A hugely successful 90-city comedy tour. Top hosting duties at the BET Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards. Shooting a pilot for a new TV show. Dropping a concert film on September 9. More movies coming soon. All in 2011. Comedian/actor Kevin Hart might be the definition of “hustle, hustle hard.”

He’s obviously tired, or possibly getting bored with doing back-to-back press interviews. AllHipHop.com encountered an unusually calm, soft-spoken person named Kevin Hart recently – his demeanor light years away from the loud, funny man who is currently kicking in the door on Hollywood. He yawned twice during the interview, but still managed to laugh at a few of the interviewer’s brave attempts at jokes. He earns a pass on the yawns. Hart works like crazy and is obviously a little man on a big mission:

AllHipHop.com: This has been like a crazy, breakthrough year for you – hosting multiple awards shows and the comedy tour and everything. What’s this ride been like for you so far?

Kevin Hart: It’s been hectic but it’s been great. You know. I wouldn’t ask for this experience to be different at all. You know what I mean? The rise and growth of my success level has been crazy, and the reason why is because I got to see it gradually grow in the past 14 years of me being involved in entertainment and this particular profession. So, I’m thankful and humbled to be where I am right now.

AllHipHop.com: I want to tell you that the more you blow up, the taller you’re looking to me! [laughter] I think you’d grown a few inches when I saw you on the VMAs.

Kevin Hart: That’s a good thing! [laughter] That’s a beautiful thing.

AllHipHop.com: No doubt! You hold it down for the little guys. [laughter] OK, so “Laugh At My Pain,” the concert tour – I read that you grossed $15 million in two days, breaking Eddie Murphy’s record. Are you sprinkling crack on the tickets? [laughter] Or, why do you think people are filling the seats so fast?

Kevin Hart: [laughter] It was that I grossed $15 million throughout the tour dates. If I grossed $15 million in two days, you wouldn’t see me. I’d be somewhere living on an island, you know what I mean? My money would be ridiculous. So, basically we broke Eddie Murphy’s record in ticket sales for the show that I did at the Nokia Theater, which was like $1.4 million in ticket sales in a day. That was crazy.

Kevin Hart: Any type of acknowledgement you get, when people can look and see what you’ve done in the past, that’s huge. For my fans to be as loyal as they are and support they way that they support, it’s unbelievable, you know? The feeling is indescribable, but I try not to think about it that much because I’m not content. I’m not content with my level of success. I want to get further and you know, the only way to get further is to set your goals pretty high. So, before I achieve all of those goals that I’ve set, I don’t want to look back on my accomplishments and kind of bask in whatever little glory there may be. You know, because there’s so much more to come.

AllHipHop.com: Let me ask you about the inspiration behind “Laugh At My Pain.” To me, that kind of sounds like that saying about the “tears of a clown,” or someone who has been teased or bothered, but has learned to laugh at himself despite other people. Is that what that means?

Kevin Hart: Well, here’s where it comes from. The title, “Laugh At My Pain,” basically comes from me saying hey, you know what? I’ve talked about so many things. I’ve talked about family, I’ve talked about my kids, I’ve talked about me and my involvement in so many things. I’ve yet to talk about a darker side. I’ve yet to dig into what could be considered as pain, so I wanted to talk about the things that kind of bothered me coming up – from my dad being involved with drugs, to my mom passing away, to me going through relationship turmoil – so many things that people wouldn’t necessarily laugh at. I wanted to talk about it, and give people my point of view and perspective on what’s been going on and how I feel about it, what my opinion is, and you know what? I found a unique way to do it so people can laugh at it.

AllHipHop.com: Well, I know the tabloids have been going kind of hard on you over the past two years with your personal life and everything. How do you keep your cool, and keep the smile on your face? Or, do you just consider that as part of your initiation, like you’ve come of age?

Kevin Hart: Yes, of course, I would be a fool not to see it and not to realize it. I just don’t like to dwell on it.

AllHipHop.com: OK, you don’t like to dwell on it, but do you have anything to say to your naysayers?

Kevin Hart: What? To people that say good or bad things?

AllHipHop.com: To people who have something negative to say about you who don’t know you basically, except for your art…

Kevin Hart: Oh, well, that’s the beauty of people. Everyone always has something to say, and it’s not always going to be good. Sometimes negative stuff is the stuff you should listen to the most. They could be saying something that other people are afraid to say. I don’t look at everything as hate. You gotta find a positive in everything. At the end of the day, I know that I’m good at my profession. I know that I’ve chosen the right career. But I’m not perfect. I don’t strive to be perfect. I don’t act as if I’m perfect. I’m a human. I make mistakes, and the difference from me and others is that I learn from those mistakes.

AllHipHop.com: Right. Well, I want to ask you a few questions from your background. I know you’re from the Philly area, and I grew up right outside there, so I’ve known about you maybe a little longer than the average person. I heard years ago that you attended CCP (Community College of Philadelphia) for like a week. Is that true, and if so, did you quit? Or were you forcibly removed from campus? [laughter]

Kevin Hart: Yup. [laughter] I went to Community basically after high school, because I want sure if I wanted to go to college. My mom was like, ‘You gotta do something. You’re not just gonna lay around and not do anything. You gotta do something.’ So, I decided to enroll at CCP, and I went there for like a week and a half. It just wasn’t for me. My heart wasn’t into it. I didn’t know why I was there.

It wasn’t like I was there with goals to possibly end up somewhere else. It’s like I was just there. And once I saw that, I was like, you know what? I need to find something that I have a passion for that I really want to put my all into. And what that thing was was comedy. Once I found it, I told my mom this was what I wanted to do as a profession that I felt like I would be good at. My mom was such a good person that she supported me and she said, ‘OK, let’s figure out how to do it. You have x amount of time to feed and support yourself from it.’ And I found it in that time.

AllHipHop.com: OK, and I know you got sort of your first shot in Jay-Z and Dame Dash’s movie Paper Soldiers. Jay has always been a private person and doesn’t extend himself a whole lot, so what do you think they saw back then that sort of predicted that star power you would have?

Kevin Hart: I owe a lot to Dame. Dame has done a lot for my career. I remember he came to a show and wound up really taking a liking to me and offered me a great opportunity. So, I took it, and after taking that opportunity, I realized like this is really good. This can open up doors. It got me my first movie at a young age, and it just so happened to be with two guys who were cool as hell – Jay-Z and Dame Dash! Dame was more hands-on with the project than Jay was, and Dame allowed me to bring myself to the movie and do what I thought was funny and let me get comfortable with the camera. That’s when I developed a love for acting as well.

AllHipHop.com: I know you poke fun at rappers a lot, and we’re a Hip-Hop site, so I know personally that some rappers are just plain easy targets. [laughter] If I looked up the word ‘rapper’ in Kevin Hart’s dictionary, what would the definition be?

Kevin Hart: Hmmm. [laughter] Highly intelligent who verbalizes his education through rhyming.

AllHipHop.com: OK, well, that was pretty mild compared to some of the fun that you poke at them. I’ll take that.

Kevin Hart: [laughter] That’s just me saving some relationships.

AllHipHop.com: I hear that – smart man! Well, success in comedy – just like rap – isn’t a given. Were there days after rejections when you didn’t want to get out of bed?

Kevin Hart: Nah. I mean at the end of the day, my job is to make people laugh, so regardless of the ups and downs, the stage is the one thing that people can’t take away from me. Granted, it’s on a much bigger scale now than it was then, but either way, it’s still something that I control. I control my destiny when it comes to stand-up. Even at the young age of 19 or 20, the shows were smaller, but it was something that I controlled. I got up there as much as I could.

AllHipHop.com: I wanted to also ask you…I was telling a few people that I was interviewing you this week, and consistently they mentioned the movie Soul Plane. And, you know, Soul Plane gets kicked around a lot as one of the worst movies ever. But for me, it’s like the train wreck I can’t stop watching! [laughter] So, What do you think about that? Is it one of the worst movies ever?

Kevin Hart: Well, of course I don’t think that because I did the movie. But what Soul Plane is is a cult classic, and people understand why. But for every person that hates it, there are a thousand people that loved it. The movie was bootlegged heavily and got popular in the streets. You take away Soul Plane, and I don’t have none of the opportunities that I have now. That was my first film that I had the opportunity to star in, and it put me on a larger scale to where people could look at me and say, ‘Oh, this guy is funny, and this guy can actually act.’

I was around people who’ve been in the business for years. They welcomed me with open arms, and I learned so much by it. So, for those people who have negative things to say about the movie, they’ve got to look at the bigger picture. You know, sometimes you need a steppingstone to really get to the level you want to be at. You can’t just do it without something to help you get up there, and Soul Plane was that thing for me. Shout out to Jesse Terrero for believing in me, and for giving me a chance at a young age.

AllHipHop.com: Alright, so you’re sort of diversifying your lanes. I see as you get bigger as a star, you can find more opportunities. AllHipHop had this Ford ad that would come on as soon as you clicked on the site, and it was you like screaming everyday! [laughter] I was like, damn, somebody’s gonna actually buy an American car off this dude. So, you’ve been doing some good stuff. And the awards show skits – pure genius. What lane do you go into next? I see you doing more movies, I see possibly a sketch comedy show. I see a lot of stuff that you can do. So, what’s coming up next for you?

Kevin Hart: Well, of course, Laugh At My Pain, the movie, comes out September 9. After that, I have a movie coming out called Five-Year Engagement. I have another movie coming out called Think Like A Man. My Ford campaign just got extended. Let’s see – what else? Right now, I’m about to start working on material for my next tour that starts in 2012, and I’m also filming my TV show, “Little In Common,” which could possibly be a mid-season pick up for Fox.

AllHipHop.com: OK, so you’re working pretty hard over the next year – got it locked well into 2012. That’s dope.

Kevin Hart: Yes, ma’am. Thank you.

AllHipHop.com: It’s good to see you get your due, because we’ve been thinking you were mad funny for years. So that’s great. You mentioned that the concert film “Laugh At My Pain” starts on September 9. So, my last question is, if I tell people about this movie, what should they bring along to the movie with them – a box of tissues or a box of adult diapers? [laughter]

Kevin Hart: A diaper, ‘cause I’ma make you sh*t on yourself. [laughter]

AllHipHop.com: And then the tissues to clean yourself up, maybe? [laughter]

Kevin Hart: There it is. [laughter] Good talking to you, sweetie.

There was a time in D.C., just a few short years back, when the most prominent MC on the Chocolate City’s rap scene WASN’T named Wale. To be exact, his name is Tabi Bonney, and his ultra-lyrical, Go-Go-inspired tracks helped lay a path for other, errrr, ummm, “locals” to follow.

Tabi isn’t bitter about the other successes coming out of his ‘hood right now, though. The former educator, who now records under a famous Roc-A-Fella founder, is all about the music and the touring right now. And along with fellow artists like Murs and a long-missing Nicole Wray, he’s making thoughtful, musically-laced raps while building a strong fan base across the country.

If you don’t know Tabi yet, get acquainted via AllHipHop.com’s exclusive interview with one of “The District’s” quiet but golden spitters:

AllHipHop.com: I know you’re from D.C. by way of West Africa where your family has roots, so I wanted to ask you first about D.C. It’s such a melting pot for so many cultures, and I think there is a really great musical tradition there. So, do you have any musical influences that came independent of your African roots, like from D.C.?

Tabi Bonney: Yeah, I mean, absolutely. I think that’s what Go-Go music is like, really hook happy and strong on percussion, so I think that’s why I lean more towards a lot of bridges. I think I’m a good hook writer, too.

AllHipHop.com: Well, people might be surprised to hear about your educational background, which is really impressive. You have a master’s degree. I was just thinking, I’ve met a few, good, intelligent rappers this year who have actually completed college. J. Cole comes to mind, and Dee-1 out of New Orleans. So I wanted to ask you, do you think those degrees lend something extra to your lyrics and to your style?

Tabi Bonney: For me, I think, not per se to my lyrics, but more so towards the discipline and patience, you know, being in the industry and going after your dreams.

AllHipHop.com: Right.

Tabi Bonney: That’s what I think has given me the persistence and discipline to just buckle down and be in this line of work. As far as lyrics, I wouldn’t say so because all the stuff I studied was really scientific.

AllHipHop.com: That’s right, you have a Master’s in Biology. So you’re going to be walking around for the rest of your life with all of this Biology in your head! Do you think you’ll ever do something with that?

Tabi Bonney: I don’t personally think so. I think if I had to do it again, I would go more into other sciences as far as dealing with, say, the solar system or even just new technology of science that’s not biology and stuff.

AllHipHop.com: OK, that’s interesting! Well, Dee-1, who I mentioned earlier, is also a former teacher like you, and he said his students, before he left the classroom, his students knew he rapped. So did your students realize that you were a rapper back then, and did you see any opportunities to use Hip-Hop in your classroom?

Tabi Bonney: Yeah, they actually found out that I rapped and actually did a write-up on me in the school paper. They just came at me to battle me! [laughter] I don’t know. It was just weird because my age from them wasn’t that different. I was maybe three years older than most of my students, because I taught as soon as I graduated college. And then, I was in an inner city school so I had some 19- and 20-year-olds in the classroom.

AllHipHop.com: Wow, that must have been interesting.

Tabi Bonney: It was!

AllHipHop.com: I was looking back and thinking about you, and there are some people out there who might say, out of the D.C. region, you were the bigger rapper at one point, and I’m sure there’s always comparisons to Wale. Do you kind of feel like you built the foundation, and then he just sort of catapulted off it? What are your feelings about that?

Tabi Bonney: I feel like I definitely laid the groundwork because there is still nothing to this day, there hasn’t been another rapper outside of D.C., that has gotten as much radio play as I did, not even being signed. So the thing is, I am extremely excited and happy for Wale, because I think it opens up the door for everybody. And the thing with me is like, I just feel like everybody has their own journey, like I’m completely happy with my own journey and not taking the major label route as of yet because I got those offers during that time. But I just knew it wasn’t right for me, because they thought my song was a dance song.

AllHipHop.com: Right.

Tabi Bonney: So, I could have very well done that and my career could have been over, you know what I mean?

AllHipHop.com: Yeah, absolutely.

Tabi Bonney: So I still feel like I’m just getting started honestly. Just being around Dame Dash and soaking up so much knowledge from him and also looking at the journey and the long haul, because I just really plan on being a multi-millionaire on the road. I’m not one of these guys that’s just in it for the fame and then that’s it. You catch me a year or two later, and I’m broke.

AllHipHop.com: Right, so you love the performance angle. Well, that’s great to hear. Your album, The Summer Years, I know you had Ski Beatz as an executive producer and you just mentioned Dame Dash. So I want to hear about how you hooked up with Dame, and then I want you to tell me…I think your sound is somewhat different now from before and does that have anything to do with the people you’re working with now?

Tabi Bonney: Yeah, I think so. I feel that this is one of my best albums ever. I tried something different; I’ve never done just one single producer for an entire album. And then the other thing that was different about this one, too, is that I actually wrote on the spot in the studio, I’ve never been able to do that before. Usually I have to take the beat with me into my own environment, into my house, or driving in the car around nobody, and just get into my own world.

AllHipHop.com: Right.

Tabi Bonney: With this one just being around Curren$y or seeing Jay Electronica, people like that, just writing on the spot really inspired me to do that. Plus it’s the only way that Ski Beatz works. He only works in the studio. He doesn’t send out music.

AllHipHop.com: And how did you hook up with Dame?

Tabi Bonney: Actually through Facebook. There was a producer who was working with him who was like, ‘Hey, I’m up here at DD172 and Tribeca, I’ve been a fan for years now. I put Dame onto your music, and he wanted you to come up here and meet him.’ So I was like, “Man, I could get there tonight,” and he said, ‘Dame said to come tomorrow.’ So I just hopped in my car and drove from D.C. to New York the very next day and met Dame.

AllHipHop.com: Wow. Well, that’s a great story. Thinking about not being signed as an artist right now, there’s so much technology now that allows you to do so much more on your own, so that’s a great story of how social media connected you with somebody. That’s great.

Tabi Bonney: Definitely, definitely.

AllHipHop.com: I want to ask you about a few individual tracks on the album. The first one is “Hip-Hop and Love” featuring Murs. That’s a really smooth cut and I think Murs is dope. He mentioned an interview with you guys, but it never happened.

AllHipHop.com: Actually, it did. We ran it. I was just going to say that last time I saw him was at “Rock the Bells,” and we ran something on him after, that but I’ll have to make sure that they get to see that. So, tell me about working with Murs.

Tabi Bonney: Oh, man. Same thing. I linked up with Murs on MySpace when it was actually still cool. I’m just going to take you back real quick because it’s such a wild thing. He hit me on MySpace and said he was a fan, that he came onto my music, just stuff like that, and then I think he said, ‘Hey do you want to come out and perform on the Rock the Bells tour this year?’ I told him, “Yeah, thanks.”

So then this year, he asked if I wanted to hop on tour with him for “Paid Dues,” which I think was a 33-city tour. So I did and once we made the stop in New York, I told him I was about to go through and meet up with Dame and Ski, if he wanted to come along. And he said ‘sure,’ so I brought him through. Him and Dame connected, and then we recorded that song on our day off during the tour – the “Hip-Hop and Love” song that Ski did led to the “Hip-Hop and Love Tour” that we’re on right now.

AllHipHop.com: Right, I noticed the title was the same. That’s a dope story. So what about “Feeling More” featuring Nicole Wray? She has a great voice, and I was really happy to hear her on the song.

Tabi Bonney: Yeah, I love Nicole. She is just spectacular and her voice is just “wow.”

AllHipHop.com: She’s one of those people with a voice that makes you just want to see her go farther or make a comeback, or however you want to call it. I was just glad to hear her still recording.

Tabi Bonney: Yeah and I just shot a video for that, so that’s the next video that people will be sitting on. It’s just a great feel, good track. She just so happened to be hanging out in the studio that day, and I was just like, “Yo, I need to have you on a song.”

AllHipHop.com: Right. So things seem to just kind of fall in your path. Sort of like…

Tabi Bonney: Yeah!

AllHipHop.com: That’s sort of your legacy, that you were just in the right place, at all the right times. What about you sampling your father on “On Jupiter?” Tell me about your dad as a musician and his inspiration.

Tabi Bonney: Yeah, well that came from his first album, and I’ve always been a fan of his first album, so I brought that in and let Ski listen to the whole album, and I was like, “Listen to my father’s music, and I would love to sample something so whatever you hear…” just ‘cause I trust Ski’s ears. So he picked the song – the original song is called “Dodci,” that’s D-O-D-C-I, which means ‘patience.’ So he took that, flipped it, and that’s how we got “On Jupiter.”

AllHipHop.com: So, as far as people who are already fans, or people who will read this and say, ‘I’ve got to go check this guy out,’ I know they can catch you now through Thanksgiving on the “Hip-Hop and Love Tour” that you mentioned before. I know you did A3C recently in Atlanta, and I know you did Brooklyn this past weekend, so how are the crowds receiving you as you go to different places in the country and introduce yourself to different people?

Tabi Bonney: It’s been almost overwhelming as far as the reception. I’ve been getting nothing but love from people, and people who have never heard of me are like, ‘I can’t believe I’ve never heard of you. That was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.’ So it’s been just spectacular for me.

AllHipHop.com: Good, good. Well, hopefully this article will help a few people come out and support the tour and get to have the Tabi Bonney experience.

Tabi Bonney: Yeah, you know, the “Hip-Hop and Love Tour,” that’s something for the masses to come out and hear more.

AllHipHop.com: Ok. So with you being an intelligent guy like you are, I always like to close out my interviews with a few current event kinds of things. So, you know we’ve got these folks out there protesting in different cities like “Occupy Wall Street,” and you know people want jobs and they’re demanding all these different things because there’s tough times. I know you have some entrepreneurial ventures of your own. I heard about your production company and your clothing line, Bonney Runway. So coming from you, how important do you think it is to be an entrepreneur in these times and getting your own. What do you think about that?

Tabi Bonney: Yeah, well, it’s time now more than ever to create businesses and be your own boss. You don’t want to be that guy that someone has to come to and say, ‘I don’t need you anymore.’

AllHipHop.com: Right.

Tabi Bonney: That’s the American Dream, the American entrepreneur. From before to Thomas Edison to, you know, Bill Gates. You know, everybody that’s extremely successful, they’ve all been entrepreneurs. That’s the only way that we’re going to further our culture and the U.S. – period.

AllHipHop.com: Yeah, it’s a time that people aren’t getting more they’re going to get less from the government and other entities, so we have to get our own I think. That’s definitely true.

Tabi Bonney: And we do a better service. You create a bigger, a better economy employing those people that don’t want to go that route.

AllHipHop.com: Right. Somebody always has to do it. Exactly. Lastly, this year was pretty good as far as Hip-Hop and rap music go, so I wanted to ask you what your most memorable moment of the year was. Can you think of any standout Hip-Hop moment of the year?

Tabi Bonney: I guess I would say the tour. Just from being in Tampa on this “Hip-Hop and Love Tour,” with Murs, with Dame Dash right there in the corner. And just being like, “Wow, I would love to be that someday,” and just to have someone like him care enough to fly down to Tampa just to do a handful of dates with us, and be in our corner, and be on our tour bus with us. That’s sweet. I can’t even explain that, you know?

AllHipHop.com: Yeah. You seem like such a good guy, so what are you like on tour? Was it like ‘what happens in Tampa stays in Tampa,’ or what? [laughter] What are you like on the road?

Tabi Bonney: You know, stay to myself. I’m there at like 4:00 to go to the stage and perform. I love being able to talk directly to fans and touch the digital world. People hit you up, whether it be Facebook or Twitter, all the time, and to actually meet them in-person at your show.

AllHipHop.com: Right.

Tabi Bonney: You can put a face to a picture or a name, and just to see people mouthing the words of your song that you wrote, like I said, I still feel like I’m just starting. That’s just such a gift to see something that you created effect people and your actually making a living off of what you’re doing and your living your dream and just climbing the ladder towards your ultimate goals.

AllHipHop.com: So meeting people at your show…that sounded like a politically correct way of saying ‘groupies on tour.’ [laughter]

Tabi Bonney: [laughter] You’re hilarious!

AllHipHop.com: Meeting groupies on the road after you meet them on Twitter. Just kidding. Well that’s all the questions I have. Do you have anything else you want to add or let people know about before we wrap up?

Tabi Bonney: Just that they can follow me on Twitter – @TabiBonney – and then just for people to not be afraid to be themselves. ‘Cause we’re just in a culture and a society now where everybody is dressing the same and looking the same, and everyone is just afraid to come out of that shell and straight up be themselves.

AllHipHop.com: That’s great advice, Tabi. Best of luck to you on the upcoming tour and all of your other ventures.

Tabi Bonney: Thank you.

AllHipHop.com: Alright, thank you. Take care.

This post is a collection of behind-the-scenes videos released over the past few days, containing exclusive access to video shoots, recording sessions, and more, with the likes of Dame Dash, B.o.B, Odd Future, Wacka Flocka, Jazze Pha, and 2 Chainz!

We wonder what the cameras didn’t catch…

B.o.B. and Wacka Flocka Recording “Fist Pump”:

Courtesy of BlindFolksVision1

Dame Dash Presents Cavi Life: Episode 2 w/ Cam’Ron and Freekey Zeekey:

Courtesy of DD172

Gucci Mane – “In Love With A White Girl” ft. Yo Gotti:

Courtesy of ATLNightSpots

2 Chainz and Jazze Pha Working In the Studio:

Courtesy of 3LittleDigs

Inside the Odd Future Golf Wang Pop-Up Shop In L.A.:

Courtesy of HighSnobiety

You may not recognize her name, yet, but you will. McKenzie Eddy is the co-founder, alongside music mogul Dame Dash and Raquel Horn, of the media collective known as DD172.

Not only did she help found the creative conglomerate, Eddy is also the president of BluRoc records, a label that released the last two albums from producer Ski Beatz, as well as 2009′s critically acclaimed Blackroc project which featured rappers Ludacris, Curren$y, Mos Def, and Jim Jones, along with singer Nicole Wray and more, collaborating with Grammy Award-winning duo The Black Keys.

Eddy, who is “not just a businesswoman, but also a musician by night,” has been steadily putting out music videos since the Summer 2011 release of her third album, Young Platinum. The album boasted appearances from such artists as Murs, GLC, Cam’ron, Vado, and a slew of others.

In her latest music video, “Windmills” which features GLC, the duo stroll through Chicago during some downtime from a past tour.

Check out the Evan Brockett directed video for McKenzie Eddy’s “Windmills” below:

(AllHipHop News) TMZ is reporting that Jet Life Recordings founder Curren$y is suing Dame Dash, co-founder of both Roc-A-Fella and DD172.

Curren$y, whose real name is Shante Scott Franklin, is suing Dash for $1.5 million for releasing his music without  permission or compensation. TMZ states that both Dash and Franklin began negotiating an agreement to release music together back in 2010; while the deal never materialized, music was still released.

The lawsuit states that two of Curren$y’s albums in 2010, Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk II, were released by Dash despite the New Orleans MC striking a deal with Warner Bros. who had exclusive rights to his music.

At press time, Dash has responded by claiming that he had the right to release “the albums in question because he was given permission.” Dash states that Curren$y stabbed him in the back by “reneging on their agreement and signing instead with Warner Bros.”

A judge has yet to rule in favor of either side. More details will be released soon.

(AllHipHop News) Philadelphia rapper Beanie Sigel has announced exclusively to AllHipHop.com that he signed a new EMI distribution deal under the guidance of industry veteran Chris Schwartz.

During a studio session in Brooklyn, New York last night (March 28), Beanie Sigel spoke one-on-one with AllHipHop.com about the new deal and what it means for the future of his solo career, and more importantly, his State Property affiliates.

“That’s what kind of pushed me to really do this album. I was sought out by Chris Schwartz. He had a situation at EMI and was looking for an artist,” Beanie Sigel explained. “I had just recorded a couple songs in the studio. Somebody heard a record and was like, ‘You should check out Beanie; he hasn’t been doing anything.’

“The first conversation was kind of generic – it was like, ‘Uhh yeah.’ I had deals on the table; I’ve been approached by everybody from everywhere – from E1, well to Koch first, to E1 to Asylum. For me to sign to a major, it’s like, ‘For what?’ I’m too far advanced in my career to go to a 360 deal. I’ve learned too much of the business to put myself in that position now.”

One of the founders of Philadelphia’s State Property rap collaborative that includes Freeway, Peedi Crakk, Young Chris, and others, Beanie Sigel has been plagued over the past few years by legal and industry woes. His well-publicized split with Roc-A-Fella Records in 2009 left him without a label deal, and prison time further stymied his recording.

In 2010, while working with 50 Cent in a rumored agreement with G-Unit, he announced his plans to retire from rap. Now, according to Beanie Sigel, the EMI deal signifies his return to an industry that has changed immensely in the past two to three years alone. With Chris Schwartz, he feels he has the backing of someone reputable who has signed past artists such as The Fugees and Nas.

“If you’ve been through what I’ve been through in my career, you wouldn’t trust no one. You’ll fourth guess everything. What made me do the deal with Chris Schwartz was actually to get the deal together for State Property,” Beanie Sigel said.

“I don’t wanna be selfish – it’s selfish to the people,” he added. “That’s the only reason why I’m doing this. It’s not fun for me no more; it’s work. It used to be fun, and when it starts turning into work, it’s not fun no more.

“But I haven’t been missing. I’ve been missed,” Beanie Sigel reflected with a smile. “I’ve got tons and tons and tons of music that the world has never heard yet. I could make an entire album tomorrow.”

Beanie Sigel plans to release a mixtape in the coming weeks, and his new album, The Classic, is slated for a Summer 2012 release.

Stay tuned for AllHipHop.com’s exclusive video interview with Beanie Sigel in the coming days.

Follow Beanie Sigel on Twitter (@BeanieSigelSP).

(AllHipHop News) Kareem “Biggs” Burke, who is most famously known as one of the co-founders of Roc-A-Fella, was sentenced earlier today (June 5) to five years in prison for conspiring to distribute over 100 kilos of marijuana.

The NY Daily News is reporting that Burke, 38, “was snared in a federal drug sting called “Operation Green Venom,” which targeted a trafficking ring that controlled most of the wholesale pot market in the city.” The drug sting led to the arrests of over 50 people involved.

Reports state that Burke swore to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Loretta Swain that the two would never see each other in court again. She responded, “Nothing personal, but I’m going to keep you to that promise.”

Back in October of 2010, Burke, along with 40 others, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for their involvement with a narcotic ring at the time. Special Agent Jim Hayes told the NY Post at the time of arrest regarding the narcotics ring, “It was transported in bulk from Florida to New York. From there it was divvied up among three main cells in the NYC-area and distributed to their clients. As the investigation continues, we want to make sure that other rival networks or other co-conspirators cannot use the same tools.”

Burke, along with Dame Dash and Jay-Z, co-founded Roc-A-Fella records in 1996. The business trio went there separate ways in 2004 where Jay-Z eventually landed his own situation with his current label, RocNation, while Dash created DD172.

Curren$y is one of the hardest working MCs in the Hip-Hop game right now, although to him he refers to his work as “fun” – which there can never be enough of. Following the release of his Warner Bros. debut, The Stoned Immaculate, Spitta diverted his attention to the work coming out of his own camp of Jet Life Recordings.

In addition to the the New Orleans native rattling off a slew of projects that are in in the works, Curren$y, who is his own boss now, spoke on Jet Life Recordings, and what he learned from being around C.E.O.s like Master P and Dame Dash in the past during his tenure with the respective moguls.

Curren$y also spoke on the current status of relationships with Lil Wayne and Master P, his level of involvement with the individual projects coming from his Jet Life roster, and his process for recruiting new talent to his team.

Check out our exclusive interview with Curren$y below:

Check back for more of our interview with Curren$y throughout the week.

Filed under: Features, Headlines, MOBILE Tagged: Cash Money, Cornerboy P, Curren$y, Dame Dash, DD172, Fiend, jet life recordings, Jet World Order 2, lil wayne, Master P, New Jet City, No Limit, Smoke DZA, summerfeed, Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy

(AllHipHop News) Rap mogul Damon Dash has filed a $5 million lawsuit against a former attorney, claiming she ruined a high-profile distribution deal with rapper Curren$y.

According to reports, Dame Dash’s company DD172 and BluRoc Records, have filed a lawsuit against Janis Shen last week in Manhattan Federal Court.

The lawsuit claims that Janice Shen failed to complete the contractual paperwork for an oral agreement Dame Dash had with Curren$y, resulting in the loss of the artist altogether, as well as several other upcoming acts.

Curren$y was supposed to create three albums with Damon Dash, including Muscle Car Chronicles and Pilot Talk I and II.

But Dame Dash claims that the lawyer he hired failed to create the necessary contract, resulting in  Curren$y taking his albums to Warner Music Group.

The move also cost Damon Dash his distribution deal with Island/Def Jam, according to the lawsuit, which also resulted in the loss of recording artist Stalley.

In addition to $5 million worth of damages, Dane – is also seeking lawyer fees and court costs.

“I love the game, I love the hustle, man… As long as n*ggas is feeling it, a n*gga like me could hustle it. That’s my gift in life, ay, you know?”  -Mitch, Paid in Full

It’s impossible to believe it’s been 10 years since Roc-A-Fella Records released the movie, Paid in Full.

The film was heavily themed on money, power, and respect – the key ingredients to every ‘hood classic ever made. Based loosely around the events surrounding the 1980s Harlem drug kingpins Azie Faison, Alpo, and Rich Porter, Paid In Full and its director Charles Stone III brought out explosive performances by rapper Cam’Ron and Hip-Hop-flavored actor, Mekhi Pfifer. Wood Harris would shine in the film and later captivate us as “Avon Barksdale” on HBO’s “The Wire”, also directed by Stone.

AllHipHop.com takes a look at how Paid In Full changed the game through videos, lyrics, “Money Makin’ Mitch, and even a few rap names:

Young Jeezy’s “Soul Survivor” featuring Akon – When the song came out, it was explosive on its own merit. But, it was the visuals had all the dope boys going crazy about the video.

As a movie, Paid In Full has stood the test of time – 10 years later, and everyone from Meek Mill to Curren$y are still referencing the movie.

The character “Mitch” alone seemed to make a profound impact on viewers. His scene has been sampled by numerous artists, from Wale’s 11/11/11 mixtape, which features a snippet from the movie, to Ghostface Killah featuring Trife da God’s “Hustle Hard” lyrics.

On Meek Mill’s Dreams and Nightmares, the young MMG star explodes on the intro to his debut album by referencing Mekhi Pfifer’s character, Mitch.

On The Diplomats’ “I Really Mean It”, Cam’ron even made mention: “First role ever/ I killed Mekhi Phifer…”

Ultimately, Paid In Full shows the rise and fall of three drug dealers and how the game is loyal to no man. It seems the love of the game will never change, and the hustle will never stop! Most rap music is a reflection of what’s happening in communities across our country. Perhaps Paid In Full’s genius was the glimpse it offered into the mindset of what’s really good in the ‘hood.

(AllHipHop News) Business mogul Damon Dash has announced plans to take his vision for art international, by opening galleries in South Carolina and eventually Hong Kong.

In September, Damon Dash opened his Poppington Art Gallery, which is located at 60 Orchard Street in downtown Manhattan.

Poppington is part of Dame Dash’s DD 172, an umbrella organization that includes the art gallery, a record label and other businesses.

In 2013, Damon Dash has his eyes set on the artistic community based in South Carolina.

“South Carolina is the New York of the South…with beaches…I like the town and there is a strong undiscovered artistic community from music to art,” Damon Dash told AllHipHop.com.

The move is inline with Dash’s global vision for DD172, which he founded to support the creation and distribution of works by artists, musicians, filmmakers and other creative types.

Dash hopes the move to South Carolina will help the growth of his brands, which he aims to turn into “a franchise.”

“We will be bringing artist that we show in our New York gallery to the South and artists that we show in the South to the New York gallery,” Dash explained. “It’s like a franchise. Next is Hong Kong.”

Raekwon is the man from the Clan, but I got a tidbit that he’s got a new business venture that’s really cool. The Wu General posted a picture saying, “Into the furniture business, Wu desk.”

I’m thinking this is going to be a success, because I would definitely put this in my house. I’m only hoping that the cost is not too much of a head crack.

It looks pretty pricey.

DAMN! DAMN DASH DOING JUST GREAT?

A lot of people were laughing the other day at the interview Dame Dash did, where he sent a dagger Jay-Z’s way. He kind of clowned Jay for still being into Hip-Hop in his 40s. So, people he something to say about him. BUT, I’m hearing that Dame Dash is now about to make a dream come to reality with “Dash Motor Oil” and “Dash Motors.” Now well over a year ago, there were these reports and it seemed like this venture was just another headline. But it seems like its true! If so, Dame is about to be caked up again. Quiet as kept, I heard he and Jim Jones are making a lot of money together!

Here is the whole interview with Combat Jack.

And here is a video from 2011 talking about Dash Motor Oil.

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.]

Illseed, Out.

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A recent report by the Daily News has suggested that Dame Dash is dead broke, basically drowning in debt.Here is a summary:

- He pays $24,000 every three months to his ex-wife, fashion designer Rachel Roy, for child support of their two kids, and to cover money owed on the lofts.
- New York state forces Dash to send another $4,341.10 per month for support of his son, Christian.
- He paid nearly $20,000 in garnished wages in late 2012 for other debts.
- He owes more than $2 million in taxes to New York state
- He owes $100k in back rent for a mansion he lives in

Here is what Dame tells the NY Daily news:

“I’m an independent businessman and this is what comes from business. I have the guts to fight my battles on my own and it’s entertainment to everybody else because I’m so cool about it.”

THE FLIP SIDE!

I happen to know that Dame Dash may be setting things up for a great come back. Here’s what I got:

- Dame has V Vodka on the way
-Dusko Whiskey is on the way
- I told you about Dash Oil Company already
- He has Vampire Life Clothing with Jim Jones and I heard they are making real money!
- Art studios in NYC and SC…I don’t know how they make money, but he has them

Somehow I think Dame is setting up something big…for our entertainment. I know one thing, if you rent a mansion you cannot afford…you’re not broke. He’s just living above his means. Kill that overhead!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.

Illseed, Out.

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(AllHipHop News) Six years after Jay-Z sold his and Dame Dash’s Rocawear clothing line to Iconix Brand Group and the once prominent clothing brand is now facing legal troubles. According to The New York Post,  Rocawear is being sued by wholesale company iSource NYC for $450,000 of unpaid fees for shipping Rocawear clothing from Pakistan to New York City from April to June of 2012.

The deal to ship clothing from Pakistan to NYC between the two companies was agreed at a price of $1 million which Rocawear has since paid only half of. The wholesale company asserts that the clothing “were specially ordered goods . . . [with] the ‘Rocawear’ brand name imprinted on [them].”

While Jay-Z did sell Rocawear he maintained control of product development, licensing and marketing.

[ALSO CHECK OUT: Jay-Z, Nas, Justin Timberlake, & Timbaland Together In The Studio]

(AllHipHop News) Time heals most wounds but it doesnt take the sting out of the past. This is a truth that Dame Dash recently exhibited in an Instragram picture of him listening to Jay-Z’s new album Magna Carta Holy Grail.

The picture, snapped at the Lower East Side barbershop “Well Connected” contained the following caption:

In the barber shop listening to jays new album….I can’t front… I still like hearing him pop shit cause I know he’s telling the truth…proud to be be a part of that..#bittersweet

Check out a short video of Dame enjoying a few cuts from Magna Carta Holy Grail:

I was alerted to something: Jay-Z has changed his name. The artist formally known as Jay-Z is now to be referred to as Jay Z.

Remove the dash and you have his new name for your pleasure. Now, I was thinking, in my own twisted mind that Jay removed the dash from his name as a sneak diss to Dame Dash! OK, I know its crazy and even foolish, but I’ve come to realize that Jay has a super slick way of dissing people. Recently Dame commented on Jay, where he said:

“In the barber shop listening to jays new album….I can’t front… I still like hearing him pop shit cause I know he’s telling the truth…proud to be be a part of that..#bittersweet.”

And then Jay-Z told Hot 97:

“No matter what, no time or space. No matter how many years I ain’t seen him, the love is still there because what we’ve done will forever be stamped in history. We created something that’s going to go down forever. I can only have love for Damon.”

AND THEN HE DROPPED THE DASH LIKE 2 WEEKS LATER! GET IT!?! OHHHH…That Jay is slicker than a can of grease!

OH YEAH…THAT BOYCOTT….=

In related news, it doesn’t look like Jay “No Dash” Z is boycotting anything. I know people at AHH were calling and trying to verify this so-called massive boycott and nobody was able to do so. Looks like Stevie Wonder and Mary Mary are all alone in their protest. It doesn’t appear that anybody on that so-called massive list was really boycotting Florida.

In fact, it looks like this so-called royal baby has blocked out all the Trayvon coverage. Between that and Zimmerman’s BS saving somebody from their car, its looking like people have their hands full.

Moms ain’t smiling though. And neither is Dame! Lets link back up! Bring Dame back into the fray!!!!

I was kidding about him dissing Dame, for you WACK JOBS that think I was for real.

I’m out.

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.

Illseed, Out.

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(AllHipHop News) If you checked Instagram this morning you’ve seen a grainy photo of Jay-Z and Dame Dash that could easily be mistaken for a #TbT pic.

Believe it or not, the photo was taken last night a mutual friend and music executive Chaka Pilgrim birthday party.

No word on if this will start the process to mend their friendship but who wouldn’t love to a reunited Rocafella?

(AllHipHop News) Former Roc-A-Fella Records partners Jay Z and Dame Dash reconnected at Chaka Pilgrim’s birthday party last night. Dame uploaded photos of the two estranged friends to his Instagram page. It has been years since the two music executives have been seen together publicly.

Dame had previously posted a video of him listening to Jay’s new album Magna Carta Holy Grail with a caption that read, “In the barber shop listening to jays new album….I can’t front… I still like hearing him pop sh*t cause I know he’s telling the truth…proud to be a part of that..#bittersweet.”

[ALSO READ: Dame Dash Calls Listening To Jay-Z New Album “Bittersweet”]

(AllHipHop Features) Labor Day weekend has traditionally been viewed as the unofficial end to the summer, so with the hottest season of the year winding down, AllHipHop.com takes a look back at the hottest Hip Hop news stories of the last three months. Major headlines included a day time “robbery” of an Atlanta rapper, the polarizing verdict in the trial of the year, the public mending of a broken friendship, and the collapse of another former relationship over ghostwriting allegations.

Of course the music of Hip Hop’s elite took center stage as well. One NYC legend amended the laws of the music business’ constitution and another shared his approval of a southern transplant. The West Coast was not left out of the “Summer of Hip Hop.” Rap’s newest superstar challenged the entire Hip Hop community to stepped their bars up with one highly celebrated verse. Take a trip down recent memory lane in the 10 biggest Hip Hop related stories from the summer of 2013.

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2 Chainz Got Robbed Or Nah?

On June 10th, reports began making the rounds online that 2 Chainz was held up at gunpoint in San Francisco. The “Feds Watching” rapper quickly took to Twitter to deny he was the victim of a robbery, tweeting: “Rule #1 if a rapper gets robbed people usually post items that has been taken. Rings, chains, watch, money etc.”

Within days TMZ posted video footage of the incident, and a few weeks later 2 Chainz’s driver’s license and bank card were posted on Instagram. The A-Town native went back to social media to make the point that he was not “robbed,” only “pick pocketed.” He continued to advance that claim on his verse on Big Sean’s “Mula (Remix)” where he raps, “And I still ain’t never been robbed, so n*gga don’t try me/Two n*ggas with guns, natural wallet/That pick pocket they want my I.D.”

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Jay Z Introduces #NewRules

Jay Z has repeatedly changed the rules of the rap game throughout his career. The Brooklyn icon has set almost as many precedents as the U.S. Supreme Court. When it came time to roll out his 12th solo album Magna Carta Holy Grail, Jigga was on a mission to revolutionize the music world forever. He announced his latest LP with a Samsung commercial that introduced his #NewRules campaign. The unprecedented deal with the technology company included the purchase of 1 million copies of MCHG by Samsung helping Jay receive platinum status from the RIAA before the album was even released.

Even with Billboard refusing to recognize those sales for their album chart and privacy questions about the mobile app associated with the album, Jay managed to secure the second biggest first week album sales of 2013. The 528,000 units sold in MCHG’s opening week can be credited to Jay’s long-standing supportive fan base and his inventive promotional tactics such as debuting the cover art next to the real Magna Carta in London and the social media-shy emcee holding an hours-long Q&A on Twitter.

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The Murder Of Lil Snupe

Lil Snupe was a rising rapper on Meek Mill’s Dream Chasers Records. The 18-year-old’s life was unfortunately cut short when he was killed on June 20th in Winnfield, Louisiana. Police issued an arrest warrant for Tony Holden, 36, accusing him of murdering Snupe after an argument over a video game. Holden eventually turned himself into authorities and was charged with 1st degree murder, armed robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A second suspect, Edrick O. Stewart, was also arrested in July.

Friends of Snupe, like Meek and Louisiana Cash, honored the young emcee in tribute songs, and the track “Lil Snupe Intro” will appear on Maybach Music Group’s upcoming compilation album Self Made 3 due out on September 17th. Lil Snupe’s mixtapes can be downloaded at datpiff.com.

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Nas Tells J. Cole He Wasn’t Let Down

Roc Nation emcee J. Cole has always been vocal about his appreciation for Hip Hop legend Nas. He transferred that admiration for God Son into a personal track on his second album Born Sinner called “Let Nas Down.” Hot 97′s Peter Rosenberg announced the song was coming on his morning radio show in May, and the Hip Hop nation patiently waited to hear what Cole would say about how Nas was apparently disappointed by his single “Work Out.”

In an unexpected turn, Nas jumped in the booth to record a remix to Jermaine’s track. On the new version, the Queensbridge rhymer tells Cole, “I ain’t mad at you, young king” and “Now I’m playing Born Sinner loud/ saw you live, rock the crowd/ Like wow, you made your n*gga Nas proud.”  Even without an official project released in summer 2013, with one track Nas left his mark on the season, and he gave a potent co-sign to one of the leading young stars in Hip Hop.

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Hip Hop Albums Dominate Summer Sales

Anyone who follows music knows that album sales have consistently declined over the last decade. Hip Hop was especially hit hard because of savvy fans who know how to find leaked copies on the internet and from a lack of high quality studio projects. This summer saw a resurgence of LP’s from rap artists that took over the Billboard 200.

Kanye West’s Yeezus, Wale’s The Gifted, J. Cole’s Born Sinner, and Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail all pushed enough units to land at Number 1 on the album chart establishing the first time four different rap albums landed in the top spot for four consecutive weeks. Add in the chart success of Mac Miller’s Watching Movies With the Sound Off, and Hip Hop set another record for maintaining the 1-3 spots in the country for three straight weeks for the first time in the genre’s history.

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George Zimmerman Found Not Guilty For The Murder Of Trayvon Martin

In February of 2012, the entire country was forced to address the issue of modern-day racism once again when 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida. Seventeen months later his killer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted of murder, and the reaction from most of the African American community ranged from disappointment to shock to anger.

Zimmerman’s not guilty verdict set off demonstrations across the nation, tribute songs by various entertainers, and a speech by President Obama. It also led to Martin’s parents leading the charge to get Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law overturned, the NAACP introducing “Trayvon’s Law” legislation, a statewide boycott by Stevie Wonder, protests at Governor Rick Scott’s office, and a Coalition to Stop Gun Violence public service announcement. Martin’s tragic death will be forever immortalized in American history when his symbolic hoodie is added to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

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Nicki Minaj vs Ransom

AllHipHop’s resident rumor mill master Illseed triggered another major discussion in Hip Hop about “ghostwriting” when he wrote a post on New Jersey rapper Ransom’s song “Man Alone.” The track features a line where Ransom raps, “Before Nicki was wearing those crazy wigs I was doing verses for her just hoping she made it big.” The choice of words in the lyrics left its meaning open for interpretation. Was Ran implying that he wrote lyrics for Nicki before she became a star or was he simply reminding the world of his prior connection to the Young Money femcee?

TMZ caught up with Nicki and asked her about the rumors that Ransom was once her ghostwriter. The leader of the Barbz went on an explicit filled rant telling the pap that she “don’t need no muthaf*cking ghostwriter.” Nicki later admitted that she had not even heard the verse at the time she was asked the question, but she let Ransom know on Twitter that he was still partially responsible for the controversy, because as she put it, the line should have been “reworded.” While Ransom maintained that he was not claiming credit for Nicki’s raps and felt he was taken out of context, the veteran rapper received the most publicity of his career from the ordeal. He booked several high-profile interviews including a sit down on Sway Calloway’s morning show.

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Dame Dash & Jay Z Reunite

When Roc-A-Fella broke up it was the end of an era in Hip Hop. The trio of Jay Z, Dame Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke launched one of the greatest labels in rap history. The Roc was once home to Kanye West, Cam’ron, Dipset, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, DJ Clue, and State Property, but the split between the co-founders led to artists and fans choosing sides. For years Dame and Jay remained estranged, and it seemed as if the two former friends would never repair their relationship.

Then when Jay began his press run for his latest album Magna Carta Holy Grail earlier this summer, the Roc Nation boss had several kind words to say about Dame. He told Hot 97, “No matter how many years I ain’t seen him, the love is still there, because what we’ve done will forever be stamped in history.” Dame also showed his love for Jay on Instagram when he posted a video of him listening to MCHG with the caption, “In the barber shop listening to jays new album….I can’t front… I still like hearing him pop sh*t cause I know he’s telling the truth…proud to be a part of that..#bittersweet.” The mutual respect finally went from mentions in the media to real life when Jay and Dame were photographed together at Chaka Pilgrim’s birthday party in August. It was the first time the two had been pictured together in years.

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Kendrick Lamar Takes “Control” Of The Game

Kendrick Lamar’s contribution to “Control“ by Big Sean was easily Hip Hop’s most talked about verse in years. When one of the few platinum selling rappers of this generation claims he’s the only emcee in the same league as Jay Z, Nas, Eminem, and Andre 3000, calls out his verbal competitors by name, and plants his flag as the king of both the West Coast and New York, the gauntlet has been thrown down for scores of rappers to take shots at the throne.

Responses poured in from Joell Ortiz, Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B, Cassidy, Papoose, Joe Budden, Joey Bada$$, and many more. While none of the actual rappers Kendrick named have responded on wax yet, a few like Big Sean, Wale, Meek Mill, and Drake chose to offer their take on the friendly competition during interviews. If Kendrick’s “Control” verse sparks a continual focus on lyrics it may end up being the most valuable Hip Hop moment of the summer.

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Twerking Goes Mainstream

First off, let’s be clear. Despite what some news outlets may report, “twerking” was not invented by Miley Cyrus. The dance has a long history in the south under various names like “popping,” “gushing,” “dropping,” and “bouncing,” but what cannot be denied is that the pop singer formerly known as Hannah Montana has taken the twerk dance to another level.

Miley began her reign as mainstream America’s “twerk queen” when a video of her dancing to J. Dash’s “WOP” went viral. That was followed by her on stage twerk debut at a Juicy J concert in June. The official coronation took place at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards when Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter teamed up with Alan Thicke’s son for a mashup performance of Miley’s “We Can’t Stop” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and “Give It 2 U.” Even the Oxford Online Dictionary took notice of the twerking phenomenon by adding the term to their database.

[ALSO READ: 10 Essential Hip-Hop Soundtracks You Need In Your Music Collection]

[ALSO READ: 10 Nas Songs That Can Elevate Higher Learning]

(AllHipHop News) Dame Dash’s son has been working on etching his own name in the music business but may have tarnished that image before it began. According to  The New York Post, Dame Dash Jr was arrested this past Tuesday (September 25th) on allegations of him strangling his girlfriend.

A source told The New York Post detailed the physical confrontation:

She was visiting him at his apartment, he got violent with her, starts to punch her, slap her and shove her onto the bed, got on top of her, he grabs her by the throat and chokes her

The suit alleges the victim, whose name was not released, suffered a black eye, cut lip and red lacerations on her neck. A law enforcement source informed The Post that the physical altercation resulted from “an apparent dispute over sex.” 

Dash Jr appeared at his arraignment on Wednesday (September 26th) and signed an order of protection banning him from coming close to the alleged victim.