The tasty treats may have been the first spotting upon entering The Marcel at Gramercy Hotel in New York City. But it wasn’t mini burgers, jumbo onion rings, mozzarella sticks, or bowls of pink and red Starbursts that drew in the crowd. It was hip-hop phenom Wiz Khalifa, who entered the room wearing a jean jacket, camouflage BBC hoodie, navy Chuck Taylors, and a backwards cap. The “Black and Yellow” rapper wasted no time introducing himself before taking flicks and chatting with well wishers.

Wiz has more than one reason to be flying high. Rolling Papers, his Atlantic Records debut, is in stores now. With production from Stargate and Jim Jonsin, and appearances from Too $hort, Chevy Woods, and Curren$y, the Pittsburgh MC quells his detractors, especially those who say he’s gone pop. “Everything takes time, so with time will come the healing…for those who think that. Everybody else thinks it’s great!” he says with a smile.

Sitting down with Rap-Up.com, Wiz fires off answers to questions including who he’d most like to smoke with, which actor would play him in a biopic, the rapper that left him starstruck, and the craziest rumor he’s heard about himself. He does so carefree because these days, he has two types of paper to roll.

Read the rest of this entry »

In an industry consumed by the almighty dollar, Musiq Soulchild is just interested in a little bit of change. Today, the singer lays back on a black leather couch, his posture relaxed but his facial expression all business. Designer shades—broad and opaque—shield his eyes from his own hoodie, which is oddly blinged out for a neo-soul crooner. But then again, doesn’t the “neo” imply something fresh and unexpected?

“I have a thing against people being categorized,” Musiq tells Rap-Up.com. “It traps us into thinking we can only dress, act, or be a certain way.” Whatever that way is, Musiq’s fans have been devoted to it for years, finding solace and wisdom in his candid perspective on love. As he preps his sixth album, MusiqInTheMagiq, for a May 3 release, he’s ready to lyrically and socially stretch the boundaries he’s built throughout his career. His first single, “Anything,” raised a few eyebrows because of its uptempo, clubby feel, and a cameo by the effervescent Swizz Beatz.

While the album may steer a bit to the left of what soul enthusiasts would expect, the project is a love letter to his loyal fan base coupled with a side of tight game to attract a few new ears. Rap-Up.com took the time to find the rhyme behind Musiq’s reason, as he shared why he doesn’t like a lady caked in makeup, whose music he works up a sweat to, and what really happened when he fell off stage in New York City.

Read the rest of this entry »

“I’ve been completely selfish,” Marsha Ambrosius admits. So what exactly has the soulful songbird been greedy with? Her songwriting skills. The 33-year-old British import has steered clear of joining other artists’ studio sessions while crafting her debut solo album, Late Nights & Early Mornings, which fans can hear today. But the singer, who’s also operatically-trained, has an arsenal of tracks to unveil now that her self-described “baby” is out there for the masses. “I do have a million songs that are sitting around that are available for U2, Coldplay, Maroon 5,” she reveals. “[Artists] outside of the norm that people wouldn’t expect me to do.”

Read the rest of this entry »

While her feud with Nicki Minaj may be making all the headlines, Lil’ Kim had plenty of other things to say when we caught up with her. In part two of her no-holds-barred interview with Rap-Up.com, the petite raptress moves past the spat and shares the direction of her fifth studio album and collaboration with the iconic Dr. Dre for her project and Detox. The free agent also explains why her deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation didn’t go through and provides insight into her upcoming book The Price of Loyalty. Plus, find out why Rihanna is her favorite pop artist right now, what she thinks of fellow provocateur Lady Gaga, and which two buzzed-about rappers are on her radar. Bumble with the Bee below.

Read the rest of this entry »

On the heels of her Black Friday mixtape and video, Lil’ Kim phoned into Rap-Up.com to speak about the project and all the controversy surrounding its release. Nothing was off limits. The Brooklyn rapper shared her thoughts on Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday album and if there’s any possibility of an end to their “hip-hop war.” She also revealed which member of Young Money-Cash Money she’s cool with and those who crossed her. Plus, what does Kim think of Foxy Brown’s diss record “Massacre” and where do her and Diddy stand today? Kimmy Blanco speaks up in our exclusive Q&A.

Read the rest of this entry »

David Banner isn’t fond of big egos. Luckily, producer 9th Wonder doesn’t have one, making their collaborative album, Death of a Pop Star, a welcomed feat to work on. After talking for hours about hip-hop’s current state, the two joined forces to create a project that would bring more value to the rap game. “We talked on the phone for three hours about the music that was out there, and we thought about how we could contribute and change things,” says Wonder.

Banner, who was facing an inner battle before recording the LP, felt the need to relinquish the sound that made him a chart-topping rapper and speak directly from his soul. “I was really hurting, and the one thing that I do thank 9th for, is he saw it.” In return, the “Be With You” creator gave the producer complete control of the album’s beats, which Banner openly admits was difficult to do.

The dynamic duo checked in with Rap-Up.com after the release of Pop Star to discuss why they chose Erykah Badu to be a guest, how KRS-One’s words influence their rhymes, and which rapper’s latest album is underrated. Read on as David Banner and 9th Wonder air it out for the masses.

Read the rest of this entry »

Fefe Dobson’s back catalog shows little signs of hip-hop fare, but that doesn’t mean her iPod isn’t filled with some good boom bap. The spunky songstress has a fondness for some of the industry’s major players. “Drake, I support,” Fefe tells Rap-Up.com. “We’re fellow Canadians; we’re both from the same city. [And] I’ve been digging Wiz Khalifa.” But Dobson, whose latest album Joy, is soaked in the same pop liquid as her previous efforts, still keeps the tunes of classic acts close to her soul. “I love Fleetwood Mac and Johnny Cash.”

The self-described music lover gave fans and critics a nice surprise last month when she debuted the remix to her J.R. Rotem-produced single “Stuttering,” which featured a verse from an “amazing” artist she’s been a loyal supporter of over the years: Pusha T. Perhaps the Fefe Dobson of 2003 wouldn’t have tapped into the rap spectrum, but seven years later, she’s earned a welcomed reception after serving it to the masses.

While the 25-year-old sits on a plush chair tucked in a conference room at Def Jam’s New York City headquarters, she’s vocal in discussing her journey to musical adulthood. She’s written songs for the Disney Channel set, saw an album get shelved, and returned to the label that brought her to the forefront. Read on as the ever-smiling Torontonian explains to Rap-Up.com why Kanye West is a genius, what a collaboration with Nicki Minaj would sound like, and what really comes to mind when the Rihanna comparisons pop up.

Read the rest of this entry »

Chrisette Michele colors outside of the lines and it’s apparent in almost every aspect of her life. The 27-year-old chanteuse isn’t afraid to rock a red lip or keep her hair as short as the rappers she’s sung beside. And she’s never felt comfortable acting like a sheep just for a paycheck. Perhaps her mission to lead and not follow has much to do with the reason she’ll have three albums under her belt by the end of this year. Her newest, Let Freedom Reign, is a collection of tunes showcasing the ills and thrills of love. Songs like “I’m a Star” and “Goodbye Game” are prime examples of Chrisette’s ability to marry soulful vocals with stories of the heart.

But even if her words sound familiar, her actions for the new year will be anything of the sort. “[For] 2011, I’m feeling very rebellious,” she reveals. “I’m looking forward to not doing what I’m supposed to do. I’m looking forward to not following any rules. I don’t want to do what anyone tells me to do.”

As she sits in a plush chair, sipping hot chocolate on a frigid November afternoon in New York City, Chrisette is warm and welcoming. The Long Island gal isn’t the type to give a brief explanation during a conversation; she articulates herself in a manner where no one feels jipped on the answers she provides. Rap-Up.com gets inside the R&B child’s head as she reveals the song Drake was supposed to appear on, her chemistry with Rick Ross, connecting with Nicki Minaj over Twitter, her admiration for Kanye West, and her style icons. Uncage the songbird below.

Read the rest of this entry »

Quincy Jones sounded off on the “haters” who didn’t like T-Pain’s remake of Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing).” But that wasn’t all he had to say. Rap-Up.com got a few more questions in with the legendary producer, whose star-studded tribute album Q: Soul Bossa Nostra is in stores now. The 27-time Grammy winner dished on meeting Amy Winehouse, Jennifer Hudson, his favorite rappers, what he thinks of Kanye West, and Taylor Swift’s blockbuster sales. Keep up with Mr. Jones below.

Read the rest of this entry »