Posts Tagged ‘West Coast Hip Hop’

Video: Mr Capone E – Rep Like I Should

Video: Slap feat Stephon Devore-Fa Real

Slap and Stephon DeVore colab on “Fa Real ” Off the Mix Tape Sex, Lies, And Money. Cameo appearances by Ya Boy and [Geno Cap. RIP] Directed by Paper F!lms. Black Card Muzik .

Hip Hop Legend Ice Cube to Drop New Album “I Am The West”

I AM THE WEST…is the name of my new record. After completing about 65% of my music, this is the perfect title. This shit is cocky, no apologies, West Coast gangsta shit. I can’t help it. That’s what I do. June seems too tight for a release, but July is very doable. We’ll see how things go. Now that I have my title, I can work on the concept of my photoshoot and artwork. I want to provide early merch before the drop date.

For 7 or 8 years now the West Coast has been trying to do music that appeals to the South and Mid-West. The words, “too West Coast” would be heard throughout the industry whenever our music was played. Even by our own dj’s. Left coast MC’s were now trying to change their sound to cater to all the followers. We lost our way. Thank God for b-boys like Snoop, The Game & WC for keeping the West alive, but we were all guilty of over reaching. No more. At least not from me. I do it how I feel it; not how I think it should be done. Radio fucked us up. I hate the politics at radio. I don’t know who to pay to get my shit played. Having a hot song is not enough. Ridiculous.

I AM THE WEST. It’s coming….

Keep It Gangsta

Ice Cube

Los Angeles Gangland Bus Tours

A group of civic activists, united by faith and a belief that the poor economy in the interior of Los Angeles is a social injustice, is preparing to offer bus tours of some of the grittiest pockets of the city, including decayed public housing, sites of deadly shootouts and streets ravaged by racial unrest.

After a VIP preview last weekend, L.A. Gang Tours expects to open to the public in January, giving tourists a look at the cradle of the nation’s gang culture — the birthplace of many of the city’s gangs, including Crips and Bloods, Florencia 13 and 18th Street.

“This is ground zero for a lot of the bad in this city. It could be ground zero for a lot of the good too,” said Alfred Lomas, a former Florencia member who has become a leading gang intervention worker in South Los Angeles and is spearheading the tours. “This is true community empowerment.”

The nonprofit group plans to offer two-hour tours at an initial cost of $65 per adult, with profits funneled back into the community through jobs, “franchised” tours in new areas and micro-loans to inner-city entrepreneurs. Early routes will focus largely on South L.A., with forays through Watts and Florence-Firestone.

The concept appears to have no equal in L.A. — for good reason, some might argue. It seems to echo, more than anything, the “slum tours” of such sites as India’s Dharavi township and Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. Those operations have been lauded as innovative economic tools and mechanisms for humanizing poverty — and also attacked as exploitative and voyeuristic.

The L.A. tour comes after months of planning, and is offered in a spirit of education and public service. Lomas, who will lead tours at first, plans to talk about important chapters in the development of the city’s core, such as how racist housing restrictions shaped ethnic enclaves and the formation of gangs.

Other aspects may raise eyebrows. Selling shirts painted on the spot by a graffiti “tagger” is one thing. But one backer said he also hopes to stage dance-offs between locals; tourists would pick a winner and fork over a cash prize. It wasn’t long ago that organizers decided against a plan to have kids shoot tourists with water pistols, followed by the sale of T-shirts that read: “I Got Shot in South-Central.”

“It’s going to be fascinating — but really controversial,” said Francisco Ortega, a field staffer with the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission and a respected mediator and neighborhood advisor in South L.A. Ortega said there could be great value in “sensitizing people, connecting them to the reality of what’s on the ground.”

“But the other side is that it could come across like a zoo or something,” Ortega said. “You’re being carted about: ‘Look at that cholo over there!’ It could be perceived as demeaning for the people who are living in these conditions. I don’t know how they’re going to manage those perceptions.”

City Councilwoman Jan Perry said she has offered bus tours of South L.A. herself — but those were for real estate leaders she was trying to persuade to invest in the neighborhood. She said South L.A. could benefit from an effort to demonstrate “the potential of the community.” But she said some aspects of this kind of tourism could go too far.

“It’s not right to put people on display,” she said.

“It depends on their intent and how they balance it,” said Councilman Bernard C. Parks.

Organizers, however, say they’ve been careful to plan tours that are respectful and neither glorify gangs nor exploit the poor.

“What matters to me is that kids get fed and families get help,” Lomas said.

The organization is bolstered by business leaders and gang experts who are contributing start-up capital and advice.

Several are connected to the Dream Center, the L.A. church ministry where Lomas directs a food bank. Lomas credits the organization with helping him to turn his life around.

Kevin Malone, a former Dodgers general manager, sits on the board of the Dream Center’s charitable arm and has become one of Lomas’ chief supporters. Malone said he has become involved in human-rights causes, such as combating human trafficking. He said the possibility of introducing self-sustaining economic development into the city’s poorest neighborhoods is no less of a human rights issue.

“I believe in this,” he said.

Other backers include Ron Noblet, a leading gang expert and an early proponent of using gang intervention to augment traditional police tactics. Noblet dismissed any potential for criticism or controversy.

“There will be a lot of people who will be delighted if he fails,” Noblet said of Lomas. “But there is clarity in the dream.”

Snoop kicks off Slightly Stoopid, Blazed & Confused tour in Vegas, sort of

Free Photo Hosting

Snoop Dogg’s Blazed & Confused tour was kicked off in Vegas but wasn’t allowed on the Vegas strip – his Vegas show was held 45 minutes outside of LV at the Primm Garden Valley Arena. LV was afraid Snoop’s fans might get out of hand.

Posted up outside the arena were fifteen cop cars and five white paddy-wagons, inside the arena were uniformed and plain clothed armed police officers some wearing “Gang Unit” markings across their chests.

LMFAO, the only violence was a fight between a few too-drunk-to-walk-white-kids and the cops; only 10 or so “guests” were given a ride back to the strip in a little white bus.

Even will all the extra drama – Snoop proved why he is, well, Snoop.

The sold out arena rocked for 5 hours to the sounds of Mickey Avalon, Stephen Marley, Slightly Stoopid and Snoop Dogg.

Snoop’s performance included “Drop it like it’s Hot,” “Gin and Juice,” “Nothin’ But a G-thing,” “I Wanna Love You,’ “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)”, “Fuck the Police,” “Who am I (What’s my Name)?” & “Sensual Seduction.”

Snoop Dogg’s Blazed & Confused Tour Schedule & Ticket Links:
United States

July 2009
14 – Albuquerque, NM – Journal Pavilion
15 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
17 – Ridgefield, WA – Amphitheater at Clark County
18 – George, WA – Gorge Amphitheatre
19 – Nampa, ID – Idaho Center Amphitheater
20 – West Valley City, UT – Usana Amphitheatre
22 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Pacific Coliseum
24 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
25 – Chula Vista, CA – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
30 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Music Park
31 – Saint Petersburg, FL – Vinoy Park

August 2009
1 – Miami, FL – Bicentennial Park
2 – Elkton, FL – St. Johns County Fairgrounds
5 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
6 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
7 – Philadelphia, PA – Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
8 – Mansfield, MA – Comcast Center

September 2009
2 – Saint Paul, MN – Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
19 – Tempe, AZ – Tempe Beach Park

Germany:

September 2009
23 – Heidelberg, Karlstorbahnhof
24 – Munich, 59 to 1
25 – Berlin, Frannz Club
26 – Hamburg, Reeperbahn Festival
27 – Cologne, Luxor

Or use these ticket Links:

5% off any ticket purchase at PurchaseTix.com! – Enter the Coupon Code: fiveforyou