Hip-Hop Wired » complex magazine

Waka Flocka Launches #WakaNewYear Anti-Bullying Campaign [Photos]

Michael Ice-Blue Harris — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:52:43 +0000

Last night Waka Flocka, along with SEA Brand Clothing, and Complex Magazine, hosted the launch of his custom Brick Squad Monopoly snapback. The event was a culmination of an early January fan based initiative titled #WakaNewYear that brought Waka's 5.2 million plus Facebook fans together in choosing a cause that he should support in 2012.

The winning cause was, Anti-Bullying, and founders Zee and David stated,

"It's been a pleasure working with Waka. He's sincere about wanting to use his platform to do something good, for his fans and the anti-bullying cause they care about. And he loves SEA hats and gave them his stamp of approval, many times over. Count it!"

Once the cause was announced fans were asked to help the rapper design a snapback cap that would ultimately give back to the cause in perpetuity.

25% of all sales from the SEA/BSM custom snapback collaboration will be donated to the Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center.

Already supported by mainstream celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Waka Flocka Flame's extended fan base will not only help to fund but also help to shine a new light on the social problem of bullying plaguing children throughout the country and becoming increasingly violent in inner city school systems.

Peep The Photos Of The Event By Clicking The Page #s Below

A$AP Rocky & Jeremy Scott Cover Complex Magazine [Video]

Alvin aqua Blanco — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:25:22 +0000

A$AP Rocky & Jeremy Scott Cover Complex Magazine [Video]

Rapper A$AP Rocky and designer Jeremy Scott share the cover of the February/March 2012 issue of Complex Magazine. The cover is an homage to this Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat poster.

"As black people it was our thing to show that we're not living in poverty and that we can afford extravagant things—that kind of stuck with us," A$AP told Complex of Hip-Hop's fascination with fashion. "So when our great-grandparents were putting on their favorite outfits, it was to put on a front for the hard times. And hip-hop is a bunch of people that never had nothing. Fashion is just an expression. It's an art. It expresses your taste. Good taste is important in hip-hop."

Word. The full cover story can be read here. A behind the scenes video of the photo shoot, where A$AP, who name drops Scott's name in song, met the creator of those bugged out looking adidas, for the first time is below.

Drake's Complex Magazine Cover Story Photos

Randy Roper — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:40:15 +0000

Drake, Complex Magazine Photos

Complex Magazine released a few more photos from their cover story and photo shoot with Drizzy Drake. The Decemember/January issue of Complex hits stores on December 6th.

Drake's new album Take Care is out now.

Check out pictures from Drake's Complex feature on the next pages.

Amber Rose Responds To Kanye West's Shout Out On Stage In Philly

Sha Stimuli — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:42:57 +0000

Amber Rose Responds To Kanye's ‘Shout Out' In Philly: ‘He's Remorseful About Being An Asshole To Me'

By now the news has broken that Kanye West is still somewhat fixated over his ex Amber Rose and he made that very clear on stage in Philly during the Watch The Throne show where he spilled his guts about her to the audience.

‘“To the city of Philly, I want to thank y'all for making the incredible person that this song was made for…”

Then he got even more detailed with his apology during a verse, "If I told you I didn't like what you were wearing, don't listen to me baby because I was being an a$$hole. And you'll always be fine but the one thing I f*cked up the most was that I thought you'd always be mine."

Sucks to be him, but not really. Ye has the music to help him vent and Amber apparently heard about the outcry or shout out or whatever you want to call it.

She was pretty direct, mature and kindly stabbed his bleeding heart by taking the high road while mentioning her new beau. Read for yourself what she told Complex magazine.

I'll say this—I didn't even know about it. This is my 50th interview today and every single person has asked me, and it made me go see what the hell they were talking about, because I don't keep up on the current events of Kanye. I just don't look him up.

Kanye called me an incredible person, and I take that as an apology. And if it was an apology, I forgive him for being an a$$hole. I don't hate him.

A lot of it is just negativity and I don't like to bring that energy into my life. But I did look at it and he said that, he said um, “When I said that I didn't like your dress, I was an a$$hole. When I said that I didn't like your hair, I was an a$$hole.”

And he was an a$$hole. He was. I feel like he gets that now, and he's remorseful about being an a$$hole to me.

But he called me an incredible person, and I take that as an apology. And if it was an apology, I forgive him for being an a$$hole. I don't hold any grudges. I don't hate him. I want him to find a girl and for him to treat her better than he treated me.

The next girl, she doesn't deserve that. I found pure happiness with Wiz. Why wouldn't I want that for Kanye? I want everyone to have that, to feel the way I feel about Wiz.

Kid Cudi Shows Off His Marty McFlys [Photos]

Sha Stimuli — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:51:29 +0000

Kid Cudi's New Shoes Probably Cost More Than Your Tuition Bill

Kid Cudi was very thrilled to win some pairs of the new "Marty McFly" Nikes in an auction earlier this month. Now he's flaunting a pair of the futuristic kicks while celebrating his Complex Magazine cover at Siren Studios in Los Angeles.

The 1989 Air Mags were available by eBay auction and the proceeds went to the Michael J. Fox foundation to benefit Parkinson's disease. Click on the pages to see the expensive footwear and Cudi showing his off.

Kreayshawn Covers Complex [Photos + Video]

Randy Roper — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:46:40 +0000

Kreayshawn Covers Complex Magazine

The white girl rapper from the Bay that spent her 2011 dropping a video on Youtube, striking a million deal with Columbia Records and beefing with Rick Ross is on the next cover of Complex Magazine.

Yep, Kreayshawn takes one cover, KiD CuDi takes the other.

Like it or not, the "Gucci Gucci" girl is a star and she's here to stay.

In her interview with Complex, the 21-year-old rapper talked about her success saying, “I never made anything with the intention of signing a record deal."

“It was just for fun. The moment I realized I could get a record deal, was when I got a record deal. I didn't see myself getting famous.”

“People say, ‘You're changing the game. I'm just being me. This is what I've been doing.”

The October/November issue of Complex hits stores on October 4th.

Scroll down for a full look at the cover, and additional photos and a behind the scenes video are on the next pages.

Kid Cudi Covers Complex [Photos]

Danielle Canada — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:58:53 +0000

Kid Cudi On The Cover Of Complex

Scott Mescudi is the latest celebrity to cover an issue of Complex Magazine now that he's nailed the October/November cover.

The last time Cudi was on the cover of Complex he was speaking on his beef with Wale and dropped the famous line, "we don't f*ck with you musically."

Now a much more positive Cudi is covering the mag and speaking on his new drug free lifestyle.

"After I got off the drugs I was like, I need a f*cking hobby. I can't be chillin' in the house playing video games all the time. And I can't be in the clubs, 'cause that led to the disaster. So what am I going to do? Why don't I try to pick up an instrument?

I always wanted to play guitar. I tried it as a child and failed, tremendously. I tried to play the trumpet, the f*cking clarinet, violin. Back then, when you tried that in school they would want you to read sheet music. It wasn't about, “Can you play by ear?” I'm not one of those musicians.

So I picked up the guitar last fall and I started fiddling with it. It came kind of natural to me. I'm not saying that the first time around I was shredding riffs. But I was able to pick it up and pick, and go up and down the neck, and find melodies. I was like, “Sh*t, I want to just make jams with this instrument.” It was something that I took very seriously."

Cudi also explained why he's been holding back on features.

"On top of that, it's a commitment when you do a song with somebody. Like, “We need a single, we need the video.” And then—like I said in the last interview, being that I don't f--- with most people musically—it's tough for me to want to bend and be a part of people's projects."

Cudi is said to be working on his next project The Wizard album.

Wiz Khalifa & Danny McBride Cover Complex Magazine

Sha Stimuli — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:28:49 +0000

Wiz Khalifa & Danny McBride Cover Complex's April/May 2011 Issue

Wiz Khalifa is on a blazing media run gracing the cover of mags as he prepares to release his Rolling Papers debut next week.

The Pittsburgh rap star along with actor, Danny McBride are pictured on the front of Complex magazine blowing smoke in the face of the competition.

The Pineapple Express funny man is starring in a new film, Your Highness this April.

The issue hits stand April 5th.

Lupe Fiasco Explains Why He Hates His 'Lasers' Album

Sha Stimuli — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:38:36 +0000

Lupe Fiasco Admits He Hates His Album
Lupe Fiasco has had issues with Atlantic Records over the last few years putting his career in a situation that mirrors his actual stage name.

In order for Lasers to hit stores, Lupe had to get his fans to speak up and he also made some modifications to his music using songs that the label strongly suggested.

One of those suggestions was “The Show Goes On,” which also had to be the LP's first single in order for Lasers to be released.

The Chicago emcee recently spoke with Complex Magazine to spill about his thoughts on his third studio album.

"I listen to [Lasers] and I'll like some of the songs. But when I think about what it took to actually get the record together and everything that I went through on this record--which is something I can't separate--I hate this album."

Lupe feels he made a strong body of work, but he mentions the ordeals he went through as far as industry politics that drained him during the process.

"I know the sneaky business deal that went down behind this song, or the artist or singer or songwriter who wrote this hook and didn't want to give me this song in the first place. So when I have that kind of knowledge behind it, I'm just kind of neutral to it like, 'Another day, another dollar.'"

He told them that his second album, The Cool took all of his own blood, sweat and tears, while this one has left him feeling somewhat neutral. Fiasco knows that it's all about the fans that helped this album finally get heard as he remarked,

"For me, it's the fans and for them to get a victory and for us to get a release date. That's all we really wanted the whole time."

Lupe knows that the compromise with Atlantic does not solve the issue with them but he is fortunate to have his music reaching the people.

"And then there are records you literally had nothing to do with. That was a part of the compromise. Compromise doesn't mean everybody is going to be happy, it's just we're going to do the best thing we can. The best thing for both parties is for this album to come out," said Fiasco.

Is he wrong for airing out his problems with his own music?

Lil B Talks About Love From 50 Cent & Kanye; Hate From Kevin Durant

Sha Stimuli — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:33:41 +0000

Lil B Talks 50 Cent Relationship, Kanye Support & Kevin Durant Hate

Love him or hate him, Lil B the Based god has been making big noise for quite some time now.

Whether getting knocked out on camera, selling out shows or making crude statements threatening anal attacks on superstar artists, the Berkeley, California "weirdo" rapper is undeniably the hottest thing out.

Recently he sat down with Ernest Baker of Complex Magazine to discuss his convo with 50 Cent, his friendship with Tony Yayo, and about the support he's gotten from artists like Lupe Fiasco and Cyhi Da Prynce.

The 21-year-old stated that he is close to Yayo and that led him to finally sitting down and getting advice from 50 about his brand and about the similar paths they shared.

The based god also enlightened readers about his Twitter convo with Cyhi that cleared up the threats B posed towards Kanye. "Make sure you tell 'Ye and tell the team I got love for y'all. I was just joking around [about f****** Kanye in the a**]."

Apparently, Kanye wasn't salty, he in fact is a fan that does B's "cooking" dance and wants to work with the young rapper.

Although plenty of people are raving about the brilliance of Lil B, NBA All-Star, Kevin Durant publicly stated he "can't believe the guy is relevant."

B responded to the opinions of the NBA's leading scorer via Twitter but had more to say about the situation in the interview,

"He just looks like a hater, bro. KD, you're the No. 1 leader in points. Be happy! Smile. I heard he has a rap artist and that's why he was trippin'."

He went on to challenge him in basketball, but he declined sleeping with Kevin's girl.

Fans offer their women to Lil B at his shows. His cult following is growing...be careful Kevin.

Hip-Hop Wired » complex magazine

Waka Flocka Launches #WakaNewYear Anti-Bullying Campaign [Photos]

Peep The Photos Of The Event By Clicking The Page #s Below

A$AP Rocky & Jeremy Scott Cover Complex Magazine [Video]

Drake's Complex Magazine Cover Story Photos

Amber Rose Responds To Kanye West's Shout Out On Stage In Philly

Kid Cudi Shows Off His Marty McFlys [Photos]

Kreayshawn Covers Complex [Photos + Video]

Kid Cudi Covers Complex [Photos]

Wiz Khalifa & Danny McBride Cover Complex Magazine

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