There’s tears in my eyes as I write this. The brother Chris Lighty was a really good dude. In the music business he was a rarity. You see, in this legalized game of hustling we call rap, he was one of the few decent guys who helped others. Chris helped artists turn their music careers into multifaceted business ventures that included sneaker, beverage and film endorsements. Brother Chris was a true hero to the aspiring African American entrepreneur. Even if you didn’t know him personally, you knew he was considered one of the best when it came to getting the deal done. But Chris was still an old-school hip-hop head from The Bronx with boyish looks. He meant so much to so many. Kool DJ Red Alert and DJ D Nice were among his pallbearers. Russell Simmons, Busta Rhymes. and Q Tip were among those who offered great words in a tough situation. Gone but never forgotten, R.I.P. brother Chris Lighty.
This Slaughterhouse “Goodbye” record became a dedication to brother Chris, with new verses from Fat Joe and Joell Ortiz. It’s one of the hottest records this week…Goodbye.
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Back in effect. It’s been a few weeks of global grindin,’ literally, all over the globe peeping new music, new movements and some of the hottest new artist about to pop. Speaking of newness, we’ve been waiting for this G.O.O.D. Music Cruel Summer album to drop all summer, and now it’s the fall. How cruel is that? Anyway, this Big Sean, Jay-Z and Kanye West anthem record called “Clique” should be enough to wet the palettes for all you thirsty G.O.O.D. disciples. At this point in his career Jay-Z just plays the role of Designated Heavy Hitter for any record he’s on. Big Sean always has some creative next sh*t in his rhymes, BUT it’s Yeezy’s prophetic verse that closes this great Democratic Convention of MCs. Peep his reality line about Kimmy’s rise to the top. Love It!
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Alicia Keys never ceases to amaze. She drops the crazy record “Brand New Day,” and unfortunately it has to share spot light with Dre and 50, so it messes up the momentum, sorta. Well leave it to her to come right back with another top shelf selection with “Girl on Fire.” A remix version that features Nicki Minaj is the version that most people have heard. In it, Nicki shouts out Olympic Gold Winner Gabrielle Douglas. So it was perfect when Alicia brought out Gabby during her performance for MTV’s VMAs. But the song “Girl on Fire” is yet another masterpiece in Alicia Keys’ discography of hits. Alicia, we cannot WAIT for the album…
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Don Trip is one of the most slept on artists from the southern region of this rap zoo-niverse. He hustled his way onto the last Freshman cover of XXL. Before that he had a big record, “Letter to My Son,” which featured Cee-Lo, and of course the big DJ Drama Mixtape. Still, it took heavyweights like Dr. Dre and visionaries like Cool and Dre to really make things connect for Trip as an artist. His latest track “Prolly” is an example of how dope he his and a small sample of what’s to come.
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The ever so sexy spitfire known as LoLa Monroe is back with a banger called “Don’t Wake Me.” If you’re not familiar with her, she is a multi-talented MC from DC with Ethiopian roots. Monroe is primarily known as an actress, but she is also an affiliate of Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang of MCs. “Don’t Wake Me” should wake up those the naysayers but also give LoLa some great music in the club. Enjoy until we read again…
Brandon ‘TNT’ West
Music Exec / Industry Insider/ The Andy Rooney of Hip Hop Culture
Holla at him @tnt718
