Hip Hop Week In Review: Jimmy Spicer’s Death, Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Career & Kanye West’s Album

HipHopDX – This week in Hip Hop, rap pioneer Jimmy “Super Rhymes” Spicer passed away following a battle with cancer. Also, Tekashi 6ix9ine refused to aided by witness protection and Kanye West‘s Jesus Is King album release date went through more changes.

R.I.P. Jimmy “Super Rhymes” Spicer

On Friday (September 27), Jimmy “Super Rhymes” Spicer passed away at the age 61.

The Hip Hop pioneer was diagnosed with advanced brain and lung cancer last year. His daughter launched a GoFundMe, which will now assist with medical bills and funeral costs.

New York City promoter Van Silk announced Spicer’s passing on social media.

“Jimmy was supposed to perform at the 46th Anniversary Of Hip Hip this past Saturday (September 21),” he wrote. “The last time we talked was in August, but I got a call from his daughter Angelina that her father will not be able to perform. Jimmy asked me to do him a favor. Please make sure that the rights to his song ‘Dollar Bill Y’all’ revert back to his family and I told him I will make the connection and put your family in touch!!”

HipHopDX sends its condolences to the friends and family Spicer during this difficult time.

Read more about Jimmy “Super Rhymes” Spicer here.

Kanye West Fails To Deliver “Jesus Is King” On Time

Kanye West promised to drop his Jesus Is King LP on September 27 and disappointed a lot fans when the project never showed up on streaming services

Kim Kardashian, Ye’s unficial publicist for album releases, gave updates on its status while anxious Kanye fanatics tweeted at her asking where the project was.

According to her, the album should be available on Sunday (September 29), which also happens to be the one-year anniversary when Yandhi was supposed to be released. She shared an updated tracklist for the project as well.

In the meantime, Kanye has been previewing Jesus Is King at listening events in cities such as Detroit and his hometown Chicago. The events were free to the public.

Keep up with the release Kanye West’s Jesus Is King here.

Tekashi 6ix9ine Plans To Resume Rap Career After Trial

Tekashi 6ix9ine is reportedly passing on the federal government’s fer for witness protection so he can continue on with his rap career. His plans come after he testified against alleged Nine Trey Gangsta Blood members at trial and identified fellow artists Jim Jones and Cardi B as gang members.

According to TMZ, the United States Marshals Service wouldn’t be paying for his tattoo removal if he did choose to go into the witness protection program. Still, someone took it upon themselves to replace Tekashi’s rainbow-colored hair with a clean haircut and remove his tats through Photoshop to see what he’d look like.

The controversial rapper made an agreement to be the government’s star witness in exchange for a lighter sentence in his racketeering case. He believes he’ll be released next year if things go his way.

Read more about Tekashi 6ix9ine’s case here.

Reviews

– JPEGMAFIA — All My Heroes Are Cornballs
– Skyzoo & Pete Rock — Retropolitan
– Wiz Khalifa — Freestyles Vol. 1
– Gashi — Gashi

#DXclusives: Angie Martinez, Keak Da Sneak & Ayatollah

Angie Martinez Discusses Hip Hop’s Evolution & The Key To Good Interviews

HipHopDX was out at the REVOLT Summit in Atlanta and got the chance to catch up with Angie Martinez, who gave some insight on her thoughts concerning the evolution Hip Hop.

“I think it’s forever evolving,” she said. “People always ask me what’s your favorite phase or your favorite time in Hip Hop, was it better then or better now? I think no, it’s forever evolving. That’s like the beauty it. That’s the fun part, right? Watching where it goes and how it moves.”

Check out the entire Angie Martinez interview here.

Keak Da Sneak Released From Prison With “A Different Mindset”

Bay Area rap icon Keak Da Sneak has been released from prison after a five month stint and shared a word with DX about his time behind bars.

“It’s really good to be back home,” Keak told DX. “I had a lot fan love, letters and a lot support, yadadmean? My label Allnfallndoe kept working and putting music out while I did my time.”

Read the full Keak Da Sneak interview here.

Ayatollah Talks Playing Beats For Rawkus & The Legacy Of “Ms. Fat Booty”

DX touched base with “Ms. Fat Booty” producer Ayatollah for a conversation about his career and how his most iconic song got to Mos Def.

“I actually made like, four or five different versions that ‘Ms. Fat Booty’] beat with the Aretha Franklin sample,” he told HipHopDX. “There was just different ways I chopped up the sample and stuff like that.”

View the Ayatollah interview here.