Dr. Dre: "The First Billionaire In Hip Hop"

by Andres Tardio

                                                                                 

Dr. Dre appears to celebrate Apple's reported acquisition of Beats Electronics with Tyrese and others.

Dr. Dre says he is the "the first billionaire in Hip Hop." The rapper-producer said this while celebrating what appears to be the purchasing of Beats Electronics by Apple.
"The first billionaire in Hip Hop right here from the motherfucking West Coast," Dre says in a clip filmed by singer-actor Tyrese.
In the video, Tyrese discusses Forbes' list of wealthiest Hip Hop acts.
"Oh shit," Tyrese says. "The Forbes list just changed!"
"In a big way," Dr. Dre adds.

As reported yesterday (May 8), Apple was set to purchase Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion, according to gizmodo. The site reported that the sale of the company owned by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine would make Dr. Dre approximately $1 billion. Apple is reportedly set to own Beats Music and it could be the largest acquisition in Apple history. According to CNBC, the purchase also goes against Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' policy. Jobs, who died in 2011, "was reluctant to pursue high-profile acquisitions," according to the news outlet. 

When Forbes released its "Hip Hop's Wealthiest Artists 2014" list this year, Dr. Dre appeared at #2 with a fortune of $550 million. Jay Z was listed at #3 with a $520 million empire. In 2013, Jay Z was #2 and Dre was #3. Recently, Dre was asked about how he felt being #2 ahead of Jay Z. "I don't really care about any of that," Dr. Dre said at the time. "Jay Z is my guy, man. I love him to death."

Dr. Dre -- 'I'M THE 1ST BILLIONAIRE IN HIP HOP' ... Now, Lets Celebrate!!

Papoose Challenges Jay Z To Attend 5 Percent Nation Community Event

by Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) 

(AllHipHop News) Jay Z’s choice of neckwear at a Brooklyn Nets game last month brought the BK rhymer a lot of attention. That’s because the chain he had on is affiliated with Nation of Gods and Earths also known as Five Percenters. The Hip Hop legend had both the media and 5 Percent representatives questioning his association with the group.

[ALSO READ: Jay Z Catching Heat For Five Percent Nation ­Medallion]

Fellow Brooklyn emcee Papoose spoke with VladTV about Jigga rocking the 5% medallion, and The Nacirema Dream creator suggests that if Jay is going to wear the regalia he should attend community-based events sponsored by the organization.

“You know Jay been wearing the flag on his neck. I would like to see him at the annual ‘Show & Prove’ we do every year,” said Pap. “I come out there and represent. Kay Slay comes out. A couple of artists came out in the past. Rakim… the list goes on. But yo, you’re representing that flag; I’d like to see him come out there, and do something positive for the people.”

2 Chainz: I Don’t Give A F*ck What Funkmaster Flex Has To Say About Me (VIDEO)

by Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire)

(AllHipHop News) Another Southern-bred MC is picking a fight with Hot 97, this time Funkmaster Flex specifically. During a recent performance , Chainz responded to Flex calling Chainz’ freestyle on The Funkmaster Flex Show the worst ever on the show.

Two weeks ago, Funkmaster Flex stated on ESPN’S Highly Questionable show that 2 Chainz had the worst freestyle he ever had on his show and stated Chainz “couldn’t handle it”. 2 Chainz freestyled on The Funkmaster Flex Show back in June 2012. In the freestyle Chainz stated “no bus driver, but I take ‘em to school.”

During a recent show Chainz responded to Flex by saying “I don’t give a f*ck what Funkmaster Flex got to say about this motherf*cker from Atlanta.”

Check out 2 Chainz address Funkmaster Flex on stage below:

(Video) DJ Scream Ft. Que, Waka Flocka Flame, Gunplay & Tracy T – “Always”

Georgia Governor Signs Law To Begin Drug Testing Select Welfare Recipients

by Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) 

(April 30th), Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed a bill into law that would require certain welfare recipients to undergo a drug test. 

Under the new law, welfare recipients whom state employees have a “reasonable suspicion” has used drugs will  be subjected to a drug test they themselves must pay for, whether positive test or not. Failed drug test will result in temporary suspension of benefits. Govenor Deal understood the complexity and implications of the new law but stressed its pertinence to Georgia:

You’re trying to balance two competing forces. First is the right of the individual if they qualify to be given assistance in terms of food stamps. On the other hand, the right of the taxpayer not to be putting money in the hands of those abusing drugs. So it’s a delicate balance of social issues.

Debbie Seagraves, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, pointed out a possible flaw in the new law. According to Seagraves, state employees are not trained to adequately detect “reasonable suspicion” of drug use. Howvever,M Deal spokesman Brian Robinson illustrated how accountability is what is the foundation of this new law:

If some, however, reject treatment and instead choose a lifestyle that renders them unemployable, taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize that. 

Drug use and trafficking has recently been a growing problem in certain areas of Georgia. According to Fox31 Onilne, “10 to 12 drug arrests” have occurred in Warwick, GA on Highway 300 alone, since late January.

Florida passed a similar bill into law back in 2011, but the program ended up costing taxpayers more money than it saved. Two years later in late December 2013, Judge Mary S. Scriven of the United States District Court in Orlando ruled that a similar welfare drug testing program proposed in Florid violated the protection against unreasonable searches. According to Scriven, the Florida law was unconstitutional:

The court finds there is no set of circumstances under which the warrantless, suspicionless drug testing at issue in this case could be constitutionally applied.

XXL Lists "The 20 Best Female Rappers Of All Time" & Greatest Rapper-Producer Duos Of All Time

by SOREN BAKER

"Nicki is arguably the best rapper - female or otherwise - in the game," XXL says of Nicki Minaj in its list of "The 20 Best Females Rappers Of All Time."

XXL published a list of “The 20 Best Female Rappers Of All Time” today (April 30). 

Queen Latifah made the list. "Queen Latifah was one of the first ever to provide a voice for women in Hip Hop,”XXL’s story says. "Her top chart singles like ‘U.N.I.T.Y.'—which won her a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo performance in 1995—allowed her to use Hip Hop as a platform to address the disrespect surrounding women.”

While Queen Latifah emerged in the 1980s, Foxy Brown rose to prominence in the 1990s. "She definitely held it down for females in Hip Hop during the mid-to-late 1990s,” XXL says of the former Def Jam Recordings artist. "Her album Ill Na Na hit strong with sales the moment it dropped, debuting at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 in 1996 and eventually being certified Platinum by the RIAA.”

Nicki Minaj also makes XXL's list. "Nicki is arguably the best rapper—female or otherwise—in the game,” the list says of the YMCMB artist. "Ever since she first stepped onto the scene with Young Money, the Jamaica, Queens rapper has grown into one of the most popular artists on the label."

XXL’s “The 20 Best Females Rappers Of All Time" is as follows:

Queen Latifah

Da Brat

Eve

Foxy Brown

Gangsta Boo

Jean Grae

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes

Trina

Lil’ Kim

MC Lyte

Missy Elliott

Monie Love

Iggy Azalea

Rapsody

Remy Ma

Roxanne Shante

M.I.A.

The Lady Of Rage

Nicki Minaj

Lauryn Hill 

by ANDRES TARDIO

XXL lists Eric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr, Blackalicious, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and Atmosphere among its 15 greatest rapper-producer duos of all time.

XXL has made a list of its 15 greatest rapper-producer duos of all time.

"From Eric B. & Rakim to Prodigy and Alchemist, these one-two punches offer a different variety, one in which a single rapper has developed such a chemistry with a producer that they became, in a way, synonymous with each other," XXL says of its unranked list.

"For the most part, this means that the duo has worked together for more than one album," XXL continues. "We've made exceptions to include dynamic twosomes such as Marley Marl and Big Daddy Kane, who laid the groundwork for Kane's fantastic solo career, as well as KRS-One and Scott LaRock, who were the minds behind Boogie Down Productions before LaRock's untimely death robbed them of further collaboration. But when it comes to this list, we made one major distinction: the two must have, at one point in their careers, been synonymous with each other. 9th Wonder may be more well-known from his work with Jay Z and Little Brother, but his five albums with Murs can't be ignored, either. Timbaland and Missy Elliott may have gone their separate ways, but without Timbo's beats we would never have had Missy's flair; Snoop and Dr. Dre, for all their collaborations on The Chronic and Doggystyle, always identified as individuals first, rather than partners."

Eric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr, Blackalicious, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Madvillain, KRS-One and Scott La Rock and Atmosphere are among those named in the list. 

Blackmagic's 4K URSA camera features massive 10-inch 1080p display, ships in June for $6,000

BY ZACH HONIG  @ZACHHONIG  

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Consumers may not be familiar with Blackmagic Design, but the firm's cameras are all the rage with filmmakers at NAB, drawing enormous crowds within seconds of the show floor opening up to attendees. This year's flagship is the URSA, a relatively massive 4K camera with an enormous 10-inch 1080p flip-out display. There are also two 5-inch monitors on each side, displaying everything from camera settings to a duplicate preview. Another highlight is the Super 35 image sensor (the same used in Blackmagic's existing 4K cam), which is upgradeable should you wish to swap in a refreshed version down the line. You also get plenty of SDI inputs and outputs, XLR mic jacks and either a Canon EF or PL lens mount.

Blackmagic URSA hands-on

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We spent a few minutes shooting with the EF version with a Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens. The preview looked fantastic -- with such a large, high-res display, it's easy to confirm focus without enlarging, though you'll want to take extra care when capturing in 4K. There's definitely no shortage of readouts, with the secondary LCDs providing all the necessary info. The EF version will retail for $6,000, while the PL flavor is set to ship for $6,500 (though you can swap lens mounts later on if you upgrade the sensor module). Both models are expected in stores this June or July. Check 'em out in our hands-on video.

Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.