Fred Hampton Jr. (the son of the late Illinois Black Panther Party chairman, Fred Hampton, Sr)

The son of late African American activist Fred Hampton, Fred Hampton, Jr., has lashed back at rap mogul Jay-Z for making a reference to his slain father on the new Watch the Throne album.

“I arrived the same day Fred Hampton died.”

The above line is said by Jay-Z on the song “Murder To Excellence” off Watch The Throne. The line pays homage to the fallen leader of the Black Panther Party who was killed on December 4, 1969 when Chicago police and FBI agents stormed into his apartment and opened fire on a sleeping Fred Hampton. Jay-Z was born on the same day, leading Jay to make the statement above on Watch The Throne, alluding to how he was given life on the same day it was taken from Hampton, as the line ends “real n***as just multiply.”

During a film screening of “The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975” and panel at University of Chicago on Saturday, Fred Hampton Jr. shared his feelings on the song lyric and Jay-Z. Speaking to a crowd at the University’s International House, Hampton voiced his displeasure with the lyric, saying that Jay-Z has twisted that truth. “Fred Hampton didn’t die,” Hampton Jr. said. “He was assassinated. Saying Fred Hampton died is like the school teacher telling students that Christopher Columbus discovered America.” He later went on to refer to Jay-Z as Slave-Z, questioning his motives on the record.

Checkout the record yourself. Is Jay Z paying homage or is Fred Hampton Jr. overreacting? Whatever the case may be Jay & Kanye raised awareness about the topic of Fred Hampton Sr.

#Fashion: Jim Jones releases New Outwear Clothing Line: Protocol

By GWOP

December 6, 2011

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Jim Jones has teamed up with music executive Dan Tan and designers from Parish Nation to launch Protocol, a new outerwear clothing line.

More Pics after the jump. Checkout official website for more info. Read More

Book: Time Served on Death Row by Simone Green

By GWOP

December 5, 2011

Simone Green

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Former Death Row Records Photographer Simone Green talks about her new book Time Served On Death Row which chronicalizes her time at the once iconic Hip-Hop label. Book due out Jan. 13, 2012

54th Annual Grammy Nominations (2012)

By GWOP

December 1, 2011

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For the second year in a row, a hip-hop artist is leading the pack in Grammy nominations.

source: MTV

Although his name was only called for one category during Wednesday’s (November 30) “Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!,” Kanye West walked away with a leading seven nods, following the hip-hop trend set by last year’s leading nominee, Eminem. He’s nominated for his Watch the Throne joint album with Jay-Z and also picked up a few nominations — including Song of the Year — for his powerhouse collaborative track “All of the Lights,” which features Rihanna, Fergie and Kid Cudi. He’s even nominated against himself, with Watch the Throne and his own My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy nabbing Rap Album of the Year nods.

West was followed by this year’s critical darling, Adele, who is tied with the Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars for six nods each. Lil Wayne and dance-music breakout Skrillex each garnered five nods.

While the Grammys have a reputation for catering to an older demographic (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for 2009 Album of the Year, anyone?), this year’s nominees are notably young, with 34-year-old West looking downright geriatric next to fellow nominees Adele (23), Rihanna (23), Lady Gaga (25) and Bruno Mars (26).

Full List after the jump. Read More

The Future: Every Instrument in this Song is from iPad App

By GWOP

November 30, 2011

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Singsong

The Digital Era has arrived. You no longer need to carry around big keyboards and drum sets in order to play instruments and be a musician. Check out video of song created completely with iPad apps (MadPad, Magic Fiddle, Magic Piano, Garageband, etc.) costing a total around $100 bucks. This is by no means a substitute for the real deal or a Dr. Dre beat created on a MPC 5000, but it will open a door for maybe a Digital Music genre? Who will be the first rapper to release an iPad album? Checkout more Digital Music Videos after the jump.

All instruments recorded by iPad apps!
Used in this song: Animoog, MadPad, Magic Fiddle, Magic Piano, iSynPoly, ReBirth, GarageBand, Alchemy, iElectribe.

Top Hip Hop Record Labels 2012

By GWOP

November 29, 2011

Birdman, cyhi da prynce, Drake, Eminem, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, mac miller, meek mills, music, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Royce Da 5'9, Russell Simmons, slick pulla, Stalley, T.I., Wale, wiz khalifa, Yelawolf, Young Jeezy

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Russell Simmons (founder of Def Jam Records)

Hip Hop originated in New York during the 1970s, Russell Simmons (GlobalGrind.com) along with wealthy punk rocker Rick Rubin were the first pioneers of the hip hop music genre to create a record label empire; Def Jam records. Def Jam introduced the world to legendary artists such as RUN DMC, LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys in the 1980s which led to immediate success, turning Def Jam Records into the biggest record label in Hip Hop during this time period. In today’s world Russell Simmons is more interested in yoga and occupying Wall Street rather than breaking the next big artist. Therefore the door has opened for new moguls to takeover the throne and create empires for the 2012 generation. GWOP Magazine staff has put together a list of the top Hip Hop/Rap Record labels for 2012. Nas said ‘Hip Hop was dead in 2006’, well these labels are destined to prove that the music genre has only suffered a heart attack and there is no need to panic. Checkout the full list after the jump.

Hip Hop Album Sales week ending 11/20/2011

By GWOP

November 23, 2011

Drake

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#1. Drake – Take Care – 631,000 (631,000)

#11. Childish Gambino – Camp – 52,000 (52,000)

#17. Webbie – Savage Life 3 – 30,000 (30,000)

#18. Wale – Ambition – 29,000 (234,000)

#24. Mac Miller – Blue Slide Park – 25,000 (170,000)

#25. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV – 25,000 (1,693,000)

#33. J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story – 18,000 (405,000)

#78. Tech N9ne Collabos – Welcome To Strangeland – 7,000 (33,000)

#99. Drake – Thank Me Later – 4,900 (1,489,000)

#106. Pusha T – Fear Of God 2: Let Us Pray – 4,300 (13,000)

* data comes from Nielsen Soundscan, rounded to nearest thousandth for units above 10,000, nearest hundredth for units below 10,000.

Gucci Mane & V-Nasty – BAYTL [Cover Art & Tracklisting]

By GWOP

November 22, 2011

Gucci Mane, V-Nasty

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1017 Brick Squad CEO Gucci Mane has teamed with Oakland newcomer V-Nasty for a new album. The disc will be released December 13 on Warner Bros. Records.

Peep the tracklisting below courtesy of Hiphop-N-More.

39th Annual American Music Awards Winners

By GWOP

November 21, 2011

Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj

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List of winners at Sunday’s 39th annual American Music Awards, presented at the Nokia Theatre:

— Contemporary Inspirational Artist: Casting Crowns

— Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift

— Country Male Artist: Blake Shelton

— Country Band, Duo or Group: Lady Antebellum

— Country Album: Taylor Swift, “Speak Now”

— Latin Artist: Jennifer Lopez

— Pop/Rock Female Artist: Adele

— Pop/Rock Male Artist: Bruno Mars

— Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group: Maroon 5

— Pop/Rock Album: Adele, “21”

— Rap/Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj

— Rap/Hip-Hop Album: Nicki Minaj, “Pink Friday”

— Soul/R&B Female Artist: Beyonce

— Soul/R&B Male Artist: Usher

— Soul/R&B Album: Rihanna, “Loud.”

— Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift

— Sprint New Artist of the Year: Hot Chelle Rae

Source: AssociatedPress

Google launches Google Music

By GWOP

November 17, 2011

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Google Inc. unveiled a new online music store with T-Mobile to compete against its competitors Apple and Amazon.

The new service features millions of songs from record labels EMI, Sony Music and Universal, but will not have music from Warner Group.

To help jump-start the new music store, Google said it will offer one free song for consumers to download every day.

It will also allow consumers to share purchased songs with friends on the Google-plus social network. The feature will give users of Google-plus a “free, full-play” of songs purchased by their friends.

Good news for music lovers everywhere!

Busta Rhymes & Mystikal sign to Cash Money Records

By GWOP

November 17, 2011

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In an unexpected move, veteran rapper Busta Rhymes has officially signed to Cash Money Records. The surprising news was announced via Twitter last night when Rick Ross congratulated Busta, and Busta replied with praise for Cash Money.

In an added twist, New Orleans rapper Mystikal, who was recently released from prison, also joined the New Orleans-based label.

Mystikal has been working with former Cash Money producer Mannie Fresh on his first post-prison album.