Author: Marisa Mendez

Mixtape: Ty Dolla $ign – $ign Language

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sign-language

Ty Dolla $ign has had a banner year, providing hooks for just about all of your favorite artists, while also seeing solo success with hits like “Paranoid” and “Or Nah.” As the Cali crooner gears up for the release of his debut album, Free TC, via Atlantic Records/Taylor Gang, he drops a preview of what’s to come in the form of a new mixtape, $ign Language.

The 11-track project (some songs are 2-for-1 so there’s actually a handful more than 11) includes features from Fabolous (on the previously-released “Type Of Shit I Hate”) and Rick Ross and Dom Kennedy (on the recently-released “Lord Knows,”) as well as Juicy J, Rich Homie Quan, Casey Veggies, French Montana, Yo Gotti, T.I. and more. It closes with a feature from his younger brother, Big TC, who’s currently incarcerated on a life sentence and the inspiration behind Ty‘s debut album name.

Stream and download $ign Language below! [My pick for best track: “Dead Presidents” with Rich Homie Quan and Juicy J!]
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Throwback Thursday: Don’t Give Up! I Actually Got Fired From My College Internship At MTV For Blogging…

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My MTV I.D.

(I was totally strategically covering where it said “Intern” on that I.D. for the Facebook stunt, by the way.)

For the last 4 years, I’ve been blogging for InFlexWeTrust, and for the last 3, I’ve made a living off of it. It has opened so many doors for me and given me opportunities I would have never dreamed of being possible, and of course is what led to LifeIsTremendez even being created! I can’t say that I grew up hoping to be a blogger, or actually even ever considered it until a right place, right time situation back in 2010 (which I’ll get into for another TBT,) but all of the events leading up to me being right here has taught me one thing, if nothing else: What’s for you will not pass you.
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Interview: 7 Things You Need To Know About One Of Our Favorite West Coast Power Players, DJ Carisma

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DJ Carisma

If you’re a fan of YG, DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla $ign, Sage The Gemini, TeeFlii and Tyga, to name just a small handful of west coast stars, you’re going to want to thank DJ Carisma. The California native has had a hand in helping break these artists and many more coming from the left side of the country, and she’s done it all while balancing motherhood and marriage, two online radio shows, a prime-time slot on Power 106, managing her own studio and traveling on the road as the official tour DJ of Honey Cocaine and TeeFlii. I can’t even talk on the phone and answer an email at the same time, so to say I admire Carisma is an understatement…and I’m not alone in my sentiments. As I sat on Ty Dolla $ign‘s bus a couple of weeks back at the Under the Influence tour stop in PA, I watched as Ty and his entire team jumped up and yelled when they received an email that Carisma had been featured on XXL‘s site. When Chris Brown got out of jail and was thrown a private gathering to welcome him back, Carisma was one of the invited guests. When Nipsey Hussle was asked who he admired in radio, guess who he named? Yep, Carisma!

As she made her rounds to discuss her new single “Anyway” featuring Sage The Gemini, Tory Lanez, Eric Bellinger and Mishon, I had to jump on the phone with the Young California co-founder so that I could share a few gems with our LIT readers. Below, find out exactly how she got her start in the game (so that you can take a few pointers!), who her top 5 artists coming out of the west are and more.
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Sage The Gemini vs. Zendaya vs. August Alsina vs. Rich Homie Quan: Who Would You Choose As 2014’s “Social Star”?

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LIT_2014 BMI Social Star

For those not in-the-know, BMI is a music rights organization that represents songwriters in all genres – basically the music industry’s version of the acting industry’s SAG or AFTRA. In layman’s terms, they get you money for the sh*t you write. Every year they honor the elite songwriters with various award ceremonies (depending on the genre), and this year’s Hip-Hop/R&B Awards will take place on Friday, August 22, at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.

For the third year in a row, the BMI Hip-Hop/R&B Awards will honor a popular new artist with their fan-voted “Social Star” award. The accolade is presented to the BMI songwriter who “best demonstrates the power of social to showcase his songwriting talents,” and after being nominated by BMI based on what they’ve already achieved, win based on their fan’s votes. In 2012, that person was Mac Miller, and in 2013, my homie Machine Gun Kelly.

For 2014, the Social Star Award nominees are rapper Sage The Gemini, singer/actress Zendaya, singer August Alsina and rapper Rich Homie Quan. Below, read why BMI chose each particular artist, then cast your vote for who you think is the real “social star” of the year!
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(Photos) Why A$AP Rocky’s New i-D Magazine Interview Proves That He & I Will Never Work Out

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A$AP Rocky covers i-D Magazine

A$AP Rocky has been extremely quiet since releasing his debut album Long.Live.A$AP. in January of 2013, then hitting the road with Rihanna that spring. Since then, the most we’ve heard of the Harlem rapper has been mainly about his outings with girlfriend Chanel Iman, but as he gears up for a sophomore project, we’re finally getting a little more from my baby daddy!

Unfortunately for me, Rock‘s new cover story for i-D Magazine shows me that we’re quite opposite, so the relationship for us probably wouldn’t work out. There’s also that whole already-having-a-girlfriend thing, but that’s neither here nor there. Check out a few excerpts from the interview below.
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That NJ Ish: What To Expect From Jay Z’s Mom’s New Restaurant In Newark

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LIT_Diamondz N Da Ruff

Earlier this week, we learned that Jay Z‘s mother, Gloria Carter, opened a new restaurant in Newark, New Jersey, after photos of Bey and Jay attending the grand opening surfaced on the web. The story didn’t elaborate very much on Gloria‘s new eatery, but we now have more details!

Mama Carter co-owns Diamondz N Da Ruff (*cringes*) with partners Peggie Miller of Newark and Debra Holmes of Jersey City. The restaurant is open 6 days a week (from Tuesday to Sunday) and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and it features a small stage for live music and open mic and karaoke nights. The menu is mainly American-based with food like paninis, crab cake sandwiches, salads and sliders.

Will her famous son and daughter-in-law be hitting that stage? “They’re definitely coming to support their mom,” Gloria told the Star Ledger. As for the eatery’s name:

“A diamond comes from coal. Once coal is pressured, it becomes beautiful. We all know struggle. We’re coming from struggle to make this a beautiful thing.”

If you’d like to eat at the [horribly named] restaurant, you can stop by Diamondz N Da Ruff at 71 Clay Street, Newark, NJ.
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(Photos) Throwback Thursday: How Dip Set & Saving My Lunch Money Brought Me To A Career In Music

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LIT_Marisa Mendez x Dip Set TBT 1

When people say things like, “Dip Set changed my life” or, “I was the biggest Dip Set fan ever,” (yes, people say those things…LOL) I don’t even bother to engage in a debate with them because winning would be too effortless. Dip Set REALLY changed my life. Because of my love (or slight obsession, either one) for them in high school, I chose the career path I embarked on, I met people who put me in the right place to advance in said career and I learned early on how to move around in the music business. Suffice to say, what Dip Set did for me trumps you hands down. Unless you’re like, Freekey Zekey. He probably has a better story than me. Anyway, here’s the 411:
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