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A throwback to MC Hammer’s 1994 album ‘The Funky Headhunter’ 30 years later

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MC Hammer was something that actually needed to be experienced in real time. It’s hard to explain to young individuals who have not heard of him, but MC Hammer (born Stanley Burrell) in Oakland, California was truly crucial thing in hip-hop within the late Nineteen Eighties. He wasn’t as big as Michael Jackson – who was? — but tell me, Bobby Brown? Bright. Bobby Brown was HUGE within the late 80’s, but you realize who had a Saturday morning cartoon on a significant network? MC hammer. “Blacksmith” it might not have been successful, however it existed.

You know what else was huge back then? Especially The Simpsons and Bart Simpson. It was common to see people wearing Bart Simpson T-shirts and doing all the things from skateboarding to dressing like Michael Jackson. Remember that Bart Simpson T-shirt I had? I had the one where Bart Simpson was saying “U Can’t Touch This,” the hook from MC Hammer’s most ubiquitous song, “U Can’t Touch This.” Everyone from 1990 to the fucking mid-90s said, “You can’t touch that” as a joke and a nod to MC Hammer. How big of a deal was MC Hammer back then? His Nineteen Nineties album Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em is continues to be considered one of the best-selling albums within the history of hip-hop.

I mean, MC Hammer was a thing. In 1990, when Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em was released, I used to be 11 years old, and well, anything exciting was completely fascinating to an 11-year-old. Plus he rapped, danced and looked great. I had Hammer pants because all of us wore them. When he released his 1991 album “2 Legit 2 Quit” (he also dropped the “MC” from his nickname), he was still the good guy on the planet. Although it wasn’t as popular because the previous album, “2 Legit…” spawned the only “2 Legit 2 Quit” and made everyone try this funny hand motion. Although Hammer was an excellent street dude whose street cred ran very deep in every circle, his musical management aimed to each raise popularity and sell records at the identical time, and he was very, very successful in doing so.

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And then all the things modified. In December 1992, Dr. Dre released the album “The Chronic” which modified, well, all the things in hip-hop. Dre. Dre and Death Row Records moved the middle of the hip-hop universe from New York to Los Angeles, and the sound modified music and the music business for the following 4 years. Although Hammer was a household name within the pop world, hip-hop had modified, and the identical cool Hammer represented by Hammer faded because the gangsta rap version of Dr. Dre – the follow-up to NWA and Ice Cube’s West Coast hip-hop brand – gained a national following. It didn’t help that Hammer took several years off to pursue such business development groups Oaktown 3.5.7. So when Hammer decided to release an album in 1994, he checked out the musical landscape and decided to go along to get along. This decision resulted in the discharge of the album “The Funky Headhunter” on March 1, 1994, which sounded way more influenced by Dr.’s g-funk sound. Dre than Hammer ever thought he could be. The only caveat is that Hammer was no stranger to Death Row (he eventually signed a contract with the label briefly on the behest of his good friend Tupac). Hammer was friends with Suge Knight for a lot of years before Death Row was founded. But Hammer’s sound and approach were nothing like Death Row’s sound or approach. Hammer’s sound was more unified, faster and uplifting.

Sure, Hammer all the time talked about rappers not wanting to see any a part of his success, but Hammer was pop through and thru. And that wasn’t a nasty thing; Hammer was hip-hop the entire family could listen to. Until he wasn’t and wasn’t at the identical time.

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“The Funky Headhunter” is not a excellent album. The beats are okay, but all of them feel like they’re missing something and kind of highlight Hammer’s limitations as a rapper; when the beat is danceable and Hammer gives you an anthem to recite, you do not really care concerning the remainder of the lyrics. When this is not the case, the songs don’t sound nearly as good. Besides, the irritated Hammer felt…uncomfortable. Throughout the album it felt like he was trying too hard to be (which can prove to be accurate) someone aside from the Hammer all of us knew and loved. Perhaps it would not matter; when “The Funky Headhunter” was released, I used to be 15 years old and completely entrenched within the West Coast sound and aesthetic. If it didn’t sound “real”, I didn’t entertain it, irrespective of what coast it got here from, especially if it got here from the West. And Hammer, due to his previous work, didn’t come across as a man who rapped over beats and talked about what he was talking about. It just seemed forced.

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And then there it was “Pumps and the tumor”. Hammer’s first single from the album (looking back, it is also the very best album on the album) was accompanied by a music video featuring Hammer in a leopard-print speedo and girls in bikinis from a time when it was scandalous and sexually suggestive, a far cry from anything that ever heard. Video screenings even banned the unique video due to Hammer in its speedometer, which forced the rapper to reshoot a “purer” version of the film. I like this song more now than I did then, although I’ll admit that without the music video to develop into a talking point, I feel the song would just be one other head-scratching song on an already head-scratching album. At least “Pumps and a Bump,” an ode to butts and good footwear, was entertaining.

I feel most individuals were a bit confused about Hammer’s purpose with this album – why would a rapper known for making music that included songs like “Pray,” “Do Not Pass Me By” and “Have You Seen Her?” start trying to sound like a Death Row rapper? Kurupt and Daz Tha Dogg Pounda it even appeared on the album. Fifteen-year-old me was confused and located it easy to move on from Hammer, especially when Snoop Dogg, Tupac, and Warren G. were available.

Looking back, the album wasn’t even terrible, not by 1994 standards. It’s not great, and I’m sure even Hammer would have done some things in another way, but the way in which it modified all the narrative about Hammer and made him almost obsolete seems a bit unfair. However, music consumers are fickle, and there have been few artists whose sonic and aesthetic changes have been well received by fans. Hammer scored one other 180 with 1995’s Inside Out, which took him back to the sound all of us knew and had more gospel-sounding records.

But by then, Hammer’s experiment was largely over. He was more famous for his financial problems; Hammer amassed an enormous fortune estimated at over $30 million a 12 months, but he had to declare bankruptcy in 1996 due to huge debt to tons of of debtors.

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At this point, most individuals who remember Hammer reduce much of his rap profession to some joke, but that is completely unfair. With the exception of essentially the most ardent hip-hop purists and rappers, the remaining of us loved Hammer and apparently all of us got his albums and songs. As with lots of our breakout artists of the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s whose downfalls were public and swift, the punchlines overtook the absolutely cometary nature of their music and profession. Let me inform you what, while The Funky Headhunter is not an album I return to often, all of Hammer’s best hits are filled with culinary snacks, which is a legacy in itself.

And we’ll all the time have Pumps and Bumps that can endlessly be too legitimate to quit.



This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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The Weeknd’s Return: New Music, Grammys and its next era

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The artist currently often called Weeknd spent the last 15 years, constructing his popularity “Dark Prince of Pop”. Starting as an enigmatic artist who released his songs anonymously, The Weeknd became a worldwide superstar and a house brand. But now-a few albums from the list Nickname Weeknd In favor of his real name Abel Tesfaye.

This is just one other step within the evolution of Tesfaye as an artist. To understand its influence on contemporary music, let’s take a have a look at the modest beginnings of Mixtape Weeknd, his meteoric known and what next for a person standing behind the nickname.

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Musical Evolution Weeknd: from Mixtapes to Supergowy

New York, New York – 13 May: Abel Tesfaye participates on the planet premiere of Liongate “Hurry up tomorrow” on May 13, 2025 in New York. (Photo Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) – credit: photo Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

Early dark mixtape

After spending most teenage years to party and problems with the law, Tesfaye began to release music anonymously in 2009. His first effort was a group of leaked demonstrations entitled “Noise”. Songs comparable to “Love Through Her” and “Material Girl” aroused the interest of online listeners, establishing a dark sound R&B and hedonistic topics from which he could be known.

Transition to the mainstream pop

In 2011, Tesfaye used the noise generated by his first editions, spending a variety of additional mixtapes – “House of Balloons”, “Thursday” and “Echo of Silence” – which might later switch to the platinum album of the “Trilogy” compilation.

But this was his contribution to the soundtrack within the dirty film “Fifty Shades of Gray” from 2015, which might really drive The Weeknd music from the bedrooms and basements to the national pop radio. Combining the sexy delivery of Tesfaye with a skillful pop approach, “Zarach IT” not only reached the number three on the Billboard Hot 100 list, but was nominated for the ACADEMY ASCADEM Award for the perfect original song and his first Grammy Award for the perfect R&B performance.

Albums and Weeknd era

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Weeknd performs during Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show on the Raymond James Stadium on February 7, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

“Kiss Land” and “Beauty for madness”

Before Tesfaye released his official debut album “Kiss Land” in 2013, he was already a recognized R&B trailblazer. The Canadian artist prepared for the album, traveling to Tokyo and beginning to handle more experimental and film styles that may turn into central for later Tesfaye works.

While his second album from 2015, “Beauty Behind the Madness”, nodded to his dark R&B roots on songs comparable to “Shameless”, he also leaned in POP with hits comparable to “Can’t Feel My Face”.

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“Starboy”, “My dear melancholy” and “After hours”

The seeds he planted on “Kiss Land” and “Beauty Behind the Madness” would bloom the next project The Weeknd, “Starboy” from 2016. With the assistance of the electronic duo Daft Punk, Tesfaye successfully combined his experimental tendencies and fresh production in several primary pop hit, including “I Feel It Come” and the title song.

Later, the older work of Wieknd fans was treated with a brief return to the shape for the EP “My Melncholy” from 2018, which studied his breakup with the singer Selena Gomez and the model Bella Hadid. But EP was not an indication that The Weeknd abandoned his latest path. Two years later, he published “After Hours” inspired by the Nineteen Eighties, which began the second trilogy.

“Dawn FM” and “Hurry up tomorrow”

Thanks to the “Dawn FM” from 2022, Tesfaye selected a nostalgic radio program as a crap device to make sure moody meditations on fame, life and death. The album was a critical and industrial success, setting a brand new Billboard Global 200 list record and pushing Weeknd to #1 for the perfect Spotify listeners.

His latest project “hurry up tomorrow”, limited the trilogy with even darker treatment of those topics, while pointing to the artist’s next evolution. While melancholy, as all the time, Tesfaye sings a couple of sense of readiness to vary his ways, especially on the title track.

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Innovation and Strategy: The Weeknd’s Vision in music and film

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Weeknd performs on stage during 105.1 Powerhouse 2017 at Barclays Center on October 26, 2017 at Brooklyn, New York City. (Photo Theo Wargo/Getty Images for iHeArtMedia)

Weeknd joins “Idol”

Until 2023, Tesfaye proved his power as a pop star and began to look for brand new artistic efforts. HBO series “Idol“-who co-founded with the director of” Euphoria “, Sam Levinson-he offered him many latest challenges, including delays, prescribing and hasty changes.

Critical party and fans

Working along with Lily Rose-Depp and sharing writing inscriptions with Levinson, The Weeknd was largely chargeable for what led to an enormous critical and industrial failure. The charged sexual nature of the narrative of the series didn’t resonate with the audience, who recognized “Idol” each disturbing and it’s difficult to follow. The result was the primary real Tesfaye brush with failure as a mainstream artist.

Grammy return: change of perspective

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The failure of “Idol” could change the attitude of Tesfaye to greater than just television as a tool for telling stories. When “After Hours” was neglected by the Grammy 2021 awards without nomination – even for the hit hit “Olinding Lights” – the artist criticized the Recording Academy and began a boycott of annual ceremonies.

Over the next 4 years, Tesfaye refused to submit his music to contemplate Grammy. But this boycott would end the surprising end in 2025, when he returned to the Grammys stage to make just a few songs from his album “Has hurry up tomorrow”.

Was it a tip on the next change within the profession of the controversial singer?

Rebranding as Abel Tesfaye: Why did The Weeknd change his name?

Tesfaye’s experience working on “The Idol” had one other significant impact on the artist: the sport within the series reminded him of the artificiality of his character, The Weeknd.

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After removing within the series, Tesfaye said within the WW magazine: “This reaches the place and time when I prepare to close the Weeknd chapter.”

The artist quickly explained that he didn’t intend to completely withdraw from the music: “I will continue to create music, maybe like Abel, maybe like The Weeknd,” he thought. “But I still want to kill Weeknd. And I will do it. Finally. I definitely try to lose this skin and reborn.”

Live trips and performances Weeknd

67th Grammy Awards - Show
Los Angeles, California – February 02: (just for editorial use) Weeknd performs on stage during 67. Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Amy Sussman/Getty Images) – credit: photo of Amy Sussman / Getty Images

After hours, until performance and location at dawn

If you hope you will notice the weekly live, before you get to the nickname, you may still catch him in his record place after the hours of the Dawn route, which has turn into strong since 2022. The route-which will stop within the United States and Canada this summer, including cities comparable to Detroit, Chicago, Denver, Seattle and Vancouver-Union in September.

What to expect

The route program leads fans through a guide journey of the Weeknd era, made a characteristic artist’s style for moody glasses. According to reviewers of Tesfaye live shows, he organizes a stunning program, together with spare dancers, pyrotechnics and thrilling interpretations of hits comparable to “victim”, “can Feel My Face” and “often”.

Cultural influence and heritage: redefining R&B and Pop

"The Idol" Photocall - 76. Annual Film Festival in Cannes
Cannes, France-23 May: (editors Note: The picture was converted to black and white) Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp Work on Photocall “The Idol” on the 76th annual Film Festival in Cannes at Palais des 23 May 2023 in Cannes. (Photo Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) – credit: photo Andreas Rentz / Getty Images

Redefination of recent R&B and Pop

Music Weeknd has all the time been a refreshing contrast with the industry dominated by squeaking pop stars and conventional forward R&B. Thanks to the polarizing theme and daring aesthetic election, Tesfaye isn’t applying to create music that provokes.

Influence on emerging artists

Unfilted Weeknd texts and experimental sound landscapes inspired many more moderen artists to understand authenticity and innovation of their music. Young artists, comparable to 6lack and Partenextdoor, take obvious recommendations on Tesfaye music and even peers, comparable to Drake, Usher and Miguel, turned on some Weeknd sounds in their very own music.

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Expanding in film and business

Despite the error from “Idol”, Tesfaye still imprints its trail on television and film. He made his debut within the film in “Uncut Gems” in 2019, he expressed the primary character within the upcoming animated film “Ari The Bat” and is working on a brand new film with director Trey Edward Shults.

In addition to the movie and TV, Tesfaye also borrowed his creative eye of cooperation with Puma, H&M clothing corporations and a washing monkey.

New music chapter and identity

Is this an actual revival for Abla Tesfaye or simply a brief change on his creative path? Regardless of its name, nothing can erase the massive influence he had on R&B and pop music. He influenced various artists – even a number of the biggest pop stars within the industry – to wear latest genres and tell their most intimate stories through music. Regardless of what’s going to occur next, Tesfaye has already strengthened his heritage – in music and more.

Still interesting Canadian star? Check our archives for more information The Weeknd.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Chris Brown arrested in Great Britain in connection with the incident at the Night Club in London in London

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Chris Brown was arrested on Thursday at Lowry Hotel in Manchester in England, in connection with the incident at the London Night Club in 2023, in keeping with American edition Sun. On May 14, he flew to Manchester, where the authorities were notified of his presence.

The arrest results from a quarrel on February 19, 2023, between the bronze and the music producer, Abe Diaw, who claims that Brown attacked him with a bottle, after which hit him and kicked him at the nightclub in London. Diaw was taken to the hospital, where he had to make use of KUL after discharge. London Metropolitan Police are holding Brown in terms of “suspicion of causing severe damage to the body.”

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DAW also made a civil claim against Brown for $ 16 million (12 million kilos) compensation related to the incident.

This isn’t Brown’s first brush with the right to attack at the nightclub. In 2012, Brown was involved in the Night Club in New York, which included the NBA star All-Star Tony Parker and Rapper and the pop star, Drake. As early as 2024, Brown was accused of assaulting 4 live shows behind the scenes at the TEXASA concert bus stop; Brown is the defendant for $ 50 million in connection with the alleged incident.

Over the years Brown had a litany of runs with the authorities for allegations and accusations of varied arguments, fighting and assault and was accused of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Brown is He planned to make a limited series of live programs in Manchester from June 15 and is preparing for his stadium “Breezy Bowl XX”, which he made available In the Instagram post On the occasion of his 20 years in the music industry. The program includes Summer Walker at the American stage of the trip and Bryson Walker for the European leg, which is able to start on June 8 in Amsterdam.

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“Celebrating 20 years of cb. So excited that I can share this moment with the world and my amazing fans. I can’t wait to see all the beautiful faces. Taking you these eras, but most importantly, give you my heart and soul,” reads the signature.

The brown song “Remains” is currently 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and spent 35 weeks on the chart and it arrived No. 1 on the adult R&B AirPlay taber.

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(Tagstranslate) Chris Brown (T) Chris Brown Assault (T) London (T) Manchester

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Keke Palmer shares his POV with a breakdown in the shady remix of Usher “Confessions Part II”

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In July 2023, Keke Palmer and her dad and former boyfriend Darius Jackson caused one of many great debates in social media. After Palmer was noticed (great, I can add) at the Usher concert this summer, Jackson began to X to share his contempt for the mother of selecting his child, causing a discourse with the “equivalent” of her outfit.

Although Jackson was very open about this case, Palmer was silent about her feelings at a viral moment – to this point. On Friday, May 9, the Wielfenian star released a recent song entitled “My Confessions”, in which she spills all tea at this moment and her break with Jackson.

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“This is personal.” My confession “is exactly as it sounds – whether giving the feelings I buried”, Palmer he wrote on Instagram About the song. “Sometimes we need a closure, it does not come from a conversation – it results from being honest with each other. This is this song. My room. My brightness. My way to let go.”

The record, which rises from the “Confessions Part Conmissiones”, was written by Palmer and her best friend for 22 years, Tayla Parx, who says that the star “no” saw her through every version of herself. Describing the song as “harsh, emotional and real”, Palmer takes the listeners back to July 2023 and lirially explains every little thing about how Jackson broke up with her at the time, which prompted her to the evening of girls.

“Summer ’23, we were in Vegas, on the right/we broke up with me and jumped to the flight/you were an attempt to find the way to” positive “/so I thought I have a girl’s night”, sings. “48 hours later online/I made me a villain, but you lied, mm/but the truth is that now we now have now already ended in Vegas.

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In the whole song and the lyrical film accompanying her, Palmer refers to Jackson’s controversial tweets, and even reported tensions between her and his family.

“Your family, they don’t like me, that’s good / but when did you come back on the side? / When I met you, you hated them as if you hated me now.”

Similarly, he turns to the response and response to his criticism about her appearance at the Usher concert: “72 hours, now your feelings hurt/my fans were pulling you because you had a nerve/you almost turned me into a banality/thought that your child will make me want to stay.”

As the chorus notes: “F— Your projections / These are my confessions”, Palmer explains how difficult it’s to inform her the truth when she sings: “Telling that it was difficult for me / Telling only for my peace / truth hurts and it is mine.”

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Since the breakup, Palmer has revealed her and Jackson toxicity and the way much she hated the attention of the media surrounding her relationship.

From his memory “Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your National”, to the upcoming album “Just Keke”, Palmer says that “not to play perfectly here”, but “honestly,” and tell her story.

Keke Palmer regains

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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