Hard Knock TV
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (May 2015) |
Type of site | Online magazine, Youtube Channel |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Owner | Nick Huff Barili |
Editor | Nick Huff Barili |
URL | www |
Launched | 2005 |
Current status | Active |
Hard Knock TV is a multi-platform video production and entertainment company founded in 2005 by Nick Huff Barili. The LA-based media outlet reports on Hip-Hop and urban music, culture, sports and lifestyle news via in-depth video interviews and long-length editorial features.
History
As a fifteen-year veteran in the
Content
Hard Knock TV's trademark is providing quality, in-depth interviews with Hip-Hops biggest and brightest stars, as well producers and industry influencers. The most viewed interviews on Hard Knock TV's YouTube channel feature
While the in-depth video interviews are Hard Knock's crown jewel, Hard Knock TV also publishes written interviews and music news on their website. Some of the artists interviewed for written features include Dilated People, Lil Bibby, DJ Mustard, Sir Michael Rocks, Audio Push, Fashawn, Jarren Benton, Killer Mike, Thurz, G-Eazy, and many more.Some Hard Knock TV videos have gone viral, racking up slightly more views than the rest. Some of those videos include
"Mic Check"
"Delving into both the mainstream and underground world, Hard Knock TV digs beneath the surface for thought provoking content, asking questions that lead to insightful, original, and entertaining interviews. The result reveals a new dimension of the artist as well as the craft and lifestyle of Hip Hop music."[12]
This category of Hard Knock TV has produced hundreds of in-depth artist interviews (viewable on their YouTube and official website) that feature the below artists and more:
- Andre 3000
- Kendrick Lamar
- A$AP Rocky
- Macklemore
- Big Sean
- Rakim
- Wiz Khalifa
- Theophilus London
- Game
- DJ Khaled
- J. Cole
- E-40
- Yelawolf
- Big Boi
- Pac Div
- Lloyd
- Ice Cube
- Will.I.Am
- John Legend
- Dr. Dre
- Nas
- Damian Marley
- Warren G
- Wale
- Busta Rhymes
- Jadakiss
- Keri Hilson
- Ne-Yo
- T.I.
- Pharcyde
- Common
- Jhene Aiko
- Vince Staples
- Logic
Behind the Hit: Inside the Mind of a Producer
"Take an inside look into the making of some of your favorite records. This group of producers will share keys to success, stories behind the scenes, lessons learned and will give insight into the advancement of recording technology, evolving from beat maker to producer, sampling and much more."[13]
- Pharrell
- DJ Mustard
- Just Blaze
- Young Guru
- Hit Boy
- DJ Khalil
- Chin Injeti
Exclusive Freestyles
Hard Knock TV has captured exclusive freestyles over the years in video form. Some of the most notable were performed by artists listed below:[14]
- Tech N9ne
- Whiz Khalifa
- Big Sean
- Kevin Hart
- KRNFX
- Wyclef Jean and Jin
- Logic
- Pimp C
- Thurz
- MC Supernatural
- Chase Infinite
- Flipsyde
- Del Tha Funky Homosapien
- Crooked I
- Zion I
- Mistah Fab
- U-N-I
- Charles Hamilton
- Curren$y
- Audio Push
- Chris Young
- El Prez
Hard Knock TV X The GRAMMY'S
Hard Knock TV continuously collaborates with The GRAMMYs to produce long-length interviews, conducted by Nick Huff Barili, to highlight the life and work of influential nominated artists such as
Hard Knock Hoops & SXSW
Hard Knock Hoops is an annual three-on-three celebrity basketball tournament organized by Hard Knock TV. The annual tournament takes place in Austin, TX during the SXSW music festival and in Los Angeles in the summer time.[2] The first tournament took place at SXSW in 2011 and was called "Hoop & Hang," a collaboration between Nick Huff Barili of Hard Knock TV and Gotty of The Smoking Section. Nick first approached him with the idea at the 2010 World Basketball Festival in NY, and with Gotty, went on to create a space at SXSW where artists and media could get together in a more intimate setting while sharing their love for music and basketball.[17] The first annual LA Hard Knock Hoops tournament took place in 2012 as part of Hard Knock TV's 7 Year Anniversary Celebration, which was sponsored by Nike, and it is still held annually by Hard Knock TV. However, wanting to focus on its own brand and vision, Hard Knock TV ended its SXSW "Hoop & Hang" collaboration with TSS and carried on its own tournament at SXSW as Hard Knock Hoops in 2014.
Every year Hard Knock hoops has grown: The star-studded 2014 Hard Knock Hoops tournament in Los Angeles saw the likes of Chris Brown, Game, Taco (of Odd Future), Quincy, Steelo Brim, Pac Div, Thurz, DJ Khalil, DJ Bizzy and Ben Lyons among other industry influencers all going head to head for the chance to take home that prized number one slot. The event also brought out its share of spectators including Kelly Osbourne and Louie Vito.[18]
References
- ^ "Behind the Hit: Inside the Mind of a Producer".
- ^ a b c "Nick Huff Hard Knock Hoops 2014".
- ^ "YouTube About".
- ^ "Video: A$AP Rocky Talks Homophobia, Living in Homeless Shelters, and Newfound Success".
- ^ "J. Cole Talks Sampling Paula Abdul, 2Pac's Influence, New vs. Old Fans".
- ^ "A$AP Rocky Interview".
- ^ "Hopsin Interview".
- ^ "Ne-Yo Interview".
- ^ "Kendrick Lamar Interview".
- ^ "Scarface Interview".
- ^ "NAS Interview".
- ^ "Mic Check".
- ^ "Behind the Hit".
- ^ "Exclusive Freestyles".
- ^ "YG's Krazy Rise Compton, Calif., rapper details his recording process with producer DJ Mustard".
- ^ "Pharrell Applauds Kendrick Lamar On How He's Changing The Industry".
- ^ "On The First Annual Hoop & Hang Presented By Hardknock TV, The Smoking Section & Nike Basketball".
- ^ "Seen On The Scene: The Game, Breezy, Diddy's Son Quincy And More Battle It Out For Hard Knock Hoops Basketball Tournament".