Brooklyn. Chicago. London.

Photo from Bigmouthsonline.com

What would any music consumer and Hip Hop fan love to hear? A song with Jay Z, Kanye West and Adele of course!! Jay Z and Kanye West are two Hip Hop superstars who have been tearing up charts with their singles, features and albums. Now an unstoppable duo, "The Throne", Jay Z and Kanye West together is bringing the Hip Hop game to higher grounds. And Adele... a product of London with the voice of a goddess mixed with soul. She has been sitting on the top of billboard charts for weeks and I don't think, she'll come down. Together, these three will create a sound your ears will love forever. Well, guess what? That sound is here...

Urban Noize Music Group has created a mashup/remix album, Brooklyn. Chicago. London., and it is a MUST DOWNLOAD. Urban Noize Music Group is a music production team [Urban Noize's Tumblr] that is based in Miami, Florida comprising of twin brothers, Steve and Steven. Brooklyn. Chicago. London. is an exemplary example of the global fusion of Hip Hop and how places and geographical regions can't set any boundaries. Often times, we try to place constraints on things with titles and concepts of space, but this right here just shows Hip Hop is...  just Hip Hop - a powerful medium spread across the globe. Brooklyn. Chicago. London. includes the hits of "Never Chasing Pavements" (Adele & Jay Z), "Melt My Heart to Stone" (Adele & Kanye West) and "Dear Summer" (Jay Z and Adele). Now, the music world just waits to see when Adele will really hit the studio with Jay Z and Kanye and make the amazing sounds that Urban Noize created!

Download the Brooklyn. Chicago. London. here:

Brooklyn. Chicago. London

The Tanning Effect

Steve Stoute, global brand mogul, started in the industry at an executive of numerous labels consulting artists like Nas and Mary J. Blidge. As President of Urban Music for Sony Music Entertainment, prior to joining Interscope, Stoute diligently worked to launch the musical careers of such artists. With making his impact, Stoute never stopped there.

Stoute worked with Carols Daughter, forming a board of investors filled with artists that highly influenced the culture of Hip Hop. Stoute is also CCO of Translation Consultation & Brand Imaging, a full-service ad agency and by 2010 he was recognized as "Innovator of the Year" at the ADCOLOR Awards Ceremony for his timeless impact in advertising, marketing and the media industries.

Steve Stoute utilized his love for the culture of Hip Hop to make a global impact through other markets. Stoute's career is the definition of "tanning" that he so very candidly talks about in his new book The Tanning of America: How Hip Hop Created A Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, which was released on September 8, 2011. From September until now, Steve Stoute has been going from events to colleges talking of this book and what "Tanning of America" really is. Steve Stoute even sat down with artists beginning a new web series "The Tanning Effect" and explains tanning, "a force that went beyond musical boundaries into the psyche of young America". In his very first episode of this web series, Stoute conducts an exclusive interview with Jay Z. In the very beginning of the interview, Stoute talks about Watch the Throne, it becoming #1 in 23 countries and how that showed the globalization of such an esteemed culture. Jay Z powerfully says, "Hip Hop was this young, youth music that did not have those boundaries outside of America".

Check out the Interview here and stay up-to-date as we continue to follow Steve Stoute's new web series and his telling experience of "The Tanning Effect".

Jay-Z on His Joint Album with Kanye West

Power to the People: When You See Me, See You

From the very beginning of his career until now, Jay Z has wowed millions with his lyrical prowess, entrepreneurial spirit and mindset to use his childhood environment to educate and do better. Recently Jay Z released his latest album, Watch the Throne, with powerful Chicago rapper Kanye West and Watch the Throne has received undaunting praise for the lyrics and production of the album.

 [Review of Watch The Throne]

But for this businessman, rapping was never enough for him. During the moments of his retirement, Jay Z realized the cry for help in some African countries and their water shortage. His New York City concert in November 2006 raised over $250,000 for PlayPumps International, a non-profit that donates to PlayPump water systems to African communities and schools. During the same month, MTV produced the documentary Diary of Jay Z: Water for Life. Catch a snippet of the documentary here:

 

Jay Z’s philanthropic efforts have not stopped there. He established the Shawn Carter Foundation in 2003 along with his mother, Gloria Carter, with the vision and mission to aid individuals facing socioeconomic hardships. On September 29, 2011 Jay Z and the foundation hosted a carnival for An Evening of “Making the Ordinary Extraordinary” at Pier 54 in New York City and with this event he raised $1,033,000 for the Foundation.

Jay Z’s work within Hip Hop has never gone unnoticed and what better way to celebrate a true devotee to the culture of Hip Hop, by having a course on him. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson is currently teaching Sociology of Hip Hop: Jay Z at Georgetown University. Beyond the Lyrics tips its hat off to Dr. Dyson for honoring a Hip Hop legend this way. 

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Shady 2.0 Cypher

The BET Hip Hop Awards is typically known for its cyphers and many viewers tune into the award show solely for that. However, something was lacking this year with the cyphers. I was expected to be “wowed” by many of those who spit their lyrical talents, but I was not impressed. But, there was one cypher that was the exception and gave the viewers exactly what we needed. The Shady 2.0 cypher with the Slaughterhouse quartet (Royce Da 5’ 9”, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden), YelaWolf and Eminem was raw and you saw the passion in their eyes to give us (the people) HIP HOP. Joe Budden told us candidly, “I know Hip Hop is alive and well, cuz if it died you other crews wouldn’t survive the smell”. Budden’s simple statement was telling everyone now this is how you do a Hip Hop cypher. 

If you missed this AMAZING cypher, you can catch it here: 

Behind the Scenes of Shady 2.0 Cypher:

Get More: Music News

Words I Never Said

Erykah Badu boldly dressed in a burka opening Lupe Fiasco’s performance at the BET 2011 Hip Hop Awards. The sounds of the guitars going did not overpower Badu’s soulful words of “as I drown in my regrets; I can’t take back the words I never said”. Lupe dramatically entered the stage to inform the audience and viewers of “the silence” Badu sang about.

Around the globe, countries face issues that often we can’t wrap our finger around but can change if we began to use our voice. Time and time again the American education system has been stifled by our economic situation and Lupe candidly said how he felt in front of millions of Hip Hop consumers. “Your child’s future was the first to go with budget cuts. If you think that hurts then, wait here comes the uppercut – The school was garbage in the first place, that’s on the up and up.” School funding are being cut affecting various programs that potentially would help children (our future) succeed. But the most troubling part of it all, is to think that a child’s school wasn’t really benefiting them anyway. Schools in poor neighborhoods don’t often get the resources needed as schools in more fortunate areas. Because of this as a nation we begin to suffer – seeing the education of youth diminish year after year. But what have we done to make it better?

Within four short minutes Lupe touches on this issue on the American education system, along with the War on Terror, the lack of racial visibility via news sources, the drug epidemic in poor communities and our often corrupt banking system. He even casually brings attention to the Occupy Wall Street movement with the slogan on his shirt. Via twitter, facebook and some blogs individuals criticized Lupe performance for being over the top. Dramatic performance or not, Lupe Fiasco sent a clear message about the political and social issues we face as a society and how he utilizes Hip Hop to be his platform for change. Beyond the Lyrics, gives Lupe’s telling performance the best performance of the entire award show.

If you missed the performance, you can check it out here: 

If you were unaware of the pressing issues that Lupe Fiasco touched upon, articles have been provided. Educate yourself and use your voice to make change "Just listening to Pac ain't gone make it stop; A rebel in your thoughts, ain't gonna make it halt. If you don’t become an actor you’ll never be a factor."

G.O.P Candidates Take an Anti-Federalism Stance on Education 

 Lets Move Initiative & The War on Childhood Obesity

Occupy Wall Street Raises Over $150,000 

Will Occupy Wall Street Protests Help Black Folks? 

National Public Radio and its Lack of Diversity Issue