There’s no instruction manual for the rap industry. A streaming marketplace flooded with music means it takes more than ever for an artist to stand out from the pack, and figuring out how to improve on your craft and navigate the business end at the same time leaves many rappers scrambling for answers. And in some cases, it leaves artists susceptible to scammers and promoters peddling false promises of easy fame.
Mickey Factz wants to change all that. He’s spent the last 15 years building his own career from the ground up.
Mickey Factz wants to change all that. He’s spent the last 15 years building his own career from the ground up.
- 1/6/2023
- by William E. Ketchum III
- Rollingstone.com
The trailer for "On the Count of Three" contains subject matter related to mental health and suicide. If you or a loved one is in crisis, please reach out to National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-talk or the Crisis Text Line (Text Talk to 741741) to talk to someone who can help.
Given twenty-four hours to live, most folks' to-do lists would vary individually. On the posse cut from Mase's "Harlem World" album, Jadakiss raps that his final meal would include fried chicken and a cold Nantucket, while Black Rob would spend his last moments with his children. Gregg Champion's...
The post On The Count Of Three Shares a Strange Connection With a Morgan Freeman Movie appeared first on /Film.
Given twenty-four hours to live, most folks' to-do lists would vary individually. On the posse cut from Mase's "Harlem World" album, Jadakiss raps that his final meal would include fried chicken and a cold Nantucket, while Black Rob would spend his last moments with his children. Gregg Champion's...
The post On The Count Of Three Shares a Strange Connection With a Morgan Freeman Movie appeared first on /Film.
- 5/12/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Update: Digital Underground founding member Shock G, best known as his alter ego, Mc Humpty Hump, died from an accidental overdose, medical examiners said today.
The initial case summary released by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s office in Florida said Shock G (real name: Gregory Jacobs) died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, ethanol and methamphetamine.
He was buried in Tampa, Florida on May 1.
Earlier: Shock G, the Bay Area rapper-producer who fueled Digital Underground’s 1990 hit “The Humpty Dance” via his alter ego Humpty Hump and co-produced Tupac Shakur’s debut album, died today in Tampa, Fl. He was 57.
The news was confirmed by Chopmaster J (aka James Dight), who co-founded the Underground with Shock G (born Gregory Jacobs) in 1987. “34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip hop band and take on the world through it all the dream...
The initial case summary released by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s office in Florida said Shock G (real name: Gregory Jacobs) died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, ethanol and methamphetamine.
He was buried in Tampa, Florida on May 1.
Earlier: Shock G, the Bay Area rapper-producer who fueled Digital Underground’s 1990 hit “The Humpty Dance” via his alter ego Humpty Hump and co-produced Tupac Shakur’s debut album, died today in Tampa, Fl. He was 57.
The news was confirmed by Chopmaster J (aka James Dight), who co-founded the Underground with Shock G (born Gregory Jacobs) in 1987. “34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip hop band and take on the world through it all the dream...
- 6/12/2021
- by Erik Pedersen and Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
In 1999, the walls started closing in on Sean “Puffy” Combs. Two years prior, his friend and Bad Boy Records superstar, the Notorious B.I.G., was gunned down in California. Puff’s album No Way Out, released a few months after Biggie’s death, bled with genuine grief and sorrow, and Bad Boy seemed like it could be poised to reign for decades. The label’s roster was stacked with many of New York’s most exciting voices — the Lox, Lil Kim, Faith Evans, 112, and Harlem rapper Mase. But by...
- 4/20/2021
- by Jayson Buford
- Rollingstone.com
Black Rob, the rapper closely associated with Bad Boy Records and behind the hit single “Whoa!,” has died. He was 52.
He died of cardiac arrest on Saturday in Atlanta, his friend and former Bad Boy labelmate Mark Curry said on social media. Curry said the hip-hop star had been suffering from a series of health problems for a number of years including lupus, kidney failure, diabetes, and multiple strokes.
“Rest in power King @therealblackrob!” Bad Boy founder Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs wrote on Instagram on Sunday under a picture of himself and Black Rob. “As I ...
He died of cardiac arrest on Saturday in Atlanta, his friend and former Bad Boy labelmate Mark Curry said on social media. Curry said the hip-hop star had been suffering from a series of health problems for a number of years including lupus, kidney failure, diabetes, and multiple strokes.
“Rest in power King @therealblackrob!” Bad Boy founder Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs wrote on Instagram on Sunday under a picture of himself and Black Rob. “As I ...
- 4/20/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Black Rob, the rapper closely associated with Bad Boy Records and behind the hit single “Whoa!,” has died. He was 52.
He died of cardiac arrest on Saturday in Atlanta, his friend and former Bad Boy labelmate Mark Curry said on social media. Curry said the hip-hop star had been suffering from a series of health problems for a number of years including lupus, kidney failure, diabetes, and multiple strokes.
“Rest in power King @therealblackrob!” Bad Boy founder Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs wrote on Instagram on Sunday under a picture of himself and Black Rob. “As I ...
He died of cardiac arrest on Saturday in Atlanta, his friend and former Bad Boy labelmate Mark Curry said on social media. Curry said the hip-hop star had been suffering from a series of health problems for a number of years including lupus, kidney failure, diabetes, and multiple strokes.
“Rest in power King @therealblackrob!” Bad Boy founder Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs wrote on Instagram on Sunday under a picture of himself and Black Rob. “As I ...
- 4/20/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Robert Ross, the rapper who performed as Black Rob and scored his biggest hit with 2000’s “Whoa!”, died Saturday afternoon at the age of 52 at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital. His death was confirmed by friend and fellow rapper Mark Curry, who was with Ross at the time of his death. In an interview on Sunday, Curry added that Ross was hospitalized on Saturday and the cause of death was cardiac arrest caused by a rare kidney disease.
The rapper had a history of kidney failure and diabetes and had...
The rapper had a history of kidney failure and diabetes and had...
- 4/18/2021
- by Jason Newman
- Rollingstone.com
As confirmed by Variety, rapper Black Rob—a.k.a. Robert Ross, a former member of Sean Combs’ Bad Boy label—has died. A specific cause of death has not been given, but his friend DJ Self had recently posted on Instagram that his kidneys were failing. A GoFundMe page was set up to cover Black Rob’s medical bills shortly…...
- 4/18/2021
- by Sam Barsanti
- avclub.com
Black Rob has died. He was 51. On April 17 the rapper, whose real name was Robert Ross, died after being hospitalized in Atlanta, according to multiple outlets, including TMZ and Variety. Radio host DJ Self took to Instagram to announce the "Whoa" artist's passing, one week after Self shared a video of Rob in a hospital bed, where he was on dialysis after suffering multiple strokes. "Let [sic] keep our prayers up Black Rob," Self wrote in the caption of the video. "Get well man Please people out there take care of yourself Br was one of the greats Had NY on his back like Whaooo." In the clip, an exhausted Rob sent love to hip...
- 4/18/2021
- E! Online
Rapper Black Rob, best known for his affiliation with P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, died on Saturday. He was 51.
TMZ reported the news, with Rob’s fellow MCs Mark Curry and DJ Self taking to social media to back it up.
At present, the cause of death has not been released. However, it is known that he had been battling kidney failure, and had also suffered a series of strokes, going back to 2015. Recently, he was hospitalized in Atlanta, although he was subsequently discharged.
Born Robert Ross, Black Rob grew up in East Harlem, beginning to rap before reaching his teenage years. At age 22, he began performing with his first rap group, the Schizophrenics, under the stage name “Bacardi Rob.”
It was in 1996 that Rob got involved with the Bad Boy label, appearing on a remix to 112’s “Come See Me.” The rapper would remain with Bad Boy...
TMZ reported the news, with Rob’s fellow MCs Mark Curry and DJ Self taking to social media to back it up.
At present, the cause of death has not been released. However, it is known that he had been battling kidney failure, and had also suffered a series of strokes, going back to 2015. Recently, he was hospitalized in Atlanta, although he was subsequently discharged.
Born Robert Ross, Black Rob grew up in East Harlem, beginning to rap before reaching his teenage years. At age 22, he began performing with his first rap group, the Schizophrenics, under the stage name “Bacardi Rob.”
It was in 1996 that Rob got involved with the Bad Boy label, appearing on a remix to 112’s “Come See Me.” The rapper would remain with Bad Boy...
- 4/17/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The audience of “The Masked Singer” may have had their say, but our Derbyites are determined to have their voices heard about what went down on the Season 3 finale. They voted in our poll and a surprising 57% of our readers say the coveted Golden Mask should have gone to pop star Jesse McCartney, who competed as the Turtle. That’s over 20 points more than those who thought Kandi Burruss (Night Angel) was rightfully crowned the winner, which totaled 35% of our respondents. Only 8% believed that the trophy should have gone to Bow Wow (Frog). Do you agree with our readers that McCartney was robbed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
See‘The Masked Singer’: Bow Wow says ‘it’s weird’ to not wear his Frog mask now that the show’s over [Watch]
This is a big departure from the feelings that our readers had at the end of last season.
See‘The Masked Singer’: Bow Wow says ‘it’s weird’ to not wear his Frog mask now that the show’s over [Watch]
This is a big departure from the feelings that our readers had at the end of last season.
- 5/27/2020
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
The performances are done, the masks have come off, Ken Jeong gave his last wrong guess and when all the smoke had cleared, the Night Angel was named the winner of the third season of “The Masked Singer” and revealed to be Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and reality TV star Kandi Burruss. Burruss brought the season to a close on Wednesday night’s finale with her performance of “River Deep, Mountain High” by Tina Turner.
But now that Season 3 is in the books, there’s only one question left to ask: Do You think Burruss was justified in winning, or should the Golden Mask have gone to someone else? Vote in our poll below.
See‘The Masked Singer’ season 3 finale recap: Did Frog, Night Angel or Turtle win the Golden Mask? [Updating Live Blog]
Burruss’ season was filled with show-stopping performances right from the start that made her an early favorite to win. Her captivating...
But now that Season 3 is in the books, there’s only one question left to ask: Do You think Burruss was justified in winning, or should the Golden Mask have gone to someone else? Vote in our poll below.
See‘The Masked Singer’ season 3 finale recap: Did Frog, Night Angel or Turtle win the Golden Mask? [Updating Live Blog]
Burruss’ season was filled with show-stopping performances right from the start that made her an early favorite to win. Her captivating...
- 5/21/2020
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Heading into “The Masked Singer” Season 3 finale, only three costumed celebrities remained in the running to win the Golden Mask: Frog, Night Angel and Turtle. Were Gold Derby’s odds correct that Frog would ribbit his way to the winner’s circle, joining T-Pain (Monster) and Wayne Brady (Fox), or did Night Angel or Turtle prevail instead? And did the expert panel of judges — Robin Thicke, Nicole Scherzinger, Jenny McCarthy and Ken Jeong — correctly guess any of the three secret identities?
SEEAre ‘The Masked Singer’ celebrity contestants lip-syncing or singing live?
Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Masked Singer” recap of Season 3, Episode 16, titled “Couldn’t Mask For Anything More: The Grand Finale,” to find out what happened Wednesday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite costumed celebs on Fox’s reality TV show and reflect on every reveal in every season.
SEEAre ‘The Masked Singer’ celebrity contestants lip-syncing or singing live?
Below, read our minute-by-minute “The Masked Singer” recap of Season 3, Episode 16, titled “Couldn’t Mask For Anything More: The Grand Finale,” to find out what happened Wednesday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite costumed celebs on Fox’s reality TV show and reflect on every reveal in every season.
- 5/20/2020
- by Denton Davidson and Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
If the list of guest contributors is any indication, Deltron 3030’s forthcoming second LP is going to be really, really weird. Deltron 3030: Event II is set to hit stores Oct. 1 and contains work of one sort or another from Damon Albarn, Mike Patton, The Lonely Island, Zack De La Rocha, David Cross, Amber Tamblyn, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, chef David Chang, Black Rob, a guy from Awolnation, Emily Wells, and Jamie Cullum. The totally rap-friendly Gordon-Levitt even appears in the album’s teaser trailer, below. Group member Del The Funky Homosapien detailed the album’s concept ...
- 7/10/2013
- avclub.com
'Fly Together' artist will appear on 'RapFix Live' Wednesday at 4 p.m. Et.
By Rob Markman
Red Cafe
Photo: Scott Wintrow/ Getty Images
Bad Boy Records has a rich tradition. Since its inception in the early 1990s, label CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs has introduced some of hip-hop's most influential artists. Of course, there was the Notorious B.I.G., the Lox, Ma$e and Black Rob. Now, Diddy is looking to launch the next generation of Bad Boy spitters like Mgk and Wednesday's "RapFix Live" guest, Red Café.
The Brooklyn spitter began his career as a part of the group Da Franchise but later branched off with his solo career. Making his mark on New York's mixtape market, Red earned quite a few record deals but was never able to release his proper debut album, despite churning out a ton of notable singles like 2005's "Bling Blaow," 2008's "Paper Touchin' " and 2010's "I'm Ill.
By Rob Markman
Red Cafe
Photo: Scott Wintrow/ Getty Images
Bad Boy Records has a rich tradition. Since its inception in the early 1990s, label CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs has introduced some of hip-hop's most influential artists. Of course, there was the Notorious B.I.G., the Lox, Ma$e and Black Rob. Now, Diddy is looking to launch the next generation of Bad Boy spitters like Mgk and Wednesday's "RapFix Live" guest, Red Café.
The Brooklyn spitter began his career as a part of the group Da Franchise but later branched off with his solo career. Making his mark on New York's mixtape market, Red earned quite a few record deals but was never able to release his proper debut album, despite churning out a ton of notable singles like 2005's "Bling Blaow," 2008's "Paper Touchin' " and 2010's "I'm Ill.
- 10/18/2011
- MTV Music News
Fox Guest judge Lady Gaga, resident judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, and guest judge Rob Marshall
In the intro they all look good, but the girls are way better at the strutting thing.
The level of the show is much better now. The all-stars bring charisma and chops, and the competitors seem to be challenged. They dance twice tonight; once with an all-star, and once in pairs among themselves.
Cat looks good in a clean, simple white strappy dress and headband.
In the intro they all look good, but the girls are way better at the strutting thing.
The level of the show is much better now. The all-stars bring charisma and chops, and the competitors seem to be challenged. They dance twice tonight; once with an all-star, and once in pairs among themselves.
Cat looks good in a clean, simple white strappy dress and headband.
- 7/28/2011
- by Gwen Orel
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Ja Rule, Ashanti also surprise fans before Diddy pays homage to B.I.G. with Bad Boy alums Faith Evans, Black Rob and more at Hammerstein Ballroom.
By Rebecca Thomas
Diddy performs at the Diddy-Dirty Money Coming Home Tour in New York City Friday
Photo: Getty Images
New York -- It was the homecoming leg on his Coming Home Tour, so it was only fitting that Harlem-born Diddy threw a Ciroc-soaked "white party" on Friday as Diddy-Dirty Money hit New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. The trio worked the dance hits from their Last Train to Paris, but this was a show in three acts, with the mogul/Mc reaching back to the dawn of Bad Boy to pay an expansive tribute to "Brooklyn's Finest" Mc, the Notorious B.I.G., and bringing concertgoers along on a visual/sonic journey that spanned his unstoppable career.
Diddy-Dirty Money divas Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper preceded...
By Rebecca Thomas
Diddy performs at the Diddy-Dirty Money Coming Home Tour in New York City Friday
Photo: Getty Images
New York -- It was the homecoming leg on his Coming Home Tour, so it was only fitting that Harlem-born Diddy threw a Ciroc-soaked "white party" on Friday as Diddy-Dirty Money hit New York's Hammerstein Ballroom. The trio worked the dance hits from their Last Train to Paris, but this was a show in three acts, with the mogul/Mc reaching back to the dawn of Bad Boy to pay an expansive tribute to "Brooklyn's Finest" Mc, the Notorious B.I.G., and bringing concertgoers along on a visual/sonic journey that spanned his unstoppable career.
Diddy-Dirty Money divas Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper preceded...
- 4/23/2011
- MTV Music News
The relationships between rappers and presidents have always been tenuous at best. Or at least so we thought. This week, there have been two incidents that have united the worlds of hip-hop and presidential politics in ways that nobody really saw coming. Earlier this week, George W. Bush declared that the moment that Kanye West announced "George Bush doesn't care about black people" during a telethon was the lowest point of his presidency. West responded in typical fashion, saying that he related to Bush because they both have been under the same kind scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton tipped his hat to Lil Wayne earlier this week in anticipation of the Mc's release from Rikers Island. "This guy's smart. And he's got abilities," Clinton said. "And he's got a new chance now. And what I hope is that this is not just something to brand him as a cool guy, but...
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton tipped his hat to Lil Wayne earlier this week in anticipation of the Mc's release from Rikers Island. "This guy's smart. And he's got abilities," Clinton said. "And he's got a new chance now. And what I hope is that this is not just something to brand him as a cool guy, but...
- 11/4/2010
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
'I can come home and do it again,' the onetime Bad Boy Mc tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Black Rob
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Black Rob makes no excuses. He knows his career as an Mc could have been more successful than it has been, but when asked where the blame should fall, he points the finger at the man in the mirror. Rob was forced to take a four-year hiatus from the rap game when he went to prison in 2006 on grand larceny charges.
Back in 2004, Black Rob stole some jewelry from a fellow guest at the On the Avenue Hotel in Manhattan, and he was caught on tape. Rob says it was a move he regretted almost as soon as he made it.
As far as his decade-plus stint on Diddy's Bad Boy records, Rob (real name Robert Ross...
By Shaheem Reid
Black Rob
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Black Rob makes no excuses. He knows his career as an Mc could have been more successful than it has been, but when asked where the blame should fall, he points the finger at the man in the mirror. Rob was forced to take a four-year hiatus from the rap game when he went to prison in 2006 on grand larceny charges.
Back in 2004, Black Rob stole some jewelry from a fellow guest at the On the Avenue Hotel in Manhattan, and he was caught on tape. Rob says it was a move he regretted almost as soon as he made it.
As far as his decade-plus stint on Diddy's Bad Boy records, Rob (real name Robert Ross...
- 6/11/2010
- MTV Music News
'I can come home and do it again,' the onetime Bad Boy Mc tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid
Black Rob
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Black Rob makes no excuses. He knows his career as an Mc could have been more successful than it has been, but when asked where the blame should fall, he points the finger at the man in the mirror. Rob was forced to take a four-year hiatus from the rap game when he went to prison in 2006 on grand larceny charges.
Back in 2004, Black Rob stole some jewelry from a fellow guest at the On the Avenue Hotel in Manhattan, and he was caught on tape. Rob says it was a move he regretted almost as soon as he made it.
As far as his decade-plus stint on Diddy's Bad Boy records, Rob (real name Robert Ross...
By Shaheem Reid
Black Rob
Photo: MTV News
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Black Rob makes no excuses. He knows his career as an Mc could have been more successful than it has been, but when asked where the blame should fall, he points the finger at the man in the mirror. Rob was forced to take a four-year hiatus from the rap game when he went to prison in 2006 on grand larceny charges.
Back in 2004, Black Rob stole some jewelry from a fellow guest at the On the Avenue Hotel in Manhattan, and he was caught on tape. Rob says it was a move he regretted almost as soon as he made it.
As far as his decade-plus stint on Diddy's Bad Boy records, Rob (real name Robert Ross...
- 6/11/2010
- MTV Music News
They say a well-rounded education is the key to success, and if that truly is the case, the my schooling is woefully incomplete when it comes to the subject of pop. That's why we bring you "Popology," the guide to modern radio-friendly stars as seen through the eyes of a guy who grew up on punk and metal. In case you missed previous installments, catch up with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and the Spice Girls here.
In this week's installment, Puff Daddy brings rap to the radio.
In today's musical landscape, it's easy to take hip-hop for granted as a force on pop radio. There have been crossover hits as long as there have been DJs cutting up breakbeats and MCs spitting rhymes. And while pop radio readily embraces rap songs that have no aspirations to be pop tunes (the...
In this week's installment, Puff Daddy brings rap to the radio.
In today's musical landscape, it's easy to take hip-hop for granted as a force on pop radio. There have been crossover hits as long as there have been DJs cutting up breakbeats and MCs spitting rhymes. And while pop radio readily embraces rap songs that have no aspirations to be pop tunes (the...
- 5/19/2010
- by Kyle Anderson
- MTV Newsroom
by Rahman Dukes
Arguably one of the greatest rappers ever to clutch the microphone, the Notorious B.I.G. celebrates what would have been his 37th birthday today. That’s right, the late great Frank White would have been just three years shy of officially being considered “over the hill.”
Since his untimely demise at the age of 24, there’s been much speculation for the past decade as to where the Brooklynite would stand in today’s rap climate. Would B.I.G. and his sidekick/boss Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs still be rocking together? What about Jay-z? Lil Kim? Let’s take a look.
Bad Boy: Although B.I.G. was the label’s flagship artist and only on his second album (a double at that), a certain Mr. Comb’s track record of retaining his artists for the duration of their contractual obligations is not an impressive one (check: Craig Mack,...
Arguably one of the greatest rappers ever to clutch the microphone, the Notorious B.I.G. celebrates what would have been his 37th birthday today. That’s right, the late great Frank White would have been just three years shy of officially being considered “over the hill.”
Since his untimely demise at the age of 24, there’s been much speculation for the past decade as to where the Brooklynite would stand in today’s rap climate. Would B.I.G. and his sidekick/boss Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs still be rocking together? What about Jay-z? Lil Kim? Let’s take a look.
Bad Boy: Although B.I.G. was the label’s flagship artist and only on his second album (a double at that), a certain Mr. Comb’s track record of retaining his artists for the duration of their contractual obligations is not an impressive one (check: Craig Mack,...
- 5/21/2009
- by MTV News
- MTV Newsroom
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