Tag Archives: RZA

Recap of BET Hip Hop Awards 2012

 

This year marked the seventh annual BET Hip Hop Awards hosted by funnyman Mike Epps.  The BET Hip Hop Awards delivered an exceptional night filled with hip hop’s biggest stars and highly anticipated performances.   

Wiz Khalifa opened the show with a performance of “Work Hard / Play Hard” featuring Juicy J and Young Jeezy accompanied by a live band.  Other highlights included Meek Mill’s performance of “Amen” and “Young and Getting’ It” featuring Kirko Bangz; Kendrick Lamar introducing a medley of his popular songs, “The Recipe” and “Swimming Pools;” G.O.O.D. music star 2 Chainz taking the stage to perform “Birthday Song” and “I’m Different,” Rick Ross’ performance of “Hold Me Back” joined by Omarion for their single “Ice Cold;” Atlanta’s own T.I. entertaining the crowd with newest singles “Trap Back Jumpin” and “Go Get It;” Future featuring Diddy, French Montana, Machine Gun Kelly and Uncle Luke had everyone on their feet with “Turn on the Lights,” “Same Damn Time,” “Wild Boy” and “Pop That;” and closing out the show, Violator artists reunited on stage in honor of music executive, Chris Lighty culminated with pure star power – a Tribe Called Quest, Missy Elliott, Missy Elliott, Spliff Star, 50 Cent and Fat Joe paid their respect during an unforgettable performance with some of Violator Music’s biggest hits and Chris Lighty’s personal favorites. 

Rakim was presented and honored by his peers with this year’s “I AM HIP HOP ICON” Award for his seemingly effortless style and delivery that stems not just from Hip-Hop, but from Jazz and R&B influences.  Rakim has a style like no other.   Always a key highlight at the awards are “The Cyphers.”  Snoop Dogg, T.I., DMX, A$AP Rocky, Cassidy, Mystikal, Talib Kweli, B.o.B, Eve, Boy Jones, Brianna Perry, Childish Gambino, Chipmunk, Lil Chuckee, The Kid Daytona, Driicky Graham, E-40, YG, Hopsin, Iggy Azalea, Joey Bada$$, K’La, Kendrick Lamar, Kosha Dillz; Kurupt; Mac Miller, Mystikal, Murda Mook, DJ Quik, RZA, ScHoolboy Q, Tito Lopez, Trae Tha Truth, Xzibit, Angel Haze and Ab-Soul.

The following are the list of winners from the BET Hip Hop Awards 2012:

Best Hip Hop Video: “HYFR” – Drake f/ Lil Wayne

Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo): “Mercy” – Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz

Best Live Performer: The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Lyricist of the Year: Kendrick Lamar

Hip Hop Video Director of the Year: Hype Williams

DJ of the Year: DJ Khaled

Producer of the Year: Kanye West

MVP of the Year: Rick Ross

Track of the Year: “Ni**as In Paris” – Produced by Kanye West, Hit-Boy and Mike Dean (The Throne – Jay-Z & Kanye West)

CD of the Year: Watch The Throne – The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Rookie of The Year: 2 Chainz

Hustler of The Year: Jay-Z

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style): Kanye West

Best Club Banger: “Ni**as In Paris” – The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

Best Mixtape: “Dreamchasers2″ – Meek Mill

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse: 2 Chainz – “Mercy” (Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)

Impact Track: “Daughters” – Nas

People’s Champ Award Powered by Verizon:  2 Chainz f/ Drake – “No Lie”

Best Hip Hop Online Site:  World Star Hip Hop

Best Cyphers of the night (below) featuring: Talib Kweli, Jean Grae, Ab-Soul and Sarkodie

and

RZA, Angel Haze, Joey Bada$$, Driicky Graham, Childish Gambino and A$AP Rocky

Photo courtesy of BET.com

The Iron Fists Tour Featuring RZA & Special Guests Kicks Off October 3rd

RZA, the founder of the legendary Hip-Hop group Wu-Tang Clan—in association with Rock the Bells, a world-class Hip-Hop festival, and Guerilla Union, the promoters behind Rock the Bells Festival and Cypress Hill SmokeOut Festival—announced today that The Iron Fists Tour will hit venues nationwide this fall, beginning Wednesday, October 3. Launching in conjunction with the big-screen debut of Universal Pictures’ The Man With The Iron Fists , the tour will be headlined by RZA, who is director, co-writer and leading man of the action-adventure starring an international cast led by Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu. Additionally, RZA will curate each stop of the tour, which will feature unique live performances by RZA and special guests, in addition to film highlights and more.

The Iron Fists Tour will kick off at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York, NY on October 3 and continue all month long. A live band will back RZA’s headlining performance, and he promises each tour stop will be a unique experience as he calls on friends and special guests to perform from city to city. “The Iron Fist Tour will feature a unique musical experience curated by Wu-Tang Clan’s chief architect, The RZA. It will feature a very special live performance from The Abbott and his band. This once in a lifetime performance pays tribute to his directorial debut, The Man With The Iron Fists. Special guest will join The RZA in each city and every night will feature a unique set list inspired by kick-ass Kung Fu and genre bending beatdowns. Some fans will get to meet the master himself while others interact with RZA’s ultimate live experience via mc battle and b boy exhibitions. Imagine RZA’s musical mashup “Tiger Style.” Guerilla Union is honored to partner with RZA to help unleash his Hip Hop fury all over the country while we give fans something to warm up to before the masses hit theatres November 2nd to catch his masterful movie featuring Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu.”

Tickets at select venues are now on sale. Check The Iron Fists Tour website for more information. The Man With The Iron Fists will arrive in theaters on Friday, November 2. Fans are advised to visit www.ironfiststour.com and sign up for the Guerilla Union newsletter at www.guerillaunion.com for important announcements and up-to-date information regarding the tour and action-adventure.

THE IRON FISTS TOUR ROUTING:

10/03   Music Hall of Williamsburg, New York, NY

10/04   The Royale, Boston, MA

10/07   Soundstage, Baltimore, MD

10/08   The State Theatre, Falls Church, VA

10/10   Vinyl, Atlanta, GA

10/12   St. Andrew’s, Detroit, MI

10/13   Shrine, Chicago, IL

10/15   Beauty Ballroom, Austin, TX

10/16   Fitzgerald’s, Houston, TX

10/19   House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV

10/24   House of Blues, Los Angeles, CA

DJ Muggs’ Rock The Bells Offical Mixtape

Guerilla Union and Datpiff, the authority in free mixtapes, have teamed up to present the first-ever DJ Muggs’ Rock the Bells Official Mixtape hosted by Supernatural.

 The mixtape features exclusive tracks from Rock the Bells artists such as Atmosphere, DMX, Xzibit, Fashawn & Murs, Prodigy, Hit Squad and more, including the first release from hip hop pioneers Deltron 3030 in over a decade. In addition, renowned Wu-Tang Clan leader RZA will be treating listeners to the first and never before released single off the soundtrack for his upcoming Universal Pictures feature length film The Man with the Iron Fists.

The DJ Muggs’ Rock the Bells Official Mixtape is now available for free download exclusively at www.datpiff.com and will also be pressed in special limited edition copies. Tickets for the Rock the Bells 2012 Festival are now on-sale and can be purchased at www.rockthebells.net.

 For more info please visit: www.datpiff.com, www.rockthebells.net, www.djmuggs.com and www.soulassassins.com

 TRACK LIST

1. Supernatural – Chasers

2. Cassie Veggies – Y.N.M. (ft. Niko, G4, & Rocket Da Goon)

3. Murs & Fashawn – Slash Gordon

4. Atmosphere – Millenium Dodo

5. Deltron 3030 – The Agony

6. Ice Cube – Reckless in the Booth (ft. OMG)

7. Supernatural – Street Hustle

8. Slim the Mobster – These Bitches (ft. Twista)

9. Xzibit – Platinum Patron

10. First light (Pep Love & Opio) – Lighters (ft. Hieroglyphics)

11. KRS-One, Supernatural, Murs, Sick Jacken, Chali 2na, Tech N9ne & Everlast – Rock The Bells Anthem

12. RZA – Blowin In the Wind (single from Man with the Iron Fists)

13. Prodigy of Mobb Deep – Change

14. Sean Price – Haraam

15. Hit Squad/Goon Dox-PMD & Sean Strange – Stand Up

16. Keith Murray – LA LA

17. DMX – Get Your Money Up

18. Supernatural – Water

19. DMX – Fuck U Bitch

20. Sick Jacken & Murs – Paid Dues Anthem (ft. Supernatural)

21. The Grouch & Eligh – Destination Unkown

22. I Self Devine – Exist to Remain

23. Watsky – Work

 ROCK THE BELLS 2012 FESTIVAL SERIES DATES & VENUES:

08/18 – 08/19                San Bernardino, CA – NOS Events Center

08/25 – 08/26                Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

09/01 – 09/02                Holmdel, NJ – PNC Arts Center

Wu-Tang Clan 101: Mystery of the Illest Rap Group Ever

CHICAGO—KILLA BEES SWARM. Tuesday, May 8, 9:00 p.m. at the Hungry Brain—2319 W. Belmont—Homeroom presents the music, history, and mythology of the Wu-Tang Clan.  Join hosts Fred Sasaki and Seth Vanek, comedian Emerson Dameron, and hip-hop writer Sherron Shabazz for a look at the many hearts of hip-hop royalty. 

The leader of the group, RZA, named the band after a kung-fu movie he watched as a child and developed the Wu-Tang philosophy around topics of spirituality, martial arts, capitalism, comic books, chess, organized crime, cinema, and chemistry. Only after the band’s multi-platinum success RZA discovered that the Chinese word “Wu-Tang” means “man who deserves God.” The Wu went from Staten Island rappers to international entrepreneurs to spiritual gurus while creating a lasting, influential universe starring RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, U-God, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa—36 chambers of one heart. The whole brought people together of all colors and creeds under one roof, under the W, and this 101 will explore how and why.

The night features clips, DJ sets of hits and deep cuts, plus laughs and deadly venom. Stick around for a screening of the original kung-fu movie that set it off: Shaolin and Wu-Tang by Gordon Liu. $5 suggested. For more information, visit www.homeroomchicago.org