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Robin Thicke: The Magic of Sex and Music
Last summer Robin Thicke reached, what seemed, the top of a mountain. His album had gone platinum, Lost Without U was a certified hit, and he was performing at the 2007 BET Awards. There he appeared less like a crossover sensation due only to race and more like an incessant music maker set on proving music was universal, as he swayed his hips back and forth to Lost Without U the latin-bolero version at an award show honoring Black music. Even his career before he bathed in spotlights foreshadowed this, writing for Pink, Mya, Christina Aguilera, and Marc Anthony.It seemed Robin came out of nowhere sneaking into individual musical landscapes through Lil Wayne features and Pharrell co-signs. What made him the listeners choice for breakthrough artist of 2006 was his ability to appeal to the lovers of pure R&B untainted by voice coders and glitz.Robin sits in his living room before a European promo tour and speaks with AllHipHop.com about choices hes made pertaining to his new project titled Something Else, the 2008 race for the White House, and his not so surprising choice of activities for a perfect day off.AllHipHop.com Alternatives: Were you able to rest at all after last years whirlwind? Robin Thicke: Umm, I was actually. I took a couple months to spend time with my family and my friends, and then I went right back to work and the music just poured out and now were ready to put it out there. AHHA: Where did you pull from to make this album? The prior album consisted of songs that dealt with being a newlywed.Robin Thicke: Well there are always so many places to pull from. Really I pull from how many people I saw out there that [have] given up on their dreams in some way and you just realize how beautiful we all are and how much greatness there is in all of us and how much people beat it out of us. But I just wanted to make an album that just brought people relentless positivism and joy. AHHA: When artists sell 1.5 million and theyve been struggling before that, the part that comes right after that is that they start dabbling with all these different producers. You stuck with producer Pro J. Why is that?Robin Thicke: Because, I mean I never the only song Ive ever done with another producer was the Pharrell song Wanna Love U Girl. I just always felt that I had enough to express musically. We just like our music the way it is. AHHA: What was the main difference between recording this album and The Evolution of Robin Thicke? It must have been different.Robin Thicke: Yeah, no its very different than the last album, and yet it keeps the soul of the last album; the heart you know. I think its more about I wanted to bring the celebration cause I was performing every night and I had to entertain people. I think this time the album is more entertaining. I shouldnt say more entertaining, it just kind of is alive, so I dont know how to explain it. I guess you have to hear it. AHHA: Artists write these songs in the darkest moments and Can U Believe is as desperate as someone can get at a time when theyre really low. What was it like singing that song every night?Robin Thicke: I was broke, I was alone, my wife was miles away and the album was being pushed back. I was fighting with family members, I was hitting rock bottom you know, and the song I was all by myself, and I sat at my piano and wrote it one morning. AHHA: Do you relive that moment when you perform that song, night after night? Robin Thicke: Umm, sometimes you do, sometimes you dont want to go that far because you dont want to lose [it]. There is a balance that any performer or artist where you want to fall into it, but you cant let it take over you either. AHHA: What was the Beyonce tour like? Its got to be interesting, to be part of that machine. What was the crowd like?Robin Thicke: The crowds are great. We had a great time. Beyonce is the ultimate performer and me, and my band we were living the good life; just enjoying the opportunity to play our music for that many people every night. AHHA: Did performing for an audience that was there to watch an ultimate performer like Beyonce influence you to make a more up-tempo album?Robin Thicke: Yeah you might be right that I wanted to make sure that I was able to represent the energy that I have in myself. You know because its not a thing if it wasnt real I could do it, but because I am a high-energy guy too, it was very easy for me to make high-energy music too. AHHA: Your last album you married Paula [Patton] and it carried half personal and then the other half was really sexual. You know it was just so romantic, and I always wonder like percentage wise, whats the importance of sex, whats the percentage of that?Robin Thicke: Its pretty much half and half, most of the inspirational songs we [had] written during the period when we had already been married for a year. The album and my financial state and the record company and everything was getting more and more difficult, and my wife was away because she was filming, even though that was a wonderful success for her and me as a team. It was very difficult to be away from her when I was struggling so much. AHHA: But it carried this longing Robin Thicke: Yeah well Lost Without U was written a year and a half before we got married or maybe two years before we got married. AHHA: In terms of a relationship, in percentage, how important is sex?Robin Thicke: 99% Really there are so many things that go into a relationship, you cant make a pie out of it. What I will say is that it makes it a lot easier to make up when you continue to be sexually attracted. AHHA: The last album was what propelled you to stardom. Whats the main intent, the main mission for Something Else?Robin Thicke: Uh just really to make everybodys day brighter and better to help them believe in themselves and people around them and vote for Barack Obama AHHA: Whats your take on the state of things, politically and financially?Robin Thicke: I think its all a mess because if you know the president and his team, I mean the whole things a mess. Katrina still, nobody has a home, nobody has a school, nothings been done, so the whole things is completely wrong. Gas is going to be seven dollars by the end of the year, so we need somebody like Barack Obama who actually cares about the rest of the people. AHHA: What was the moment where you realized that this was the guy thats going to make it happen?Robin Thicke: I had a feeling about it when I read an article in a magazine about a year and a half ago before he even said he was going to run. I read this article and everything he was saying and the way he was saying it, so real and honest. Nobodys perfect, but its nice to know that somebody can be honest to you after all these lies we faced for eight years. AHHA: This is probably a redundant question, but did you ever go through some sort of discrimination being a white guy who was in soul music?Robin Thicke: I still face it all the time, its still always White this Black that, Black not this, White not that and your wife this and who gives a f**k? It doesnt make my food taste any better.AHHA: Youre kicking back, its a day you have nothing to do, youre not at the recording studio, its a day you wake up and you have it completely open, what do you do? Robin Thicke: Just a completely open day? Who knows, I guess you, smoke a jay, watch some movies, put on some steaks on the BBQ, have a beer and enjoy your day and watch the sunset. AHHA: Right now musically, what CD can you pop in and say, Wow, this is inspiring?Robin Thicke: Uh, Lil Wayne is the only one. Hes the only one pushing the envelope, taking chances, putting the people first, ahead of his pocket. AHHA: What was it like collaborating with him?Robin Thicke: Its sort of like two boxers in a ring, two lions out in the jungle. You just have to be ready, and hes going to roar. AHHA: You produced the track that you collaborated with him on?Robin Thicke: Yeah I had the song done when he showed up, cause I wrote the song right after Katrina, and he came to the studio a month after Katrina. I think he loved the song and he wanted to do it, but I dont think he was ready yet because it was so personal to him. So he said, Im going to put that on my next album. Two years later he called me up and was like, Yo can I get that track? I want to put my part on it. AHHA: How was it producing a rapper? One of the biggest rappers of the moment.Robin Thicke: Oh, you dont produce Lil Wayne. You just maybe if you have an idea like you should double that or you should say that twice maybe, or something like that, you know what I mean? But really, you dont get into Lil Waynes way. And the great thing about Lil Wayne and the reason he is so good [is] he has great taste, like he doesnt step on my parts when theyre hot. He just knows. He has great taste. AHHA: So its one year from now, lets just take it to kind of a wishful place. Where do you want to be and what do you want to be doing?Robin Thicke: I want to be performing Tie My Hands with Lil Wayne on the Oscars. Cause he wrote it for his movie that hes got coming out this year, and I want to perform it on the Oscars. You got to dream big.Check out Robin Thicke’s new video for “Magic”
Hip-Hop Rumors: The Ozone Awards Edition! Trae Speaks About Bussin’ Mike Jones! Mike Jones Goes Berserk On Vid!
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.
OZONE AWARDS THE GOOD
AND THE GOODER!
First of all all the people that I talked to told me that
the women at the Ozone Awards were off the chain! I dont have all that many
pictures, but feel free to send me any pictures from the Ozone Awards [email protected]. I just heard that the ladies were top notch!
Go ladies! I heard the dudes were on their grind too and the cars were hot too.
Well, I dont know where to begin with the Ozone Awards. Let
me just say that I heard it was simply crazy as an event. I heard the legendary
Willie Dee was outraged at the treatment he got as one of Houstons finest. He was apparently all jammed
up at the door like he was just some regular Joe shmoe! Willie went on to
present J. Prince with an award, but not before going through hell.
I dont know much about what happened with Trae and Mike
Jones. I mean, you
can read the news story about the Houston rappers scrap right here. And
you can actually listen to Mike Jones talk about the fight right here.
Other than that, I heard there was a lot of blood in the back from Mikes nose.
I heard that he might have lost his chain or something. Nevertheless, Mike made
it back to the stage later in the night. From what I heard, he actually made
the crowd laugh when he yelled Mike Jones after DJ Khaled said, We Best!
My sources told me that something went down with Bun B and
the Houston
police, BUT I have been re-educated on that. There was nothing going on with Bun and the cops…probably just a lil’ chaos back there. The police were very, very thick. I
heard they even had the ghetto birds in the sky. They had the Mounties on their
horses! And they reportedly had an army of cops with hand cuff right there.
Mya was there! She actually showed up to the Ozone Awards
and I heard she was looking good. At the end, I heard she was rushed out too.
I heard the Fire Marshall was continuously trying to shut
the event down for a variety of reasons.
I heard a certain member of the AHH team might have started
drinking that drank in a big Styrofoam cup! I cannot say who, because that
person might not want to be revealed. My sources are strong.
I heard Rick Ross was there crazy deep and nobody had
anything to say about anything controversial to Mr. Ross. He rocked it quite
bit with Khaled and T-Pain.
I heard that certain members of the H-Town rap community
were openly complaining about what seemed to be a lack of H-Town love. Some
people reasoned that nobody in Houston
is killin it like a Rick Ross/Glasses Malone/or whatever. I dont know about
all that, but they did have an excellent and heart felt tribute to Pimp C. I
heard people like Too Short, Big Boi and David Banner recited Pimps lyrics
Bun B rapped in front of a whole choir and it was supposedly real emotional.
Damn, I wish I was there for that.
I FOUND OUT that my own Lady Drama was totally stolen from
me and she was actually at the Ozone Awards working the red carpet! How did
that happen? Anyway, I can accept that since I am sure she has all the inside
rumors.
Overall, I heard it was messy at first and dope once you got
inside. Im just an outsider that gets lil bits and pieces to piece together
for half the story. I guess we shall see what else pops up. (Thanks twitter
buddy, Diva, Jose and all the others that gave me info! Drama get at me on what happened!)TRAE THE TRUTH SPEAKS!
Check out what he says about the scrap with Mike Jones! He also reveals that there WAS a Houston set, but they didn’t get to do it. There goes that rumor.
MIKE JONES SPAZZES OUT AFTER HIT IN THE NOSE!
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
Tony Yayo is reportedly trying to get his mother out of her Queens home, because it got shot up. She seems to want to
stay though.
Did you know that Steve Harvey and Bernie Mac had beef? I
just saw Steve Harvey talking so nice about Bernie. SMH.
Rumor says, Pharrell and N.E.R.D. arent getting a long so
well.
Some freestyle dude cracked a joke on Mike Jones on the
stage. I heard he rhymed South with mouth as it pertained to the Trae
punch.
Rumor has it; Jody Breeze has been locked up for probation
violation. Wow, dude!
SHELZ GOES IN ON EM!
Sean Paul Busted
So there are all kinds of wild rumors reporting that Sean
Paul (the reggae one) was arrested in Sweden over the weekend for
possession of marijuana after performing at the Uppsala Reggae Festival.
Wow the Swedes are doing the damn thing huh? But anyway, the situation is a
mess in different stories. I heard no one was arrested. Then I heard 50
people were arrested. Then I read 300 people were arrested with about 10 of
them being performers; one of whom was actually caught with the Gunja red
handed. I even read somewhere that the police there sent drug sniffing
dogs to check Sean Paul’s room. We will se what happens, but how do you
invite a ship load of reggae artists to perform in your country and then arrest
them for smoking weed? Sounds like a set up. Oh, the lovely Swedes
also had Lil Kim and N.E.R.D. over there this weekend too from what I
understand. Go Sweden.
Get Busy. It’s your birthday.
Bang ‘Em Smurf
Deported? Guess He Needed Slick Rick’s
Lawyer.
Whoa at folks re-appearing from The Fog. Bang ‘Em Smurf got in contact with the folks
over at DX to say hey and let everybody know what he’s been up to. It seems he was just released from prison a
few months back. Did you know he was in
Sing-Sing? Neither did I. He also said that the immigration folks sent
him packing and he’s been deported back to Trinidad. Did y’all know he was West Indian? Me neither.
But he’s still working on some project with some guy named
Domination. Have y’all ever heard of
him? SMH I guess I will give up on
this article now. Just assign it to the
“First to Bite the G-Unit Dust” files.
Dark Butts Rejoice
It has not been a good last few days for our buddy Yung
Berg. Actually, backing it up a bit, I’m
thinking it hasn’t been a good month or so. Are we getting a front row seat to
a downward spiral? I mean kid gets arrested in New York after being mean to his limo driver
and getting caught with some smoke. Now
we all know this is nothing new for the Bergster as he got tossed in the patty
wagon during the Sexy Can I Video shoot for smoking that ish. I’ll be honest, when I heard he had been
hauled away, I thought it was from tossing that nasty testicle sweat drenched
rag at those folks in Carolina during his show, but I guess they didn’t mind.
And doesn’t his album come out today?
Hope he outsells Khia.
Dead Prez Still
Fighting the Good Fight
Dead Prez say they are coming with Information Age in
November. After Rock the Bells they also
told Semex that they are planning to stay independent. They loved Untitled and hip hop is definitely
changing and going to be bringing a new more thoughtful swag in the coming
years. When asked about Obama they said
just having a black President in this country is not enough. They have not changed their opinions of our “imperialistic”
society and power needs to be put back in the hands of the people. Of course, we would expect Dead Prez to say
nothing less. They also took a couple shots at Sony. Check em out.
My Snooty-Meter is
A-Clicking
I recently read an interview with one of Bill Cosby’s
daughters Evin. The angle was the
opening of her new and obviously very posh clothing store PB and Caviar in
Tribeca. Nice to see the rich and
famous’ offspring doing something besides lying around spending the ‘rents
money, but she touched on a few non-clothing issues too when asked by the NY
Daily.
“My own people used to say to me, ‘You speak like a
white woman What does that even mean, anyway? Everyone has their way of
speaking and living their life. No one should be judging and assuming that
because I’m black, I have to speak in that hip-hop way. That’s something I
prefer not to do I always went to private schools – Bank Street elementary,
Columbia Prep – so I was surrounded by people like me. Not so much
African-American, but privileged. I don’t really have a connection to other
people who didn’t have my lifestyle.”
Ooookay. Well as long
as her Daddy is doing what he’s doing in Philly and across the rest of the
nation, I guess she gets a pass. For
now. Oh, by the way, the top selling
item so far in her boutique are high heeled shoes for babies. Funny.
LIL WAYNES WORKING WITH KEYSHIA COLE?
What a Sucka……..Lisa Raye Sticks By Her Man! Seems like Lisa Raye has decided to stick with her cheating husband and work it out! Read this via page six:LisaRaye has changed her mind. The All of Us actress was planning to divorce Turks and Caicos Premier Michael Misick, but now shes moved back into his mansion. Its not that she would miss him, she would miss her position, said our source. Shes grown accustomed to the lifestyle – the gifts, the cars, the status. The two have had problems since they wed in 2006. LisaRaye has been linked to former NBA star Gary Payton. In April, Misick was accused of raping one of LisaRayes friends, a claim he denied. Damn cash rules everything around her huh! Caan’t say that I blame her, with her lack of strong work lately Island boy may be her best bet to stay paid! Sorry Rosci kick rocks ma and move on to the next sucka! Baby Mama Drama… The Rick Ross Edition Looks like Rick Ross is being sued by his 2 year old child’s mother Tiallondra Nicole Kemp for unpaid child support! According to the Kemp Rick Ross has not offered any financial support to raise their child, William Leonard Roberts, III. And before Rick can even say he wants a paternity test, Kemp has already went to a Florida court to prove the paternity of the child. In addition she is requesting maintenance payments as well as shared responsibility for the child. Looks like Rick Ross may not be the only BOSS huh! A Tuesday Hangover….. Oh No It’s Just Lil Kim: Kim was in Sweden over the weekend performing! I would go in but I’m so tired of roasting this chock about her appearance! What more could I say! Check out the pics and use your own imagination! Lady Drama’s Food For Thought: I heard Da Brat might take a 10 year plea deal in her assault case…… I know she’s more than happy to get to all that free _______ on deck in the pen! No h### but don’t say ya’ll don’t feel the same way! Can Rick Ross catch a brick oppppss I mean Break! Can’t be mad at him any publicity is good publicity even if you go from a CO to a no good father! The Ghetto Grammys aka The Ozone Awards went down over the weekend and I was there to join in on the action! Good Look to everyone who took care of me…. NOT like that… get ya’ll mind out the gutter it’s only Monday! Go Hard or Go Home!
YESTERDAY, WE LOVE YOU!
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].– allhiphop rumors
Mike Jones Speaks On The Incident With Trae
102 JAMZ, Waleed Coyote interviews Mike Jones about the incident with Trae at the Ozone Awards in Houston.
Mike Jones, Trae The Truth Fight
Houston, Texas rappers Mike Jones and Trae the Truth were involved in an altercation backstage today (August 11) at the Ozone Awards in Houston.According to witnesses, the two rappers were having a conversation when Trae the Truth allegedly struck Jones for unknown reasons.The altercation occurred in the backstage area, as artists like Slim Thug, David Banner, Alfamega and other industry types congregated in a press area.The assault left Jones with a laceration to his face, but it is unknown if Jones required medical attention.The reason for the altercation between the two Houston rappers occurred for unknown reasons, although sources told AllHipHop.com tensions between the two had already been high.The Ozone Awards are taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Despite the fracas between Trae the Truth and Mike Jones backstage, The Ozone Awards went off without any further incidents.
Performers included Shawty Lo, B.O.B., while T Pain, Young Jeezy, David Banner DJ Khaled and Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince took home honors.
Knockout Nation: Cotto Explains Quitting; Mosley Wants Margarito! Hoya-Pac On Deck; Carlos Monzon Remembered
Cotto
Speaks About Loss
You would think after Miguel Cottos phenomenal
performance in a losing effort last month to Antonio Margarito that fans would
be celebrating the Puerto Rican star and looking forward to his next fight. But in a sport where fighters are regularly
dismissed after their first loss, thats not always the case.
While the majority of fight fans have no bad words
to say about Cotto taking two knees after sustaining brutal punishment from
Margarito, there has a been a small but vocal majority thats has labeled Cotto
a quitter who can dish out the brutality but cant take it.
Even some fans in his native Puerto Rico are
upset, arguing that previous island fighters like Felix Trinidad and Wilfredo
Gomez would never have submitted like that, especially at the feet of a
Mexican, their fierce boxing rivals.
Tired of the accusations, Cotto conducted an interview on the andra pal cará show and clarified his position. Here is the translation (courtesy of maxboxing.com member beastineden) regarding the criticisms of him quitting.
Host: Ok, in your case as a boxer and champion I imagine that decision was very hard to make because you’re thinking I’m the champion with no losses, was it you that made the decision or your corner?
Cotto: I was the one that made it,
my family was there, my children were present and I was thinking more about
them rather than the beating I was getting.
Host: Did you get to see them?
Cotto: Yes I did, a few times.
Host: Really?
Cotto: Yes, there were right next to my corner.
Host: Does it affect …
Cotto: Well, in this case it did a little but they’ve always known what my job is and what the risks are.
Host: They are used to it?
Cotto: They’re not used to seeing dad in the situation that they saw me a week ago but they know the risks of my job.
Host: You gotta be brave to get up there?
Cotto: Very much, gotta be brave to get up there but it’s part of the job, had a bad day but I know many good ones are still ahead.
Host: Miguel being honest, and you always tell it like it is, is it harder to get on the ring or making the decision of putting the knees down?
Cotto: I think in my case it was harder to put a knee down, like you said I didnt have a loss in my record and to lose this way it was difficult for me, but I want health and I want to see my children grow up and that’s what matters.
Host: Now that you tell me that it was you that made the decision not your corner, which is very important, did it ever cross your mind all the reactions that would come after your decision? Did you think about that?
Cotto: No it was all for the benefit of me and my family, I could care less about the comments people make.
Host: For example I heard a comment like … ‘he didn’t train hard enough to get on the ring’
Cotto: I always train hard before getting on the ring, Margarito was better than me that night.
Host: For this one you even said you trained more than any other fight.
Cotto: Yes, that’s how I felt.
Host: Also comments that you were drinking and partying in Las Vegas
Cotto: I party and have fun but on my time off, Im very responsible with my job, there’s two things I’m very responsible with, my job and my family and I don’t play around with them.
Fighters know more than anyone else when their body has reached its limit. Theres nothing heroic or honorable about getting killed in a boxing ring in front of your family just so armchair commentators can put you a little higher on their pound for pound
lists. As boxing fans were the first ones asking why wasnt it stopped sooner when guys are seriously hurt (Nigel Benn-Gerald McClellan) or killed.
Leavander Johnson-Jesus Chavez
Ray Mancini-Duk Koo Kim
Its time to put the unwarranted criticism to rest when fighters have gotten their heads beat in round after round and feel theyve had enough.
Mosley Looks Past Mayorga to Margarito
Shane Mosley knows that hes not getting any younger. Turning 37-years-old next month, he knows
the time to secure lucrative and legacy defining matchups is now. Derailed
earlier this year by the cancellation of his fight with Zab Judah, Mosley has
begun calling out new champion Antonio Margarito even as a September 27 date
looms with former champ Ricardo Mayorga.
When Mayweather was on top before he retired I wanted Mayweather, Mosley explained to media at the August 7 press conference. Margarito is the best welterweight out there now, so I want Margarito.
The declaration is a bold but welcomed change of opinion for Shane. Previously the former pound for pound king turned down a Mayweather fight in his post fight interview after the second Vargas fight (Mayweather went on to fight champion Carlos Baldomir on November 2006), and also stated he wasnt ready for Margarito after initially returning to welterweight in 2005.
Mosley is expected to easily defeat the limited Mayorga which would open doors for the Margarito showdown, a solid alternative for Antonio if he cannot secure a bout with cash cow Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley is on record as stating he would be ready for the Tijuana Tornado by December.
At the press
conference Mayorga was his usual jovial self, bringing pink gloves for Shane to
wear at the fight, and proclaiming he was going to make Shane his woman and
also retire him so he can enjoy the fruits of his labor. Using Vernon
Forrests domination of Mosley in early 2002, Mayorga went on to say hell beat
Shane worse and take him out within three rounds.
Mosley of course took everything in stride and seemed to enjoy Mayorgas entertaining promotion of the bout.
Ironically, this fight is over five years overdue. This bout was scheduled to take place in 2003 if Mayorga would not have been upset for the welterweight title by then unknown slickster Cory Spinks.
Overdue or not, Mayorga has never been in the class of a fighter like Shane Mosley. This truth has been proven correct most of time the Nicaraguan slugger has been in with
the elite fighters of the past 15 years (De La Hoya, Trinidad) sans Vernon
Forrest. Expect Shane to TKO Mayorga by the sixth or seventh round.
Pavlik-Hopkins – October 18, 2008 on PPV
Also on the promotion trail, middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and former light-heavyweight and middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins met in Philadelphia to officially announce
their October PPV bout. Pavlik has stated he can no longer make 160, so the fight will be contested at 170 pounds, new territory for the young champion.
Pavlik is coming off an easy mandatory defense against unheralded Gary Locket in June, while Hopkins is trying to rebound from a split decision loss to Joe Calzaghe in April. Pavlik has a record of 34-0 with 30 KOs, winning the middleweight title in September 2007. Hopkins is 48-5-1, with 32 KOs and has a record of 2-3 in his last five bouts. Pavlik also holds a 17 year age advantage over the 43 year old former
champ, something Hopkins dismisses based on his recent performances.
I never been afraid of no Ghost. Challenges to me are motivation, Hopkins explained at the press conference. If anybody here feels Im coming here like a loser needing to gain ground, then maybe Im in denial. Most of the reporters were at ringside April 18 (against Calzaghe), I believe Im coming in fighting as a winner…Im a
threat to anybody that steps in the ring with Bernard Hopkins.
Pavlik, who could not secure fights with Felix Sturm, Arthur Abraham, or Joe Calzaghe, is content to face the Executioner and feels they will deliver a solid fight for boxing fans.
Hes (Bernard Hopkins) the biggest name out there, Pavlik reasoned to media. Calzaghe, I dont know I gotta shoot him in the leg to stop him from running. Abraham has his mandatory coming up so when they said Hopkins I said thats it, lets do this. Its gonna be a blue collar fight. I dont change my style, I come
forward. I get in the best shape I can possibly get into and thats what were
going to do on October 18th. Itll be a pleasure to be in the ring
with him and never in my lifetime did I think Id be facing him
Samuel Peter Vows to Retire Klitschko Family
Samuel Peter has unfinished business with Wladimir Klitschko, but for now hes willing to settle for big brother Vitali, who he faces on October 11 for the WBC heavyweight title. Due to numerous injuries, Vitali Klitschko has been on a four-year sabbatical from the sport since defeating Danny Williams in December 2004. Attempts to fight in 2005 and 2006 were mired by nagging leg injuries.
Since he never lost the title in the ring, the WBC guaranteed Vitali an immediate title shot should he ever return, prompting this October bout. Samuel Peter won the WBC strap in March 2008 after knocking out veteran Oleg Maskaev in 6 rounds. Now champion in a fractured division, Peter plans to erase all doubt about championship lineage starting with the Klitschkos.
I want to send Vitali back into retirement and then end his brothers reign as champion, Peter vowed in a statement. I will become the first fighter to end an entire familys boxing career. Everyone is going down. The heavyweight division is mine.
Obviously with different plans, Vitali sees this fight as the first step in a long standing
dream for both Klitschkos to reign simultaneously as world champs.
I cannot believe this day is finally here, stated Klitschko in a press release. I am injury free and ready to take my title back. My brother, Wladimir, and I have had along-time goal of being heavyweight champions at the same time. That dream will be realized when I take back what is rightfully mine, the WBC heavyweight title. The next step will be holding all of the heavyweight belts with Wladmir.
Vitali deserves a lot of credit for taking on the number two heavyweight in the world in his first fight in nearly four years. However, I think it will prove to be a disastrous mistake. While a live underdog, Peter should be able to take over the second half when Vitali inevitably gets winded from the lack of ring time. In what should have been the main event, WBC light-heavyweight champ Chad Dawson (26-0, 17 KOs) will partially unify against IBF champ Antonio Tarver (27-4, 19 KOs).
Both guys are
excellent counter-punchers and have proven themselves against elite fighters
like Glen Johnson, Roy Jones, and Tomasz Adamek. While the experience edge goes
to Tarver, in a boxing contest Dawsons speed edge should help squeeze out a
close decision.
Formal Negotiations Open between De La Hoya and Pacquiao
After months of speculation, formal talks officially began as Pacquaio promoter Bob Arum (Top Rank) met with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer to start hammering out details on a proposed December 6 superfight between De La Hoya and Pacquiao. The first meeting commenced on August 6, and according to both parties the two hour plus session went extremely well.
We met and there are some issues, but it was a good meeting, Schaefer explained to ESPN.com. I think what it will take is for a Manny to give and for Oscar to give to get a
deal done. Thats pretty much what it is. But the fact that we had a two hour-plus meeting is obviously a good sign. If it had been a five-minute meeting it would indicate the gaps are too big.
Arum whole-heartedly agrees. I can say without any question none of that will be a problem, weight or gloves, Arum clarified. We are working essentially on the split.
Pacquiao last competed at lightweight on June 28, stopping David Diaz in nine rounds to pick up the WBC title. De La Hoya won a decision against Steve Forbes in May, weighing 150
pounds for that bout. In order for the fight to come off, Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach has been adamant that the fight must take place at 147 pounds.
Arum also promotes Antonio Margarito, who has expressed his preference of facing De La Hoya in his next bout. But with Pacquiao being immensely more popular, Margaritos chances of landing De La Hoya are very slim. I think Margarito has some other things planned, Schaefer stated to Espn, alluding to the last man to defeat Antonio. I think he should go fight Paul Williams.
Arum remained a little more hopeful and upbeat. Antonio is still out there and hasnt been totally rejected by the De La Hoya people, Arum clarified. It came up, but Richard has to sit with Oscar and see what he wants to do.
Cintron Signs with Promoter Lou DiBella, Eyes Miguel Cotto
Kermit Cintron has signed a multi-year contract with New York-based promoter Lou DiBella. The power punching welterweight is seeking to immediately rejoin the title race
after being overwhelmed and stopped by Antonio Margarito in April. DiBella has
booked Cintron for a tuneup bout on the Jermain Taylor-Jeff Lacy undercard, and
is already looking towards a Puerto Rican showdown with Miguel Cotto.
Cotto-Cintron is an interesting fight, DiBella told espn.com. I mentioned that to [Cotto promoter] Bob Arum. Im happy to be working with Kermit. I like the guy and it makes sense for me to work in the division. Kermit is the young guy and losing to Margarito is no disgrace because the guy is a beast. DiBella also
represents WBC welterweight champ Andre Berto and former WBO titlist Carlos
Quintana. Cintrons record is 29-2(27 KOs).
Throwback Fighter of the Week: Carlos Monzon
Theres many reasons you could list why Carlos Monzon is considered the best middleweight of all time. First, you could look at his record of 87-3-9 (59 KOs). Or you could point to his seven year middleweight reign, where he made 14 defenses. Tall and rangy with a powerful right hand, many didnt expect much from Monzon early in his career after losing three fights in his first 20 bouts.
That all changed when Monzon stopped veteran Nino Benvenuti in 1970 to win the middleweight title after 12 rounds. He was even more dominant in rematch, stopping Benvenuti in 3 rounds in 1971. Monzon continued his reign by being the second man to stop Hall of Famer Emile Griffith in 1971, and outpointing him in a 1973 rematch.
Great welterweight Jose Napoles also found himself overwhelmed at middleweight, and Monzon battered him 1974 to a corner stoppage. After two hard-fought decision victories over younger rival Rodrigo Valdez, Monzon retired on top in 1977. However, Monzons rage outside the ring proved to be his downfall. A notorious woman beater, in 1988 Monzon was sentenced to 11 years in prison after killing his
wife by throwing her off a balcony.
In 1995, he was killed in a car crash on his way back from an approved weekend furlough with his children. People to this day continue to speculate if Monzon used the crash to
commit suicide. His final record stands at 87-3-9 (59 KOs).
Benvenuti-Monzon I (Round 12) (Monzon in lighter trunks)
Benvenuti-Monzon II
Monzon-Griffith I (Round 14)
Monzon vs. Napoles
EXCLUSIVE: Lil Wayne Issues Statement On Daughter
Contrary to several internet reports, Lil Waynes daughter was not killed on Sunday night (August 10), the rapper confirmed with AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement.
Several websites reported early Monday afternoon (August 11) that eight-year-old Reginae Carter had been killed in a traffic accident.
Despite the absence of details of the reported accident, the news spread quickly, prompting fans to offer their condolences via Waynes MySpace page.
It has come to my attention that there are recent reports circulating regarding my daughter. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who are genuinely concerned about Reginae and her safety, Lil Wayne told AllHipHop.com. Please allow me to dispel any rumors or speculations and report that my daughter is alive, healthy and surrounded by family who care and love her dearly. The rumors are completely false and unfounded; neither Reginae nor any other member of my family has been involved in any car accident. My family and I truly appreciate the concern and support shown to us.
Buried among the comments, however, was a statement posted Sunday night by someone claiming to be Reginaes aunt, who stated that the little girl, who is often seen alongside her superstar dad on red carpets and award show stages, was tucked away in her bed at this very moment, trying to get past the hurt this ugliness has caused her and our family.
I am pleased to inform you that this report is false, the poster went on to say. It is merely a rumor started by someone who obviously is miserable in their own skin that they would even have the notion to attack a child.
New Heltah Skeltah Album Confirmed for Sept. 30th
After a near ten year hiatus, Brooklyn duo Heltak Skeltah have reunited and confirmed the completion of their third LP, entitled D.I.R.T.
Dubbed the Twin Towers of the talented Boot Camp Clik, Heltah Skeltah first gained national exposure with their debut Nocturnal in 1996.
The album was powered by the classic posse cut Leflaur, Leflah Eshkoshka, which charted on Billboards Top 100 Chart.
The additional singles Operation Lock Down and Therapy helped albums sales to over 250,000 copies.
The follow-up, 1998s Magnum Force, did not fare as well sales-wise and led to a temporary breakup.
During the near ten year gap between the second and third LPs, both members carved out solo identities.
Sean Price received critical acclaim for his debut solo project Monkey Barz in 2005.
From there he went on to release Jesus Price Superstar (2007) and the Master P Mixtape (2007).
Battling serious legal problems, including attempted murder and pimp charges in January, Rock persevered and completed his first mixtape of original material entitled Shell Shock in 2008.
Despite the ample solo material between them, member Sean Price is adamant that their chemistry is still intact and the duo will maintain their signature Boot Camp formula.
Theres only one way I know how to rhyme and that is to straight body the mic and verse, Price exclaimed.
We didnt try to get cute with this album and pick some out da box beats and get on some philosophy s**t. We did what we knew best and that was rhyme about the street, while of course infusing the humor that you know youre going to get when you listen to our rhymes.
D.I.R.T. will feature production from Marco Polo, ILL MIND, Black Milk and Sic Beats.
Guests MCs include Smif N Wessun, Buckshot, Ruste Juxx, and other Duck Down artists.
The lead single is Everything Is Heltah Skeltah, produced by ILL MIND.
D.I.R.T. becomes available September 30 on Duck Down Records.
Jay-Z On Blueprint 3: ‘I Gotta Make The Best Product’
During a memorable guest appearance last Wednesday (August 6) on Kanye Wests Glow in the Dark Tour, Jay-Z confirmed hes working on Blueprint 3, his final album on Def Jam before launching a new recording deal with Live Nation.
Interviews from Timbaland had many believing the Virginia boardsmith would serve as the albums executive producer, a rumor Jay-Z put to rest after recently appearing on the Shade 45 Morning Show.
That was a little premature (on his part), Jay explained. Its business. I gotta make the best product; it doesnt depend on anyones feelings, were in there to do a job. We gotta put our feelings aside.
Still early in the album process, the music mogul went on to reveal he has three songs completed, including the leaked, Run-DMC sampled Jockin Jay-Z, also known as Dope Boy Fresh.
I have three records, but I dont want to talk about them yet (since) they may not make the album, Jay disclosed. But theres one joint thats undeniable. Youll know it when you hear it.
Last month, Jay-Z announced a $150 million dollar partnership between his Roc Nation imprint and Live Nation, one of the most lucrative contracts ever given to an artist.
The deal requires Live Nation to help finance Jays entertainment projects, with profits being split between the two companies.
Despite the deal not starting until Jay-Zs final Def Jam album is complete, rumors have begun circulating that there are already problems between Live Nation and its only Hip-Hop artist, a claim Jay dismissed as unfounded.
Thats silly, Jay quipped. The numbers are public. I just went out on two tours and made a ton of money. I mean, cmon.
Regarding a release date for his final Def Jam album, Shawn Carter remained uncommitted.
I dont even know if it comes out this year, he confessed. Well see.
At press time, Jays last album American Gangster has sold over 1.4 million worldwide.
Last Friday (August 8), Jay-Z teamed with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg for the Summer Streets Program, a project aimed at revamping local streets into car-free recreation zones.
Clyde Carson Ft. The Game P###. By Teddy Riley
“Tonight”
Yung Berg Arrested On Gun, Weed Charges
Rapper Yung Berg was arrested Saturday (August 9) by New York City police following an early morning investigation of a complaint.
According to reports, the entertainer, born Christian Ward, was taken in on weapons and marijuana charges.
Yung Berg was scheduled to perform at Six Flags in New Jersey on Saturday, as part of a promotional tour in support of the rappers forthcoming album, Look What You Made Me.
According to sources, the arrest came after a limo driver reported a dispute with five passengers.
The rapper, along with the other passengers, were arrested busted after the police investigation of the complaint.
He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of marijuana and menacing.
The arrest isnt the first time Yung Berg has encountered authorities under less than favorable circumstances.
Late last year, he was arrested for marijuana possession in Miami while on the set of the video for singer Ray Js#### single “Sexy Can I.”
Yung Bergs latest legal episode comes has the rapper finds success with his latest single, “The Business” which features the first signee to Bergs Young Boss record label, Casha.
The song is the third official single from Look What You Made Me, which is slated to hit stores on tomorrow (August 12).
Fokis Ft. Mistah F.A.B. and Young Dre
“Do What It Do”
The Clipse Present: The Re-Up Gang (Album Review)
After countless stunning bars and flawless flows on the notable We Got It For Cheap mixtape series, The Re-Up Gang have finally brought their hustle to the big leagues with their studio debut album, The Clipse Present: The Re-Up Gang (Koch). The twelve track effort consists of nine brand new tracks as well as three unreleased remixes from We Got It For Cheap Vol. III.
Surprisingly the gang slacked off here as the new tracks dont hold the same weight as their previous work. Even recycled lyrics from the prior volumes are coupled with sub par production; as the intro is jacked from Vol. III, adding a bit of confusion off the bat.
The content fits right into the mold of your standard Re-Up endeavors with their dramatic tales of hustling, sex, money and jewelry. This is most evident on Million Dollar Corner, Street Money and their first single Fast Life, which was produced by the piano man himself, Scott Storch.
On Fast Life you can hear Pusha and Malice flaunting flashy images: I can show you what my paper like / Money first, fast cars, out come the chicks / Off they panties and bras / Come on / I said, Come on. For those searching for lyrical content outside of the white powder sales, the closest you may get to it is heard on the introspective Been Thru So Much and Emotionless, where the gang gives the audience a deeper look into their lives.
Removed from their proven strategy of utilizing the pick of the litter instrumentals, the production on the disc is rather hit or miss. Tracks like Money and the hypnotizing organs on Been Thru So Much, are sure to catch the listeners ears. On the flipside the beats found on Street Money, Show You How To Hustle and We Know fall short and sound like they came right off a novices newly purchased Fruity Loops program.
Overall The Clipse Presents: The Re-Up Gang doesnt hit as hard as fans would expect. The lyrical abilities didnt go anywhere, but the never ending cocaine lifestyle tires out rather quickly over the very much uninspired production. Theres a big difference from selling bricks and bricking in sales.
Re-Up Gang
“Fast Life”
Re-Up Gang
“Money”
Isaac Hayes: Sampling Soul Brother #1
Isaac Hayes was a musical genius. Chances are if you check the credits you will find your favorite artist has rhymed over a Hayes assisted beat creation at one point or another. So selecting a small portion of Black Moses extensive catalogue thats been sampled by Hip-Hop artists and labeling it best is a fools errand. No matter, here are eight of our favorites along with some words from Scarface and Chuck D speaking on the late musicians genius. Heaven just got a lot more soulful. RIP.Theme From Shaft from Shaft Soundtrack (Stax, 1971)Doesnt matter how many people sampled it when or how well, Theme from Shaft is a masterpiece well enough left alone. The crispy instrumentation, that absolutely sick wah wah guitar, the Can you dig it?; this was the original playas anthem. Yeah, it won Hayes an Oscar in 1971, but Black Moses’ lore was already legend without the approval of any academy.
Do Your Thing from Shaft Soundtrack (Enterprise/Stax, 1971)
Do Your Thing – Isaac HayesBack in 88 the debate was Kane or The R (no disrespect to Kool G. Rap). The Mary Jane Girls didn’t get all the sample clearance shine as the regal horns heard on Isaac Hayes Do Your Thing (another gem from the Shaft Soundtrack) got melded by Marley Marl into the backdrop for Kanes party friendly by lyrically ferocious to the core mic persona.
Big Daddy Kane “Smooth Operator”
Walk On By from Hot Buttered Soul (Enterprise/Stax, 1969)
Walk On By – Isaac HayesThe Bar-Kays were Hayes rhythm section and they go absolutely buckwild on the latter portion of this 12 minute long opus. This is a groove that moves. It has been used by a multitude of artists (MF Doom, Pete Rock, Tupac, et. al) but The Notorious B.I.G. did it much justice, no easy feat. Wu-Tang Clan also got busy to it on Cant Go to Sleep, enlisting Hayes himself on the song. The original was also featured prominently in the film Dead Presidents.
Notorious B.I.G. Warning
Wu-Tang Clan f/ Isaac Hayes Cant Go to Sleep
“Hyperbolicsyllabicseequedalymystic” from Hot Buttered Soul (Enterprise/Stax, 1969)From the same landmark, only four track long album Walk On By appears on (note to would be artists; sometimes less is a lot more) the Bomb Squad seriously dug in the crates because those eerie pianos they lifted for Public Enemies “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaso” don’t appear until deep into this winding song.
Public Enemy Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos
“Isaac Hayes was my music godfather. We had a great relationship and he mentored me as he did others about the business and life itself. Before I had even met him Black Moses symbolically exuded a Black Pride Movement, as Mr James Brown did with Black Soul Power. I traveled to Ghana Africa for the first time in 1992 witnessing him being [made] a Chief. I picked his brain often as a songwriting god, and guide while over there. We as Public Enemy opened up for him in Africa and marveled at his talents.
He co-produced the song But Can You Kill The N##### In You on my solo MISTACHUCK project in 1996, as I gladly had the pleasure of rapping on his BRANDED album a year later or so. He surprised me often, appearing to present me with awards, rather than me the other way around. Whenever he called I tried to be there at his and other STAX events. I won’t forget when he and David Porter pulled me to the side during a STAX Memphis Reunion and both said that I was an official ‘SOUL MAN’ …for me nothing else could be better. R.I.P. Godfather. R.I.P. Black Moses.'” -Chuck D
A Few More Kisses to Go from Dont Let Go (Polydor, 1979)E-Sermon basically jacked this loop wholesale for Redmans classic Tonights Da Night. No need to tamper with it too much as Reggie Noble has a blast over those mystifying strings and bright horns.
Redman Tonights Da Night
Hung Up On My Baby from Tough Guys (Enterprise/Stax, 1974)
Hung Up On My Baby – Isaac HayesScarface took this groove and freaked it for the Geto Boys Mind Playing Tricks on Me. The album it comes from is a soundtrack cut from a little know film called Tough Guys. Check Face’s insight below…
Geto Boys Mind Playing Tricks on Me
I knew Isaac Hayes personally. I actually got a chance to go in the studio with Isaac Hayes. He dont read music, he just play what he feel. That man had a hell of a vibe man. That song I remade, the My Minds Playing Tricks On Me, thats a song called Hung Up on My Baby. I sampled it, I thought it was a hell of a groove. That was originally my solo song. I wrote three verses, then Bill took my last verse and Willie D wrote his verse to it. I can believe this s**t dude. I did that beat. I been f**king with Isaac Hayes forever Black Moses. I grew up in a music household so thats all we had. Man to lose Isaac Hayes Donny Hathaway, Isaac Hayes, Luther Vandross, we had some badass musicians, Jimi Hendrix I think that music is just as dead as Hip-Hop is, period. When Isaac Hayes, and the Commodores and Marvin Gaye, when they was doing they s**t, that was music man. We just fiddling around with this s**t now. When I see that phrase, Save the Music, I take this s**t real personal man. To lose Isaac Hayes that threw me for a f**king loop. -ScarfaceThe Look Of Love from To Be Continued (Enterprise/Stax, 1970)
The Look Of Love – Isaac HayesThis tune is Hayes cover of another Burt Bacharach tune. Who? Find out. He wrote Walk On By too. Jigga used this melancholy rhythm, sampled here by one Irv Gotti, to caress his bars on Can I Live off of his Reasonable Doubt debut.
Bumpys Lament from Shaft Soundtrack (Stax, 1971)
Bumpys Lament – Isaac HayesOkay, last one from the Shaft Soundtrack, I swear. But it really is just that good. Back when rappers made good songs for soundtracks, Mobb Deep dropped “Back at You” which was from the Sunset Park soundtrack. The Q-Boro brethren cranked up these supple chords from Bumpys Lament to drop some of their dun language all over it.
Mobb Deep Back At You
Hip-Hip Rumors: Did Somebody Attack Somebody? Lil’ Wayne’s Kid Gets Rumors! MF Doom Pulls A Fake-Me-Out?
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 RUMORS
I aint even gonna lie. My weekend was very sucky and I didnt
do anything. In case you have been under a very large rock, Bernie Mac and
Isaac Hayes died over the weekend Saturday and Sunday. Messed up, man. If you
know my history, you know that Im not the type that deals well with death. So on
that note, my weekend was bad and I didnt even do a lot by way of rumors. Most
of it was reminiscing on the ones we lost. I hope that people will stop talking
how death travels in 3s and another well known actor is next. Id hate to see
that happen so I am not even going to put that sort of energy out there. With
that said, her are some rumors.
OZONE TO WAR ZONE?
I know thats a serious exaggeration to the Ozone Awards,
especially when the actual awards are tonight. (Shout out to Ozone and Julia – all love) There is a real serious rumor
that DJ Vlad, the popular spin doctor, was attacked by somebody down with Rick
Ross. Now, I am not sure of all the details, but I did hear that there was an artist
panel the TJs DJs Convention, which is a part of the weekend. Rick Ross was
on that panel. Well, Ross departs the panel early. From what I heard, DJ Vlad
bounced to do an interview, which is something that he does on a regular. Vlad
is very deep in the game and gets interviews with a lot of people. Well, I dont
know exactly what happened, but I heard that there may have been an interview
question that had something to do with something that somebody doesnt talk
about. Now, that something allegedly resulted in somebody doing something
violent to somebody. I heard there was blood and many, many people as
witnesses. Furthermore, I heard this was on camera and video tape. So, whatever
happened, it sure to be seen again in some capacity. I didnt see anything
though. Im blind.
LIL WAYNES
DAUGHTER?
Last night there were so many rumors about Lil Waynes daughter, I was
totally fearful. The rumor was Lil Waynes
daughter was killed or tragically hurt in a horrible car accident. I am pleased
to say that as far as I know this is completely false. If something did
happen, I would be very surprised. Rumor has it Lil Wayne is up for like eight Ozone Awards.
Rumor has it, Wayne
is going to be there, but might want some extreme needs like a private jet just
to show up. I think he should do it regardless since thats his fan base like a
MF. Time magazine isnt buying The Drought.
HATE HIM NOW, BUT HE WONT STOP NOW
Timbaland is about to be upset. I am getting word that Kanye
is going to be all of Jay-Zs new album, Blueprint 3. WHAT? Timbaland was vying
for it, but it looks like the Chi-town prince is taking that honor. DJ Mick
Boogie seems to know something about this. Rumor has it, the song Jockin
Jay-Z is about to come out and there will be another verse added to it. I hear
there is another song called Victory and that song is really ill to. People
are mad, but Jay is so consistent. This year is looking good. I wonder when the
album is coming out?
WTF, MAN? I DIDNT PAY FOR THIS S**T!
If you follow these rumors, then you know that I have BEEN
telling the world that MF Doom has used imposters to cover for him. For those
of you that dont know, MF Doom is a popular underground rapper that fashions himself
after Dr. Doom. Well, Dr. Doom wears a metal mask and so does MF Doom, when he
is on stage. The only thing is, you cant see a rappers face when they don a
mask. But, Doom has hardcore fans and they are not fools. They know whats up.
MF Doom was supposed to play the Rock The Bells show in San Bernardino, CA. But what fans feel they
got was a fake! Check the video below and see a dude with a metal mask walk
around the stage trying to act like MF Doom. You would think he would at least
memorize the lyrics. Fans booed dude, cussed him out and threw stuff on stage.
Here is more of the angry crowd booing and throwing things
at the stage.
SPEAKING OF ROCK THE BELLS
Spelone hit me up and told me that the highlight of the
night was when Fat Lip from the Pharcyde stopped the show and said that that
there were a lot of rumors about him being responsible for breaking up the
Pharcyde and for smoking crack. Well, Fat Lip had something for that. I heard he
said, “I got one thing to say to that” and the instrumental for Bobby
Browns My Prerogative” started. He sang The whole song and danced to. Classic.
See it below.
Rumor has it, Africa Bambaataa was dope, but had some
complaints that he wasnt on the main stage. Since he is one of the pioneers of
Hip-Hop, he said he should be on the big stage.
PEEDI CRAKK PERFORMS TAKES TIME TO DISS JAY-Z
Peedi Crakk had a performance somewhere in America and
killed it. But, I heard that it didnt go well all the time. I heard that liquor
got into some of the fans systems and people started fighting towards the end. Then, right at the end of the show, some
chicks got it in and started scrapping. Why? Apparently Peedi was feelin one girl over
another one. Why cant the ugly girl just take the L? Anyway, the cops came and
they blocked Peedi was locked in the club to avoid any problems. While he was
blocked in, he recorded this message:
I cant wait to see what hes got for Jay-Z.
R.I.P
Depending how I feel, I might have some new rumors for you.
I dont know. I will say that, while we lost Bernie Mac, we have a pair of
movies coming up. One is called Soul Men with Bernie Mac and Samuel
L. Jackson. There is also another movie called Old Dogs with John
Travolta and Robin Williams. (Click here for my dedication to Bernie Mac.)
As for Isaac Hayes, he has so much music that you can go for
years and enjoy his music. Stay tuned.
YESTERDAY, WE LOVE YOU!
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].– allhiphop rumors
Peep Game: Madden Cover Controversy! Return of The Curse? Head Coach a Must Have? Star Trek Online!
Madden. If there is a franchise that can grab
casual and hardcore, the sports enthusiast and the guy on the street, this
franchise can. As one of the best selling franchises worldwide, it has dominated
living room after living room and is now known as the summer classic that has
its own day contributed to it.
This week we are taking a look at some of the news
thats flowing around on the franchise, the cover controversy, and a glimpse at
some of the new items that may have slipped under your nose. In the Played
section, we go back in time to Madden 96, and weve got some good reasons why NFL Head Coach 09 should be on your radar for September.
Big News
Cover
Change Up?
In light of the recent acquisition of longtime
Packers quarterback Brett Favre to the NY Jets, many wondered what would become
of the title cover. The current cover has the former Packer QB in a Green Bay
uniform. EA Sports has stated that there will be no cover change before release
as the incident happened too close to the street date of the title. However,
those who wish to change the cover will have an opportunity via Online Download
according to Game Pro.
Speaking of
Favre
EA Sports has announced that there will be a
roster update to reflect the major moves made in the NFL in the last few weeks,
including names like Brett Favre, Jason Taylor, and Byron Leftwich. This
download will be available on launch day, so fans worry not about waiting to
see the new NFL.
Madden
Curse?
Its no secret that there is bad luck that
accompanies cover athletes for the Madden Franchise. For example, Donovan
McNabb and Michael Vick – both of their careers took a downward spiral. Brett Favre was currently retired when he was given the cover, perhaps showing a new direction with the cover athletes. Now its simply a watch and see, since he is now a starting quarterback once again. Will the curse return?
PSP Package
Many people love Madden, but only on home
consoles. EA looks to change that this year, by releasing the title on both PSP
and Nintendo DS as well as giving the PSP a special bundle that has the game, a
memory stick, In One Play, a UMD, and a coupon for Beats. The total price is $199.
Gameplay features
OffSpring Trailer
Star Trek
Online
Set your
phasers to play. Lame I know, but I had to do it because the long delayed
title Star Trek Online finally will see the light of day according to CNET. It will feature a create-a-character mode that will let you be any race you like, from Klingon to Human, create your own races, and will let you lead your own ship to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Extended
Life Battery Kit Axed
Sony has decided to give the axe to the Extended
Battery Life kit only after nine months. This unit had the ability to add 80%
to the original batterys life. No reason has been given, but some suspect that
the kit has the ability to let hackers retro mod. They will find their own
way.
NCAA Football 09 Patch Released
NCAA Football 09 would be the best college game of all time, if the glitches werent so apparent. EA has finally done something about it by releasing an update almost a month after release. Hopefully it will make the best game it
could be.
Played
Madden 96
Publisher: EA Sports
Release Date: January 1996
Whenever a game takes a series, and launches it
into the next level several years after its first game, it deserves to be
recognized. Madden NFL Football 96 is just that game. The inclusion of such game modes as the Create a Player mode (we all remember that 40-yard dash and the sore thumbs it could produce) as well as secret teams (Jacksonville being the now always available EA team) it just felt like the complete package.
It also marked the time where EA and Visual
Concepts (the creators of the 2K franchise) had a falling out. It was definitely a turning point in the creation of the Football game, because not but a few years later, the 2K series was released, and was the biggest competition to the Madden franchise since Tecmo Bowls popularity back in the early 90s.
Even with the split, this game is memorable as it
was the last premiere Madden release
on the SNES and Sega Genesis systems, before the franchise made the step into
3d. You can play this one and remember the good times that the lack of depth
perception could create. Besides, how can you go wrong with Pat Summerall.
Pre
Order
NFL Head Coach 09
Publisher: EA Sports
Platforms: Playstation 3 | Xbox 360
Release Date: September 2009
There are some things that are novel ideas that
just need complete follow through. One such idea is Head Coach 09. Its predecessor Head
Coach was interesting, and tried to cram the whole experience of being a
head coach into a single disc. The result was a game that featured some
highlights but more boredom and some obvious glitches.
EA decided to try it again with Head Coach 09, and has said that they have streamlined the process. Gone are the forced off-seasons and team meetings. In are its own intricacies, such as Free Agency and Coach and Player relationships. Seeing that is packaged with Madden and available as a stand-alone title, this one may be something worth checking out, especially for those wondering just how much work it is getting to gameday.
Programmers discuss the game:
Draft Day gameplay:
BREAKING NEWS: Isaac Hayes Dead
Soul music icon Isaac Hayes was found dead in his Memphis home early Sunday morning (August 10).
The pioneering R&B singer was found laying on the floor near a tread mill in his home.
Hayes, 65, was rushed to Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, where he was pronounced dead, around 2:00 am.
One of the main creative forces behind soul music in the 60s and 70s, Hayes made his name as an in-house producer and songwriter for Stax Records with formidable partner David Porter.
He became a recording artist and released the influential albums Hot Buttered Soul (1968) and Black Moses (1970).
The former featured the seminal “Walk On By,” which has been sampled by numerous artists including the Notorious BIG (“Warning”), Tupac (“Me Against the World”), Faith Evans (“No Other Love”), and Comptons Most Wanted (“Hood Took Me Under).”
One of the most popular Hip-Hop anthems, The Geto Boys’ 1991 classic single “Mind Playing Tricks On Me,” was powered by Hayes’ track “Hung Up On My Baby,” from his 1974 album, Tough Guys.
The loss hit Geto Boys’ founding member Scarface particularly hard.
“Wow, this is some cold news to get,” a shaken Scarface told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. “I knew Isaac Hayes personally, I actually got a chance to go into the studio with him.” Scarface continued, saying, “‘Mind Playing Tricks On Me was originally my solo song. I wrote three verses. I wrote my verse and then Bill took my last verse. Then Willie D. wrote his verse. I produced that song. I cant believe this s**t. I been f**king with Black Moses forever. I grew up in a music household. Thats all we jammed.”
Also a respected film composer, Hayes earned an Academy Award for his work on Shaft (1971), which stands today as his most accomplished and well-known work.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Isaac Hayes, a true historic world music figure. Isaac Hayes was the first African-American to win an Oscar for a music score but never lost sight of his commitment to his community and the betterment of mankind,” Reverend Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network, told AllHipHop.com. “He was more than an artist he was a trailblazer, He was an innovator. He was a creative genius. I shall never forget how in the height of his career he still had time to work and lend his celebrity to those of us much younger and at that time who were totally unknown. Even in his later years he never hesitated to appear for a cause or endorse something that he felt was for the good of mankind. He will be sorely missed.”
Rev. Sharpton will dedicate his radio program tonight to Isaac Hayes at 9:00p.m. on KISS 98.7 FM in New York, where Isaac Hayes was the morning DJ in the late 90’s.
As an actor, Hayes has appeared in over 20 films including Truck Turner (1974), Im Gonna G## You Sucka (1988), Posse (1993), and Hustle and Flow (2005).
An important figure in Hip-Hop due to sampling, his songs such “The Look of Love” have provided the musical foundation for Jay-Z (“Can I Live”), LL Cool J (“Hollis to Hollywood”), Mary J. Blige (“I Love You”) and many more.
“First condolences to Ike Dirty his son and his entire family,” Atlanta rapper Killer Mike told AllHipHop.com referring to Hayes son and producer Ike Dirty. “Thank God we were blessed with his music and his incredible work. He truly made Soul music bare to the bone. I’m a better artist because of my mama playing his music.”
In later years, he became known to a new generation of fans through the Comedy Central series South Park, where he voiced the role of the affable but raunchy Chef.
Hayes would leave the show in 2005 due to differences with the creators over their religious satire.
Hayes was scheduled to celebrate 50 years of Stax Records on Friday (August 15) at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia, where he headlined a bill that included performances by William Bell, Eddie Floyd, The Bar-Kays.
More information to follow as further details emerge.
Out of Bounds: Hello, Goodbye… Hello! The Favre Comeback Saga
Lets take a sec and think back. Were
gonna hop into my DeLorean, crank up the old Flux Capacitor, and go back to a time when a certain someone
retired from professional football. Ill do my best to give you all the
abridged version, but I would be remised if I left out any key points.
Thanks
for their up-to-date timelines of the Brett Favre/Green
Bay Packer saga:
1/20/08, Packers lose NFC Championship Game
Thanks
to an interception from Favre and a
47-yarad field goal by Lawrence
Tynes, the Green Bay Packers season
was over – and so was their dream of another trip to the Super Bowl.
3/06/08, Favre retires
Finally!!
No more guessing games. We can all move on peacefully with our lives and sleep
easier knowing that we wont have wonder if hes retiring. Hes done. Hell
never come back unless its for Old-Timers Day or when the Packers retire
his number. At least thats what we thought
at the time. Then again, we were wrong.
On the
other side of town, The Madden Cruiser had a dark, rainy cloud hovering over it as John Madden
sat in a corner with tears in his eyes. He opened a bottle of red wine, lit
some candles, listened to some Sade on his iPod and stared at a picture that reminded
him of happier times. Madden fell asleep with tears on his pillow and realized
that his bro-mance was no more.
The
Month of April
Rumors begin
to circulate of a comeback and Favre denies these rumors. Of course he would
deny the rumors. What evil mastermind do you know would reveal their plans to
the enemy? Thats like Cobra
Commander sending a member of the Crimson Guard to G.I. Joe Headquarters with their plans to steal the B.E.T. Go get G.I. Joe the Movie for reference
So
Favres Agent, Bus Cook, decides to play the role of Destro to Favres Cobra Commander, and got the ball rolling by contacting other teams
to inquire about trading for Favre. You always send the little man to do the dirty
work for the Kingpin.
There was the possibility that
Favre knew that the Packers were ready to move on without him and to make
things easy for everybody, he gets traded to another team. That way, he continues to play and the Packers can go
ahead with the Aaron Rogers era.
Then, during an interview, Favre says he might consider a comeback if the opportunity
was presented to him. I guess he was just keeping his options open. By now, its
evident Favre wants to come back.
6/20/08: Coach Mike McCarthy is told by Farve
that he may want to play again
According
to McCarthy, NFL.com
reported that Favre told him (McCarthy), You and Ted (Thompson) need to have a
plan if I do come back. Either give me my helmet or give me my release.
Hold up; you (Favre) just retired, the Packers have moved
on with you in preparation for the season, theyre one month away from training
camp, and you want to return to the team? Plus, you want to throw ultimatums
around about your return. You, as we say on the block, are buggin.
The
Months of July and August:
So much
went down in the month of July; I really dont have the time and patience to go
through it all. Thats why you have the
links to the timelines from ESPN.com and NFL.com. Between the text messaging,
the 10-year, $25 million contract offer and the reinstatement; everything went
from bad to worse.
In all
honesty, do we really need to see the timeline; this story has been following
us throughout the entire off season. Its now gotten to the point that we can
recite the entire saga like its a bedtime story.
To make
a long story short, once Favre was reinstated, he met with Coach McCarthy and
it was decided that it was in the best interest for both sides to divorce. A
day later, Favre was traded to the
Jets, Jets, Jets, and Green Bay gets a conditional Draft Pick that
gets higher in rounds depending on Favres performance. For now, New York is celebrating.
This
saga had more chapters than the Star Wars series – and finally, its done. We
can all move on peacefully with our lives and sleep easier knowing that Favre
has a team and the Packers will move on. Wait a minute; I said the same thing
about his retirement earlier, and look at how that turned out. Damn it!
Bottom
line is this: both sides were right and wrong in their stances. Favre should
have never retired if he felt he was going to have the urge to play again. He
could do whatever he wants, but just because he has that right; it doesnt mean its right.
I commend him for not taking the 10-year, $25 million contract offer. Had he taken that contract, he would have looked like a
sellout. Remember, throughout this
entire ordeal, Favre keep saying that all he wanted to do was just play football.
The
Packers made their bed with Aaron Rogers and were ready to lie in it. They know
this kid is no Favre, but theyre ready to move on and start fresh. They
stood by their guy and that should give Rogers
the confidence he needs to do well this season. Only time will tell if hes
ready for the big show.
At the
same time, the Packers should have been upfront with Favre from start and told
him that there was no room for return once he signed his papers for retirement.
Considering the fact that he has straddled the fence for the past few years
about his retirement, they could have added a clause that stated that if he did
want to return to the team or football in general as a player, he would have to
give some of his contract money back to the team.
That could
have kept him away. Then again, it may have not, considering all he wanted to
do is just play football.
SICK SUNDAYS:LL Goes Hard, Helter Skelter Returns, Luda & T.I. Make Up,Solange says F**K The Industry
It’s that time again my dudes (and dudettes) for another edition of Sick Sundays. After a wild week of high’s and lows, sit back, relax watch Creflo Dollar or Joel Osteen or blast music to wake up your old ass neighbors.
Paris Hilton blacked out on McCain this week in retaliation for that commercial. Not a fan of her royal “That’s hotness” but a thorough spazzing is a thorough spazzing out.
Milie Cyrus gets it in on Myspace with racy photos. Just goes to show you no matter how much dough you hold, kids will be kids. Hopefully they don’t get any steamier or Billy Rae may have an achy breaky heart.
This week we have Uncle L beasting out over “Dead Presidents”. Couple years old but still recent enough to be relevant. A message to the market place: If you want these old rappers off the stage then you have to be good enough to chase them off. That goes for Nas, Jay, LL, Snoop and whoever. Show discipline. Personally you can rap forever as long as you don’t suck. But as far as the spotlight? Young dudes need to s####### a pair and go in (Pause). And now, on with the show.
Freestyle (Dead Presidents beat) – LL Cool J
LL Cool L “Dead Presidents Freestyle”
This joint is from 2004 I believe from a K Slay mixtape, but it was so flames I had to bring it back. LL gives a history lesson about the 80s without romanticizing it and maybe hips you to a few things if you weren’t around that era to see it. Dope flow, then he freaks it with a few bars in Italian. “Never retire or put my mic on the shelf” Muy Muy Duro
Bert and Ernie Ante Up – stianhafstad
M.O.P “Ante Up” –Warriorz
Off the very slept on, high-quality action-packed album, the Mash Out Posse bring the drama to all soft cats. If you owe Billy Danze, then you should prolly pay him. A bit less flash than the Busta/Remi helmed remix, this is pure Brownsville Bodega Ham & Cheese Sandwhich and Olde English powered. Bert and Ernie approve this message. Shout to Hot Rod for this one.
Freeway “It’s Over”
Freeway has been tearing through the underground like he got coke in the trunk and cops in the rearview. This particular joint is from his tragically slept on last release. Hardcore narrative in the relentless Freeway style that tells the story of where he’s been since that near classic first album. Do yourselves a favor and get some freeway in your lives.
Ludacris Feat. T.I. “I Wish You Would”
You ever spent the whole year at school trying to chase down the baddest girl in school? You finally get her and it wasn’t as good as you dreamt it woud be? That’s the problem with some of these recent pairings of Emcees. While dope, “Black Republican” was probably 5-10 years too late to REALLY be what it could have been.
In the same vein, this song while dope is kinda underwhelming. Ludacris drops a very weak punchline flow that’s a typical a/b punchline setup thats beneath his skill level as an artist. He also lifts a direct line from Redman. I’ll let you see if you can find that particular joint. T.I. doesn’t have anything memorable here either. It’s not wack, not mailed in, but for the caliber of these two, it’s meh.
Touch & Go (Radio) – Joe Budden
Joe Budden “Touch & Go”
Budden returns to the game with another driving kinda party joint which sounds stylistically like the Jigga Man. The cadence is all Joey’s but listen to that second verse and tell me it’s not “Excuse Me Miss” part 3. The Roger Federer line was bananas though. This is a solid song, but if you’re trying to start a fire back with your career, this aint gonna be the one to do it with. Another Jumpoff club song. We need more heat.
Everything is Heltah Skeltah – Heltah Skeltah
Helter Skelter ” Everything is Helter Skelter”
Piano-driven darkness powers the return of the Ruck and the Rock. Sean P sounds alive on this one with ill lines and high energy, while the enigmatic Rockness Monster brings that electricity with punchlines a dope flow and that BK hardcore. They sound as fresh as ever and this song can certainly compete in the current marketplace, unlike many recent forays by 90’s artists trying to still get it in. Fire.
Large – Young Chris f. WaleYoung Chris feat. Wale “Large”
Young Chris has a problem. The style he originated has been taken and blown up by Jay-z to such a level that now being himself he sounds like Jay lite. It’s a shame because he’s young hungry and inventive and can’t even get credit for his own flavor. This is a solid song but if you didn’t see the title and the info you’d swear it was Jay Wale comes through for a good change of pace. Dope flow and pace. I prefer to hear him over Hip-Hop drums than the go-go stuff, but what do I know, I’m an old guy. Cool mixtape fodder and all in all, a good song. Thumbs up.
Pitbull “American War”
Paris, Immortal Tech, and Banner ain’t the only political rappers. In this video Pitbull takes on GWB and the Iraq War alluding to The Gulf War and other parallels. See for yourself, no mistaking what this is about.
Alternative Break
F*@k The Industry (signed Sincerly) – Solange
Solange “F**k The Industry”
Solange has a hard road to follow. You’re good-looking but you ain’t Beyonce. You’re talented but you ain’t Beyonce’. To her credit she doesn’t try to be Beyonce and this track gives you an idea of just how much she isn’t. Fairly aggressive for a song coming from the Knowles family, Solange expounds on the evils of the industry and the politics and bulls**t that go with it. I’m feeling this one.
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BONUS COVERAGE!
JD Era, one of th ehungriest emcees up top just dropped a mixtape “Coming To America”. I think it speaks for itself. Let it fly or let it die, you be the judge.Till next time my people…peaaaaaaaaaace.
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DOUBLE OT!!
We lost Mac, but I’m gonna take a lil bit to hip you young dudes to one of the greatest who died before many of you were alive. The inimitable Robin Harris. Enjoy your Sunday.
Sunday Selection: New Kids on the Block “Single” feat. Ne-Yo
Back in the late 80s I will admit it…I was a New Kids on The Block fan. So were millions of other people all over the world! And Im sure the shock factor was about the same for everyone when they announced a reunion earlier this year. Initially, my first reaction was why? What do these guys actually think they have to contribute to the Pop culture in 2008? All I have to say is expect the unexpected.Their first single Summertime was hot. Hot in its own unique way. The timing of the song was great and when I saw the video, I must say the guys looked good. Much better than I expected! I was actually impressed. I always liked Donnie Wahlberg, he has always been my favorite and seeing him in the boy band capacity at 40 years old, I got excited all over again. But, ok ok enough about my secret crush on Donnie!It looks like in 2008, NKOTB has a lot of respect from some of todays hottest names in Hip-Hop and R&B. R&B sensation Ne-Yo has hopped on their new joint Single and just like Summertime its a decent track. The song is about single ladies in the club and how the fellas will be their boyfriend for the moment, at least until the song goes off. Produced by Polow Da Don, I must say I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Single. Sometimes you gotta give credit where credit is due. And it looks like Ne-Yo and Polow did just that. Those of you who are 25 and up, you remember the hoopla that surrounded NKOTB over 20 years ago. They were the ultimate Boy Band and set the stage for a lot of the groups you see today. All over again, Jordan, Jonathan, Joey, Donnie and Danny are The New Kids on The Block and Id like to say in 2008, theyre Hangin Tough! HAHA!Until next week, yall enjoy this weeks Sunday Selection Single