Mixtape: Mann – Tell A Friend 2 Tell A Friend

Here it is! New L.A. Leakers x Dj Ill Will “Tell A Friend 2 Tell A Friend” mixtape with Mr. West L.A! This is our 3rd mixtape with Mann, It’s dope watching him grow as an artist and really develop into the superstar we all know he is. Mann gets busy over some of the hottest beats out right now and drops some original material! Big shout to Beluga Heights, J.R. Rodem & the whole fam, A2Z Ent. Steve Lobel, Mercury records, Island Def Jam, also the big homie Zach and Josh! Enjoy this tape!

Download: Mann – Tell A Friend 2 Tell A Friend (Mixtape)

Video: Melody Thornton Covers Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, & Kanye West

Came across this video this morning and was more than surprised at the voice that came out of the former Pussycat Doll. Who knew?!

Quoting Rap-Up:

Melody Thornton is letting her voice shine. The former Pussycat Doll steps out from the shadows and performs a powerful acapella mashup of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” Katy Perry’s “Firework,” and Kanye West and Rihanna’s “All of the Lights” in this Rap-Up.com exclusive. The 26-year-old singer strips down the pop hits, exposing her raw talent and natural beauty as she belts them out in one take. Watch the songbird spread her wings and soar.

[RU]

Thurzday (of U-N-I) x HipHop DX Interview

HipHop DX caught up with one half of U-N-I, Thurzday, and discussed his new solo project, Los Angeles, the L.A. Riots and more. Below are a few excerpts from the interview.

On Los Angeles:

DX: You were talking about the record “Los Angeles,” one I’ve listened to several times. You mentioned the sound bites from people, just kind of talking about their love for Los Angeles, and the way that they perceive it. But I feel like your words are a bit dynamic in that they sound like a struggle for survival by the way you are talking about Los Angeles. Would you say that’s true?

Thurzday: Yeah. People always come here to follow their dreams. But Los Angeles is the city of broken dreams, and I just really wanted to make an honest picture of that because there are always a lot of positive remarks from outside people. Yes we do have the best weather, and a lot of beautiful women, but when it comes down to it, it’s a place of broken dreams.

On the L.A. Riots:

DX: Describe to me the scene in Inglewood during the Los Angeles riots. What do you remember?

Thurzday: It didn’t come that far west, but I remember we were driving to my grandma’s house, she lives on 55th and Central and that’s in South Central. And we were on Slauson crossing Normandie, and I just remember seeing a whole bunch of police in riot gear lined up on Slauson. And then on the other side of the street you see a lot of angry African-American folks upset. There were news cameras and news vans, and we were trying to drive through it. It was crazy. And when we got home, I saw footage of my mom’s car on the news when we were in the car trying to get through it. Being young, I was like six or seven years old when the riots went down, you can’t really grasp everything that’s actually happening. You have to look at everything when you’re a little older, and you realize, wow, that was a major historical event.

On features for L.A. Riot:

DX: Is Y-O gonna be on the L.A. RIOT album as well?

Thurzday: No, I only have a few features. Miguel is on there doing a hook, as well as BJ The Chicago Kid. I also have a record with Black Thought. U-N-I, right now we’re focused on doing solo stuff but later in the future we’ll be doing more group stuff.

Note: I think they may have been speculations on whether U-N-I is together or not but Thurz said (above) that they will be doing more group stuff in the near future.

For the rest of the interview, check out HipHop DX. Great read!

Video: Kendrick Lamar – “It’s All About Quality And Consistency.”

“It’s all about the quality and consistency. I mean, you could put out a lot of music but if the shit is trash, nobody going to latch on to it. I mean, you could put out quality music but not give them enough, nobody going to latch on to it. Your work ethic ain’t good enough. So when it’s quality and it’s consistent, that’s what I think it’s all about, in life, in general.”

SoulCulture.TV caught up with Kendrick Lamar during the madness of SXSW and discussed working with Dre, XXL freshman class, new projects and the late great Nate Dogg.