Dave Chappelle Surprises Students At Chance The Rapper's Open Mike Event

Chicago, IL – Comedian Dave Chappelle cracked jokes with the youth and offered words of advice yesterday (January 30), during a surprise appearance at Chance The Rapper’s Open Mike event in Chicago.

Not one to skimp on humor, Chappelle did provide the crowd of high schoolers with the occasional laugh, but also took time to offer a few life lessons, speaking on the importance of being able to feel.

Chappelle added that the responsibility falls on artists more now than ever to remind people “of themselves” and to “get ’em thinking again.”

“We need young artists out there,” Chappelle said while speaking to the crowd of students. “Because a lot of people come up to me and they say ‘Dave, you tell it like it is.’ No, I don’t. Never did. I don’t know what it is. I tell it like it feels like. People know so much information. But they forget what things feel like. So, the job of the artist is to remind them of themselves. Get ’em thinking again. Get ’em feeling again…You see who our president is. Gotta tell ’em what it feels like. This is important times. So, I hope you guys are up to the task.”

Thank you @DaveChappelle for the wise words and @chancetherapper for creating such an amazing event. Best Monday night ever. #openmike pic.twitter.com/JshOniCFXv

— its dahlia (@SarcasticDahl) January 31, 2017

Also on hand for Chance The Rapper’s latest Open Mike event was the cast of The New Edition Story and Chicago Bulls player Jimmy Butler.

Open Mike was created to provide a platform for “young creatives building the next generation of cultural community.”

Other celebrity guests have included Kanye West and Vic Mensa, who performed a handful of tracks, including “U Mad,” “We Don’t Care,” and “All Day,” during an appearance in 2015. Jeremih also joined Chance at Open Mike last month.

Check out highlights from Chance The Rapper’s most recent Open Mike event below.

We at @OpenMikeChicago would like to thank @JimmyButler @DaveChappelle and THE CAST OF #NewEditionBET for comin to Chicago and supporting us pic.twitter.com/xuQl8OPJMt

— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) January 31, 2017

Dave Chappell is here https://t.co/0FcJ8zt5gF

— €K (@seanck) January 31, 2017

Thank you @OpenMikeChicago @chancetherapper for such an inspirational night! You made me realize that anything is possible #NewEditionBET pic.twitter.com/Dk54YucgKJ

— Juju® (@JulietEstevez) January 31, 2017

You never know what to expect @OpenMikeChicago! Thank you to all of our special guests that came out last night. You all are an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/is5WUGRw7s

— SocialWorks, Inc. (@SocialWorks_Chi) January 31, 2017

Source : hiphopdx[dot]com

Kanye West & Drake Will Not Attend The Grammys

The Grammys are quite a source of controversy for Hip Hop, but this year, two of the biggest artists won’t even be in attendance at the show. According to TMZ, Kanye West and Drake are not coming to the awards ceremony on February 12.

Drake‘s excuse is that he will be in Europe on the Boy Meets World Tour. On his stop in Amsterdam, he teased new music and promised the More Life playlist is coming soon. Drizzy is in contention for eight awards, including album of the year with VIEWS.

Kanye’s reason for skipping out on the Grammys isn’t as clear, but the celebrity news site points out that he has never won an award when nominated against a white singer. Yeezy has 21 Grammys of his own and is up for eight more this year. He has previously questioned the Academy, saying that Future, Young Thug and A$AP Rocky need more recognition. He also pulled a Kanye when he followed Beck onto the stage in 2015 when the singer won Album of the Year.

Frank Ocean will, of course, not be at the Grammys as he chose to not submit his Blonde album for consideration. Kanye had threatened to boycott the awards if the Academy did not bend its rules and give him a nomination anyways.

On a side note: Justin Bieber will not be at the ceremony either as he claims the Grammys are not reflective of what matters to the youth.

Many have reprimanded the Grammys for not properly representing Hip __hop before, especially when Macklemore beat out Kendrick Lamar in 2014 for numerous awards, including Best Rap Album.

But there is a ray of light for Hip Hop as Chance The Rapper, as an independent artist with a mixtape, is up for seven awards.

Source : hiphopdx[dot]com

Pimp C's Lyric Sheets & Memorabilia To Be Immortalized At Houston's Rice University

Houston, TX – Houston rap legend Chad “Pimp C” Butler, who tragically passed away in 2007 from a drug overdose, is the first solo Hip __hop artist to be immortalized at Rice University Research Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning (CERCL), where the UGK co-founder’s lyric sheets and personal items are on display. On Monday (January 31), a panel dubbed “Pimp C: A Trill Legacy” is scheduled to discuss Southern rap and Pimp C’s pivotal role in its rise to the forefront of the culture. The panel features past collaborators, including his UGK partner Bun B, close friends and notable names who were influenced by the talented Grammy Award-nominated rapper and producer.

According to the CERCL website, the collection contains “several documents and other paraphernalia such as handwritten song lyrics on loose leaf paper and cardboard, papers from the Texas Department of Justice relating to his arrest for aggravated assault, a Grammy nomination, copy of his obituary from his funeral, and marketing plan by FM2 Radio, and the joint venture deal with Universal Music Group. Also included in the collection are several forms of artwork featuring Pimp C and a 12-inch record (warped) with the songs ‘Stop-N-Go’ and ‘The Game Belongs to Me.'”

Rice panel to explore legacy of Houston rapper Chad ‘Pimp C’ Butler HOUSTON – (Jan. 12, 2017) – The life and legacy of Houston rapper Chad ‘Pimp C’ Butler will be the focus of a panel at Rice University Jan. 31. The event marks the creation of the Pimp C Collection in the Woodson Research Center at Rice’s Fondren Library. The collection, part of the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Hip-Hop Archive at the Woodson, includes several documents and promotional items including handwritten lyrics and contracts to promotional flats for the rap group Underground Kingz (UGK). What: Pimp C: A Trill Legacy, a panel hosted by Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning (CERCL). The event is free and open to the public. When: Jan 31, 2017 7-10 p.m. Where: Rice Memorial Center Grand Hall 6100 Main St. Parking is available in the Central Campus Garage In 1987, Butler was a founding member of UGK along with Bernard “Bun B” Freeman in Port Arthur, Texas. They released their first album “Too Hard to Swallow” in 1991. In 2000, they were nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Big Pimpin” with Jay-Z. In July 2006, he released his first solo album “Pimpalation.” In 2007, Pimp C reunited with Bun B, and released the UGK album titled “Underground Kingz.” The album was Pimp C's final performance before his untimely death on December 4, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA. After his death, Bun B released the final UGK album “UGK 4 Life,” in which most of the recording was finished before Pimp C's death. Panelists will include Bun B, American rapper and half of the southern rap duo UGK, CERCL Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at Rice University; David Banner, Grammy Award winning rapper, record producer, actor and activist; Lil Keke, American hip __hop recording artist from Houston, Texas; Mr Lee, multi-platinum hip-hop/rap music producer from Houston, Texas, Co-Executive Producer of "Long Live the Pimp" Album; Chinara Butler, Co-Executive Producer of "Long Live the Pimp", CEO of UGQ Enterprises, LLC and Founder of Pushing Into My Purpose, Inc.; DJ Michael 5000 Watt, Co-Founder of Swishahouse Records

A video posted by Pimp C (@darealpimpc) on Jan 27, 2017 at 10:18am PST

In a statement to HipHopDX, Founding Director of the CERCL, Anthony B. Pinn, said, “The CERCL archive is committed to preserving the historical and cultural memory of Houston, and in this way helping to recall how Houston fits into national conversations and developments. One dimension of the archive involves Hip Hop culture in Houston. A vital component of the history of Hip Hop in Houston involves UGK, and so we are delighted to include Pimp C in the archive. His materials shed additional light on the importance of Houston and the global development of Hip Hop.”

He expresses excitement about the panel where guests will get firsthand accounts of Pimp C’s impact on the culture.

“I’m looking forward to hearing from those who knew him well,” Pinn continues. “Those who can talk about his motivations and about him as a person as well as an artist.”

The collection is open to the public. Click here to RSVP to the January 31 panel.

Source : hiphopdx[dot]com

Chief Keef Freed From Jail On $500K Bail

Los Angeles, CA – Chief Keef has been released from jail after posting $500,000 bail, Fake Shore Drive reports.

The Chicago rapper was arrested in Los Angeles Thursday (January 26), after his former producer Ramsay Tha Great accused him of assaulting him and robbing him at gunpoint.

Ramsay took to Instagram to share his side of the story and show his wounds from the alleged incident.

Chief Keef opened the year with a new project, the Two Zero One Seven mixtape.

(This article was first published January 27, 2017 and is as follows.)

Chief Keef was arrested on Thursday (January 26) following accusations from his former producer Ramsay Tha Great that the rapper assaulted him and robbed him at gunpoint in his home.

Chief Keef, whose real name is Keith Cozart, was led away from his Tarzana home in cuffs by the Los Angeles Police Department yesterday, seven days after the alleged incident occurred. Two others were taken into custody alongside Keef without incident, including fellow rapper Tadoe.

Following the alleged assault and robbery, Ramsay Tha Great posted this to his Instagram page, tagging Chief Keef in the process:

“Now if I was a celebrity I wouldn’t come personally jump a person with you five friends and a Ak 47 that’s just dumb your famous ……… now I’m taking everything from you . U really just fucked up dude coming to my house with your phone in your pocket with the location on…….. yea I’m pressing charges on yo ass. You a fucking low life mf niggas out here tryna do positive shit and you still on some goofy Chicago shit . We’ll see u in court”

@chieffkeeffsossa now if I was a celebrity I wouldn't come personally jump a person with you five friends and a Ak 47 that's just dumb your famous ……… now I'm taking everything from you . U really just fucked up dude coming to my house with your phone in your pocket with the location on…….. yea I'm pressing charges on yo ass. You a fucking low life mf niggas out here tryna do positive shit and you still on some goofy Chicago shit . We'll see u in court ⚖️💳

A photo posted by RamsayThaGreat (@ramsay_tha_great) on Jan 19, 2017 at 2:24pm PST

Ramsay Tha Great explained the situation even further from a hospital bed: “Chillin’ at the house, I get into an argument with Uncle Roe wife, Kelly — she called Chief Keef and tried to put him on the phone with me to tell me to calm down. I’m calm, I’m just putting my point across.”

“I go to sleep, 15 minutes later somebody opening my door, kicking down my door, talking ’bout “It’s Sosa.” I had met him before, produced a song for him, I didn’t think nothing was wrong.”

“I opened the door, he pushed me in. A nigga behind him got a Draco, AK-47-looking thing, he started hitting me in the face, Tadoe started hitting me in the face.”

“Niggas can call me rat, I ain’t never claimed to be a gangster, none of that, nothing. I just claimed to be a producer. So you can call me rat, whatever y’all wanna do. I’ll see you in court.”

The story only saying it once

A video posted by RamsayThaGreat (@ramsay_tha_great) on Jan 19, 2017 at 2:56pm PST

Ramsay has since followed up to say that “it’s sad to see my black community condone home invasion, deadly assault, hitting me in the face with an AK-47.”

“I’m the bad guy because he chose to do that to me? Y’all generation’s fucked up.”

The producer that got Chief Keef locked up… speaks out . #chiefkeef

A video posted by DJ Akademiks (@akadmiks) on Jan 26, 2017 at 7:42pm PST

According to NBC Los Angeles, LAPD Capt. Brian Pratt had this to say: “It was a violent home invasion involving firearms being pointed at victims. The detectives did some really great follow up investigation. Witnesses came forward and identified who our suspects were. We knew who we were going after – we weren’t just shooting in the dark.”

Source : hiphopdx[dot]com

Tech N9ne Announces Strictly Strange 17 Tour Dates

Tech N9ne has revealed a majority of the 68 shows for his Strictly Strange Tour. The trek, which also features Brotha Lynch Hung as well as fellow Strange Music artists Krizz Kaliko, Stevie Stone and Ces Cru, starts March 22 in Omaha, Nebraska and wraps up with a hometown show June 4 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Strictly Strange Tour dates are at the bottom of the page.

(This article was first published January 12, 2017 and is as follows.)

Coming off the wave of his latest album, The Storm, Tech N9ne is ready to blitz through 2017 with the Strictly Strange Tour.

The Kansas City mogul shared via press release that he will be performing 68 shows in 74 days. He is bringing Brotha Lynch Hung as well as fellow Strange Music artists Krizz Kaliko, Stevie Stone and Ces Cru along for the ride. Tech N9ne hasn’t released the dates for the Strictly Strange Tour yet, but says fans can get the latest updates at his website.

Kaliko shared his R&B album, Go, in April while Stevie Stone’s last full-length release was 2015’s Malta Bend and he is setting up an April drop for his new project. Ces Cru is preparing to release its Catastrophic Event Specialists LP in February, their first album since 2014’s Codename: Ego Stripper.

Strange Music is planning on dropping 13 albums this year, according to the tour press release. Tech N9ne put an exclamation mark on 2016 with The Storm debuting at #12 on Billboard’s 200 albums chart. The label boss also received two gold single certifications last year.

View the Strictly Strange Tour flier and dates below.

3.22.17	OMAHA, NE	SLOWDOWN
3.23.17	DAVENPORT, IA	DANCELAND BALLROOM
3.24.17	SAINT PAUL, MN	MYTH
3.25.17	GREEN BAY, WI	SANDLOT ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX
3.26.17	SIOUX FALLS, SD	THE DISTRICT
3.28.17	RAPID CITY, SD	RUSHMORE PLAZA CIVIC CENTER
3.29.17	BILLINGS, MT	THE PUB STATION
3.30.17	MISSOULA, MT	THE WILMA
3.31.17	SPOKANE, WA	KNITTING FACTORY
4.01.17	SEATTLE, WA	SHOWBOX SODO
4.02.17	PORTLAND, OR	ROSELAND THEATER
4.03.17	EUGENE, OR	MCDONALD THEATRE
4.04.17	TBA
4.05.17	BOISE, ID	KNITTING FACTORY
4.06.17	SALT LAKE CITY, UT	THE COMPLEX
4.07.17	FORT COLLINS, CO	AGGIE THEATRE
4.08.17	DENVER, CO	THE FILLMORE
4.09.17	GRAND JUNCTION, CO	MESA THEATER & CLUB
4.11.17	BERKELEY, CA	THE UC THEATRE
4.12.17	FRESNO, CA	SELLAND ARENA
4.13.17	SACRAMENTO, CA	ACE OF SPADES
4.14.17	SANTA CRUZ, CA	THE CATALYST CLUB
4.15.17	LOS ANGELES, CA	THE BELASCO
4.16.17	ANAHEIM, CA	HOUSE OF BLUES
4.17.17	SAN DIEGO, CA	HOUSE OF BLUES
4.19.17	LAS VEGAS, NV	HOUSE OF BLUES
4.20.17	FLAGSTAFF, AZ	THE ORPHEUM
4.21.17	TUCSON, AZ	THE RIALTO THEATRE
4.22.17	TEMPE, AZ	MARQUEE THEATRE
4.23.17	ALBUQUERQUE, NM	EL REY THEATRE
4.25.17	OKLAHOMA CITY, OK	DIAMOND BALLROOM
4.26.17	AUSTIN, TX	EMO’S
4.27.17	SAN ANTONIO, TX	AZTEC THEATRE
4.28.17	DALLAS, TX	GAS MONKEY LIVE!
4.29.17	HOUSTON, TX	HOUSE OF BLUES
5.01.17	PENSACOLA, FL	VINYL MUSIC HALL
5.03.17	ORLANDO, FL	CLUB 578
5.04.17	ST. PETERSBURG, FL	JANNUS LIVE
5.05.17	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	CULTURE ROOM
5.06.17	JACKSONVILLE, FL	MAVERICKS LIVE
5.07.17	CHARLOTTE, NC	THE FILLMORE
5.08.17	RALEIGH, NC	RITZ
5.09.17	NORFOLK, VA	THE NORVA
5.10.17	BALTIMORE, MD	SOUNDSTAGE
5.11.17	TBA
5.12.17	TBA
5.13.17	WORCESTER, MA	THE PALLADIUM
5.14.17	PHILADELPHIA, PA	THE TROCADERO
5.15.17	PITTSBURGH, PA	STAGE AE
5.16.17	BUFFALO, NY	TOWN HALL
5.17.17	CLEVELAND, OH	HOUSE OF BLUES
5.18.17	COLUMBUS, OH	NEWPORT MUSIC HALL
5.19.17	DETROIT, MI	THE FILLMORE DETROIT
5.20.17	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	THE EGYPTIAN ROOM
5.21.17	TBA
5.23.17	LOUISVILLE, KY	MERCURY
5.24.17	NASHVILLE, TN	MARATHON MUSIC WORKS
5.25.17	CHICAGO, IL	HOUSE OF BLUES
5.26.17	ST. LOUIS, MO	THE PAGEANT
5.27.17	MILWAUKEE, WI	THE RAVE/EAGLES CLUB
5.28.17	WEST DES MOINES, IA	VAL AIR BALLROOM
5.30.17	COLUMBIA, MO	THE BLUE NOTE
5.31.17	TBA
6.01.17	TULSA, OK	CAINS BALLROOM
6.02.17	WICHITA, KS	THE COTILLION
6.04.17	KANSAS CITY, MO	TBA

Source : hiphopdx[dot]com