Hip-Hop Wired » Grand Hustle

T.I. To Release Trouble & Triumph: A Novel of Power & Beauty This Fall

Latifah Muhammad — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:17:29 +0000

T.I. is getting back into the literary business. After releasing his first book, Power & Beauty last year, the King of the South has decided to give writing another go by way of the new project Trouble & Triumph: A Novel of Power & Beauty, according to XXL. The novel re-teams Tip with author David Ritz, and picks up where his first book left off. Due out September 11, the novel chronicles the trials and tribulations of main characters, Paul “Power” Clay, and Tanya “Beauty” Long. Power's storyline focuses on him taking over his a former rival's street empire, while Beauty's star continues to rise as she makes waves in the fashion industry.

One week ago T.I. played with the notion of retiring from music, and between his new book and landing a role in the comedy Identity Theft, he seems to be serious about transitioning out of the rap game.

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Photo: All Hip Hop

T.I. To Play A Bounty Hunter In New Comedy Identity Theft

Latifah Muhammad — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:06:47 +0000

T.I. may be thinking about retiring from the rap game, but his acting career is still going strong. The father of six has landed the role of a bounty hunter, in the film Identity Theft, reports Deadline.com.

Tip will join the likes of Jason Bateman, and Melissa McCarthy in the Universal Pictures film. The comedy finds Bateman's character eluding authorities alongside McCarthy who becomes his accomplice after attempting to steal his identity.

Before being slapped with concurrent one-year prison sentences, the Atlanta rapper was busy building his acting resume appearing in Takers, American Gangster and ATL. On the small screen, T.I. guest starred on HBO's now defunct series, Entourage, and will appear on Kelysey Grammer's series Boss on Starz.

On the music front, the Grand Hustle label head is busy promoting his artist, Iggy Azalea'smusic and will drop his eight solo album Trouble Man this fall.

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Photo: Billboard

B.o.B. - "Play For Keeps" [VIDEO]

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:55:05 +0000

The Motion Family-directed video for "Play For Keeps" is off of Bobby Ray's new album, Strange Clouds. He goes back to the basics on this record with a lot less singing and a lot more rapping. Check it out down below.

Get More: B.o.B, Play For Keeps, Music, More Music Videos

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Iggy Azalea Clarifies T.I.'s "Free Agent" Comments

Latifah Muhammad — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:39:30 +0000

Iggy Azalea's label situation was called into question last week when T.I. pegged her as a "free agent," but according to the femcee, his words were taken out of context. The Australian rapper cleared up the comments made by her Grand Hustle boss, explaining that she has several different deals in the works. "I wasn't dropped by Interscope,” Iggy told XXL following her show at New York City's SOBs Thursday night (May 17). “I'm still managed by [Interscope], but when T.I. came on board and it became a Grand Hustle thing.

"We were working on restructuring and we worked down to the final deal. There's things that change when other people get involved. For me, I choose my involvement with Tip because that's my family over other things, so I'm thankful that I have him and he can kinda get me out of that situation; now it's just strictly Grand Hustle.”

News of her signing to Interscope was announced earlier this year when Iggy went on Twitter to talk about inking a deal with the legendary label. Regardless of the label confusion, Azalea is still going forward with new music. Her Glory EP, drops this month, while her The New Classic debut is due out sometime this year.

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Photo: Global Grind

T.I. Tells The Breakfast Club He "Wants Out" Of The Music Game [VIDEO]

Latifah Muhammad — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:35:15 +0000

With his latest (and hopefully last) jail stint behind him, T.I.'s prepping new music, and developing the careers of his Grand Hustle artists, yet even with all these projects on the horizon he's contemplating leaving rap all together. Tip stopped by Power 105's The Breakfast Club this morning, where he spoke on the rap game, and why it's not the same. “This is what everyone fails to realize. I want out. I want out, man,” he said. “What the game is going to and what has evolved into from a personality standpoint, it goes against what I represent. What I embody, this game contradicts that. I want out. I'm in it because I love music and I have obligations, contractually.”

Even with acts like B.O.B., and free agent, Iggy Azeala, on his Grand Hustle roster, the father of six is no longer inspired by today's music. “It was at one time, this music was about speaking to the people who felt like you feel. Now, the people I'm speaking to, they don't necessarily feel like how I feel. In my day, if you were rapping about something you weren't really living, that was a strike against you. You were held accountable. Nowadays, nobody even expects you to live up to the things you rap about. That goes against what I represent, what I stand for. So if they outsell me, then that's just all the more better for me to fade to the back and cross my legs on my desk.”

Tip isn't the first rapper to express discontent with the music game by threatening to retire. Last month, Nicki Minaj abruptly deleted her Twitter page and contemplated throwing in the towel. One week later she was back on the social networking site, so here's hoping T.I. is also bluffing.

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Photo: Prefix Mag

Iggy Azalea Performs At SOB's [VIDEO]

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:30 +0000

Iggy Azalea took the stage at the famed SOB's club in New York City last night. The Australian beauty, who is the first female XXL freshman, performed some of her cuts including "Pu$$y," "You Ain't My Daddy," and "Murda Business."

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Photo: Ajon Brodie

T.I. On MTV's RapFix LIVE! [STREAM]

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:18:12 +0000

T.I., continues his press run today by visiting MTV's Rap Fix live today. It's in progress right now so hop in.

Get More: RapFix Live, Full Episodes

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T.I. Says Iggy Azalea Is A 'Free Agent' [VIDEO]

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:20:54 +0000

On a sneak peek of MTV's Hip-Hop POV, T.I. speaks with the crew about one of his hustle gang members, Iggy Azalea. After rumors of the Australian rapper being dropped from Interscope, T.I. declares her a free agent to all but confirm her being dropped from Jimmy Iovine's label. Check the video down below.

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Iggy Azalea Performs At LIV Nightclub [VIDEO]

Latifah Muhammad — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:35:32 +0000

We haven't heard much from Iggy Azalea in the last few weeks, but maybe that's because she' busy performing—and working on her new album. The first lady of Grand Hustle hit LIV Nightclub in Miami Thursday (May 10).

With her signature ponytail on display, the Aussie rapper put on a high energy show performing "Murda Bizness," the first single off her forthcoming debut, and "P*ssy." Now that sh'es sidestepped all that pesky female rapper beef, Azalea can keep all her focus on the music. She plans to drop a six-track EP Glory, this month, before the release of her New Classic album.

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Photo: Necole Bitchie

B.o.B. Performs "So Good" On Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:42:19 +0000

B.o.B. took the stage on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night and performed his near-platinum single "So Good." Bobby's new album Strange Clouds is also in stores now.

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