AllHipHop

homepage

Hip-Hop Rumors: DJ Unk’s Beef With Joe Budden! R.I.P. Sho Nuff! Dead Man Stands For 3-Day Wake!

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Rumors
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

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.

YO! THE GAME TO DISS

JAY-Z – FOR REAL?

 

I don’t know that this is true, but the sources are talking

within the Black Wall Street Org. I am now hearing that The Game might

actually, really dis Jay-Z on record. Like, he might make a song and stick with

it. I wonder why? Obviously, it could be to promote his new album, but could it

be something else. Now, from what I heard the “Superman” song, which was

produced by Just Blaze, was something that ultimately referenced Jay-Z and

Kingdom come on the subliminal tip. There was no mention of Beyonce in my rumor, but they are such a cool couple, I figured Game would think twice if he saw Jigga so happy and moving on with his adult life.

 

THE GAME’S FORGOTTEN

TRACKS

 

Also, as you know, a clean version of The Game’s album hit

the net recently and has the Net up in a tizzy over it. I love this song with

Rae and Game personally, among others. But, from what I have been told, there

are tons of Game songs floating around. Also, I heard there have been several

version of the album. In particular, I heard The Game has a song with Big Daddy

Kane, KRS-One and Dougie Fresh that was sliced from the album. Not sure why

though. I’d like to have that, either way. Leak that, BWS!

 

SHOUT OUT TO RED AND

METH!

 

Shout out to my man Kavio from Golddigga Ent, who gave me

the run down of the Rock The Bells show down in Mountain View, CA

on Saturday. Method Man and Redman found out that stagediving just doesn’t work

everywhere you go. I heard Mef and Red stage dives at least 3 times, per 30

minute set…and they both fell at least once. Still I heard the guys really did

their thing at the show. Good for them.

RIP TO SHO NUFF

We have a bigger dedication coming, but damn. Died at the age of 56.He’s a legend though. R.I.P. Julius Carry ‘AKA’ SHO NUFF.

 

DAY 26 BEAT SOMEBODY

DOWN FOR DANITY KANE?

 

You know I have to take my cues from you all when it comes

to these boy/girl band/ pop acts. If they aren’t doing something dumb, I don’t know

who they are. Straight up. But, I heard that Laurie Ann Gibson threw a party the

other night at Guest House in NYC and it got quite wild, says Mocha from Smart

Sexy Rich & Crazy! The party was to celebrate Making The Band. At the party

somebody disrespected Dawn from Danity Kane. Then, we are told that Q from Day

26 goes from man with sensitivity to thug in 6 seconds, beating the guy’s ass.

He allegedly threw him on a table and tried to pound the man out! Don’t

disrespect his girl, I repeat do not disrespect his girl. Other guests were Jon

B., Slim Thug, Teyana Taylor, the boys from Making The Band, Willie, Robert,

Mike, DJ Clue, and Aubrey from Danity Kane. Nobody even knows what the dude

said to get such a thrashing!

Shelz has something to say …

YAY!!

Last night was free night in the

A.  Nelly had something at the Tabernacle in conjunction with AT&T

and Samsung.  Bun B was over at Center Stage doing his thing in

conjunction with Scion.  And Lloyd was ….. well……. somewhere

else.  Anyway, checking for pics of the two events, I come across this.

‘Preciate it Eskay. I

was happier than R. Kelly in a pediatrician’s office when I saw this

picture from Nelly’s show.  What?  My boys?  All together and smiling? 

Wooo Whoooo…..But it got sweeter peeps.  Yes it did. I caught this shot from Bun B’s show straight from Kaos.Hellz

yeah.  Two shows in one night?  This isn’t lets go hang out and catch

up.  Nooooo…… This my friends is lets let everybody in the A know

we’re good and about to do some thangs. To this I say, I can sleep

peacefully tonight as all will soon be right in my personal hip hop

universe.  Am I d!ck riding? Yezzzzzzir!Fem Movement Making it Happen.So

the ladies of the FEM movement (Lady of Rage, Babs Bunny and Lady Luck)

seem to be backing their words up with some real action.  There are

some vids floating around of them in the studio with a few of the male

features on the project (Cuban Link, Gillie, Lord Tariq and others) and

the first music video shoot was this past Sunday at Harlem Lanes. I

haven’t seen the likes of Rah Digga or Amil in the house yet, but folks

are saying they are going to be giving an extra push to this project. I

wish the chicas well especially considering we are getting straight

crickets from most of the chicks in the industry these days.Rappers Tired of Being Police Targets?  Want to Move to Canada?  Maybe not.Canada

already has a rapper and his name is Belly.  He’s won some awards,

toured with Snoop and made a decent living for himself.  So what does

he get in return? An early afternoon visit from Ottowa’s guns and gangs

unit and they brought friends which included the tactical squad, a K-9

unit and some other folks called the OPP group.  All for one dude? 

Belly claims they broke his doors, smashed his windows and made a

general mess of his house.  What did they find; 3 BB guns. One of his

neighbors reported she wasn’t shocked the cops came a –

knocking because his blinds are always drawn and she doesnt like all

the activity at the house.  Whoa. Don’t need much for a warrant in

Ottowa?  Maybe my friends up north can help me with this one.Please Let the Dead RestSo

some guy named Dustorm raps and he has an album coming out.  Not all

that exciting.  But what is interesting about this dudes marketing

scheme is his bringing to light his past job as a ghost writer. Not

only is it mentioned but the fact that he penned several songs for a

“very famous, now deceased rapper” seems to be the lynchpin of his

press.  It’s taken to the point where the PR wizards handling him write

if you hear him rap you will know who he was ghosting for.  Is this how

you plan to sell?  Do I win a prize if I guess right? I mean seriously,

why would you bring this up if dude is dead?  Considering he’s coming

out of NYC you know where folks minds are going.  He might need to

re-think his ploy.  You know how folks can get about their favorite

rapper.Random Stuff….Diddy gets yet another reality show as does DMX.  Do you think this might be a reason to not get his ish together?  I mean how boring would it be for reality show junkies to watch him clean his act up?Is fifty dodging the arson investigators?  They say they can’t get him to meet with them. I say I’m sure he has a lot less free time than his baby moma.I know he didn’t just blow his nose with a hundred dollar bill.  And why did they turn the camera off before we got to see him fish that snotty bill out of the trash can? Gotta love SBILLSEED’S QUICKIES

 

I am hearing that the man named Banks might be leaving the

G-Unit. As I told you, Banks was allegedly looking to go to Def Jam, but that

could just mean a new label home. We know that Interscope is in some kind of

situation.

 

I don’t believe this soon-to-be married couple is breaking

up, but people are saying there is trouble with Young Dro and Fantasia.

 

Is Nas now the Black president rapper? He and Young Jeezy

have a song called “My President Is Black.” I am doing a song called “My

President is Wack” and its already a hit.

 

YO. Do you all remember when NAs and Jeezy almost had beef?

 

Rumor has it Foxy Brown is all set to make her comeback with

a new “official” version of Black Roses, which came out earlier this year.

 

I heard that Cassidy might have a couple bars going to Clive

Davis and J Records since they dropped him. I also heard some of the boy’s new

material and its fire.

 

Amerie is hard at work on her comeback album, I am hearing.

 

 

SIGNS THE WORLD IS

COMING TO AN END

 

This is the OMG version. Peep the pic:

 

 

Well, nobody can say that he didn’t get his final wish. A

young man’s dying wish was to remain standing – even after he was dead.

OM-GOTDAMN. By way of a unique embalming treatment, Angel Pantoja Medina was

dead but standing in a corner at his mama house during a three-day wake.  Family members visited and kissed him on the

cheek even though he had passed on into heaven.

 

 

The weird thing is, dude’s death is a mystery. He was found

dead under a bridge. Police are looking into what killed him.

 

DJ UNK VERSUS JOE

BUDDEN

 

What in 21 Jump

Street is going on? Look at this!

 

 

Looks like Unk felt some kind of way when Budden said, “Dancin

became cool again then came walk it out/ but I ain’t know what the f*ck n***as

was talkin’ bout.”

 

SHOUT OUT TO LIRIS

CROSSE

IC, 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 ah*******@***il.com.– allhiphop rumors

Industry Spotlight: Hustle 101

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Features
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Ain’t nothing janky about the promoters these young filmmakers are documenting. The hottest college parties in the country go down in the ATL—right in the heart of Atlanta University Center—and these aren’t your normal weekend benders. College students from across the country travel to Atlanta each year to get down and busy, and students as young as 19 are making bank. Twenty-two-year-old Donte Murry and 19-year-old Michael Cooke, directors of the underground “reality movie” Hustle 101, expose the inner workings of college party promotions and competitive culture promotion teams have created in Atlanta. Respect their hustle.AllHipHop.com: How did you guys come up with the idea for the movie?Donte Murry: What I thought in the beginning was a unique opportunity to put something on film that’s never been captured before. To see 18/19-year-olds making so much money and they’re throwing like $3,000 off the stage in a night that just really intrigued me. And I figured that in our culture that would intrigue other people. The deeper I got into it, the more I wanted to know, film more and show people. Originally we wanted it to be a reality show, I was actually talking to some producers at BET and they couldn’t really get a visual of what we were saying. So long story short, instead of waiting on somebody, we took matters into our own hands and came up with this film. And we just knew we could get it out there one way or another. AllHipHop.com: Party promotions happen in cities all across the country. What is your movie, Hustle 101, showing us that we’ve never seen before or don’t know about?Murry: Well, Atlanta’s really unique in the sense that our movie isn’t just about party promotions, it’s about college party promotions. Really there’s nowhere else like it because in Atlanta you’ve got a little over 100,000 college students. What makes Atlanta really unique is that three or four years ago they raised up entry ages to get into a lot these clubs to the age of 21 and up. So, all these older promoters completely gave up on the college game. So that’s why in the past four years, you had college students coming in taking over this huge market and making like $30,000 in a night. I haven’t seen anybody coming close to what these kids are making in Atlanta right now. There’s a real interesting thing that comes about when you have a 21-year-old wearing a $10,000 chain on his neck and he has 50 people under him that will do anything to wear his shirt and be on his team. AllHipHop.com: Do you see a parallel between these promotion teams and gang culture?Michael Cooke: This at its core is a positive. We didn’t have to put a spin on it. These pretty much African-American people in this party promoter scene are making money legally, and they’re making a lot of it. We in no way associate it with gang culture. We associate it more with the lifestyle of fraternities, how you want to be part of something.Murry: To answer your question, no. It’s kind of a very complex film when you get into it. I would say yes in the sense of the excessive attachment to materialism and being flashy and that drawing people in. AllHipHop.com: Not necessarily the violence that can go along with gang culture, but the camaraderie that you see – how they would do anything to be part of that team. Murry: Right. It reminds of me a lot of the music game and the entertainment industry. Seeing how people would do anything because that’s the way they want to be and that’s what you see with a lot of these party promotion teams. They snatch up these freshmen right when they come in and these freshmen will do anything. Because [imagine] you’re coming out to school in Atlanta and you’re from South Carolina and you see a guy that’s two years older than [you] who throws about $3,000 a night. Who throws out money you can’t make in a whole semester, you say, “Man, I wanna be that,” so you’re gonna do anything it takes to become that. “I’ll do whatever, I’ll do anything” – the length some of these kids will go to be on some of these teams is just crazy.AllHipHop.com: These teams are like celebrity entourages, so what do you think it is that attracts these kids to the celebrity?Cooke: You’re in a college and, basically, all these people you have an association with them whether you have class with them or you see them three or four times a day just walking around on the promenade. Now these people know your face like, “Wait, you’re the dude that threw that party… wait, you’re the guy that’s always up on stage…wait, you’re the one who had the chain,” and all these people start following you and relate that back to celebrity. It’s almost like immediate gratification because your fans are right there. They compliment you on a daily basis, they give you props on a daily basis because these are the people you see – it’s pretty much like being with your fans 24/7.Murry: I intern for DJ Drama in Atlanta and I’ve seen more artists come in and out of that office than the average person, and instead I’ve seen these students be more groupie-ish with these party promoters than I’ve seen with some of these artists. It’s instant gratification, it’s all of those things you see on TV – money, flashy cars, jewelry, but it’s right in front of you so you wanna get close to it.AllHipHop.com: Why do you think these college party promotions are so popular on black college campuses?Cooke: Well, look at America as a whole, take the way all colleges, not necessarily black colleges, are built in general. Atlanta is … you have Spelman, Morehouse, Clark, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory, a little out further you have UGA, you’ve got Bauder College, you’ve got all these colleges and they’re so close together. The fact of the matter is I’ve seen white party promoters; I’ve seen party promoters of other races it’s just predominately the way the AUC is made up of mostly African-American and minorities, that’s where the party promoters, the majority of them, are coming from. Murry: I think that another real big distinction [that] it comes down to is [the] swag. To be a good party promoter you’re whole business is based off of drawing people to you. That’s why people wear jewelry, that’s why people throw out money, that’s why they all have 40 girls around who will do anything that you ask them to do because it’s all about image. I think that’s something at black colleges and black people as a whole, I mean, we gravitate already towards people who are like that. I think it’s just a natural extension on all collegiate campuses. I think it really just comes down to that whole swag factor, though. AllHipHop.com: Speaking of women, what role do these females usually play on these promotion teams?Murry: One girl we covered is a girl who just joined a big promotions team in Atlanta called Hit Squad. She was just absolutely smitten, but she just couldn’t put it into words for us. We were like, “Why are you joining this team?” And she was like, “Well, you know, they give so much money, and they making so many moves.” And we were like, “Are you making money?” And she say, “No, but I will.” At the end of the film she quits the teams. And she says something that’s so provocative; it was symbolic of a lot things that we were trying to show in the film. She goes, “You know what I’m done with it, but I’m sure they’ll find somebody just like me.” And she’s right, they just found 40 new girls. And once she found out her real role and the purpose that she served, she was gone. It’s interesting to see her throughout the film take that descent though. AllHipHop.com: Beyond the partying part of it, are these promoters doing other things to help their communities and customers?Murry: We had one team they did something real admirable. They threw one event and took all of the money and sent it AIDS Awareness in Africa. That was Sky High. We get e-mails all the time from people saying that was so admirable. You’ve got someone in this culture that says they realize that they’re reach is so big, “Why am I not going to use it? Instead of throwing $3,000 off stage, why won’t I take all this money and send it to people who could really use it.” AllHipHop.com: What are you two working on for the future?Cooke: I’m a filmmaker and photographer. Currently, I’m working the Raw Report right now that’s a DVD Hip-Hop magazine. We’re doing a couple of music videos. I do their music videos; I do their photo shoots. I’m just keeping it moving trying to get to the next step. Using Hustle 101 as a platform to launch myself from and both me and D still have projects we’re working on together. And D’s probably doing something spectacularly amazing right now. Murry: Our thing is we’re ready to take over the game all up on a whole new scale. We figure if we can do this on a $1,000 budget, then projects and movies we have coming out in the future [are] only gonna be up on another level. We’ve got a lot of ideas that we just want to get out to the public and hopefully, they’ll eat it up the same way they did with Hustle 101. Learn more and purchase Hustle 101 at http://hustle101themovie.com/

Bow Wow Challenges Game To $100K Madden Face-Off

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

While many Madden fans are confident in their gaming skills, none may be as self-assured as Bow Wow, who has issued a $100k one-on-one challenge to The Game.The lucrative bet comes on the heels of Game’s declaration on konsolekingz.com that he was without question that top Madden player in the world.“I’m number one in Madden, in the world,” Game bragged while disclosing his gaming name. “L-A-X, find me and get your a** whooped. To be a ‘konsole king’ you gotta look like me.”Personally offended by those words, Bow Wow issued the $100k challenge to see if The Game can back up his boasts with substantial money on the line.“I’ve seen you do your thing in Madden. But I wanna let you know I will bust your a** in that Madden,” a cocksure Bow Wow proclaimed. “We can get it poppin’, on $100,000 dollars. The winner can take the money and donate it to charity. Live on youtube. We’re all family. $100,000 ain’t s**t to you, let’s do it!”Seeking to elaborate on his resume of celebrity victims, Bow Wow exposed a famous friend who suffered a lop-sided defeat.“Soulja Boy’s my lil homie, but I beat the s**t outta that n***a in Madden,” he quipped.Konsole Kingz has emerged as the top Hip-Hop gaming entity and jumped at the opportunity to host this Madden 09 challenge.Dubbed Versus: The Celebrity Game Battle, Bow Wow vs. The Game will serve as the inaugural celebrity battle of many that are planned.Konsole Kingz CEO CJ Peters explained his excitement to AllHipHop.com about illuminating the thriving sub-culture of Hip-Hop gaming.“Konsole Kingz has covered Hip-Hop gaming for over three years, “Peters revealed. “The Game-Bow Wow challenge has shown the world the power and popularity of gaming in the Hip-Hop community. Our goal is to work with our partners and bring the fans of Hip-Hop a fresh new look at their favorite artists.”The Madden duel will be filmed next week at a private location in New York City.

Eric Benet: Hurricane Survivor

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Alternatives
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

It’s blazing saddles in New York City, but Eric Benet sits in the Warner label offices cool as a cucumber. That is until he receives word that an earthquake hit California. With his Blackberry clutched in his palm, Benet makes a series of phone calls, making sure every Cali resident in his family is present and accounted for…especially his daughter India. Before even sitting down with the debonair crooner to discuss his music (and every rumor he’s been attached to), one thing rang loud and clear: Eric Benet is a human being. Sure that statement is obvious, but watching the platinum artist frantically phone home, suddenly every Halle Berry war story and tale of n########## became completely insignificant. Thankfully, his family was ok, but when Eric Benet sat back down to speak, his past really didn’t seem to matter. He was still open to reflect upon his life, and the period of time where he retreated before bouncing back with his brilliant new effort Love and Life. An artist, a lover, and a father, Eric Benet is more than meets the tabloid, and he isn’t afraid to show it.AllHipHop.com Alternatives: So after well over a decade, what makes you continue to do music? Eric Benet: I always feel like there can never be enough positive, heartfelt, emotionally soulful music out there. Whenever I turn on the radio, there seems to be not enough of that. So I mean, I’m just gonna keep making it. And I feel like this new record Love and Life, is the strongest projects I ever made. It represents the genre of R&B and dare I say, classic R&B. The whole indent of making this record – or the whole inspiration behind this record – was to try and make a record that sounded like the music that made me fall in love with music. So it’s very much a tribute to classic R&B. I mean, when you listen to the first single, “You’re the Only One,” it’s just…that song just feels like that from the gut R&B that you used to hear all the time. And I’m old enough to remember – like in the ‘70s and ‘80s. But there’s just not enough of it. So, my first single really gives you an idea of what to look for – what to look forward to on the rest of the CD. AHHA: How did you come up with the title Love and Life?Eric Benet: For me, I’m just really enjoying both of those things right now to the fullest. I’ve come to a place in my life where I just feel so present. Just grateful – gratitude; for not just the good times, but for the bad times and the mistakes that I made too. I’m grateful because I feel like I’m a better person because of everything that I’ve gone through, everything I’ve learned. I’m the kind of songwriter that whatever I’m going through in my life, you can pretty much feel in the lyrics and songs I write. The last record Hurricane was a beautiful record, but it was just kind of very introspective; kind of dark. A lot of people said it was dark. I was just in this other place. Like now in Love and Life, I’m just celebrating all kinds of things. I’m celebrating the gratitude I spoke about earlier. I’m celebrating the joy of and healing power of sex in a healthy sexual relationship. I’m celebrating just enjoying life, dancing and just feeling good. You can just feel that all throughout the record. AHHA: When Hurricane came out, which was in 2005, there was a lot going on for you personally. Did you feel at that point in time, that maybe what was going on in your personal life kind of overshadowed the power of Hurricane, because it really was a really good album. Eric Benet: Thank you. Thank you very much for that. And yes, I felt that way as well. I guess it’s just an occupational hazard. But yeah, the whole personally fallout – and then the how you say – just like over exaggerating certain things and details and everything definitely overshadowed the record. Which is really unfortunate because, like I said before, I’m grateful that you feel so as well. It was a real beautiful record. I got a chance to work with producers Walter A. and David Foster. I’ve been idolizing David Foster since I was like ten years old. David foster produced songs like Earth Wind and Fire’s “September” and “After the Love is Gone.” So I mean, being in the studio and working with him was amazing. We really did make a beautiful record; it just wasn’t the right time. And I think now there’s been all kinds of – I wanna say there’s been enough of hope – there’s been enough time since all of that. People might let this music stand on its own feet and represent itself for what it is. I’m just really excited about it. AHHA: A lot of times when an artist goes through situations where their lives are really put on display, they kind of really recoil – I cite Lauryn Hill as an example. When personal things come out to the public [artists] kind of back of way and stop recording. What gave you your second wind to wanna do this album? Eric Benet: Well to answer your question, I kind of did recoil. [laughs] I mean it took me a minute to get back in the studio to do the Hurricane record. I mean like you said, Hurricane record came out in 2005, so that was a few years after all my drama. So it took me a minute to regroup and feel the passion of writing music again. And I think once Hurricane was a record, I felt like I just gotta get it out. A lot like therapy. [Love and Life] kind of feels like a celebration or just an indication of gratitude. I don’t have any of those gaps of the music flowing or feeling like getting in the studio and making music. I took my little bit of time, but I feel like it was necessary. And I feel like the product of what’s come from taking that moment – it just made me a much better person.AHHA: Now you stuck really long with Warner through the whole long haul of your career. A lot of R&B artists – you know, any artist in general – they go through that musical chairs game where they jump from different labels and stuff. What was it about this label that keeps you so consistent with them? Eric Benet: It’s kind of trippin’ me out actually because I’m thinking about it. Damn, I’ve been at Warner Bros since ’96 and it’s like there are no – it’s almost like nobody from the executive level to – there definitely aren’t artists in the Urban Department that were around when I was signed that were still here. So I very well can be it, now that I’m thinking about it. I think I am it. There’s been like maybe four different presidents. But I think, to be honest, part of it is just the contract. They got me. Secondly, I’m grateful because this regime especially in the urban music department now, it’s a good fit. It’s a real good fit right now. They get it. I feel like they get me more than anybody else did before. And they’re really feeling this record. So it’s a really good time for me at Warner Bros. right now.AHHA:  Now as we spoke about your daughter, India, she’s growing up and stuff. How are you handling her dealing with boys and ya know…Eric Benet: [takes in deep breath] With grace. With grace. It’s funny, when I was growing up, I didn’t have a kind of relationship with my mom or my dad where I can come home and spill my guts about personal stuff like, “Mom I kissed this girl today” or I’m really feeling this girl in my Chemistry class. How do I…what do I say to her?” I didn’t have that kind of relationship. I always felt like it was very important to have that relationship with your child. I’m very thankful for my parents in my childhood, but that was one thing I told myself from a early age that whenever I have a child, she’s gonna talk to me. And I’m gonna figure out how to do this from day one. So I made a conscious decision that when India was born, that I’m going to talk to this person. As appropriately as I can, I’m going to tell her “I had a bad day today.” “I had a great day today.” “I’m frustrated about this.” “This is what’s going on.” From as long as India has been talking, it’s always been very natural for her to do the same to me. She’d come home and tell me about this girl driving her nuts, or she’ll tell me about this boy she has this crush on, or she’ll tell me about how she kissed somebody today. I think back on my life and one of the things I’m most proud about is establishing that kind of relationship with my daughter. That makes it a lot easier being a single parent. I’ve been a single parent since India was fifteen months old – for most of her life. We have a bond like no other. But I guess I wage the bet a little bit more by laying that communication foundation early on. If I could give any parent any advice because you know so many parents – and I’m sure so many people can relate – like me. I didn’t tell my parents nothing. Parents are like, “I want my child to talk to me. Why won’t they?” Well you know it’s important from a very early age that you talk to your child. Don’t just talk to them superficially, but tell them what’s really going on. Then it will be very unnatural of them not to come home and not tell you what’s going on with them. AHHA: When your personal life was all out in the news and stuff, did you make it a point that you spoke to her first before Channel 5 told her?Eric Benet: Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. Because as we all know, in the media, it’s all about the story. It’s all about “Let me blow this story up and make it as sellable as it possible can.” So like I said before, as age appropriately as possible, India was around ten years old. It was a really difficult time. But I sat her down and talked to her for real. Allowed her to feel and supported her to feel what she felt – like some anger, some sadness. It’s very important to open up even in the bad times.AHHA: Your fan base really stuck by you through thick and thin. You have kind of like that cult following going on. I’ve even been reading from your MySpace pages, they just have a very intimate relationship with you and your music. Has anybody ever done anything crazy? I know there’s gotta be one story. Eric Benet: Well first yeah. I’m very thankful for the fans that have stuck by me and allowed my music to keep filing their lives. Yeah there’s been some extreme things, but now that I think about it, probably my extreme things, probably don’t compare. I’m looking at Warner Bros. for those of ya’ll who are looking at this, but there are posters of artist all over the walls here and I’m thinking, “My little stories probably don’t compare nothing to ‘he’ did last week.” I mean somebody tattooed their name – I signed her name and she tattooed her name. It always amazes me how my fans will get on a plane and come to my show wherever I’m at. I’m just so grateful to have that kind of devotion to somebody. I wanna say thank you again. I try to say thank you in my music, but it just means the world to me. AHHA: How do you feel when you see some of the New School R&B groups? They talk about some of their influences and they say “I got my influences from Eric Benet, 112.” Artists from an era from a couple years prior would say, “Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye.” Eric Benet: It’s an honor on top of honor on top of honor. This probably sounds like bullsh*t, but I don’t make music for praise. I make music because it’s almost like I have no choice. It’s just in my heart – it’s just flowing through me. Whether I was making $50/75 dollars a week – and I was for about four years when I started – or whether I’m making a little bit more, music is just something that is authentic to my soul. I’m so honored that people might acknowledge, other artist may acknowledge, what I do as something as something that might have given them some inspiration. That’s a tricked out feeling. AHHA: So I know you have a big radio tour coming up. What else is next?Eric Benet: I’m actually gonna start a tour with Dwele in October. That’s gonna be really cool. He’s got such a dope vibe, and I think it’s a good match. I’m like a different kind of R&B and he’s like this another kind of R&B. I think it’s gonna go very well together and that’s gonna happen in October. And then internationally, we’re gonna jump off maybe end of January.AHHA: So out of your whole career, what would you say was probably your happiest moment. Your whole music career.Eric Benet: My whole professional career? Two immediately popped into my head, but the first one was getting a call from Maurice White from Earth Wind and Fire and saying, “I want you to produce a couple songs on this project we’re working on.” Being in the studio with him with my partners Demonte and my cousin George Nash, you know these people whose music I’ve studied was just a dream come true. The same thing with David Foster. We talked about David Foster before, but working on an album with David Foster is incredible. Being with Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder got this radio show in LA. A lot of people don’t know it and it’s like, I didn’t know he had a radio station show but I knew he owned. He owns a radio station; it’s like “The R&B Radio Station in LA” KGLH. He owns it. He then he recently started doing the Thursday morning show. So he asked me to come on the show, and it was a trip. Because we’re hanging out and he interviewed me – interviewed by Stevie Wonder, how crazy is that? And then of course Stevie has a keyboard in the studio. While he’s on it he’s like “Eric what do you wanna sing man?” And so we started singing “You & I”I think it was on his Innervisions record. Singing “You & I” with Stevie Wonder for the whole city to hear, that was like “Wow, this sh*t is crazy.” But yeah, that was special moment.You & I Live – Eric Benet & Stevie WonderAHHA: Lastly, any reservations for this album? Do you have any worries?Eric Benet: Any worries? Any reservations? Naw. Naw, I got nothing but just like really, really positive feelings about this. This is like the best project I’ve ever done in my life. The purist representation of myself I’ve done in my life. It represents me so accurately. I went back to my hometown, Milwaukee, recorded it there with my brothers in music. I got nothing but positivity and love attached to this project. Check out Eric Benet singing his new album track “Chocolate Legs”

LL Cool J Headlines Sears Fall 2008 Campaign

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Retail giant Sears announced that icon LL Cool J will kick off their Fall 2008 advertising campaign with a series of photo-ops with famed photographer Mark Seliger.

 

The photos will feature black and white images of LL with his family, and serve as a launch pad for the LL Cool J Collection.

 

The brand will debut in 450 Sears stores nationwide on September 7. The collection offers men’s, junior’s, and children’s apparel.

 

The launch will coincide with the release of LL’s thirteenth studio and final Def Jam album Exit 13 (September 9).

 

The album will be available for purchase at select Sears stores and Sears.com.

 

In a concerted effort to make the clothing affordable to consumers in today’s market, prices for the collection start at $24 for t-shirts, $50 for denim and $60 for outerwear.

 

While excited about his new brand, LL puts emphasis on the work of photographer Mark Seliger as a focal point to the success of the campaign.

 

“Mark Seliger and I have been collaborating on various projects for years,” LL explained. “He photographed me for his first Rolling Stone cover. Now, years later, we have reunited with him shooting my first campaign for Sears. Mark’s photography is able to convey the heritage of the LL Cool J brand and expertly captures the collection.”

 

The campaign is scheduled to appear in the October 2008 issues of Spin, Vibe, Seventeen, CosmoGIRL!, and Cosmopolitan.

 

Exit 13 is scheduled for release on September 9 and features contributions from 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean, Lil Mo, Fat Joe, Sheek Louch, Funkmaster Flex, Grandmaster Caz, The Dream, Ryan Leslie, and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.

Hip-Hop Mogul Jermain Dupri Closes Café Dupri

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Hip-Hop mogul Jermaine Dupri recently closed his Café Dupri, an eatery that he recently opened in the Buckhead section of Atlanta.

 

According to Dupri, who opened the health conscious café in 2005, the ailing United States economy prevented the business venture from taking off the ground.

 

“The economy has changed dramatically and people just aren’t eating out as much anymore,” Dupri told AllHipHop.com. “People are cutting back everywhere and a lot of companies, including Café Dupri, are feeling the affect. For the past two months business at the Café has been down and if the business isn’t making money, I feel its a smart move to shut it down. Bottom line: if it doesn’t make money, it doesn’t make sense.”

 

Employees of the café recently spoke to WSB-TV about the closing as well, airing their frustrations with Dupri due to allegations of nonpayment for the work.

 

Last week, workers arrived at the Buckhead-based eatery to find a sign on the door that read “thanks for patronizing Café Dupri. We have closed indefinitely.”

 

According to the workers, Dupri’s mother, Cecelia Mauldin, served as CEO of Café Dupri.

 

She issued notices several times to employees stating that payroll funds were not available.

 

A notice dated Aug. 11 instructed the workers to go to “a Sun Trust bank and cash your check. The cash flow will not be in the bank until Tuesday after 12. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

 

Workers told WSB-TV that paychecks from Café Dupri have bounced for weeks and have been refused at local check cashing businesses.

 

When asked about the dilemma, Mauldin also said that all the workers had been paid and that it was a business decision to shut down Café Dupri.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Floyd Mayweather Un-Retires? Cam’ron Returns This Fall? Lil’ Wayne & Solange?

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Rumors
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

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 RETURN OF FLOYD

MAYWEATHER!

 

We all knew this wasn’t going to last for very long, but

here we are. I am hearing that Floyd Mayweather will

make good on his new name, Money Mayweather. I don’t

know if you all know, but “Money” retired and did a good job holding out, but

some events happened in boxing that are rumored to making that flip. First,

Oscar De La Hoya has seen some big fights fall through for him recently. He’s

been left without a suitable opponent that can also create and “event.” Before

he and Floyd fought, De La Hoya had the upper hand in the negotiations, but

those days are apparently OVER. I heard that Floyd is going to get $70 million

to return and there will be some sort of equitable split from that point on.

Can you believe it? Sure you can. We all knew that money would bring “Money”

back out and about. This fight should be fairly epic based on the hype alone.

Now if the heavyweight division could get it together….

 

 

DON’T TOUCH VLAD

 

I am not certain where this came from, but I heard that DJ Vlad is considering suing somebody else if they lay a hand

on him. As you know, Vlad is suing the Rick Ross for

$4 million for beating him up after he allegedly asked about being a

correctional officer. I am not sure who did what, but somebody told me that Vlad might be in a beef with somebody else. From what I

heard, Vlad makes no mistake about it, put hands on

him and he’s going to do what he had to do with the proper authorities. He’s

not a thug, but a normal citizen. Why do adult people have to beat each other

up for simple, things anyway? All you have to do is walk away, say no comment

or write a diss record. Anyway, some are calling him

a snitch, but if he’s not a thug, can he be a snitch? I don’t know the rules.

I’m a stupid rumor guy.

 

YOU KNEW IT WASN’T GOING TO LAST…

 

NEW CAM’RON ALBUM ON

THE WAY

 

I told you guys that Cam’ron was

coming out this summer, but for some reason I was off. Or maybe Cam decided to hold off. On the flippers side, I’m

hearing that he’s about to set it off all over again this fall – fourth

quarter. That’s right, kids, Killa Season is back in

full effect. This November right in the nick of time for

Thanksgiving so don’t make him a turkey! Cop that!

 

CHRIS BROWN AND

DO…HOW DO I SAY THIS WORD: DOLLICIA?

 

A friend of mine claims they recently saw Chris Brown and Dollicia Bryan at a trendy LA bar together but no trace of Rihanna. This looked like a planned date to my source because

both of them were dressed up and came in together and left together. They were

both nice and even let my friend take pictures of them (which I have, but

haven’t uploaded). When asked were dating, neither one of them said anything

and allegedly left together. I don’t know if this means anything, because Brown

Man is very private and definitely doesn’t allow people in his space. I heard

that Chris and Dollicia met on set of his “With

You” video and Chris has been trying to keep their friendly relationship

out of the media. Perhaps this is to keep any wild speculation at bay?

Certainly, he wouldn’t mess up what he had with “umbrella girl” Rihanna. Nothing Chris Brown does can escape the media so

we’ll see. Fame sucks!

 

LL COOL J’S MARRIAGE

IS ON THE ROCKS? NAH!

 

People were saying that LL Cool J’s marriage was on the rocks or

something, but LL says that we must be on rocks. In fact, he is reportedly

buying his wife a new rock. He and Simone recently celebrated 13 years of

wedding bliss. He said, “I promise you, I’m not breaking up. Kill that

rumor. To be honest with you, I’m getting my wedding ring upgraded. I’m getting

it hooked up… She’s going to get hers upgraded too.” I have heard

positive things about the new LL album. HOLLA.

 

YUNG

JOC OFF THE HOOK?

 

People jumped to conclusions with Yung Joc

being a so-called deadbeat dad, but is he really?? Here

is the AHH story on it, but I will summarize below.

 

Yung Joc’s baby’s mother called

him a dead beat daddy – GASP. That is one way to get people’s attention. But

now, how true is that assertion? Joc says that he

actually does care for the kid and she is bugging over a couple days of

lateness. The baby momma creating drama says that Joc

had to catch up on back payments of about $2,000 monthly and I even saw her

crying the blues about how bad it was for her. I felt bad for her too. But Joc said there are times when she is tripping if he is late

two days. She even made these claims. Sigh. So, when Joc

is due on the 1st and she gets it the 3rd, she bugs out

and runs to the media crying. The broad just lied on the man and dragged his

already messed up name in the mud. I’m kidding, but she is a wack woman for that. Joc even

claims he lost sponsorship money over her recent lies. I don’t know with who, but he needs to take him money and give it directly to

the kid, not the middle woman.

 

Listen to Yung Joc on The Ryan Cameron Show

 

http://www.zshare.net/audio/17246367c972293c/

 

STYLES FATHER PASSED,

NOT SHEEK

 

Man, I tell you. There is too many

people passing away. They are all VIPs too. Whether it is

Bernie Mac or Styles father. Yesterday, I believe strongly that I was

mistaken in saying that Sheek’s dad died recently. It

was Styles’ father. So RIP to his father and all the people that recently lost

a loved one. Jerry Wexler passed away last week at the age of 91. He was the

man that coined the term R&B and was down with Ray Charles and Aretha

Franklin. To say “down” is really oversimplifying who he was to

much. Do me a fav and look him up.

 

THE GAME MADE MYA

CRY?

 

This was already featured on AHH a few months ago, but

thought I would bring it back with a new angle. Making Mya

cry!? Not COOL!

 

THE GAME ACCEPTS THE

CHALLENGE

 

Recently, Bow Wow challenged The Game to a tourney of Madden

and the Game happily accepted…but left some dubious terms that involve Ciara. Look at it below.

 

Here is Wow Bow’s challenge in the first place:

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

 

Check

this new Ice Cube out – “Believe It Or Not.” If

you want to download it, click here.

 

I heard that The Game might have signed some group from in

the South. More on that later.

 

Is this an old rumor? I heard Mac Minister got double life

in jail. Kids, don’t follow.

 

I am hearing that AllHipHop has

something coming that’s going to help all the refugees find a home. J

 

Oh…no…God. I am hearing that Pandora might shut down. That

would truly be tragic.

 

Rumor has it, Guru is doing a great

job on his own. He’s reportedly working on new music. But I heard that he’s

collaborating with his myspace friends, which is

cool. On the flip side, I heard that some are crying foul, because they didn’t

prizing from the last myspace contest.

 

I am hearing that that ill-fated Foxy Brown show is now on

the schedule in September. We’ll see!

 

Ya’ll better email me with what’s going on with rappers in

your area. I get bored and that’s good entertainment. AH*******@***il.com

 

Why is Fox News trying to dig up dirt on Obama?

Why don’t they look into the coke past of another well-known president or the

cross-dressing ways of another or how about the womanizing ways of others?

 

On a similar note, I heard that George W. Bush is going to

initiate another war of some sorts before the November elections.

 

Solange reportedly has a new song

about smoking marijuana and sexing. Guess who she sings with? Lil Wayne duet.

The song is called “ChampagneChronicNightcap.”

 

Mario is about to break some hearts. I heard he got engaged

to his girilfriend.

 

Also, Rhianna and Lupe are

supposed to be modeling Kanye’s clothing line, says mediatakeout.

 

ADIOS TO GOOD,

SOUTHERN FOOD

 

Jermaine DuPri’s

restaurant has supposedly closed his Café Dupri.

Rumor has it, several employees are more than heated.

No, this isn’t new or exclusive, but I missed it. They are saying that checks

from the restaurant have been bouncing for quite some time. I guess the bank

hasn’t been offering that overdraft feature. But, they are saying that the

restaurant didn’t work, because the workers may not have been working hard

enough. I don’t know about that, but “everything happens for a reason.”

 

RANDOM QUOTES

 

Today’s Random Quotes are from KRS-One, who is talking about

pimpin’ Grandmaster Caz and

Freddie Foxxx. Interesting stuff

for the old heads.

 

 

“I see motherf***ers say they pimping,

you not pimping! All the chicks around you getting checks! That’s not how the

game go; I was around Grandmaster Caz

the other day. He had at least seven women all claiming to be his wife. I’m

looking at this sh*t [like] seven chicks, these are

grown ass women. These are not little girls man, these

are grown ass women. Some of them got kids by him, they working and sh*t, they doing their thing, seven of them. They telling me “I’m Grandmaster Caz’s

wife” with another female standing next to her saying the same thing. He got chicks, that’s Caz. That’s

some pimp sh*t.”

 

“I took Freddie Foxxx off the street. I met Foxxx

in a Bentley on Ninth Avenue

pimping these hoes. I said Foxxx

this is the Black woman, this is our Queen. You got to get off the f***ing corner and we started spitting rhymes from that moment.

That was years ago.”

 

SIGNS THE WORLD IS

COMING TO AN END

 

Real talk, I don’t know what to think of this. I know one thing, there have to be aliens somewhere in the universe. Only

thing I want to know is how can WE deal with green aliens when we can’t deal

with Brown, Yellow, Black or White? Anyway, around 5:40 in the video, these

alien s#### fly around the way.

 

LADY DRAMA IS BACK ON

DAT A**

 

I’m feeling really light and R&B today folks, it’s been

a rough start to the week! Hope you enjoy, damned if you do, damned if you

don’t:

 

Diva’s Unite, Beyonce, Mariah, Rihanna, Mary J and more record together!

 

It seems almost impossible to think of all this talent coming together on one

LP but it is so. Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus,

Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis,

LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood are coming together to create star-studded

single called ‘Just Stand Up’,’ benefiting the Stand Up to Cancer Campaign.

Sources say the song will be produced by power duo Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and

Antonio ‘L.A.’

Reid, who will be working together for the first time in almost

20 years. The song will be available for purchase exclusively on iTunes on September 2, and I’m sure it won’t disappoint!

Aside from the unmistakable talent infused in the track it’s for a great cause!

Now roast on that!

 

Speaking of Beyonce…

 

We have been hearing about the reemergence of Destiny’s Child since they left

the scene in 2005, but now we have a little bit more confirmation from none

other than ‘Illseeds’ own Kelly Rowland. According to

The UK News edition of Yahoo.com Kelly hinted that the girls will re-unite

soon! Check this out:

 

Rowland has previously revealed the trio will make a stage a comeback

next year.

And now Rowland claims her former band mates, Beyonce

Knowles and Michelle Williams, are keen to produce some new tracks.

She says, ‘We’re so looking forward to working with each again and we

just need to find a time in our diaries when we can get into the studio

together.’

Interesting but with Beyonce’s new album on the merge

and talks of her being badgered to have a baby from Tina and Jay I don’t know

if this is really an option! But as always we’ll see!

 

R Kelly takes someone else to court for a change!

 

Yup you read it right R.Kelly is actually going to

court as a plaintiff instead of a defendant! It seems some club promoters

recently used Kelz images and names on a flyer for a

party that he was ‘supposed’ to promote! The parties he’s suing are Sugar

night club and promoters Toi Crawford and Shane

Mooney. I guess the party was 21 and up damn!

 

Lady Drama’s Food For Thought:

 

Wow my name is actually on the boards! I’ve come a long way 😉

 

Go Hard or Go Home!

 

ILL VIDEOSREMEMBER THIS: STICKY

FINGAZ AND THAT ROCK DUDE!

 

Hip-Hop got a dose of reality when Sticky Fingaz of Onyx fought this dude in the boxing ring. Now,

back in the 90’s we all thought that Stick was supposed to plow through dude,

but that didn’t happen. Check it.

 

THE BEEF IS DEAD –

BIG BOI AND KILLER MIKE

 

AHH was down in Houston

and talked to KM about ending the beef with Big Boi.

Here is more:

 

 IC, 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 ah*******@***il.com.– allhiphop rumors

Raekwon, Immortal Technique On Board for New Ill Bill Album

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Independent Brooklyn-based rapper Ill Bill will receive backing on his forthcoming album from a number of Hip-Hop heavyweights, including Wu-Tang Clansman Raekwon and underground rap fixture Immortal Technique.

 

The album, titled The Hour Of Reprisal, is the follow up to Ill Bill’s first release What’s Wrong with Bill?

 

In addition to the debut, the former Non Phixion and current La Coka Nostra member has released a string of mixtapes.

 

Raekwon and Immortal Technique are among the artists featured on The Hour of Reprisal.

 

Collaborations with Cypress Hill frontman B-Real, Vinnie Paz and Necro are also featured on the album, which also features appearances from legendary hardcore punk band Bad Brains and heavy metal groups Slayer and Killswitch Engage.

 

Production on the Uncle Howie Records / Fat Beats Records project will be handled by DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, T-Ray, DJ Lethal and Ill Bill himself, a first for the rapper.

 

Ill Bill will hit the road next month as part of a North American headlining tour with Heltah Skeltah’s Sean Price.

 

The outing, which will include a performance at this year’s We The People Festival in Los Angeles on Sept. 27, will kick off Sept.11 and run through November 9.

 

Ill Bill’s The Hour of Reprisal is slated to hit stores September 16.

 

The following is a tracklisting for the album:

1. Babylon feat. Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage 2. Doomsday Was Written In An Alien Bible 3. Trust Nobody 4. A Bullet Never Lies feat Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks 5. White N****r 6. My Uncle 7. Riya feat. HR and Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains 8. War Is My Destiny feat. Immortal Technique and Max Cavalera of Sepultura/Soulfly 9. Society Is Brainwashed 10. This Is Who I Am 11. Too Young feat. HERO and Slaine of La Coka Nostra 12. Pain Gang feat. B-Real of Cypress Hill and Everlast of La Coka Nostra 13. U.B.S. (The Unauthorized Biography of Slayer) 14. Coka Moshiach feat. Raekwon The Chef 15. The Most Dangerous Weapon Alive 16. Soap 17. I’m A Goon 18. Only Time Will Tell feat. Necro, Tech N9ne and Everlast of La Coka Nostra

Goodie M.O.B. Reunites On Stage During Nelly Concert

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

Atlanta fans were treated to a surprise Goodie M.O.B. reunion last night (August 19), when all four members of the legendary group appeared on stage during a promotional Nelly concert.

 

Shortly after being brought on stage as one of Nelly’s many guest performers, Big Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo Goodie were joined by Cee-Lo, who had been among the capacity crowd at The Tabernacle.

 

Appearing together for the first time in nearly two years, the group performed two classic cuts, “They Don’t Dance No Mo” and “Black Ice (Sky High),” both from their 1998 sophomore release Still Standing.

 

The impromptu performance bolstered talk of a forthcoming Goodie M.O.B. reunion, since each group member has remained in the public eye with independent and side projects of their own.

 

Following the release of two albums without Cee-Lo and his immense international success with producer Danger Mouse, Goodie M.O.B. first reunited on stage in 2006 during a Gnarls Barkley concert.

 

In November, the group officially announced plans for a reunion album, though not much information about the project has been released since.

 

The Goodie M.O.B appearance was the highlight of a star-studded event that included performances by Gucci Mane, Jermaine Dupri and the St. Lunatics.

 

While Nelly performed past hits like “Grillz” and “Welcome to Atlanta,” the majority of the show consisted of cuts from his upcoming album Brass Knuckles, which hits stores September 16.

 

The free concert was part of AT&T and Samsung’s Summer Crush series, which promotes new music and phone technology simultaneously.

GZA: Pro Tools (Album Review)

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Reviews / Music
Preferred Source Publisher Button>

 

 

It’s been three years since we last heard from Wu-Tang’s GZA. This time around he connects with fellow Clan producers True Master, Mathematics and Bronze Nazareth with guest appearances from RZA, Masta Killa and his son Young Justice on Pro Tools (Babygrande).

 

Not only are some of the elite members of the Wu together on this album, but GZA continues to take shots at 50 Cent and his G-Unit entourage. Petty beef aside, his top notch lyricism is met with solid production making this release his best effort since Liquid Swords.

 

On the first single “Paper Plates,” GZA fires some darts at Curtis, his crew, and their “disposable” music. “I spray the Flea Unit with pesticides, and you can get / Your best ghost writers, get ’em all to testify / Have you ever been stung by a thousand hornets / Five hundred Killa Beez, buzzing and really on it.” It’s true the Clan does sting, especially when RZA and Masta Killa join up with GZA to show off their trademark flows and prolific lyrics on the Mathematics produced “Pencil.”

 

The razor sharpness of GZA’s sword is ever evident on “Alphabets”. “A legend in my own lifetime, from one rhyme / That was specially designed, from the hook to bottom line / Shine’s like a precious jewel, cut up in the workshop / With specialized handcrafted tools.” GZA’s delivery shines on tracks like the Black Milk produced “7 Pounds” and the rock-infused “0% Finance”.

 

You’re either with the Wu or you’re not; that’s a theme GZA sticks to throughout here.  But politically heavy songs like “Columbian Ties,” although intellectual, fall off track and break the record’s pace. But GZA does pick it back up on “Cinema” and “Life Is A Movie”; as they teeter that a thin line between reality and entertainment.

 

Pro Tools is GZA merging thorough beats and his mastery of lyricism into an album that defines Rap music — a mixture of musical flavors while the wordsmith supplies the perfect verbiage. GZA and the gang are sick of no-talent MCs throwing their garbage into Hip-Hop, and they’re here to prove there is a science to their art.

 

GZA Featuring RZA & Masta Killa

“Pencil”

 

GZA

“Alphabets”