Olympicks: Producers Behind 'The Beats That Didn't Make Teflon Don'

An interesting concept, to take the beats that didn't make the record Rick Ross' Teflon Don and hear those instrumentals. For fans of music production and the Olympicks alike.

To download the project, go HERE

Cali Christmas 2010 With Chris Brown, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, E-40, Too $hort And More

Southern California radio station Power 106 held their annual "Cali Christmas" 2010 at Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA Friday Dec. 3rd.

Photo links:
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(video courtesy of QuinteroPro, Rap-Up, aprilLBW, and brentismusic)

Rick Ross Surprise Appearance At Heineken Inspire NYC Stop

via MTV

With a moniker like Teflon Don, you'd expect Rick Ross to be smooth. On Saturday (July 31), the Miami MC proved how slick he could be by surprising a room full of unsuspecting fans at an NYC show after rising rappers J. Cole and Wale hit the stage. Ross pulled the sneak attack at the NYC stop of the Heineken Inspire tour - a show which only advertised Cole, Wale and DJ D-Nice on the bill.

The crowd of hip-hop heads erupted when the Bawse rolled onstage at Manhattan's St. John's Center and spit his street record "Blowin' Money Fast (B.M.F.)." Casually cool in a simple black T-shirt, ropes of gold chains and his ever-present dark shades, Ross also ripped Teflon Don tracks "MC Hammer" and "Aston Martin Music." The Bawse didn't let the solo set stop him from dropping his electric verses from remixes such as Diddy-Dirty Money's "Hello Good Morning" and Waka Flocka Flame's "O Let's Do It." The hip-hop heavyweight also took it back with his debut hit, "Hustlin,'" and the crowd rhymed the lyrics along with the MC as he closed with a reprise of "B.M.F."

J. Cole fans rolled deep and throngs of the Fayetteville rapper's acolytes knew the words to many of the up-and-coming MC's songs, including "Who Dat," his guest verse on Jay-Z's "A Star Is Born" and "All I Want Is You," his soulful collaboration with R&B singer Miguel. Cole also performed "Premeditated Murder," a track that has been floating around the Web and is rumored to make the rapper's upcoming album.

Sporting green and white Nike kicks, DC MC Wale performed a medley of his tracks such as the Lady Gaga-assisted "Chillin'" and the Jazmine Sullivan collabo "World Tour." The star also got the crowd involved, briefly passing his mic to an audience member to spit some of the MC's lines. Ultimately, Folarin did most of the heavy lifting in the rhyming department and showed off his mic skills with a few a capella bars.

Photo link:
Wire Image

(video courtesy of MsLBTV)

Eminem: Ross Ain't The Boss In 'Teflon Don's' First Week Sales

Despite early chart predictions, Rick Ross 'Teflon Don' didn't make the cut for that #1 spot on Billboard's album chart. In this week's Nielsen/Souncscan numbers, Teflon pulled in 176,000, while Em's Recovery sold with a stronger with 187,000. Leave it to Eminem's continued staying power of the 'Recovery' now its 5 consecutive week at #1.

Eminem 5 Week #1 Stance Threaten By First Week Projected 'Teflon Don' Sales

According to Hits Daily Double, Rick Ross 'Teflon Don' is projected to sell 170-180K in first week sales. This could mean an end to Eminem's sizable reign on his four week #1 spot with Recovery.
Let's revisit this time next week as the Nielsen SoundScan numbers will be officially confirmed.

Rick Ross Ft. Styles P - 'Blowin' Money Fast B.M.F.' (video)

Filled with folklore and Maybach Music merriment, Rick Ross serves up a video slice from Teflon Don - "B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)" with cameos from Triple C's, Fabolous, Bun B, Diddy, Jadakiss and more.

Photo Links:
Getty Images
Wire Image
Film Magic

Rick Ross Teflon Don on Island/Def Jam/Maybach Music arrives July 20.

DJ Nasty Hot 97 Summer Jam 2010 NYC Video Recap

Related:
Hot 97 Summer Jam 2010 Internet Round Up

Travis Barker Showcases Hip Hop Side On Upcoming Debut Solo Album

via Spinner

Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, RZA, Swizz Beatz, the Game, Beanie Sigel -- this may sound like a list for the 2010 Hip-Hop Summit, but it's not. It's actually a preliminary list of guests for Travis Barker's first solo album.

"I'm not signing or being an MC or anything," the former Blink-182 drummer tells Spinner. "I think over the last five years, when Blink wasn't around, I played a lot by myself or did a whole bunch of stuff with just me -- whether I was playing with T.I. or doing whatever -- it just opened another world for me."

After Blink-182 announced a hiatus in 2004, Barker became a chameleon of sorts. There were a handful of short-lived side-projects, such as alt-rock supergroup +44 with Blink-182 bandmate Mark Hoppus, the Transplants with Rancid's Tim Armstrong and the rap-rock trio Expensive Taste that produced a mixtape with southern rapper Paul Wall.

Barker then set out on the road with Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein as the DJ-rock duo TRV$DJAM, which faced eminent doom a year ago when a their private learjet skidded off a runway killing two members of their entourage and injuring both Goldstein and Barker. Eleven months later DJ AM would overdose on a deadly mixture of prescription painkillers and cocaine. Given the tragedies, it's incredible that Barker still trudges on. Since he's hopped around working with everyone from Slash to Mary J. Blige, and appeared more recently at the Grammys drumming during the Eminem, Lil Wayne and Drake hip-hop medley, 'Forever.' As his latest endeavors would suggest, Barker admits there's a lot of hip-hop on the solo effort.

"I'm rounding it out right now," he says of the album's many guests. "I just love music. The more I can be around it the better. So with my album -- it's no one genre. It goes from everything from punk rock to hip-hop to some electro stuff on there to a metal song with Corey Taylor from Slipknot. It's been really fun and interesting up till now."

Rick Ross Celebrates Birthday In Style At Yacht Party Mixer In Miami

Chad Ochocinco, BET’s Debra Lee, Spike Lee and Triple C’s were just a few of the guests on board the Venetian Lady yacht to celebrate Rick Ross’s birthday.

Photos here:
Wire Image
Exclusives Access - Teflon Don’s Birthday Mixer
Ozone - Rick Ross’s Birthday Party/Yacht Party in Miami

Diddy & Friends At Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel On The Red Carpet

On January 2nd, Vanity Nightclub inside the Hard Rock Hotel held its Grand Opening red carpet with newcomer IYAZ, Jason Giambi, Keith Robinson, Laz Alonso, Corey McCormick, Megan Good, Nelly, Rick Ross, Jadakiss and Sean 'Diddy' Combs in Las Vegas, NV.

PHOTOS:
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Film Magic
Rex Features
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Rick Ross Performs @ Haiti 'Starfest' Concert

via Rap Godfathers

Miami’s Rick Ross was integral part this year at the Haiti stop of the annual Starfest Multi-Cultural Music Festival (Dec. 4th & 5th), which drew an estimated 500,000 fans.

The star-studded event was founded to enthrall Caribbean and other international music fans with music sets featuring the best artists in the realms of Zouk, Compa, Reggae, Jazz, R&B, and Hip-Hop.

Adding to the music are parties, art exhibits, talents shows, food, and cultural awareness events. Also, Starfest brings an additional educational element by illuminating the issues of the Caribbean community.

According to festival founder and president DJ Louis, Ross received a huge reception for his performance despite being the only big name Hip-Hop act on the bill, which featured international stars such as Black Dada, Shabba Dkakout, Chale Republik, and RockFam.

“This was truly for a great cause which made it even more beautiful, but it also speaks as a global movement that is more than just about the music,” Louis explained in a prepared statement. “Along with Ross, we visited hospitals, several boys and girls group homes, and showed love to the men in duty in Haiti. It is a true blessing for the Starfest team to see the results in motion. Again, it wasn’t just about the great music, thank you to everyone that supports our movement including Rick Ross. I cannot stop thanking God for what just happened: it was not a walk in the park in any way. The work is still not done, but with the help of God, all things are possible. We have 15 more countries still to go.”

PHOTOS:
Ozone Magazine

Rick Ross, Maybach Music Preview Of 2010 New Music & Artists At Miami Studio

From yesterday's (Wed. Dec. 16) Rick Ross & DJ Khaled's "This Is For My DJ" listening session at We The Best studios in Miami, FL. On hand were relatively new, up and coming artists Young Breed, Masspike Miles, Ace Hood and Deuce Pound.

Triple C's 1st Week Estimated Sales

According to Hits Daily Double, Triple C's latest release 'Custom Cars & Cycles' have sold an estimated amount of 11,523 first week sales.

As Nielsen/Soundscan numbers officially come out tomorrow (Wednesday) which is the benchmark used in the industry, the Hits Daily Double numbers are pretty close with their estimations to Nielsen/Soundscan on numbers sold throughout the country.

Triple C's ft. Young Jeezy & JW 'Erryday" (video)

Triple C’s - 'Custom Cars & Cycles' on Island/Def Jam/Maybach Music in-stores Tomorrow, October 27.

Rick Ross Triple C's 'Custom Cars & Cycles' NYC Listening Session Album Preview

Rick Ross Triple C's 'Custom Cars & Cycles' listening session took place at the legendary Chung King Studios in SoHo NYC Monday, October 19. Here's the full report.

Album preview/review courtesy of Nick Haycock at Showing Out

Last night, a bevy of hip-hop tastemakers and industry insiders packed into Chung King studios in Soho to catch an advance listen of Miami-based Triple C’s debut album 'Custom Cars and Cycles.' The quartet, consisting of Rick Ross, Young Breed, Gunplay and Torch, have been around for most of the decade, but 'Custom Cars and Cycles' marks their studio debut, with Rawse and the rest of the Triple C’s celebrating their album’s October 27th release by playing eight of its 15 tracks. “First and foremost, it’s the motherf***ing boss Rick Ross,” boomed the group’s gargantuan frontman before hitting the play button. As the tracks played, the Triple C’s exuberantly lip-synced from the studio’s control room as guests on the other side of the glass enjoyed a soul food buffet. The album is a high octane blast of glossy production, un-ironic materialism and Mafioso storytelling, atoning for its repetitive subject matter with catchy hooks and well-placed guest appearances. Showing Out was there to bring you an exclusive track-by-track preview, so hit the jump to get an advance look at the album before it hits retail in a few weeks.

Custom Cars & Clips

As a bass-heavy track with booming horns and gunshots blasts in the background, each member of Triple C’s offers a variation on the theme “What I do this for.” “I’m focused on the fame, fortune, extortion, my portion get Porsches,” elucidates Ross. It’s a catchy track - not groundbreaking, but far from disappointing. As the track unfurled, Ross and company rapped along with the verses, and under the studio lights, a large diamond bracelet shimmered on Ross’s arm.

White Sand

Rawse rips a page out of his journal on “White Sand,” an unabashed tribute to using cocaine, selling cocaine and buying things. “I’ve got that white stuff / You know that white stuff/ I’m in my white truck,” Ross informs listeners. The track is an entertaining romp, exactly what you would expect from Triple C’s.

Break It Down feat. Bun B

“Break it Down” is a step-by-step instruction manual for aspiring hustlers, boasting a beat that pounds with lurching synths and heavy drums. Gunplay kicks off the track with a nursery rhyme verse, cautioning, “Don’t go to jail /Don’t got no bail/ Won’t get no mail / That’s living hell.” Contributions by Ross and the rest of the gang are unmemorable, but the track’s saving grace is the guest appearance by the authoritative Bun B.

Trickn Off feat. Gucci Mane

“Trickn Off” features a descending, frantic theremin-like synth riff with 808 drums courtesy of Drumma Boy. The track is dominated by Gucci Mane’s chorus and hook, and while Gucci isn’t the most lyrical rapper, his charisma on the mic completely blows away Triple C’s. “Blue and white rag top I call it Papa Smurf/ Nigga steal a nigga’s work? / Call that a lot of nerve,” quips Gucci. Triple C’s verses aren’t necessarily terrible on this track (or any other track), but they lack highlights. There aren’t really any punchlines that stand out, just a lot of retreading of the same themes: guns, clothes, money, cars, drugs and women. Here, because of Gucci’s catchy hook, it works.

Erryday feat. Young Jeezy & JW

“That’s really how I approach this shit,” Ross told the room, making reference to his work ethic before playing the Young Jeezy-assisted track. “ Strip clubs, throwing money, popping champagne / To the bartender, tell her keep the damn change” goes the hook over a stabbing horn line. “Erryday all black tees and we wear them bitches erryday,” adds Ross. The track is catchy enough to be blasted in the whip.

Gangsta Shit feat. The Game

“This is a Gangsta Service announcement” kicks off the track featuring a chopped-and-screwed chorus and a guest appearance from The Game. On the chorus, Cali’s own derisively mentions “Radio rappers on R&B tracks,” making an ironic (and likely unintended) juxtaposition with the silky smoothness of Masspike Miles’ singing on “Finer Things.” Production-wise, “Gangsta Shit” is ominous and aggressive with a deep wicka-wah guitar line, eerie synths and a sparse drum beat.

Finer Things feat. Masspike Miles

Before debuting “Finer Things,” Ross explained the track was about the group’s struggles before achieving commercial success, and the bonds forged between members by shared experiences. “You ain’t a friend of mine if you ain’t a friend of Rick / So many red flags thought we was confederate,” raps Gunplay on the track. Masspike Miles contributes an overly-polished R&B hook, and the track has an over-produced feel. Triple C’s may be emotional about their humble beginnings, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a track that sounds heartfelt. “Half the lights blinking / looking at my pinky / I’m so Mafioso/ You can still smell the linguine,” Ross raps.

Diamonds & Maybachs Pt. 2 feat. Suede Royale

A beat built around a wordless female voice cooing in the background and a slick R&B hook by crooner Suede Royale who extols the benefits of possessing - well, you guessed it. “My diamonds conversate the hoes / Car say get in/ Crib what you waitin’ for?” explains Torch. The track clocks in at a decadent 7 minutes and 17 seconds, and is the most skippable of the 8 that the group played.

(video courtesy of in the box tv & stayfly744)

Avery Storm 'Category 5' Mixtape Listening Session NYC

R&B hook man Avery Storm held his 'Category 5' mixtape listening session at Quad Studios in NYC Thursday, October 14.

Check out photos from the listening session:
Film Magic

Read DJ Booth's review of the listening session:
DJ Booth - Avery Storm Breezes through NYC in Preparation for ‘Category Five’

Signed to Nelly's Derrty Entertainment, Avery Storm's first release 'Shotgun Love' is poised to arrive in 2010.

(video courtesy of Ms Drama TV)

Triple C's 'Custom Cars & Cycles' Press Release With Track List And Music Production Credits

via press release

(Oct. 12, 2009 – New York, NY) Fans of the hardcore style of Miami rap raised up from the mean streets of Carol City by platinum-selling artist Rick Ross – are waiting for the pre-order flag to drop on CUSTOM CARS & CYCLES, the first album by Triple C’s (as in Carol City Cartel), the group that came together around the Teflon Don over the past decade-plus, and now includes Gunplay, Torch, and Young Breed. The album – featuring guest shots by Young Jeezy, The Game, Bun B, Gucci Mane, Mack 10, Warren G, Yo Gotti, and others – hits October 27th on Rick’s Maybach Music/Def Jam Recordings label.

The first single from CUSTOM CARS & CYCLES by Triple C’s is the high-octane anthem “Go” featuring Rick Ross and Birdman. The track was produced by Schife for Karbeen Muzik and OhZee (Ian Lewis/Oscar Zayas).

The roots of Triple C’s stretch back to 1997, when Carol City natives Rick and Gunplay first met, and shared their passion for hip-hop. Torch hit town a year later, settling in Carol City after a string of legal troubles up north. The trio built up a buzz as Carol City Cartel via local gigs and mixtapes in the early 2000’s. Rick was the first to graduate, when he showed up on his [then] Slip-N-Slide label-mate Trina’s “Told Y’all” (2002) and “I Gotta” (2005).

Rick’s turn finally arrived with the release of his 2006 debut album, Port Of Miami. He remained loyal to his brethren and featured Carol City Cartel on the track “It Ain’t a Problem.” Two years later on Rick’s Trilla, the crew – now known as Triple C’s – rode shotgun once again on the southern bounce track “Reppin’ My City.”

CUSTOM CARS & CYCLES follows-up Rick’s most recent album, Deeper Than Rap (released April 2009), containing the singles “Magnificent” featuring John Legend, and “Usual Suspects” featuring fellow Def Jam artist Nas. Deeper Than Rap was Rick’s third consecutive album to debut at #1 Soundscan, after Port Of Miami, featuring the unstoppable hit “Hustlin’” (the first mastertone ever certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of 1 million copies before the associated album had even been released); and 2008’s Trilla, whose second single release, “The Boss,” featuring fellow Floridian T-Pain, rose to #2 on the Billboard Hot Rap chart, #5 R&B, and Top 20 on the Hot 100.

The track listing for CUSTOM CARS & CYCLES is as follows:

1. Custom Cars & Clips (produced by Schife for Karbeen Muzik and OhZee
2. White Sand (produced by Phil 4 Real)
3. Break It Down featuring Bun B (produced by Don Logan aka Gunplay)
4. Go featuring Rick Ross and Birdman (produced by Schife for Karbeen Muzik and OhZee
5. We Gettin It (produced by Schife for Karbeen Muzik and OhZee)
6. Trickn Off featuring Gucci Mane (produced by Christopher “Drumma Boy” Gholson for Drum Squad)
7. Throw It In The Sky (produced by The Olympicks for Maybach Music Group)
8. Erryday featuring Young Jeezy and JW (produced by Schife for Karbeen Muzik and OhZee)
9. Customized (produced by Schife for Karbeen Muzik and OhZee)
10. Gangsta Sh*t featuring The Game (produced by Baron “B-Rock” Agee for Rawcast Entertainment)
11. Finer Things featuring Masspike Miles (produced by The Olympicks for Maybach Music Group)
12. Chickn Talkn feat. Mack 10 and Warren G (produced by The Olympicks for Maybach Music Group)
13. Diamonds & Maybachs Pt. 2 featuring Suede Royale (produced by Delando “Mitrxxx The Mad Scientist” Morrow of THE TRANSFORMERZ for Maybach Music Group)
14. Hustla feat. featuring Masspike Miles (produced by Cool and Dre for SupaNova Management, Inc.)
15. Yams Pt. 2 featuring Yo Gotti (produced by Christopher “Drumma Boy” Gholson for Drum Squad)
Bonus track:
16. Bless Me featuring Magazeen (produced by Mista Kingz for Mainstream Productions)

Rick Ross Performance In Germany with Videos and Photos

Rick Ross and Triple C's live at Kufa - Saarbrücken, Germany Thursday October 1.

Quality and semi-quality fan shot footage below.







Photos:
Ozone Mag

(video courtesy of MrsAllisc & awi06)

Rick Ross & Triple C's Performance In London with Video and Photos

At the Indigo 02 in London, UK Tuesday September 29.





Photos:
Ozone Mag

(video courtesy of blackonyx101)

Rick Ross Live On Stage In Mannheim, Germany

Rick Ross w/ Triple C's in tow performing at Orange Club in Mannheim, Germany Saturday Oct. 3.

We've all seen the footage of Rick Ross falling off stage, but this is the actual show it took place at.



more fan shot video below, semi-quality.







(video courtesy of bbcex)