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FLY Interviews SFPL TV

Fly Interview: Elijah Blake Talks Sankofa.org, “Hanging Tree”, Social Justice & more

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Recently, singer/songwriter Elijah Blake stopped by SFPL TV to talk about his new song “Hanging Tree” in benefit of Harry Belafonte‘s social justice organization, Sankofa.org. He also spoke about working with several artists including almost working for Queen Bey herself, Beyonce, and his upcoming new music.

“Hanging Tree” first appeared as a snippet visual on Sankofa.org’s visual EP “17”, which featured music by artists Ty Dolla $ign, Raphael Saadiq, Mali Music as well as Blake and is now available on all DSPs.

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SFPL TV

SFPL LIVE: LeA Robinson and Darnell Roy Talks ‘First Family of Hip Hop’

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Bravo TV‘s First Family of Hip Hop‘s LeA Robinson and Darnell Roy stopped by Stuff Fly People Like‘s new series SFPL LIVE via Facebook. The brother and sister duo talked about their family legacy, individual projects, music, aiming to run Sugar Hill Records, life after MTV‘s Sweet 16 and more.

 

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Both LeA and Darnell are currently in the studio working on their future projects.

Darnell’s new single/visual “Not So Low Key” featuring Velous is out now.

LeA’s project S.A.Y. (Songs About You) is due out soon. The first official single in anticipation of her musical body of work, “Hey Young Boy” will be out next week.

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Check out the full interview above.

Catch ‘First Family of Hip Hop’ on Sundays at 9/8c on Bravo.

Photo Credit: Bernard “Beanz” Smalls

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FLY Interviews

Fly Interview: Kari Faux Is That Beam of Sound That We’ve Been Looking For…

Rapper/Singer repping Little Rock, Arkansas, Kari Faux has been delivering her profound sound with minimal production to the music airwaves setting the tone to be one of the industry’s most spotlighted artist. Appearing on HBO‘s Insecure‘s official soundtrack gravitated Faux’s visibility to higher heights, gaining a even newer fanbase. Recently, Gabriel Williams of Stuff Fly People Like sat with the budding star as she talked about her new music, influences, style, being Lost In Los Angeles and more.

Check out the full interview below.

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Tell me a little about yourself?

I don’t know, that’s such a broad question. I mean I’m from Little Rock, Arkansas. I moved to L.A. a year ago [and] started making the music that is the album. [That’s what brought on the title of the album right?] Yes, Lost In Los Angeles and I feel like it’s more [of an] honest version of myself. I don’t know if you’ve heard Laugh Now Die Later which was the first mixtape. [It] was more fun but I feel like this one is a little bit more honest.

So being from Arkansas which for some of us is like unheard of. We maybe come across 1 out of like 15 people from Arkansas in a place like New York City, so I’ve always been fascinated to know what goes on over there. What do you guys listen to and what was your upbringing like?

As far as how things are over there I mean it’s southern, very southern. [We] listen to [artists like] Bossie and Webbie. That’s what you hear when you go to the club. We’re two hours away from Memphis, and then we’re like 8 hours away from Atlanta, we’re close to New Orleans, we’re close to like all of Texas; [all these areas are} a big influence so it’s just a really country, southern place.

Wow, I’ve never been so what’s why I don’t know anything about it. That’s crazy, I didn’t realize it’s so close to everything, that’s pretty cool.

I mean it’s basically like Nashville without the music scene, without the poppin’ music scene. There’s no music scene, but I mean if we had like more artists coming out; which [now] there are a lot of artists working and utilizing the Internet. We can easily become a Nashville or a Austin because we’re in the center of like everything.

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So your style of music what influenced that? I kind of hear a little bit of the regular more clean rap. You can understand what you’re saying and you understand every lyric, which kind of takes me back to artists like MC Lyte you know to the days of Queen Latifah.

I like, which everybody feels is elementary but I like the early hip hop stuff where you know what they’re saying and like the rhyme scheme is very easy.

And they’re telling you a story.

Yes, like that kind of stuff. I don’t know, it was just easy for me to get into.

So what brought that on, how did you pick that up?

I honestly don’t know. I mean I listen to… I don’t know like who does that? Who even does that style of rap? I was saying earlier [how] Lady Mecca from Digable Planets, I like how easy her flow was and how smooth her voice was just over tracks. Even JJ Fad with Supersonic that shit is fire, like it’s easy, not too complex you just go with the beat.

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With your style which is different and I like it by the way; I think it’s going to go far, what are you looking to add to music? Are you looking to have others follow you into that era when hip hop was simple?

Not necessarily I just want to do what I want to do and if people like it and want to do the same thing then cool, but I don’t understand why people don’t like that style of rap. I mean like going super hard and being super lyrical that’s tight, it’s cool, and you have to have like some real fucking talent to do that; but also I’m just like that’s where rap music started.

So have you been getting a lot of backlash from it, is that what it is?

Not a lot but I mean people do be like “Ah this is elementary” and I’m like so.

Don’t worry about them. There’s always going to be naysayers saying whatever they want to say. It’s different and people can catch on to it and you stand out which is what’s important.

Thank you.

So the L.A. life what did you experience there? Tell us about the good and the bad of being there compared to Arkansas? What did that bring about on your album?

The good is [that] I feel completely free when I’m in L.A. I feel like I can be whatever I want to be compared to [being in] Little Rock like you kind of have to be hard and you have to be tough for people to really truly support you and fuck with you. I mean they fuck with me because they’re like “oh okay she’s from the hometown,” but in L.A. I don’t feel like I have to restrain myself. I can just be free musically and as a person. Then also in L.A. I feel so out of place when I’m there sometimes. I just feel super…

Even up until now?

Well now I appreciate it a lot more, but when I first got there I felt really out of place.

Because it was a complete change.

Yes, and I had never been to L.A. before I moved there so it was like [a] culture shock.

So you just went straight there?

Yes.

Oh, wow!

I was culture shocked like crazy.

So you went there knowing that you wanted to pursue music, that’s what made you make the move?

I was already making music.

Yes, you were making music of course, but you went to L.A. for better opportunities?

Yes.

So what can we expect from the project?

A lot of honesty, vulnerability. It’s a lot of different like there’s no one genre. There [are] jazz influences, funk influences, disco influences, and west coast influences. I think it’s a really fun album. Even the saddest song on there is like “Oh yea this shit rides.”

What’s the meaning of the title of Lost in Los Angeles?

So basically Lost in Los Angeles is trying to find yourself in a new place. When you’re in your hometown you know who you are, everybody knows who you are. You worked to establish yourself, [you’re committed] to being this person. Once you’re taken out of your element where you’re most comfortable and you’re put somewhere else you kind of have to figure out who you are again. You have different elements coming into play and you’re like wait and you ask yourself “Is this who I am?” or  “Is this what I stand for?” or “Do I like myself?” You know all these different things so that’s just kind of where I was, just questioning myself and I got an album out of it.

As far as your next project is there anyone you want to collaborate with? Are there any artist out right now that you think would be dope to work with?

I really want to work with Michael Christmas. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of Michael Christmas, he’s a dude from Boston and there’s this other dude from Boston named Cousin Stizz who’s really dope. But I haven’t really thought about it. I do want to do more features [on] my next project.

What about producers?

I don’t know. I’m very like me and him have good chemistry, we have a good thing. I do want to work with other producers but I’m not like…

You won’t get mad if she works with other producers, right?

Naw, he actually encourages me to work with other people,but I’m just so…

You’re used to a certain sound, correct?

Yes, exactly.

I get it, I totally get it. So explain your style. I see you change up your hair every now and then.

I change up my hair like every week.

I saw pictures of you with braids in the short bob, and then I see your hair now, and I think I saw another picture of you with your hair out.

I’ve been wearing my hair like this. I’m trying to keep my hair like this for a while because I’m actually trying to grow a afro a big afro. My hair is natural under this so, but I have commitment issues when it comes to styles, cities, people. That’s just how it is sometimes.

So how is your style would you describe it as retro?

It’s whatever I’m feeling that day or that week or that month it just switches up, it changes [but] I’m trying to be better about having a consistent style.

So as far as what you’re doing now with the music and everything that’s going on, are you in a good place right now where you think you can kind of soar musically, and get to where you need to be?

Since the album came out I’m just like I just want to rap and I’ve been just been writing little raps or whatever. I had like a session with a producer the other day and walked out of there with like two amazing beats so I’m excited about the future. I’m very excited. I think it’s going to be really, really cool.

How did the album come into being?

Most of the songs were ideas [I had] or he would make something and I would go “Oh I know exactly what this could be and I would write something, [Sometimes] I would already have something written and then I would bring it to him and he would just make something. Then I would make my words fit to the beat basically. I started to learn to write without the music, which I feel is better for me because [at times] writing to the music I feel like I was being bound by the music. Kind of like “Oh no this has to go right here.”  I just [decided to] start just writing stuff and then just making it fit just later on.

So you’re from Arkansas as well?

Yes.

So you guys pretty much moved to L.A. together?

Yes.

So how long have you guys been working together?

Since 2011, so five years.

 

I heard “This Right Here.” How did that song come about?

His Dad’s from L.A. so his family came out for Christmas the year before last. So he made this beat and his brother came in there and was like, “Hold my fucking phone this right here my song” and we all just started saying it together and I was like “I’m gonna make a song out of that.” He was like “Alright, bet.” He got like a writers credit on my album and everything. It’s pretty cool.

Explain the video is that your normal day to day or kind of like cookout party situation because I saw kids on one side playing in the living room?

No, that’s not a very normal situation. Well the thing is when I’m in LA my manager takes me to these parties with his friends so yea I guess it is kind of when I’m in LA and I’m with his friends and stuff they have like kids and they be cooking it be cool, it be fun.

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Photo Credit: Bernard “Beanz” Smalls 

Follow Kari Faux

Twitter & IG: @KariFaux

 

 

 

 

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Entertainment

KeKe Palmer Talks Social Media Clapbacks, Sexism & Her New Crush on The YBF Podcast

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KeKe Palmer & TheYBF.com‘s founder Natasha Eubanks sat down this week for a crazy new episode of The YBF Podcast, plus a mini photoshoot!  It was all hosted at the gorgeous Samsung 837 experiential flagship & cultural destination in New York City’s Meatpacking District.
 
KeKe talks about getting the internet trolls together, her sexy 90’s inspired image, her new NBA love interest, why she used Kylie Jenner to talk about beauty standards, and gives the tea on the movie industry. While chatting about her new EP Lauren, she exclusively revealed what she’s working on with Chris Brown.
 

KeKe also dished on why she’s unbothered by people who don’t love her new image, the MAJOR divas she wants to play in a biopic, that tragic Aaliyah biopic, playing in a new lesbian love story movie called “Pimp”, the craziest celeb contacts in her phone, and who she would smash-marry-kill (both men AND women).

A few highlights:

 

On clapping back during social media drama:

“You see me clapping back because I’m a real person.  I don’t feel like just because I’m on tv I have to hold myself to the standard you think that I should.  I want everyone to stop believing and buying into ‘Just because you’re famous, why would you pay attention to me,’ and all these things that aren’t true.. “

 

On her new crush:

Jimmy Butler [of the Chicago Bulls].  Girl, he is fine!”

 

On the Kanye & Trump debacle:

“You don’t know if he’s doing it all for a gag or…Him and Donald Trump could be in on some ish together for all we know.  There’s so much entertainment that goes on and it’s so well thought out and so organized, I don’t even think people realize it.”

 

On sexism:
“The age thing, I always felt. The African American thing, I always felt.  The sexism, that came with womanhood. I could not believe it. It is horrific. My mama always told me to keep your eye on the prize…We honestly do have to swallow our pride. Women have to do it more then men do….[So now I say], ‘I’m listening to you, I’m loving everything you’re saying. But last time I checked, I had 4.4 million followers and I don’t need you to let me release my video.'”
 
On what she REALLY meant by her Kylie Jenner social media post about beauty standards:
 
“It’s no disrespect, but this family is the biggest example of this which is, ‘I’ll do anything that they want me to do to get the attention.’ When people are saying ‘Yeah I love this,’ you’re buying into them saying ‘I’ll do anything to make myself the beauty standard’….We send a lot of different conflicting messages.  When was the last time we ever praised a girl for being natural [physically]?”

The YBF Podcast is the newest entity of TheYBF.com.
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SFPL TV

Fly Interview: Singer Joe Talks New Album, Bryson Tiller, Tory Lanez & more with SFPL TV

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If you really want a good opinion on today’s state of R&B, singer Joe Thomas is the one to speak to about the flow of music now in 2016.

This veteran singer has a new album on the way titled #MyNameIsJoeThomas, which drops this Friday, November 11. On the project, Joe says that he stays true to him and his writing, which he has always been labeled quite often as a “hater” (he laughs during the interview) due to the lyrics and meaning of the song, that could possibly affect relationships but yet, still telling the truth about what goes on in certain cases.

Speaking more on the platform of today’s R&B/Soul, Thomas says the only problem that he has with music today is the lack of creativity, forcing artists to be on the repetitive side, therefore, stunting one’s creative side. At the same time, Joe did boast artist like; Bryson Tiller, Jeremih and Tory Lanez as they new wave of what is considered Rhythm and Blues, realizing that times have changed.

To add, Joe says:

I think R&B has sort of taken a backseat to the influence that they could have on the generation.

Joe also touched on taking care of himself, his voice, style, Top 3 albums of his choice and more.

Take a look at the FULL interview above.

You can get ‘#MyNameIsJoeThomas’ on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Tidal and Spotify, just to name a few.

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SFPL TV

Fly Interview: Singer Mario Talks New Single & Album, Growth, Being An Independent Artist & more with SFPL TV

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Singer/Songwriter Mario is back in action with a new single entitled “I Need More” and a brand new album on the way titled Paradise Cove, which is set to drop at the top of the year 2017.

Recently, the “Let Me Love You” talent stopped by SFPL TV to talk about his hiatus from the music industry since his last official 2009 album D.N.A., personal growth, finding himself, now being an independent artist since leaving his label home and parting ways with J Records, and much more.

Take a look at the full interview above.

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Music

Watch: Tory Lanez is the Next Artist Featured in PRIMED [Video]

Music Choice will feature rising Toronto R&B crooner Tory Lanez in PRIMED, its new artist initiative, August 12-28, 2016. The robust programming initiative gives artists unprecedented access on Music Choice including exposure on the #1 Free Video On Demand network, on TV with Mediabase reported Music Channels and interactively with Music Choice Play.

Tory Lanez’ current single ‘LUV’ will be featured on Music Choice’s Hip-Hop and R&B Music Channel and Video Channel. Fans can also check out the music videos for “LA Confidential” and Platinum-selling single “Say It” on Music Choice On Demand. This episode of ‘PRIMED’ will appear across Music Choice’s entire national footprint including On Demand, Music Channels, Musicchoice.com and the Music Choice App to also help celebrate his upcoming album, I Told You, set for release on August 19th.

Make sure you go to: Music Choice On Demand>Shows

Check out snippets of the interview below:

Tory Lanez On Learning How to Sing:

“I started singing when I was like 17 really. I actually was really bad at singing…I actually sucked you know it was just one of those things where I just you know singing is like a muscle. Your vocals are like a muscle, and the more you do sing is the better you get at them. I guess because I didn’t have someone to show me the way to really sing it just made me sing in my own kind of way which gave me a unique voice. Some people say there’s like a softness or like a cotton kind of rasp to my voice sometimes, but I think it’s just cause that’s how I taught myself to sing.”

Tory Lanez On Production at His Shows:

“I came up uh not having anything. Like not having no background singers…no production and lights and all this stuff…like I’m the type of dude who goes venue to venue and meets the sound man and the light man that night now that there is a big production going on I’m just like… wow! The possibilities now because I’ve worked so hard at making my main set so crazy without production that now that the production is here, it’s going to look amazing.”

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Entertainment

Nick Cannon Dishes About His Split With Mariah Carey, and Gets Candid About His and Kevin Hart’s Success [Video]

He might be the hardest working guy in Hollywood. Host-comedian-network exec Nick Cannon sits down with Larry King on the multi-Emmy nominated series Larry King Now, where he gets candid about his and Kevin Hart’s success, fatherhood and his split from Mariah Carey. Plus, the multi-hyphenate explains why he isn’t impressed with either presidential candidate, and offers Larry his perspective on life after death.

The comedian confesses that he had no idea his close friend Kevin Hart would become one of the world’s biggest comedians. He says, “I didn’t know myself or him would reach the levels that we’ve reached,” and fondly recalls a time when they were young comics “just telling jokes for dinner.”

Nick Cannon opens up about his split from Mariah Carey, and how he and his ex-wife manage co-parenting their twins, Moroccan and Monroe. He admits, “We all love Mariah, and she’s outstanding, and you know how some of these things, they don’t work out in the way you thought they were gonna work out.” But, Nick Cannon reveals that they are all on good terms, saying “it was probably best for our family to remain a family, first and foremost.”

Nick Cannon, who is tired of seeing slave films, tells Larry he plans to make a $200 million “African epic” that celebrates black history. He says, “I feel like that’s something that’s constantly perpetuated and pushed forward and it’s like ok, we get it. You know, to me personally, I like to receive my history from books, I don’t really want to see actors acting it out and studios profiting off, you know, the bloodshed of slavery.”

Plus, Nick Cannon sounds off on both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, revealing “I don’t trust them.” He also offers a conspiracy theory about Clinton and admits that this presidential race “says so much about who we are as a country.”

Do you agree with Nick?

Sound off in the comment section!

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SFPL TV

SFPL Exclusive Interview: Yandy Smith-Harris & Bianca Bonnie

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With all the drama of the Season 5 Reunion of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta ..

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We’ve really been missing our friendlier favorite reality personalities like our fly brown beauty, Yandy Smith-Harris of Love & Hip Hop New York.

We caught up with Yandy and her protegee/mentee, Bianca Bonnie to talk about how they met, this season of #LHHNY and what’s up next for the dynamic duo!

Check out our interview below.

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-Stay Fly!

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Entertainment

Part 2: Floyd Mayweather: “Future & Young Thug Was Supposed To Be My Artist First”, Floyd Talks Facetime Murder Suicide by Earl Hayes and more

Floyd Mayweather continues his exclusive sit down with Dash Radio’s Hollywood Unlocked Uncensored this week to recount the tragic and devastating day when friend Earl Hayes commits a murder suicide on FaceTime.

In the emotional interview, Mayweather shared the vivid details on what happened that dat when Hayes called before killing his wife and then later turning the gun onto himself. Mayweather went on to also discuss on about how entertainers should be careful with the messages they put out regarding what’s consider “good” hair and “bad” hair.

After the recent success of Beyonce‘s Lemondade, the boxing champion shared his opinions on the popular phrase “Becky with the good hair” and why he feels that statement can be damaging to young girls.

He also later adds, that Future and Young Thug were supposed to be his artist first: “But things happen, he says.” 

Mayweather said that he told Future that he didn’t understand a word that he was saying in his songs. The ATL rapper/producer then said to Floyd: “Floyd, it’s the melody.” Floyd then responds: “You have a beautiful melody.”

Peep the full clip above.

Hollywood Unlocked Uncensored airs every Monday at 3:00 pm PST on the Dash Radio App under T-Boz’s iCraft channel.