Albums

Sy Smith Releases ‘Until We Meet Again’ Album

January 30, 2024 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

It’s been nearly six years since Sy Smith‘s acclaimed album Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete. After guesting on Zo! and Tall Black Guy‘s “The Ride” for their excellent 2021 album Abstractions, the multi-talented, Emmy-nominated singer/songwriter and actress reunites with her frequent collaborators for her new album Until We Meet Again, released today (1/26/2024) on all DSPs via +FE Music/EMPIRE. Produced entirely by Zo! and Tall Black Guy, and executive produced by The Foreign Exchange frontman and Little Brother co-founder Phonte, the album features the sensual lead single “Slide” and serves as Smith’s long-awaited full-length +FE Music debut. Guest appearances include world renowned singer/drummer Sheila E, trumpeter Chris Botti, and more.

“You ever pick up an old photo album that you haven’t seen in many years and look through it? And all the memories of each photo come flooding back as if those pictures were just taken yesterday? That’s what “Until We Meet Again” feels like. It’s a sonic reverie down memory lane – making stops at every single emotion that comes with reminiscing.” – Sy Smith

Stream/purchase Until We Meet Again here. Smith is set to hit the road in March and April for her Until We Meet Again headlining tour. Dates and more info are available here.

Entertainment

Dave Chappelle Says He’s ‘Not Bending to Anybody’s Demands’ Over ‘The Closer’

October 25, 2021 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

Dave Chappelle is not new to controversy. As most of us know he walked away from Hollywood because they wanted him to put on a dress, and people could not understand why he refused. Hell, just about all of the uber successfully Black men in Hollywood have done it. Dave in now under fire for his new stand-up special, “The Closer.” Dave has spoken out about the controversy over his Netflix special “The Closer” in a new stand-up video, saying that he is willing to meet with transgender Netflix employees or other members of the trans community, but won’t bend “to anybody’s demands.”

In the video, Chappelle did something that people in Hollywood refuse to do, he stood his ground. He remains unapologetic about the special — which was accused of containing transphobic and homophobic remarks and led to a walkout at Netflix — saying: “I said what I said.”

“It’s been said in the press that I was invited to speak to the transgender employees of Netflix and I refused. That is not true — if they had invited me I would have accepted it, although I am confused about what we would be speaking about,” Chappelle said in the video. “I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like I’m the only one that can’t go to the office anymore.”

Chappelle claimed that the controversy was about “corporate interests” and that some members of the LGBTQ+ community have been supportive of him.

“I want everyone in this audience to know that even though the media frames it that it’s me versus that community, that is not what it is. Do not blame the LBGTQ [sic] community for any of this shit. This has nothing to do with them. It’s about corporate interests and what I can say and what I cannot say,” Chappelle said. “For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone I know from that community has been loving and supporting, so I don’t know what all this nonsense is about.”

Chappelle also spoke about his upcoming documentary about his summer 2020 comedy tour, claiming that it has now been excluded from film festivals.

“This film that I made was invited to every film festival in the United States and some of those invitations I accepted. When this controversy came out about ‘The Closer,’ they began disinviting me from these film festivals,” Chappelle claimed. “And now, today, not a film company, not a movie studio, not a film festival, nobody will touch this film. Thank God for Ted Sarandos and Netflix, he’s the only one that didn’t cancel me yet.”

Though Chappelle said he was willing to meet with members of the trans community, he jokingly listed off a slew of conditions that would have to be met: “To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybody’s demands. And if you want to meet with me, I’d be more than willing to, but I have some conditions. First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing, and thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dave Chappelle (@davechappelle)

Interviews

Zion I Talks COVID Adjustments & Lessons Learned In Hip-Hop

March 25, 2021 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

Oakland, CA emcee Zion I presents “2 Eyes”, his new single out now on Mind Over Matter Recordings. Zion trades bars with Washington D.C. emcee Born I over the track which is produced by Los Angeles beatsmith Nathan Fields. Zion I has brought his brand of conscious genre-blending hip-hop to over two dozen releases spanning two decades, collaborating with the likes of Linkin Park (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arIr7nzLol0) and Black Thought (stream “Come Together”) and K. Flay (watch the music video for “Coastin”), and performing at Coachella and Rock The Bells.

“I made this song with Nathan Fields and Born I, two artists that I met over the internet” Zion says about the new track. “Nathan sent me the beat and I recorded the first verse and the hook. Once he heard it, he recommended the second verse feature Born I, as we share similar vibes. The song is about standing firm and being grounded in one’s self, no matter the circumstances being faced.”

What’s your biggest lesson learned from all your years in the game?

I would say staying true ton one’s self is key to sustainability and success. Although, it sounds cliche, it is a difficult thing to achieve when fame and success hinge on the way that “You” are perceived as an artist. Creating an image that feels like it will sell, is not the best way to go, because once you start to evolve out of the constructed persona, the fans who dug that character fade quick. That, and being tenacious af. As an artist, we have to have deep belief in our reservoirs of talent in order to hold up for the long haul.

How has the audience’s reaction to conscious hip-hop evolved since you got into the game? Pros and cons?

When I first hopped in the indie game, in the late 90’s, conscious hip hop wasn’t the most popular medium, but it was an inspired counter to commercial rap. Now, it feels like the culture has turned into fractals of itself, each holding a small subset of ideas, sounds, and energies…one surging forward after the next. Those who vibe to conscious vibes are those who are working to find more out of the life they are being presented with. A few mainstream artists continue to carry the torch, but its more of a niche than it used to be. It feels like nihilism is celebrated as the cause of existence for the youth, because as KRS said way back in the day, its all about “Sex and Violence.” These are easy things to sell to the youth, unfortunately.

With such a storied career under your belt, what do you think is next for you musically?

I am excited for the next chapter coming out of this cocoon that the pandemic has created around me. I’ve cliqued back up with all my OG homies from Atlanta, where I first started taking music seriously. I was reunited with two of my close spiritual companions because we lost one of our best homies last summer.

Beyond that, my old crew I was in before Zion I has been on Zoom calls plotting on how to release music in this new era. It’s dope because we all have a similar perspective on the music, as we’ve been rocking with each other for decades. I look forward to creating a bridge into the future for the youngsters and the OG’s to meet, and share ideas and stories.

The pandemic has affected everyone in different ways. How has it affected you most?

It’s forced me to really take a close look at my demons and what has been holding me back. I mean it has been intense spiritually and emotionally for me. I have lost family members and friends, not to COVID, but to the situations that it has created in their lives.

I’ve had to really look at the thoughts I feed and carry around within myself. To take accountability for the situations I have created for myself. One of my homies told me that diamonds are created under immense pressure, and I am running with that analogy.

What do you think 2021 is going to be about collectively and globally?

I feel like its an opportunity for us to actually clique up with our tribes and show more love to those who are in our soul family. That’s how it feels to me. I feel blessed that I have reunited with so many old friends, all the phony ones faded into the dust, so its all good.

I’d rather have a few real ones riding with me, than a gang of fair weather friends. Globally, we are shifting into a different paradigm. Technology has life feeling like a sci fi novel to me. Society is collapsing, and rebirthing itself simultaneously. Old systems are falling by the wayside, and making way for new and emergent ideas to be born. It is an exciting, albeit taxing time to be alive!!!

Source: SpitFireHipHop

Videos

Akompliss Releases New ‘Cold Air’ Visual

March 25, 2021 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

Akompliss releases his the visual for the E. Smitty produced “Cold Air.”

Rhyme-slayer/Writer/Emcee Akompliss is back with the visuals to his 2020 hit, “Cold Air.” Akompliss successfully prophesized the coming pandemic events when he originally wrote the record in 2019. The single debuted in 2020 and just hit over 350,000 spins on streaming services.

Fast Forward to 2021 and we are still feeling the effects of the globalist pandemic. Akompliss is completing a 12 song album completely produced Atl’s own E. Smitty to be released on Sound Alive Records. The two plan to have a video for every single that they release. So sit back and checkout the “Cold Air” video below.

Source: SpitFireHipHop

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Videos

John Jigg$ & BP ft. A-F-R-O – The Madness

March 25, 2021 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

John Jigg$ and BP return today with the new video for “The Madness” featuring A-F-R-O.

John Jigg$ and BP bring you the video for the title track to their collaborative album “The Madness” featuring A-F-R-O. JIGG$ and A-F-R-O are featured in a virtual world where their bars are manifested into a neon universe brought to life in this Scientific Lens landscape. Experience the neon neck breaker and join “The Madness.”

Source: SpitFireHipHop

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Videos

Piff James Releases ‘Gangsta Shaman’ Video

March 25, 2021 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

Piff James releases his new “Gangsta Shaman” video.

Walking between the realm of consciousness and the realities of the street Piff James is the “Gangsta Shaman.” The new single (self-produced by James and released by Gold Chain Music) and accompanying visuals, follows Piff’s spiritual practice of meditation and communing with nature while still remaining the foul-mouthed Brick-City kid he always was.

Speaking on it he said “the beast is always there, I’m not on a new age trip, I’m just as loud as I always was but I’m trying to balance it.”

A decorated mic-veteran, many fans know Piff James as a member of the legendary Outsidaz (alongside Pace Won, Young Zee and Rah Digga) as well as an early star of the direct-to-video battle-rap scene from the early days of the millennium. This loosie is an appetizer for the forthcoming joint project with the Los Angeles Production duo, DirtyDiggs.

Source: SpitFireHipHop

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News

Texas Governor Lifts Mask Mandate, Austin Venues Issue Their Own Guidelines

March 25, 2021 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

Is the “Live Music Capital Of The World” also know as Austin, Texas going back to things as normal?

Governor Greg Abbott as of March 10, lifted the mask mandate for the State of Texas. This action by the Governor was not celebrated by everyone. Several Austin venues have issued their own guidelines to keep patrons safe.

“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. Today’s announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead, it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.” This was part of statement made by Governor Abbott on March 2.

The Red River Cultural District is known for its high concentration of hip nightlife venues on and around Red River Street in Austin. Red River Cultural District formed the “Safe In Sound” public code-of-conduct for attending its venues. Several Austin music venues, cultural institutions, performance spaces, and business leaders have signed on as co-authors of the initiative. The Safe In Sound members pledge to comply with the following standards:

Social Distancing – Six feet between individuals where possible
Masks – Requiring both employees and customers to wear facial coverings
Hand Washing – Hand sanitizer and other disinfectant materials are readily available for customers
Training – Employees have received proper training on cleaning guidelines and PPE utilization
Temperature Monitoring – Any employee or patron with a temperature above 100 is required to stay home
Sanitation – Every venue will be sanitized daily, especially high-touch areas

Cody Cowan, the Red River Cultural District’s Executive Director, says the mask mandates in Austin, Texas are intended to protect everyone.

“This program as a whole ultimately signifies a major shift within the local music and arts community where we as local business leaders are coming together as a unified front to stand up for what we believe in,” Cowan says.

“On a more personal level, after hearing from countless workers about the new level of fear that this new mandate has instilled upon those who work and perform within the district, I refuse to stand by and not stand up for what I, and many others like me, believe to be right,” Cowan continued.

“We hope that these collective actions send a strong message to the public that although we want to reopen, we will only do so in a manner that provides a safe environment for all,” the statement finishes.

But Austin venue’s attempts to keep patrons safe with mask mandates are seeing pushback from the state.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote this in a tweet, “City/county leaders must not be thinking clearly – Travis County and Austin have a few hours to comply with state law or I’ll sue them.”

Austin city officials like Mayor Steve Adler said they will continue to enforce safety mandates. “We will fight Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Paxton’s assault against doctors and data for as long as we possibly can,” Adler told an Austin newspaper earlier this week. Public officials there have made it clear they disagree with the Texas governor’s decision to lift the mask mandate. Austin’s restrictions will stay in place until April 15.

Source: SpitFireHipHop

Album Reviews

Ill Gordon – BarzOnDeck 2 (Album Review)

May 26, 2020 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

You’ll never find Ill Gordon doing what everyone else is doing. The Chicago rapper hit new levels of excellence on BarzOnDeck. Ill Gordon is known for his hard-hitting rhymes and has one the best voices in Hip-Hop. How are Hip-Hop artists defined? What makes a good artist? This is something that can generate a myriad of responses. The truth is that a good artist is one who gives us something of meaning.

On the sequel to the 2017 release, Ill Gordon recaptures the same energy, serving up those fast paced rhymes from the very beginning. The hard-hitting drums and horns call on the spirits of the warriors. Ill Gordon is one-of-one and on the intro track stays as perfect a fit for Gordon as his high-energy provides a peak into the album’s pace.

This is business as usual for Ill Gordon. Whenever you look for BarzOnDeck 2 to fade it keeps raging with speed of an 100 mile per hour fastball. Gordon tells us to stay focus on ‘Get Wit It’ he is cooking rhymes without a recipe. Ill Gordon seems to take us to church with the heavy piano track, “High Horse.”

On “Villain” Gordon brings the heat like Erik Spoelstra. “Grace Of God might be the brightest track on the album. Gordon says it is by God’s grace that he doesn’t kill rapper with coke lines he spits. If there is one thing you need to enter Ill Gordon’s world, it’s a mind open enough to reject the norm in Hip-Hop today and the grace of God.

Gordon, who closes out the project on the back end not being modest but by giving a warning on “No Smoke.” He can swing from wry one-liners to telling guys they don’t want fire from him. “Work” suggests how much Gordon gives to his craft; in a delivery that sounds more door-to-door salesman than rapper, Gordon envisions his own death: “Getting paid time and a half, you can that tell I spend time on my craft, I should be locked in a lab” he asserts before describing the way he puts work in.

On “Outro” Ill Gordon lets it be known that he does not write raps to become known better, he writes them for his own pleasure. “I was told not to rap about how good I am, ’cause they don’t really want to hear it, you could lose some fans, understand I don’t five a f*ck about opinion, more concerned with if the bars match in every sentence” raps Gordon. Not allowing the opinions of others get in the way of the of his creative process, Gordon focuses on the task at hand. Which is writing rhymes that people remember. Returning to his BarzOnDeck franchise and overtaking the original just asserts that he always gives you something, even if it’s never what mainstream is looking for.

Get the album today. https://illgordon.bandcamp.com/album/barzondeck2

Source: SpitFireHipHop.com

Shaquille O'Neal Forced To Explains Relationship with Tiger King

News

Shaquille O’Neal Forced To Explain Relationship with Tiger King

March 31, 2020 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

Appearing on Tiger King could cost Shaquille O’Neal business relationships.

Joe Exotic has received support from celebrities such as Cardi B and an outpouring support via viewers watching on Netflix and posting reactions on social media. Well support Joe is not a good thing if you are Shaquille O’Neal. The Big Aristotle as he is sometimes called makes a surprise appearance in Netflix’s new documentary series Tiger King, which tells the true story of Joe Exotic, an Oklahoma man who ran an exotic animal park and is currently in prison for a murder-for-hire scheme. Understandably, O’Neal is now distancing himself from Joe Exotic.

Shaq like many celebrities these days he took to his podcast, “The Big Podcast With Shaq” to address this issue. He addressed his appearance in the first episode of the series, in which he is seen holding two tiger cubs and later claiming to have “got two more.”

“So we go in there, and it’s a beautiful place, and the character that was there was Exotic Joe,” O’Neal began. “We’re there and I dropped some donations for the tigers’ foods and all that. We take pictures with [the] tigers. We went back a couple times. Then we go back another time and we found out that he’s involved with all the stuff, and then, actually, I stopped going.”

Shaq say he does not own any tigers himself. “I don’t harm tigers,” he said on the podcast. “I love tigers. I love white tigers. Do I put donations to these zoos to help these tigers out? I do it all the time. Do I own tigers personally at my house? No. But I love tigers. Listen, people are going to make their own opinions, but, again, I was just a visitor. I met this guy — not my friend. Don’t know him. Never had any business dealings with him, and I had no idea any of that stuff was going on.”

News

Chuck D & Flavor Fav No Longer On Same Page

March 21, 2020 by Jimy Lincoln Comments are Disabled

The rift between the two prominent remaining members of Public Enemy has to hurt those that grew up with the group being the voice of the people.

If you grew up in the 80s and were a Black kid in the inner city with pride for your people, Public Enemy was one of the groups that you followed. Their first album, ‘Yo! Bum Rush the Show’ was release in 1987. Then the following year they released ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’. The titled only gave fire to those who were fighting “the powers that be.”

If we are honest with our selves, we know that Black people in America have had to fight for everything that they have managed to acquire to date. When Public Enemy hit the scene it that generation wind under their sails to push on. Public Enemy was the barometer for young people. The group managed to fight the system and say what many wanted but could or did not. Public Enemy was not the type to confirm to what the United States wanted Black people to be, as they fought “the powers that be.”

That is why this situation between Flavor Flav is difficult for me to fathom. With all that Public Enemy stood for, it seems that a politician has torn them apart.

In late February Flavor Flav’s attorney sent a cease and desist to Bernie Sanders asserting that Sanders’ rally used Flav’s “unauthorized likeness” and “image” to promote the event.

“While Chuck is certainly free to express his political view as he sees fit — his voice alone does not speak for Public Enemy. The planned performance will only be Chuck D of Public Enemy, it will not be a performance by Public Enemy. Those who truly know what Public Enemy stands for know what time it is, there is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav,” the letter states.

Chuck D decided to respond on Twitter to the legal letter, saying, “It’s not about Bernie with Flav” and that Flav doesn’t “know the difference between Barry Sanders or Bernie Sanders.” This is a funny statement from Chuck D becuase as we know now, many Garth Brooks fans don’t know the difference between the two.

… last final note the last final note was my last straw was long ago. It’s not about BERNIE with Flav… he don’t know the difference between BarrySanders or BernieSanders he don’t know either. FLAV refused to support @Sankofa after @harrybelafonte inducted us. He don’t do that pic.twitter.com/5Ky9dTnzmd
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020

It seems that Chuck D was over Flavor Flav and no longer wanted to deal with Flav and his antics. Chuck D also explained his reasons for supporting Sanders. He said his (Sanders) focus on healthcare and childcare were the main reasons why he’s supporting the Democratic candidate. He posted on Twitter that the issues became priorities for him after his father passed away in 2016 and his granddaughter was born.

My Dad passing in 2016 and Granddaughter being born automatically put healthcare and childcare at the top of my brain. There ain’t a candidate running that can answer to 3 Black struggling generations living in the same crib, same time. If y’all don’t know THIS-it’s a bad problem pic.twitter.com/k8nJbhP8sV
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2020

As a founder of the group, Flavor Flav was taken aback as 35 years of brotherhood seemed to be thrown away because of a difference of political opinion. It appeared that exact thing had happened. The group was falling apart over politics. Flavor Flav responded to Chuck D once again on Twitter.

.@MrChuckD are you kidding me right now???,,,over Bernie Sanders??? You wanna destroy something we’ve built over 35 years OVER POLITICS???,,,all because I don’t wanna endorse a candidate,,,I’m very disappointed in you and your decisions right now Chuck,,,
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) March 2, 2020

Chuck D and other members of Public Enemy responded to the claims that Flav was removed from the group because of “politics.”

“Public Enemy did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views.
Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work.

Public Enemy Radio toured Europe and co-headlined with the Wu-Tang Clan in May 2019 without Flavor. They have also done numerous benefit shows without Flavor.

While Public Enemy Radio was moving forward, Flavor Flav was starring on the reality show “Growing up Hip-Hop New York,” where an episode featured his children discussing an intervention and putting him into rehab.

It’s time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well.”

View this post on Instagram

Official Statement; Public Enemy did not part ways with Flavor Flav over his political views. Flavor Flav has been on suspension since 2016 when he was MIA from the Harry Belafonte benefit in Atlanta, Georgia. That was the last straw for the group. He had previously missed numerous live gigs from Glastonbury to Canada, album recording sessions and photo shoots. He always chose to party over work. Public Enemy Radio toured Europe and co-headlined with the Wu-Tang Clan in May 2019 without Flavor. They have also done numerous benefit shows without Flavor. While Public Enemy Radio was moving forward, Flavor Flav was starring on the reality show “Growing up Hip-Hop New York,” where an episode featured his children discussing an intervention and putting him into rehab. It’s time to move on and everyone wishes Flavor well.

A post shared by Chuck D ? (@mrchuckd_pe) on Mar 2, 2020 at 4:34pm PST

I really hope the two can work through and bring the group back together. While they are working out, they should call Professor Griff and bring him back into the fold. This may be a stretch but I still believe in Public Enemy.

Source: SpitFireHipHop.com

Author: Jimy Lincoln

Akompliss releases his the visual for the E. Smitty produced “Cold Air.”

John Jigg$ and BP return today with the new video for “The Madness” featuring A-F-R-O.

Piff James releases his new “Gangsta Shaman” video.

Is the “Live Music Capital Of The World” also know as Austin, Texas going back to things as normal?

Appearing on Tiger King could cost Shaquille O’Neal business relationships.

The rift between the two prominent remaining members of Public Enemy has to hurt those that grew up with the group being the voice of the people.

That is why this situation between Flavor Flav is difficult for me to fathom. With all that Public Enemy stood for, it seems that a politician has torn them apart.