Editor

>>Letter from the editor<<

Reflecting on nearly a year of Hi My Name is Hip hop and how much it has grown, fills me up with a level of accomplishment but also a greater level of excitement for what lies ahead. Hi My Name is Hip Hop is most def aiming for the top spot. J.Cole hit the nail on the head when he said...

“Tell dem niggaz at the top we want yo spot we are fo real, and yet we heard you got it locked but like dem socks we on your heels”

That is exactly what we saying to all the cats at the top, we are on our way!!!! But enough about that, this month’s issue marks the beginning of badass issues. From the hottest hip hop news, album and mixtapes updates and fresh downloads when they drop. Don’t just take me by my words check it out yourself.

welcome to HI MY NAME IS HIP HOP the _August_ issue

#Leboo Cosmo (follow on twitter @LebooCosmo)

Big Sean

U KNOW BIG SEAN

G.O.O.D Music rapper Big Sean is finally famous. The 23 year old rapper who is also referred to as Kanye West’s ‘royalty rapper’ has recently dropped his debut album, but don’t get it twisted Big Sean is no newbie in this industry. He has 3 successful mixtapes under his belt and has been signed with G.O.O.D Music since he was 19 years old.

Tyga

Far Away- Tyga ft. Chris Richardson

Watch The Throne

Watch the Throne by Jay-Z and Kanye West dropped Monday (8^th August) and already in its first day moved to no.1 on the iTunes chart. The album that is exclusively available on iTunes until Friday when the physical album drops, is predicted to sell between 400 000- 500 000 copies in its first week. Watch the Throne avoided being leaked and was only available to fans on the day of its release. Production wise the album is musical excellence with Q-Tip, RZA, Swizz Beatz contributing to the album as producers. My personal favourite songs are “Made in America” featuring Frank Ocean, “Murder to excellence” and “New Day” but don’t get it twisted the whole album is brilliant. Make sho you get yourself a copy!!!!!

proFashional

The scoop on whats poppin in the fashion world

Fashion icon

AKA

A.K.A is not only one of South Africa’s biggest rappers but also one of the freshest dressed rappers too. It is not fair to only give credit to Head Honcho for putting out the hottest gear without giving credit to A.K.A who makes all that gear look real good. BUT even when he is not rocking Head Honcho from the top all the way down he still remains to look fly, earning him the title of FASHION ICON for this month’s issue.

Clothing label of the month

TISA

TISA which is an acronym for This Is So Arnold is a clothing label by designer/ G.O.O.D Music artist Taz Arnold. The clothing line has gained a lot of popularity in the past year especially within hip hop as it has been spotted on artists like Legacy of New Boyz, Tyga, Chris Brown and Big Sean who endorses the clothing line. TISA consists of caps, sweaters, shoes, so ensure you get on this fresh steez and cop you some TISA.

Must have of the month

Jordans

If you don’t already own a pair of Jordans, then like me you have been sleeping on the job. Jordans are the must have sneakers around the world and have been spotted on pretty much every big rapper from Kanye West to Drake to Nelly; who even made a track about the sneakers. So wake up and get you some Js.

Thoughts on hip hop...

G.O.O.D Music gets some Naija flavour

It is no surprise to see that American artists dominate the charts but over the past few years we have witnessed a change in the music industry especially regarding the Brits with their artists and producers like Adele, Tinie Tempah, Jessie J and Alex Da Kid, who have surely started invading the charts, hearts and ears of may people around the world. However does the signing of African superstar and producer D’Banj and Don Jazzy to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music mark the starting of a new era where African artists will dominate the international music scene too???

 

L.A Reid, D’Banj and Kanye West

The first time I heard of the signing I kept thinking of Drake and how he put Canada on the map with his success; wondering will D’Banj and Don Jazzy do the same for Africa, but more importantly open the door that will possibly flood with big international record labels wanting to sign African artists. Just imagine seeing Khuli Chana holding down the no.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The possibility of hearing a Pharrell production with a Motswako flow; that would be bananas!!!!

Don Jazzy, Jay-z and Kanye West

Nevertheless as we wait for that dream to be a reality, I cant wait to hear what Kanye got up his sleeves with the Mo’Hits boys, but knowing Kanye expect nothing less than some g.o.o.d music.

-Hip Hop (The game needs change and I'm the muthafuckn cashier).

Snitchin

Your scoop on what’s poppin in the hip hop world

Forbes 2011 Hip hop cash kings list is out!!!!

The 2011 Hip Hop Cash Kings list is out and Roc Nation’s CEO Jay-Z tops the list again for the 4^th time in 5 years. Nicki Minaj debuts on the list, becoming the first female to ever appear on the list and the list also sees a former no.1 hip hop cash king 50 Cent fail to get back in the top 10. Below is the ranking of who made the most cheddar in the past year

1. Jay-Z $37 million
2. Diddy $35 million
3. Kanye West $16 million
4. Lil Wayne (tie) $15 million
5. Birdman $15 million
6. Eminem (tie) $14 million
7. Dr.Dre (tie) $14 million
8. Snoop Dogg (tie) $14 million
9. Akon $13 million

10.Ludacris $12 million

11.Wiz Khalifa (tie)$11 million

12.Drake (tie) $11 million

13.Pharrell Williams $10 million

14.Timbaland- $7 million

15.Swizz Beatz (tie) $6.5 million

16.Nicki Minaj (tie) $6.5 million

17.Rick Ross (tie) $6 million

18.50 Cents (tie) $6 million

19.Pitbull (tie) $6 million

20.T-pain (tie) $5 million

20.B.O.B (tie) $5 million

Damon Dash owing taxes

Roc-A-Fella co-founder Damon Dash has recently addressed the reports about him owning the IRS more than $2 million in unpaid taxes. The rap mogul commented on his situation saying “I’m f*cked up. It’s the price of business, it is what it is. I owe taxes: I got to pay”. A few years back Dash and wife Rachel Roy split and he lost his house. Sad how two friends that started their journeys in hip hop together have grown to be two different people today; one a Cash King (Jay-Z) and the other a business man who can’t pay his taxes.

Lupe Fiasco becomes brands ambassador for Vans sneaker

Kick Push rapper Lupe Fiasco has just landed a deal with skateboard brand Vans, which will see the rapper working along with the brand as their new brand ambassador. Lupe will be seen promoting their new spring 2012 collection of casual kicks. Man oh man what a fresh deal.

Big Sean arrested on sexual charges!!!!

Finally Famous rapper Big Sean was arrested after a woman had claimed that he had sexually assaulted her at a show on Thursday (4 August). The young rapper’s lawyer released a press statement saying Sean denies the incident and that he believes that with further investigation the charges will be dropped. Wow this so shocking

Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and ?uestlove are part of the rap illuminati

Kanye West along with Nicki Minaj, ?uestlove, Bruno Mars and Will.I.Am will all lend their voices to the animated series The Cleveland Show, where they’ll each play themselves and contribute musically to the show. The episode sees the 5 artist as part of the rap illuminati, which is secret group that controls pop culture. No air date has been announced but the third season of The Cleveland Show kicks off on the 25 September. Can’t wait to check it out!!

Jay’s Rocawear partners with Billionaire Boys Club

Jay-Z’s fashion label Rocawear has partnered with BBC (Billionaire Boys Club) clothing. The label which was started by Neptune’s producer Pharrell will now be a collaborative label, working with street wear brand Rocawear. In 2007 Jay-Z sold the rights to Rocawear for $204 million but kept his stake in the label. He also heads the product development, marketing and licensing of the clothing brand.

Drake talks about the Big Sean beef

Young money rapper Drake has at a recent concert addressed the rumours of him beefing with G.O.O.D Music MC Big Sean saying “I’ma let you know that at my first show ever I shared the stage with this kid man, this dude that I love a lot, I got a lot of respect for.” So clearly to all those convinced otherwise there is nothing but love between the two young rappers.

Nicki Minaj part of Ice Age 4???

Pink Friday rapper Nicki Minaj who is known for her many voice impressions/alter-egos is adding a new character to the list. The female rapper will be starring in the animated 3D movie Ice Age 4: Continental Drift where she will lend her voice. She is part of an all star cast including fellow young money rapper Drake, Queen Latifah and Jennifer Lopez. Man oh man what a cast

Rick Ross invest in chicken wing franchise

The head of the Maybach Music Group Rick Ross has recently invested in chicken wing franchise Wingston, after tasting Wingston’s signature Lemon Pepper-flavoured chicken wings in Miami. The mogul then knew that he wanted to add the franchise to his line of investments by bringing it to Memphis. Mmmm what an interesting venture by Ross lol

Im on one

All I care about is money and the city that I’m from

Ima sip it till I feel it, Ima smoke it till it’s done

And I don’t really give a fuck and my excuse is that I’m young

And I’m only getting older so somebody shoulda told ya

I’m on one

Yeah, fuck it, I’m on one

Drake -

The download

Your scoop on the latest downloads when they drop

Lift off- Kanye West & Jay-Z ft. Beyonce

DOWNLOAD

Matte Black- Da L.E.S

DOWNLOAD

Otis freestyle- Tinie Tempah

DOWNLOAD

Single- Yo Gotti

DOWNLOAD

Headlines- Drake

DOWNLOAD

Head Honcho

Head Honcho winter collection

Just a few weeks ago Head Honcho dropped their new winter collection which is now available in stores. For those that haven’t check out the hot new collection here is your preview…

For all the ladies the winter collection includes cardigan and hoodies dress, which bring a fresh twist to any closet and season. In winter the dresses can be rocked with leggings and sneaks and in summer leggings off and skin out!

 

For the homies, the winter collection includes Pocket Crenshaw, which is the signature style from this range, of which are available in two colourways.

 Head Honcho--->Live progressively