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Gucci Mane Speaks Out Against His Own ‘Trap-A-Thon’ LP

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

Rapper Gucci Mane is speaking out against a new album Trap-A-Thon, which he claims is an unauthorized album, recorded before he left Big Cat Records.

 

According to Gucci, the Trap-A-Thon CD/DVD release consists of old material and footage, and should not be confused with his upcoming album Back To The Trap House album, which is due in stores in November.

 

“It has come to my attention that my former record label, Big Cat, is trying to put out an unauthorized release of my music,” Gucci Mane said in a statement. “Not only was this done with out my approval, but the music they are trying to release is unfinished and does not represent who I am today as an artist.”

 

Gucci Mane, born Radric Davis, revealed that Back To The Trap House will feature collaborations with Rich Boy, Pimp C and former DTP member Shawnna, who recently signed with the label Gucci owns, So Icey.

 

“I ask my fans not to support this release and instead wait for the official Gucci Mane, Back To The Trap House album coming out on my label So Icey Entertainment/Czar/ Asylum/Atlantic Records on November 13th, and if anyone needs to book me for a show or get in contact with me they should only call the So Icey offices.”

Hip-Hop Rumors: Jay Warns LL? Cassidy & Gillie Make Peace? Diddy Battles Mariah?

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

JAY-Z WARNS LL COOL J

I’m really not trying to jack this quote, but I really don’t know where it originated. At any rate, LL and Jay have moved one step closer to a battled that would be the biggest thing since Jay-Z and Nas. So, here is the statement that Jay-Z released:

“I’ll be honest if I wanted to go there, I just really go all the way out there. But I got respect [LL Cool J] did a lot of things. I don’t like the way he’s carrying it cause we coulda definitely talked about this. Or he coulda gave me a phone call… but I respect him as a legend in the game and he’s gonna get a couple passes because of that.”

I don’t like to see the brothers go at it, but if they are, this would be one to see. Sounds like LL has a couple more “passes” and then Jigga man is going to make a move.

BEANIE IS B.I.G.

When Beanie Sigel first came out years ago, I thought he would be the perfect heir to the Biggie throne. Now, I am hearing that the Philly rapper is taking my vision one step further. He is trying to get a role in the Notorious B.I.G. movie! Guess what I heard? I heard that Sigel is trying to play none other than the Notorious one. I don’t know if that’s likely to get greenlit, but it’s a nice gesture from the Broad Street Bully. In preparation, I heard Sig actually worked on the mannerisms, dress and physical characterstics of Biggie. On top of that, I heard his new album The Solution is hitting the streets this December.

OH NO! KAY SLAY’S NEW BEEF!

I don’t know what the deal is, but Kay Slay is about to go all out, from what I am hearing. I heard that he has had some sort of a falling out with Dr. Dre, the master of beats. Now, I cannot really say exactly what the issue is, but it somehow relates to Papoose! Shocker! More on this later, but im sure it is sure to break someplace more important that me! 😉

TIMBALAND WANTS TO “BATTLE” DR. DRE?

This has to be the silliest thing I have every heard. Tim and Dre were just riding on Jermaine Dupri a couple years ago (PAUSE) and now he wants to battle his “daddy.” First of all, if we get Detox, the anticipation is going to make that go platinum the first week, its just going to be crazy. Here is Tim’s crazy quote.

Tim told MTV.com: “I gotta go against my daddy,” he said Friday from the ABC studios in New York, where the super-producer is filming a guest spot for the soap opera “One Life to Live.” “I call [Dr.] Dre my daddy. To make it be some talk, I gotta go against my big brother. He’s my big brother. [Who are] the two quarterbacks? Peyton Manning and Eli? When they have to go against each other, it’s like, ‘Do I really wanna go against my big brother?’ Dre is my mentor. That would drive people to the stores. Like, ‘Oh snap, Tim and Dre!’ That would be big. I asked Jay-Z who he would go against. He said, ‘The only person I would go against is my other homeboy: my friend Eminem.’ “

Oh, the same applies to Eminem/Jay-Z to a lesser degree.

DIDDY IN HEATED BATTLE!

Battles are usually reserved for rapper to rapper, but Diddy never played by the rules. He has issued a challenge to the most unlikely candidates in his ongoing promotion of Unforgivable Women’s perfume. Here it is:

Diddy told AllHipHop.com, “I put out a challenge to all of my female counterparts. I’m putting a challenge all the way out there. I got a video message I’m sending out to them too; to Jennifer [Lopez], to Gwen [Stefani], Sarah Jessica Parker that my fragrance is better than theirs. It is what it is.”

Mariah Carey has reportedly responded with the sonnery of the month with this comment in regards to Diddy’s challenge.

“I heard about this competition, and I wish Puff all the best with his new fragrance, but I think we’re actually appealing to different types of women. M by Mariah Carey is about being unforgettable, not unforgivable. It’s not about a ménage à trois or a one night stand, it’s for the woman who wants the man to fall in love with her immediately, stay in love, and treat her like royalty.”

Illseed thinks, “Jean Grae, Lady of Rage and Remy Ma need to do some perfume so we can make the battle fair.”

Here is the video ad of the challenge:

GILLIE AND CASSIDY – BEEF OVER?

Mike from South Philly hit me up and let me know the science on the Cassidy and Gillie situation. Now, you may or may not know, but this two have been beefing lightly, but its mostly been on the internet as far as I can see. Cassidy was on 100.3 the Beat in Philly yesterday on the Kobey Kobe show. The station was trying to resolve the beef between the two titans of Brotherly Love. They were trying to get Gillie da Kid on while Cassidy was there, but he called in too late. From what I heard, they appeared last night to make that happen. They are suppose to be on the show tonight together to squash it. So I’ll try and hit you up so let you know how it goes. Philly has a lot of murders already this year and a peace treaty between these two would represent a lot.

GUCCI MANE IS TOO REAL!

All of a sudden, I am a Gucci Mane fan and the guy disowns his own CD, Trap-A-Thon! I guess Gucci Man is trying to be Gucci CEO.

“It has come to my attention that my former record label, Big Cat, is trying to put out an unauthorized release of my music. Not only was this done with out my approval, but the music they are trying to release is unfinished and does not represent who I am today as an artist. I ask my fans not to support this release and instead wait for the official GucciMane, Back To The Traphouse album coming out on my label So Icey Entertainment/Czar/ Asylum/Atlantic Records on November 13th, and if anyone needs to book me for a show or get in contact with me they should only call the So Icey offices.”

I get it…let me call Icey!

J.HOLIDAY DATING JESSICA WHITE

I see J. Holiday and camp have realized the way to get it popping! You have to have some sort of high-profile romance. It has to be fun, especially when you scoop up the ex of an even bigger star. Holiday has been linked to Jessica White, the model chick. Jessica White is hot and what’s funny is she used to date John Legend – allegedly. Way to go J. Holiday!

MICHAEL JACKSON MARRIED AGAIN?

You know, nobody gets it like the nanny. I am hearing MiJac has married his children’s nanny. Now, rumor has it the King of Pop went ahead and did the deed in Las Vegas. How they did this without somebody catching a vid or something is beyond me. 40-year-old Grace Rwaramba is the rumored new “Billie Jean.” They say that she stayed by Mr. Jackson’s side through all of the drama and child molestation accusations. Hopefully, three’s the charm for MiJac! Oh, his people are saying that its not true. 😉

KHALED RUMOR FALSE?

There’s always reasonable doubt when it comes to any rumor. So, click here for the latest on the DJ Khaled crap rumor. See below (I didn’t edit it).

I strongly believe that the Dj Kahld rumor is False. I was in Diamonds that night and from what i saw there was no alterations that night accept for two females fighting outside when the club was letting out. Now i was not standing next to Khlad, he & Fat Joe were standing towards the front of the club right in front of the stage. I was more in the back of the club in front of the barbershop next to Udonis Haslem, and Antoine Walker. Now Diamonds security guards don’t play, matter fact they don’t have security guards they have off duty police officers. If somebody was to slap Khald or chin check him (as we say down here). There sure as hell would be some commotion. and that night there was none.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH RAEKWON’S ALBUM!?

I know Rae said, we’d get it when we’ll get it, but this is starting to frustrate me. 1) There are so many albums in waiting (Joe Budden, Dr. Dre, etc, etc) 2) The rumors are now saying that the album is finished! The only thing is I hear that Rae never actually signed to Aftermath and now Dre’s main priority is now Detox. I’m not sure what the devil is going on, but I just want to get my Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2.

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

Yo, maybe I had too much Cap’n Crunch yesterday, but Murder Mook is alive and so is Young Miles.

Miss Jones and the crew are mad funny. Here, they interview Usher, but he manages to keep his coolio.

The blogs have analyzed the Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa and they have concluded that Pep had a bit of a nose job.

You know the word spreads fast that that Jay-Z album cover is probably a fake. It was a great fake though!

Free going to the Roc? Duh, that’s a rumor that went into hibernation for about four years and decided to wake up yesterday. Time to go back to sleep.

Actress Vivica A. Fox has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor D.U.I. I’m telling you, she is going to get that GM contract back in no time!

RZA SAYS CHECKMATE!

I got this from Jigsaw, who got this from Adisa Banjoko. So, for the people that didn’t get the message from AHH Week 2007, here is another facet of Hip-Hop you should know about. Hip-Hop Chess. They get it in on the rap tip and RZA kicks a freestyle were he raps about slapping the teacher that miseducated Lauryn. I feel you, RZA!

CAMP-LO-AH

I think that the rap game has done a disservice to the brothers of Camp Lo. Check out this new freestyle.

ILLSEED’S GOOD & BAD NEWS

First the good news. Mychael Bell, 17, was released from jail today to a bevy of supporters after serving over 10 months inside the belly of the beast. Bell posted Mychal Bell $45,000 in bail. This is a great stride forward considering all the protesting that was needed to get this far. Still, Bell faces juvenile charges since the State appears to have a vendetta.

Shout out to David Bowie for giving $10,000 to the legal defense of the Jena 6.

This is the bad news. This is terrible news, but Nailah Franklin has been found dead in a forest. I really thought that the authorities would find her safe and sound. I was wrong. There is still a sliver of hope, because the cops haven’t verified yet. Here is the article.

OLIVIA IS BACK!

Hey, I know there was certain business behind Olivia getting dropped, but I personally think that 50 Cent did her wrong. I guess my 2 cents don’t mean anything. Check out her new video!

TOMORROW, WE LOVE YOU!

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

-illseed

WHO: illseed

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

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

– allhiphop rumors

To Deejay or Not: Tutorial Part III

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

In

Parts I and II we discussed some Deejaying skills and we shared some

great advice to assist in taking your skills from the club / streets to

the radio. In Part III we’ll discuss the Pros and Cons of MP3s and

making the transition from DJ to producer. 6. The emergence of MP3s – These days, MP3s are

what drives the industry, and it’s a lot easier and quicker to receive

music and keep it organized. However, if you’ve never had the

experience of playing vinyl on turntables, you really missed out. I’m

not gonna lie, transporting heavy crates of records all over the place

can be a major nuisance, but there’s no substitute for the experience

of going out to the 12″ store  and buying your brand new vinyl. It was always

exciting incorporating the new records into the existing collection and

then hauling them with my turntables, amps, and speakers to a party. My partner  Turntable Chuck (who spun with me at WPGC and at several

clubs, and parties) and I would roll up to the radio station and the clubs or

parties with about 9 or 10 crates of music. Today the new wave of

mixing with MP3s is a lot more efficient but, to be honest, there’s

nothing like the feeling of looking at the club atmosphere and feeling

the crowd’s mood then searching through the crates and suddenly

improvising by physically pulling that next vinyl record, throwing it

on the turntable, and driving the crowd into a frenzy. We used to have

records all over the DJ booth at the end of the party but the whole

vinyl experience was, and still is “Priceless.” The Pros and Cons of using MP3s:Pros:a. You have the ability to get your music instantly – No waiting for those UPS or Fed Ex packages.

Also, vinyl takes weeks to be pressed-up whereas with MP3s, you can

play the song as soon as you receive it. b. They are easier to transport – No heavy cratesc. You can access the music quicker – Pull up requests in a click of the moused. You can better organize the music – Folders of different play lists and genres

Cons:a. A computer crash or interruption can be disastrous- I’ve

heard horror stories about laptops crashing and people losing tons of

music. If your computer crashes at a party you’re done, unless you have

a back-up…. (Always have some CDs or vinyl just in case) If it gets

turned off or unplugged, you have to sit there and wait for it to

reboot. What if a drink is spills on the laptop, then what ? b. Using MP3s diminishes true Deejaying skills – There’s

nothing like searching through the crates, improvising to find the next

12″ to throw on.c. They offer no collector’s items – having a

piece of vinyl is like having a work of art, MP3’s don’t have a

physical 12 inch jacket with artwork credits and information about the record. 7. DJ to Producer, Making the Transition:

Although it’s easier for a DJ to make this conversion, it’s still not

as easy as it may seem. DJs generally have a great ear for hot songs

and we know what records pack the dance floor, but creating those songs

is a totally different process. There are so many aspects to producing

like: using the right equipment, finding the right sounds, sampling,

re-creating, EQing, mixing, mastering etc. It really takes time and

practice to sharpen your skills to compete on a professional level. Being a DJ has it’s advantages in the production game. One

advantage that the DJ has is constantly being in a party environment

and witnessing first hand what the masses are feeling. Another plus is

the mass access to new music and instrumentals for dissecting and

analyzing. Also, DJs have better access to artists and label personnel.

The regional promotion rep will generally reach out to radio DJs, club

DJs, and record pools for feedback. If you have some hot beats that you

think will fit one of their artists, send them. (Be careful with

sending sample heavy tracks to a bunch of people because those ideas

are easy to duplicate) The rep is generally with the artist during the

promo tour so if they like your beats, they’ll more than likely have

the artist or management give them a listen. Networking, constant

grindin’ and quality product will lead to opportunities, you just have

to make the best of them. Another way to bring some attention to your tracks is by putting

popular acapellas over them. Put your own mix together and try it out

at the club. If the people are feeling it, let the label know, send

them the MP3, and get their opinions about it. If it’s really hot they might use your

version for an official remix. Maybe they’ll like the track and express

interest in using it for another song, or they might ask you to send

some other tracks they can check out. The key is to get their attention and MAKE THEM LISTEN !!!!!! This

concludes Part III of the DJ tutorial. We’ll be droppin’ more knowledge

and DJ interviews in weeks to come. Also, for info on my forthcoming

book, classic clips from our radio show as well as updates check out: http://www.myspace.com/TheKofKOCheck out this knowledge from DJ Toomp

The Last Word: James Brown’s Estate Gets Robbed, Usher Has a New Scent, and Mary J. Blige Is Back!

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

What’s up everyone? The end of another week that saw your favorite TV shows come back with new episodes, protests concerning Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the US, and Isaiah Thomas battling sexual harassment charges in court. Shout out to Jena Six member Mychal Bell, who was finally released Thursday (Sept. 27) on $45,000 bail, and the US Women’s National Soccer team, who are still winners despite losing to Brazil at this year’s World Cup semi-finals. With a 51-straight game unbeaten streak, they still get my vote as the best team you’ve never heard of. Congratulations to Salma Hayek, who gave birth to a baby girl and Chaka Khan and BeBe Winans, who will join the Broadway cast of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple on Jan. 9. And to the sounding boards…thanks for the feedback. So here we go…the Last Word for the week ending Sept. 28, 2007.  1. Wesley Snipes Appeals $1.7 Million JudgmentWhile he may be on the IRS’ list of most wanted non taxpayers, Wesley Snipes is putting his energy towards another legal battle, as he appeals a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge’s recent order to pay $1.7 million in fees to United Talent Agency (UTA). UTA is the company responsible for helping Snipes secure roles in Blade 3,” “Chaos,” “Middle Man” and “The Shooter.” According to reports, representatives for Snipes said the default judgment was entered without the 45-year-old actor’s knowledge “as UTA did not provide legal notice to Mr. Snipes or his known legal representatives.” “Mr. Snipes intends to vigorously contest this matter on its merits once the improperly taken default judgment is set aside,” a spokesman said. “Mr. Snipes has and will continue to honor valid contractual responsibilities. Consistent with that commitment, Mr. Snipes had been in discussions with UTA about the underlying dispute and was shocked to learn that UTA abruptly abandoned discussions and chose to take legal action.”Let’s hope that Wesley can get this worked out and regain his status on the big screen. After all, Nino, CMB is all we got! Are we our brother’s keeper? 2. A Little Swagger Advice from Fonzworth Bentley To all the sagging trendsetters out there, Fonzworth Bentley has a few words of encouragement. “Brothers, pick up your pants! No one, and I mean no one, wants to look at your butt,” the former Diddy assistant says in his new book, Advance Your Swagger. “It’s not cool, and it can’t be comfortable…that’s why the belt was invented, man.” With his thing for umbrellas and stylish clothes, I guess Bentley could know a thing or two about swagger. After all, the man seemingly takes credit for helping Diddy get over his sagging phase and become “a role model for the entire Hip-Hop community.”  So what do you think? Does a sagging wardrobe make the man, or does it justify a more fitted makeover?  3. Gloria Estefan Goes on the Denzel Diet It’s a known fact that women love Denzel Washington. Whether he’s channeling the spirit of Malcolm X for Spike Lee or collecting an Oscar after proclaiming that “King Kong ain’t got s**t on me!” Washington gets a reaction from the ladies.  Especially Gloria Estefan, who shed a few pounds after discovering that Denzel was staying near her Miami home on Star Island. “I almost lost ten pounds in a day because Denzel was staying on our island and I was running and jogging, waiting for him to come out… I just missed him,” the singer told WENN. Although acting pays the bills, Denzel may want to consider adding a side hustle as a weight loss motivator. All he would have to do is call or stop by and the pounds will fall off. If nothing else, he could inspire a surge of females at the gym.  4. James Brown Trustee Robs Singer’s Estate Is it hard to rest in peace after living a long life? Apparently so if you’re James Brown. Months after finally being buried, drama continues to invade the afterlife of the Godfather of Soul, as a former trustee is under the microscope for misappropriating $7 million of the singer’s money.  The discovery was made after special administrators to the estate informed a Judge Monday (Sept. 24) of the trustee’s misappropriation. As a result, state circuit Judge Jack Early ordered David Cannon, the ex-trustee to pay $370,000 back to the estate, on top of $350,000 he repaid last month.The Associated Press reports that Early gave Cannon 10 days to repay the additional $370,000 and 20 days to pay $30,000 for attorney fees and to produce other documents.  Louis Levenson, an attorney for several of Brown’s adult children and grandchildren, mentioned that other trustees for the Brown estate also mishandled late singer’s money, and that his clients are trying to remove all three trustees and have special administrators appointed to handle the estate.In the meantime, James is rolling over and doing splits in his grave from not being able to pimp slap the people who are supposed to be handling his business.   5. Usher Works on New Album, Debuts New Fragrance LineIt’s been a busy week for Usher. Not only did he confirm that he and his wife Tameka Foster are expected a baby boy, but the singer also took time out to launch two new fragrances, Usher: He and Usher: She.”I wanted to do something for my female fans as well as my male fans,” Usher told MTV. “I want to leave everybody feeling right. I wanted to shut it all the way down. I felt the only way to get acclimated into this business is to take into account there are two directions you can go into: male or female. As for the new bundle of joy, the crooner revealed to People magazine that he would like for the child to “fully be coherent and to be healthy, first and foremost. I’ve found that it is a step-by-step process. You can wish for a million and one things. But I hope that my son has the same energy I had as a child. Hopefully, he won’t be as bad as me. I hope that he’s just a healthy son.” And if all that wasn’t enough for Usher, there’s still that album he’s working on. “I’m not doing the Dr. Dre to y’all. I’m not doing the Detox,” said the singer, who referenced Dr. Dre’s highly anticipated album. “I’m on my way. I’m actually just about finished. I’ve been working on it all this year amongst all the other things I’ve been doing. It’s been a somewhat tumultuous year for me. But you go through something to get to something. I’m a married man with a baby on the way, you gotta love that. That’s the next major step. A lot of what I plan to offer with this album is kinda standing in this spot. The king’s back; I ain’t gonna say ‘back,’ I never left.” Ooookaaay. Whatever you say Ursh. But you’re going to have to step it up a notch since Justin Timberlake has filled in for you. Just saying.  6. UNCF Honors Smokey RobinsonVeteran singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson became the newest recipient of the United Negro College Fund’s award of excellence on Sept. 22, during the organization’s 29th annual “Evening of Stars” concert at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The Associated Press reports that the 67-year-old entertainer was honored “not only for his five-decade career as a creative artist, but also for the contribution he has made to helping students get the college education they need and deserve,” said Michael L. Lomax, the group’s president and CEO.Robinson joins a distinguished group of previous winners, which include Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and the late Lou Rawls. The award of excellence is the latest achievement for the singer, who shot to fame as a member of the Miracles and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.  The UNCF Evening of Stars concert is set to broadcast in January.  7. Mary J. Experiences Growing Pains with New Single With all the drama she’s experienced throughout her career, it’s safe to say that Mary J. Blige deserves the happiness she receives. And with that comes the title of the Hip-Hop soul queen’s forthcoming album Growing Pains. The first single from the project, titled “Just Fine,” was released to radio on Thursday.  If you’re searching for any hint of the pain expressed on past Mary J. classics, look elsewhere. Blige is clearly in another element on the Jazze Pha and Tricky Stewart track, as she revels in having high self-esteem.  “No time for moping around/Are you kidding?” the vocalist sings on the song, which is described as an up-tempo party record with a dance/disco sound. “And no time for negative vibes, ’cause I’m winning/Got my head on straight, got my vibe right, ain’t gonna let you kill it/ See, I wouldn’t change, my life’s just fine.”  Look for Growing Pains to arrive earlier than expected in music stores, as it comes out on Nov. 20, week earlier than its original release date of Nov. 27.  8. Vivica A. Fox Enters Not Guilty Plea For DUI Six months after her arrest for drunken driving, actress Vivica A. Fox pleaded innocent to the charges on Thursday (Sept. 27).  The charges stem from the former Dancing With the Stars contestant’s run in with police, who pulled her over on March 20 after allegedly going 80 mph and weaving on the Ventura Freeway. According to police reports, Fox, who was in a Cadillac Escalade, started berating the officers after she failed a series of sobriety tests.  Although the actress was not in court on Thursday, her attorney was there to enter her plea. If convicted, Fox could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.  9. Marc Anthony Professes Love of KFCSex and fame may be normal addictions for music artists, but Marc Anthony is content with a tastier option. The singer/actor, who will kick off his North American tour on Saturday (Sept. 29) in Atlantic City, New Jersey with wife and fellow entertainer Jennifer Lopez, came clean about his love for Kentucky Fried Chicken to Access Hollywood, as he told Shaun Robinson that KFC is the one thing he can’t live without when on the tour bus. “I can’t eat anything else after a concert,” said Anthony, whose confession caught the ear of KFC president Gregg Dedrick. “We would like to offer you, your entourage, and a few VIP guests an ‘all access’ pass to the KFC location of your choice,” the self-professed J. Lo fan wrote in an open letter to the couple. “You have a bucketful of choices for ‘after party’ locations, because KFC has more than 5,500 restaurants across the country. Hearing about your fondness for KFC was music to our ears, so just name the time and the place and we’ll open our doors to you for a post-concert feast.” And if you’re wondering if Lopez shares her husband’s finger lickin’ addiction, guess again. “Nah, I can’t eat like that,” the singer laughed. “I mean every single freakin’ night with the Kentucky Fried Chicken.” Although J. Lo isn’t a fan of the Colonel, her husband is making sure he gets his 11 herbs and spices whenever he can fit it in. And that, ladies in gentlemen, is the key to a successful singing career.  One original recipe drumstick a day equals an all you can eat selection of the Colonel’s best. 

The Game Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges

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

Compton, CA rapper The Game pleaded not guilty Tuesday (Sept. 25) to three felony charges in court.

 

The Game (born Jayceon Terrell Taylor) was charged with one count each of making criminal threats, possession of a firearm in a school zone and exhibiting a firearm on the grounds of a facility for minors.

 

The felony charges stem from an alleged run-in with Rodrick Shannon during a Feb. 24 basketball game at a South Los Angeles school.

 

Shannon testified at a Sept. 4 preliminary hearing that he exchanged words with the rapper during the game, which took place at the Rita Walters Educational Learning Complex.

The Game, who was playing for an opposing team, hit Shannon in the left cheek with a closed fist after telling him that his team was “garbage,” according to Shannon, who testified that he and the rapper later got into a fighting stance.

 

Soon after, The Game went out a door after people from his team grabbed Shannon.

 

As he went into the Complex parking lot to look for his son, Shannon revealed that he became fearful as he saw Taylor reach into a Cadillac Escalade and wield a firearm.

 

“He started proceeding towards me. The gun was still in his hand,” Shannon said on the stand. “He yelled that I’m a … fool. I turned around and ran because I feared for my life.”

 

During cross-examination, Shannon denied any intention to file lawsuit against The Game.

 

He later testified that the 27-year-old rapper had his gun pointed down at the time of the incident.

 

Los Angeles police caught up with The Game at his home in Glendale on May 11 as they executed a search warrant and arrested the former G-Unit member.

 

The Game is currently free on $50,000 bail.

 

A pretrial hearing for the case is scheduled for Oct. 30.

 

If convicted, The Game could face more than five years in prison.

Ricky Pharoe and Tru ID: The Rebirth Of Cool

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

Coffee, grunge and Bill Gates might be things that come to mind when and if you choose to ponder on Washington State’s largest city. Famed for its skimmed lattes than it is for prolific MCs, things might just be changing in Seattle. Producers such as Jake One and Vitamin D are already repping in the beats department and to throw a light on the lyricists is Ricky Pharoe and Tru ID. This duo who is well able to maintain individually have just released their first combined effort Key in the Lock. Beyond pushing their limits as MCs, the duo is appealing to a wider fan base as time marches on. But is this the key to success?  They may be “80’s Babies” or even, “The Real Kings,” taking it back to see the future might just be what gives them the opportunity to become Seattle’s breath of fresh Hip-Hop air. AllHipHop.com: How did you two originally meet, did you go to school with each other?Ricky: Well actually we used to record at the same studio and that is how we hooked up. It has to be about five, six years ago. I was about 17.Tru: Yeah it was a while Ricky: Tru used to be in a group called Pretty Mysterious with some other cats and we just linked up.AllHipHop.com: Why are you laughing Tru?Tru: They were good times. AllHipHop.com: So was there a mutual respect for each others work?Ricky: Well we started making a couple of tracks and then got to know each other and became friends. We used to sell CDs together in Seattle.Tru: It was a couple of years before we even put an album out.Ricky: Then after that Tru moved into my little studio apartment after an interesting living situation and we had drama with the owner of the apartment. Then we started working on this album we just released. AllHipHop.com: Are you both born and raised in Seattle?Tru: I was actually born and raised in St. Louis until I was 14, then I moved here to Seattle and I have been here ever since.AllHipHop.com: How hard is it to get recognition in Seattle when it comes to Hip-Hop? Ricky: The hardest task is there are a lot of artists out there doing things but it stays local a lot of the time. Becoming a local celebrity is not a hard thing to do as long as you have a decent product and stage show. It is easy to get put on as it is a small community. But to branch out afterwards it is difficult to know where to go after you get a little recognition.Tru: It is hard out there.AllHipHop.com: Is this why you have relocated Ricky?Ricky: No not necessarily. You know being born in Seattle, I know it’s a great city, I have traveled you know. I have been to just about every state in the US and I like to get out and get a bit and life is a little faster paced down south so I am here.AllHipHop.com: That has to be a good music move as well? Tru: It is definitely influenced with music as well as with life itself. AllHipHop.com: You recorded your Key in the Lock project as a duo, what is the deal with you guys?Ricky: Well Tru is the same way that we are family no matter what. We have been through so many hard times, you know if he gets a deal I will be happy and jump through the roof. And I know it is the same way for him, but ideally it would be both of us. Tru: This album is the beginning of something.Ricky: He will be coming down here eventually.AllHipHop.com: Do you both get involved in the production?Tru: We work with a few different producers in terms of beats but we are our own lyricists. We work with about four or five producers. I like to write as much as I can.Ricky: I like to handle as much as the business as I can. We have worked with some hot producers as that is one thing Seattle does not lack in and that is production. Yeah we are getting a little shine with the likes of Jake One and I think that is the strong point.Tru: Yeah we get more recognition there.AllHipHop.com: How hard is it getting representation where you are? Ricky: In Seattle they are looking for a certain style of music, the laid back free revolutionary type of Hip-Hop which is what we are about anyway. I have spent a lot of time networking with people in California for the last couple of years. Tru: There is only so much you can do in Seattle as it is very separated. You just have to be persistent. AllHipHop.com: And thick skinned?Tru: Yeah being thick skinned in always good in this game. Ricky: There is no room to be sensitive; I am about telling the truth. I love the truth, you know I might deny it for a minute but then I appreciate it [laughs.]AllHipHop.com: Do you believe working with a minimum of producers is a more thorough approach?Ricky: I prefer making an album with just one producer.Tru: The old school way.Ricky: Yeah it is just more fun. I like to have a concept for the album before any of the songs are made. AllHipHop.com: What’s concept? [Laughing]Ricky: [Laughs] Yeah we have more dance concepts today. AllHipHop.com: So when you go in to record do you always have a concept in mind?Tru: I wouldn’t say always, but I would say concept is crucial on both song and an album, otherwise there is no direction and you might as well be freestyling.Ricky: Yeah it would be what you are hearing out there now. AllHipHop.com: Does today’s music bother you?Ricky: I wouldn’t say it bothers me, as there is room for every type of music.AllHipHop.com: Does it incite you then? Ricky: I mean people like to go to the clubs and dance. I like to see girls dance, but it definitely could get somewhat more intelligent. There is a good amount that I think is a bad influence on especially the younger members of our culture.Tru: It is just lacking in my opinion and people have accepted it and just moved with itRicky: I don’t really think it is a good thing to judge music. It is one thing to not like it but to sit there and judge isn’t a good thing either. AllHipHop.com: Where did your love for Hip-Hop come from? Tru: I think it just comes from me being young as that was when it grabbed my attention. All I would do is sit and listen to music.Ricky: My sister would get all the cassette tapes for Christmas, and I just got it from her back in the early days.Tru: My Dad listened to a lot of music, which kind of stuck with me. Then I got to the point where I was confident enough to start making music myself, but that didn’t come along until later. I was probably about 14 or 15. Some people start writing when they are 8 years old. AllHipHop.com: Is there a plan B or is Hip-Hop it for you?Ricky: There are a lot of options. There is too much out there. This is one of many things.Tru: Hip-Hop is something that is always going to be there, it will always be within me. When I am 50 I will still have love for it, I will know how to make music but I am about taking it to the next level. You have to have other things to fall back on as that is what makes life interesting. Ricky: You have to have wisdom.AllHipHop.com: Why did the album take so long? Ricky: I would say this is when I would really like to tell anyone who wants to invest their money into an album; the way to do it is get your own equipment. That was why it took so long as we didn’t record ourselves. We were relying on other people and other people’s schedules and the studio costs. It took way longer than it should have.Tru: There was a lot of stress, but you realize you have to be a little more self sufficient and rely on yourself a little more as when you are relying on others and their time, it doesn’t go how you want. But I am happy with the album. AllHipHop.com: Did this encourage you to go out and buy your own studio equipment?Tru: I am in the process of doing that right now as I am at school for digital recording. It is important to get equipment and start recording our own stuff.Ricky: We have our own studio down in Long Beach, you know a sectioned off room. AllHipHop.com: How has the album been received since it dropped?Ricky: It has got a lot of love, but I have noticed some of my die hard fans haven’t received it as well, as it is pretty dramatically different from my solo stuff.AllHipHop.com: After working as individuals and then joining together on this project was it difficult? Ricky: It was and it wasn’t. I mean I am always trying to expand what I do. I am not about putting out a second version of a product that I have already made. So I was excited to work with Tru as I knew he was going to take it to a whole other level as far as harmonizing and stretching my voice out as opposed to just rapping on a beat. I was starting to rap with the beat. Anyone who I really respect opinions from has told me it is light years beyond any of my other projects.Tru: I have been having those responses as well. It is definitely different from the first project for me. But I just feel that this project is a bit more grown up, that is the best way to put it. I have found a lot of older people like it as well. They can put it in their car and listen to it and listen to it all the way through without skipping songs. I think that is a good sign.AllHipHop.com: That is a good sign. Attracting the older generations of Hip-Hop fans has to be the ultimate prize. Tru: It is as that is what tells us if it is going to last.AllHipHop.com: Is there a demographic that you are trying to target with your music or is just for everyone?Tru: It is for everyone. You have to be of the mindset that you can touch everybody someway, somehow. That is what makes things classic. Ricky: The youth comes first as they buy. But they tend to put people on a pedestal, not saying that that isn’t a good thing, so people are with them as they grow up.AllHipHop.com: Do you find it hard to please fans today?Tru: I don’t think it is hard to please fans. The new generations have just been brought up on something totally different. Ricky: I don’t think it is hard to please them; things have just taken another direction. Its all about personality and character and it is somewhat flashier than it used to be. People would respect the skill aspect more before, but now you have to talk about bling. I don’t think it is hard to please fans, no. I just think that is what my job is to do and I have fun doing it either way.AllHipHop.com: As unsigned artists nowadays do you think marketing and branding play a big role in your longevity in the game?Tru: That is one of the biggest aspects to get yourself out there and to have people believe the product you are putting out. It is more of a business thing now.Ricky: You have to make yourself a commodity. You know if you want to run with a major label, it is your responsibility to come out and show them you are a product waiting to be sold and people want you.AllHipHop.com: Do you believe major labels have fallen into that mindset?Unfortunately yes as they have just started following formats. You should have T Pain on every hook, that sort of thing. AllHipHop.com: When you are coming from a different angle to what is mainstream acceptable, isn’t that frustrating? Ricky: It is a problem when you have to explain yourself as something else. You know it’s not about ‘Hey I am a rapper.’ You have to prove you are a long term investment and show that people will connect with you over a long period of time and it is not just an in and out flash in the pan. Tru: It is about being long lasting and longevity and that is what I am in it for. To me the ones that last the longest are the ones that really have substance. Ricky: Otherwise it is the same thing recycled and watered down and people may like it at first but once the next thing sounds the same and the one after that, people start getting bored. AllHipHop.com: How do you think you can prove you have substance? Tru: They are looking for the person that can basically sell themselves. You know labels need to see you as a money maker basically that has people out there buying your CDs. Ricky: They need to see that you are dedicated. They are not going to push your album after giving you an advance. They are expecting you and your team to push your product. You are supposed to be a money making machine. Majors are now more about business as opposed to talent. Tru: You have to have something that the people like, there has to be something eye catching about you. AllHipHop.com: Would you like to sign to a major?Tru: Yes and no. Being signed to a label isn’t always the best thing as there are always strings attached. Ricky: I just want to reach people and being signed to a label will let you do that on a larger scale. I mean in everything I do I want to make money.AllHipHop.com: Your track the Real Kings, an intriguing title. Ricky: Tru came up with that title so I am going to let him go ahead and tell you about this.Tru: The Real Kings has three different perspectives. You know as we were talking about rappers, MCs claiming to be Kings of this and Kings of this and I really see them as puppets. The cats who are running labels are really the Kings, as the rappers do what they are told to do. I mean that is my perception of that. Ricky: Yeah Macklemore who was also featured on the joint came in kind of well too as he came in with a perspective about what a real King is. You know someone who knows who they are, is a leader for the people and someone who is preaching the truth rather than dealing with their ego. AllHipHop.com: Do you think you are “The Real Kings?” Ricky: I am a Pharohe actually [laughing.] I have a deep fascination with Egypt and that has been one of my major areas of study and that is where that came from. AllHipHop.com: WC has a joint on his album called Eighties Babies and you have the same on yours although I am guessing you are true “80’s Babies?” Ricky: Yeah 1983 was the year. That is one of my favorite cuts on the album. We had a little group back in the day called 1983 as it was the year when we were all born. There were a lot of symbolic references in that joint. AllHipHop.com: WC’s version talks about the eighties babies showing respect to the people who came before. Do you believe that you show respect to those that have laid foundations for you to come after?Ricky: Definitely as my favorite stuff is the older stuff. My favorite album of all time is Enter the Wu, Critical Beat Down by the Ultramagnetics and Big Daddy Kane, those are the pioneers. It is important for younger cats to dig in crates as a lot don’t have the time to do that. AllHipHop.com: How important has it been for you to do your homework when it comes to the history of Hip-Hop?Tru: I grew up on this stuff; Curtis Blow was something my Dad was listening to.Ricky: not only has it influenced rap today but some people don’t even know what a break beat is. You know they don’t know the difference between a drum machine and a keyboard and this comes from not doing your homework. AllHipHop.com: What projects have you coming up?Ricky: There will be a new Ricky Pharohe solo album coming out solely produced by Jewels Hunter which will be coming out in 2008 sometime. Ricky Pharohe and Tru I.D.’s MySpace Page is www.myspace.com/trupharoe

Inmate Changes Story in B.I.G. Murder Case

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

The murder of the Notorious B.I.G. took yet another twist as the man who implicated a former Los Angeles Police Department officer has admitted to lying about the officer’s role in the killing.

 

According to the Associated Press, Waymond Anderson mentioned in deposition that his lie was part of a scam to win a monetary settlement from the city of Los Angeles.

 

The deposition, which was taken on Aug. 20 and first reported yesterday (Sept. 26) in The Los Angeles Times, further stated that Anderson was offered a portion of any settlement if he testified that former LAPD officer Rafael Perez told him that another ex-police officer, David Mack, was involved.

 

Mack, who is currently serving time in federal prison for bank robbery, and Perez have both denied having anything to do with the still unsolved murder.

 

In his deposition, Anderson goes on to accuse the family of Notorious B.I.G. (born Christopher Wallace) and their lawyer, Perry R. Sanders Jr., of offering to give him a portion of any award for falsely implicating the police.

 

Sanders denied the accusations as he told the Associated Press that “This is wholesale, made-up-out-of-whole -cloth perjury.”

 

Anderson’s revelation is the latest chapter in the continuing saga surrounding March 9, 1997 murder of Wallace.

 

In the years following the tragedy, the Wallace family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing the LAPD, and specifically Mack, of being responsible for the rapper’s death in addition to seeking damages from the city.

Diddy: Dollars & Scents

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

Regardless of what you think of Sean “Diddy” Combs artistically, as an entrepreneur he gets busy.  His storied rise in the music business from intern to mogul laid the blueprint for countless imitators to build upon with their own record companies. Diddy’s clothing extension, Sean John, has grown by leaps and bounds from their original t-shirts, jeans and sweats beginnings.  The line now offers formal wear, ladies wear and garments for the kids.  Additionally, the men’s fragrance Unforgivable went number one and he hopes to do the same with the launch of his Unforgivable Women’s. Always speaking in superlatives, but never afraid to admit a misstep, peep game on what Diddy has in store for you on a lifestyle tip.  AllHipHop.com: What’s good with the launch of your ladies fragrance?Diddy: Yeah, I came out with the number one men’s fragrance Unforgivable [and] we got an overwhelming response from the ladies. They wanted their fragrance, they wanted to feel what that Unforgivable women’s scent would be like. [We] made it up, kept it in the same realm of Unforgivable men’s but put the female twist on it.  [It’s] very clean, very seductive, very sensual.  It has a coco pina-colada mixed with some berry base.  It’s something that’s addictive.  It’s something a man wants to smell, when he smells it he thinks about his woman.  It gets things where he needs to be.  Also on this joint too, there a lot of competition out there.  There’s a lot of female fragrances so it’s a big deal for a man to come out with a female fragrance and I see that’s as a positive.  A man knows how a woman should smell.  We don’t want our woman to smell like our grandmother; smelling like flowers and church on a Sunday.  We don’t want that, we want it to smell like we want to eat you up.  So that’s how it was designed.  I put out a challenge to all of my female counterparts.  I’m putting a challenge all the way out there. I got a video message I’m sending out to them too; to Jennifer [Lopez], to Gwen [Stefani], Sarah Jessica Parker that my fragrance is better than theirs.  It is what it is.[Story continued below]AllHipHop.com: How did you navigate throughout the controversy of how you marketed the fragrance?Diddy: To be honest I always thought when you got into the fragrance business you were able to do things [that] were sensual and seductive and a little racy.  It’s been a lot of hoopla about our ads and our campaigns, but I’m not actually doing nothing in the ad.  I don’t want to raise people’s expectations, it’s being suggestive.  People are letting their minds go real far.  We kind of got banned from TV and we had to compromise and go back and forth with some of the edits but the beauty about the internet is that we can’t be held back.  It’s on my Myspace page, it’s on Youtube.  We are already close to half a million hits on just people peeping out alone.  So it got out there.AllHipHop.com: What brands did you rock when you were coming up?Diddy: Oh man on the fragrance tip I loved the Calvin Klein Obsession stuff.  To be honest in the beginning a lot of our inspiration on really doing things that were authentic and pushing the envelope were inspired from Calvin and growing up around then.  These are the images they never seen in this game, they never seen like a man in bed with two women or like some shots taken in the stairwell.  It’s all of that 9 And A Half Weeks and Rendezvous things that we all experienced.  You can work in a post office and you can have your own little 9 And A Half Weeks experience.   We all can relate to that.AllHipHop.com: Let’s switch to the physical side of your line.  What do you have coming out for Sean John in the near future?Diddy: Right now we just launched the woman’s line and announced Cassie and Lauren London as our spokesmodels.  Charlie had his angels, they [are] Diddy’s angels.  We [are] going to be signing a new angel every year.  We launching all this stuff now so we about to get into this women’s game real heavy.  It’s something exciting because it ain’t no mystery I love the ladies.  AllHipHop.com: Why do you think the Bad Boy sports line didn’t really pop to everybody’s expectations?Diddy: Yeah, I think that the Bad Boy sports line where we was selling it at it wasn’t really with the consumer we connect with.  We were selling at like JC Penny trying to go for a customer at a lower price point.  I think that it was [poor strategy] on my part and it was a learning lesson.  I will go in that category of business [again] though.  I think that category is important because there is a lot of people that can’t afford the price point of Sean John but they still my people and still deserve top quality designs.  There is another brand under within the umbrella of my fashion empire that I’m looking to put out soon.  AllHipHop.com: If you can turn back in time what would you change when you originally launched the Sean John line?Diddy: I wouldn’t change anything.  We are approaching our tenth anniversary and look at us.  We doing suits, fragrances, ties, underwear; we just had an underwear launch, that’s huge for us.  Now we in the woman’s world; we started with the clothes, the fragrance, we going to handbags and shoes and also little girls clothes and that’s befitting to me right now having two little girls.  AllHipHop.com: In the earlier days of your Sean John line, you used a baggier cut but now you are going with a slimmer fit.  Why the change?Diddy: To be honest we were on that first.  Before the whole rock and roll phase if ya’ll remember we were always more streamline.  Sometimes we used to catch some knockings for it because people thought it was too sophisticated and underestimated the sophistication of the consumer thinking all they wanted to wear was pants sagging off their ass.  Now I still let my joints sag but also I like my true fits sometimes too.  The consumer is more versatile and Sean John is a brand that reflects that versatility.  AllHipHop.com: Does it make you feel in a way that a lot of these indie lines are using images of Notorious B.I.G. heavy in their designs?Diddy: Nah, B.I.G. is such a phenomenon it’s something that you can’t really stop.  It’s something they not really allowed to do to be honest and sometimes it’s taking some money out of the family’s pocket but at the same time it also keeps the legend alive.  It gives back too.  I wouldn’t over do it, but they getting a lot of passes for it but it’s all good though.AllHipHop.com: The “I Get Money” remix hit the streets recently, how did that go down in the studio?Diddy: I mean to be honest, the session was the way you can imagine it.  It was a billion dollars in the building.  It was a lot of power in there, you basically had the powerhouses of Hip-Hop all in one room and we had a ball. The beauty about it at the end of the day we all love to make music.  It wasn’t no real egos involved, we were all one team.  Like they both made sure that I was right.  We all played our positions.  If it came down to a video, I’d make sure the video is right.  When it came down to them lyrics and making sure my legacy was put out there and the truth was told – a lot of people don’t realize I was on the cover of the Forbes ten years ago.  This Forbes sh*t is just coming out now.  I’m actually on the cover as a child.  I was born into fly sh*t.  People say that sh*t and they making it up, I was on the cover of Forbes with Jerry Seinfeld ten years ago.  So the world is just catching up to the Forbes one-two.  I’ve had my subscription since I’ve been nineteen years old with Forbes and Robb Report and Fortune Magazine.  I stays on the lists.  To have that articulated in the most craziest pop sh*t way and then to have two of your counterparts critique your verse and give it the thumbs up from two of the best of the game it wasn’t even fair.  

Pharrell Teams With ABC For New TV Drama ‘Limelight’

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

Pharrell Williams is serving as a consulting producer for Limelight, a new dramatic series to be aired on television network ABC.

 

Limelight follows students and teachers at a performing arts school in New York, similar to the one Williams attended while growing up in Virginia.

 

The series ended up on ABC after an intense bidding war between rival networks like Fox, CW and others.

 

“This project reminded me a lot of my own life growing up, coming from a different environment where we stuck out for having abilities that we later learned, after attending a school like this, were actually gifts and talents,” Williams told Variety. “The moral DNA for this project is that it’s OK to dream, but to bring it to fruition requires hard work.”

 

One of the executive producer’s of Limelight is McG, who has directed videos for Cypress Hill, Korn, Wyclef Jean, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth.

 

He has also produced TV shows like Fastlane, The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll and the upcoming Untitled Matt Cirulnick/McG Project.

 

“Pharrell is the ultimate embodiment of credibility in this space,” McG added. “He attended a performing arts high school and went on to become the most prolific producer of our generation.”

 

Limelight, which is still in development with network, will face a six-figure penalty if the project does not move forward.

 

Pharrell Williams is a Grammy Award winning rapper/singer/producer, who has created hits for stars like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Britney Spears, Madonna and others.

Rappers, Pioneers Featured In Doc On Famed Hip-Hop Photographer

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

Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy frontman Chuck D and rapper MC Lyte will be among those featured in a new documentary on Hip-Hop photographer Ernie Paniccioli.

 

The film, titled The Other Side of Hip-Hop-The Sixth Element, will chronicle Paniccioli’s life, work, art, photography and struggles through the eyes of various Hip-Hop movers and shakers.

 

Additionally, the 90-minute documentary will include a brief history of Hip-Hop culture as well as appearances from Afrika Bambaataa and pioneering female rapper LinQue.

 

The Other Side of Hip-Hop is slated to be used as a teaching tool while being screened at world wide film festivals, church and college tours.

 

The film is the latest achievement for Paniccioli, who has used his photography to document Hip-Hop culture since the 1970s.

 

In 1992, the Brooklyn native entered the world of literature with his critically acclaimed book Who Shot Ya?-Three Decades of Hip-Hop Photography.

 

Over the years, Paniccioli has lectured in more than 100 venues, colleges and events, including a one hour forum on C-Span 2 called “Race and Hip-Hop.”

 

His 2001 exhibition, “100 Shots To Tha Dome” is noted for being one of the largest one man photography shows in the history of New York City.

 

The Other Side of Hip-Hop-The Sixth Element hits stores in October.

Havoc: The Kush

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / Music

If Havoc, the lower-key member of Mobb Deep had to choose a claim to fame as an artist it might be a challenge. Some dub him chiefly responsible for the gritty Queensbridge theme music that is his signature production style. Others tip their hat to his baritone vocals that have played lyrical double dutch with Prodigy since The Infamous days. With no Mobb Deep project to focus on, Havoc couldn’t have picked a better time for his anticipated debut. The Kush (Nature Sounds) is a potent delivery from the more obscure half of Mobb Deep.Though Havoc has produced for Jadakiss, Nas and 50 Cent, to name a few, his own album doesn’t stray far from the Mobb Deep sound. The Kush, entirely produced by the Queens native is fit for a late night ride with a car full of “dunnies” or a smooth two-step with a glass in hand. Flexing his lyrical muscles on tracks like “I’m The Boss” and “Class By Myself” Havoc lives up to the titles with self-assured claims. Prodigy drops a verse on “Set Me Free” while Nitti, Un Pachino, NYCE and 40 Glocc blend well with the album’s get-money groove. The slow-rolling “Be There” with a looping Michael Jackson sample amplifies the paranoia that surrounds the lap of luxury. “Them shots fly tell me will you be there… / The money gone tell me will you be there.” The cosmic “What’s Poppin Tonite” is the just got paid it’s Friday night track inspired by popping bottles and models. Havoc’s intimidating “One Less N####” could have been plucked from any Mobb Deep album with a piercing synthesizer reinforcing his threats.Havoc doesn’t disappoint with his hard-hitting lyrics and rugged complementary tracks; long the staple for the duo. But there are few that disappoint. There is no crescendo in the predictable loops on “Balling Out” and the lackluster “Ride Out.” Hollywood Hav does branch out to pan the spotlight on his smart lyrics and his own introspective persona.  On The Kush, Havoc tells the midnight-hour streetwise anthems from his own perspective. If he continues to up the ante on the rhymes and the production, Havoc will truly be in a class by himself. SOUNDCHECK:Havoc “One Less Ni**a”Havoc f/ Nitti “Class By Myself”

Hip-Hop Rumors: Jay-Z Album Cover? Diddy Sells? Superhead Gets Mad and Happy?

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

THE LOX AND DEF JAM?

From what I heard, The Lox are now officially on Def Jam and they have completed an album. The rumor is, Sheek, Styles and Jadakiss have turned the album in to the appropriate people to give the go ahead. From what I heard, the album won’t becoming out anytime soon, for a variety of reasons. What I did hear is that Def Jam gave The Lox 100% creative control over the album. We’ll see.

DIDDY CLOSES JUSTIN’S????

AW man! I didn’t go there that much, but when I did, I liked the food! I heard that Diddy shut down Justin’s in New York! Now, I don’t know if this closure is final, but there is some hope. Rumor has it, Diddy is just going to move the place into a bigger, better location in Manhattan. Where that is, nobody knows. Private events will continue to go on, but nothing is open to the hungry public.

SUPERH- KARRINE GETS MAD!

Karrine “Superhead” Steffans doesn’t like to be called Superhead. Check her out right here correcting somebody on that. They really go at it over there at WJLB in Detroit. Also, click here if you want to hear her gush over Lil’ Wayne. She was happy in this interview. SMH. (PAUSE!)

UH-OH – DID DJ KHALED GET CONFRONTED?

This was sent to me. I didn’t make it up! Just passing along the message!

On Monday night September 26, 2007 at Diamonds Caberet in Miami DJ Khaled gets smacked in the head by Coolie, a member of Southside Bombers who is also labelmate with up and coming Miami rapper Hennessi. The event at Diamonds was Trick Daddy & Young Jeezy birthday party. Khaled walks into strip club with no problems. Then the club wouldn’t allow Coolie in, so he tells someone to call Khaled to come outside and get him in. Khaled ignores the request when put on the phone with Coolie. When Fat Joe arrives to get in the club, Coolie, who is cool with Fat Joe, walks in the club with Fat Joe’s crew. As soon as they enter, Coolie goes straight to Khaled and smacks him in the head and starts pointing the finger in his head. Asking him what his problem is? Why he acting shady? This just heats up tension because Khaled already doesn’t play any Hennessi music on the radio. They say that they’re going to revoke Khaled’s G pass. Hennessi was featured on Khaled’s first album on ‘Future of Dade County’. He is already working on a diss record to Khaled. He will also be featured on the new Cam’ron Mixtape that will be dropping soon.

The most important part of this is that Cam’ron’s mixtape is getting verified! A smack upside the head is comedy, but I can say I hope this doesn’t get crazy. Khaled is still the beeeeesssst in Miami.

SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END

This is Nailah Franklin. Have you seen her? If you have, you could do some good possibly win $10,000 in reward money. This is all happening in the Chicago area so keep your eyes and hears peeled. This is going to sound corny and superficial, but she’s cute so bring her back home safe! It hasn’t been that long, but you know that the media is never going to do anything of substance for her anyway. For more information, hit up:

http://www.bringnailahfranklinhome.com/

For details on the alleged crime, click here.

THE GAME READY TO COME BACK OUT?

I wonder what The Game has in store for his next CD. He’s kind of followed a similar path as 50 Cent for his last two CD’s. So, how are we going to gravitate to him this time? Anyway, he’s reportedly in the studio and making joints for this next CD. Didn’t he say he was going to retire after this one?

WHERE’S CAM’RON CONTINUES…

The picture of Cam’ron at McDonald’s isn’t recent. That damn thing is old so the search for Cam’ron continues! See below for a statement of the dude that started the whole mess. (This is unedited in the purest form – I didn’t touch it.)

MY STATEMENT. THAT PHOTO OF CAMERON IS NOT RECENT I POSTED IT AS A JOKE ON A WUTANG SITE N SAID THE GUY IN THE PHOTO WAS TRU LIFE BECUZ I AM A BIG CAM FAN N I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE HE REBOUNDED FROM JIM JONES SIGNING TO G UNIT. BUT IT BACK FIRED IN PPL STARTED LYING IN MAKIN THEY OWN STORIES ABOUT THE PHOTO. THAT PIC IS FROM LAST SUMMER N HE WAS COOL ENOUGH TO TAKE THE PHOTO WHICH MOST PPL IN THE INDUSTRY WOULDN’T DO. SO FOR ALL THOSE THAT STARTED CLOWNING KILLA U FEEL MAD STUPID NOW DON’T U? ALL IN ALL I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP CAM OUT N IT BACKFIRED. N ALL N ALL CAM IS ILL N I HOPE HE COMES BACK N SHUT YALL CLOWN ASS HATERS DOWN. – Shard “ZIG” Olmann N HERE’S THE ORIGINAL TOPIC TO PROVE IT WAS A JOKE. LOOK AT THE DATE.SMH at internet pranksters-gone-wrong! I’m not looking at anything! I think Cam got at son or something! LOL. NAH seriously, thanks for the clarification.

YUNG JOC’S CHAIN INTACT

My boy Lyles hit me up and said that Yung Joc is fully exonerated from the rumor that his chain got stolen in London. He said that last Saturday at Studio 72 (JD’s club in ATL) Joc was there along with the big ass chain. He said that Joc was there with many other celebrity guess like Keyhia Cole, Usher, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Jazzy Pha, JE, and others. He said he was standing right next to Loc ‘til the rapper went into the Jacuzzi room. Other people told me they saw Yung Joc with that chain and that’s a good thing. He was teaching kids about the letter “H” with that big sucker.

MF DOOM – IS DEAD?

MF Doom sure isn’t dead, but that’s not going to stop him from having a bit of fun with it. Below you will see a statement issued by his label Stones Thrown.

Doom Responds to Rumors

Every day for the past month we’ve been hit up by people wanting explanations, statements, clarifications, and declarations about MF DOOM. Is he lip synching? (No. Listen to the videos on Youtube.) Is he an impostor? (No, but he did lose some pounds.) Is he in the hospital? (No, he’s in his studio … or if not there, you can find him in the pub with the grub stain.)

Reached earlier this morning at his home in Georgia, an alive and well MF DOOM issued this statement: “What up? I’m dead.”

At least he has a sense of humor about the situation. Shout out to Jorge.

CHINGO BLING HAS GRADUATION HIS WAY

Chingo Bling is a dude that I never heard, but hear about all the time. This rumor is no different. I heard that Mr. Bling is now going to be speaking at EMCC’s Center for Teaching and learning. If I am correct this is Estrella Mountain Community College in Arizona. What I was able to find out is that Chingo Bling is a college graduate and has a BA in business administration and is even in a business fraternity. How cool is that? Anyway, he’ll be talking about Hispanic heritage, entrepreneurship, the importance of a university degree, and other things.

ILLSEED QUICKIESYoung Miles is ALIVE – rumor is dead!

Sad news. I heard a young, upcoming rapper named Young Miles has been murdered. I heard he recorded dis songs to the people that murdered Proof and Murda Mook. Hope its not true.

I heard that Pap, Kay Slay and family got that $1.5 million! They didn’t have to give it back.

More trouble for the Vickster. Michael Vick has tested positive for marijuana, according to reports. That chronic is something else, huh?

NEW PEEDI PEEDI!

The song is “Fall Back”…the boy is bad, the boy is bad! Def Jam has more careers on hold than the glass ceiling!

Is this the cover of Jay-Z’s new album? The rumor mill says so.

NEW DE LA HOYA PICS ARE OUT THERE

Look, I am not going to say whether or not these Oscar De La Hoya pictures are real or not, but somebody is a helluva Photoshop master. Whoever did this should really open up Photoshop University. He’d get cake!

Here are some of the new images that somebody doctored to make it look like De La Hoya is a cross dressing boxer.

ILL PICS

My boy Brandon hit me up with this pic of his friend from Dayton, OH. His boy got a picture of him and Dave Chappelle at the airport. He’s lucky. Dave’s not always up for the picture action.

My girl Margaret sent me this pic of Jade from America’s Next Top Model on the train in New York.

Fonzworth Bentley just released a book called “Advance Your Swagger.” Cop that, heathen!

There are a lot of pics of J-Hud on the set of Sex in the City. This is my favorite.

Key Key is glammed out! She is expected to top the charts next week and push over 300k in her first week.

To Kanye’s fiancee: WATCH YOUR BACK! I will watch Kim K’s back!

TOMORROW, WE LOVE YOU!

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

-illseed

WHO: illseed

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

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

– allhiphop rumors

Finding Forever Tour: The Kool Haus, Toronto—9.24.2007

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg)Category: Reviews / Music

A quick glance at the massive crowd and lines outside of the Kool Haus on Monday night (Sept 24, 2007) were a good indication that the stock of Chi-City’s illest MC has clearly risen since the last time he touched down in the T-Dot, back in February 2006 at this very same (albeit less crowded) venue along Toronto’s waterfront. Common, who was in town for a stop on his current tour to support his latest release Finding Forever brought along some lively opening acts in the form of Stones Throw artist and legendary underground lyricist Percee P and Q-Tip, whom some might remember from a little group called A Tribe Called Quest. Unfortunately, due to the lack  of complete organization and a proper lineup system courtesy of The Kool Haus security  staff (this is a persistent problem at this venue,  and will continue to be until someone in charge gets their act together!), many concert-goers (including myself) were trapped outside steaming, listening to the muffled sounds of each artists’ opening sets.Once inside you were immediately hit with a stifling wall of heat and humidity created by the combination of poor ventilation and the thousands of hipsters, b-boys and  girls, thugs and middle-aged couples eagerly anticipating the return of Kanye West’s favorite rapper.  The lights dimmed and the screaming began as vocal snippets off Finding Forever played over the sound system. Common bolted onto the stage dressed to impress in a white tee, expensive-looking denim and one of his trademark hats; and immediately had the floor bouncing with “Go” from 2005’s instant classic Be and his current heater, “The People”. A welcome addition to Common’s performance was the inclusion of live drummer Karriem Riggins, a producer/musician/power player who is known from his close association with the Stones Throw family); which added some sonic muscle to Common’s already dope live show.  Common kept the energy of the crowd up as he played a little call-and-response with the sweaty party people in attendance during crowd favorites like “The Corner” off his last album. The floor shook when Common unleashed a classic throwback collage in which he spit Toronto-centric rhymes (Shouting out street names, landmarks, etc.) over classic beats like “Just A Friend” by Biz Markie and Nas’ “N.Y. State of Mind”.  Those fans who weren’t at his last show in Toronto, wouldn’t realize that Common pulled the same trick the last time around and it wasn’t something new; however it worked like a charm nonetheless.The energy in the building waned slightly during “Testify” during which Common left the stage to change clothes and cut the music to deliver a spoken word portion of the track to create drama; however all it did was cause the crowd to stir restlessly and complain until the beat kicked back in. The unbearable heat was surely a factor, as several people were carried out unconscious by security; but the “mini-stage production” seemed to miss it’s intended target.Common closed off his set with a stirring rendition of one of his all-time greatest tracks “The Light” which was produced by the late production prodigy J Dilla, whom was shown love by all inside the cramped Kool Haus. He then stated that, “I always close the show with The Light and typically don’t do any more songs….however because y’all been so good, I’ll do a couple more!”  The crowd roared its approval as Common bounced through the Kanye-assisted “The Food” and “I Want You” off Finding Forever.All in all, Chicago’s finest delivered yet another memorable performance filled with everything you would expect from Common and maybe a little you wouldn’t. Hopefully next time Toronto is graced with Common’s fine mic presence it will be at a venue that that offers some relief from the heat being produced on stage and amongst the fans.