This past week was defined by the unusual. An Oaktown rapper without melanin justified her strong language, while one of Hip Hop’s biggest voices traded up in sales by making a label move. As that happened, fans were surprised to have to say goodbye to Tim Smooth. From OFWGKTA to 50 Cent, singles were big this week, but nothing was even close to “Otis”
is traffic or copy-cats. As Hip Hop mourned the loss of a voice and personality we felt kin to, it was a strange week indeed.
V-Nasty Justifies Her Use Of The “N-Word”
Seven years after The Source famously did an exposé on Eminem’s teenage use of the word “nigga” in a verse, a member of Kreayshawn‘s White Girl Mob, V-Nasty, is vehemently defending her choice to do the same. The Oakland, California-based rapper appeared in a video that surfaced this week, justifying her allowance to use the slur. Beginning her video statement, “on some real nigga shit,” the rapper whose name comes from her birth-name Vanessa boldly asked, “Is it a fucking race? Am I offending people or using it in a disrespectful type of way? Y’all mad at that? Y’all need to be mad at this album I’m about to drop on y’all ass. You fuckin’ haters…don’t be mad at me just because I’m doing me.” The story raised eyebrows, and is the latest part of a publicity melee since Kreayshawn signed to Sony Records earlier this year. This was a top story this week, for an artist without an album out.
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DJ Khaled Wins At Cash Money
Longtime E1 Entertainment star DJ Khaled released his first major label album, We The Best Forever. The New Orleans, Louisiana native linked with the city’s Cash Money Records, historic affiliates, to release the project feature CMR’s Lil Wayne, Drake and co-owner Birdman. Khaled sold over 50,000 first-week units in a Top 5 debut, nearly doubling the first week performance of last year’s Victory, which debuted at #14.
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Game Prepares For R.E.D. With Media Blitz
In last week’s media blitz, Game said a whole lot. After dropping “Uncle Otis”, Game went on to tell outlets, including HipHopDX, that R.E.D. will be 2011’s “album of the year” as well as the fact that he plans to sign to Cash Money Records after fulfilling his Interscope/Geffen Records contract. Along with the grabby headlines, Jayceon unveiled “Infrared” from R.E.D., produced by Cool & Dre.
Amy Winehouse Remembered By Hip Hop
It’s been over a week since news of Amy Winehouse’s death hit the Internet. The songstress was at work with longtime Nas producer Salaam Remi at another album at the time of her death. The British singer who was produced and largely discovered by onetime Roc-A-Fella Records affiliate deejay/producer Mark Ronson, was mourned by various Hip Hop personalities on Twitter, Facebook and in song. HipHopDX profiled Amy’s Biggest Hip Hop Moments.
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Other items of note:
– J. Cole Releases “Can’t Get Enough” Featuring Trey Songz
– Frank Ocean Releases “Thinking About You”
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– Former Rap-A-Lot Records Artist Tim Smooth Dies At Age 39
