A$AP Rocky continues his success in being Hip-Hop’s current “it” face, as he covers Complex magazine in their December ’12/January ’13 issue. Hitting stands in the near future, Rocky is asked if he feels like he influences Kanye West and what he thinks about the current state of Hip-Hop and Lil’ Wayne. In a very triumphant cover, check out the select words he had to say about that and more – after the jump.
Earlier this week, Complex asked you all to vote for who you think will be the Man of Next Year in Music between Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, Danny Brown, Big Sean, and Action Bronson. And after tallying up the votes, it’s safe to say the people have spoken.
Mac took home a whopping 59 percent of the vote to claim his title and that support should come as no surprise for anyone who’s followed his career. In a mere few years, he’s gone from a promising “Internet” rapper with a strong following to an artist capable of selling out massive tours with ease.
One of the hottest crews ever assembled in hip hop and the top crew in today’s industry finds its way on the cover of Complex‘s August Issue. The cover features Kanye West, Q-Tip, Common, Pusha T, Big Sean, John Legend and the soon to be newest member 2 Chainz. No Cyhi Da Prynce on the cover, I’m not sure why but he’s not there. Also be sure to put down September 4th as the new release date for G.O.O.D Music’s “Cruel Summer” album. Magazine cover and behind the scenes shoot after the jump.
If you can remember back in May, Complex dropped an in depth interview with Large Professor and today, Complex releases the second installment of the interview. In this segment of the interview, they discuss more of the classic tracks that Large Professor was involved in and how they came about. Below is a piece of what was discussed. To view the full story, click here. Also, be sure to pre-order Large Professor’s upcoming project entitled “Professor At Large” which will be in stores June 28th.
Large Professor on “One Plus One” track with Nas:
But that song is really sad to me, because I knew they were getting ready [to drop me], and I was alone. Before Nas and Grand Wiz came in the studio, I was alone. I was for self. It was just crazy where I was. When I started working, I had a lot of people around. And it seemed like the people were slowly fading away. And now, I’m not at my [regular] studio, I’m at this other studio. It was kind of on some problem shit, [which you can hear me express in my verse]. Then Nas comes in, and he’s problem free, like, ‘Yo, smoke heavily..’ and that type of shit. And I’m sitting there ready to get dropped from the label! [Laughs.] I was on some other shit
Nas covers Complex’s June/July issue as he discusses about Life Is Good, his kids, social media, his public divorce and much more. Above is a behind the scenes video of his complex photo-shoot, and you can click here to see the full article.
Below is the Cover art for the 2012 June/July Issue:
That pretty motherf*cka is back, this time gracing the cover of Complex magazine.
The A$AP crew head is featured in the mag alongside stylist Jeremy Scott who speaks on what led him to style the likes of Rihanna, Kanye and Nicki Minaj.
“J: I always felt there was a fire burning inside me that was different, that was stronger. I grew up on a farm. I was removed from everything.
“A: That is fuckin’ amazing! You grew up on a farm? You see what I’m saying right now? He grew up on a fuckin’ farm! I grew up in Harlem and my music sounds like it’s from Houston, from Cali, or Westbumblefuck, for that matter. He grew up on a fuckin’ farm and look at this. Look at this.”
To read the full article click here.
Prodigy’s first full project out the bing is here and we have Complex to thank for it (and P’s rhymes, of course). I’ve yet to sit down with it, but I’m reading reviews (i.e. tweets) about The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP and it appears to be mixed. At least Noz is saying the production is on point. Even if this is sub-par though, we’ll just consider this him getting his rap legs under him again.
1. The One & Only (Produced By Sid Roams)
2. Go Off (Produced By Sid Roams)
3. Black Devil (Produced By Sid Roams)
4. Twilight (Feat. Havoc) (Produced By Sid Roams)
5. For One Night Only (Produced By Alchemist)
6. Strong (Produced By King Benny)
7. Told Ya’ll (Produced By Sid Roams) (Bonus)
The other day I found myself running through some vintage Mobb Deep. I forget which album, but I want to say The Infamous. While I have never been the biggest Prodigy and Havoc fan, I’ve always respected the group’s place in Hip Hop history mainly because of my older cousins and later my old college roommate. Ask anyone who was entrenched in the music and they’ll tell you the same thing, there was a moment in time when people held the belief Prodigy was the best rapper in New York (some may say the entire game).
His raw and vivid lyrical imagery set him apart from most and thanks in part to Havoc’s knack for production was tailor made for the group’s sound. Fast forward a few years, a few setbacks and one incarceration stint for P, there seems to be a renewed interest in the group and their future projects. Complex’s Toshitaka Kondo caught up with the man of the hour for to talk all things Hip Hop, life, Mr. Cee, prison and everything in between.
Speaking of Mobb Deep, you talk in the book about how at first Havoc wasn’t visiting you in jail. Were you guys on bad terms when you first went in?
Nah, it wasn’t nothing like that. Sometimes when niggas get locked up, the people on the outside, they don’t understand really the importance of it. When you in prison and you’re locked in the cell, you’re looking at the outside world different. You’re seeing everything different. Time stops. And you’re just sitting there, and moving real slow. Everybody else in the world is just out there moving frantic.
