SIGT HIP HOP STOP W/RON GRANT | Erykah Badu Mixtape, Chance The Rapper Single, Amber Rose HOT 97 Interview, New Questlove Book, Classic Tupac Interview; Vince Staples and 90s Hip Hop

by Ron Grant • October 30, 2015

There’s been no shortage of drama and intrigue in Hip Hop this week. As we get all creepy and crawly for Halloween, let’s dissect some of the weeks’ biggest Hip Hop-focused headlines. Don’t be skurred!

ERYKAH BADU SET TO DROP A NEW MIXTAPE

When you can make a remix to one of the most talked about songs of the year and have it considered better than the original, you know you’re an OG in the game. That’s what Ms. Badu did with Drake’s “Hotline Bling.” Now, according to an interview with Noisey, Badu will release her first project in years with a tape entitled But You Caint Use My Phone, some time next week. She’s also set to host the 2015 Soul Train Awards and begin a one-woman show called “Live Nudity.” She’s truly an artists’ artist, like none other.

CHANCE THE RAPPER DROPS NEW SINGLE “ANGELS”

The Chicago emcee continues to carve out his own lane. This week, he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and debuted his new single, the schizophrenic, happy-go-lucky “Angels.” As expected, it’s music that’s the perfect balance of trippy and introspective. Have a look at his late night performance below.

AMBER ROSE HOT 97 INTERVIEW WITH EBRO

No getting around it: Amber Rose is major figure in the Hip Hop community. Or at least in the ultra-dramatic Hip Hop blogsphere. And she’s taken her power and influence to new heights. This week she sat down with the “Ebro In The Morning” show and talked just about everything. From her recent “Slut Walk” in L.A. to being a parent to being misrepresented by GQ. Peep her full interview.

QUESTLOVE WORKING ON HIS THRID BOOK

Questlove is a renaissance man for the ages. Between being an accomplished drummer and DJ and part of the legendary Roots crew, he’s also penned two books. And he’s gearing up to release his third one next April. So what’s the topic? Music history? Greatest albums of all time? Nope: Food. Questlove’s forthcoming volume is entitled Something To Food About: Exploring Creativity With America’s Most Innovative Chefs. Its release date is April 16, 2016. Meanwhile, check out the original article from Rolling Stone as well as a random Questlove cat laser pic:

KEVIN POWELL RELEASES TUPAC RIKERS ISLAND INTERVIEW

In a recent interview with Complex magazine featured on Hip Hop news site Ambrosia for Heads, author and activist Kevin Powell discusses his new book. But Powell also went in depth about his relationship with the late Tupac Shakur. He even went as far as to play an excerpt from an audio conversation with ‘Pac, discussing infamous 1994 Quad Recording Studios shooting n New York. With the 20^th anniversary of Tupac’s death looming, this piece from Powell is a powerful reminder of Hip Hop’s greatest unsolved mystery.

VINCE STAPLES COMMENTS ON 90S HIP HOP

It happens every generation, folks! A youngster comes along and isn’t quite feeling the older school of music. This time, it’s Long Beach emcee Vince Staples. In an interview with TIME Magazine, Staples hinted that he believes the 90s in general and 90s Hip Hop both get a lot of undue credit musically. After that, he proceeded to say that early 2000s Hip Hop was his favorite era, and that Lil Bow Wow is one of his favorite rappers of all time. And a few folks didn’t take too kindly to that. Staples has since apologized for his comments. Check out Complex’s coverage of the interview.