by Rob Markman 7 mins ago

When it comes to Mac Miller and his music, the Pittsburgh MC/producer doesn’t play any games, but outside of the booth he just wants to have fun.

On July 23, the Watching Movies spitter will return to MTV2 for the second season of “Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family,” but I couldn’t wait that long to see what laughs Mac had in store for us, so I decided to challenge him to a game of Connect 4.

Now you may be thinking to yourself, why Connect 4?

Well, not only did Mac rap about the popular board game on “What You Do” from his Faces mixtape (“I’m in-doors, pair of gym shorts, with the Sith Lord/ We might go bowling later, maybe play Connect 4″), he also reveals that his dad was one tough Connect 4 coach.

“If I lost he would like spit in my face,” Miller said in one of the more uncomfortable moments of our interview on Sunday.

Mac says he lives and dies by the game so to make things interesting I bet him 15 percent of the publishing on all of his “radio hits.” This one is for the money!

Don’t miss the premiere of “Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family” July 23 at 11:30/10:30c on MTV2!

by Rob Markman 24 mins ago

The Roots‘ manager, Rich Nichols, died on Thursday afternoon after he was taken off of life support in the Philadelphia hospital where he had been for months.

The veteran hip-hop band and driving musical force behind “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” issued this statement to Okayplayer.com:

“The Roots Family are devastated to announce the passing of Richard Nichols, the band’s longtime manager, after a long battle with leukemia. Nichols, 55, a Philadelphia native, managed the band from its inception in 1992, and was instrumental in every aspect of The Roots’ creative, cultural, and professional life over the past two decades. Nichols is survived by his wife, Mercedes Martinez, his sons Amiri Nichols and Rakim Nichols, his sisters Rochelle Nichols-Solomon, Rebecca Dennis, his brothers Russell Nichols and Reginald Nichols, and the many individuals and artists he mentored in his lifetime.”

The news also drew reaction from the band and their musical friends as well.

by Rob Markman 1 min ago

With additional reporting by FLX

Jeezy has grown. When we were first introduced to the Snowman in the early 2000s, he was a fresh-out-the-trap mixtape star, who hung his hat on his drug-dealing past. In many ways, Jeezy is still the same, but there are some subtle changes.

First off, he dropped the “Young” from his rap name, and on his upcoming September 2 LP, Seen It All, Jeezy is electing to play the wise, veteran hustler who will give you all the game you need to avoid the pitfalls of the streets.

The Atlanta rap champ gathered selected press to listen to a portion of his new LP in Manhattan’s Jungle City Studios earlier this month, where he previewed tracks like the braggadocious “Black Eskimo” and “Enough,” on which he promises that if you grind hard enough, you can take care of your family.

One track in particular, “No Tears,” with Future, seemed to get resounding approval from the room. The sentimental track balanced a 1980s soft-rock vibe with Future’s reggae-tinged delivery. “I can never let a tear fall down my face, I’m losing all my friends like every single day,” he croons.

Then, of course, there’s the LP’s title track, “Seen It All,” with Jay Z. The newly released single has drawn critical praise, due to the soulful beat provided by Cardo and the sheer honesty that Jeezy and Jay present.

Both rappers recount their hustling days, with Hov opening up about his drug dealing past and putting the story ...

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by Rob Markman 40 mins ago

Mac Miller has a number of MCs he looks up to, but Jay Electronica definitely hovers around the top of the list for the Pittsburgh MC. So you can imagine that when Elec invited Mac to take the stage with him at the 2014 Brooklyn Hip-hop Festival on Saturday, Miller was beyond thrilled.

“I’m a huge Jay Elec fan, so I just wanted to see the show and his show was incredible,” Mac told MTV News on Sunday. “Jay Elec’s the God, bro.”

Last year, the two collaborated on Miller’s “Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes,” the same track they performed on Saturday. But Mac wasn’t Elec’s only surprise guest, he also brought out Talib Kweli, J. Cole and Jay Z.

“It was crazy. What man? That was a blessing,” Miller said. “For him to bring me out? I feel honored and blessed to be everywhere I am. So, to be on that stage with those people and for it to be a beautiful thing, it was great.”

Jay Z and Jay Electronica Rock The Brooklyn Hip… by BKHipHopFestival

by Rob Markman 1 min ago

When nature calls there is nothing you, I, nor Action Bronson can do about it.

So, on Saturday, during a performance in Ottawa, Canada, Mr. Wonderful decided to make a pit stop in a Port-a-Potty while rapping “Shiraz” from his 2011 independent album Dr. Lecter.

A fan caught the whole thing on camera and posted it to YouTube on Sunday. There’s no telling if Action actually used the bathroom or if it was just all for show, but it sure is funny to watch.

by Rob Markman 26 mins ago

Jay Z once bragged about making the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee player could, and while the boast is debatable, there is currently no Yankee more beloved than Derek Jeter.

The future baseball Hall of Famer is currently playing in his last season before hanging up his cleats and retiring, so to salute him Jay Z, Spike Lee, Carmelo Anthony, Billy Crystal, Action Bronson and many more notables star in a new farewell commercial, for Jeter’s new Jordan Brand sneaker.

The nearly two-minute spot, was published to the Jordan YouTube page on Monday (July 14) and starts off with the Yankees captain taking the plate before all of his biggest fans and most famous friends tip their cap in his honor.

by Rob Markman 31 mins ago

Meek Mill has to do his time alone, but while the Philadelphia MC is spending three to six months in prison for a probation violation, he will have the full support of Rick Ross and his Maybach Music crew.

“I created MMG years ago, my desire was to create a space where the most talented artists in the world could be nurtured and supported. With that came a commitment. I vowed to support these artist, through the good and the bad,” Ross said to MTV News in a written statement sent on Saturday (July 12).

“Every individual signed to MMG is not just an artist, they are my family. And with family you ride, or you die. Yesterday, my brother, Meek Mill ran into some unfortunate legal issues. It happens. However, his team, our team, will continue to execute Meek’s plan as close to schedule as possible,” the label CEO continued.

On Monday, Meek excitedly announced the release date for his upcoming sophomore album Dreams Worth More Than Money. As of now, the anticipated LP is slated to drop on September 9, but after Mill was taken into custody on Friday and handed a three to six month prison sentence there are questions about whether the date will stick. Ross assures fans that the project will be delivered in a timely matter.

“His album is coming,” he said. “We ask that the fans and the media continue to support him and his music during this time. He’ll be home ...

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by Rob Markman 38 mins ago

The 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Florida native Trayvon Martin made global headlines and became as polarizing a case as America has seen in recent memory.

George Zimmerman, the shooter who took the African-American teen’s life, was charged with second-degree murder and began trial on June 24, 2013. After 16 hours of deliberation, the 30-year-old was found not guilty on July 13, on the basis of Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law, which maintains that a person can justifiably use force and not retreat in matters of self-defense.

The verdict sparked outrage and drew criticism from celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj, as well as President Obama. While those directly connected to the case were of course the most affected, the country was deeply moved — and sometimes divided — by the verdict. Trayvon, who wore a hoodie and carried a candy and juice the night he was killed, has become a global symbol. A year later, MTV News looks at those involved in the Trayvon Martin trial to see where they are now.

Getty Images

George Zimmerman
After the not-guilty verdict, Zimmerman seemed to spiral into a sea of controversy. Just days after he was acquitted, Zimmerman rescued a family of four from a car accident. But by September, his wife had filed for divorce, and two months later he was arrested after a domestic dispute with a girlfriend.

Zimmerman was scheduled to fight rapper DMX in a celebrity boxing match earlier this year, but ...

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by Rob Markman 7 mins ago

Rick Ross is a boss, dedicated to building his Maybach Music empire, but even bosses need love– and sometimes a little bit of PDA.

This week, Rozay made a guest appearance on model Paige Imani’s Instagram, with a little more tongue than we’re used to seeing from the larger-than-life rapper.

“I guess he likes me or something like that,” Paige wrote in the caption to one pic.

Now, gossip sites like NecoleBitchie are speculating about whether Ross and Imani are an actual item; why else would Rozay give her an MMG chain?

“A little present. Now he says I’m official,” she captioned another photo, showing off her new gift.

by Rob Markman 18 mins ago

Bobby Shmurda’s star is on the rise. If you’ve haven’t heard of the up-and-coming Brooklyn rapper and his viral hit “Hot N—a,” then surely you’ve seen his shmoney dance. With just a toss of his hat and a swivel in his hips, Bobby has captivated the Internet and dance floors with his infectious shimmy.

This weekend Shmurda performed “Hot N—a” alongside Meek Mill in Miami at the popular K.O.D. gentleman’s club, while the Internet got creative by setting Bobby’s dance moves to a variety of different music on Vine. Here are the best of the best.

The Original

D’Aneglo “Lady”

Aaliyah “Rock the Boat”

Total “Can’t You See”

Sade “Sweetest Taboo”

R. Kelly “Step in the Name of Love”

Drake “Too Much”

M.I.A. “Paper Planes”

Jodeci “Get on Up”

Tyga “Hookah”

Miguel “Adorn” Remix

Slim Thug “Like a Boss”

Elmo