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March 9 is a day the hip hop world stops and remembers the life and legacy of Christopher Wallace, known to the world as The Notorious B.I.G.
For years, Ernie Paniccioli helped document the growth of hip hop as it rose from a new genre in music, to the world&rsquo;s biggest phenomenon. His photos through the years showcase legends such as LL Cool J, Public Enemy, DMX, Foxy Brown, Lil&rsquo; Kim, Nas, Jay-Z, 2Pac, and the list goes on.
His passion was to showcase who these artists were to the world.
&ldquo;My work shows them as larger than life but also as part of life,&rdquo; he said to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230606141237/https://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/public-enemys-private-photographer/">New York Times</a> back in 2013. &ldquo;My work has a pulse. It three-dimensionalized a lot of these people. And the artists themselves have always let me be up close and personal. There never been dichotomy between the photographer and the artist. It&rsquo;s a circle.&rdquo;
One of his favorite artists was The Notorious B.I.G., who he was able to document throughout the rise of his career.
&ldquo;The first time we met he was preparing to do his part in a New York Undercover TV show,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;He was standing with Eric Sermon and Ice Cube. I went up to introduce myself and shake his hand and said hi, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m Ernie.&rsquo; He loudly replied by saying I don&rsquo;t give a f***, and then said &lsquo;step off!&rsquo; I was like &lsquo;what?'&rdquo;
<img class=" wp-image-108927" src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/1t3f0JBlA8o5uSD5L8gp2h/0336416e409d369dff2a76abd71d77c8/Biggie-and-Big-Ernie-bbb.jpg" alt="Notorious B.I.G. &amp; Ernie Paniccioli P" width="486" height="386">
He later continued, showcasing at the tense moment at the time.
&ldquo;I started to put down my two heavy cameras and camera bag I was holding Cube, and Eric from EPMD and a few others tried to calm him down.&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;Biggie, Ernie is Cool and Ernie is family. He cursed some more as I got closer and said, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t care who he is!&rsquo; All of the crew that were around him were shook! Then all of a sudden he broke into his biggest grin and said to all of us &ldquo;gotcha&rdquo; and shook my hand laughing like crazy.&rdquo;
&ldquo;He often said he went from &ldquo;ashy to classy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That night he took us all from scary to funny. He then reminded me we had met before on the set of a Mary J. Blige&rsquo;s video and had pizza together at a local store. We became friends and he shared many things with me over the next two years. He is one of the greats, I miss him and cried when he was taken from us.&rdquo;
Over the years, he was able to accompany the Notorious B.I.G. in various places, resulting in some of the most iconic photos of his life and career. Paniccioli shared a couple of his favorite photos with HOT 97 to help celebrate the life of the greatest rapper of all time.
<img class="wp-image-108925 " src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/5Ig8IXP8hrehyLnXgYN0NL/f49d26459a9a287d18111d6457ef382c/B.I.g.-in-Palladium-NYC.-1-1024x689.jpg" alt="Biggie Smalls In The Palladium" width="882" height="593"> Gold background Party at the Platinum Night Club, 1994 Photo Credit: Ernie Paniccioli<img id="longdesc-return-108928" class="wp-image-108928 size-large" tabindex="-1" src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/6QMGTlDZP3xZBVeRffthyy/f1600904e6c615a67c7fea0bddd547f5/IMG-3823-710x1024.jpg" alt="RIP The Notorious B.I.G." width="710" height="1024" longdesc="https://www.hot97.com?longdesc=108928&amp;referrer=108924"> "Freezing night in late October 1994. A man in an SUV was beeping his horn at me in Times Square. When I recognized Biggie, he said 'Get in here, motherf***er, it&rsquo;s cold as s*** out there.&rsquo;" Photo Credit: Ernie Paniccioli<img class="wp-image-108926 size-large" src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/5q6GxWuHRXT3SnKwDmMFjC/6d1eb20efe720cfacae244bc7e244131/Big-Hawiaan-shirt-1996-1024x661.jpg" alt="Notorious B.I.G. 1996" width="1024" height="661"> "This was the last time, I saw Biggie. It was at The Copa, in NYC on the night of a Mary J. Blige event." Photo Credit: Ernie Paniccioli

The Story Behind Some Of The Notorious B.I.G.'s Most Iconic Photos

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The year was 1997. Hip Hop was still in a state of mourning as the genre&rsquo;s biggest artist at the time was gunned down in Los Angeles.
We were all exhausted. But if there was one thing we knew was going to live on. It would be the music and his legacy.
On March 25, 1997, The Notorious B.I.G. posthumously released his long-awaited sophomore album ironically titled Life After Death. After three years of waiting, it was the album he was excited about, as he was ready to show his growth as an artist. Is he not still here? Is this even real?
Starting where Ready To Die left off three years earlier, it only took one track to raise the goosebumps on your arms. The sounds of the sirens began to ring in your ears, the heart monitor starts beeping, the intense keys begin to roar. All while Puff Daddy pleads with Biggie, &ldquo;you have too much living to do. Too much unfinished business. It ain&rsquo;t over.&rdquo; The sound of the raindrops hitting the pavement kept our emotions in check before we heard the sound of Biggie Smalls for the first time on this album. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sittin&rsquo; in the crib dreamin&rsquo; about Leer jets and coupes, the way Salt shoops and how they sell records like Snoop. Oops! I&rsquo;m interrupted by a doorbell&hellip;&rdquo;
He was bigger than life. His storytelling skills shined throughout the project as we got to see the progression of someone who is considered the best rapper of all time by many. He gave us a range of all kinds of different tracks. Between his signature hard raps in &ldquo;Last Day,&rdquo; &ldquo;What&rsquo;s Beef, &ldquo;Ten Crack Commandments,&rdquo; to fun tracks like &ldquo;Another,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Back To Cali&rdquo; to reminencient tracks like &ldquo;Miss U.&rdquo; This album not only told an album, but had it all.
Not many artists can deliver a double album. Even less can do so without you wanting to skip a single track. He outdid himself on this one.
After having one feature on his debut project, Biggie brought out the big guns for this one. And not one of those features were wasted. The fast paced rap from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, back-and-forth between himself and Lil&rsquo; Kim, the hard bars from the LOX, slick talk with Jay-Z, freakiness from R. Kelly, or the smooth sounds of 112. If you were featured on this album it was with good reason.
Biggie&rsquo;s right hand man Puff Daddy was ruling the charts with his hit single &ldquo;Can&rsquo;t Nobody Hold Me Down&rdquo; at the time of his death. Following his passing, the first single of the album &ldquo;Hypnotize&rdquo; which was released on the first of March began taking over as the weather began to warm up showing the dominance of Bad Boy during this time. His singles weren&rsquo;t only hits. They became classics. 20 years later, &ldquo;Mo Money, Mo Problems&rdquo; is still a favorite in the party. No matter what age you are.
His third single &ldquo;Sky&rsquo;s The Limit&rdquo; can&rsquo;t do anything but put a tear in your eye as Biggie speaks about his growth as not only an artist, but as a man, his success, and where he was headed next.
Track 11 on disc two helps close a script no one could have even think of writing only weeks earlier. The echoing sounds of Puffy saying &ldquo;baby&rdquo; repeatedly as the cold lonely wind blows in the background. First the keys come. Then the drums. The beat builds as Puff continues to speak in the background. Then Biggie comes in: &ldquo;Ni***s in my faction don&rsquo;t like asking questions. Strictly gun-testing, coke-measuring, giving pleasure in the Benz-ito, hitting fanny, spending chips at Manny&rsquo;s, hope you creeps got receipts, my peeps get dirty like cleats.&rdquo;
A fitting end to a classic album, and a legendary career. By the end of this album, Christopher Wallace became a prophet to his own life. At only 24-years-old, he was gunned down in Los Angeles effectively ending the senseless east coast vs west coast wars of the early 1990&rsquo;s. Watching television late one night gave Biggie the idea of the album&rsquo;s last track. Hearing Dean Martin sing &ldquo;you&rsquo;re nobody until somebody loves you,&rdquo; sparked motivation in the hook. A hook which became an underlying, and unfortionate fact. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re Nobody &lsquo;Til Somebody Kills You.&rdquo;
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hot97.com/BIG20Years" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">See more about the life and legacy of The Notorious B.I.G.</a></h3>
Listen to Life After Death below.
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You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Kills You: The Legacy Of 'Life After Death'

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<h5 id="h-written-by-amina-ali">Written By: Amina Ali</h5>The New York episode of the docuseries De La Calle, hosted by Nick Barili, was recently screened as the inaugural installment of an eight-part series at the Tribeca Film Festival. The entire docuseries is set to be broadcast on Paramount+ and MTV. This particular episode focused on the significant role of the Latin community in shaping the Hip-Hop scene in New York City. Renowned individuals such as Fat Joe, Cardidad De La Luz, Nore, DJ Charlie Chase, Princess Nokia, and others were featured guests, engaging in enlightening conversations with Barili about the worldwide impact of Latino culture.A key theme addressed in the episode was the media's tendency to label Afro-Latinos as "Blacks," perpetuating a cycle that undermined the recognition and credit owed to Latinos for their significant contributions. One of the examples highlighted how the incorporation of Spanish-language rap transformed the representation of Latinos within Hip-Hop, revolutionizing their portrayal within the genre.Through the fusion of their own cultural influences with Hip-Hop, Latinos gave rise to worldwide phenomena. The pioneers and influencers featured in the episode were unaware that they were not only shaping the history of Hip-Hop but also making significant strides for Latin culture. The episode showcased numerous poignant moments, such as Joe Conzo's humble beginnings as a yearbook photographer, capturing his friends at school dances, and N.O.R.E. (aka Noreaga) introducing Reggaeton, or as he affectionately referred to it as "gentrified reggaeton" in the film, to America. Their motivations stemmed from a desire to represent and celebrate their Latin heritage, not fully comprehending the impact that incorporating salsa into breakdancing or rapping in Spanish would have on not just their communities but worldwide.Following the screening, a thought-provoking Q&A panel was held, moderated by Laura Stylez, featuring Nick Barili, Joe Conzo, Caridad De La Luz (aka La Bruja), DJ Charlie Chase, Picky Talarico, and DJ Flipstar. Stylez expressed the significance of witnessing a multitude of proud Latinos and Latinas, who continue to inspire and forge new paths, remarking that "It's important to see the future next to you." The panel delved into the exploitation often experienced by artists within the Hip-Hop industry, as well as the exploitation of Hip-Hop itself. These artists, however, strayed from such pitfalls and created what De La Luz beautifully described as a "beautiful relationship—being able to express my art form authentically while remaining rooted in Hip-Hop."Flipstar, like Stylez, was a product of the groundwork laid by Latino pioneers of Hip-Hop. He shared his experience of blending beats from Black records with a Latin crowd, thanks to the foundation established before him. This fusion enabled him to create his own remixes. The essence of the New York episode of De La Calle was the exploration of how artists in the Latino community integrated their cultural heritage with Hip-Hop, resulting in something new that remained authentic to Hip-Hop while representing their unique identities.

'De La Calle' Takes A Unique Look Into Latinos Impact In Hip Hop Culture

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Joeboy, a Nigerian Afro pop and R&B singer, was discovered by fellow Nigerian singer Mr. Eazi in 2017. Since then, he's released his debut album Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic and dropped back to back hit singles. As he gears up to release his sophomore album, we got the chance to chat with Joeboy about what fans can expect in the album, the title of his next single, his vocals being used in <a href="https://www.hot97.com/hot-news/its-here-drake-bad-bunny-link-up-on-mia-video" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bad Bunny'</a>s latest album Un Verano Sin Ti, his dreams of working with The Weeknd and Post Malone, what he looks for in a female and more. Oumou Fofana: Are you in Nigeria right now?Joeboy: No, I'm in Ghana. It's 12:41 P.M. over here. Fofana: You were discovered by Mr. Eazi a few years ago and currently signed to his record label emPawa Africa. Can you tell us about that experience? Joeboy: So, um, It's been really beautiful. I remember 2017 I was in university. I think I was in my second year of university. I was getting ready for my exams and I was just having like a pretty, pretty like normal day, and next thing I get a call from my friend that Mr. Eazi commented on my video. Normally like, we're friends, we prank each other a lot. So I thought it was like a prank or something and I was like, "Nah, this can't be real." Then I went ahead to check on social media and I saw Mr. Eazi's comment. While I'm thinking of what to say or what to tell him, in my DMs he sends me a message like, "Yo I love your music" and sends me his personal number that I should hit him up, like "Yo, call me. Let's work." And I think from there, things just like picked up and he introduced me to [E Kelly], one of my favorite Nigerian producers. From then I've been growing and it's been such a beautiful journey. Fofana: What was the video that Mr. Eazi commented under?Joeboy: I made a cover to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You." You know the song, it was really popular at the time. I shot the video with an iPhone 5. I posted the video on my Instagram and it was kinda like going viral. It was really the first official music content that I posted on my page and people really liked it. It was really booming. I kept tagging people and Mr. Eazi came across it. Uh, somebody actually sent it to Mr. Eazi, like a friend of mine, but he wasn't the only one she sent it to. She sent it to a bunch of other artists. Thankfully, Mr. Eazi saw the video, checked it out, liked it, said to reach out to him, and we started working together.Fofana: Your second album Pon Deck has been announced. Do you have a release date? Joeboy: Yeah. It was supposed to drop like towards the end of this year but for some reason we had to move it to the first quarter of next year. But I'm dropping a new single by January. Fofana: You just released a new single called "Likkle Riddim" and it is dancehall inspired. Can we expect this type of vibe in your new album? Joeboy: Yeah, I guess. But it won't be too dominant. The way I've been making music recently I just really wanted to try out new stuff and see how far my range could go and I'm really, really loving the experience so I decided to make a dancehall record. For the album I don't think it's going to be dominantly dancehall, but there'll be some influences here and there.https://www.instagram.com/p/CjqnSPVDsZx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkFofana: What was the inspiration behind you wanting to go a different route with your music?Joeboy: The kind of music I listen to influences the kind of music that I make. So at that point, while I'm creating, I'd listen to lots of dancehall artists like Mavado, Dexta Daps, Koffee, Buju Banton, and Sean Paul. I've been a big fan of Sean Paul since I was very, very young. So these are my influences for wanting to make a dancehall record. And thankfully, my other song "Sip (Alcohol)" is really big in like the dancehall scene. Fofana: Are you done recording the album? Joeboy: Yeah. I think where we are right now is because I keep recording new songs. I just keep adding and removing things. I'd be recording a lot of songs so I'm just going to chill and rearrange the songs and everything, but it's ready. I'd say it's 80% ready.Fofana: Anything we can expect? Any features? Joeboy: Yeah, there's a couple of international features and I just can't wait. It's such a beautiful album. Everybody featured on the album put in 100 percent. It's just, it's beautiful. I'm super excited about it and I can't wait. I really can't wait to just release the album. But, you know things have to be done properly. If it was left to me, I would have dropped it immediately.Fofana: Afrobeats can be very cyclical. Artists would have their moments when they are super hot and then they slow down. Some people would call it a "one hit wonder." You have been very consistent with putting out hits or being featured on hits. From your singles “Beginning," "Baby," “Don’t Call Me Back,” “Sip (Alcohol),” to being featured on Ckay’s “Love Nwantiti" remix. You’ve been working. How do you stay so consistent? Joeboy: I'd say it is because of where I'm from. I always try to remember where I'm from. Being an upcoming artist for me was really, really difficult because people didn't see me as a superstar. They didn't think I'd become a star and I've managed to prove a lot of people wrong. So anytime I'm making music, I'll always have that voice in the back of my mind saying "Look at where you came from, you just have to keep going." I intend to be here for a very long time. I'm not just here because I want to be famous or I want to be super wealthy. I'm doing this because this is what I love. Making music for me is always fun. It's just fun for me. It's not like a job. Like, just me drinking water, like second nature. That has really helped me stay consistent. I've been making music on and off since 2014. Music has always been like a hobby so even if I didn't blow up I'd still be making music. Fofana: Do you believe that you’re one of the most underrated Afrobeats artist right now? Joeboy: Um, I'd say I'm way ahead of my time. Yeah, I'm way ahead of my time. If people don't see it, they're gonna catch up. They're going to look back, maybe like a year from now and be like "Ouuu, this guy has been killing it from time."https://www.instagram.com/p/CkF1BHYDe95/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkFofana: What inspires you? Where do you go for inspiration?Joeboy: I really like nature. I love trees and animals and stuff. I love to talk to strangers a lot. I'd just talk to people that I don't know and just have a conversation with them. That really inspires me because there's so many people out there and you get to see things from different perspectives. So I talk to people, I play video games, I watch funny stuff and I spend time with family. That's how I get inspired.Fofana: You were featured in Bad Bunny’s latest album. Your vocals from “Empty My Pockets” were sampled in his song “Enséñame a Bailar.” How did that happen? Did he ask for permission or was he, like, paying tribute?Joeboy: He reached out after the song dropped. The sample wasn't cleared but my team is trying to sort it out.Fofana: How did you feel about the though? Being featured on a Latin album that went No. 1 globally. Joeboy: Uh, at some point I felt some type of way because, you know, he didn't do it the right way. It just like gives me some inspiration that my music is so out there that big global artists like Bad Bunny can actually notice it and do something with it. I have a bright future ahead of me.Fofana: So, besides the new album, what's next for you? I know you did say that you're dropping, a new single soon.Joeboy: Yeah, so I wanted to announce it on the new year, like the first day of January 2023. It's a love song. I have not dropped a love song in a bit. Like, my last three singles have not been love songs. The love songs people recognize Joeboy for, I am bringing that back. It's beautiful music. I don't want to give a title yet. Fofana: Come on! Give it to us. This will be an exclusive. <laughs>Joeboy: Alright, I'll just do that. So the name of the song is "Body and Soul." It's really really beautiful. I can't wait for everyone to embrace the sound. That drops the month of January. After I drop the album, I'll be going on tour again. I'll be going on a worldwide tour in the UK, the US, everywhere. On the album I even featured two or three emerging artists that I feel deserve a chance to be noticed. That's what I'll be doing, just putting a lot of young artists on because somebody put me on so it's only right that I try to put other people on.Fofana: Who do you dream of working with?Joeboy: Definitely The Weeknd or Post Malone. Those are like two of my favorite artists, like ever. I just love the vulnerability in their music. They talk about their stories. It could be a bad story but the way they put it together makes you understand them more. They've been consistent. Their track record and catalog goes hard. Fofana: This next question is from your fans. <laughs> Are you single or taken? Joeboy: Uhh, I'm taken.Fofana: Ouuu, who is this mysterious woman? Joeboy: I can't say. <laughs> It's a relationship I'm really, really enjoying so I don't want to put it out there. You know social media is wild. I am keeping it private you know?Fofana: I understand. So, what do you look for in a female? Joeboy: Hmm, do I have a type? I think if you're funny. I like funny people. I have a weakness for people who dance. And, if you can sing? Oh, you got me. Fofana: What is something about Joeboy that a lot of people don't know?Joeboy: I'm an adrenaline junky. I love to do wild stuff. I went skydiving last year. I just love to do stuff that makes my heart pump. I can go to the jungle in the middle of the night. I did that in South America. I love video games a lot. I'm a gamer, like a proper gamer. When it comes to games, I am undefeated. Check out Joeboy's latest single "Likkle Riddim" below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVJz7IF3bsY

EXCLUSIVE: Joeboy Talks New Album, Reveals Title Of Next Single, How Mr. Eazi Discovered Him, + What He Looks For In A Girl

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Along with being a singer, Lisa Yaro is a Grammy nominated-songwriter, producer, and actress. She has created songs for legends Mýa, Will.i.am, and Letoya Luckett.We got a chance to talk to her about transitioning from writing records for others to making her own music, acting with Kevin Hart before his breakthrough, struggles she faces as a woman breaking into the male-dominated <a href="https://www.hot97.com/hot-news/empire-announces-africa-compilation-album-where-are-we-from" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Afrobeats</a> industry, her dreams of working with Nas, and working with Zlaton on her latest single "YARO." Oumou Fofana: How is it like being such a dynamic artist? From acting, songwriting for other artists, making your own records, and owning your own label?Lisa Yaro: It's been an amazing journey and I'm truly humbled to be able to do exactly what I love as a full time career. I’m blessed to be able to incorporate the music with the acting. My previous single <a href="https://youtu.be/kg5ZuNR58yc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“Domitilla” featuring Mayorkun</a> is in the soundtrack of the Universal film “Asking For It.”Being able to bridge those two worlds has been a great experience that I don’t take for granted. I have definitely learned so much pertaining to the business side of the industry as an independent artist and my wish for other artists is that they are able to educate themselves on the business side because in ANY industry, learning the business is very important.Fofana: You started off as an actress right? Can you tell us a bit about how and why you started acting? Yaro: I’ve always had a love for entertainment in all forms. I grew up loving musical theater and would often put on concerts for my family. Luckily they've always enjoyed the shows -- at least that's what they told me. When we moved to LA I was fortunate enough to audition and land spots on various films and TV shows and started making a name for myself. I went from growing up in a small village in Kaduna, Nigeria to debuting a film at Tribeca Film Festival last year. Sometimes I feel like my life is a dream.Fofana: In 2010 you starred in the movie Something Like A Business alongside <a href="https://www.hot97.com/hot-news/kevin-hart-addresses-infidelity-in-new-netflix-doc-wife-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin Hart</a>. How was it like working with him at the time? Yaro: It was a great experience. This was right before his big break in his career, so it was great to see where he is now, and how much he's accomplished from all his hard work. Russ Parr directed the project. Everyone on set made it a memorable experience.https://www.instagram.com/p/CgsLHBvvE3z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkFofana: Then you transitioned into music. You’ve written songs for legends like Mýa, Will.i.am, and LeToya Luckett. What inspired the transition and how were you able to work with these artists?Yaro: Being an African immigrant living in LA was tough. My parents told me I had to be a doctor or a lawyer and I even majored in biochemistry in college. But my love for music never left me. Telling African parents that I wasn't applying to medical school and wanted to be a songwriter was a big moment for me. Life after that decision wasn't easy. I put in years paying my dues writing and building my catalogue while shopping records for potential placements. Eventually, I started being noticed and was given opportunities to work with Grammy winning artists and producers in hip hop, R&B, and pop. Those experiences really helped me evolve as a writer and set the stage for me to start my own Afrobeats lane.Fofana: You became Grammy nominated for the work you've done on Mýa’s 2016 album Smoove Jones. It was nominated for Best R&B Album. But now it’s your time to fully shine. What made you want to start making your own music?Yaro: I knew that I wanted to eventually transition into being a recording artist, but life is all about timing. With the Mýa Grammy nomination, I felt it was the perfect moment in my life to start creating my own lane as an artist. Being Nigerian, I grew up on African music and African artists. Afrobeats was my music and heritage and wanted to add to the culture by bringing my own sound and creativity to it.Fofana: What songs did you write for Will.I.am and Letoya Luckett? Yaro: I wrote with Will for his then artist Leah McFall. The record was called "Wild Fire" but she ended up not putting an album out due to label issues. Also my record called "Faded" for Letoya was sold to Warner Chappell but she never released her album.Fofana: Your latest single "YARO" has been doing great. The visuals received over 750,000 views in less than a month. How was it like working with fellow Afrobeats star Zlatan?Yaro: Yes! Super thankful for all the love "YARO" has been receiving, all by God's grace. It was a great time working with Zlatan, from the creation of the song to the creation of the video. On set he mentioned that it was his first time really acting in a video and it was truly an honor sharing that experience with him. He did a great job, there’s definitely an actor inside of him! Fofana: What was your inspiration behind the song?Yaro: I wanted the song "YARO" to be an expression of pure love for someone. Timeless love with no limitations and the video showing that sometimes happy endings aren’t always realistic but that does not take away the love that is shared.https://youtu.be/YEZ2qrEcqDsFofana: What is your creative process like? What usually inspires your work?Yaro: Real life experiences are always the best storytellers. I think that everyone at some point in their life has experienced a type of love that no matter if that person was present in your life or not, the love you have for them will always remain. I think about all of the wonderful advice of those studio sessions in LA and close my eyes and just think about Africa. Fofana: Who inspires you as an artist?Yaro: It's between Sade and Lauren Hill for sure! I remember listening to their music growing up and having such admiration for them. They both showed me that it was possible as a woman in a male dominated industry to succeed and thrive on your own terms. Also knowing that Sade came from the same place I came from and was so business minded gave me such a respect for her and sparked my interest in being confident in sharing my creativity with the world. Fofana: Anybody you dream of working with in the near future?Yaro: Yes! There are so many amazingly talented artists that I am interested in creating with. I would LOVE to work on an Afro-fusion song with Nas. He’s such an amazing lyricist who embodies the essence of hip hop. I’ve always been a lover of many genres so on my upcoming projects I definitely want to infuse elements of hip hop into it. Not to mention I think a record with Nas would be an absolute hit! Fofana: You're currently on tour right? Can you tell us a little about the experience? What are some highlights?Yaro: Touring has been an amazing experience. Very blessed to be able to open up for Flavour on his US tour and opening up for Asake in Dallas for his show recently. The crowds bring such great energy in each city I perform in. I would have to say one of my highlights would have to be performing at Gilley’s in Dallas. Knowing how many amazing artists have performed there and being able to do what I love and share my music with the crowd was an incredible feeling. Definitely a memory I won’t soon forget.https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjRG7fVPYrK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkFofana: How do you feel about the Afrobeats genre becoming so mainstream as it is taking over the globe?Yaro: Afrobeats has always been around and has always been the backbone and root of many types of music. Just listen to the drum lines and cadence of our sound. I’m so happy to see Afrobeats music and the artists getting the recognition they deserve. It's been a long time coming!Fofana: Afrobeats is clearly a male-dominated industry. Do you find yourself struggling as you try to break in as an artist?Yaro: Unfortunately, it’s the world we live in but I’m happy to see things starting to shift. I think in any field it’s always a challenge for women to succeed and progress in a heavily male dominated environment. Being an African woman in the US and having Afrobeats break barriers gives women like myself a voice and space to evolve. We have messages that haven’t been heard and Afrobeats creates a space for us to show pride in where we’re from, as well as sharing our culture and creativity with people outside of Africa. Fofana: Could you tell us more about your record label and how you started it?Yaro: My record label Music Corner was started to nurture creativity, build a platform for those who lack professional resources and unify communities through music. I wanted to find a way to motivate myself in pursuing this path and accomplishing the goals I set for myself, so I thought what better way than to sign myself as an official Artist. The rest was history. Fofana: What do you hope listeners take from your music?Yaro: I hope listeners gain a sense of the sound of African immigrants. I represent the diaspora of Africa. I represent the millions of Africans that are immigrants who have moved out of Africa but are still connected to their roots. I want Africans to feel connected. If you're not from Africa, I want you to feel the vibe of my culture.

Lisa Yaro Talks Transitioning From Songwriter To Artist, Working With Kevin Hart, + The Rise Of Afrobeats

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Meet Dream Chasers newest artist Kur.There are a few things that can be guaranteed at a Roots Picnic festival no matter that year. This includes water ice, folk in the parking lot selling BBQ platters, and at least six line-up artists who are natives to Philadelphia. This year, one of those artists was Kur.Born and raised in Philly, Kur started making music in 2012 and has spent the last decade honing his craft. He has released a slew of mixtapes and singles which eventually caught the attention of Meek Mill. In 2021, Kur signed with Dream Chasers and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and has since been religiously in the studio working on his new project “Survivors Guilt”.HOT 97 sat down with Kur shortly after his Day One performance at the TD Pavilion. His set list included songs and freestyles such as “Stuck in My Ways”, “Road to Riches” and “Hell of Chiraq”.On how performing in Philly differs from other venues:Growing up I used to always come to these festivals as a rapper with a regular ticket thinking ‘damn, I need to get on that stage’. So to be here, it means more to me because I am getting that recognition in my own city.On the meaning of his name “Kur”: My middle name is Shakur Malik. So I took my stage name from that. My mom said she named me after Tupac and them Malik after Phife Dawg so I probably was already destined for this before I even knew.On parents supporting rap career:They really weren’t supportive initially. But that was ten years ago, so I don’t hold grudges or anything against them because I genuinely think they wanted the best for me. I think they that questioned the chances of this working out [as a career]. So I think that now that it is starting to work out, they are thinking ‘okay maybe this could work out for him’. But I was 18 at the time, so of course when you just graduate high school, you parents have the right to make sure you good.On challenges he still faces despite being signed to Dream Chasers:I would say “identity”. Cause it’s like, yeah, I may be the hottest thing smoking in Philly but there is still a whole nother’ world. Philly is so small, there are people who never been here and never plan on coming here. So I ask myself how am I going to stand out amongst the 500k people uploading songs a day. Now that I have my foot in the door I have to work five times more than I did when I was local, for real, for real. Just really trying to get it because now I am against the top people in the industry versus the top people that’s in your neighborhood.On what makes him stand out from other rappers:I’ve always told my truths even if I got laughed at, even if didn’t get sympathy I just wanted to tell my truth. Because I knew I wasn’t the only one going through it. I knew people had similarities to my story and could relate. Or people may listen to me because I am blunt and transparent. I take pride in that. When I am writing I make sure I say things that people are scared to say.On his songwriting process:Within the ten year span, I’ve probably dropped thirteen mixtapes. But my last four is what really pushed me to get where I am. I record so much. It’s a gift and a curse because being in the studio all the time means that I am not out living. I lose stuff to rap about. I’m not living and experiencing and that’s the balance I gotta find.On the best places to eat in Philly:I’m going to say David’s. I go there for Chinese food. On the cheesesteak side, honestly you can get a good cheesesteak from one of the Papi stores in the hood. Maxes, Delessandros, Eds in West Philly next to Drexel Hill. Imma go to Ed’s first before I go to a lot of other places. Those are my top three on the cheesesteak side.

7 Facts We Learned From Kur At The Roots Picnic 2022

Kyle-Banks

Kyle Banks is a rising R&amp;B/Hip Hop star.The West LA bred recording artist got his start in music in 2018. From 2018 - 2019, he spent much of his time in the studio with Grammy nominated producers/managers, Louie Ji and Meez, trying to find his signature sound. That sound would eventually be described as trap R&amp;B with an L.A vibe and would later capture the attention of the A&amp;R at Red Bull Records. His 2020 debut EP, Green Light, released independently, has features from artist like Cozz, Kalan.FrFr, Bino Rideaux and more. At the top of 2022, he released his sophomore EP, Uncommon, which the singer describes as more melodic and soulful.With two EPs out, co-signs from Dreamville Records, and thousands of music streams, Kyle Banks is carving out his own lane.We got a chance to talk to him about his current projects, celebrity crushes, and struggles he faces as a new artist.[video width="1920" height="1920" mp4="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/1300/2022/04/22201919/wRkx4ABmE9w4V6xSJaOQ.mp4"][/video][Niani]: Was Dreamville Fest your first major performance?[Kyle]: Yes, that was my first festival. It's funny because I went to the first Dreamville Fest on some regular sh*t. Now I am back performing. I wasn't nervous though, I was more excited nervous.[Niani]: When we met at Dreamville Fest, I recall you mentioning how basketball was your main focus prior to doubling down in music. Do you think you could've had a thriving basketball career?[Kyle]: I would say I was good, not NBA good. You know, it wasn't like 'Oh, he goin' to the league'.[Niani]: Are you familiar with the Crew League? It's a new show on Revolt TV where an artist and their entourage compete with another artist and their entourage? In the near future, you may be able to play on that show.[Kyle]: With Chris Brown and G Herbo? Yes, I am familiar. I am fa'sho better than them. That's easy. That's not even a question.[Niani]: Are there any parallels between basketball and music for you? [Kyle]: I feel like you naturally develop a competitive nature with sports so I apply that competitive spirit when I am in the studio. Also I have been able to use basketball as a way to make connections. I actually met my manager Louie through basketball a while back.[Niani]: You have a single called 'Bad Bih' which is about having a come up person who is with you from your lowest to your highest. You are essentially on a come up journey as a new artist. Does Kyle Banks have a Bad Bih?[Kyle]: Mane, no one in particular. Just out here vibin'![Niani]: Naturally, you have collaborated with a lot of artists from California. (BlueBucks, Bino, Kalan, Cozz) are there any NY artists you would like to collaborate with in the future?[Kyle]: I love A-Boogie, he was one of the first people I started listening to. I f*cks with Lil Tjay and J.I the Prince too. There's a lot of heat in NY.[Niani]: If you could date any celebrity right now or in the future, who would it be?[Kyle]: Hmm...I would say Beyonc&egrave;. I gotta go for the queen.[Niani]: Beyonc&eacute; is married! Let me rephrase, if you could date a single celebrity right now, who would it be?[Kyle]: Hmm..Jennifer Lopez is single.[Niani]: Kyle, JLO just got engaged![Kyle]: Oh see, I don't know all of their business. I just like what I like. Sh*t, I don't even know then.[Niani]: What are some restaurant recommendations you would give to a person who has never been to Los Angeles before?[Kyle]: There is a place called <a href="https://fixinssoulkitchen.com/">Fixins. </a> Its downtown, kinda close to the Staple Center - AMAZING soul food. If you want to get barbecue we got <a href="https://www.phillipsbar-b-que.com/">Phillips</a>, and <a href="http://www.woodysbarbquela.com/">Woodys. </a>Those three for sure.[Niani]: Being a new artist is not easy, we see the highs, are there any struggles that you experience that make this difficult?[Kyle]: Yeah, I mean it's the simple fact of being new. So really, everywhere you go you are trying to make people believe or see why they should mess with you. I was just on tour with my brother Kalan, shout out to my brother <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kalan.frfr/">Kalan.FrFr</a>, he's a big artist out here in L.A. Every city you go to, you have to perform in front of people who don't know who you are. You're relatively new, so everytime you go out there you have to make a statement.Follow him here: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kylebankskb/">https://www.instagram.com/kylebankskb/</a>Check out his latest EP, Uncommon below:https://music.apple.com/us/album/uncommon/1600141177 [ytp_video source="KWuvRduIGRg"]

Kyle Banks Talks New Music, Celebrity Crushes, & Dreamville Fest

normani

Normani sat down with Ebro in the Morning for a great conversation covering various topics throughout her career including her successes, the pressure to sometimes portray a perfect personality and working on being authentic, her journey, Cardi B, her MTV VMA performance and much more.She even joined us in giving relationship advice in the Guru segment!Her new single "Fair" is out now!

Normani On Cardi B, Fifth Harmony, Authenticity, + VMA Performance

CONWAYthemachine

Conway The Machine sits down with Ebro in the Morning to discuss his first solo album God Don't Make Mistakes, his label situation with Shady Records, his recent success, being featured on Kanye West's DONDA, and more!God Don't Make Mistakes is available Friday, Feb. 25!Watch the full conversation below.https://youtu.be/b6VpHtcWlrw

Conway The Machine On Shady Records Situation, DONDA, + 'God Don't Make Mistakes'

red-alert

The Koolest DJ Red Alert sits down with Ebro in the Morning to discuss his exhibit at the NY/NJ Port Authority dubbed The Red Alert Experience.During the conversation he discusses making an appearance on Verzuz, his Drink Champs interview, the origins of Uncle, the story of UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne", being a major influence of the popularity of Big Pun's "I'm Not A Player", and Black Rob's "Whoa", advice for having a long career, and more!Watch the full conversation below.https://youtu.be/53YVyOfWeuM

DJ Red Alert On Big Pun's 'I'm Not A Player,' UTFO, Origin Of Uncle, Verzuz + Red Alert Experience

2chainz

2 Chainz joined Ebro in the Morning fresh out of hanging out with Ye, Fabolous, Dave East in the studio, to have a great conversation about his music, business ventures, and being considered one of the best in hip hop!He also discusses his accomplishments, his different restaurants, the uber incident involving his wife and kids, and breaks down some of our favorite lyrics!Dope Don’t Sell Itself is<a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/dope-dont-sell-itself/1607400426"> available now</a>!Watch the full conversation below.https://youtu.be/tAtvPCWUQ5E

2 Chainz Breaks Down His Most Hilarious Lyrics, + Talks Uber Incident, Being Underrated + New Music!

oakley

NBA Legend and former New York Knicks forward Charles Oakley sat down with Ebro in the Morning to discuss his upcoming book 'The Last Enforcer'.He discusses some of the biggest stories of his careers including his time with the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, the issues between Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, his thoughts on The Last Dance, being kicked out of Madison Square Garden in 2017, and his feelings on Dolan, rumors he slapped Charles Barkley at a late-1990s players’ association meeting, his thoughts on today's NBA, the rise of HBCU's in sports, and much more!The Last Enforcer is available now!https://youtu.be/H8xxTg006mE

Charles Oakley Gets REAL On Slapping Barkley, MSG Incident, Jordan/Pippen Beef, Knicks + New Book

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Brian Flores is taking legal action against the NFL plus three teams, the <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/mia/miami-dolphins">Dolphins</a>, the <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/den/denver-broncos">Broncos</a> and the <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyg/new-york-giants">Giants</a> over discrimination during his interview processes.ESPN reports, according to Flores, he claims <a href="https://www.hot97.com/hip-hop-news/hot-news/antonio-brown-breaks-silence-on-leaving-buccaneers-forced-me-to-play-injured-tried-to-cover-it-up/">Dolphins</a> owner Stephen Ross attempted to “incentivize him to tank or purposely lose games shortly after he was hired in 2019, with Ross allegedly offering Flores $100,000 for every game the team lost that season. Flores says that as the team won games late in the season, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told him Ross was ‘mad’ that Flores' on-field success was ‘compromising [the team's] draft position.’” Flores also claims Ross put pressure on him to recruit a "prominent quarterback" at the end of the 2019 season, which Flores refused so he wouldn't violate the NFL's rules on tampering, the outlet reports. It continues,“Ross then allegedly invited Flores onto a yacht for lunch in the winter of 2020, where he informed Flores that the ‘prominent quarterback’ was ‘conveniently’ arriving at the marina for an impromptu meeting.” Flores reportedly refused and left the yacht. Flores claims afterwards, he was "treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with." Flores was fired on Jan. 10, despite recording the franchise's first back-to-back winning seasons since 2003 (10-6 in 2021; 9-8 in 2021), ESPN reports.In addition, Flores claims the Giants interviewed him last month for their head-coaching vacancy for no other reason than compliance with the NFL's Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for their open positions. The report says, “Flores claims he interviewed with the Giants on Jan. 18, prior to the team hiring former <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills">Buffalo Bills</a> assistant general manager Joe Schoen as its GM on Jan. 23. He claims the next day, Schoen finalized his interview date for Jan. 27 and Giants co-director of player personnel Tim McDonnell texted Flores and said he hoped he would ‘come in and win the f-ing job.’” Then, later on Flores claims he received text messages from <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/ne/new-england-patriots">Patriots</a> coach Bill Belichick, under whom Flores worked for 10 years in New England. Belichick told Flores that “he had heard from ‘Buffalo and NYG that you are their guy.’”The suit says, Flores asked Belichick to clarify whether he meant to talk to him or former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who was also in the running for the Giants' job. Belichick admitted his error and informed him that the Giants wanted Daboll. "Sorry -- I f***ed this up. I double checked and misread the text. I think they are naming Brian Daboll. I'm sorry about that," Belichick texted.<img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/6QOame1l5jpwve1gUGxDXY/e10b9579d6ce5618d70cabd42cd7d84e/FKi665wXoAgD141.jpg" />Flores alleges that his interview with the Giants was a "sham." New York hired Daboll several days later. Flores also claims the similar thing happened when he interviewed with the Broncos for a coaching job in 2019. Flores alleges that then-Denver general manager John Elway, among others, arrived to the interview an hour late and hungover -- as he claimed they had been "drinking heavily the night before."The former Dolphins coach also made a specific statement through the Wigdor firm.<blockquote>"God has gifted me with a special talent to coach the game of <a href="https://www.hot97.com/hip-hop-news/hot-news/trey-songz-arrested-at-nfl-game-after-altercation-w-officer/">football</a>, but the need for change is bigger than my personal goals," he said. "In making the decision to file the class action complaint today, I understand that I may be risking coaching the game that I love and that has done so much for my family and me. My sincere hope is that by standing up against systemic racism in the NFL, others will join me to ensure that positive change is made for generations to come."</blockquote>In a statement, the Giants said:<blockquote>"We are pleased and confident with the process that resulted in the hiring of Brian Daboll. We interviewed an impressive and diverse group of candidates. The fact of the matter is, Brian Flores was in the conversation to be our head coach until the eleventh hour. Ultimately, we hired the individual we felt was most qualified to be our next head coach."</blockquote>NFL made a statement and said they will defend against the claims.<img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/1H7zr7G8bW3iFMboMVqww9/997ec5080010fc79081cc6255f661682/FKi5Q5vWUAg_ww8.jpg" />The Dolphins also made a statement:<img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/42ibb6jyRcDcztHHtCTxla/096cd0e62126e27b438acc4326c99630/FKi5RfaXwAcoig5.jpg" />In the lawsuit, Flores' law firm, Wigdor Law LLP, said the coach hopes to "shine a light on the racial injustices that take place inside the NFL." These are the areas he said he'd like to see addressed:• Increase influence of Black individuals in hiring• Increase the objectivity of hiring/terminating GMs, head coaches and coordinators• Increase the number of Black coordinators• Incentivize hiring/retention of Black GMs, head coaches and coordinators• Transparency of pay for GMs, head coaches and coordinatorshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNdF3VkWnCQ

Brian Flores Filed A Lawsuit Against The NFL, The Dolphins, The Broncos & The Giants For Racism

raekwon

Raekwon sits down with the Ebro in the Morning to discuss his new collaboration with Diadora, and Foot Locker: Community Linx, his new book 'From Staircase to Stage: The Story of Raekwon and the Wu-Tang' which is available now, the rumored Purple Tape documentary, his opinion on his portrayal on the Hulu series, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, plans for a new album and more!Watch the full conversation below.https://youtu.be/qnCHG8rQh9M

Raekwon On Diadora Collab, 'Purple Tape' Doc, Hulu Show, Book + New Album On The Way?

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<h1>Cam'ron Returns to Freestyle with Funk Flex!</h1>It’s been nearly seven years since Cam'ron came to Hot 97 for a Funk Flex freestyle, but Killa Cam is back! Last time Cam’ron <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2G-vWqZzIc">dropped by Hot 97 to rhyme</a> - he was alongside Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey and Jim Jones for a Dipset reunion. Now Cam has dropped by to spit by himself over a couple of trap beats for what could be the freestyle of the year!In this exclusive Funk Flex Freestyle - Cam raps about the LOX Vs. Dipset VERZUZ, reminisces on coming up in New York with Funk Flex, and if you listen closely he references popular viral videos.Cam’ron has been one of the best freestylers in the game for more than 20 years. XXL ranked Cam’s 1996 freestyle on Stretch and Bob as <a href="https://www.xxlmag.com/best-hip-hop-radio-freestyles/">one of the greatest radio freestyles</a> of all time. Since then he’s gone on to make magic happen time and time again in the booth. Who could forget seeing Killa Cam counting cash while freestyling over On My Block with Dipset on BET.Whenever Harlem royalty decides to bless hip-hop with a new freestyle, it’s a genuine treat for rap fans.Cam hasn’t released an album since his 2019 project Purple Haze 2, but has stayed hard at work as an actor on ABC’s Queens. In 2020 Cam hopped on a remix of British R&B stars Mahalia and Ella Mai’s hit What You Did which heavily samples Oh Boy by Cam’Ron. From the LOX Verzuz Dipset to antagonizing Bill O’Reilly on Fox News to making it cool to wear pink, Cam’ron has left a lasting legacy on the rap game and pop culture. His legend only continues to grow and as he continues to work, and today Cam’ron added another classic to his canon of freestyles. https://youtu.be/OiJeKrICaLc

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