Mindless Behavior is going platinum. Rap-Up TV caught up with the teen sensations on set of the commercial for Platinum League Trading Cards, the first-ever hip-hop trading card series featuring old and new school artists including the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Trina, Diggy Simmons, and more.
In between takes, Ray Ray and Princeton professed their love for Nicki Minaj and even sang some of “Beez in the Trap.” “Nicki Minaj is my girl,” said Princeton. “She’s on my list to kiss.”
Cori B. is also featured in the campaign. The 12-year-old daughter of Snoop Dogg spoke about her involvement and browsed through the deck, seeing her dad’s card for the first time. In addition to Snoop, she is working with Keri Hilson and producers 1500 or Nothin’ on her debut album Choc’s World.
Monica and Brandy reunited for the first time in 14 years on “It All Belongs to Me,” and they have R. Kelly to thank. Before the Rico Love-produced duet found its way into their hands and onto Monica’s album New Life, it originally belonged to the Pied Piper.
“At the time, the record belonged to R. Kelly and I thank Robert from the bottom of my heart because I had to really go to him and ask him, ‘Can I take this song?’” Monica exclusively tells Rap-Up TV. “And he gave it to me. He said, ‘I’ll let you take it.’”
The R&B songstress has always wanted to work with Kellz, whose inspirational song “I Wish” helped her get through a difficult time in her life. “R. Kelly is one of the greatest that ever did it, especially when it comes to lyrics and knowing how to make a song that makes sense to the everyday person because I’m just like them.”
Monica’s label RCA had the idea of putting Brandy on the record and turning it into a empowering anthem for women.
Rap-Up TV caught up with Monica when she visited Los Angeles this week. Fresh off the release of her sixth album New Life, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 69,000 copies, the R&B diva spoke about album sales and how important they are at this stage in her career.
“In this day and age, I’m very conscious of the fact that things have changed,” said the 31-year-old singer. “The days of selling a certain amount of records, especially for a certain genre of music, those days are gone, but I think it says a lot when you have a core group of people that really respect and love the music that you do.”
After reuniting with Brandy on “It All Belongs to Me,” she is readying her next single “Without You,” which was produced by her cousin Polow Da Don. “It was an important song to me on the album because it was the song that I did specifically for my husband,” explained Mo. “[Polow] was able to make a song that was a true testament to the love I have for my husband now.”
And will her hubby, whom she met on set of the video for “Love All Over Me,” appear in the video? “My husband’s a sweetheart, I know he’d do it if I asked him,” she said of the Phoenix Suns star. “I’m really right just now letting him focus on the sport.”
Look for more of our interview with Monica next week.
Dawn Richard presented her 10-track EP Armor On to a packed house at a listening session in Beverly Hills last night. With producer Druski by her side, Rap-Up TV spoke with the former Danity Kane diva about the project, the end of Dirty Money, and her split from Bad Boy.
“You’re gonna hear R&B taken to a whole ‘nother level,” shared an excited Dawn, who worked with Druski on nine of the EP’s 10 tracks.
The explosive first single “Bombs” will debut next week and she will appear on “106 & Park” to premiere the dance-heavy video. “It’s really aggressive and what I love about is it’s our ‘Hearts have arrived’ record,” she explained. “It’s such a confident record and the way we approached it is super aggressive and super cocky.”
She also set the record straight on her departure from Bad Boy, explaining that the split was amicable. Following the disbanding of Dirty Money, Diddy told her that she would have to wait a year or two to release a solo project if she stuck around, but after requesting a release, he granted it.
“It was a choice and I needed to go where the best place was for me,” said Dawn. “As an artist, you can’t wait two years. People forget about you in three seconds, so you have to grind like no other to stay relevant. He was gracious enough to say, ‘I’ll let you do that.’ Labels don’t do that. They’ll shelve you.”
Dawn is grateful to her former boss for releasing her from her contract to pursue a solo career. “I was so thankful that he didn’t do what everybody said he was gonna do. He was like, ‘You gave me six years, so here’s your chance.’”
Armor On will be available exclusively on iTunes on March 27.
Already a hit in the U.K. with her DJ Fresh collaboration “Hot Right Now,” Rita Ora is getting ready to launch her career stateside this summer, starting with her infectious single “How We Do (Party).” In Part 2 of our conversation with the delightful singer, she shared details on her Roc Nation debut and some of her superstar collaborators.
The album, which has been two-and-a-half years in the making, will feature some familiar names including Stargate, The-Dream, and Drake, who penned “R.I.P.” featuring Tinie Tempah. “He’s given me some great songs which I was honored to take,” said the blonde bombshell, who starred in Drake’s “Over” video.
While she and Kanye West did hit the studio, she’s uncertain if their work will make this album. “Kanye is very much a genius. He’s a talent beyond belief,” shared Rita. “We’ve done some things together, but I might save it for the next album.”
The project is a reflection of the music she grew up listening to. “It definitely has pop in it, but I love soul music and I love my jazz music and I love all genres,” she explained. “You can hear influences of jazz in there, you can hear influences of Monica and Aaliyah, and then you can hear Gwen Stefani.”
Rita hopes her music will put a smile on people’s faces. “I just want people to go away with feeling good and my whole record is about being happy and feeling good about yourself,” she said. “I didn’t really want to make such an intense record because I’m not an intense person.”
Da Internz have crafted hits for Big Sean and Rihanna, and now they’re lending their hitmaking skills to a hip-hop legend. Producers Marcos “Kosine On Da Beat” Palacios and Ernest “Tuo” Clark have been working with Nas on his upcoming 10th album and shared some insight into the recording sessions.
“Nas is so cool, he’s so down-to-earth, and he’s so about allowing us to do our job as producers and let us put our vision on it,” Kosine told Rap-Up TV. “It’s been a dream come true.”
The “Nasty” MC is sounding hungry on his new material. “This Nas album is not the Nas that is just like, This is cool. This is cute,” explained Tuo. “This is the Nas like really, ‘I’m trying to tear the skin off your face.’ He’s not playing around. Nas is taking you back to the lyrics and concepts like It Was Written.”
Move out the way. Ludacris is coming back this summer. The hip-hop veteran is readying the follow-up to his 2010 album Battle of the Sexes. Production duo Da Internz (“Birthday Cake,” “Dance (A$$)”) have been in the studio crafting records for the Atlanta MC and spilled some exclusive details to Rap-Up TV.
“This Ludaversal album is a statement,” said Tuo, while Kosine added, “This album is crazy. We’re just happy to have a bunch of joints on there. We got a record that I think Chicago’s gonna be real happy when they hear it ’cause it’s like the Chicago sound, a little bit of that juke thang. And then of course we got some of that hood, that ‘A$$’ bass that you love. Da Internz swag is definitely on there.”
The Chicago natives also revealed that they have the first, and possibly second, single off the album, and hinted that it would feature a special guest. “Of course we got the first jumpoff,” said Tuo. “It’s a good look.”
2 Chainz is taking you back to school this fall. The rapper formerly known as Tity Boi is readying his Def Jam debut T.R.U. 2 (short for T.R.U. 2 My REALigion) for release this July/August.
“I’m tying in the whole ‘Real University’ with the real college scene. We’re gonna do some college touring,” 2 Chainz told Rap-Up TV on set of the video for Teairra Mari’s “U Did That.”
The “Spend It” MC, who dropped his mixtape T.R.U. REALigion last year, is grateful to see his hard work recognized. “It’s like all my prayers coming true,” he said. “They’re being answered—all the hard work paying off, all the seeds that I’ve planted, they’re starting to grow so there’s not a word that can tell you how I feel right now.”
