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Slaughterhouse Announces European Tour

(AllHipHop News) American Hip-Hop group Slaughterhouse has announced their first ever European tour.

 

The group, which features Joe Budden, Royce Da 5’9, Joell Ortiz and Crooked I, will hit the road on January 20, for series of dates that start in Holland.

 

The 14-date tour will make stops in Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, Hungary, Austria other major markets in Europe.

 

“Slaughterhouse has proven that you can focus on lyricism and content and still be commercially viable,” Royce told AllHipHop.com. “I’m happy with 2009, but we hope to have an even better 2010. And we’re about to set it off with our fans in Europe.”

 

The group is hitting the road in Europe to promote their debut self-titled release which landed in stores on August 11.

 

Although he was curt with his words, Joe Budden was equally confident that fans across Europe will be impressed with Slaughterhouse’s inaugural tour of the continent.

 

“The stage will be brought down like it always is,” Joe Budden said. “This is what we live for, see you there.”

 

Tour dates are listed below:

 

Wednesday, January 20 Amsterdam, Holland Melkweg Friday, January 22 Hengelo, Holland, Metropool Saturday, January 23 Stockholm, Sweden Gota Kollare Sunday, January 24 Warsaw, Poland, The Fresh Wednesday, January 27 Copenhagen, Denmark, Loppen Thursday, January 28 Bergins Norway, Verftet Friday, January 29 Trondheim, Norway, Kjopmannagata Saturday, January 30, Oslo, Norway, Bla Sunday, January 31 Helsinski, Finland Virgin Oil Co. Tuesday, February 2 Prague, Czech Republic Lucerna Music Wednesday, February 3 Budapest, Hungary A38 Thursday, February 4 Vienna, Austria, Planet Friday, February 5 Zürich, Switzerland Dynamo Saturday, February 6 Biel, Switzerland Coupole

2009’s Most Slept On

Most Slept On (Max. 5):

We loathed the jokes. It seemed like everybody and their mother had some sort of link to SoundScan sales in 2009 and that was somehow and indication of how good or bad and album was. For example, M.O.P. sold a meager 2,100 units their first week, but the Mash Out Posse got no promotion from their label. On top of that, their fan base was actually pleased about The Foundation. Red and Meth released their anticipated album, Blackout 2, on Def Jam to very little fanfare on the charts. Even Roc Nation’s Wale released a critically acclaimed album that failed to set off people apathy alarm clocks.

In 2009, album after album came out and were overlooked and it incensed us as consummate, relentless and loyal Hip-Hop fans! So, we command the fans and the industry to stop taking that Ambien and wake up to these gems!

Wale- Attention Deficit

Ghostface Killah – Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City

Maino- If Tomorrow Comes

Naledge-Chicago Picasso

D.Black-Ali’Yah

Sene and Blu-A Day Late & A Dollar Short

Fresh Daily- Gorgeous Killer in Crimes of Passion

Finale- A Pipe Dream and a Promise

Method Man and Redman – Blackout 2

Chamber Music – Wu-Tang Clan

Crime Pays -Cam’Ron

dead prez – Pulse of The People

Dj Premier & Blaq Poet – Tha Blaq Print”

MOP – The Foundation

10 Biggest News Stories of 2009 #6 Nas and Kelis Divorce

In 2009, one of hip-Hop’s most well-known couples called it quits when Kelis filed for divorce from Nas on the grounds of “irreconcilable differences.”

News hit the media on April 30 when the singer filed papers in Los Angeles through high-powered attorney Laura Wasser. Complicating matters was the fact Kelis was seven months pregnant with Nas’ child at the time of the filing.

The ex-couple had dated for two years before tying the knot in Atlanta in 2005.

Both parties declined to release any public statement until Kelis gave birth to the ex-couple’s son Knight in July.

The joyous occasion was mired by speculation that Kelis refused to allow Nas into the delivery room because he was inebriated. A video soon surfaced of a tipsy Nas speaking on the birth of his son in Queensbridge before completing a short concert set.

“This is like the best thing ever,” Nas said while flanked by rap legend Luv Bug Starski. “My Son’s name is Knight. That’s what I named the young God. Yall heard it first. Don’t believe nothing in the media.”

Addressing the delivery room situation, a representative for the rapper confirmed Nas was not allowed to witness Knight’s birth.

“It was his intention to be there for the birth, but unfortunately he has not been allowed to be present,” a source close to the rapper told AllHipHop.com. “While this is clearly heartbreaking to him, Nas continues to offer his support and love to his new baby boy and his mother.”

Also in July, Kelis was awarded $39,498 in temporary spousal and child support. Additionally, Los Angeles Court Judge Louis Meisinger ruled that Nas would have to cover Kelis’ $45,000 lawyer and forensic accountant fees.

Kelis had originally asked for $80,000 in total support on the grounds that her income had dropped and she was dependent on Nas to maintain her lifestyle.

In August, lawyers for Kelis requested an increase of $400,000, alleging Nas owed retro child and spousal support.

Based on Nas reportedly grossing $244.826.00 per month, the lawyers requested $17,225.00 a month in child support, $72,728.00 in spousal support, retro child support of $29,522.00, and retro spousal support of $281,571.

A final judgment was rendered on December 9 when Los Angeles Court Judge David S. Cunningham ordered Nas to pay $51,101 a month in spousal and child support.

The verdict was the result of two days worth on testimony from both parties.

Kelis’ testimony revealed that she inked a new recording contract with Interscope for $175,000. However, the singer’s attorney explained most of that money was paid out to managers, leaving her only $50,000.

On cross-examination, she told Nas attorney Mark Kaplan that her comeback career has been far different from her former chart topping fame circa the 2003 single “Milkshake,” indicating that her latest song was quietly dropped on Twitter.

Her income could also not be determined, as documentation showed Kelis has not filed an income tax return in years.

Nas’ testimony showed he owed $700,000 to his manager and 2.5 million in back taxes to the IRS.

As part of the judgment, Nas would no longer have to pay the $13,000 a month mortgage on the former couple’s Los Angeles home.

To date, both Nas and Kelis have refrained from making any negative statements against each other in the press. However, Nas did offer insight on his behavior within the marriage, and his thoughts on the media and fan’s attention to his personal life.

“I heard that I was a cheater,” the rapper told Vancouver, Canada’s Georgia Straight newspaper. “It almost sounds like I was a bad husband. Not to say I was the greatest—I’m not perfect in anything I do—but I think I deserve a f###### trophy. If I do say so myself, without sounding too cocky, I gotta say I was a hell of a husband and a hell of a dad…It’s unfortunate when business is out there about your personal s###, especially when you’re really not the guy to be having his s### out there. The sad thing is, you’ve got to get used to it. My skin is so thick that I probably need to write a book for people who are not ready for anything crazy.”

 

Hip-Hop Rumors:The Game Disses Christina Millian! Did Floyd Mayweather Shut Down Rick Ross?

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. Click here to read the rumors from earlier!

DID RICK ROSS AND FLOYD MAYWEATHER CLASH IN VEGAS?

Shout out to my homeboy the original youngmoney Hayden! He was in Vegas and witnessed something go down between Rick Ross and Floyd Mayweather. Here is the scene. Remember, I told you about 50 Cent and Floyd balling out at Club Pure? Well, after that…it was over. From what I understand, 50 Cent went about his business and Floyd moved over to Club Vanity, which is also in Vegas. This place is the same place that Diddy had his party. Now, this is straight from the sources…Floyd “punked” Rick Ross in front of everybody. They said Nelly and Jadakiss were there too. Now, everybody knows Vegas is Floyd’s town. He lives there and won’t even fight anywhere but Vegas so I am quite sure he was super deep. I’m not fully sure what being “punked” entails, but I assume it means moved out of VIP or something.

For those under a rock, Ross and Mayweather started to beef in 2009 after the rapper said something slick about Floyd’s money looking “funny in the light.” This goes back to the allegations that Floyd was making it rain with fake Benjis.

THE GAME DISSES CHRISTINA MILLI FOR SOME REASON!

SHAQ’S IN BAD SHAPE!

RadarOnline.com is lifting a mighty veil! They are charging that Shaquille O’Neal was in a high-end, long term affair with model Vanessa Lopez. The chicks is reportedly taking Shaq to court! She thought she was pregnant and she claims that Shaq harassed the hell out of her. And, therein is the issue..it all comes out. “It went to the extremes of the police getting involved and a report being filed,” the insider told RadarOnline.com exclusively. Maybe Shaq will just cut a check and make it go away.

LIL DUVAL HAS A PROBLEM!?

Lil Duval apparently served his Christmas in jail. Dude said something like, “I’m too famous for this!” Well, that statement stood out in my brain, especially as it pertains to rumors. On New Years, Duval apparently showed up and went straight to the VIP of the Velvet Room. Well, the bouncers would not let him in! My sources say he called T.I. or somebody he was with called T.I. Not sure, but whoever he called didn’t help much and he just left. Jail on New Year’s would be the ultimate fail. Smart man, Duval is.

ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS A MASON…HE’S HEATED! This is what he said:

Man if you don’t stop posting those lies about Masonry. I had to send you my Masonic Diploma so that you know I can speak on it. And yes we do get Diplomas and if you don’t have that certificate # and that golden seal then unfortunately its a fraud. With that being said, let me address a few things that was in that video referencing all types of crazy stuff. Ok, the Knights Templar female reference. That’s crazy! History will tell you that there were no female templars! And in order to be a Knights Templar, you must have become a Master Mason first and woman are not Masons and Templars had red crosses on their armor. The Black cube…lol SMH there is no black cube. What he may be trying to reference is the 47th Problem of Euglid. It was invented by a great Freemason by the name of Phythagoras and it teaches us as Masons to be general lovers of the Arts and Sciences. Also, the blood drinking, lmao I must have missed that part when I became a Mason…Man we don’t drink blood. The handshakes, not one of them was correct even if a person knew the “secret handshake” a true Mason will know if its true or not.

That’s my Masonic lecture for the Illseed community b/c this Illuminatti crap and relating it to Freemasons is just crazy. Two totally different ideals and structure.

CHECK THIS OUT!

O-Solo is going all out. He’s dissing Jim Jones, Soulja Boy and even dudes like DJ Unk…lol…He’s barring nobody!

For more info, contact contry at [email protected].

TAHIRY TALKS SEX!

I have to admit, Tahiry is cool, but what did she do to be a celebrity? Anyway, she is so lets deal with it. Here, she answers a bunch of sex questions.

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

Here is some Illuminati Trivia from a knowledgeable reader in England. What bible did George Bush and George W Bush use to be sworn in to office? The same freemason bible that George Washington used on April 30, 1789.

Fans have a reason to celebrate! Michael Jackson has a new duet with Lenny Kravitz that leaked online recently!

Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards didn’t have a license for the four guns he stashed in his NBA locker. When are dudes going to smarten up?

Pres. Obama appointed the first transgender as the Commerce Dept’s senior technical adviser. Amanda Simpson is forever in the history books…and so is Obama.

Keyshia Cole is reportedly engaged to ballplayer Daniel Gibson! He asked and she said, “YES.” Congrats.

Lil Boog of B2K (Jarell Damonte Houston) was recently arrested for fighting with the mother of his children. Oh man…poor dude.

Mikey T The Movie Star is getting around the town. Here are some rumors that he just sent me!

Bang ‘Em Smurf recently did an interview and he indicated that he’d be doing something with Benzino. With Royce and Crooked-I in arrears with him…I dunno.

Rumor has it, Jim Jones has let Max B go in his contract. This means Max might be able to put out music. Kinda sucks that he is in jail for 75 Christmases.

DJ Lazy K is supposedly releasing new Mase music…you know, stuff on Mase’s comeback. But, isn’t he still on Bad Boy technically? Anyway, this new Street Treats HD DVD will include new Max B, French Montana and Maino talking about Mike Beck.

Mikey T has more on deck. Stay tuned.

SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END

Read this report from the AP, about parents that gave their children homemade real tattoos. Shout out to Jose for sending!

Patty Jo Marsh and Jacob Bartels have tattoos. They decided that six of their children should have them as well. But tattooing children is illegal in Georgia, as is giving tattoos without a license, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The couple was arrested on December 28th and charged with tattooing and reckless conduct, both misdemeanors, and cruelty to children, which is a felony, according to the arrest report. They were released on December 29th on a $10,000 property bond.

According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the homemade tattoo machine Marsh and Bartels used is made from “electrical cord, spliced wiring and a guitar string for a needle.” The Free Press reports that Marsh and Bartels used the machine on themselves the same day, all with the same needle/guitar string.

The couple has seven children in their care, ages 17, 15, 12, 11, 11, 10 and 7. The 7-year-old did not receive a tattoo because Marsh and Bartels decided he was “too young,” Chattooga County Sheriff John Everett told the Free Press in an interview. Everett also said that he thought this case was “unusual,” and that he has “never seen parents tattooing their kids like that.”

People have gone plumb loco!!!!!!

EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY

Vanity Fair darkened Tiger Wood’s skin on the cover of their rag mag. What for? So he could look more sinister and menacing? More evil? Also, a Tiger Woods sextape is on the way. These hoes got Tiger good…but at the end of the day, dude was weak.

(for the record…he looks about the same color to me!)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].

Why Ghostwriting Is Good For Rap

 The views expressed inside this editorial aren’t necessarily the views of AllHipHop.com or its employees.

I will never forget the experience of being invited in the Fall of 1995, by Nas to visit him while he was recording tracks (in November at Sony Music Studios) for his highly anticipated album, It Was Written.

We had been building for over a year since I had interviewed him for The Final Call newspaper, with me visiting him several times at his place in Long Island, first, and then Queens. When we got together it was always to discuss two subjects – his music career (the many avenues he could take in marketing himself after his first album) and the knowledge of self (we watched tapes of Minister Farrakhan and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and discussed the Lessons). I was honored to have been a guest – meeting his then companion, Carmen (who always was so kind to me), and even his beautiful baby daughter Destiny when she was only 4 days old.

So while I would not claim to be a close friend of Nas, I can say for a nearly 18-month period we had a very Brotherly and always sober interaction (even if he did light it up a lot – smile).

That rapport and respectful interaction, and the way in which I met him, allowed me to have very serious discussions with him and which earned enough of his trust to the point that when I presented a couple of ideas regarding producers or artists I thought he should work with, or entrepreneurs he could do business deals with, he allowed me to make outreach to those camps on his behalf. It was a very informal but forward-looking relationship which I continue to look back on fondly. He was a star then and despite many ups, downs, twists and turns he is now a legend, one of to best to ever do it, an artist I continue to admire and support to this day.

On that cold November day I was excited to have the chance to sit in a toasty studio room and watch Nas, and the late Producer Stretch (who was murdered right around this time) go to work. The track they were working on was ‘Silent Murder,’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQmPCJY3mA8) which would end up included on limited editions of It Was Written.

Several minutes after I arrived, Nas came out of the booth and sat with me. I had two gifts for him – a couple of books, which I gave him and which he immediately went through. One was called What They Never Told You In History Class by Indus Khamit Kush. After he went through them for a minute, Nas told me, ‘I got something in here for you, check this out

Nas then went back in the booth and continued to lay down lyrics, as I listened closely.

I noted Nas’ line, in the second verse: ‘They say the arms of Nicky Barnes would be enough to blast/ A lot of rich n—-s failed and started pumping gas/ Was it the mind of CIA that bumped off Malik Shabazz?/ F—k what they teach in class I’m a teach the mass.’

Nas gave me a knowing nod and smile. What he had done remained understood and unspoken. Although I had nothing to do with writing his lyrics, they were responsive to what I just showed him and on the level of the material we had been building about for the last couple of years – reflected in the two books I gave him as gifts.

****

When people complain about the state of lyrics in rap music today and even ask me why I think it has been so long since more mature, socially relevant, and conscious lyrics were common place, along with the usual industry and radio politics 101 I run down, I have a standard statement, ‘Not enough ghost-writing in the game

And when I say ghostwriting I don’t mean just bringing in a talented kid off the block who can be exploited every time you are too weeded out or lazy to write rhymes on your own, like you should.

No, what I mean by the statement, ‘Not enough ghost-writing in the game,’ is not that rappers should no longer write their own rhymes, but rather, more of them need to open up the creative process of song-writing to input from others – whether fellow artists, educators, or marketing advisers – which would allow their minds to expand, and with it, their lyrical content and audience.

At an early stage in my life as an entrepreneur in the music business, I realized that most of us in Hip-Hop culture mistakenly equate individuality with originality. In a certain sense they can be the same thing but in another they have nothing to do with one another. An artist who works alone or without input from others is demonstrating individuality (‘I write my own rhymes, yo!’) but the result is not necessarily anything ‘original’ or different. On the other hand, an artist could co-write a song with a ghostwriter that we will never know of, and talk the concept over with a team of advisers, and even get phrases and whole sentences from non-artists to weave into the flow; while they would not be demonstrating individuality, the result could be a hot song that is clearly original and not like anything out there.

The desire to do your own thing, and never be labeled as a ‘biter’ has been a motivational creative force in Hip-Hop (I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Raekwon and Ghostface Killah’s classic and hilarious skit ‘Shark N—s Biters’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM8kQ-kn4Ow). But today, it has now become a religion almost to itself, with cats worshipping at the altar of supposedly ‘not being told what to do,’ and not accepting help from others.

The idea that many of us still believe that we ‘follow no man,’ while everything we do – from how we think, eat, and talk – is obviously shaped or inherited by others has actually become harmful, stifling innovation and limited growth of Hip Hop as music, a culture, and industry.

Many aspiring artists and entrepreneurs ask me, ‘Ced, what books can you recommend for me to read to get an understanding the business side of the game?’ (or something like that) Well, of course, first, I suggest my own, The Entrepreneurial Secret To Starting A Business (http://theEsecret.com/). And then I offer three other titles, one of which is To Be Loved by Motown Records founder, Berry Gordy

What struck me about To Be Loved was the role of the songwriting team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland more commonly known as Holland Dozier and Holland or simply ‘HDH.’ It was almost unbelievable how much influence HDH had on not just the sound of the Motown artists but their lyrical content. Without their formula of writing, arranging and producing the songs for and with the Motown greats, not only would that label have not been the success it was, but I don’t believe the solo careers of Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross would have been possible without the foundational sound and process this group perfected.

Unfortunately Hip-Hop has never experienced anything like this because the culture only tolerates collaboration (and too narrowly defines it as two rappers separately working together on the same song) while it celebrates individuality.The result is that the Hip-Hop artist is expected to carry a responsibility that virtually no other genre experiences – a single individual has to write all of their material.

Just look at Michael Jackson. He was certainly capable of writing his own material, but would it have been as good as the stuff he created with the help of songwriter Rod Temperton and composer-arranger-producer Quincy Jones?

This is one of the main points I stressed in what I wrote of how incredible an artist like Beanie Sigel could be if a unique team of writers, researchers, and producers could be put together by a master song arranger like 50 Cent (https://allhiphop.com/stories/editorial/archive/2009/11/24/22040490.aspx),

Again, Beanie Sigel can write his own material – and great stuff (he actually would be a great ‘ghost-writer’ for others).

But just imagine how much broader, risky, relevant, and topical his material could be if he had a creative team around him who could bring him concepts, information, and drafter material.

Not to mention that at a time when everyone is struggling to find additional ways to make money, song-writing could hold the key to multiple streams of income, for rappers considered washed up, in terms of sound and image (they could now boost their publishing income) and ambitious artists who just don’t have the ‘look’ or image necessary to be big (you know the old saying – ‘you have a great face for radio!’)

An industry friend of mine put it like this:

“Music publishers would be able to find more people who can write but, aren’t ‘rappers’ and could generate lots of income from their intellectual property. This opens the game up for old and new players to be able to eat off of the table. Writers (some of whom may currently be in the world of fiction and non-fiction writing, even poetry) and artist managers would be able to make a living from grooming or helping rappers who can write, and by being a bridge that can bring outside authors into the rap game. This could be a great way for struggling writers to support themselves. As it stands now, a dude who can write but, can’t rap is a guy looking for a job. They have something to offer though. What the book publishing world is rejecting, the music industry might find value in. Many people – artists, producers, managers, and labels – would be able to profit off of this overlooked talent pool.”

Anyone who thinks the money isn’t there for today’s song writers needs to check the income statements of Ne-Yo and Sean Garret last decade.

What I envision for Hip-Hop artists is not just the R&B experience with song-writing but also the speech-writing experience of world leaders and politicians. The world of business, politics and religion is dominated by leaders who have speeches drafted or written for them.

I know it well because I have either provided research, drafted or written entire speeches for these kinds of leaders. It is rare to find one like say former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, whom I have advised, who research, draft, and write well over 95% of their own speeches. It is normal, acceptable, and expected that a leader will have others responsible for this kind of work.

The arrangement works because it is understood that these leaders are often too busy, too limited in world experience, and not technically skilled enough to come up with the right words for the right setting – with the right tone. The culture and circles they move in value collaboration on public presentations (can anyone imagine President Obama writing all of his own speeches, or Donald Trump, or Oprah Winfrey just to ‘keep it real’ or better yet, ‘to follow no man’?) But perhaps more importantly what these leaders have is a desire to reach new audiences. And again, this is another area where rap artists struggle because of the extreme and limited definition of originality as individuality. It causes them to want to only rap for one kind of audience or one segment of the Hip-Hop market (whether ‘street,’ ‘the ladies,’ ‘the South,’ ‘the conscious,’ ‘the clubs,’ ‘the back-pack n—-s’ etc…).

Unfortunately an important form of success accepted in almost any other business (more people outside of your core audience buying your product) can be defined as failure in rap, so artists don’t permit themselves to allow others to help them grow creatively.

It seems to me, that perhaps, rap music is the only genre, culture, and industry that has this kind of discomfort toward growth.

[To be fair, I know this is not only limited to rap – as numerous corporations have cringed when those outside of their core market started to buy their sneakers, boots and beverages.]

Even Jay-Z, in 1999, had to justify his success, shrewd marketing, and growing audience, with an entire song, check ‘Come and Get Me,’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCVnjBJZ3To) ‘I made it so you could say Marcy and it was all good/ I ain’t cross over, I brought the suburbs to the ‘hood/ Made ‘em relate to your struggle/Told ‘em bout your hustle/ Went on MTV with do rags, I made them love you/You know normally them people wouldn’t be f—-n wit you/Til I made them understand why you do what you do/ I expected to hear ‘Jay if it wasn’t for you…’/But instead all I hear is buzzin’ in your crew.’/How ya’ll scheming trying to get accustomed to my moves/ So y’all can take my mouth, stake out my house/ But I got pride I’m a n—a first/ I gotta c### back and pull a trigger first/ That’s how Jigga work/ The funny thing – I represent y’all every time I spit a verse/ And that’s the s—t that hurts/ But hey, I got my mind right, got my 9 right here/ So when y’all feel that the time is right/ I got shots to give…

Yeah, success can be hazardous to your rap career. But nothing kills like failure.

The current mentality will have to change if today’s artists expect to see tomorrow.

The days of talent just lingering on, nursing an entire career on the same audience, with the stale lyrical content are ending, thanks to the rise of the Internet and mp3, population changes, and serious current events which make the old flow and marketing plan obsolete.

Here, we must recognize the boldness of one so many love to hate – Puffy – a man ahead of his time – who ten years ago retained song and ghostwriters like Sauce Money to boost his own rap career. Or better yet, Dr. Dre who has been utilizing songwriters for over 20 years. How many of us forgot or never knew that Jay-Z ‘ghostwrote’ “Still D.R.E.” for him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erbraZmuwmI)?

Ten and twenty years later, an entire industry could learn something from these examples.

Here’s to 2010 and a revolution in ‘ghostwriting.’

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

Shawty Lo, Luda & The Dream Team For New Single, Video

(AllHipHop News) Atlanta rappers Ludacris and Shawty Lo will team with producer The Dream today (January 5) to shoot a new video for their track “Atlanta GA.”

 

The track, which is taken from Shawty Lo’s mixtape Fright Night with DJ Scream, DJ Drama and DJ Whoo Kid, also features four of Atlanta’s biggest artists.

 

In addition to Shawty Lo, The Dream and Ludacris, incarcerated rapper Gucci Mane is featured on the collaborative track.

 

The three artists are shooting the video for “Atlanta GA” in various locations around Atlanta including clubs and other local settings, starting today.

 

“I’m very excited to finally be doing the video for my single ‘Atlanta, GA’ featuring Luda and The Dream that’s on my mixtape Fright Night I did with DJ Scream, DJ Drama and DJ Whoo Kid. And even though Gucci, whose on the song can’t be with us, we’re gonna hold it down for him,” Shawty Lo told AllHipHop.com.

 

According to Shawty Lo, the collaboration marks a new mind state for the rapper as a new decade begins.

 

“This song means a lot because I’m a Grady baby, born and raised in Atlanta and it feels good to be able to do a record that pays tribute to my city,” the rapper stated. “It’s a new year, we got a new mayor, I teamed up with Atlanta Falcons player Chauncey Davis during Christmas to give away bikes. I’m launching my own foundation L.O.L.O (Loving Our Little Ones), so I’m feeling really blessed to be able to give back.”

 

Shawty Lo first gained fame as a member of the group D4L, who went to #1 in 2006 with the single “Laffy Taffy.”

 

As a solo artist he experienced success with his debut album Units in The City, which contained the hit single and club classic, “Dey Know.“

 

He is currently working on his sophomore album of all new material but first, Shawty Lo will release another mixtape with DJ Scream titled I’m Da Man Part 4.

 

“I’ve recorded so much new material that I’m just in the studio everyday grinding,” Shawty Lo told AllHipHop.com. “I’m dropping that [I’m Da Man Part 4] within the next few weeks. Right now I’m just focused and working.”

2009 Year In Review: Best Producers

Like the best albums category, there’s much to consider when appointing the best of the best when it comes to the beats. Still, there is one thing we know for certain, a lot of producers stood out in major ways this year. Whether it was the potency of Just Blaze to the melodious J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League to the gritty NY beats on Rae’s OBFCL II, it was all offered in 2009.

We felt like we got a wealth of audio and more as these urban maestros cranked out song after song for the Hip-Hop elite. Still, no new megastars emerged in 2009 like in the past with acts like Kanye,Pete Rock, Timbaland and Preemo. They are well on their way though.

This list is long, but we didn’t want to miss anybody and we still probably missed somebody deserving of this list. So, we’re asking for the help of the AllHipHop Community and the Ill Community to help with anybody that we may have forgotten.

Best Producers of 2009:

Nottz

(Asher Roth, Slaughterhouse, M.O.P., Skyzoo, Rakim, Snoop Dogg)

Drew Correa

(Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane)

J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League

(Rick Ross, Fabolous)

Swizz Beatz

(Jay-Z, Chris Brown)

Just Blaze

(Jay Electronica)Drumma Boy

(Birdman, Drake, Lil Wayne,Gorilla Zoe), Plies, Rick Ross, Triple C’s, Gangsta Boo)

The Runners

(Usher, DJ Khaled, Chris Brown, Gucci Mane, Wyclef Jean, T-Pain, Mary J. Blige)

J-Dilla

(J-Dilla)DJ Khalil

(Drake, Obie Trice, Bishop Lamont, Clipse, DJ Drama, Fabolous)

Streetrunner

(Slaughterhouse, Joe Budden, Fabolous, Royce Da 5′ 9″)

Only Built For Cuban Linx 2 Team of Producers

(Raekwon, The Alchemist, RZA, Necro, Allah Mathematics, Marley Marl, Mark Batson, Pete Rock, Erick Sermon, Scram Jones, Allah Justice and others.)

DJ Premier Reveals Best Albums Of 2009

(AllHipHop News) Famed producer DJ Premier has released his list of the top 20 albums of 2009.

 

According to DJ Premier, he based his list solely on “dope beats, dope rhymes, scratching and cutting, creativity, uniqueness, originality and overall packaging of the product’s integrity.”

 

Blaq Poet’s Tha Blaqprint was number one on DJ Premier’s list, while Raekwon’s Only Built For Cuban Linx 2 placed at number two on the respected producer’s list.[Editor’s Note: Tha Blaqprint was entirely produced by DJ Premier, save two songs.]

 

OC and AG’s Oasis was number three, while Masta Ace and Ed OG’s Arts and Entertainment landed at number four.

 

Number five was Obie Trice’s album Special Reserve.

 

“I don’t care if you sold a million copies, that does not make it dope,” DJ Premier stated on his blog. “This is how I got famous in my career, so the rules still apply. I went through more than 60 LP’s released in ‘09 on major and indie labels over and over to get it as close as I possibly could to being satisfied with the list.”

 

Honorable mentions included The Alchemist’s Chemical Warfare and Beanie Sigel’s Broad Street Bully album.

 

DJ Premier’s Top 20 albums of 2009 are listed below:

 

1. Blaq Poet – Tha Blaqprint 2. Raekwon – Only Built For Cuban Linx II 3. OC and AG – Oasis4. A&E – Arts and Entertainment 5. Obie Trice – Special Reserve 6. Royce Da 5’9 – Street Hop 7. Marco Polo & Torae – Double Barell 8. Statik Selektah – Pre Game EP 9. Jay-Z – Blueprint 3 10. Slaughterhouse – Slaughterhouse 11. Canibus & Keith Murray – Undergods 12. Diamond District – In the Ruff 13. Saigon & Statik Selektah – All In A Days Work 14. KRS-One & Buckshot – Survival Skillz 15. Ghostface Killah – Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry 16. M.O.P. – Foundation 17. 50 Cent – Before I Self Destruct 18. Method Man & Redman – Blackout 2 19. La Coka Nostra – A Brand You Can Trust 20. DJ JS-1 – No Sell Out