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AHH Stray News: Talib Kweli, DJ Eque Tie The Knot

Rap star Talib Kweli cemented his relationship with DJ Eque yesterday (May 9) when the pair were married in Bel Air, California at a private residence. Kweli and DJ Eque tied the not during an intimate ceremony which included family and friends, including Queen Latifah, ?uestlove, Adam Rodriguez of CSI, DJ Rashida and others. The pair have been dating and engaged since at least 2007 and DJ Eque has produced several Blacksmith Music mixtapes. Talib Kweli is currently working with producer Hi-Tek on a new album as Reflection Eternal. Kweli can also been seen on Paris’ Hard Truth Soldiers Tour 2009. Click here for the full picture of Talib Kweli and DJ Eque at their wedding.

Classic Clashes: Illmatic Vs. Ready To Die

I haven’t done one of these in a while. Been busy with a few things here and there. But out of love for you guys, and these two album s, which both turn 15 this year, I decided to dust off the Classic Clash for a bit of spring cleaning.I also wanted to introduce someone to you who is a terrific writer, which unfortunately in the Hip-Hop space is becoming few and far between. She’s written editorials here before that you’ve either hated or loved but that’s the point of writing to a certain degree: reaction. Shelby asked me if she could take a crack at this one, and despite the control freak that I am I relented. I think she nailed it.  You know I don’t cosign crap. Hope you enjoy. Classic Clashes. Illmatic vs. Ready to Die.-ODAt the beginning of 1994,

Hip Hop was immersed in the slow, rhythmic thump of G-funk. California was

enjoying its status as the home of rap royalty. Dr. Dre’s synth-heavy style continued to waft across the

Mississippi to the birth place of the genre, leaving tracks from coast to coast.

The East found itself on mainstream hiatus. However, by spring, the focus of the

Hip Hop masses was wandering. By fall, King California was forced to give up his

crown.

 

That year’s April showers

were replaced by a hailstorm of rap re-invention as a young Nasir Jones dropped the seminal Illmatic on an unsuspecting Hip Hop community.  Then in

September, the grandest street buzz ever generated in the history of Hip Hop

morphed into a project more than worthy of it’s hype.  Notorious BIG released

the classic Ready to Die.  It’s no secret 15

years later that this pair of fledgling emcees changed the Hip Hop landscape

forever with their freshman offerings, but who made the biggest

impact?

 

Ask any Hip Hop

aficionado worth his weight in rhymes about Illmatic and you will receive a

thesis complete with bar graphs and footnotes in return. The album is viewed by

many as the definitive Hip Hop reference, the unabridged rap encyclopedia.

Author Matthew Gesteier wrote of the album, “Stylistically, if every other Hip

Hop record were destroyed, the entire genre could be reconstructed from this one

album.” Critics hailed Nas for his stark, evocative story telling and honest

evaluation of the meaning of life through a jaded and cynical urban lens. The

roster of producers was a who’s who in early 90’s beat making and its possible

Illmatic holds some of Primo, Large Professor and Pete Rocks best work.  In the past

decade and a half, this album has been deconstructed, reconstructed, mimicked

and even used as the blueprint for lesser albums.  However, there are those who

don’t believe Illmatic is the best Hip Hop album of all time.  They don’t even

think it’s the best rap release of 1994.

 

As spring morphed into

summer, BIG’s buzz was deafening.  The highly anticipated Ready to Die was moved

from Uptown to an unknown Bad

Boy and critics questioned BIG’s delivery in the process, suggesting he

sounded paranoid and his high pitched vocals were hard on the ears. However,

those question marks were erased once the album hit record store shelves in

September.  The album was raw, harsh and abrasive; but in a good way.  BIG’s

somewhat autobiographical story telling prowess was straightforward and his

ability to paint an entire picture with just a few words was unparalleled.  The

album darted in and out of mainstream traffic, making it a commercial success. 

However, even with its eclectic mix of radio friendly joints and street anthems,

the album held its course and delivered a clear picture of the upstarts life

change from crime to rhyme. The production, handled primarily by Diddy and Easy

Mo Bee with contributions from Premiere, Chucky Thompson, Poke and Lord Finesse is strong, but not overbearing.  Contending

with a force like BIG made it almost impossible for any of the tracks to take

the spotlight.  Reviewer Steve Juon wrote, “Biggie was the

quintessential master of word play who could either scare you like Edgar Allen Poe or charm you like

Cyrano de Bergerac.” To some, this is an understatement.

 

Both albums put realism

on Front Street as the emcees

tackled similar issues with a depth of thought that raised the Hip Hop bar to

heights most other emcees still can’t reach.  While the thought patterns of the

two young men were divergent, they both turned a spotlight on urban blight and gave their

listeners perfectly crafted commentary that still rings true today.  But only

one can wear the crown.  Did Nas steal California ’s scepter or was it Biggie? You be the judge.

Ready To Die

Illmatic

Discussions View Results

Snoop Dogg Cleared Of Assault; Soopa Fly Must Pay

Despite being cleared of assaulting a fan at a 2005 concert, the man who sued rapper Snoop Dogg will still receive compensation for injuries suffered from the incident.

 

Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle Records, rapper Soopafly and other unnamed parties will pay Richard Monroe Jr. nearly $449,000 in damages, a jury found on Friday (May 8) after determining that Monroe suffered major injuries from the assault.

 

Soopafly (born Priest Brooks) was among those involved in the incident.

 

“We’re very pleased that the jury found that this incident was not something to be taken lightly,” Monroe’s attorney, Brian E. Watkins, said. Friday’s decision marks the end of two weeks of testimony surrounding Monroe’s 2006 lawsuit against Snoop Dogg (born Calvin Broadus).

 

Although Monroe’s attorneys claimed the rapper hit their client with a microphone during the ordeal, a video shown during the trial disputed the argument.

 

The clip, which showed Snoop Dogg performing his hit song “Gin and Juice,” did not show rapper hitting Monroe.

 

Monroe is tackled by security in the video after putting his arm around Snoop Dogg.

 

Monroe revealed during the trial that he thought he had been invited onstage during the show, which took place at the White River Amphitheater near Seattle.

 

According to reports, Monroe later woke up after the assault, dazed, in a pool of blood and with his pants ripped off.

 

He told investigators that the men who beat him also poured their drinks, which appeared to be a mix of gin and juice, on him during the beating. Jurors were shown pictures of Monroe’s swollen face following the concert.

 

Snoop Doggs’ attorneys countered Monroe’s version of the incident by arguing that his recollection of events changed over time and.

 

In addition, the lawyers told jurors that Monroe did not immediately reveal to investigators after the ordeal that Snoop Dogg hit him with his microphone.

 

That rap star testified earlier in the civil trial that he did not assault Monroe as he described and identified performers and security personnel who were seen struggling with Monroe on the video.

 

Snoop Dogg further stated that he quickly left the stage to go to his tour bus before the incident was over.

 

Snoop Dogg was not in court on Friday when the verdict was handed down.

 

The jury’s decision to award the nearly $449,000 payment to Monroe fell short of the $ 22 million he had sought from the entertainer.

Rev. Run’s Son JoJo Arrested For Weed

The son of legendary rapper Joseph “Run” Simmons of Run-DMC was arrested for possession of marijuana on Friday night, according to published reports.

Joseph “JoJo” Simmons Jr. allegedly bought weed and was seen rolling the illegal substance in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, according to gossip news site tmz.com.

Sources within the police department told the site that the 19-year-old was inside a car when he was apprehended.

The sources also charge that he tried to escape by reversing and almost struck a police vehicle.

Simmons Jr. was charged with resisting arrest, attempted reckless endangerment, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia in addition to the possession charge.

No statement has been issued by the Simmons family or a representative.

 

“You can learn many things from your Children.. (Patience for instance! :-),” Rev Run wrote on his Twitter page.

Simmons, Jr. stars on the show “Run’s House” with his father and the rest of the family.

Hip-Hop Rumors: More Nude Pix: Rihanna This Time?

“Here we go again – I think”

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.IS THIS RIHANNA?

Well, I don’t know. Do you? All I know is somebody said that it might be possible that this is Ms. Rihanna and a certain ex of hers might have leaked her racy pictures to the internet.

I don’t know, do you? I mean…it could just be some babe that took some images in a room somewhere.

I will say with conviction – I don’t know who this is.  I will also say this – if the right people hit me up, I will know who it is.

AND…WHO MIGHT THIS BE?

The picture is blurry, but…you think?

EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY

I don’t know if Cassie leaked the pics of her or if it was Ryan Leslie or if somebody actually hacked into her computer. I don’t know…I don’t know…I don’t know. This is the one thing I know. I, illseed, (meaning this doesn’t represent AllHipHop.com) hereby declare Cassie to be the Epic Fail of the Day. Ol’ girl got a damn scandal and in less than 24 hours of her pierced c##### being all over the net, it has been forgotten by this right here (see above). Damn… I just have to call it like I see it on this one. Uhmph…talking about “act like you never saw a t#### before.” TAKE THAT, TAKE THAT!And No…I’m not dissing Diddy. I just want to dance.Thanks for the pic IC!

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].

Rick Ross On Eminem: ‘I’m Not Impressed With The Music’

While claiming to be “past” his on-going feud with 50 Cent, Def Jam recording artist Rick Ross continues to be vocal in the press about his disdain for his rival and those affiliated to him.

 

In a recent interview with Canadian television network Much Music, Ross takes more jabs at the G-Unit/Shady camp.

 

According to MuchMusic.com, Ross revealed that despite his recent challenge to Eminem, he remains a fan of Shady Records’ flagship artist.

 

However, he isn’t very impressed with Em’s latest releases.

 

“I’m just not impressed with the music I’m hearing,” the Miami rapper stated. “But hopefully, Imma buy his album when it come out, if it don’t disappoint me too bad. You know, we’ll see.”

 

The comment comes just weeks after Ross told MTV News that he would be interested in being involved with Eminem’s highly anticipated fifth major label release, Relapse, due out May 19.

 

While Ross did not necessarily indicate a desire to continue a rivalry with Eminem, he did continue his war of words with 50’s G-Unit camp in the new interview, which is set to air on an upcoming episode of MuchNewsWeekly.

 

“I done put out a number one album, and you know, I finished those guys. G-Unit was dropped from Interscope,” he added, clapping. “They still can’t dress, they’re monkeys, but that’ll never change.”

 

While the beef between 50 Cent and Rick Ross may not go down in Hip-Hop history for the actual rhymes exchanged, it does stand out as one of the most entertaining, employing tactics including animated videos, X-Rated videos and outings with the mother of one of Ross’ children.

 

Asked if he felt 50 Cent had taken things too far, the portly Slip-N-Slide recruit explained that as long as the beef did not escalate to gun violence, one could not say it had “gone too far.”

 

“Where I come from, you need AK-47s to go far,” he explained. “Anything short of that, we’ll label you a girl, kick you in the butt and send you home, and that’s pretty much what I did.”

 

Rick Ross’s third studio release, Deeper Than Rap, remains at the number four position on The Billboard 200 chart, where it debuted in the number one spot last week with 150,000 copies sold in the first week of release.

T.I. Teams With Rev. Al Sharpton For Harlem Anti-Gun Rally

Grammy winner and multi-platinum artist T.I. will utilize his non-profit K.I.N.G. foundation next week to hold an anti-gun and violence rally in Harlem, NY.

 

Assisting the Atlanta native’s endeavor are Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, the LIFE Camp, and the Political Swagger Foundation.

Announced as “Responsibility is a Lifestyle: it’s Time to Bury Da Beef,” the involved groups plan to initiate a “call to action to engage elected officials, community organizers, artists, and every American citizen to accept responsibility to build safer communities.”

The pertinent declaration from these organizations came after statistics from the Center for Disease Control revealed that 16 youths (aged 10-24) are killed daily from gun-related violence.

Recently, a 13-year-old child was fatally shot in the head on a Harlem street corner. In Queens, a double-homicide claimed the lives of a 17 and 19 year old.

Since being convicted of several felony weapons charges last year, T.I. has spent the majority of his time traveling the nation and speaking out against guns and advocating education.

In 2006, a shooting claimed the life of T.I.’s best friend Philant Johnson, who was murdered in front of rapper following a post-concert dispute.

The rally/press conference will take place on Monday May 11 the National Action Network building, located on 106 West 145th Street and Lenox Ave (Malcolm X Blvd), New York, NY 10039. For more information, visit www.thekingfoundation.com, www.politicalswagger.com, www.LIFEcampinc.com, or www.CHANGEinitiative.org.