Grammy Award®-nominated singer, songwriter, performer, actor, and all-around entertainer MACK WILDS returns with his brand new single, “Love In The 90z.” The song is available at all digital retailers through Louder Than Life/Epic Records

For “Love In The 90z,” the artist assembled a certified “bomb” squad of legendary production talents with immortal influence. This dream team includes Salaam Remi [Nas, Amy Winehouse], Teddy Riley [Michael Jackson, Keith Sweat], Scott Storch [Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg], and James Poyser [The Roots, Mariah Carey, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu]. Over a sexy soundscape of shimmering keys and enticing percussion, MACK’s strikingly smooth signature vocals take hold as he sings, “Why don’t we fall in love like we did in the nineties?” Chances are, you’re going to feel that classic nineties energy after just one listen.

Just as “Love In The 90z” starts impacting Urban Radio in early January, VH1 will air its new original movie, The Breaks, starring MACK as DeeVee. Watch a “first look” of the film and the trailer now. Quite appropriately, The Breaks weaves together a music industry narrative set in New York City during 1990.

MACK WILDS remains one of R&B’s true renaissance men with a style and swagger that translates from screen to stage to record. You definitely know him as Michael Lee from HBO’s legendary drama The Wire and as Dixon on The CW’s 90210 reboot. In addition, his previous album, New York: A Love Story, received a 2014 Grammy Award® nomination in the category of “Best Urban Contemporary Album.”

Now, “Love In The 90z” sets the stage for MACK’s forthcoming Louder Than Life/Epic Records full-length debut, which you can expect in 2016. Get ready for a musical revolution that transcends decades.

What is Real Hip Hop?

Well, there are people who complain daily about there not being ‘real’ Hip Hop and some may feel justified in stating so, BUT, it’s ALL relative! As universal as Hip Hop is, there are so many different Flavors of Hip Hop that there CAN’T be a definitive definition of the term ‘Real Hip Hop’, despite constant back and forth conversations on this very topic. You can sit 12 people in a room of similar backgrounds and ethnicities and there may never be a constant definition according to everyone in a room. It’s too subjective and based on opinion not necessarily facts….

I’m a bonafide ‘Old School’ New York Hip Hop head who grew up on the lyricism of artists like Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Ice Cube, Scarface, MC Lyte, Paris, I can go on and on about hearing the sweet science of putting words together and phrasing them in a way that would give you a history lesson in ‘How to Effectively Rap’ over beats and music and you’d be amazed how these young people were able to take something that seemed simple and made it lyrically appealing. It was pure poetry in ways that poets couldn’t understand nor explain and they never needed to. For me, growing up in an era where it was about how you wrote words to a track, they way you said it and how effective it was over that rhythm made it a skill that wasn’t afforded many songwriters, even today, couldn’t/can’t match and we labeled that Real Hip Hop.

Fast forward to today, lyrics have taken a backseat like a drunk passenger riding home in an Uber vehicle! But does what a 20 year old listening to today make it that much less ‘real’ because they are embedded in an era where it’s more about the hook and drug culture/strip club/ratchet mentality that invades the airwaves today? We can’t and shouldn’t take away from his meaning of ‘realness’ based on what the culture dictates today. As the phrase goes, it is what it is! We can’t and shouldn’t discount anyone else’s meaning of ‘Real Hip Hop’ because it doesn’t match our definition!

Just like anything else in culture throughout the years, there will and should be changes. Hip Hop is STILL the strongest, best and arguably, the most influential genre today and it’s because of different people’s perception of what ‘Real Hip Hop’ signifies to them. Despite the constant argument about Hip Hop being good, it’s lasted longer than Polka, Disco and you’d be pressed to find any other genre that has the stranglehold it has on commercialism.

So, ‘What is Real Hip Hop?’, that answer lies within each and every one of us and will be debated for years to come.

Props to VJ Ralph McDaniels and Video Music Box……

RICK ROSS SETS DEC. 4^th RELEASE FOR BLACK MARKET, NEW ALBUM ON DEF JAM RECORDINGS/ MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP!

NEW SINGLE “SORRY” FEATURING CHRIS BROWN EXPLODES AT RADIO AND SHAZAM USA, AS VEVO STREAMS TOP 3 MILLION !

BLACK MARKET FOLLOWS-UP 2014 TANDEM HOOD BILLIONAIRE AND MASTERMIND

(Nov. 3, 2015 – New York, NY) Multi-platinum selling, Grammy®-nominated hip-hop magnate Rick Ross, whose brand new single “Sorry” featuring Chris Brown has turned into one of the fastest growing singles of his career, has confirmed that BLACK MARKET, his third full-length album release in less than two years, will officially arrive in stores December 4^th on Def Jam Recordings/ Maybach Music Group..

BLACK MARKET will be released in two versions, standard and deluxe, the album artwork for both versions was exclusively revealed on Billboard.com.  BLACK MARKET is the follow-up to Ross’ Hood Billionaire, released November 2014, and Mastermind, released March 2014, his fifth career album to debut at #1 Soundscan.

Radio activity for “Sorry” has exploded in the wake of Ross personally premiering the single October 6^th on the nationally syndicated Breakfast Club morning show on Power 105.1 in New York City.  “Sorry” impacted at radio six days later, and was Billboard’s #2 Greatest Gainer at Rhythm that week. Ever since its release, the track has been very reactive in USA tags at Shazam, and advances to #1 this week at USA Future Hits Hip-Hop, and #2 at USA Future Hits. Total combined VEVO streams have topped the 3 million mark over the same period. Ross released the trailer for the upcoming visual for “Sorry” co-starring Chris Brown and Lira Galore, check it out here. Listen to “Sorry” here, and purchase the track at http://smarturl.it/RickRossSorry.

In the lead up to BLACK MARKET, Rick Ross released a stellar mixtape this past summer entitled Black Dollar, which was heralded by critics for his humble and honest wordplay.  Pitchfork exclaimed, “that voice of his, and the way he makes it leap and tremble with joy, can momentarily make you believe anything”; while XXL stated “Rick Ross is on the ascent again.”  To date, Black Dollar has over 1.7 million listens on mixtape site DatPiff.

Hood Billionaire and Mastermind succeeded Ross’ 2012 release, God Forgives, I Don’t, his fourth album to debut at #1 Soundscan, which included top hits “Touch’N You” featuring Usher, “So Sophisticated” featuring Meek Mill, and fan favorite “Diced Pine­apples” featur­ing Drake and Wale.  Ross’ previous best-selling albums include Port Of Miami (2006), Trilla (2008), and Deeper Than Rap(2009), all of which debuted at #1 Soundscan; and Teflon Don (2010).

Chris Rivers is back with a video to his previously released freestyle I Got It Made Featuring Sheek Louch. Directed by Fanasea and produced by Dtaled Films and Airmagintion.

Call ’em what you want: contagious, infectious, soulful, whatever. If you can appreciate good beats, you probably know Brooklyn’s DJ Scratch. He’s been dropping them for decades.

On this day, the international DJ and beat doctor is sharing his knowledge and love of the music that’s given him so much with the world. It is ScratchVision, an online platform curated and cut by Scratch broadcasting to far corners of the globe. Class is in session.

To know Scratch and appreciate his journey you have to come here. You can’t romanticize the place. Typically the projects are synonymous with abject poverty, unemployment and crime. Most of its true. What you don’t hear enough about is the beautiful souls that call it home.

It was here and places like Albany Houses that music became the escape for a generation of young people. The sound was raw, unapologetic and often times an open diary about life in the struggle. They called it hip hop.

As the story goes, times were tough. Another long and hot summer without much to do until Albany Days, a yearly community get together, and it included a DJ competition for the kids. So a 12-year-old known only as “Junior” at the time entered as the man he wanted to be, writing “DJ SCRATCH” on the signup sheet.

There were 4 core components of the movement: B-boys, MC’s, Graffiti Artists and DJs — and he wanted a piece of it.

His world would never be the same. Jay Z, Biggie — Let me back up — Jam Master J, Run DMC,
Hit Records. Banging Beats. The world over. From, well, the ‘hood.

The seeds for Scratch Vision were planted on the road — Germany to Japan, Miami to Madrid — now, Scratch is offering a resource: to teach, educate, preserve, if you will, the sound of his childhood.

The world has changed since the early 1980s. Scratch has found a way to embrace the new technology and also remain true to his roots. Dropping beats. Dropping knowledge.

The Game “Don’t Trip” Ft….

ICE CUBE x DR. DRE x will.I.am

Going For Mixshow Airplay Now!!

THE GAME

NEW ALBUMS:

“THE DOCUMENTARY 2”

&

“THE DOCUMENTARY 2.5”

AVAILABLE ONLINE & IN STORES NOW!!

#SoulTrainAwards
Soul Train Awards to Air on Centric and BET, November 29^th at 8PM ET

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– CENTRIC announced that the SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2015 will be hosted by the incomparable singer-songwriter Erykah Badu. The hippest trip led by the illest chick will celebrate soul music’s R&B legends alongside the next wave of talented artists. Filmed November 6 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, the SOUL TRAIN AWARDS will air on CENTRIC and BET on November 29^th, 2015 at 8PM ET.

Musical luminaries being honored at the show include Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, who will receive the Legend Award and Jill Scott who will accept the first-ever Lady of Soul Award. These icons are being recognized for their longstanding presence in the industry and influence on the world of music past and present. R&B legend and record producer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds has won 11 Grammy Awards and written and produced 26 No. 1 R&B hits. His new album, Return of the Tender Lover, will be released December 4th. A torchbearer of R&B music, Jill is a 3x Grammy Award-winner who has also established herself as a critically acclaimed actress as well as a New York Times bestselling poet.

The SOUL TRAIN AWARDS will feature an exciting lineup of unforgettable performances and viewers can expect special appearances by some of the brightest stars in entertainment. The event annually showcases Soul Train’s influence on the history of music and dance from the 70s to today.

Another fun addition for visitors to look forward to is the full SOUL TRAIN WEEKEND November 5-7. Packages are on sale now on Ticketmaster.com, starting at $800. Individual tickets can be purchased for the Centric Presents Soul Train Awards at Orleans Arena (orleansarena.com) and the Soul Train Weekend Concert featuring R. Kelly with special guest Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (Ticketmaster.com). General admission tickets to the Soul Train Weekend Late Night Party at LIGHT nightclub will be available at a later date to be announced. Additional information and ticketing can be found at SoulTrainWeekend.com.

The SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2015 is produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment. Executive Producers of the network telecast are as follows: Debra Lee, Stephen Hill, Connie Orlando and Lynne Harris Taylor from BET; and Jesse Collins from Jesse Collins Entertainment. Erykah Badu is an Associate Producer.

For show information, please visit BET.com/SoulTrain, the official site for SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2015.

About CENTRIC

Centric is the only multi-platform lifestyle brand designed to boldly celebrate the diverse and beautiful world of Black women. A 24-hour music and entertainment channel, Centric has its finger on the pulse of an ever-changing beat and delivers compelling content that reflects, inspires and addresses the unique perspectives of Black women.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks – BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

About Soul Train Holdings

SOUL TRAIN HOLDINGS, LLC was formed in May 2008 and is owned by InterMedia Partners and a partnership between Magic Johnson Enterprises and Ron Burkle’s investment firm, The Yucaipa Companies. The iconic franchise and catalog consists of more than 1,100 episodes and 40 specials from Don Cornelius Productions, Inc. Soul Train is the longest running, first-run, nationally syndicated music program in television history. During its 35-year run, the show featured lasting innovations such as the Soul Train line and the legendary sign off “Love, Peace and Soul.” At the heart of the show was Don Cornelius, the dancers and influential artists such as James Brown, Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner, Hall & Oates, Donna Summer, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Prince, Run D.M.C. and Destiny’s Child.

About the Orleans Arena

The Orleans Arena, a Boyd Gaming facility located just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of the nation’s leading multi-purpose sports and entertainment facilities and the 2014 recipient of the Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers. In addition, the Orleans Arena is one of only a handful of arenas in the United States to achieve LEED Gold Certification and is part of the largest company in Nevada to achieve SHARP Certification for commitments to safe venue operations. According to Venues Today magazine, the Orleans Arena, which hosts more than 200 events each year, consistently ranks in the Top 10 for ticket sales in the United States and internationally among venues of similar size. These events include nationally touring concerts, NCAA basketball conference tournaments, family shows, motorsports and other unique events. For more information, call 702-365-7469 or visit www.OrleansArena.com. Stay connected to the Orleans Arena on Facebook (www.facebook.com/orleansarena) and on Twitter (@orleansarena).

Source: CENTRIC

Home Sweet Home comes out 11.13.15

The Community of Harlem has a rich history of Arts & Cultural contributions. The Harlem Renaissance has influenced artists, poets, scholars, educators, politicians, fashion, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and community leaders from New York City throughout the world. Hip Hop Music & Culture will now join that legacy in Harlem as the Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum is set to open up its offices on the historic 125th St. There will be a press & community open-house event scheduled to kick-off the Hip Hop History Month Celebration in November.

The office space will include a classroom and broadcast studio for the non-profit Museum & Educational Institutions programs and classes being designed for local youth under its Hip Hop Arts Academy banner. Classes will begin this fall with a Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship class for youth to learn the fashion business and design techniques to launch their own creations and brands. Students will be trained by industry professionals with special celebrity guest speakers, and graduate with their very own online e-commerce store teaching valuable skills, entrepreneurship, job creation and business management. All classes will include a ‘Life-Skills Module’ teaching young people about personal development, family and professional values & etiquette, college prep, career prep, financial literacy, homeownership, and entrepreneurship. Classes will range from 6-10 weeks and be in-conjunction with our Harlem Business, Community, Arts, Cultural, Media, and Educational Program Partners.

‘The program curriculums are currently being designed and prepared to launch first class this fall with all classes online in 2016,’ stated Pierre Voltaire, the Educational Program Coordinator Consultant.

The Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum is scheduled to secure ownership of its Harlem Museum building site by December 2015 and open in late 2016. ‘The site will be unveiled to the public at a VIP Reception during the Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards TV Show Week November 28th – December 4th 2015, closing out Hip Hop History Month activities,’ stated HHHOF Chairman JT Thompson, the Creator-Producer of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards Show that aired on BET in the 1990s.

The Harlem Hip Hop Museum will feature a Hall of Fame, Museum, Retail Gift Shop, Restaurant, Sports Bar, Concert Lounge, TV Studios, Offices, and house the Hip Hop Arts Academy. The Proceeds from the Annual Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards Induction Ceremony & Concert TV Special will benefit the development and operation of the HHHOF.

The Hip Hop Fans and Community follow the Hip Hop Hall of Fame at http://hiphophalloffame.org, http://facebook.com/hiphophalloffame, or http://twitter.com/hiphophof.

SOURCE Dove Entertainment