NiteCap: Big Sean Talks Eminem, Rick Ross, Jason Collins, Love & Maturing

“Rhyme & Responsibility”

For most being twenty-five is just a scratch of a century, youth’s glow still effervescent, not dimmed by the twilight of old age.

But already Big Sean’s feeling the weight of maturity.

“I feel like an old man,” joked the Detroit emcee during our most recent sit-down on South Beach.

It’s sentiments like these from Kanye West’s protege that have always put the emcee on my list of “artists to watch”.

Somehow amid the bright lights, bottles, bodacious beauties and the other usual suspects in a hip hop story; Sean stays grounded.

“The content in my upcoming album is going to be more mature,” he affirms. “I’m realizing it’s a responsibility to say something to inspire.”

In light of the recent controversy surrounding Reebok’s handling of Rick Ross, Sean argues artists’ shouldn’t be censored, but he’s taking stock in the messages he relays to adoring fans.

“I’ve been making a lot of vlogs lately that show what makes me what I am and they’ve been inspiring a lot of people,” he says.

And if the infusion of social conscience isn’t enough, fans can expect a possible collaboration with Eminem upcoming as well.

A newly much publicized romance with “Glee” actress Naya Rivera may also be the inspiration behind the burgeoning superstar’s coming of age.

Says Sean: “She’s awesome. She makes me feel good.”

NiteCap: WyClef Talks April Showers, Conscious Rap & New Political Memoir

“Legends & Rhyme”

Seven years removed from the musical landscape, dicey terrain where one hit wonders fade beyond the horizon, would summon the end for most artists.

But true legend is often written in the chords that echo outside the studio and into the halls civic duty.

“At the end of the day if all I stood for was the music there would be no conversation,” explains Wyclef Jean. “The only thing people gon’ remember from you is we’re you able to push the race forward”.

Sentiments like these have made the always amiable Fugees frontman a hero in Haiti and global ambassodor for the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation.

Now, after a failed run for presidency and an assassination attempt, Wyclef is set on his musical emergence with the forthcoming April Showers.

I caught up with him on set at the video shoot for his new single “Midlife Crisis”, an obvious poke at the 43-year old’s comeback.
“It started when I was putting up my twitpic on my birthday. It started with my sister; she said you’re having a midlife crisis”, joked Wyclef. “Shout out to Dave Chappelle…he said he was going through a midlife crisis.”

But he admits the landscape has changed since he, Pras and Lauryn Hill won us over while killing us softly.

“A lot of times when legends come back they don’t embrace what the youth is doing,” says Wyclef.

And spoken like a true preacher’s son – a moniker we both share – he elaborated on his civic duty to awaken hip hop’s soul.

“The elevation of music is going to come from us who are little bit older to be able to combine with some of the youth and merge it together and get some of that consciousness back into what they’re saying.”

But if the message doesn’t resonate in the music, fans may look forward to his political memoir: “They Tried To J. Edgar Hoover Me”.

Says Wyclef: “If I’m gonna fear anything, it’s not the music, that’s the easy part bruh.”

Mike Tyson On Kiki: “She’s not judgmental”

“Undisputed”

Some say it’s a man’s world, but even the baddest man on the planet knows its grand design adheres to a woman’s sensibilities.

In Mike Tyson’s case she’s penning the story.

“Oh boy, that’s an interesting one,” says Tyson. “I would like to to see if my wife looks at me different when the tour ends.”

On Tuesday, Tyson brings his one man theatrical tour de force “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth”, written by his wife Kiki and directed by Spike Lee, to Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center.

It’s Tyson first trip back to the Magic City since his appearance at Wrestlemania last year.

Unlike the plethora of other Tyson inspired by works, he says Undisputed comes straight from the source.

“It’s me telling my story. It’s me truly telling you the ordeals I’ve been through in my voice,” says Tyson.

Thus far, critics nationwide have praised his performance as showing a vulnerable champ, beyond the bravado fueled shenanigans of tabloid legend.

“I’ll admit at the time I loved that guy; I thought he was awesome, ” says Tyson. “But I’m not that guy anymore, I’m working towards beyond the man I want to be.”

Maybe it was the financial fallout from being “that guy”, or maybe it is that aforementioned better half who’s inspired the change.

“Having my wife put me under the microscope to write this play is interesting, but I hope nothing comes up,” he chuckled. “I guess I’ll wait and see.”

Said Tyson: “She’s not judgmental.”

20130416-103459.jpg

NiteCap: Fantasia Talks Being Single, Lose to Win & Social Media

“Love & Lost”

When love is distant, elusive from her gasp, Fantasia’s yearning is fodder for chart-topping hits.

So what happens when that void is filled?

“Hmmm, I don’t know…” joked Fantasia.

“I don’t think it [music] will change; I’m a soul singer so I tend to sing what I hear about what people go through. I try to bless people with my music so I don’t think it’ll change.”

The always endearing American Idol divulged the meaning behind her new single “Lose To Win” on a recent Saturday inside Miami’s Hot 105 studio.
In town headlining Miami Gardens’ Jazz in the Gardens, the songstress stressed the ballad reaches beyond merely heartbreak.

“When I say lose to win I don’t want people to think I’m only talking about love,” she says. “There’s people out there who’ve lost homes and jobs…I want them to know sometimes you have to lose those things for God to put the right things in your life.”

As for her pursuit of that thingwhich she so masterfully echoes in song?

“Right now I’m at peace…I can take time to learn and love Fantasia again, so that when the man does come that’s right I can love him the right way.”