In a recent interview with Montreality, A$AP Rocky & the A$AP Mob speak on The A$AP Mob compilation album coming in March. Similar to Diddy’s “Last Train to Paris” the mob describes the new project as “The Last Cab in Harlem.” They briefly explain A$AP Rocky’s debut album, going on the Club Paradise Tour with Drake & Kendrick Lamar, and the key to success. The best part of the interview has to be the rumours of A$AP Rocky being in Nas‘s “Nasty” video. Check out the video above and tell us if you think that’s A$AP in the video.

Kendrick Lamar gives AHF an in-depth interview about the music that shaped him and led him to hip-hop. He discusses everything from his earliest influences, and his lifestyle as a child that help shape him into the artist he is today. Witness the story of where it all began in hip-hop for Kendrick Lamar and where he plans to go.

A week after Beyonce gives birth to her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, she speaks exclusively with UK Star Magazine, revealing how overwhelming the experience was and how excited she was all at the same time.

Check out UK Star’s exclusive interview below:

Talking exclusively to Star in her first interview since giving birth, Beyonce Knowles told us she had an “instant connection” with her daughter Blue Ivy.

Beyonce gave birth to Blue Ivy earlier this month and the singer admitted the experience was overwhelming.

She told us: “Nothing can describe the feeling. You have the instant connection once you know your child is growing inside you, but when you hold it for the first time, the words can’t be found.

“It’s an old cliche that the thing expectant moms look forward to the most is holding their child in their arms for the first time, but it’s one of those clichés that is a real truth.”

Beyonce revealed Jay-Z is equally excited about being a father and said they couldn’t wait to bring their daughter home.

She explained: “I am so excited. From the time I knew I was pregnant we have been parents.

“A child is the greatest gift you can receive, and we are so excited and blessed to be in this situation.“We are all great, we are just glad to be going home and starting this new stage of our life.

“The hospital staff have all been so great, but we were ready to go home and show our beautiful daughter where she will be living.”

Source: Star Magazine

Not only did Drake perform at Google Music’s launch party, he also did an interview with them. Watch as he talks about Take Care, his working chemistry with 40, Rihanna’s iconic status and the trifecta of himself, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj.

2 Chainz was interviewed by Forbes. Yes, that Forbes. And while that’s great and all, there’s something monumental we’re all missing here. There is some person in corporate America who will come across this interview during their down time at work. That person will have never heard of 2 Chainz before, get a kick out of the clip and decide to YouTube his music. Naturally, “Spend It” will be near the top.

This all means somehow, someway “Ridin’ round and I’m getting’ it” will find its way into one Powerpoint presentation today. God bless America.

Joe La Puma from Complex Magazine recently sat down with Pusha T for an in depth interview about many topics. Some of the topics being Pusha passing on the Ni**as In Paris beat, 50 Cent, Fear Of God II and much more. Below are a few excerpts from the interview. Fear Of God II: Let Us Pray EP is on the way.

You were around for some of the Watch The Throne sessions, were there any beats on that album that you passed on?

PUSHA: “Niggas in Paris!” [Laughs.] I tell people all the time that I don’t know if I would’ve attacked it that way which means the record might not have been as special once I got on it.

Wow, that’s interesting.

PUSHA: ‘Ye gave me beats and that was in the bunch. “Niggas in Paris” was playful to me and I was in demonic rap mode. I was like, “Yo, I don’t want this right now,” he was like, “Man, this will be a club smash,” and I’m like, “Maybe, but don’t ask me to wrap my brain around that when I’m writing stuff like ‘My God,’ which is another Hit Boy beat.”

On 50 Cent:

“Raid” the song you have with 50 and Pharrell is crazy. A lot of people feel like 50 is in vintage 50 form on that record…

PUSHA: I called Pharrell and said, “Yo, if you go back in with him and you make about seven more of those type of tracks you’re going to be responsible for something that’s monumental.” People don’t know that 50 Cent is like my favorite. Lyrically he’s not my favorite artist, but as a whole he’s my favorite artist. No one has done what he’s done in such a short time. What I always wanted 50 Cent to do was to get with all top-tier super-producers — Just Blaze, Kanye West, Pharrell, Chad Hugo, put out an album like that.

Source

If there has been an overload of Kendrick Lamar lately here on the site, just know know two things. One, it was planned that way. Two, Kendrick is one of the dopest MC’s out right there (new or old), so can that actually be considered a bad thing? Anywho, the homie DJ Radio Raheem, who I actually went to college with, hit me up recently telling me about an interview he did with the aforementioned California MC.

This was shot last Thursday, probably right after Kendrick walked off the stage at Hampton University’s homecoming concert. K-Dot speaks about the BET cypher and why that opportunity was so important in the progression of his career. Also, he opens up about how he feels about the perceived “pressure” he has to live up with being the “West Coast’s savior” as well as going against the grain with his music.

Bonus: If you haven’t done so already, check out Karen’s video and pics from the Kendrick show she helped host last Saturday in New York.

On “Make Me Proud,” the latest single from his upcoming album Take Care, the OVO general expresses his appreciation for the Harajuku Barbie and every female who is out there accomplishing her goals.

“Whenever I make songs surrounding women, I always try to find refreshing stances to take as opposed to just like, “Oh, you’re sexy” or “Oh, I want you.” The song, it really came up in passing conversation, just being like, “I’m proud of you,” ” Drake told MTV News of the T-Minus-produced song that he plans to perform October 15 when he appears as the musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.”

“Not even necessarily that a woman has to go achieve grandiose things to be proud; it’s just that I’m proud of you for trying. It’s hard to be a woman out here these days, especially to be pretty and especially to be smart and want something for yourself,” he said. “So I’m just proud of you whether it’s Nicki or any girl that I’ve ever known in my life that’s doing well for herself.”

Despite some phone trouble, Best of Both Offices came through with a Rick Ross conference call just moments ago. Ross went over some logistics of what went into his recent singles he just dropped, I Love My Bitches and You The Boss, along with what to expect from his upcoming album God Forgives, I Don’t, which is due out December 13th. He’ll be trying something different and trying something new.

]]> http://www.karencivil.com/2011/10/06/audio-rick-ross-god-forgives-i-dont-conference-call/feed/ 1 http://www.karencivil.com/2011/09/23/exclusive-karencivil-com-interviews-rb-recording-artist-brandy/ http://www.karencivil.com/2011/09/23/exclusive-karencivil-com-interviews-rb-recording-artist-brandy/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:30:55 +0000 robo3k http://www.karencivil.com/?p=21311

Just on the heels of her recent news of signing with RCA/Sony Music Entertainment, R&B Diva, Brandy, is on the move making big moves. She will be staring in the upcoming show, Majors & Minors, which will follow 16 young performers who will have the chance to work with celebrity mentors, and with a voice like Brandys, who’s a better mentor to have? There’s no questioning her crazy work ethic, as she is on a mission to reclaim whats hers. KarenCivil.com, was recently given the chance to interview the songstress about her upcoming TV project, as well as getting details about her next studio album and other expected ventures. Click below to read our interview with Ms. Norwood  before Majors & Minors premiers tonight @ 8PM on The Hub.

@robo3k: Can you give us a little bit more in-depth on what we can expect (from the album)?

Brandy: Well, it’s a little hard to explain creativity. But I think the best two words to describe what I’m going for is futuristic R&B. I want to do R&B music differently than the way it is been done in the past and the way it is being done now. And I think it’s my responsibility, as an artist, to try to take risks in that lane and to stay true to my roots. But challenge it in a way where people can feel like it’s something new but not too new where they can’t relate to it.

@robo3k: you have always came to the forefront and never failed to bring something new to the table, something exciting. For your album, how exactly will it differ from what we hear today on the radio?

Brandy: Again, that’s kind of hard to explain. I just–I really, I really don’t know how to explain it. I can just say that it’s not going to come out until its right. And it’s not going to come out until it feels right to me, until it feels right to my team and some of my closest friends. I’m putting everything I have into this project because I feel like it’s a chance of a lifetime to really take music to a different place in the R&B lane.

And I just think people just want to hear real music and they want to hear music that is not just real but different than what they hear on the radio. And I think that’s a part of my responsibility and that’s what I’m going to dedicate myself to. I’m sorry I’m not able to explain like in terms of melody and notes and harmonies. It’s better if I showed you.

@robo3k: Can we possibly expect another reality show maybe documenting the journey along the way?

Brandy: Absolutely. That is definitely in the works to do a docu-something around the album process because I think some of the fans they want to see that. And it’s all for them. So I want to give them what they want. So I would love for them to see some of the emotions that go behind creating an album, the frustration, the happiness, the sadness, the character that you have to become to express a song, to deliver a song. So I would love for them to see that. And plus, they feel like they’ve taken the journey with you. So I think that’s a great idea.

@robo3k: They said on the acting side, and I know Majors and Minors is one, on the acting side, do you have any big movie or television roles in the near future?

Brandy: I do. I have been working on that right now. I can’t reveal because you know certain bills aren’t worked out all the way yet. I’m definitely on the path to coming back to television full time and to do movies along with my music full time. So, let the fan know that I’m definitely inspired and I’m ready to truly, truly get back to work and do what I love to do all the time. So, yes.

@robo3k: The Drop Dead Diva project, can you let us know how it was working on that?

Brandy: It was an amazing experience. That was my first acting experience in a very, very long time and it was such a safe place to be able to come out as an actress again. It was so safely though. The cast was great. The character was amazing–just, I could totally relate to her in terms of being a single mom, being caring, loving, and about her business. And I loved her. She had an innocence about her and I just loved the character a lot. And I got a chance to do three episodes on Drop Dead Diva and hopefully I can be back Season 4 there to finish out my story and to see what happens with J. Parker and Elisa and see what happens from there. So, absolutely a great experience.

@robo3k: Okay and if there was a music era that you would love to re-live, love to re-visit, what era would that be?

Brandy: That is so funny you asked that question. I was telling someone this the other day, I would love to be in that Diana Ross era. I don’t know, I just want to see what that feels like. You know, the Ray Charles, that whole–that music, it was just amazing. I would love to sing that type of music. I really would. And wear all the wigs and the hair and the makeup and dresses. That would just be amazing. I would love that.

Be sure to catch Majors & Minors premiering this evening at 8PM EST/5PM PT on The Hub. A big thanks to Keri Dizney of BWR for the opportunity. Audio can be downloaded HERE.