake in Ciroc vodka to Jay-Z owning a stake in basketball team the Brooklyn Nets and 50 Cent with his own video game and acting career. However, the one man who has become a household name from teenagers to adults for his work outside of the studio is Dr Dre. Whilst you may doubt his medical credentials; the Beats By brand was born in 2008 by Dre and can now be seen in every school playground, every university lecture, and every high-street. Initially a member of the hip hop group N.W.A, Dre worked with other huge artists such as Eazy-E and Ice Cube. A controversial group at the time both with the naming of their collective and their hit single F**K tha Police, N.W.A. was plagued by inner group disputes causing some members to leave, one of which was Dr. Dre. After his departure from N.W.A. Dre released his first solo album, The Chronic, which is renowned as an all-time classic
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Eminem & Rihanna Announce ‘The Monster’ Tour
22 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
The million dollar question is where it all began for Dre
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MAN THE BE BRA HIND ND
album for introducing a new style of music to the people, G-funk, and for hit singles Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang and F**K wit Dre Day. Dre showed his entrepreneurial skills in 1996 after he left Death Row Records and formed his own label, Aftermath Entertainment, a subsidiary of the highly successful Interscope Records. He signed and released several artists with including the signing of Eminem and more recently Kendrick Lamar. Beats By, the name which reintroduced Dr. Dre to the people is an audio production company specialising in headphones and audio systems that was founded in 2008 by Dre and Interscope Records co-founder, Jimmy Iovine. The headphones are said to enhance the depth in the sound and therefore make for a better listening experience, but much of the success of Beats was through the successful product placement whereby many high profile artists
would feature them within their music videos. In order to reach the highest market potential, Beats also had its own music hardware featured in HTC mobile phones and HP laptops. This allowed Beats to become a recognisable name by associating itself with well renowned, high quality merchandise which shared a common target market. This tactic clearly worked for Beats as they have now increased their product range with the introduction of high end audio systems and more recently a mobile speaker system, named the Pill. It could therefore be argued as to which episode in Dre’s career made him into the household name which we see today. Some would argue that it was his own personal music career which transformed Dre into a powerhouse within the music industry and that the album The Chronic was the platform for all of his other successes. Others however would claim that Dre is
where he is today because of his production career and his work within Aftermath Entertainment, and that his contribution to production, as well as propelling Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and more recently Kendrick Lamar into the limelight, is more significant than his own records are. The younger generation however would claim that Dr. Dre is a driving force within the industry because of Beats headphones and that through them he has reached a larger audience than with both his own music and the music he’s produced, thereby becoming a more renowned individual. All three are compelling arguments but the winner is dependent on what categorises as success; if contribution to music is the most important factor then Dre’s production work is clearly the most significant however if as many people do, you categorise success by money earned then his work with Beats is what makes him into the magnate that we see today.
Pharrell’s Vivienne Westwood “Mountain” Hat Is Up For Charity Auction On Ebay www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 23
You Don't Have to be to Follow
FASHION
K
eeping up with the Kardashians might be hard on a college student budget but it’s not impossible. Following trends without going broke is now an easy feat with online and street shops popping up everywhere. It’s not about the brands anymore, even celebs are shopping at stores like H&M and Forever21 but pairing their finds with expensive things. You can copy the catwalk look just by popping into a boutique or
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browsing the sale rack at one of your favorite stores. You no longer have to be a slave to a label because so many other places are offering the same thing for less. This may make the creators of a trend mad but that’s what trends are made for, to be copied. The catwalk pretty much sets the blueprint for what’s in season and what’s not. Isabel Marant was peeved when smaller stores and designers hopped on the sneaker wedge trend. These
shoes were seen on everyone from Nicole Richie to Beyoncé. After Nike made a cheaper version, every other store hopped on the trend. Some places have even hopped on the color sole trends swapping Louboutin famous red soles for other colors like pink and blue. Timberland inspired boots are popping up everywhere and some of them look better than the original. For example, UrbanOG sells a pair with chains instead of laces and GoJane sells
a studded pair. The originals aren’t even all that expensive but the cheaper flashier alternative is very tempting. Any hard working person on a common budget would scoff at paying a huge amount of money for a pair of shoes that they could instead cop a cheaper pair from a smaller store or a smaller designer. People who aren’t famous actually brag about spending less for a hot trend. Why spend all that money on one expensive piece when you can get a bunch of catwalkinspired clothing for cheap and have money left over? It’s no longer necessary to look for certain labels and some people consider bragging about your more expensive piece of clothing as being a bit of a show off. You don’t have to
have Beyoncé money to dress like her. There are plenty of websites that allow you to find a trendy piece for less money. For example sites like Shoptstyle allow you to input something like “Leather Leggings” and alter the price and you could be looking at a new pair of leggings for a fraction of the designer price tag. Some people may be skeptical of swapping price for quality but that’s not always the case. You can get some designer inspired cheap quality pieces and let’s face it we know shops copy the catwalk but aren’t the same quality yet we’re okay with that when we buy things from these places because it’s easier to access these pieces and they’re cheaper. Some celebrities have become privy to shoppers wanting the
celebrity look for less and team up with stores like KMart and River Island. Nicki Minaj filled her KMart collection with high waist jeans, bodycon dresses and crazy prints that looked like the items Nicki Minaj would flaunt, and everything was affordable as opposed to celebrities like Kanye West selling Egyptian cotton plain white tees for unaffordable prices. I think people are starting to realise that by selling affordable trendy items they’re most likely going to sell more of these items. When it comes down to the label wars the Kardashians get paid to flaunt their clothes and you not so much. You can get all dolled up like one for way less than what they’re paying and laugh at them while you’re at it.
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SEXUALISATION OF WOMEN IN HIP-HOP
IS IT NECESSARY?
O
ur culture is one that has become saturated in images. Every day we encounter thousands of images. As the creators of these images jockey for our attention, it can come as no surprise that the imagery itself becomes more aggressive. Applying this to contemporary urban music, it becomes clear to us that the aggressive sexualisation of female performers derives from this image saturation, and the resultant competition for our attention. The old adage that "Sex Sells" reverberates around this issue, but it results in a bastardised culture of sexualisation, homogeneity and misogyny. When you look at urban music, women are sexualised in almost every aspect; whether it's through explicit lyrics, scantily clad backing dancers alongside fully clothed rappers to female performers themselves, with Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus and even most recently BeyoncÊ being sold on their appearance and sexuality as much as their musical prowess. When record labels sell their artists in this manner it's sending a dangerous message; that their narrow definition of attractiveness is as important as the artist’s musical ability. Through this a message is sent not only to young female artists but also women as a whole that their self worth is derived from their image, sexuality and attractiveness which can lead to a whole host
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of problems mentioned later. It also teaches men to treat women as sexual objects, which can be partially to blame for the epidemic sexual assaults, sexual harassments and rapes. Furthermore it is insulting to us as consumers, in selling music in this way it is catering to the lowest common denominator, assuming that we care as much about the superficial appearance of the performer as we do about their talent. This is not just limited to music, you only have to glimpse at a Michael Bay film (Transformers 1,2,3 and soon to be 4, Pain and Gain etc etc) to see not only the crass
found that sexualisation not only has adverse emotional effects relating to self confidence, anxiety and shame but can also disrupt mental capacity. As well as this there were definite links found between sexualisation and exposure to sexualised images and three of the major mental health issues affecting women; eating disorders, low self esteem and depression; in fact here in the UK the number of women and girls suffering from eating disorders outstrips men and boys by a ratio of 7:1. Theoretically women don't have to sexualise themselves to be successful; we've seen artists
When you look at urban music, women are sexualised in almost every aspect; whether it's through explicit lyrics, scantily clad backing dancers alongside fully clothed rappers to female performers themselves sexualisation of a children's toy, but also storyline, script and acting ability compromised for loud noises, 'special' effects and a shaky camera. It is time for us as a culture to say enough, this is not okay. We don't have to put up with being catered for in this manner. The negative effects of the sexualisation are well known and wide ranging. In an American Psychological Association (APA) report it was
like Adele and Janelle Monae who don't conform to the typical mould of image we've become used to see success recently. But, these are the exception rather than the rule; the diversity of female performers has gradually diminished from the early 90's and we are now left with a large amount of generic artists with a few unique outliers. The challenge for us is to find those unique artists, and ignore the homogenous ones.
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Top 5 Artists to 2013 will surely go down as one of the best years in urban music for a while. Hope was restored when D’Angelo returned to the scene, TGT (Tank, Ginuwine and Tyrese) gave the ladies something to smile about (particularly the ladies), Justin Timberlake emerged from his hibernation with a minty two-part album and Beyoncé drops a corker of a surprise album to see the year out! If that is anything to go by, 2014 looks promising for the world of music. Without a doubt, you can anticipate an ample number of new projects, some river comebacks, some stunning collaborations from our finest favourites and an influx of fresh talent to go up against them. Here are a few artists that you might want to keep an eye out for over the course of the year.
i
JhenÉ Aiko
Ella Eyre
She started out on the scene as ‘Lil Fizz’s cousin’ (one of the guys from B2K - the group Omarion started out in) but don’t be fooled - she has been holding her own ground for a couple of years now. Her Sail Out EP was released back in November 2013 and it received great acclaim, entering at #1 in the R&B charts. Her voice may be soft as a lark in the spring, but her hustle is strong. You can find Ms. Aiko credited next to a number of HipHop champs including Drake, Big Sean, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar and the list goes on.
She’s young, care-free, quirky and brimming with talent.! Aged just 19, Ella Eyre has been waving the flag for the UK and most memorably, she featured on Rudimental’s chart-smash hit ‘Waiting All Night’ and to top things off she came second to only Sam Smith in the BBC Sound Of 2014 list. Recognised for her unruly hair and energetic performances, Eyre has also featured with Wiz Khalifa on ‘Think About It’ from Naughty Boy’s highly anticipated album Hotel Cabana. You can be sure that Ella Eyre will be popping up on several festival bills this summer.
From: California, USA
Lil Wayne Reveals ‘Tha Carter V’ Release Date
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From: London, UK
o watCH in 2014
Kwabs
SAM SMITH
From: London, UK
From: Bishops Stortford, UK
BANKs
London singer Kwabena Adjepong, largely recognised for his original hit, ‘Sprit Fade’ has recently collaborated with rising UK producer SOHN on the deep and soulful track, ‘Last Stand’. This song comes fresh from his stunning, new EP ‘Wrong Or Right’ which landed in February. In 2012, Kwabs held up YouTube traffic with his harrowing acoustic rendition of James Blake’s ‘The Wilhelm Scream’. Last year he took centre-stage at several UK jazz and soul festivals including the prestigious Lovebox at Victoria Park headlined by D’Angelo.
Back in 2012, a pretty much unknown singer called Sam Smith collaborated with DJduo Disclosure on the dance smash ‘Latch’ and less than a year later, the 21 year old has established himself as something of a hit maker after rising to the top of the charts with Naughty Boy’s ‘La La La’. All of this lead to Smith being crowned the winner of the BBC Sound of 2014, a huge feat for any artist. His debut album is due for release this May, and it is sure to deliver a brand new batch of catchy sing-a-longs in time for summer.
Twenty-five year old Jillian Banks, better known simply as BANKS, from Los Angeles, California has been listed as one to watch by BBC’s Sound of 2014 (where she came third) but she is quite illusive otherwise. BANKS stands out from the crowd, abstaining from social networking entirely where she lets her “management run that stuff!” Recently, she has gained attention for stepping out of the shadows and fronting the cover of Clash Magazine but for this mysterious, American beauty, it really appears to be all about the music.
From: California, USA
J. Cole Signs His Dreamville Label With Interscope www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 29
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ost new acts are being introduced to the scene with a pre existing stereotype, when you released your debut record ‘Hussle in the House’, you were reppin’ your neighbourhood, which many rappers forget once they make it. Did it scare you in that it would just be seen as a viral video? As soon as I did it, I knew the record was bigger than that. It’s what L.A is known for. Nowadays people slap on trap beats and release their single and don’t really talk about their neighbourhood, but I knew it was special and I love my Crenshaw, so I was confident. In fact I was actually in New York when I produced it and the energy reminded me of what I grew up on, that pure L.A essence and I will always support that. Many new artists have been criticised for being uncreative and homogeneous. How far would you agree with that statement seeing as you are independent artist? I got love for all homies doing their thing, you wanna go get that bread; you get it the way you need to. But personally I believe individual creativity is important and sometimes that gets stifled. The West Coast had a brief dip and it was noted that the coast was struggling to produce new artists. But as of lately there has been a resurgence through the likes of the Game, Kendrick Lamar and yourself. Why do you think the dip happened and where do you think it will go from here? I think it happened because there was a lack of artists
coming out, but me, Game, Kendrick and whoever, we from LA. We’re from a part that hasn’t been spoken for, for a long time. We make music about the reality that was around us and how we grew up and put that into our music. In my mind the music industry is cyclical and the west is making a big name for itself again. You have been an independent artist for such a long period of time since leaving your label which has allowed you to be truly creative. In early 2012 we heard rumours that you might sign to Maybach Music. Is this true? Nah haha, I won’t be signed to Maybach Music. I look up to [Rick] Ross as a business man, a real n***a and an artist. But my ambition has always been to build myself from scratch; I’m not really the one to take a shortcut, no disrespect to any artist who has. But I want to do what Birdman did, what Puff did what Jay did and build something from the ground up. How would you comment on the difference between being signed to a major label and being an independent artist? I learnt a lot from that situation; the upside now is that you can make mistakes because it’s your own money you spend, your own bread. Therefore you’re more willing to take risks but when you on a label, artists tend to play it safe. This is the way to produce the most beautiful art, it’s the same in any industry, when you work for yourself you’re willing to take more of a risk. So you’re saying it brings out the entrepreneurial spirit in you? Epitomising the American dream? Absolutely, that’s how we came up, if you don’t spend money you don’t
make money, you have to reinvest it in yourself. The Mixtape Crenshaw, which you released late last year, you sold for an amazing $100 each. Even though it was truly amazing, the price for most people would seem a bit steep but you still managed to sell 1000 copies. What type of people brought it? I’m a big fan of music, I believe in properly supporting an artist. At a certain point people want to become a household name, and they want to create something for everybody. I didn’t want to do that at this point, I wanted to create something for those who f*cked with me since day one . I did the numbers and worked out I would still come out with the same profit margin if I utilised my core fan base. The value is what your mind perceives it to be. If you’ve been getting my free mixtapes, buying Crenshaw tees and hats then a $10 album of mine in the consumers mind would actually be valued closer to $100. It’s the brand name; I mean that’s what made Jay Z buy 100 copies. Jay Z? Wow that must have boosted your confidence heavily, have you been in contact since? Yeah that was dope, that n***a had to fight an uphill battle and I think he saw that in our team. Bypassing the middle man and just going for it ourselves, and not being afraid to bump our heads and figure it out ourselves. As of projects there’s none at the moment but there could be in the future. Moving onto more recent projects, you have your debut album ‘Victory Lap’ coming up. What can you tell the UK fans about it and the reason behind the name? My first project Marathon was about
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life not being a sprint, but a long race, but now I feel I’ve matured and the stage is set and I’ve got my feet on solid ground. It’s very hard to fight the structure of the business model in the game and it’s difficult to
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I NEVER WANTED TO BE UNDERGROUND, I WANTED TO BE AN OWNER AND IN CONTROL.
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find a platform for new artists. I never wanted to be underground I wanted to be an owner and in control. I wanted to reach a certain level in the game and within myself and I believe that I’m finally there, thus the term “Victory”. You have an up and coming tour in the UK, what do you think of the UK in general? [Laughs] I love my UK fans and I have a lot of time for them. Every time I’m over I have to visit Harrods, I even said on air in New York that there’s no place to shop like in London. Finally, describe what the Perfect party involves for Nipsey Hussle. What drinks, how many people, music and location etc.? Man, a perfect party for me would be somewhere dope. Somewhere like in the middle of an ocean or in the mountains, anything but city life. All people who are real, pretty girls, Ciroc flowing and just some laid back music. To find out more about Nipsey Hussle and his music you can follow him on twitter, @nipseyhussle, on Facebook, www.fb.com/nipseyhussle or visit his website, www.ihussle. com.
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Clement Marfo
Clement Marfo returns to music to raise the bar as a solo artist With a whole new sound.
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s an artist who was the frontman of a group, Clement Marfo and The Frontline, how is a solo career radically different from being in a group? The only way to distinguish yourself is to be unique, I’ve always tried to challenge myself by finding my own lane. When I was doing the Hip-Hop/ Rock vibe with the group, no one was doing that. What I’m working on now is really in sync with the whole Hip-Hop/Funk vibe, and no one is doing that either so that’s how I distinguish myself. Where did this concept come from? I wanna take my music back to an organic sound again. When I tune into the radio, I the same twenty songs playlisted and It feels too heavily produced. I feel like we’re missing the element of the organic drums and I’m always about live music and that’s what I wanna try and get back on to the radio. So I'm taking elements of music I enjoy
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listening to and adding some new flavours so you get the best of both worlds....Hip-Hop and Funk. Your dress sense has changed in the last year. You've traded in snapbacks for suits. Props to my stylist team for putting together a new perception for me. When they see a black man, they wanna see a suave black man dressed up, not wearing a baggy hoodie and tracksuit bottoms. I’m trying to break the boundary because I feel like we are living in an open world, in a perspective where people are intimidated by black youths. I feel if we dress up and we dress comfortably, it dilutes that intimidating stereotype. That said, I also think it matches the music that I’m putting forward as well, so that’s a political substance. What do you think about events such as The Ultimate Seminar, where a panel of artists talk about inspiring the youth of
tomorrow. I feel like we need more of these seminars because it’s a platform for people to give their natural advice. I’m not an expert but I’m coming here to share my experiences and hopefully somebody who’s sitting there will be able to take that advice and use it as some sort of textbook knowledge. Most of us come into this world without any favours, we didn’t study for the music industry, we just went into it because we were ambitious and gave it put all to make it happen. So when you’ve got somebody who gives you some knowledge or professional knowledge it’s like hearing it straight from the source, because it's authentic, raw, and you’re gonna go away feeling you gained something from this. To find out more about Clement Marfo and his music you can follow him on twitter, @clementmarfo or on Facebook, www.fb.com/ clementmarfoandthefrontline.
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The Renowned family cross the Atlantic
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You’re really tight with the Renowned family, Wretch 32, George The Poet and Zeon too – how have they inspired you to move forward with your career? Having family is so important… Renowned, Levels and even Atlantic Records as well. It’s so important to learn from your family because when I was in Birmingham I actually thought that I was the hardest working artist ever because that was what was surrounding me. Every other artist I knew barely went to a recording studio and for me to be able to afford to go studio once a month, I thought ‘I’m working really hard here’. Then I met Zeon and I met George – they go everyday and it made me go
basketball all my life. To know that people have come out of their houses, they’ve paid £10 or maybe more to be there, it’s so heart-warming to know that my songs mean enough for these people to come out their bed to come here. You can't put a price on that feeling. Tell us about the signature hat. It's become your look now. I’m bare tight, if you can’t go to the barbers, just put a hat on, innit? [Laughs] I'm just kidding! I think it’s a good twist of being modern but at the same time being old school and still being respectable. It definitely works for you. Tell us what your plans are for the
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Y
our music is an eclectic mix of a range of styles, but how would you define your genre? I like to make music that I like because I didn’t grow up on any particular genre of music like most artists. There was no music played in my family home so whatever I could have, I just held on to it a bit longer. If the music I make happens to be R&B, if it so happens to be Pop, if it so happens to be Country - it’s music that I like and that’s all it is. It’s just music that I enjoy to make and people seem to appreciate my expression.
This music path wasn’t planned, I can’t say that being a musician or an artist was ever a dream of mine.
everyday, subconsciously. I don’t think about it deeply too often, but when you’re around great people, you become great because you don’t wanna be the weak link. So having people around you that inspire you from day-to-day is crucial. They don’t have to sit me down and explain anything - just seeing them, inspires me. It makes me want to be great. When you first starting doing your live shows – how did it feel to be recognised so quickly? Before the live shows, I supported Emile Sandé and I always wondered how all these people came out to see her. I always imagined it would feel so good if that was to ever happened for me. Before I knew it, we‘d put up two shows and both were completely sold out! This music path wasn’t planned, I can’t say that being a musician or an artist was ever a dream of mine. I wanted to play
next couple of months? My campaign’s gonna start to kick in now. Obviously I've done the feature on a Wretch 32’s 'I'm Doing Ok' and I’m on a recent Chase and Status single so when that passes and that time has come and gone – we'll start the whole Jacob Atlantic campaign. The album should be coming out somewhere towards September. I’m excited for people to hear my new music. That said. it’s really annoying as an artist, when you have got a bunch of music, but you can’t put it out because the time is not right, so I’m just exited to tell my story one more time and see what people think of it.
To find out more about Jacob Banks and his music you can follow him on twitter, @ mrjacobbanks, on Facebook, www.fb.com/jacobbanksofficial, or visit his website, www. jacobbanks.co.uk. www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 37
ERIC BELLINGER Beatz Magazine talks with Eric Bellinger about his career and new album, ReBirth.
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s a songwriter you’ve been behind the scene’s writing a lot of songs for major artists, so at what point did you realize it was time to step out into the limelight and sing your own songs? Well in the beginning, I had set out a checklist of different artists I wanted to work with and write for. It came faster than I thought it would. People that I said I could work with like Usher, Chris Brown and Justin Bieber and all those guys I actually knocked it off the checklist and pretty soon I kept doing both for a while and I was always doing mixtapes and stuff like that. At the same time as writing and once I felt they were at the same level is when I figured I mind as well give it my all to the artistry. Once I realized I was focusing on the writing, I saw a lot of great results and wanted to do the same thing as an artist at that point. A lot of people don’t know your grandfather was the Jackson Five’s songwriter Bobby Day. What kind of pressure, if any, does that add growing up in a musical family? It doesn’t really add a lot of pressure but if anything I think it motivates me. Seeing my grandfather, everything he did I pretty much took after him. When I was little, I would go to his house and he had the studio in his house, and he had plaques in his house and he had the family there. If everyone was tired he would go downstairs to the studio. It was kind of a habit I picked up on. I wouldn’t say anything I would just be sitting in there watching him write songs and do music. It just kinda gave me the confidence that I think that I needed I felt in my blood if grandpa could do 38 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
than I could do it. No pressure just more motivation. You turned down a University of Southern California scholarship to follow your music dreams. What was going through your head when you made this decision? Did you ever have any doubt about the decision? Initially I definitely thought about it for a long time. I didn’t know what it would lead to but it was something I had to make a decision based on longevity and just more long term decision. Of course, football was something that I’ve always done and I’ve done it since I was a little kid and it was a big decision but I had got a record deal within months of making the decision so it wasn’t too long after that I felt like I made the right decision. What can we expect from this album? What’s the story behind the album title? The album you can just expect just great R&B and I think a lot of guys now they’re not necessarily infusing the sound of the time that we’re in. I think I did a great job of keeping it old school and classic timeless melodies and lyrics with a new school edge. Because everything is so edgier and a lot more rougher. I did a great job of balancing the two and I think it comes from my background you know growing up in Compton and going to church. I’ve always had a good balance and I think I did a good job with that on the album. I think people can expect great music. You know the ReBirth. I looked at it like R&B. The title has a capital R and capital B. Called it the ReBirth. The album is a story from beginning to end so people like me that go through everyday situations with their relationships;
all relationships are a journey, all relationships are a struggle it’s just if you want to stick it out and make it work. I feel like any relationship can work as long as you have two people who are dedicated to each other and never give up. So with the story in the album it starts off with having an ex-girlfriend and you guys make it better and then you know you guys don’t want to be together but you don’t want to see her with anyone else and then it’s just a great story that I think people can listen to it and feel like I was singing about their relationship and it was the soundtracks of their lives. So I’m excited about hearing the responses because it’s been pretty good so far it just dropped today and a lot of people are picking out their favorites already. You have a few features on your album with top artists such as Kid Ink. What would be your dream collaboration? Man, if I could do a song with Drake or Jay Z. Those two are my absolute favorite. So if they’re listening. I would love to do a song with Drake or Jay Z. If you could keep only one track from the album which one would you pick and why? It would probably be Reward because I just think that song pretty much is an example of who I am and who and what I want in a woman and what I want in a relationship. The song is basically about a girl being there for you when you have nothing and her loving you no matter what whether you don’t have money to pay for food at McDonalds or you’re not able to use your debit card because you
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I’m excited about hearing the responses because it’s been pretty good so far it just dropped today and a lot of people are picking out their favorites already.
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have to pay credit because your card would get declined. At the end of the you’re stuck with me through it all and now that I have everything I’m going to give it all to you so come get your reward. I’m an R&B singer, I’m a hopeless romantic so that’s just the story that I feel like sums everything up. The melodies on that song are just incredible I kind of went out of the box on that song. I think a lot of people will love that want. Today you recieve a lot of positive comments about your music, your album and you are still at a very young age. How does it feel having all that love from so many magazines, blogs and your newly gained fans? It feels really really incredible. A lot of times as an artists all we really want is for the world to hear our music, hear our perspectives, hear our voice and for me finally getting to the point where people are listening and actually clicking on the music and clicking on the link that’s really an accomplishment and to me that’s successful in its own because so many people do music and it never gets a chance to be heard. For me now to get to the point where people are actually listening especially for them to have such good feedback you couldn’t ask for more. To find out more about Eric Bellinger and his music you can follow him on twitter, @ericbellinger or visit his website, www.iamericb2.com.
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KID INK
From running the streets in LA as an independent artist, to signing with major label Sony RCA; producer and rapper Kid Ink has finally found his Own Lane.
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here does the title of your album My Own Lane come from? My Own Lane comes from a thought process I was having whilst I was working on the album, where I found myself in the situation where nobody really knew how to categorise me as an artist or categorise my music. Nobody can really say Kid Ink has these types of fans or is similar with this group of artists so I felt like there’s no competition to be any particular type of artist so I could just be me. That mind frame allowed me to make the music I love and produce music for my own project without critics saying he’s copying
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So when the chance came to work with August for example, I wanted to make music so that he can release his vocals on. When I worked with Chris [Brown], I knew it had to be a big one so we worked on Show Me and that became the single. Talk to us a little about your movement Tha Alumni Music Group, that includes yourself, DJ Ill Will, DJ Rockstar, Jahlil Beats and so many talented others. Is it your answer to a rappers clique? [Laughs] Yeah, I think rappers get attention in a very different way compared to producers. It’s rare to see a producer hold a sell-out concert for example,
Nobody can really say Kid Ink has these types of fans or is similar with this group of artists so I felt like there’s no competition to be any particular type of artist so I could just be me.
Building on that, as we scroll down the tracklisting, we can hear two sides of you: the side that appreciates heavy hip-hop bangers and that musical side that appreciates breakthrough R&B artists like August Alsina, Maejor Ali, and of course bigger names like Elle Varner and Chris Brown. What was it like working on those particular records? I feel like as the producer side of me doesn’t like getting tied down to one type of music. I make music depending on my mood, depending on the vibe in the studio, and the concept I have in mind for a record.
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Tyga or he’s trying to be like Kendrick. I honestly made the project that I thought best represented the many different sides of me and my music.
with the exception of Just Blaze and people like that but Tha Alumni Group is a collective of the mixtape DJs that hosted some of the biggest independent projects keeping their name out there and stamping their mark on their music. Moving with the producer vibe.....You also have three songs with DJ Mustard on the album. How did you hook up with him and what aspect of his style made you want him so heavily involved? I met Mustard before he was really making beats; we were running around in the LA streets, rolling in the same circles. Before we ever got in the studio he was sending me ZIP files full of instrumentals and was like “take your pick
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You were successful as an independent artist, but you recently signed to RCA. What influenced your decision to go away from your independent hustle and sign to a major label? There’s a ceiling you hit as an independent artist that you need to break through and to do that you need resources. After a while you just run through the motions and nothing is fresh and new, so you can’t take it to the next level. With independent projects they can
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where I’m from in LA so it was all around me. I actually got my first tattoo with my mom who took me up to the shop herself because she made me promise that I would only get one if she came with me and got something too. I had drawn my first, second, third and all the way up to my sixth tattoo and planned them all out where I wanted them. After I had my first few, I wanted to give the tattoo artist the chance to show some creativity too, but the obsession never stopped. Speaking of producers, your love for music began in the studio beat making, but now you’re building yourself as an artist and you’ve had a hand in producing every song on your
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man”, so when we finally had the chance to get in the studio it was so easy because we had that bond already. I did have to cut one Mustard record, a track called “Rollin”, but I ended up finishing that in London.
I got my first tattoo with My mom who took me up to the shop herself because she made me promise that I would only get one. have a good first week, they can make it into the top 100 charts on iTunes but all you can ever do it put out a new independent mixtape or a new independent album. The labels have got connections you can’t reach on your own; they can put you in places you can’t access on your own, in volumes you can’t imagine. So at this stage in my career it felt right to make that move and Sony RCA has been good to me. With a name like Kid Ink you’re bound to have an more than a few tattoos, you even dedicated a track on the album, “Tattoo My Name”. Tell us about your passion for them, when did that start and what do they mean to you? My passion for tattoos started when I was around 16, the tattoo lifestyle is just big
album. How does that make you well rounded as an artist and an overall complete package? I started beat making from a young age, and then I was writing hooks and just handing them over to other artists, but the time came that I had verses to express and I couldn’t hand them over to any other rapper. I started out with a few mixtapes and it kept flowing, so I thought, well I can produce and I can rap so I should make a project combining both skills. There’s not a single song off this album that I didn’t have a hand in producing in some way. To find out more about Kid Ink and his music you can follow him on twitter, @ kid_ink, on Facebook, www. fb.com/officialkidink, or visit his website, www. kidinkmyownlane.com.
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Mr Autotune evolves into The Stoicville Phoenix
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n your debut album, your songs were more slow R&B and now you’re mixing it up. Did you want to change your style or was it done so you can progress as an artist? Yeah pretty much so I can progress as an artist. You always wanna try to mature and just be different. You want to make sure you don’t stay the same your whole career. You always want to switch it up and do different things knowing you can always go back to how you used to do things. I can always go back to that slow R&B style
and I’m getting more towards that now. I think I just matured as an artist and just switched up my style just ‘cause I got bored with it.
lot. I have over a hundred songs to pick from for this album that I’m dropping now so basically I just had enough to give away and that’s what I’m doing now.
You have released three new songs and videos recently. Are Planning on doing the usual mixtape before album like you usually or is it just the free tracks? No it’s just free tracks for the fans. Stoic was actually the mixtape before Stoicville. So basically I’m just putting out stuff out for the fans. It’s been a while I’ve just been recording a
The upcoming album is titled Stoicville the Phoenix because you said it’s represents a new era what can we expect from this new era? I think I’m smarter. I’m much smarter now and I think I can evaluate things better. I look at situations differently now. I’ve matured as a person not just an artist. I can break things down and I think before I say
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Is the project already wrapped up or are you still working on the album? What is the process of making the album? I always work until they tell me to stop. I keep working I keep recording until they tell me it’s time to put the album out. I record to the last second just to make sure I’m not missing anything. I don’t want to say okay I have this many songs I can stop now. I don’t like to work like that, I like to get as many as I can and make sure that I’ve squeezed every idea out of my head that I can, make sure that I have done everything right. The process is just going in and having fun. Just going in the booth and whatever comes off top of my head is that’s what it is. Thankfully I’m thinking better now there’s better stuff coming out my head. I’m in a
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features is because I’ve never turned anybody down. I’ve never told anyone I wouldn’t do their song. I just kept accepting everybody and it just happened out of nowhere I didn’t plan on that. A few years ago a lot of people criticized you for using autotune and now a lot more artists, Future to name one example, use it. What do you think of other artists using autotune now a days like? I actually really like it! I like that I started something that has become so popular. I changed the music industry. That’s a big achievement. Nobody can really say that they changed the music industry. So I feel great about it. The originator always gets the most hate. You can’t be the originator of something and not expect people to automatically just hate it. People fear what they don’t know and won’t understand something once it starts. You can’t start something and just want people to understand it. If people
on your new album? I don’t know yet. I haven’t reached out to anybody at the moment. I’ve just been working on me and making sure I got my stuff right before I go looking for other people to make it right for me. I want to make sure I've got all my ducks in a row and make sure I've got all my stuff straightened and all my music is nice. That way if I do go to somebody it’s not even a question it’s undeniable you can’t say no because this song is so nice and so tight and so ready all you gotta do is put a verse on it, no work for you like - Bam! Can we expect the new album for spring or summer? I don’t know yet I’m still trying to figure that out. I’m not really in rush at all. Nobody’s rushing me. To find out more about T-Pain and his music you can follow him on twitter, @tpain, on Facebook, www.fb.com/t-pain or visit his website, www.t-pain. net.
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stuff now. It’s a totally different T-Pain you're seeing right now. My personality has changed a little. It’s just a different time. It’s time to grow up and get right.
If I get the hate (for using Autotune) I’ll take the hate if that means I’m the originator. I’ll take that hate. happier place. I’m not depressed or down all the time. So you know it’s getting better and it’s a very quick process. Outside of America, you are perhaps more known for your features and hooks, on tracks with Pitbull or Lil Wayne for example. Is it something you have a plan to change? Not really I don’t turn anybody down. So you know if somebody comes to me and they want a feature or they want me to do anything for them I’m more than happy to do it if not; it’s not hurting me at all. The only reason I’ve done so many
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understand it once right when you start it, then that means it’s been done before. If I get the hate I’ll take the hate if that means I’m the originator. I’ll take that hate.
When you are not working on new music what are you doing for fun? Who are you listening to? Oh man! I’m always doing music if I’m not doing music I’m sleep. That’s the best time! For me that’s the best thing to do other than music. You said you’ve done a lot of featurings. Can we expect some
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It’s A UK tHING DORA MARTIN ALTERNATIVE R&B DUO
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hen you took two separate solo projects as Jermiane Riley and Cherri V, and you joined them together it’s a combination of the best of two similar yet unique styles. How are you both so synced together, and what is it that makes this recipe work so well? JR: For years people have been saying to us that we’re just like the mirror image of each other since our styles aren’t too dissimilar. We like the same things and we know how each others voices work since we have the same goals, so it’s really easy to come together because the creative process is so streamlined. I know what she’s tryna get across and she knows where I’m at as well so it’s really come together organically. What will it take now for you
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to out do this first EP with your next project? CV: We’ve already started recording, there’s a few little tricks that we’ve got up our sleeves for this period of the year as well. We’re excited about just doing something bigger than Coalition and giving something to dance to in the clubs and maybe some more up-tempo stuff to show everybody else a little bit of what we can do. Be prepared for a bit more of what we were doing mixed with something new - so I’m really excited to kind of bring a new body of work so soon to the table. What’s the next step with regards to like artist collaborations and affiliations when the time is right? JR: I think with our sound and approach we’re all about quality over popularity; especially considering it took us about
a year to make Coalition from start to finish. Our whole approach is what happens naturally and we’re never really gonna force collaborations or work relationships based on strategy or anything. I think you can hear that in the music as well so if it happens, it happens, because either way were gonna try and make great music and try and do something ground-breaking. Jermaine, its well known that you design all your own artwork yourself and have a big hand in the video direction and the editing, so as a creative what challenge do you need to set yourself next? JR: it’s just about thinking outside of the box and trying to do something that will make people keep saying “ahh they’re unique”. I think the biggest challenge is always trying to do something different from the last experiment but yet still keep it all in brand and all consistent. Dora Martin’s EP - Coalition - is availiable to buy from iTunes now. To find out more about Dora Martin and their music you can follow him on twitter, @ wearedoramartin, on Facebook, www.fb.com/wearedoramartin, or visit his website, www.doramartin.com.
Industry Advice Name: Darcus Beese Job: President of Island Records Job description: Manages the team of A&Rs, publicists, and marketing specialists and is also responsible for the overall campaign of global artists
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hat fundamental characteristic do you look out for in an artist to realise they are suitable for a major
label? Many different major labels have different ethos’ about what they sign and again, I always say I’m lucky to work for Island because I do think that there is a certain style of Island act. Those acts are the ones that confound the expectations of what people think they are about to hear. I’ve been lucky to work with
acts from Amy Winehouse to Ben Howard to Disclosure to Jessie Ware and a broad church of artists that I think are doing exciting things. Which core components of a singer or rapper do you look at first? The voice, the themes behind their music, the ability to write a hit? In the very first instance I would say it’s the voice because, everything else you can work around. You can put an artist with someone if their not strong enough by themselves in ine aspect, but you can’t affect the voice.
What do you think events such as the Ultimate Seminar do to inspire the stars of tomorrow? From the industry and artist panels, the inspiring advice, and of course the networking. How valuable is it in your experience? I think its incredible, Kwame and the Ultimate Seminar has been going on for years. I think that young people have the ability to come somewhere and hear from professionals that were coming to seminars and sitting where they were 5 years beforehand. To be here as President and see Kwame continue this excellent work is so positive for the future of the music industry.
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ALBUM REVIEWS Beyoncé Beyoncé RATING
7/10
KID INK
My Own Lane The buzz this past year over Kid Ink has been huge, after transferring from an independent label to a major, big things were expected of this 27 year old rapper from LA and his first major studio album My Own Lane does not disappoint. With the big first single Show Me and the introspective track No Miracles, which features MGK and the talented Elle Varner, Kid Ink has done a lot to make sure he really has carved out his own lane.
Sensual, provocative and sexually charged, not words usually used to describe Beyonce’s music, but her self-titled album does all of the above. It landed on iTunes on Dec 13th with no prior promotion, boasting an incredible 17 music videos. Almost three years after her previous album 4, reveals a revitalised Beyoncé who now flaunts her sexuality. With features from Jay Z & Frank Ocean, it’s no wonder it shattered iTunes records. It’s a must WATCH album! RATING
8/10
RATING
8/10 Schoolboy Q Oxymoron
XXL Freshman, Schoolboy Q delivers a critic silencing debut album that stands up to the hype. The much anticipated Oxymoron, dellivers features from Tyler THe Creator, 2Chainz, Kurupt and Raekwon. Most notably, Q adds a dark side to his critically acclaimed mixtapes with meticulous production and ice cold flows. Don’t miss the standout tracks Break The Bank or Hell Of A Night. Top Dawg Ent. will dominate the rap game in 2014.
Upcoming releases
RICK ROSS
Mastermind 4th March 54 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
IGGY AZaLEA
The New Classic 14th April
Kelis
Food 21st April
Recommendations
Isaiah Rashad
Topaz Jones
RetcH
TDE’s Isaiah Rashad meets high expectations with the release of his debut project, Cilvia Demo. This EP serves as a laid back and vibrant experience into his background and surroundings.
New Jersey rapper Jones’ Honeymoon Suite showcases confident lyrics and flows accompanied by refreshing instrumentation. Worth a listen when looking for a new artist.
If you love East Coast Hip-Hop, this is definitely a project for you. A$AP affiliate Retch links up with Chicago producer Thenolious Martin to create what Retch dubs as “Lifestyle Rap”.
Cilvia Demo
Honeymoon Suite
Polo Sporting Goods
Singles review RATING
7/10
KATY B
Crying For No Reason Following up a brilliant first album is a huge challenge for any artist but UK songstress Katy B is taking it all in her stride. Crying for No Reason is different from anything she has ever done, but it really works! It’s stripped down production gives Katy the chance to showcase solely her voice and it is most definitely pleasant listening.
Pharrell Happy
This simple but infectious song has taken over the world and taken to everyone’s hearts. The Neptunes producer released the song in conjunction with the animated movie Despicable Me and since then it has become massive. The infectious chorus and message coupled with Pharrell’s soulful voice create a wonderfully positive song that won’t fail to make anyone smile.
RATING
9/10
RATING
8/10
DRAKE
Trophies The triumphant and bold beat created by American super producer Hit-Boy perfectly represents how boastful Drake should be feeling after a stellar 2013. His lyrics border on the cocky as he tells his haters ‘I do not wanna be friends though’. Everything culminates in a solid track which is what you would always expect from Champagne Papi. www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 55
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A persons shoes say alot about them
Is it time for you to upgrade? 58 Beatz Magazine | www.beatzmag.com
Nike Kobe IX Elite “Masterpiece”
adidas Rose 773 LI
Adidas Crazyquick 2 “wall”
Nike Jordan 6 Rings
Nike Jordan Melo M10
Adidas D Rose 4.5 Home www.beatzmag.com | Beatz Magazine 59