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Hip-Hop Rumors: Lloyd Banks’ Serious Problem! Young Buck’s Not Pleased With Gay Rumors!

DISCLAIMER:

 

All

content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual

info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.LIL WAYNE AND JR SMITH: THE ALLEGED BLOODY CONNECTION

I asked and people talked. I really have no idea, but some of this makes “sense” in this climate. Well, here is what I was told from one of my sources. Jr Smith and Lil Wayne claim the same set and the two men got cool when JR played for New Orleans. Wayne reportedly also is interested in having Wayne rep Young Money in the same way that LeBron reps for The Roc. Apparently, Lil Wayne’s very good whenever he comes to NJ, Smith’s home state, because the set is deep there. How cool, eh?

 

 

LLOYD BANKS HAS A REAL PROBLEM

OK, the Lloyd Banks situation has been front and center for a couple days now, but here are the rumors. Go to the news section for the latest in factual info.

First things first, this entire melee is all over $5,000. You would think that with a friend like 50 Cent, Banks wouldn’t sweat such a small amount of money. My sources say, it does matter to Banks and suggested that he wasn’t caked um in the way we all think. It seems like the recession is just kicking everybody’s a$$!

From what I have been told, Young Buck WAS actually paid his money to show up for the concert. A lot of people in Canada assumed he didn’t get paid since he performed super short or didn’t perform at all (depending on who you speak to).

Here is the damning evidence. There was tons of hotel security cameras all over the hotel that caught  Banks and his crew entering the alleged victim’s room. The same cameras caught them running out of the hotel rooms when the police came.

Here is the twist and perhaps the only way Banks can get out of this. Banks is now on record saying he was robbed and apparently made statements to police to co-operate in arresting the “robber.” Here is where the 5000.00 truly comes in. Banks and his crew believe that the promoter Hines had something to do with the robbery so they allegedly beat him down until i was time to flee from the cops. There is a massive lawsuit coming from Hines. From what I have been told, Hines has promoted a number of G-Unit shows and made them some good money in Canada.

From what I have been told, this mess will basically get Banks banned from performing or working in Canada FOREVER…over $5k.

ANOTHER YOUNG BUCK, NOT THE G-UNIT DUDE

Yesterday, Monica Danger made the most outrageous allegations: that Ray-J was in a gay relationship with Young Buck. Everybody, including myself speculated that she MIGHT be talking about the Young Buck froom G-Unit. What other Young Buck is there!? Lo and behold, there is another Young Buck that was on the reality show that starred Ray-J. I couldn’t easily find a picture of this other Young Buck. I heard dude (the fake Young Buck) does look pretty “gay,” as if that was any help. I hope he can exonerate the Ten-A-Key Buck that hates 50 Cent.

Ray-J’s Young Buck:

YOUNG BUCK WANTS DANGER TO CLEAR THIS MESS UP!

Young Buck is like, “WTF do I have to do with this mess!?”

USHER ROBBED FOR MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN STUFF

This is factual and from http://www.myfoxatlanta.com.

ATLANTA (MyFOX ATLANTA) – Atlanta police said Monday that a million dollars in jewelry and electronics were stolen from singer Usher Raymond. The incident happened across the street from one of Atlanta’s busiest shopping malls.

Raymond and a second man told Atlanta police that their vehicle was broken into on Dec. 14 when the pair stopped at an AT&T store near Lenox Mall.

According to the police report, the vehicle was described as a black GMC Yukon. Raymond said and there was over a million dollars worth of jewelry, $50,000 in furs and closing and about $20,000 stolen.

A witness said they saw a Chevy Impala with tinted windows drive up next to the SUV. The witness told police a man got out of the Impala and popped open the door to the SUV.

The incident is still under investigation.

NINA SKY GAY?

Hey, with all this gay stuff running around, I thought I would throw this out there. I don’t even know why this matters. But, I heard a ways back that one of the members of Nina Sky was gay. I saw the following picture at Angie Martinez’s birthday party and thought I would let you guess.

Click here for the other images from the celebration of Angie’s party. Jay-Z, Beyonce and Joe Budden were there, among others.

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BEYONCE IS TAKING THAT BREAK

 

Thank god! Beyonce told USA Today that she is going to do a

lot of non-music related stuff. I think the Illuminati had to tell her to chill and let somebody else eat. LOL!

 

Beyonce: It’s definitely time to take a break, to recharge my

batteries. I’d like to take about six months and not go into the studio. I need

to just live life, to be inspired by things again… when I got home, I wrote out

a contract with myself. I made a list of everything I want to do that has

nothing to do with music. Well, some of it does. But I promised myself that I

would not go back on tour or in the studio until I finished these things.

 

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

 

Meth, Rae and Ghost are asking fans to help them with a name for

their new Wu-Group.

 

I’m surprized the racial overtone of Avatar took this long to get

press.

 

Simon is finished with American Idol. That show ran its course

anyway.

 

Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton have broken up, as if

anybody really cared.

 

SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END

What’s the baby going to be when she grows up?

EPIC WIN OF THE DAY

This crook is far from half way. Look at how slick he is in this picture. The cops think they have evidence on him, but they will fail. Peep it!

KEY KEY COLE’S MOM, WE LOVE YOU!!!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].

Kandi Burruss Lines Up Rick Ross, Gucci For New LP

Former Xscape group member Kandi Burruss has tapped a number of rappers and Hip-Hop producers for her new untitled album, which is slated to hit stores this Spring.

 

Burruss announced a deal between her label, Kandi Koated Entertainment and Asylum Records, who will market, promote and distribute the untitled album.

 

The singer/Real Housewives of Atlanta reality show star has also lined up rappers like Gucci Mane, Rick Ross and Rasheeda to round out the album, which features production by Jazze Pha, Drumma Boy, Nitti, KP, Malay and Blac Elvis.

 

“I am so excited to be working with Asylum on my new release,” Burruss told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “They loved the music I delivered. Having my own label, Kandi Koated Entertainment, has afforded me the ability to really be true to my craft, sharing my total self with my fans. That’s what music should be about.”

 

In addition to striking platinum with former group Xscape, Kandi Burruss has written songs for a number of top artists, including TLC’s#### single “Scrubs” Destiny’s Child’s#### “Bills, Bills, Bills.”

 

Burruss recently released The Fly Above EP, which went to #1 on iTunes R&B chart.

Jadakiss: “The Passion Of Kiss (Reloaded)”

After having a totally remarkable 2009, Jadakiss is not resting on his laurels. The Yonkers rap don is putting the industry on notice with “The Passion of Kiss,” his latest mixtape. The mixtape is just want the doctor orderd for Hip-Hop, which people seem to feel is on life support. If so, Jadakiss and others are rehab for the body and soul. “The Passion Of Kiss” features Sheek, Styles and French Montana. On “New York Minute” remix Mase will make you forget he flip flops as a minister. Songs like “Euphoria,” “My Life,” and “Take Me To New York” are terse, well-crafted songs that keep Jadakiss hot in the streets without oversaturating the market.

Download it here:

The Business Of ‘Story’ (A Rapper’s Brand and Image)

In July of 2005 I had lunch in Washington, D.C. with David Banner. We were having a wide-ranging conversation just before we went over to the offices of Congressman Bennie Thompson, for a meeting I had arranged.

At a certain point the discussion turned to Young Jeezy.

I had been feeling the growing buzz on him up North (as I was spending most of my time in the Philly, New Jersey, New York City corridor) as a result of my relationship with record stores in the area and what I was hearing on the streets but I had to admit, my ear wasn’t as close to the ground during those months so I didn’t quite understand why so many people were raving about this hot artist from Atlanta.

I told Banner, “I don’t understand what it is that is making him so popular.”

Without hesitation the Mississippi icon responded, “I know what it is – he got a story

After the always brilliant Mr.Banner (one of the 3 most intelligent artists I have ever met) gave me the 411 on Jeezy, I too became a convert and have been appreciating his work ever since [by the way – is Jeezy the only cat to get Jay-Z and Fat Joe on the same song (the ‘Go Crazy’ remix)? Anyone who listens to ‘The Cedric Muhammad and Black Coffee Program’ (returning January 20th at: http://www.cedricmuhammad.com/media/) knows how we feel about ‘Corporate Thuggin!’

Yes, Young Jeezy has been successful because his story, reputation, image and brand have stayed in alignment.

****

That conversation impressed upon me something I must have forgotten about that Summer – having a story is one third of what makes for the ultimate success formula in rap.

An artist is hitting all cylinders when they have three pitches working: hot music in rotation, media coverage, and a story that people are either a) intrigued by b) can relate to or c) find moving.

If I had to say who I felt has had the most compelling ‘story’ in Hip-Hop history, I would have to say 50 Cent in 2002-2003 followed closely by Snoop Dogg in 1992-1993. In all of my years in the business and as a consumer or adviser to artists I have never seen anything like the phenomenon around their stories, prior to the release of their ‘debut’ albums.

50 Cent had the ultimate timing – the intrigue around his being shot 9 times, the perfect manner in which he flooded the streets with mixtapes of his music, and his affiliation with Eminem and Dr. Dre.

With Snoop the elements were similar – the questions around his Crip street organization affiliation, brushes with the law, and the association with the hottest producer in the game, again, at that time, Dr. Dre.

When you can get people looking and interested in who you are, moving units is so much easier (it doesn’t hurt to be from a major market too).

But what happens when the public is no longer interested in your ‘story?’

That, I think is where 50 Cent found himself in November with the release of ‘Before I Self-Destruct.’

For the first time, I noticed the always self-aware Queens native seemingly unsure of why his sales were so poor. In interviews I’ve heard him make good arguments that place the blame with technology (that his album was bootlegged a month before it came out) and reference playa’ and objective hate (people always want to see the person on top fall).

I found his comments reportedly made to BET when the first sales projections came out to be most revealing, though, saying, “The actual project is arguably my best work, to have the general public respond the way they’ve responded to it. I haven’t heard anything negative about my choices artistically, so if I was in the space where I absolutely needed finances from the actual sales of the record, it might mean something, but if it offers the material that I can go out and perform and make everyone enjoy themselves as much as I enjoyed myself making it, Ill be happy with it

Exactly. 50 is admitting that making good music is not enough (I am among those who do believe that artistically ‘Before I Self Destruct’ is a pretty good album). But he doesn’t seem as conscious of the fact that possibly his attitude toward making music has compromised his appeal as an artist.

Those who have read my book know that I begin The Entrepreneurial Secret (http://theEsecret.com/) on the subject of 50 Cent, in 1999 – depicting him as the prototype of entrepreneurship by necessity. He made ‘How To Rob’ because he “was in the space where I absolutely needed finances from the actual sales of the record.”

That hunger and mentality helped fuel him creatively, and entrepreneurially, into the deal with Shady/Aftermath.

That this form of motivation no longer exists where his music career is concerned is understandable.

I think it can return in a sense if people continue to pronounce his music career dead (my hope is that he’ll channel this energy into executive producing classic albums for other artists). It appears for now that he is determined to establish a strong film production and acting career (have you seen how willing 50 is to cry on cue in just about any major interview he does?).

The fact that 50’s financial motivation for making music is gone is not lost on his audience and it is one of the things contributing to a lack of interest in his story.

A 50 Cent doing something just for the love of it and to give people enjoyment is just not as interesting of a story (‘…if it offers the material that I can go out and perform and make everyone enjoy themselves as much as I enjoyed myself making it, I’ll be happy with It.’) as surviving getting shot 9 times and getting with Vivica Fox and breaking her heart (http://vodpod.com/watch/2770583-vivica-a-fox-cries-over-50-cent).

That image of 50 Cent – though a form of maturity some would say – is not in alignment with the brand he has successfully created.

We’re not making moral judgments today – just talking business.

****

I feel for many artists who believe that their ticket to a successful career is creating an image based upon selling a story of some kind, not realizing that you have to be built for that. When I say built for that, I mean the story has to be genuine and credible, and interesting, and you have to be able to handle yourself in the public, accordingly.

It also means that you have to develop an appreciation for how the media works and understand that a story becomes a brand and an image that you have to manage over time, not for your personal benefit, but for the benefit of an audience and career. The artist that can’t distinguish between their own personal reality and their celebrity profile won’t last very long, and will fail to develop the kind of mystique that allows you to have a long career, selling your story.

The first Hip-Hop artist I saw effectively do this was Rakim. You never saw Rakim out of character, and in fact you hardly saw him at all. For whatever reason (and the rumors that circulated only helped his ‘story’ become a brand and image) Rakim hardly did any interviews, and never saturated us with performances, interviews, and endorsements.

Of course 1987 was a different era than today, but when you compare Rakim to his main solo peers like Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One, it becomes obvious that the god’s image was most mysterious and intriguing. This was due to his natural demeanor and personality, and a street reputation that he cultivated, and allowed others to wonder about.

His focus on knowledge of self and street culture, combined with his inaccessibility made him different.

And this is a big part of Jay-Z’s continued success.

When people ask me why he is so popular one of the main things I emphasize is how selective Jay is with media and public appearances. He has always been like that. He’s no where near as ‘invisible’ as Rakim was in 1986-1987 but Jay-Z’s intentional lack of a movie career, selective interviews, and few endorsements (just imagine how many offers he must have turned down) has built for him a brand and image that supports his reputation and ‘story.’

He is extremely conservative when it comes to his brand, measuring what he needs to do at all times to avoid losing his base, while constantly appealing to new audiences. He is edgy without taking chances, and can frame himself as a border-line revolutionary by making examples of selective targets. His ‘movement; against Cristal, and his ‘attack’ on Auto Tune (Check it out here ) are classic examples.

The only person who may pick their opponents more carefully than Jay-Z is Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Jr.

In Volume II of my book I explain the difference between a brand, an image and a reputation and the mistake that most make in managing the three. Quoting my life-long business mentor I write, “There are actually two influences always determining a brand – What you are projecting, and, the interpretation that those who observe you and interact with you give to what you are projecting. Your goal is to project the brand that you want to convey and desire them to interpret. Sometimes your reputation or image doesn’t support your brand.”

To me the key to success as an artist is making sure your reputation or image always supports your brand. No one has done it any longer than Jay-Z.

He did however have one near-fatal episode where he undermined his reputation (about business and above pettiness) with an image (as a strong-arming gangster) that did not support his brand (a smooth hustler).

I could only be speaking of 2003 when Jay got ‘Ethered’ by Nas.

Jay-Z ‘lost’ the battle with Nas because he assumed an identity that did not fit his iconic brand. He became aggressive, personally bothered, and even ‘indecent’ or ‘low class’ (the stuff about Carmen and the baby seat) thinking he was being witty, demonstrating his power, and distancing himself from possibly his only peer and competition for ‘greatest rapper of his generation.’

This fits 50 Cent’s brand and image more (which is why he has been trying to lure Jay-Z into a battle on his turf).

Jay-Z ‘won’ though in a business sense by ending the battle and apologizing. It hurt him a bit on the streets, and maybe with other artists (who only think like artists) but it protected his brand. Jay-Z has lasted as long as he has as a successful artist because he is equally skillful at protecting his artistry with business and growing his business with artistry.

Pick anyone you like – Lil Wayne, Raekwon, Jeezy, Kanye West (well, he just had a slight mishap) whoever – the greats have become that not just by making hot music, but by how effectively they balance four factors: their story, reputation, image or brand.

Some do it naturally, others with the help of a team, and still more, by making corrections and adjustments so that mistakes and errors don’t persist.

However they do it, they are doing it.

Cedric Muhammad is a business consultant, political strategist, and monetary economist. He is author of the book, The Entrepreneurial Secret: To Starting a Business Without A Bank Loan, Collateral Or Revenue (http://theEsecret.com/). He is a former GM of Wu-Tang Management and currently a Member of the African Union’s First Congress of African Economists. His Hip-Hoppreneur ™ column can be read each week exclusively at AllHipHip.com. Cedric can be contacted via e-mail at: cedric(at)cmcap.com

Illseed’s ’09 Person of The Year: Rick Ross

Hee, hee…the AllHipHop Staff thought they were going to have the final word on 2009. They were so wrong. Here are the final 2 words.

Rick Ross.

The name causes calamity.

The name causes hate.

The name causes scorn.

The name causes debate!

People hated on Ross so badly, they thought AllHipHop named him the King of the South. Read it here. He wasn’t even deemed the King of the South in 2009, but the Ill Community’s mob mentality took over, when the reading should have been fundamental. We appointed Lil Wayne the “King of the South,” but the readers simply wanted to talk about the BAWSE! He is the “Illseed Person of the Year!”

In the not so distant future, Rick Ross was just another rapper that rhymed about a lot of cocaine. Sure, there was a bit more to him, but he seemed to be another dude that did cocaine rap to me. All that changed with the 2008 revelation that he was once a correctional officer at a jail facility in Miami. It was the worst-kept secret to come out of Florida. Ross was finished, but it actually made him a bigger star. People couldn’t stop talking about him.

Then in ’09 Ross plucked 50 Cent’s nerves when he said:

“I love to pay ya bills, can’t wait to pay ya rent / Curtis Jackson, baby mama ain’t looking for a cent / Burn the house down, you gotta buy another / Don’t forget the gas can, jealous stupid motherf***er.”

– Rick Ross

A risky, but brilliant chess move by Ross.

There was blood in the water and the biggest shark went for a swim.

When it was all said and done, the water was crimson red, but somehow Rick Ross lived through 50 Cent’s retaliatory attack.

Embroiled in a beef with the King of Beef is a death sentence for most. 50 Cent threw everything at Ross, save actual bullets. The boss didn’t die. He didn’t die.

What Ross did…

He did something that people wanted…he made a damn good album with Deeper Than Rap. I never liked the title but the album was dope. I’ll go so far as to say that anybody that calls it wack is a straight up, die-hard, self-loathing HATER.

Deeper Than Rap was fashioned like others before it (think Notorious B.I.G.) with the distinct ability to balance hardcore Hip-Hop with commercial gems. Sure, he never crossed over fully, but that didn’t stop him from selling a cool 158,000 units his first week out (about the same 50 Cent would go on to sell his first week). When the year was over, Ross had sold 401,000, making him the 4th top selling rap act of 2009. I suspect even the haters picked up Ross on the merits of his music, not his past job.

Heads up…

I have a revelation for some people.

Your favorite rapper isn’t all that he is represents in his raps. I am certain people would actually want their favorite coke rapper to have sold insane amounts of coke rather than just rap about it. Sure, they want rappers to actually do crimes they speaketh, because if they don’t…they are frauds. Right? I mean, your parents go to work and act “fake” for their manager and co-workers so what’s the big deal? Blah!

For me, I never thought Rick Ross was anything more than a rapper. If he is, that’s cool for those that need that. But, I just liked the damn album and am grown enough that I don’t need him killing anybody in street wars. Can people just enjoy the music? Raekwon did an album that talked about coke and we know he’s not in it like that. Dr. Dre was never a gangster and we’re waiting for him like he’s Santa Claus.

Even more, I like how Rick stood in the eye of the storm and didn’t blink. Well, when he first heard 50 go at his baby moms he definitely came out of his cool, but that was about it. Other than that, Rick and crew just kept releasing songs, videos and kept it about the music.

Moreover, Rick Ross even picked a fight with Eminem and the Detroit rapper side-stepped him for Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. No shots to Em, but…hey…I would have loved to have see that one go down.

What is life without a villain?

Rick Ross is the person that you hate to love and love to hate, an honor once held by Ice Cube.

I’ve said it hundreds of times: “They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!”

Rick kept people talking and, truth be told, hate is better than the indifference.

Long live the hate!

Long live the music!

Long live THE BAWSE!

Free Gucci: Download The Diplo Mixtape Free

Those that know Diplo’s music understand that his production in an acquired taste. Diplo is widely known for his work with eccentrics like M.I.A., Santogold and Spankrock, but this “Free Gucci” mixtape may just get him a serious dose hood recognition. The beats are original and they bounce playfully, changing often. Oddly, Diplo’s production gives Gucci an old school feel even though the beats are decidedly futuristic. “Free Gucci” is totally worth your time and hard drive space.

Download it here for free.

Ray J Refutes Allegation of Being Young Buck’s Lover

(AllHipHop News) Singer Ray J has publicly denied an accusation from For the Love of Ray J co-star Monica Danger that he is gay and an intimate partner of Young Buck.

 

Ray J appeared on T.T. Torrez’ radio to clarify his issues with Danger and the reason he believes the rumor was started.

 

“I still got love for Danger, that’s one of my peoples. But I didn’t her calls for the last 2-3 weeks. So she threatened to say ‘I’m going to tell people you’re gay!’” he revealed. “She went along and actually did it! I’m not gay but I got love for gay people because I work with gay people…girls and dudes. I’m comfortable with my sexuality, I’m not tripping…I’m with a couple of my lesbian homegirls that go hard. They try to steal my homegirls.”

 

Regarding his future relationship with Danger, Ray J still considers her a friend and feels their issues will be worked out behind closed doors.

 

“I don’t hang with stars, I create stars,” Ray J continued. “I lent my hand to her, and I got her back even though she’s going through some things right now. Sometimes that happens with new stardom. I’m not going to leave her behind. We’re both upset with each other. But it’s ok, I’m going to work it out with her soon and we’ll be friends again. She’s just tripping right now.”

 

Danger, real name Monica Leon, began the Young Buck-Ray J rumors on 92.5’s Devyn’s Playground Radio.

 

“Ray J’s gay, I’ll tell you why on this show. Ray, I love you, I respect you, but after the two years of Danger smashed the homie t-shirts, what I had to go through first season, me being pregnant by Gabriel [Cannon], you claiming it was you everywhere on earth,” Danger stated. “You are selling me everywhere, listen ngga I’m not a pimp hoe, you’re not going to pimp me, I’m not Kim Kardashian…Ray J’s lover of years is Young Buck. I’m really mad too…Young Buck and Ray J…going strong f###### with each other for years, and Young Buck does not have 1 percent of what Ray J has and it’s like Ray J, you’re not looking out for your boy?”

 

On Saturday (January 9), news broke that Danger lost custody of her newborn baby girl due to documented psychiatric issues with LA Child Services.

 

The child is now with her father.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Matt Kemp Denies Rihanna? Rihanna Denies Herpes! D.C. Denies Wale?

DISCLAIMER:

 

All

content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual

info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.CHANCE ENCOUNTERS!

The homey Chance came through with his rumors! Here you go!

MATT KEMP THE COMEDIAN

I was LMAO when I saw this.  Rihanna’s new “friend” Matt Kemp recently shot a video for Match.com, the dating website and dude has a pretty good sense of humor.  FYI, his publicist released a statement recently basically saying he and Rihanna are not officially boyfriend or girlfriend and are just doing the do.

RAY J HEARTS YOUNG BUCK

So Danger, who recently lost custody of her newborn, has been threatening to expose Ray-J, but after the Kim K incident I was wondering how much more exposed he could get.  Well apparently he’s not just a ladies man but a mans mans as well.  She has even singled out Young Buck as his long-time lover.  She says Ray-J is grimy for having so much money and allowing his boyfriend “Young Buck” to be broke.  Brandy came out in defense of her brother saying (via Twitter):

Here’s the audio from the interview where Danger made these allegations:

…and Young Buck recently started going hard at 50…wonder what he’s going to do with the info.  I know it won’t be pretty.

“I’M NOT BURNIN”

RiRi has addressed rumors that she has the Hurp.  After pics of her wit some s**t on her lip popped up about a year ago everyone has accused her of having an STD and even speculated that this is what caused her infamous bout with Chris Brown.  She was recently quoted as saying:

“It’s a f**king scar on my lip that’s been there every day of my life.”

P.S.A. – She may not have it but a lot of folks do so stay strapped and I mean both ways (reference “I Got A Story To Tell”).BIG MAN ON CAMPUSAfter hosting a party at Mangos on Friday Lil Kim performed at a club in New Jersey over the weekend and this big breasted women had to let her know who runs Jersey:Kim was looking good too:Here she is partying with Funkmaster Flex in NYC Friday night:

ALICIA LET HERSELF GO

Lol…oh wait that’s Charles Barkley:

DC NOT FEELING WALE???

Anytime you see Wale you see his band.  His live go-go style music is his trademark and he has two of the best bands in DC to thank for that sound, TCB and The Backyard Band.  We’ll apparently they haven’t been feeling the love recently and turned to Twitter to air out their grievances.  They say they are upset he has sold the rights to songs they created without their permission and they’re upset he shot the “Pretty Girls” video without featuring them.  They have started a movement asking people to call the radio stations and request they stop playing his records.  Apparently Wale caught wind of this beef and says there is going to be major problems when they cross paths.

IS THAT YOU NICKI???

Check out what every ones favorite Harajuku Barbie looked like back in high school before Young Money and all the butt pad allegations.  It’s pretty cool she quote Lauryn Hill:

SHE’S GOT A GUN

Here is the video footage of Diamond from Crime Mob flashing her heat for the Ustream fans that Jazzy mentioned earlier.  She was Ustreaming while she recorded a song called “Smash Yo Homies”:

Here she is the day after bowling with the BBC (Bad B**ches Clique):

(L to R Kandi Burress, Diamond, Toya Carter, idk and idk)

I’M JUST SAYIN’Shout out to Millz aka Murdah … Get at me!!!!Be on the look out for a statement from Keyshia Cole’s sister (not Neffe, the plump one) defending her family.  It looks like she thinks Keyshia threw them under the bus this weekend.Toni Braxton says she tried to quit music but couldn’t because it’s in her blood…she says she’s like Jay-Z…ummmmmm.They’re saying Tyra Banks may have quit the show because she wants to start a family with her Wall Street big shot boyfriend.The people of Trinidad say a Beyonce performance would cost too much and they’d rather spend that money on their yearly Carnival celebration.Banks is facing some serious charges for lumping that dude up … hopefully 50’s got lawyers on deck for him.Yes!!!!!  Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls broke up with her boyfriend…now that I’m on the AllHipHop Rumors page maybe she’ll give me a (corny joke alert) CHANCE…holla at me Nikki:

FANTASIA

…the former illiterate winner of American Idol, who’s out in Barbados gallivanting with a married man, has a show coming to VH1 about her life.  Here’s a quick preview:

FFFe01by yardie4lifever2

Think it’s gonna be worth the watch???HOW DOES IT FEEL?I just started watching Jersey Shore…dope show…but Italians are

saying it makes them look bad and there’s a huge uproar about it…good

thing black people have never had to endure being portrayed in a

negative light via reality TV.PEACE – CHANCECDR @ Twitter Facebook or GmailKEY KEY COLE, WE LOVE YOU!!!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].

Joell Ortiz To Release ‘Free Agent’ In March

(AllHipHop News) Slaughterhouse member Joell Ortiz has announced the details for his new upcoming album Free Agent, which will be released via a deal with E1 Music.

 

Ortiz has lined up a number of notables for the follow-up to his debut album The Brick (Bodega Chronicles).

 

Artists like Raekwon, Akon, Bun B., Smokey Robinson, Talib Kweli, Styles P., MOP and Jean Grae make appearances on the album, while producers like DJ Premier, Statik Selektah, Novel, Nottz, Frequency and others crafted the sound of the release.

 

“Joell Ortiz is one the hottest new emcees to come out of New York. We had a lot of success with the first Joell release and are very excited he continues to be in the E1 family,” E1 Music’s General Manager Alan Grunblatt stated.

 

According to E1, the first single from Free Agent is titled “Call Me,” a “nostalgic story of teenage love,” set in Brooklyn in the 1990’s.

LIL KIM REMIXES RIHANNA’S “HARD”

LIL KIM REMIXES RIHANNA’S “HARD”

It is not unlikely that Lil Kim has not felt some kind of way watching a new female rap sensation hit the Hip-Hop scene. In 2010, Lil Kim comes out of the gate with a fresh remix of Rihanna’s “Hard,” where she raps and sings. Check it out.

Lloyd Banks Gets Bail; Still In Protective Custody

(AllHipHop News) G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks is in the process of being released from a Canadian jail, after being accused of assaulting a promoter this weekend.

 

Sources told AllHipHop.com that Lloyd Banks will be released on $50,000 bail, for his role in an assault on booking agent Chris Hines of Chris Hines/Ultimate Entertainment.

 

Banks is currently being transferred to the Maple Hurst Correctional Complex, where he will be held in protective custody until his ultimate release.

 

The Queens, New York rapper and three associates are being charged with assaulting Hines during a monetary dispute on Friday (January 9).

 

Hines and Banks were involved in a dispute over the rapper’s performance fee, Sgt. Brad Finucan said.

 

Police said the fight started at Club NV, where Banks performed.

 

The altercation continued to a Kitchener hotel where Banks, 27 along with cohorts Tyrell Cooper, 24, Nicklas Sloane, 25, and Shaun McGee, 31, beat Hines and held him against his will, for almost an hour.

 

Banks, born Christopher Lloyd, along the three other men are each charged with forcible confinement, aggravated assault and robbery.

Sean Garrett: The New Wave Singer/ Songwriter/ Producer

Although Sean Garrett is one of the most respected songwriters within the music industry, he has yet to become a household name. Even so, it would be safe to bet that every American has come into contact with one or more songs from his music catalog. Inside Garrett’s discography, one will find: “Yeah” (Usher), “Lose My Breathe” (Destiny’s Child), “Run It!” (Chris Brown), “London Bridge” (Fergie) and “Break Up” (Mario).

In 2008, Sean Garrett transitioned to the public spotlight, when he released Turbo 919 in Japan, which featured collaborations with Akon, Lil’ Wayne, Ludacris, and Pharrell. The following year, he took his performance on the road – touring with Mario, Trey Songz and Day26 on BET’s 106 & Park Tour – and further established himself as a solo artist.

Fresh off the heels of a successful tour, Garrett received a GRAMMY nomination for his contributions to Beyonce’s I Am…Sasha Fierce! After the first leg wrapped, Sean Garrett managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry — reflecting on his admiration of Lionel Richie, his nine contributions on Destiny Fulfilled and the story behind Jay-Z dubbing him “The Pen.”

AllHipHop.com: In addition to being a singer and songwriter, you are also a producer. At what particular point did you start playing the keys?

Sean Garrett: You know what’s so ironic about my production — my production was probably the last thing that I started doing. Production was the last thing I did because I was always studying music. And as an artist, I kind of did things backwards. I was an artist first, and then my songwriting started to just really flourish, and then fooling around with being a producer and being an artist was coming along at the same time. So, I think the first thing was definitely my beginning as an artist and knowing that that was my calling — was the point of me knowing that I had a big career as a songwriter, artist, and producer.

AllHipHop.com: Why do you think that your evolution followed that path?

Sean Garrett: I think because of the passion that I have for music, period. Some of my favorite artists were singers, songwriters and performers — like Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Elton John — they’re people that actually performed the music they wrote. So, that’s definitely the route that I’m taking because that’s what my passion is. I write songs that I feel are great songs, but I feel like only I can perform them and pull them off the way that I feel like they should be performed or written or actually sung. Sometimes it’s a little difficult when you have a song you want to try — you’ve got to try different things. I’m always trying different things. Sometimes it’s a little difficult to push a new artist or an artist that’s been in the game for a long time to do things that they’re not usually used to doing.

AllHipHop.com: At what point did you realize that music was going to be the center of your universe?

Sean Garrett: To be really honest with you, man, I knew really early. I probably knew when I was three or four years old. I was singing really, really early and my mom was putting me in talent shows. I did my first talent show when I was four or five years old. So I knew really early that music was definitely going to be my calling.

AllHipHop.com: Within the industry, you are known as “The Pen,” which is a nickname that Jay-Z gave you. Was this nickname given in response to a particular accomplishment?

Sean Garrett: Oh, wow! It was a number of things, when I think about it. Yeah, it definitely spoke to my accomplishments, but I’ve also worked really, really close with his wife, Beyoncé, and I’ve written quite a few big hits for her. So, I think it would have a combination of us, our relationship, in each other all the time. I would always look for his approval when I did a job for her that was crazy. The first hit I ever did for Destiny’s Child was “Soldier.” That record was kind of hood, you know what I’m saying? Something that Jay-Z could respect. And overall, I contributed nine songs to Destiny Fulfilled, which was really huge for me. And after that, I wrote six for Beyonce’s B’Day album.

AllHipHop.com: One of my favorite songs of all-time happens to be “Bad Habit,” which was Kelly Rowland’s solo offering on Destiny Fulfilled. And in my opinion, Destiny Fulfilled was Destiny Child’s best album. When you look back at the group’s final album, what thoughts immediately come to mind?

Sean Garrett: I think the Destiny Fulfilled album was probably the one accomplishment that made me realize that I had definitely arrived. Up to this date, that’s the last Destiny’s Child album ever with them as a formulated group. And to my knowledge, Destiny’s Child is one of the biggest-selling female groups of all time. So that was a humongous accomplishment for me to have done so many songs on their last album. To my knowledge, no one has worked that closely with Destiny’s Child and was able to score that many records on one album. So for me, that was a huge accomplishment.

AllHipHop.com: You have penned a lot of songs for the industry’s leading men as well. Do you have a specific approach to writing songs for women, or does it flow naturally and organically?

Sean Garrett: No, I just try and make sure that I do records that I know females across the world are going to respect. I always like to do songs for females that I think females across the world are going to love and that the guys are going to respect. So that’s definitely my approach. First of all, you’ve got to speak the truth when you dealing with a female. That’s the first approach when I’m dealing with a female.

AllHipHop.com: As a young male in a cutthroat industry, at what point did you learn that the music business was just as much about business as it was about the music?

Sean Garrett: To be perfectly honest, I’ve known that ever since I first started. I think that’s been my edge. Anybody that knows me will tell you that I take music really, really seriously. Even though you can become pretty wealthy at doing it, I don’t take it for granted. I don’t take my accomplishments for granted. I don’t take the fans for granted. I don’t take the music for granted. I take everything really, really seriously. I have fun doing it, but I definitely take it seriously. So, any time I’m doing a record, I know the fans are expecting the best from me so I go in with the definite focus that will put my best foot forward.

AllHipHop.com: Tell me a little bit about your production company.

Sean Garrett: The name of my production company is called The Practice Team. Our production company probably has about eight producers. We work on different projects. Some of my producers that I’ve worked with more are formulated, come out a little more urban, but I definitely try to deal with producers that have a different edge to them. Over this period of time, I just wanted to be noted for being a very, very consistently hot name and a consistently hot go-to guy. I didn’t want to over saturate myself, but I always wanted to make people respect my music. So over time, no matter what day, what time, what year it is, you can always go to Sean Garrett and get a monster.

AllHipHop.com:  For the producers that work underneath you, is there a particular piece of advice that you always give them that has helped you through your career?

Sean Garrett: Yeah. Number one is to be creative and not follow what everyone else is doing. I hate monotonous music. I hate when people do the same stuff all the time. I always stress this to my producers. I’ll stand up for someone being an individual. Focus on making a name for yourself by being a trailblazer versus being a follower. I look for that and as a producer and someone who has experience as a producer. You’ve got to understand what a producer means. You’ve got to produce. You have to guide people. You have to be a leader as a producer.

AllHipHop.com: Is there a piece of advice that someone in the industry has given you that was really helpful and beneficial?

Sean Garrett: I think one of the most beneficial people in my life or my business is, of course, Jay-Z. One thing I know about Jay-Z is he leads by example, more so than talking to you. How to handle business, being an artist, how to carry yourself as an artist. I’m definitely a producer’s artist. I’m definitely an artist’s producer. Lionel Richie is also someone that I really look up to. Lionel’s led by example: how to be a songwriter, how to be an artist, how to be a producer, and how to be a great, great person at the same time, on and off the court. Those things are really, really important to me. They make such a difference in your career. I look at my career as a marathon, man. It’s not really a race. So, I’m not really here for the moment. I’m here for a lifetime.

AllHipHop.com: On your website, I noticed a countdown clock. What do you have in store for your fans?

Sean Garrett: Some very interesting things are going to be happening on my site. I feel like my fans are going to enjoy getting a chance to search my site and see the creative aspects that we brought to the site. We’re going to start there. You’re going to be able to come to my site and find a lot more about Sean Garrett, The Pen, and a lot about the process and what Sean Garrett, The Pen, lives from day-to-day: what I like, my experiences, the things that I see. It’s not going to be all just about Sean Garrett. It’s going to be about the fans, and what people live, as far as their lifestyle. The Pen is a lifestyle, period. I’m on both sides of the gate. The Pen travels across the waters. I mean, I’m international. The Pen is international. The Pen is good. The Pen is modern-day, mainstream America. The Pen is the streets. The Pen, it’s like I said, it’s a lifestyle. And it’s a different perspective on life than your average singer or your average rapper or your average songwriter or producer.

AllHipHop.com: In 2009, you were on the road touring with Mario and Trey Songz. What has been the most rewarding part of that experience? Most people know you for your songwriting and your production skills, but not necessarily for your singing. Can you walk me through the hurdles that you have to go through in gaining recognition as a solo artist?

Sean Garrett: I think what’s so great about it is that a lot of people are so surprised. They come to my show and it will be like, “Sean Garrett is one of the most exciting artists on this earth.” I think that’s been noted quite a bit. Just the challenge of proving yourself. Any time you’re a competitor — you know, I’m an athlete by nature, which makes me a competitor, by nature. It’s always a beautiful thing, when you’re a competitor, to have competition and to have doubters and to have your naysayers. I started out as a songwriter. When I first started writing songs, other songwriters were better than me. And the opportunity of proving myself was probably the most rewarding because some of those songwriters that were around then had been friends of mine.

Sean Garrett: That was a beautiful opportunity for me to show my faith, first in God, and secondly in my pen. And now, as an artist, it’s the same thing. It’s beautiful. I think fans love to see an artist grow and bloom like flowers. So I think my fans have enjoyed seeing me evolve from a new songwriter on the block and come out with a monster smash, like “Yeah!” for Usher, and then break new artists like Ciara, with “Goodies,” and Chris Brown, with “Run It.” I also had a really big hit with Fergie, “London Bridge,” that was the first to explode off of her debut album, which sold seven million worldwide.

AllHipHop.com: A while ago, back in May 2008, you released Turbo 919, a solo project that was only released in Japan. Is there anything from that particular experience that you’re going to translate to your American debut?

Sean Garrett: One thing I did learn from that approach was that I was definitely headed in the right direction, and just making sure that I’ve got a partner that’s going to stand behind me 100 percent. I think that’s the most important thing. When you do business, when you have a partner, that’s what a partner is, a partner. Our situation is not one-sided in a business relationship. I have my 50 percent, and if my partner’s only willing to benefit from what benefits them, it’s not a fair partnership. So at the end of the day, I was very appreciative of that opportunity. I’m very appreciative of it and very thankful of it and just ready to take this opportunity and go to the next level.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Danger Claims Young Buck & Ray-J Are GAY?

DISCLAIMER:

 

All content within

this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside

of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.

JAY ELECTRONICA DEFENDS ERYKAH BADU

E. Badu has herself a pretty good man. Jay Electronica blasts off on those that want to talk slick about his boo. Check out what he said:

JayElectronica:

  

“If ANYBODY ever says something to me disrespectful to me about Erykah to my face, i will fly your head to the moon. Try me.”

I have to ask…what if that person is Mike Tyson or Kimbo Slice? Just kidding. I got ya back, Jay-E!

RAY-J IS GAY???? WITH YOUNG BUCK?

Ray-J has some questions to answer! Now, Danger is going all in on him. She sounds like she is really just mad at him and calling him names. She says Ray-J is dating some man named Young Buck. I am going to assume she is talking about somebody that wasn’t once in G-Unit. Yet and still people think she is talking about YOUNG BUCK!?! WTF!?

Danger is wild…she won’t get her child back like this!

Note: Ray-J has already denied these allegations.

BRANDY JUMPS IN ON DANGER!

EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY

Ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and national disgrace has a bad case of diarrea of the mouth. He told Esquire magazine that he is “Blacker than Barack Obama.” Here is the whole dumb quote:

“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up. What the f**k? Everything he’s saying’s on the teleprompter.”

Blah. Blah. Blah, Blagojevich. RAY-J AND YOUNG BUCK…WE LOVE YOU…GET A LAWYER!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!-illseedWHO: illseed.comWHAT: RumorsWHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseedHOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].

AHH Stray News: The Game Delayed, Bishop Lamont, Kanye West

(AllHipHop News) The Game’s highly anticipated release The R.E.D. Album has been delayed, according to the Compton MC himself. The rapper took to his Twitter page announce that his legal obligations to the state of California for a gun possession charge will prevent him from traveling to promote the album, until March. “Bad news: this just in. The R.E.D. Album just got pushed back again to March 23rd. The judge told my lawyer & my P.O. I can’t travel or do any out of state promo until I finish my community service. Aint that a b**ch?” According to The Game, he has about 200 more hours left of community service before he is free to travel. “I wonder if spending 10 hours a day on Twitter counts towards my ‘community service’?? Then I’d be finished by Jan. 29th, ha ha,” the rapper wrote. “I was ‘INNOCENT’ anyway! I aint pull no gun out on nobody. Stop snitchin!”

 

Rapper Bishop Lamont has revealed that he is no longer on Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records. Bishop Lamont signed with the label in 2006, but never saw the release of an album. Bishop Lamont broke the news on Rude Jude and Lord Sear’s All Out Radio Show. “After almost five years of sitting there and working with every producer in the world, it’s kind of unfair to the fans and my family, and myself to keep telling people something when the release dates change,” Bishop Lamont said. “People are waiting. People are anticipating. They be like ‘When’s it gonna happen?’ After a while, it’s just like ‘Damn.’…I can’t afford that kind of situation. I signed in 2006. A n***a is 31 now.” Bishop Lamont didn’t walk away empty handed, though. He walked away with the rights to over 700 recordings that he made while signed to Aftermath. At press time, Bishop Lamont is negotiating his next deal.

 

Chart topping rapper Kanye West has announced an upcoming redesign of his popular www.kanyewest.com website. According to West, he has been quietly working for months on the design. “Sorry for the slow posting,” West wrote on his blog. “I’ve been working on a whole new blog for the past few months now. It’s very close to completion.” In related news, West will appear as a model in Bathing Ape’s 2010 Spring/Summer catalog. West, who is featured on the cover, has appeared in the catalog five times since 2005. West’s cover was shot by photographer Keiichi Nitta. “This shoot was mad fun,” West wrote on his blog. “This collection uses really great fabrics, easy to wear cuts and still the occasional super expressive decadent prints. Bape ran the last decade and they’re ready for the next one.”