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Jin The MC Becomes Christian Rapper

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

Former battle rap champ Jin is making his way back into the spotlight as a Christian rapper signed to Universal Hong Kong.

 

Now a born again Christian residing in Hong Kong, Jin has changed the content of his music, but still manages to showcase his lyrical prowess.

 

Recently Jin released a new track titled “Welcome to the Light Club,” which is fueled by a catchy beat.

 

Here is an except from the track:

 

“I got a session booked for7 and its 6:35/ so I got 25 minutes to conjure up this rhyme/its been a long time right stepped away from the limelight/ but the breaks over Holy Spirit takeover/they say the truth will set you free if you so believe/ Jesus is the truth with Him freedom can be achieved”

 

Via his ayojin.com webpage, Jin chronicles his adventures in this new lifestyle and he describes one trip by saying, “Did a quick performance, gave a testimony and just enjoyed God’s presence.”

 

Jin initially gained his popularity as the “Freestyle Friday Champ” on BET’s 106 and Park, then went on to sign with the Ruff Ryders.

 

In 2004, Jin released his debut album, The Rest Is History, which garnered the lead single “Learn Chinese.”

 

He also made his acting debut in a the blockbuster film 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Hip-Hop Exec Kevin Liles Departs Warner Music Group

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

Pioneering Hip-Hop executive Kevin Liles will leave Warner Music Group it was announced today (September 3).

 

Liles recently appeared at a press conference in New York promoting Jay-Z’s upcoming album Blueprint 3, which is being distributed by Atlantic, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

 

Today, Liles announced he was steppding down from his role as Executive Vice President, to pursue other business ventures.

 

“In the past couple weeks I’ve made one of the most important decisions of my life – to depart the Warner Music Group in order to focus more on new entrepreneurial endeavors in talent management, entertainment, media and my personal philanthropic and political passions,” Liles told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “I am thankful for the opportunities that Edgar and Lyor have given me, most recently in entrusting me with driving the company’s global artist services strategy, which is redefining the way labels and artists work together. My work here is now complete and I’m excited about the next chapter of my life.”

 

Kevin Liles started his career at Def Jam as an unpaid intern in 1991. By 1993, he was the Mid-Atlantic Marketing Manager.

 

By 1998, he was anointed President of the Def Jam Music Group. During his time at the label, he doubled the company’s revenues, by signing acts like Jay-Z, Irv Gotti and Murder Inc., DMX and numerous others.

 

Liles was named EVP of Warner Music Group in 2004, shortly after Def Jam Chairman Lyor Cohen took over as CEO of Warner Music Group.

 

“Kevin and I have worked together since the day he joined Def Jam as an intern 18 years ago,” said Lyor Cohen, WMG’s Chairman and CEO of Recorded Music. “He has become a trusted friend, a brilliant executive and an incredible business partner. Together, we have built companies, signed and developed fantastically talented artists, and brought some outstanding music to the world. Even though Kevin’s chosen to pursue a new challenge, we’ll continue to work together in many aspects of the entertainment industry. I’m so excited to see what’s next for Kev, and he takes with him all my love and respect.” 

 

Liles will continue to act as a consultant to Warner Music Group, in addition to pursuing other business ventures.

Slate Calls Out “Dr.” Roxanne Shante; Questions Cred

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

An article on Hip-Hop pioneer Roxanne Shante in The New York Daily News has come into question by Slate Magazine.

 

For years it was reported that Roxanne Shante earned her Ph.D. in Psychology, around 2001.

 

The New York Daily News recently ran an article on Roxanne Shante, a pioneering female emcee and original member of The Juice Crew.

 

In the article, Shante claimed to have convinced Warner Music to a contractual obligation to “fund her education for life” as part of a settlement, in a contractual dispute between her recording home, Cold Chillin’ Records and Warner Music.

 

In the New York Daily News article, she claimed was planning to launch a Hip-Hop themed therapy practice, focusing on African-Americans, although it had been widely reported that she was operating one in Queens.

 

According to Slate, Warner never paid for the rapper’s education and that she does not have a Ph.D. – from Cornell, or any institution, which Roxanne Shane also confirmed.

 

“I got my master’s in psychology. I didn’t complete my Ph.D.,” Shante admitted in an interview with Slate.

 

Slate claims that Roxanne Shante doesn’t even have a degree in psychology. She did attend Marymount Manhattan College, but reportedly dropped out after four months.

 

Representatives for Marymount Manhattan confirmed that the female rapper attended the college from February to May of 1995, before dropping out without earning a degree.

 

Shante replied to that information by stating that she attended college under an alias, because of a domestic violence situation and may have used an alias on an application.

 

At press time, Roxanne Shante could not be reached for comment.

 

To read the Slate article, click here.

DMX Disses Jay-Z: “He’s Talented, But There’s No Heart Behind It”

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Rumors

Gruff rapper DMX and Tyrese are working on some music. However, when the enthusiastic R&B singer made reference to the Best of Both Worlds effort by Jay-Z and R. Kelly, it set DMX off in the late night recording session.

The dog decided to share his history with Jay-Z and his opinions on what motivates his Brooklyn counterpoint. X mentions the presidency at Def Jam as a paradigm shift in his relationship with Jay-Z in his erratic tradmark style.

What are your thoughts on this?

Here is a video where Jay-Z and X were on better terms, better times.

Michael Steele Talks Hip-Hop and the Republican Party

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

Hip-Hop culture and the Republican Party may appear to be polar opposites on the surface, but the group’s national chairman Michael Steele sought to reach common ground at a recent Howard University speaking engagement.

 

In an effort to establish common ground, Steele told a small group of students that Hip-Hop as a billion dollar industry has the resources to the create the community wealth that just two decades ago seemed impossible.

 

“It wasn’t glorifying, you know, the violence, and the language, and all of the other aspects of some of this music. It was about the ability to create wealth,” Steele explained. “It was about the ability to create legacy wealth. You have amongst you right now a generation of African-American entrepreneurs who are creating incredible wealth, and they’re investing it, some of it, in the community. They’re controlling that wealth. How are they doing it? Well, instead of the publisher or the record company owning the rights to their music, they own the record company…Our country can afford to have more than one Oprah Winfrey.”

 

Since becoming the first black chairman of the Republican National Committee, Steele has struggled to create consistent dialogue with the young Hip-Hop crowd that whole-heartedly embraced Barack Obama during his presidential run.

 

In May, the president joked with Steele over his so far futile efforts at a White House dinner.

 

“Michael Steele is in the house tonight. Or as he would say, in the heezy,” quipped President Obama. “What’s up! Michael for the last time the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset.”

 

At press time Steele is embarked on a nationwide speech series, which has sparked controversy for comments likening President Obama’s healthcare plan to socialism, and accusing his administration of creating “death panels” that will decide care methods.

D-Block’s Large Amount Gives Recession Tips

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Breeding Ground

No stranger to assets and liabilities, D-Block’s Large Amount, better known as

the “Boy Wit a Billion Barz”, recently caught up with AllHipHop.com to

discuss music, money and survival during the economy’s lean times. He’s is currently featured on five tracks from D-Block’s newest compilation album, No Security (D-Block/E1) and on a forthcoming D-Block/DJ Premier mix-tape (hosted by Poobs), due out this fall. Check  his survival tips!

 

 

Recession Basics: “Canned food, sardines and water! (Laughs). Nah, I don’t know, ‘cause a recession is only what you let it be. ‘Cause a lot of cats ain’t starving out here. You can be messed up throughout it( the recession) or you can be on your grind. Everybody needs to keep a coupla’ hustles. ‘Cause some cats is recession-free and it ain’t just the n*ggas with wild bread. Long as you a hustler, you’re straight. If it’s slow over here, then it must be moving over there. When you a rapper this is when it’s time to get on the road and do shows.”

 

Saving vs. Investing: “Right now I’m just stacking it until I can invest it. You mess around and go bankrupt messing with those investments. I get my bread as far as features and mix-tape appearances. It’s a grind, nah’mean?”

 

Gettin’ Arab Money: “I’m definitely trying to get that overseas money but I never wanna rush into it. I’d rather let my brand build and then head overseas. Say I go over there in six, seven months…I may be worth more to that global audience.”

 

Demand and Supply: “I remember one of the things that ‘Kiss first told me. He said, ‘I’m in the ‘hood more than I’m traveling. Even though I can afford to travel, if they (fans) see me all week (in Miami, Cali, etc.), then they aren’t gonna pay to see me perform in the club that weekend.’ So I’d rather be seen in the ‘hood for free, build my buzz, then hit everywhere else.”

 

A Billi: “A billion bars is just letting you know how far I’m willing to take it, as far as rhyming. ‘Boy with Billion Bars’ is letting you know I got a lot of sh*t and consistent with it. I’ll let nature take its course, but maybe I’ll be a pioneer. When I first came into the game I just wanted to be someone my family, my generation could look back and say he was nice, you know? I wanted to be remembered as someone great in the game. That’s where a ‘Billion Bars’ came from.”

 

Negotiate Everything: “Everything is negotiable; the final answer is never really ‘no.’ In a lot of situations, the time it takes for a record deal to be brokered is what prolongs an artist coming out. And that can drive an artist insane. I would always try to re-broker a deal, but your first record deal, no matter how small the advance, is gonna be small. You shouldn’t ask for much. Look at it as a platform and as a way to get a better deal. That’s how cats should look at the game but a lot of dudes never find that out. I’ve been fortunate enough to be around a lot of artists and see how the label treats you depending on your success.”

 

Surviving the Times: “When I first got with D-Block I thought it was my duty to spend money all the time on my appearance and to keep up with other people. Other people paying with plastic and I’m paying with cash. But nowadays I don’t hang out and shop as much. I’m trying to cut back on my weed habit but that keeps me balanced (Laughs).”

 

Chris Brown Should Chill & Stay Out Of The Spotlight A Bit

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Uncategorized

It’s sad that we live in a day and time where common sense is always trumped by the need to make a quick buck. Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means suggesting that Chris Brown is only trying to make a quick buck, but I have to agree with the folks who are calling for Chris to fall back, take a breath and get some help. His seeming eagerness to return to the fold and repair his image seems to defy basic logic.

Should he be the poster child for domestic violence? Of course not, but like it or not he is… And just like he’s was able to rise to the occasion and be a breath of fresh air by being a clean cut viable alternative to the raunchy, in your face, over the top, crass persona that has dominated so much of urban music, Brown should rise to the occasion and be a shining example of how one properly atones and handles a troubling situation. He should rise to the occasion and be the poster child of a man who doesn’t beat women. That’ll take some time and deep soul searching that is ‘felt’ by his fans not simply seen and heard.

Right now there are some missing steps in the process Chris Brown is taking as he returns to the spotlight. What those missing steps are, I can’t say… I guess I feel he shouldn’t be in the spotlight right now. Next time I see Brown in public, I don’t want to see him in a club partying with a bevy of women. I don’t want to see any more Youtube videos. The one he made where he apologized was suffice.

The Larry King interview? Like everyone else I saw bits and pieces and I’m sure its much more detailed and Brown’s sincere regret is probably expressed. However, Brown doesn’t control the media and the way things are being manipulated and the way his quotes are being chopped up and taken out of context a particular tone is being set. Many of us watched CNN Interview with arms folded and several layers of cynicism. Larry King will get a nice ratings boost to catch up to MSNBC but Brown may have dug himself a deeper hole.

I think people are looking for action and no more talk. Brown didn’t just slap or shove Rihanna, he beat her down without mercy. He didn’t do this one time. He did it on three different times. Hence I agree with those who are calling for him to chill. It’s too soon for him to return.

Maybe Brown should take a full year off, leave the country, or go underground for a bit. Whatever he does he should definitely be out of the headlines and allow himself sometime to grow and better mature. When I see all these appearances it reeks of big business trying to callously repair its image and not of man trying to help himself, the person he victimized and people he disappointed heal.

Personally I’d like to see him embed himself in the lives of young people who really could use a helping hand. I’d like to see him take time and maybe write a book reflecting his time away from the spotlight and showing how he’s grown from this mistake. In any case I wish Brown much luck.. From what I’m seeing and the sense I get I don’t think this Larry King interview helped him much.

Something to ponderThe views expressed inside this editorial aren’t necessarily the views of AllHipHop.com.

Hip-Hop Rumors: MC Shan Disses Joe Budden!? Stack Bundles Worked With Dr. Dre? Dr. Shante Lied?

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: 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.

THE DAILY TWO SENSEI felt like this after writing these rumors…seriously…

I want to say that I really appreciate Kid from Kid-N-Play. His best rap days are behind him, but he is a legend! He had a cartoon!

I want to know where is Alfamega? Did he ever respond to the latest from the Smoking Gun?

Did you see AllHipHop’s review of Jay-Z’s CD? What do you think of the album?

I dude that threw the shoe at G.W. Bush has been freed from jail.

Eminem and Rick Ross should battle. Ross wants it and Eminem kinda needs it.

A NOTE…

I was talking to one of my esteemed sources and he brought up an interesting point. He announced the furor that we all have had at some point in time over the Detox album. Dr. Dre is older than Jay-Z, so what is the difference. People dissed Jay-Z for being old, but waiting for Dre? Sheeeeeeeeeet…..Hip-Hop confuses me!

KEVIN LILES FIRED?

Can we get a yay or nay on this? I don’t know what it is but I am slowly starting to get sources that are saying Kevin Liles was actually fired. I take that back. I was told that K.L. was looking for a raise and a renewal of his contract. From what I understand, that was either denied or they couldn’t find a middle ground on the negotiations. Some others that I have talked to have speculated that he’s going into politics (old), but more recently suggested that he may be joining Jay-Z at Roc Nation with Live Nation. Tell me something, somebody!

DID DJ AM WANT TO DIE?

DJ AM is just a tragic case. Sad. The latest is that he tried to kill himself with pills. He had eight undigested OxyContin pills in his stomach and a ninth in his mouth, according to People magazine. They are saying he swallowed these pills fast and in succession to kill himself. They are saying that he was very depressed about breaking up with his girlfriend. The found an old Valentines Day card there where their love was proclaimed just earlier this year. Sucks.

RUMORS WITH MIKEY T!

This dude Mikey T The Movie Star is out for my job. Here is what he sent me today.

Mall G has recently linked up with Freeway for his new single being pushed to radio.

Drag On is making a comeback with a new mixtape and record label – Flame On Records is rumored to be the name.

Loon has officially retired from rap. He has grown out a very long beard an walks around in robes, acting like a holy man.

Domination did a show in Manhattan with Papoose, Nick Minaj . He brought out a few members of Young Dice’s Click The Choosen Onez. While dice an Rick Ross just did a show in VA at the Cotton Club . Show was off the hook. Rick Ross is getting his imprint together.

Bang Em Smurf is going to be starting the “Bring Back Bang ‘Em” movement with some T-shirts.

Stack Bundles worked with both Lupe Fiasco and Dr. Dre in the earlier parts of his career. He did a lot of shows with Lupe and went to work with Dre after, Dre put out 2001. It is said that a dude from Far Fockaway impressed Dre when he wrote the hook for the song “What’s The Difference” and Dr. Dr went out that way in NYC scouting and found Stack Bundles. The two recorded music together before stack went back to NYC and linked up with Jim Jones.

SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END

A 19-year-old woman attempted to kill a baby. WOW. The 19-year-old Canada woman was not related to the the 14-month-old girl, but that didn’t stop her from straight up trying to swipe her from her family. The crazy women stole the kid and ran, only to beat on the kid. A man named Tyler Bilsborrow saw what was happening as he took a smoke. He heard screams and saw a women slamming SOMETHING against the damn sidewalk. It was the kid. The baby survived and Tyler held the kid in his arms until the police and ambulance got there. That crazy 19 year old is in jail.

THE KIDS LOVE ILLSEED

My homey Domingo has a kid and his kid can draw! Guess who he drew?

Illseed! Thanks, Domingo! Appreciate it!

EPIC WIN OF THE DAY!

My boy Boss Up is now the proud father of a baby boy. On September 1st, Dominic Holiday Duke was born!! 7 pounds and 19 inches! Congrats, Boss Up! It’s a shame that he’s having kids before I do. Fail on me.

EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY

I preface this by saying that I love Roxanne Shante. I think she is a pioneer and she’s got classic songs, for sure. And I pray that she has a very good, strong and powerful explanation for this. Until that explanation comes, I have to label her the Epic Fail of the Day.

Apparently, the story of Dr. Roxanne Shante…well let me let Wikipedia tell it.

She was rumored to have earned her bachelor’s degree from Marymount Manhattan College and was alleged to have gotten her Ph.D in psychology from Cornell University due to a quirk in her recording contract obligating Warner Music to fund her college education with a practice in Queens. However, an investigative article by Slate magazine found no evidence of Shanté’s claims: she was never signed to Warner Music, which only distributed her recordings, but was under contract to the independent label Cold Chillin’ Records. Records indicate that she attended only three months at Marymount Manhattan College; she never earned any degree; and she is unlicensed by New York state officials to practice psychology or similar disciplines. When questioned about the Slate investigation, Shanté claimed to have attended Cornell under an pseudonym due to problems with “domestic violence,” but she was unable to substantiate these claims.

Please let this be some media BS or my feelings are going to be hurt.

CHRIS BROWN THROWS HIMSELF ON THE MERCY OF THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION

Was it me or did it seem like Chris Brown was getting aggy with Larry King? King was diggin, but CB wasn’t trying to talk about the details of RiRi’s butt beating.

What was up with his bowtie get up? He should have worn a suit or something.

SOME MORE JAY-Z STUFF

Here, Jay-Z addresses the idea that Kanye bodied him on his own ish.

XXL: You’ve been getting a lot of heat about your second single “Run This Town,” featuring Kanye and Rihanna. Critics and the blog world have said ’Ye out rapped you.

Jay-Z: I think that thing has gone a little too far. I think it’s more about that than the song now. What I’m saying is that’s just life. If [whose verse was better] was the thing, and we based [song quality] on that, after I’ve done 400 songs, I’m sure once the average of who was better on the song weighs out, I’m pretty high. Some nights [L.A. Lakers player] Pau Gasol can score more points than Kobe Bryant—not saying that Kanye is Pau Gasol, ’cause you have to be really clear with that—[but] as long as I’ve been in the game, that’s going to happen, once or twice or even three times.

And also the interview between Jay-Z and his shawty Oprah:

Jay-Z: It was natural…

Oprah: Because drug dealers were your role models. There wasn’t a teacher or lawyer or nurse of doctor or and accountant in the neighborhood?

Jay-Z: Well, we were living in Marcy by then, so no. And if anyone did become something like that, they moved out. They never came back to share the wisdom of how they made it. If anyone made it, you never knew it. That’s why I’ve always said that if I become successful, I’d come back here, grab somebody, and show him how it can be done.

On being shot at:

Oprah: Weren’t you shot at three times—within six feet—and you lived to talk about it?

Jay-Z: That was divine intervention. Divine intervention, and nobody knew how to shoot.

Oprah: What happened in each situation?

Jay-Z: It was one situation, three shots.

Oprah: So he had a bad shot?

Jay-Z: Well, no one really practices shooting a TEC-9 machine gun, right? And when you’re a kid with little bony arms—no wonder nobody could aim.

Using the N-Word:

Oprah: Do you believe that using the N word is necessary?

Jay-Z: Nothing is necessary. It’s just become part of the way we communicate. My generation hasn’t had the same experience with that word that generations of people before us had. We weren’t so close to the pain. So in our way, we disarmed the word. We took the fire pin out of the grenade.

MC SHAN DISSES JOE BUDDEN

Shan had some points though…but he even challenged Joe to a fight. What happened!?!?! LOL!!

NEW CHRISTINA MILLIE!

Everybody’s got this dancy sound. I’m not mad at it though.

ILL PICS!

Irv Gotti and the Cheetah Girl? What do we have here?

For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed

RAE, 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].

Battle Over Tupac Movie Heading To Trial

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: News

The battle between Afeni Shakur’s Amaru Entertainment and film company Morgan Creek Productions rages on over the making of a bio-pic about rapper Tupac Shakur.

 

The two companies are locked in litigation over a movie on the life of Tupac Shakur. In a lawsuit filed last February, Morgan Creek accused Amaru of breaching a contract to produce a movie about Shakur, who was gunned down on the Las Vegas strip in September of 1996.

 

Amaru filed a cross-complaint against Morgan Creek, claiming the production company interfered with other potential deals for the movie.

 

Lawyers claim that Morgan Creek attempted to block other interested film companies from being involved in the film, by claiming to have exclusive rights to produce the untitled flick.

 

“We are pleased with the court’s ruling yesterday morning. It supports our claim that Morgan Creek tortiously interfered with the making of the Tupac Shakur movie,” said Skip Miller of Miller Barondess, LLP in Los Angeles, attorney for Amaru Entertainment. “I look forward to trying this case and have the jury decide the matter. Morgan Creek has a history of bullying people into giving them rights they did not acquire. This time, they picked on the wrong people.”

 

A trial date has now been set for Tuesday, April 13, 2010.