Nas will release
his highly anticipated first album for Def Jam in late September. The Queens-bred
MC made the announcement during a 15-minute performance that took place during
the first night of the Roots’ two-night concert at Radio City Music Hall in
New York. Def Jam representatives told Billboard that the album will be titled
Hip-Hop Is Dead, while Nas told MTV.com after the concert that the title
is Hip-Hop Is Dead…The N. The new set will be the follow up to his
2004 double album Streets Disciple.
Rapper Supernatural
will attempt to break the world record for the longest freestyle, which was
set by Toronto rapper D.O. in July 2003. Supernatural will attempt the feat
during the annual Rock The Bells IV festival at the NOS Event Center in San
Bernardino, Calif. D.O. set the record by rapping for eight hours and 45minutes.
One 15-minute break was enforced on D.O. and in order to verify the freestyles,
spectators wrote a variety of topics on a white board for the rapper to rap
about. Rock The Bells IV takes place Aug. 5, with Wu-Tang Clan as the headlining
act. Mos Def, De Las Soul, Redman, Immortal Technique, Aesop Rock, Talib Kweli,
Planet Asia and others are also slated to perform.
The American Battleground
2006 tour kicked off last month in Austin, Tex., in search of the world’s top
battle DJ. Local competitions commenced with Donnie D advancing in Austin, while
Etronik won the heat held in Albuquerque, N.M. The American Battleground is
part of The DMC/Technics World DJ Championships, an annual competition that
features thousands of DJ’s competing for the worldwide DMC DJ title. The finalists
are chosen through various competitions held worldwide. Winners from individual
heats then compete for the title at a final competition. The acclaimed competition
was created in 1986 and has produced such legendary DJ’s as DJ Cheese, DJ Q-bert,
A-Trak, Cash Money, and Roc Raida. "Various cities will host day events
allowing young spectators to experience DMC direct– and inspire new members
to preserve this vital art-form," DMC American Chapter GM, George Cabrera
said in a statement. The DMC competition US Finals will be held in Chicago in
August, while the World DJ Championship takes place in France in September.
The next heat takes place May 21 in Wilmington, Delaware and will be hosted
by Flipmode’s Rampage and DJ Street Treatz. For more information, click
here.
