award tour: BET empowers artists & wins
hip hop's new daily operation | 6.29.20
TheMotto No. 54 knows these COVID-19 pandemic conditions make it difficult to deliver entertainment. Just how do you execute BET Awards 2020? Cancel? Postpone? Nope. Congratulations to BET’s Connie Orlando and to Jesse Collins Entertainment for empowering artists to shoot movie-like visuals of their performances. And yup, that is Chuck D and Flavor Flav — more on that shortly. Below Flav are my favorite moments from last night.
in tribute to lives lost, DaBaby & Roddy Ricch fully transform “Rockstar” into a protest anthem — it’s a deep and fiery visual ⤵️
with a consistent blue backdrop, Roddy doubles up with live vocal performances of two of his biggest tunes ⏬
give the drummer some. Once again, Anderson Paak and guest Jay Rock catch our attention — hotter than a molotov. And we need that Rock verse on these DSPs, ASAP ⤵️
Thee Stallion goes straight Mad Max. Masterful ⏬
Saved the best for last! Didn’t see this one coming. Public Enemy’s classic “Fight The Power” gets a much-needed 2020 upgrade. Chuck and Flav effectively capture uprising and the powerful feeling of the original, and then Nas, Rapsody, YG, Questlove, and Black Thought go posse up. Strong! Chuck closes with his Elvis-was-a-hero-to-most bars — some of the greatest lyrics in hip hop history.
top billin’:
mood ⤵️
watch out, now:
?uest and Thought were also busy over the weekend, partnering with Michelle Obama for their Roots Picnic virtual. Watch Black prove he still raps better than most ⏬ And check the entire event replay here.
new Beyoncé movie alert! The Black Is King film is based on the music of B’s The Lion King: The Gift and will “pay tribute to the voyages of Black families throughout time.” The takeover begins end of July ⏬
Russ, over a DJ Premier production ⬇️ what the haters gonna say now?
you must learn:
⤴️ photo: Walik 1
[throwback] 15 years ago: Jay-Z’s Special Guest A Thriller For Summer Jam Crowd 🎤author: Shaheem Reid / MTV News
What ‘The Last Dance’ reveals about Michael Jordan’s legacy 🏀 author: Howard Bryant / ESPN
⤴️ It’s been 26 years since I was first appointed CEO of a major record company; decades later, I am STILL the only African-American female CEO in this industry. — Sylvia Rhone: “Time For Action” at Hits Daily Double
made you look:
Ari Lennox — beach time ⬇️
Meek at work ⬇️ 📸 20K Visuals
turn it up:
I don’t know Lil Wayne | But I’ve been hot. Short and direct, New Orleans’ Yung Ro got a li’l riotous bounce to his “Bulletproof” tune ⬇️ Already TikTok approved.
what more can I say:
My wife Danyel told me like a month ago about this kid — I’ve been sleeping. Lil Mosey cracked Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100.
I can’t believe how producer Callan flipped Johnny Gill’s iconic “My, My, My” sample ⏬ innovative. The 1991 song is originally written by Babyface and Daryl Simmons, and originally produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface.
let’s go, Lil Mosey!
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a danyelliott production
Danyel Smith + Elliott Wilson