Hot 97’s Ebro sat down last night with T.I. to discuss the release of his new album “Paperwork”. Ebro connected with The King of The South on how life has evolved with his new label,  fatherhood, reality stardom and triumphs as an emcee. The album is one of 2014’s best Hip Hop releases and you can expect nothing but first-rate music on the star-studded Paperwork.

Paperwork’s Tracklist

1. King

2. G Shit (feat. Jeezy & WatchTheDuck)

3. About the Money (feat. Young Thug)

4. New National Anthem (feat. Skylar Grey)

5. Oh Yeah (feat. Pharrell)

6. Private Show (feat. Chris Brown)

7. No Mediocre (feat. Iggy Azalea)

8. Jet Fuel (feat. Lil Boosie)

9. Paperwork (feat. Pharrell)

10. Stay (feat. Victoria Monet)

11. About My Issue (feat. Victoria Monet & Nipsey Hussle)

12. At Ya Own Risk (feat. Usher)

13. On Doe, On Phil (feat. Trae The Truth)

14. Light Em Up (RIP Doe B) (feat. Pharrell & WatchTheDuck)

15. Let Your Heart Go (Break My Soul) (feat. The-Dream)

16. Sugar Cane

17. I Don’t Know

18. You Can Tell How I Walk (feat. Rick Ross)

Hot 97 brought it’s annual “On Da Reggae Tip” outdoors for the first time, to JBL Live at Pier 97. On Da Reggae Tip was the equivalent of a caribbean Summer Jam. The station never cuts corners on their festivities bills, and 2014 was no exception. #ODRT headliners were Jamaican legends Shabba Ranks and Beenie Man.

Attendees were ready to  jump up and wave. Beautiful women showed all their island curves, while men threw-back Red Stripe. Vendors were selling traditional foods, including, roti and fish treats. Some of dancehall music’s most tremendous acts got extra lusty, guarantying some action at the “after party”.

Red Rat made a cameo for the newly sampled “Tight Skirt” and Maxi Priest swooned us with his unexpected appearance. Sanchez and his classic, “Baby Can I Hold You”, made the crowd wonder how Hot 97 got all these artists to perform. Bunji Garlin brought the soca energy with, “Down in the Ghetto”, but the audience began to get impatient with the venues sound system. The performers kept losing their mic’s volume. Ugh! Even Beenie Man made Hot 97 start his set over (rather annoyed) on stage.

As any true performer would, Beenie Man continued on with “King of Dancehall”. The crowd went nuts and sang profusely.  However, Beenie Man didn’t refrain from having the audience yell “Fix that shit” towards production techs. It seemed Beenie Man wanted to make sure the music was perfectly leveled for his surprise guest, Ashanti. New York City has not seen her perform at an event this big in a while. Lets just say things with her got steamy.  Ashanti was twirling around in her pum pum shorts like she intended to get some bills paid.

The Emperor of Dancehall followed and he hasn’t lost his touch. Shabba Ranks may have cross-genre success but he is Jamaican to the core. He performed “Dem Bow” as if it were 91′. At nearly 50, Shabba Ranks dances with the enthusiasm he owned at 25. “That man needs to be the Viagra spokesman”, yelled a radio rep. The NYC audience screamed his name like they would Hov’s, during”Mr. Loverman”. The young generation is now familiar with The Emperor after A$AP Ferg released the “Shabba (Remix)”.  The “Shabba” video featuring A$AP Rocky, has nearly 30 million impressions. This made “Shabba” the perfect way to close the show…with NYC turnt up!

Photo: Hot 97

MetLife Stadium was a traditional zoo at this years’ Hot 97 Summer Jam. Def Jam kicked off the Festival Stage with the leaders of the new school, including Iggy Azalea, Jhene Aiko, August Alsina and Mack Wilds. They kept the parking lot jumping and are debatably the best freshman class at a major label. In its true jaw-dropping fashion, Hot 97 kept Hip-Hop and R&B lovers on edge.

Sevyn Streeter was the main stage’s opening act and made sure to pay homage to her incarcerated mentor Chris Brown. She fiercely danced to Brown’s Billboard banger “Loyal”. A cloud of smoke soon surfaces on the stage from none other than stoner Wiz Khalifa. Turned up, he was the first performer to get the mass heavily involved. All the old school Hip-Hop heads were in awe as legendary Snoop Dogg  joined Khalifa’s set with, “The Next Episode”.

Historically, Mister Cee has the unsurpassed classic Hip-Hop DJ set. The packed-out stadium was on its feet the moment Biggie Smalls voice played. On stage as devil’s advocate, Mister Cee flawlessly transitioned into Tupac’s “Hit Em Up”.  The audience didn’t show The Roots much love as they shadowed Mister Cee’s set. Unexpectedly, The Lox joins The Roots, as well as, M.O.P. and gaudy clapping resounds.

Angie Martinez a.k.a. The Voice of New York speaks and everyone listens. Her credibility alone can crush industry kingpin’s egos. Introducing Trey Songz formed a commotion of women awaiting his seduction. “Neighbors Know My Name,” was audio sex and yet again, Chris Brown’s, “Loyal” was played during a set.

DJ Camilo trailed Songz representing for the Caribbean kids. His Soca, Reggae and Reggeaton music had everyone acting as if they were from an island. “Twenty fucking years in the game” produced absolute chaos, as Nas and his Henny bottle appeared. Illmatic’s reproduction was just distributed and MetLife Stadium was well aware. This was the beginning of real 2014’s moments…it’s Nas!

Confused as to why Hot 97 did not push Nas back later in the show… I doubted they could top his shock value. 50 Cent comes on stage to “I Get Money” and a Source Award’s looking hood mob too. The unthinkable G-unit reunion only reiterated that Hot 97 was unfuckwitable. Like how? 50 can’t help but smell himself and Hot 97 cut off his mic. The stadium did not appreciate that, “BOOOOOOOO”!

Apparently the turmoil cleared because Funk Flex DJ’s and introduces rap virtuoso Nicki Minaj. Her perfectly perky breast are covered in awfully lucky star-pasties and the audience is drooling. She is having mic issues but continues on like it is nothing. Finally…mic clarity! As soon as she is impeccably audible it is OVER; she drops low and bounces in her Louboutin’s and bodies every verse. YMCMB newcomers join her but no Drake. “Drake I used to love you but I don’t love you no more,” says Minaj and the gathering gulps.

“Worst Behavior” drops and out comes Mr. OVO, every Tom, Dick, and Harry jumps to their feet. Lil Wayne appears and leggings begin shaking galore. Wanye spits his “Loyal” verse and everybody was waiting for the Chris Brown hologram to appear. Now on a euphoric Hip-Hop high…DJ Mustard says, “The party ain’t over”. As he closes with hits such as, “Show Me,” “Shabba,” and “Paranoid,” it becomes clear that Mustard has been involved with the entire industry.  Hot 97 truly outdid themselves. One word sums up Summer Jam… INSANE!

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Photo Source: HOT 97

Note: Creatively Driven attended this event,  the additional source is Billboard’s “Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne& More at Summer Jam 2014: Live Blog”