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Asheru: Education, MCing & The Boondocks…

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Features
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Gabriel Benn a.k.a. Asheru is perhaps best known for creating the theme song to The Boondocks, the irreverent comic strip turned animated series on Cartoon Network. But few are aware that this founding member of the underground Hip-Hop duo The Unspoken Heard has been working for over a decade, as a public school teacher and administrator in Washington D.C. During this time he developed the Hip-Hop Educational Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.), an innovative curriculum that uses Hip-Hop to engage young people in the classroom. AllHipHop.com caught up with Asheru, and he schooled us on the topic of Hip-Hop education.AllHipHop.com: How long have you been teaching?Asheru: I’ve been teaching since I came out with my first project, the Unspoken Heard joint. That was eleven years ago. But I haven’t taught in the classroom for a minute. I’ve been an administrator for the last two or three years, but I still go out to the juvies and the afterschool programs, and I still have groups of kids that I work with, mentor, and teach. A lot of these kids in there can’t read man. I go in there and try to show them that reading is a matter of life and death. You know what I mean? Many of them are eighteen and nineteen years old but they’re reading at a second grade level.  AllHipHop.com: Do you see any connections between your work as an MC and your work as an educator?Asheru: I look at education as the fifth element of Hip-Hop. I’m pushing for that. From my era Hip-Hop taught me everything. Literally. A Tribe Called Quest taught me how to be myself and not give a f**k what other people thought. So did De La. The whole Native Tongues really. Rakim taught me about Islam and the Five Percenters. Poor Righteous Teachers taught me about that. X-Clan taught me about Egyptian studies. All the s**t that I ended up reading in college was because when I was twelve and thirteen I was bumpin’ X-Clan. P.E. taught me about Black Nationalism and how to be a man. Big Daddy Kane taught me how to be a man. How to not be no sucka, basically.AllHipHop.com: Have your MC skills helped you to become a better teacher?Asheru: I’ve always said that teaching is just like rocking a show. The kids got they hands up. You got them engaged. You call out some s**t, they call some s**t back. Let me here you say hooo. It’s all connected. If you a good teacher your classroom is poppin. And I feel like the dopest MCs are natural born teachers. Revolution – AsheruAllHipHop.com: How can you implement a concept like education as the fifth element of Hip-Hop?Asheru: One way that I’m pushing for it is by dissecting it. Reading between the lines and using the art form as a jump-off point for critical analysis. I don’t want to stand there and just tell a kid that Soulja Boy is wack, because I’m 33 and you’re 13. We’re 20 years apart so of course we’re not going to agree. I understand that. But if I were to show you an alternative and then explain what my critique is, it doesn’t matter whether we agree or not. I was able to analyze my opinion of what this s**t is. I want to see our kids do more of that. I feel like are kids are just like ,“Oh that’s hot”. Or “That’s garbage” but never explain why. They never say “well I don’t like that because X, Y, and Z.”

“I look at education as the fifth element of Hip-Hop. I’m pushing for that. From my era Hip-Hop taught me everything. Literally.”

AllHipHop.com: So how did the Hip-Hop Educational Literacy Program come about? Asheru: I was teaching in the special education environment. Special ed is just like jail. It was about 98% black and about 90% male. These young brothers were just in there with no direction no guidance causing problems in school because of their insecurity around not being able to read. But I noticed that they knew all of these songs by heart and they up on everything that we up on, but just had a different way of gathering information. So I wanted to create some high interest material for low-level readers. I felt like Hip-Hop was the answer. We took songs that had some social relevance and good vocabulary usage. Songs that had a classic feel that won’t get old when the songs get old. And we just started creating the books. Right now we have about 10 titles available with everybody from Rakim to Ghostface, Kanye, Nas and the kids who are using it are really responding and the teachers are loving it. AllHipHop.com: I’m sure that when a lot of people think of Hip-Hop, classroom education is the last thing on their mind. What has been the response to H.E.L.P. from teachers and school administrators?Asheru: Yeah, initially there was a lot of resistance. But once they pick it up and actually look through it and realize that it meets national standards. They’re like “Ohh, ok, I understand.” Now we’re in D.C., we’re in Florida, Oakland, Georgia, Texas, we’re talking right now to Chicago public schools which I’m really excited about. I have a huge presentation coming up in Cleveland. I’m loving it man.

“AllHipHop.com: Has any rapper taken an extra step to support this project?Asheru: None. Nobody. And I’m amazed by that. It’s free marketing for their music. I’m putting them beside people like Langston Hughes, like Chaucer. Canonizing their words. But they don’t see the value in that.”

AllHipHop.com: What about the Hip-Hop community? How has the response been from the rappers?Asheru: I mean, everybody’s like “yo, that’s hot. It’s for the kids, word.” But it doesn’t turn into anything.  We chased down Nas to get his permission to reprint his lyrics in the book. But what we found out is that it’s not even up to Nas whether we reprint his lyrics or not. We have to call his publishing company, and ask his permission to reprint the lyrics. I hate to think that we could do it without the artists, but that’s the way Hip-Hop is right now. AllHipHop.com: Has any rapper taken an extra step to support this project?Asheru: None. Nobody. And I’m amazed by that. It’s free marketing for their music. I’m putting them beside people like Langston Hughes, like Chaucer. Canonizing their words. But they don’t see the value in that. To me it seems easy. All they gotta do is show up. If anything comes from this interview, I want it to be more attention from the artists. AllHipHop.com: Tell me about your Peabody award.Asheru: You know I wrote a lot of [stuff] for The Boondocks TV Show. I wrote about four or five songs for the series but I co-wrote the Martin Luther King episode. I wrote the speech that he gives at the end [Starts reciting the speech like a verse]. I wrote it as a song first, then Aaron [McGruder] took the lyrics and made it into King’s speech. AllHipHop.com: That’s a prestigious international award. You’re the first rapper ever to win that. Asheru: Yeah. Yeah. But I’m the tree that falls in the forest, that nobody hears [laughs]. It’s a big deal. Spike Lee won that same year for When The Levees Broke. Ed Bradley won that year. And Aaron was the first cartoonist ever to win. It was a big deal. AllHipHop.com: A lot of people got really upset over that episode. Asheru: Yeah, Al Sharpton was p#####. He said we desecrated the legacy of Martin Luther King. But yeah it was a great accomplishment and was happy to be a part of it.  AllHipHop.com: So what’s next for Asheru on the musical front?Asheru: Yeah about four months ago I put out the 3 Stars, 2 Bars EP. We got Phonte, J-Live, Oddissee on it. And I’m working on a project now with my band The ELs. All of the members of the band are dope producers in they own right. I’m rockin the mic. Then we got Zo! on the keys, my man Omar Retnuh on the bass/guitar, and Slimkat on the MPC. And it’s off the muthaf**kin chain.

MOVIE REVIEW: Tropic Thunder

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Uncategorized
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The new kings of comedy

have made their impact felt and for the old dogs in the game, namely

Ben Stiller, his smart-alecky comedic attempt to reclaim the crown, Tropic Thunder, undeniably provokes a few laughs, but mainly one that comes after a nervous cough. The

star-studded farce makes every effort to be outrageous and

controversial (see the blackfaced Robert Downey, Jr. below), as it

pokes fun at Hollywood and its stereotype of self-indulged, spoiled

drug-abusing thespians. But in Tropic Thunder, Stiller and

Jack Black find themselves outshined by Iron Man in a pretty startling

and out-there role as Australian Academy Award winner Kirk Lazarus.The plot is simple as it is a parody of shining stars and their faults.

The gags are exaggerated to prove such a point. Black’s comedic timing

does little to save him as Jeff “Fats” Portnoy, a

funnyman-turned-druggie. Black’s usually spastic antics are co-signed

by the fact that he’s such a physical character. In Tropic Thunder, though, Black lacks that same punch that he’s known for in solo turns in films like School of Rock and Nacho Libre.Think of Tropic Thunder as a Rambo-ized version of Zoolander,

but without the gut-busting laughs and cathchphrases. Stiller’s

co-writers, Justin Theroux and Ethan Cohen, pen a nutty tone with each

character a stereotype of some sort. If Jack Black is the king of

flactulence, Robert Downey, Jr. is the Oscar darling, Brandon T.

Jackson plays the seriously-delusional-aspiring hip-hop guy du jour,

Alpa Chino. Stiller saves himself best for last as the action-adventure

superstar Tugg Speedman…To read the rest of the review, click here

Mike Jones Apologizes For Fight At Ozone Awards

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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Houston rapper Mike Jones has officially apologized for his role in a fist fight with Trae the Truth during the third annual Ozone Awards, although the chart topping rapper denied responsibility for the incident.

 

“First off before I point any fingers, I personally do want to apologize for the incident that happened at the Ozone Awards. I hope you all don’t get the wrong impression of me or my city,” Jones explained. “The incident that I was put in was totally unexpected and totally unprofessional. If I knew this was going to happen at a big event such as the Ozone Awards, first, I would not have brought my mother and second, I would have done everything in my power to prevent it”

 

At the pre-show, Jones was accosted backstage by Trae the Truth.

 

After unspecified words were exchanged, Trae suddenly punched Jones in the face and left him with a bloody nose before the altercation was broken up.

 

The incident is allegedly over Trae taking offense to Jones’ claim of being the “President” of Houston and showing disrespect to other rappers in the city.

 

Jones emphasized that he came to the event without malice and had no desire to embarrass Hip-Hop culture with another violence-marred award show.

 

“Knowing that this event was big, not only for me and other artists but for the city as a whole; I pray and hope that you the people can see and understand me and the unfortunate situation I was put in,” Jones clarified. “I am aware of how big this event was for the city of Houston and the entire Hip-Hop community.

 

Please know that I had no intention of tarnishing this great opportunity, nor the experiences of those who participated in it.”

 

Furthermore, Jones expounded on his intention to put the incident behind him by giving another apology, but stopped short of including rival Trae the Truth in his contrite words.

 

“I apologize once again for everything that happened but I cannot apologize for having to defend myself from someone bringing unexpected or un-called violence to me and my family at any time,” Jones reasoned. “I appreciate your support and understanding.”

 

Mike Jones’ breakthrough sophomore album Who Is Mike Jones? (2005) peaked at number 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 and is certified platinum.

 

He is currently working on his third LP The Voice of the Streets, which features appearances from Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Twista, and Hurricane Chris.

 

The second single “Cutty Buddy” is available now through iTunes download.

Chris Brown talks Rihanna, his career, and his spot in the gossip columns

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Alternatives
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Chris Brown has been the center of attention for everything but his music lately (with the exception of penning Rihanna’s latest single “Disturbia”). Be it his dancing, cuddling with RiRi at KFC, or out-swagging the next male artist, CB has remained a staple in the spotlight – for better or worse. However, we managed to catch up with Chris Brown while doing something not so gossip-worthy… THISDAY, Africa’s leading media source, raises awareness for African issues through its annual star-studded THISDAY Festival. This year’s Festival themed “Africa Rising” focused on finding “sustainable solutions” rather than the “problems” facing Africa. Now in its third year, THISDAY Festival has gone cross continental for the first time with events in Abuja, Lagos, Washington DC, and London.The global festival sets out to project positive images of Africa by showcasing the renaissance of Africa’s music, fashion and the arts alongside global artists. Chris Brown, who was one of the many artists on the THISDAY line up in Lagos, shares his not so vast knowledge of Nigeria, his career, identity, and working with none other than Michael Jackson.AllHipHop.com Alternatives: What made you want to get involved with the Africa Rising Festival; what do you know about Nigeria?Chris Brown: Well I was asked to do it last year, but was busy. They called again this year, and this time I could do it, so here I am. I’m not going to even lie. I don’t know anything about Nigeria. I just know what I do. AHHA: What have you heard about Lagos before you came?Chris Brown: I heard it was hood. I heard it was going to be full of guns and everything, but just like any other place, people have good stories and bad stories and exaggerated stories.

“I ain’t even trying no more. Like honestly, I’m not a groupie type of guy so I’ll wait for his call before I keep calling him. Anyway, he’s harder to get hold of than Jesus.” – on collaborating with MJ

AHHA: How do you define yourself as an African in terms of your descendents?Chris Brown: Well, it’s kind of hard because I’m made up of so many different cultures and races. I’m Native American – like my Grandfather is an Indian chief like you see in the films [makes Native American chief tribal calling gesture] – but my Dad is Black. I haven’t actually looked at my culture and into what tribe I’m actually from, and it’s something I would like to do, but right now at this point I’m busy with my music.AHHA: You wrote Rihanna’s new song “Disturbia.” Is that something you would like to do more of?Chris Brown: I’ve got a three guy writing crew called Graffiti Artists, and so most of the time when we write, we just have fun with it. So whatever type of concepts that we have, we just have fun and try to put it out in record. For obvious reasons it was fun writing “Disturbia.”AHHA: What does “Disturbia” actually mean?Chris Brown: A weird state of mind, that’s what “Disturbia” is. Just kind of-like weird.AHHA: At one point there was talk of you and Michael Jackson collaborating. Whatever happened to that? Is that still in the works?Chris Brown: Hopefully… You know he’s such a difficult person to get hold of, he’s busy and I’m busy. I reached out to him at one point and we spoke about it. So if he wants to do it, then I’m sure he’ll get in touch with my people.I ain’t even trying no more. Like honestly, I’m not a groupie type of guy so I’ll wait for his call before I keep calling him. Anyway, he’s harder to get hold of than Jesus. AHHA: So what about doing collaborations with someone more current like Ne-Yo or Usher?Chris Brown: Yeah that would be incredible. I think we would have fun. That’s definitely a possibility for the future. It would depend on the record and how they would want to do it.

“I think that now he’s given me that lee-way, now that he’s been gone for so long, I think it is time for me to come. At the same time I’ll still welcome him in and still want him to still do great and still do great records.” – on competition with Usher

AHHA: You, Ne-Yo and Rihanna all basically started up at the same time. It must be great that all have become successful…Chris Brown: It’s incredible, especially as we all started so young. For a while it seemed only artists over the age of twenty-three and up were breaking into the industry, and then we all came along. It’s a great thing, especially as even to this day we are all still doing a great job, and this is just the beginning. This is just a steppingstone for what we will achieve in the future.AHHA: R&B has recently taken a more Pop/dance driven route. Will we be seeing you go down that direction?Chris Brown: Most definitely… I am trying to be the next Michael Jackson, hopefully… You will definitely be hearing some more Pop-driven records from me. I want to be the Prince of Pop; I don’t want to say I’m the King. I hopefully can be the Prince.AHHA: Usher put out his album this year. What do you make of his comeback?Chris Brown: I think it’s cool. I think it’s dope. I think there’s still going to be room for me though. I think that now he’s given me that lee-way, now that he’s been gone for so long, I think it is time for me to come. At the same time I’ll still welcome him in and still want him to still do great and still do great records. So me and him are just going to be battling at the top of the charts for those records. AHHA: So who if any do you see as your competition?Chris Brown: Competition…Err, I think everybody is. At the end of the day, I think everybody is going to be competition. Friendly competition though, because everyone will be making a hot record. Everybody always comes with a hot record or dope record that becomes Number 1, so I’m just competing with everybody. But my Number 1 competition is myself.AHHA: Is it hard to deal with all the media interest into your personal life?Chris Brown: Not really. To be honest, I don’t really care. Like my personal life is my personal life. I don’t focus on negative things. I just focus on the positive.

“Like certain people in my fan club or whatever will be like, ‘Oh he’s Hollywood now,’ and this and that. I’m like, ‘No I’m not.’ It’s just that my records are doing well. I’m just a bigger artist.” – on some fans not accepting his success

AHHA: Ok but with the whole media spotlight, having a relationship can often be difficult to keep private. What’s your take on it? Like does it annoy you when people pry into your private life?Chris Brown: Always, always… Regardless if it’s an interview or anywhere… I think private life is called private life; it’s self-explanatory. So it’s supposed to be a private situation, but in this industry you can’t always think that you can have that because people are nosy. People want to get the juice on you; people want to know what’s going on. I find people won’t even ask me about my work or music anymore; it’s just about my private life.AHHA: So do you get bothered about the blogs/internet interest?Chris Brown: I don’t really read them. When I read them it’s just to laugh. I take it as a compliment; I must be important for them to even spend time talking about me. AHHA: Good Attitude. Normally the more famous a person gets, the less normal they feel. How do you stay grounded?Chris Brown: Well not me personally. I feel like the more famous, I get the more I want to show people that that’s not the case and that I’m still the same person. I think the people around you might change a little bit though because they think that you think that you’re bigger. AHHA: Is that what you’ve experienced?Chris Brown: Hmm. I would say to a certain extent, part of my fan base has. Like certain people in my fan club or whatever will be like, “Oh he’s Hollywood now,” and this and that. I’m like, “No I’m not.” It’s just that my records are doing well. I’m just a bigger artist. I’m not saying there’s nothing changed about me, and I’m still doing the same things but I haven’t changed as a person.AHHA: You were a part of the Jay-Z/Roc-A-Wear clothing “I Will Not Lose” campaign. How did that come about?Chris Brown: I was asked to be a part of the campaign before doing my US tour. They worked with us on our tour; sending over merchandise and other bits so we had a working relationship. I think it was a good campaign to be a part of – not just because of the various other celebrities involved, but just because of the message behind it.

“I think private life is called private life; it’s self-explanatory. So it’s supposed to be a private situation, but in this industry you can’t always think that you can have that because people are nosy.” – on his love life

AHHA: What is your relationship like with Jay-Z?Chris Brown: If I see him, I say what up. I have a cordial relationship with him. We haven’t got any real friendship or anything. Like we have never hung out or anything. AHHA: Do you have any other fashion endorsements?Chris Brown: Some of the deals I will be doing are being negotiated right now and because I’m a businessman, so I’m not going to say yet. [laughs]AHHA: Who are you’re favorite designers?Chris Brown: Certain people make different things. I like the fit of Levi’s jeans and I wear more skinny jeans like skateboarder jeans. Sneakers are always Nike, Adidas, Jordans. Designer-wise I like Dolce, Gucci, Luis Vuitton, everything. AHHA: Is it true you support Barack Obama?Chris Brown: I have met Obama, and I think he’s a great person, but I don’t get into politics.AHHA: Fair enough. So music wise are you working on a new album?Chris Brown: Yeah we started on the new album maybe like – s**t when was it – we started on the new album maybe November-ish. Like I been starting on writing some stuff, but we haven’t really started all the way. AHHA: So finally what does the future hold for Chris Brown?Chris Brown: In the future, a little bit of everything. More albums, more films, more video directing, touring, writing, fashion…everything. Expect a little bit of everything. As much as possible…and just having fun.

Rapper Jody Breeze Held On Parole Violation

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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Jody Breeze, one fourth of Atlanta-based Block Entertainment/Bad Boy Records group Boyz N Da Hood, is currently being held in a Georgia jail cell, awaiting a hearing on charges of probation violation, the rapper’s lawyer has confirmed to AllHipHop.com.

 

Attorney Shawn McAllister told AllHipHop.com that Breeze, born Jacoby White, was arrested last Friday (August 8) after being caught driving in an HOV Lane.

 

The stop also uncovered a pending violation of probation warrant for the 24-year-old rapper, who was immediately taken into custody.

 

In a court appearance on Monday (August 11), he pled guilty to the traffic violation and was sentenced to time served.

 

While McAllister would not provide details on his client’s whereabouts, a source within Block Entertainment reveals Breeze is being detained near Valdosta, Georgia, approximately three hours south of Atlanta.

Hip-Hop Rumors: The Game: “I Will Tear Jay-Z Limb By Limb By Bloody Limb.”

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

TODAY’S RUMORS!

THE GAME SAYS HE WILL TEAR JAY-Z “LIMB BY LIMB BY BLOODY LIMB”

I saw a lot of chit chat yesterday about how I was just starting stuff with the Jay-Z and Game (read that stuff here) . Wow. Jay once said, “Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?” Well, I have collected the data and here are my findings.

“I think that Jay is iconic. The bottom line is I’m disrespectful. It will get ugly.”

Keep reading. The Game said that he wants to take his album back to the production plant and address the suicide comment.

To hear to the whole beef situation with Jay-Z, click here to listen to it. The Game says he will tear Jay-Z “limb by limb by bloody limb.”

WOWWWWWWWWWW!

Personally, I like both of these dudes! The only thing I would say is that The Game doesn’t need to talk about the West Coast and bringing the coast in. We gotta keep it Hip-Hop and he’s a student of the game. On the flip side, I don’t think Jay-Z needs to mess with this. It could be like Clubber Lang vs Apollo Creed or something! (Apollo wasn’t a “has been” either – he was a legend!)

The Game said, “I’m young and I’m stupid.” He’s got that right – the young and stupid part. I just want to be best friends with Jay and this dude is declaring war!

Just listen, but Game had a really huge “pause” at the end. Anyway…

Shout out to the big homey Chino from 104-7 KISS FM – Phoenix!

DIDDY’S GOT A NEW ALBUM

First Diddy is out in London looking for a new house, but not I am hearing the Bad Boy is now looking to do something else. I hear he is now out in Los Angeles and has commenced to record his sophomore album. People slept on his last CD, but I didn’t. That’s word to Keyshia Cole. You already know, Jay-Z is working on his new CD, but I will give you the 411 on it when I get more.

TRAE VS MIKE JONES PART 2

You know Trae’s not having it. Mike’s not having it. You saw the video where Mike Jones is talking about its going to be on the next time he sees Trae. Well, he just might get his wish from what I hear. On the 16th of August, there is going to be a benefit concert for a lil’ girl that died in a car crash earlier this year. Well, from what I understand, Trae and Mike Jones will be there to pay homage to the young girl – supposedly. Well, we all can hope and pray that these dudes do indeed chill if they both come to the event. Check out the 1st Annual Kingwood Summer Jam and in Kingwood’s Town Center. $25 at the door. I heard Paul Wall, Lil KeKe, Slim Thug,Trae, Mike Jones, Kiotti and others are going to be there. H-Town stand up in the name of PEACE!

SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!

I am hearing some sad news. Hillary Clinton is rumored to be plotting Barack Obama’s downfall right NOW. That’s right. According to recent intel, she hasn’t been satisfied with the American electoral process nor can she accept defeat at the hands of a ______ (you fill in the blank). So, according to rumor, she is planning to upstage Barack at the DNC (Democratic National Convention) so that she can set the stage for her run in 2012. She has no chance now, but she feels that if Barack wins now, he’ll be in office for at least eight years. If McCain wins – one way or another – he’ll be gone by 2012. Then she’ll be in prime position to win. Damn, let me upstage ya? And they call Hip-Hop a dirty art…hope this is false, but I believe it to be true.

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

If you know anything, you will look at this dedication to Bernie Mac that Larry King put on. What a classy move by Larry King. Click here to see all 5 parts.

I heard Michael “5000” Watts and comic DeRay really helped with crowd control at the Ozone Awards when things appeared to get way out of hand. Props to them.

I know The Game ruled out being in Westside Connection, but Ice Cube isn’t exactly shooting it down – I heard. Comptons’s Most Wanted on BWS? Click here, fool!

I heard this rumor that a West Coast rapper that sounds like a certain deceased legend has had his home foreclosed on him. This damn economy is killing us!According to my homey BlogXilla, Kanye and NO ID (his mentor) will produce all of Jay-Z’s CD, Blueprint 3.

Oh yeah – to Naughty By Nature, I would like to say that I’m sorry about the rumors! I heard they are not so happy about the rumors about them. Hey, I corrected them all and announced what Lady Drama is about to announce last month! Take it away, L.D. Hip-Hop Hooooraaaaayyyyy, Hoooooooo, Heyyyyyyyy!

RANDOM QUOTES ABOUT ISAAC

DJ DRAMA talks to AllHipHop.com about Isaac Hayes:

“It was devastating enough to lose Bernie Mac the day before, Isaac Hayes being a legend that he is has effected all genres of music, he has done in so many albums and he’s been sampled so many times in Hip-Hop. To lose almost a founding father in Hip-Hop, I’m thankful for his music, he has such a massive amount of music that will last generations and his legacy will live on in his music.”

Here is a random quote about the deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes from Steve Harvey:

“I don’t know what God is trying to say with this one.”

LADY DRAMA – GET ‘EM GIRL!

Lady Drama complies the news, views and drama right here!

Vh1 announces its Hip-Hop honorees! Finally something I can get with!

On this years list for honorees Vh1 has decided to honor Naughty By Nature, Slick Rick , Too Short, De La Soul and Cypress Hill. All of whom I feel are much deserving! A press release states that this years host will be Tracy Morgan and will give viewers a chance to step back and reminisce on a time when hip hop music began to make its greatest impact on American pop culture. This years show will premiere on Tuesday, October 7 at 10PM. I’m looking forward to who will pay homage on the stage, cause I love me some Naughty By Nature… what can I say I’m a jersey girl 😉

Kanye gets FAT!

Looks like Diddy and Jay Z aren’t the only entertainers getting into the food game! Kanye West is scheduled to open 10 Fatburger Chains in his hometown of Chicago! The mega food chains will be under Kanyes new food company KW Foods, LLC. A company which Kanye plans to branch out into potential for future higher end restaurants as well and other branded “Kanye West” food products. Look out for the first Chi Town Fatburger in Orland Park around September and a following opening in the Beverly Area around January! Cant knock your hustle Kanye, I like the way you think! Although with K West being the trendsetter he is I was expecting him to come up with his own fast food joint!

Jay Z’s new cash cow!

Jay Z has tapped into a new cash venture, this time it has to do with his Vegas 40/40club read below via NY Post:

JAY-Z is about to get richer. Las Vegas spies said the hip-hop mogul’s in talks with the Las Vegas Sands Corp. – owners of the Venetian and the Palazzo – to sell them a 50 percent stake in his sports club, 40/40, for $44 million. An insider added, “That will make the 40/40 club in Vegas the largest sports booking operation. People can gamble both at the tables and on games. The Sands will also have the right to open 40/40 clubs in London and across Europe.”

This man should give someone else a chance to break change! Damn!

Lisa Raye steps her game up… Bout damn time!

Lisa has had a change of heart and some common sense! Her and her husband are calling it quits! Peep this via eurwueb:

On the heels of infidelity accusations leveled by actress LisaRaye against her husband, Turks & Caicos Premier Michael Misick, he announced late Tuesday that their marriage is over and done. “I am announcing that I am separated from LisaRaye McCoy-Misick,” Premier Misick said in a statement. “I am committed to dissolving the marriage amicably. I believe that this is a private matter and will have no further comments. I hope that our privacy will be respected.”

The separation follows recent rumors that Misick was cheating with BET on-air personality Rocsi, who was said to be holding court in the mansion while LisaRaye was in the U.S. last week. A publicist for the actress sent out a press release about the alleged infidelity. Misick has also been accused of raping a woman who was described as an American friend of LisaRaye.

I thought he was gay anyway! Bout time they faced the music! But where does this leave Rocsi?

F**k The Olympics, Diddy says he should win a gold medal for……..

Leave it to Diddy to big himself up for something pertaining to sex! Mr. D-I-D-D-Y says he should get a gold medal for sexing chicks! Read this folly below via US Weekly:

If Diddy were in the Olympics, what sport would he win a gold medal in? “Who could have sex the longest,” he tells New York magazine. “I think that’s an event I can do well in. And probably who could stay up the longest.” He adds, “Just so you know, that’s supposed to be funny. Even though I am serious.” Who would he compete against? He tells the magazine: “Whoever’s up for the challenge.”

hmmm…. Interesting… Does that include ANYONE? Emphasis on ANYONE!

Lady Dramas Food For Thought:

I wonder what costs more paying Lil Kim to do Playboy, or photoshopping the hell outta her photo to make it worth while?

With Lisa Raye up for grabs, whose next up to bat?

Tyra has a Tranny on her new season of Americas Next Top Model….. Is this the new trend now? First Diddy now Tyra… whos next?

Go hard or go home b****s!

SHELZ’S RUMORS (AND BOY ARE THEY SAD)

Expect Another Arrest…..Damn.

So DMX was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday in Arizona for one of his many arrests (I really don’t know which one. I can’t keep up.) He didn’t show up and now we know why. X’s Public Defender told MTV that DMX has been hospitalized in Miami. He informed the court of the hospitalization, but the warrant was issued anyway because the court believes X’s no-show pattern requires they issue the bench warrant. X’s attorney, Charles Konzelka, would not confirm what X is in the hospital for and he wouldn’t say if the stay was rehab related. However, he did say that the folks who surround X are attempting to get him some help for his substance abuse issue and he would like the court to acknowledge that. But so far, no cigar. When Kozelka was asked why X needs a Public Defender, he simply stated X has some issues.

Crackhouse Disses Alicia Keys? Stop.

Winehouse is so unhappy about getting passed over for the James Bond gig, she’s flying the beehive at half mast. And not only is she in some sort of alcohol induced mourning, she is also taking shots at Alicia Keys for being assigned the coveted job. She told the good folks over at New Mag that the producers of the film should have waited on her. But they chose to take the route of clean cut and boring following her well publicized ish smoking episode. Anyway, she has decided to retaliate and release a James Bond-ish single of her own and she wants to drop it the same day Ms. Keys and Jack White drop theirs. Dastardly plan, huh? I’ll bet Amy is doing the evil villain mustache twist as we speak.

Other Arbitrary Stuff….

Britney Spears mom’s tell all book is about to be released. Are there any famous fams out there who can actually keep it in the fam these days?

B-Real from Cypress Hill got married. I don’t know when, but it was recently. And judging from the wedding pics (lovingly pilfered from Martyr Inc.) it was quite the event. Congrats B.

Wow.

You know that is about all I can say about what I’m about to tell you. Do you remember the story about DMX going to court on identity theft charges? And then after he pleaded not guilty to all charges, he rhymed a little for the news cameras? Well, one more thing happened during that visit that slipped everyone’s mind, including DMX’s. He was scheduled to return to court yesterday. Needless to say, he didn’t go. So there is now a warrant issued for his arrest. Oh and the auction of his Harlem townhouse is supposed to be today too. Wow.

Quest Love Has Disturbing Furry Thing That Needs Resolution?

The ‘fro wars? Hairy beef? Seriously?

OZONE AWARDS COMEDIC OUTTAKES

So, we are still talking about the Ozone Awards. Must be nice, eh? Charlamangne The God of Wendy Williams did three comedic skits that were supposed to get played at the Awards, but they didn’t make it to the screen. Check them out here.

OH YEA – for Charlamagne’s take on what he considers gay rappers, click here….lmao!

For his take on Barack Obama, see below.

STALKERS!

I have no idea how stars deal with a camera in their face everywhere they dwell. Here is B coming out of LAX. I wonder if she will ride on The Game for Jay? No Thuggo.

WHO WOULD WIN? TAKE THE POLL!

THE GAME AND JAY-Z, WE LOVE YOU!

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

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at ah*******@***il.com.

– allhiphop rumors

Trae Releases Statement On Mike Jones Fight

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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Houston rapper Trae The Truth has expressed regret for striking fellow neighborhood rapper Mike Jones earlier in the week, but the apology wasn’t directed to his adversary. “I have to take the time out to apologize to the kids, and to anyone who follows and supports my career for what happened at the Ozone Awards this past Monday night,” Trae said in a statement.The two rappers exchanged words prior to the beginning of the show, which took place in downtown Houston. During the melee, Mike Jones, a popular rapper, suffered a bloodied nose. Trae said he wasn’t looking for trouble, but it found him anyway. “I told myself that I was gonna do my best for the new era of the streets not to go through the experiences that I go through in life,” he said of the evening. “For a split second, I almost entertained the little-girl tactics of a person [Mike Jones] who is really irrelevant nowadays.”Trae said it was now time for him to move forward, although he has said sorry for his actions.“Things like this happen in life every day and I do not have the time to entertain this any more. I would like the world to tell Mr. Jones [Mike Jones] that he can thank me later for his split second of fame. Right now, I’ma keep it moving.”

Rapper Pepa, Author Karen Hunter Team For Autobiography

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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Building on the success of last year’s VH1 reality, Sandy “Pepa” Denton has announced Let’s Talk About Pep, her autobiography now set for release through VH1 Books.

 

“This is the real Pepa,” Denton disclosed in a statement to AllHipHop.com. “And this is the memoir of a true pioneer, fighter, survivor, and inspiration to women everywhere.”

 

The tell-all book will chronicle Pepa’s life; from her troubled early years as a victim of child abuse to her adult struggles in marriage (to fellow rap star Treach), divorce, and domestic violence.

 

Salt-n-Pepa’s twenty plus year career is also extensively covered, including previously undisclosed details regarding the trio’s acrimonious split in 2002 and recent reunion through reality television.

 

Salt-n-Pepa formed in 1985 and quickly made a name with a diss entitled “The Show Stopper,” an answer record to Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s “The Show.”

 

The following year, their debut album Hot, Cool, and Vicious reached platinum behind the momentum of the classic single “Push It.”

 

The group obtained their highest success with 1993’s Very Necessary, which went 5 times Platinum, powered by the Top 5 Billboard singles “Whatta Man,” and “Shoop.”

 

Let’s Talk About Pep was written in conjunction with New York Times bestselling author Karen Hunter, who has also assisted LL Cool J, Wendy Williams, and Queen Latifah with their biographies.

 

The book’s forward and epilogue will be handled by Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah respectively.

 

Let’s Talk About Pep is scheduled for release in September.

Former Gangster Rapper Master P Changes Name

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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After close to fifteen years in the game, rapper Master P has decided to officially abandon the name under which he attained success.

 

With over 75 million records sold worldwide, the five-time Grammy Award winner will now go by P. Miller in an effort to expand on his equally impressive achievements as a businessman.

 

“I’m changing my name because Master P is who I used to be,” the No Limit Entertainment CEO explains. “I call it my childhood, and P. Miller marks my manhood. There’s a lot of people out there who are afraid to grow up and change, but I’m not and P. Miller is the evolution of me, Percy Miller, the entrepreneur, the businessman.”

 

With a net worth valued at an estimated $500 million, Miller has achieved quite a bit of mainstream attention in recent years, most notably since appearing before the United States Congress in 2007 to address the widely publicized criticism of Hip-Hop lyrics and culture.

 

Soon after, he and his son Romeo launched Take A Stand Records as a profanity-free record label.

 

In July, Miller made history by inking a deal with retail giant Wal-Mart to distribute his affordable P. Miller Designs clothing line in stores nationwide, thus becoming the discount chain’s first African-American Hip-Hop supplier.

 

“I’ve branched out into so many different arenas, but all that gets overshadowed because I come from the Hip-Hop industry,” says the multi-platinum artist, who’s maintained his relevance with a new generation of fans by being the driving force behind his son’s run at superstardom. “People grow mentally and spiritually through life experiences, but when you come from Hip-Hop, it’s almost impossible to get past the stereotypes associated with it.”

 

P Miller continues by saying, “It’s important for young hip-hop artists to know that they are not limited to one career, they can educate themselves, and prepare for life after hip-hop the same way pro-athletes prepare themselves for life after sports.” Miller adds,  “Also, know that you can branch out into other avenues if you are multi-talented or have other dreams. My dream was to enter corporate America, my son’s dream is to go to college and play basketball, and Will Smith’s was to be a famous actor. Many of us can begin new careers, take advantage of different opportunities and still remain true to Hip-Hop.”

 

Throughout his illustrious career, Miller has also used his success to support and motivate others through two charitable organizations, P. Miller Youth Centers and the P. Miller Food Foundation, and the 2007 release of Guaranteed Success, a semi-autobiographical guide to wealth building and business.

 

In support of the book, Miller embarked on tour with Donald Trump, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Rich Dad, Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki, working with The Learning Annex to teach the importance of financial literacy.

Isaac Hayes Funeral Set; Family Speaks

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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The life of award-winning composer/musician Isaac Hayes will be memorialized next week during a funeral service in Cordova, Tennessee.

 

The service, which will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday (August 18) at Hope Presbyterian Church, comes as the music world and fans mourn Hayes, who died Sunday (August 10), after family members found him lying unconscious on the floor near a treadmill at his home in Memphis.

 

Paperwork filed by Dr. David Kraus, Hayes’ family physician, listed the cause of death as a stroke, according to Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Shula, although no autopsy on the entertainer has been performed.

 

Hayes’ family is well aware of the affect the singer/actor had on the public as they addressed the tragedy with an admission of being “overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and love from Isaac’s dear friends, colleagues and fans from every corner of the world, and we thank each and every one of them for their kind thoughts and prayers.”

 

“While he was an iconic figure to many, to us he was husband, father and friend,” the family said in a statement. “We will ever miss his love, wisdom, humor and the familiar comfort of his voice.”

 

News of his father’s death triggered memories from the Grammy-winner’s son, music producer Isaac “Ike Dirty” Hayes, III, as he recounted a memorable conversation with his namesake.

 

“I spoke to my father just recently about working on his album, and he was excited as though this were his first project,” Ike Dirty told AllHipHop.com. “I want people to remember my father for the creative, soulful, inspirational force that he was to music and African American people. He was legendary and shared his genius with the world. I also want to thank all of my peers and music industry colleagues who have reached out to express their love and prayers.”

 

Hayes’ musical influence isn’t lost on Ike Dirty, who has carved his own niche by producing songs for Lil’ Scrappy (“Money in the Bank”) and the Ying Yang Twins (“Drop”).

 

The beatmaker is also noted for his work with various artists such as Redman, Keith Murray, Chamillionare, KeKe Palmer, Too Short, Blaque, Ruff Ryders, Black Coffey and Raz-B.

 

Ike Dirty further expressed his feelings on losing his father, admitting to having a mixture of emotions.

 

“I’m sad, I’m angry, I’m happy all at once right now. I have so many memories of being my father’s son. Little things that make all the difference,” Ike Dirty said.”Things that help me maintain right now. I can’t be too sad though. My father did great, great things as a musician, humanitarian, a father and a Black man.”

 

In lieu flowers, the Hayes family asks fans to celebrate Hayes’ support of the Stax Music Academy and his Stax Records Legacy, by sending donations to the Academy that are made out to Soulsville, 926 E. McLemore Avenue, Memphis, TN 38106.

 

Please specify “In memory of Isaac Hayes.”

Maino: Say Hello

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Features
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Maino’s rep on those Brooklyn streets is thorough. But while it may garner him a certain level of credibility (he speaks on that below), it doesn’t have anything to do with making hit records. A few years back on the strength of “Rumors,” a brash, industry gossip smackdown of a song, Maino caught a deal with Universal Records that only managed to make his buzz stall out. Now riding with Atlantic Records and his “Hi-Hater” single—and now the prerequisite remix with Swizz Beatz, T.I., Jadakiss, Plies & Fabolous—being a certified smash, it’s looking like Maino’s musical output may soon match and eclipse his block infamy. All good for Maino since establishing a legal legacy for his peeps is one of his stated goals. His debut album, If Tomorrow Comes…, drops September 23 but despite the title, his future is looking bright. Say hello. AllHipHop.com: You served ten years in prison, when did you go in?Maino: The early nineties, ‘93AllHipHop.com: That said you weren’t out when say Biggie and Lil Kim first got real popular. Being on the inside how was that for you?Maino: S**t, any cage is hard. But I grew up there and I made the best of the situation.AllHipHop.com: You’ve mentioned many times that you got started rhyming inside, about what year was that? Maino: Oh man, I started after B.I.G. came out, I’ll say about ‘95 or ‘96, around that time.AllHipHop.com: And before that you never really thought about it?Maino: Not at all.AllHipHop.com: Is there anything you did growing up that might have hinted to that ability?Maino: No just an being an avid fan. I grew up listening to the greats, like any other kid in the street, no different. I listened to Hip-Hop, that was mainly what I did. I’m from the ghetto and Hip-Hop, that was a part of my life. But I never wanted to be a rapper, I never aspired to be one and never thought about being one. I never thought I would write rhymes, I never thought I would do any of that until I went to jail.

“Kay Slay was the first person to really put me on the radio, put me on his mixtape and I went from there. I was aggressive about it, I just wanted to meet the DJ’s. I didn’t want to get out and try to shop a demo. I was trying to get my music directly to the street.”

AllHipHop.com: At that time when you realized you had that talent, was there a certain point when you thought, “you know what, I could really do this?”Maino: Yes, because that was just my hustler’s instinct kicking in. I figured like I grew up hustling, I grew up in the streets, I figured maybe I could use rap to be an addition to what I was doing in the streets…I could give it run. I’m about money, let’s see if I could make it work, to see if I could grab opportunity and get out there on the streets and put my best foot forward and make it possible. I didn’t know if it was going to work but I said, “I might as well try, what could I lose?” But if it don’t work I can always fall back on the street anyway. AllHipHop.com: So when you got out in ‘03, what was the first thing you did?Maino I jumped right into the mixtape circuit. I met Kay Slay he was the first person to really put me on the radio, put me on his mixtape and I went from there. I was aggressive about it, I just wanted to meet the DJ’s. I didn’t want to get out and try to shop a demo, that is not what I was trying to do. I was trying to get my music directly to the street. Before I even got out of prison because I’m such a strategist that my thoughts were premeditated before I got out. I had formulated, I had people out in the streets so my man’s was in a position to help me. So by the time I got out all we had to do was go see the lawyer, incorporate the paperwork and the name—register the name Hustle Hard Entertainment—and we were on our way. AllHipHop.com: You doing well on the street mixtapes, is that how you managed to be a ghostwriter on Lil’ Kim’s album?Maino: Who ever said I was a ghostwriter, who said that? I never said that.AllHipHop.com: You didn’t say that, but it’s just the word…Maino: Oh, it’s just speculating. Well, I am not going to run with that. I have never supported that idea of me being a ghostwriter for anybody. People are going to speculate because that is just the business. People are going to speculate that Kim don’t write her rhymes. That don’t have nothing to do with me though. AllHipHop.com: Your song “Rumors” was popping off and you signed to Universal, it seemed liked things stalled, though. Maino: Well, we live and learn. At that point, I don’t think they understood where to go with me, as far as me being a New York artist. I don’t think I was ready either honestly. I don’t really think I was ready as I am today. Right now I’m 100 percent sure, I’m ready, I’m on deck. So, it was cool for both of us because I was able to get some on the job training. It was a learning experience, sort of like college. Now I’m really in the work force.  Maino “Rumors”AllHipHop.com: Looking back is there anything you would have done differently specifically?Maino: Well it is all about my creativeness, as far as making certain records and just growing as an artist. Where I am today, as far as that, I don’t think I was there, then speaking directly at growth as an artist.AllHipHop.com: So correct me if I’m wrong, would it be safe to say that wouldn’t have made a “Hi Hater” with Universal?Maino: Right, I don’t know if I was capable of doing it, because first and foremost, it‘s my mentality. I didn’t understand the game the way I do now. Everything takes time, I had to go through that period get here – so that portion of my life was well needed. If I didn’t go through the situation with Universal, I don’t think I would be able to make “Hi Hater” because I actually made the record right after I was released from Universal. It was right after I was released from Universal and right before I signed with Atlantic. AllHipHop.com: I see you got credit as co-producer, what did you do to get that credit?Maino: Because the whole record is my idea. My man Mista Raja, I called him up and told him I got this idea, I want to use this particular record. We used the beat that [Mary J. Blige] had, we found that beat, shout out to my man, DJ Unique, for getting the instrumental to us. What I did was Mr. Raja, he looped it, and I rapped to it. So, I’m getting my Diddy on. Maino “Hi Hater”AllHipHop.com: Did you know you had something when you finished the song did you realize it would blow up?Maino: Well at first I wasn’t fishing for it, saying “Yeah, I’m looking for a hit record.” I was just being myself. In doing the record I was like, “Oh it’s coming out good.” But it wasn’t until people were walking in the studio and started dancing, oh man…immediately. It was like a reaction off of impulse. So I was like, “Wow I’m holding a bomb right here.” so I finished the record and everybody loved it and I held it. I held the record for a year.AllHipHop.com: Why, because you were waiting for that right time?Maino: I had just got out of Universal and I was negotiating with Atlantic. My deal with Atlantic wasn’t done yet and I did the record right in the middle of that. So now I was faced with the option of either release the record on my own or holding it until after my deal is done, waiting until Atlantic was going to be able to get behind it. It was a couple of times I wanted to leak the record on my own, this record could have actually came out last summer. But I don’t think it would have been as big as it is today, because my deal wasn’t done. I needed the machine behind it.Hi Hater Remix – Maino f/ t.i., swizz beatz, plies, jadakiss, fabolousAllHipHop.com: What’s your relationship with T.I. like? Maino: That is my brother man. He’s a very real dude. Grand Hustle is family. I’m not actually signed to the label but we family. Those are my allies, those are my brothers.

“That is some industry s**t. What is street cred? What is that, where does it come from? I don’t know these dudes for being anybody so how can they have street credibility?”

AllHipHop.com: You have mentioned before the difference between street cred and respect. Can you speak on that? Maino: What is street cred? That is some industry s**t. What is street cred? What is that, where does it come from? I don’t know these dudes for being anybody so how can they have street credibility? I don’t know these rappers for being a fixture in the ghetto. I am and I was who I was before rap. I’ve been well respected where I came from, been known in my immediate area of Brooklyn, as well as in prison. So I believe that’s just the industry’s term to solidify a couple of these guys that may wear bananas and their pants hanging. So I don’t buy into the street credibility, I don’t even know what that is. Respect on the other hand is the greatest of everything because without respect what do you have? I grew up in an era where if you wasn’t respected, you couldn’t have your chain on. If you wasn’t respected you couldn’t wear that watch and bracelet.  If you did you would have to hide it, because n****s are on your ass for that. That is a guaranteed fact. So if you had that respect and that was the greatest thing in the hood because nobody was going to touch you. You could bring a girl from another project to your hood. She didn’t have to worry about girls jumping on her because you were respected.I’m not saying you had to be the most gun-slinging, gangster in the hood, but for different reasons men are respected. I just happened to be of the ones who was really respected way before I even picked up a thought of rapping. AllHipHop.com: For you what is the greatest part of being an MC? Maino: Being able to provide for my family, take care of my son, legally. You don’t understand I never done anything legal in my life. I came out my house I was in the street at a very early age, I went through so many trials and tribulations being a pre-teen, a teenager and going to jail for a long period of time, getting out and going directly back to the streets and making the transition from being a street dude to being an artist. This is the first time where I have ever been in the position to provide for my people with a legal foundation.AllHipHop.com: The situation with Lil Cease, is it squashed, or a case of it is what it is?Maino: It is what it is. That is not even a thought in my every day process because that was just a situation I needed to address and I addressed it. I don’t have a problem addressing anything I feel like I need to. He couldn’t watch his mouth, so I gave him a reason to watch his mouth. He will never disrespect me as long as he lives. And anybody who is affiliated with him will never ever get out of line again. AllHipHop.com: Being that your status is elevated, that means that eyes are going to be on you. How do you deal with the fact that there is always going to be an idiot out there just itching to test you?Maino: What I am doing right now, is I stay kind of pulled back a lot on the beefing with a lot of dudes. I try to hold back and just let the music speak for itself, because it was a time when people only judged me and people only noticed me because of controversial issues I was through. So I’m not even focused on these other dudes. I’m just focused on my trying to make good music and go to the next level. However, I don’t think that anyone is just going to step out of line for the sake of doing it. I would be a fool to keep trying to look for that, I wouldn’t be a true blue hustler to get all the way here and to constantly do things that are going to chase the money away. That is what you call being counterproductive, how can I get all the way into a corporate environment, get a record that is moving all around the country and do s**t that is going to take away from that. That wouldn’t be smart at all and I am nobody’s dummy.AllHipHop.com: After somebody listens to the complete album, If Tomorrow Comes…, what are they going to get out of it?Maino: Hell of a lot more respect for me as a person. I think they will love me as a man and not just as some MC. I stay away from all the MC s**t, the rapper s**t. It’s just real talk and real situation in life. Even if you look at “Hi Hater,” it’s not really about me being a rapper, it’s about a situation everybody can relate to. So I try to make my music to where certain other people can take something out of it, not just listen to some ill metaphor or something. That is not what I am in it for.

“I didn’t learn anything in jail as far as preparing me to be a regular upstanding citizen… Real talk, it’s designed to just leave you in there and you got to wing it and take it upon yourself to pick up something. They give you a vocational training, you can get your GED but is that really going to prepare you for the world? You have to have it in you, to want to do something.”

AllHipHop.com: Any track that stands out? Maino: There is a couple. There is a record called “Floating” that I love. It’s about loss, it’s about losing homies to death and jail and how do you cope with that. I say, “I don’t want to feel sober, I want to feel numb, I don’t want to feel sober.” So with most people aren’t going through they say they drink and get high and that is kind of what the story is about. Man it feels like I’m floating on the clouds. I’m high, because I don’t want to face the word alone. Because when you are going through these things you want to ease your pain. You don’t want to think about what is making you hurt, that is what the record is about. AllHipHop.com: I saw this video on the Kay Slay show and you mentioned how they’re building of all of these jails but not building schools. Do you feel that jail rehabilitates people at all?Maino: No it doesn’t. I didn’t learn anything in jail as far as preparing me to be a regular upstanding citizen, honestly if it wasn’t for rap I would go back to the street. Real talk, first and foremost it’s not designed to be that way, it’s designed to just leave you in there and you got to wing it and take it upon yourself to pick up something. They give you a vocational training, you can get your GED but is that really going to prepare you for the world? You have to have it in you, to want to do something. You got to say, I got to take this time and I’m going to use it to perfect whatever craft I want to get into, whatever field I want to get into. It just gives you time to think, it’s just all on you, though.

Hip-Hop Rumors: The Game Ready For War Wth Jay-Z? More Great Illseed Rumors!

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

TODAY’S RUMORS!

ARE WE HEADING FOR BEEF WITH JAY-Z AND GAME?

I could be wrong, but it seems like The Game has been rather quiet recently, but I am hearing a recent interview might changed that and put him head to head with the biggest thing in rap. No, not Lil Wayne, young bucks. I’m talking about Jay-Z. Do you remember the story I offered you on my blog? [Click here for the classic Jay-Z story.] Well, my boy JP finally met Jay and said he didn’t know anything to say to Jigga so he just asked him about The Game. I cannot verify, but JP said he said, “When you gonna go at The Game” and Jay just laughed and said, “We ain’t even f**kin with him…we gonna let him commit suicide.” At this time, The Game was on magazine covers with a gun to his head and talking a lot about suicide and stuff. I heard that this story has gone from JP to illseed to The Game and The Game is really mad. So, now I sort of believe The Game’s new song “Superman,” clearly a Soulja Boy diss is also a slight at Jay-Z. Remember, on Kingdom Come, Jay-Z was rapping as Superman returning to save Hip-Hop. We’ll see!

LIL KIM TO POSE FOR PLAYBOYEEEEEE!

There are renewed talks that perhaps Lil Kim will appear in Playboy magazine. First let me state that I don’t care what any of you say: I WANT TO SEE THIS! You can talk all you want about her body this and all that. I’ve been waiting since her first album cover to see that thangy. Anyway…they say back in the day she was offered a mere $200,000 to strip. I think she did the right thing to hold out for whatever she is now getting! Time is ticking. If she is going to do it, she’s got to do it FAST!

HOUSTON POLICE JUST RAIDED THE OZONE AWARDS?

Shout out to H-townzack and he gave me some information on the Ozone Awards. I was off on a few things regarding the show. For some reason reason, the Houston police bumrushed the event. I’m still not sure why it was broken up in that way. The platoon of HPD officers came ready with batons and plastic handcuffs. So something was definitely about to go down. Also, the freestyle master that mentioned Mike Jones was named ESG and he’s a member of the Screwed Up Click. My fault! Rumor has it, Stephen Jackson of the NBA was arrested at the show for some piffery, but some friends in “high” places get them released without incident.

BUGSY ARRESTED?

My homey Jacob Lachey of 512FilmDpt interviews a lot of artists. Yesterday, he was in Houston, TX wrapping-up an interview Bugsy, when things went kind of bad, really fast. They were at his Marriott Hotel preparing for an interview when hotel security bursts into the door for a “noise complaint.” You know that means about nothing! But, they didn’t open the door and then the levels allegedly were raised to the Houston Police. According to my sources, Bugsy, his management and some other dudes were allegedly hauled off for unregistered weapons, some pills and some piff. Now, I heard that the production of the video crew was creating some sort of noise to alert the security. I heard that some affiliates of Bugsy are possibly going to sue the hotel for racism or discrimination.

NEW KANYE VID “CHAMPION”

FOXY MISSES DATE WITH BIG DADDY KANE?

We aren’t sure if this is correct and correct me if I am wrong. I am not from New York, but I am hearing that Foxy was slated to do a big show with Big Daddy Kane, Spragga Benz and some others like Roxanne Shante and the show was supposedly cancelled. It was supposed to go down this Thursday, but I heard they are going to reschedule it. From what I understand, the fans at foxboogie.com are quite upset, even though I admit, I haven’t seen the comments. Hopefully this is just bad jibber jabber from the haters, which I am NOT.

THE PIMP C TRIBUTE

Brandi Garcia is my new girlfriend, because she sent me the Pimp C dedication from the Ozone Awards. Check her out at 97.9 The Box!

Too Short, David Banner & Big Boi represent..

Here is the Bun B part.

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

Click here to see a concert performance of Lil Wayne and Kanye West’s “Lollipop” remix.

Word? I am hearing Da Brat might get as much as 10 years in jail for that alleged bottle bashing event.

Now, Bun B is definitely the big homey, but I am hearing that Pimp C’s wife is not happy that she wasn’t able to grace the stage at the Ozone Awards with some of Pimp’s other kids. Not sure where this is going.

I heard a rumor that Prodigy of Mobb Deep was somehow killed or died in jail, but I know that cannot be true.

LADY DRAMA – THE RUMOR REPORT NOT TO MISS!

Lady Drama is back in full effect and she is weighing in on quite a bit. I’m not going to edit her. I haven’t even read it yet and I am going to say she speaks for her boisterous self! I love Julia B and the Ozone Movement. Rick Ross and Trae’s on the current cover. Shout out to Zro!

He Said… She Said… The Real Story on the Mike Jones Scuffle!

So I was privileged enough to be in the right place at the right time and boy did I get some juice for you loyal AHH readers! Now as my boy illseed had laid out via clips and source to source info some Houston folks don’t seem to have too much love for who… Mike Jones… who…. Mike Jones as it came to a die hard Houston rappers attention that Mike hadn’t been reppin Houston hard enough! Trae, a Houston rapper, felt that Mike Jones was feeling a bit too froggy and full of himself at the Ozone awards compared to his normal behavior when the flashing lights die down! Mike Jones felt like he was entitled to do it big at the Ozone Awards in Houston since he felt he helped to put Houston on the map! Trae didn’t feel the same way and thought it was about time Mike Jones got put in his place! One thing leads to another and Trae approached Mike Jones in a calm matter as if to spark a convo and with the blink of an eye Mike Jones gets a clip to the nose!

Now with all the chaos that took place over the course of the day it was pretty hard to gain any valid information on why it went down officially or what previous events could have caused it… that’s what research is for and I’m on it! But one thing we do know is 100 percent true and that’s the fact that Mike Jones left the Ozone Awards with a bloody nose and nothing to show for it! Mike did appear to try and reinvigorate his gangster by coming back on stage and trying to get some love by doing his signature who… Mike Jones thing.. but it was very lackluster as everyone knew what happened! Along with Mike Jones DJ Khaled and others tried to make light of the situation by joking but, much too little too late 😉 So I guess back then we didn’t know him and….. we still don’t! For more check out AHH’s all out exclusive Ozone Awards round up!

Let me add that Mike Jones wasn’t the only one partaking in squarish activity during the weekend but I won’t bite the hands that feed me! LOL 😉

Speaking of the Ozone Awards not…… we got to do better!

Now you all know I try my best to keep it real and also keep my job but something’s can’t be overlooked! I was fortunate enough to attend the Ozone Awards this year but I must say I wasn’t too impressed! Aside from some of rap’s greatest artists, new upcoming talent, and huge legends the whole experience lacked substance to me! But the one thing one can get from the Ozone experience is great networking and memories that will last a lifetime… If it’s worth $300 for a weekend pass and $29.50 for a ticket is your call but don’t say I didn’t warn you! I would love to charge the Ozone Award staff to strive for better panels next year with in depth outlooks and perspectives on other things that effect hip hop such as politics, licensing, the hip hop culture and how it effects our communities etc. I would also like to see panelists use more than four letter words to express themselves! I know their vocabulary is much larger than that! I’m pulling for you guys to prove me wrong next year! But thanks for the southern hospitality it was much appreciated!

Now on to the fluff…….. Cassie Has Pierced Nipples… Stop Playin

I knew there was some reason Diddy couldn’t keep his hands of Cassie! In a current issue of Complex Mag Cassie went into detail about how she got her nipples pierced to take a stand against breast cancer! Read below it’s pretty interesting:

Sexy R&B star CASSIE had her nipples pierced to help her keep breast cancer at bay. The pretty 22 year old’s mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor and the singer was recently tested to make sure she was free of the disease. After the check-up, Cassie had her nipples pierced in a bid to show cancer she was a fighter. She says, “I got my piercings before I got my results, like positive energy… I think it’s sexy. I’m proud of them.” But she admits the decision to get pierced would have backfired on her if medics found the cancer gene. Cassie adds, “I’m sitting there with my parents, my mom’s sobbing after she finds out that I don’t have the gene, and I’m like, `Guess what, mom and dad, I got my nipples pierced.’ “It was nerve-racking because I was like, `My mom’s going to kill me if I have this gene and I got these things.’”

Lady Dramas Food For Thought:

Michelle Williams may be firing Matthew Knowles as her manager… what the hell took so long?

Speaking of failures….. Beyonce’s House of Dereon Line is in the shi**er! It took long enough! I didn’t think they would last this long!

Fellas what turns you on more the fact that Cassie has her nipples pierced or the fact that she did it for a great cause?

So after Mike Jones got his face handed to him…. what’s next maybe an album? As I always say any publicity is good publicity! You gotta strike it while the irons hot boy! Get in where you fit in!

Go Hard or Go Home

RANDOM QUOTES ABOUT ISAAC HAYES

For a while, I am going to just be running random quotes from artists about Isaac Hayes. Starting off, here is Ike Dirty, a member of the Hip-Hop nation. That’s right! Sr & Jr were on the same accord.

“This is hard. I wanna thank everyone who has called, e-mailed or texted me in the last day. It means a great deal to me and my family. So many things are going on in my head right now it’s kind of hard to think. I wanna write though. I know this will help me. This is gonna be kinda jumbled. I’m sad, I’m angry, I’m happy all at once right now. I have so many memories of being my fathers son. Little things that make all the difference. Things that help me maintain right now. I can’t be too sad though. My father did great, great things as a Musician, Humanitarian, a Father and a Black man. I’m so happy he touched and inspired so many people in a positive way. I am more proud of my father than anyone could know. I’m so messed up right now that he’s gone too soon for me but his life was a good one. He lived! Traveled the world. Followed his dreams and was extremely ! blessed and successful. I will no longer take another second for granted in my life and work towards all my goals with renewed drive and purpose. I do it for my dad. I do it for me. This blog included. Hug the ones you love right now. I didn’t get to hug my father before he passed. Let go of silly things that have you at odds with the ones you love. Life is short. Live.”

BOW WOW TALKS:

About his girlfriends:

He talks about Yung Berg and model chicks that he’s been associated with:

HELP SOULJA BOY GET PIZ-AID!

I’m not a hater! I want to see Soulja Boy do well in life. Keeps him and his boys out of trouble! In a couple years, those two guys on the side are going to be p#####!  Anyway, I decided to post this video because he claims that he gets paid 2 – 15 cents every time you grace his youtube page. See for yourself.

YESTERDAY, WE LOVE YOU!

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

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at ah*******@***il.com.

– allhiphop rumors

SCREENSHOT: Too Human

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Uncategorized
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Developer: Silicon Knights

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Release Date: August 19, 2008

Canadian developer Silicon

Knights is known for its small but rapidly growing number of behemoth

titles, which include Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes. The company will be diving

into its latest digital saga, Too Human, with Microsoft in August.

Too Human chronicles

the journey of the cybernetic god Baldur as players battle against forces

that threaten all mankind. When an ancient machine puts the galaxy in

danger, Baldur is charged with utilizing his powers to protect the world

from monstrous beings that are hell-bent on destroying any and everything

that stands in their way.

Too Human is an action-adventure

RPG, similar to Mass Effect and Champions of Norrath.

Players will be able to customize their character by leveling up and

obtaining different types of equipment through Baldur’s travels. While

the game starts out with five classes, Silicon Knights has announced

that they will be adding more via downloadable contentment. They also

hinted at additional quests that will eventually be available for download,

lengthening the game’s replay value. Skill classes, customizable characters,

cybernetics, and item hunting all await players in the fictional world

of Too Human. 

Silicon Knights knows that

players love connecting and joining forces over the internet, so they

made sure to include an online 2 player co-op mode via X Box Live that

will allow players to meet and adventure together to search for rare

items and complete quests.

Here are some things gamers

can expect from Silicon Knights’ upcoming release:

Thrilling action-RPG gameplay.

Unlike some games that may force players to choose between two genres,

“Too Human” combines all the creative economy features and social

experiences of a typical RPG, such as collecting loot and leveling up,

while maintaining the excitement of an action game. With a wide array

of weapons, armors, cybernetic implants and skills, players have an

unprecedented level of customization with their characters.

Explosive melee and firearms

combat. It will take more than brawn and raw strength to supplant

the machine hordes. Using a sophisticated blend of seamless melee and

high-tech weapons combat, players have the power to vanquish foes near

and far. Witness the fluid grace of heroes and enemies in battle as

enacted by the acclaimed motion-capture group Full Action Stunt Team

(FAST). Feel each punishing blow through advanced visual effects made

possible through the power of Xbox 360.

The birth of an icon.

Fight as Baldur, a powerful cybernetic god battling his way through

enemy armies to become one of gaming’s renowned iconic heroes. From

weaponry and armor to combat techniques and combos, players can fully

customize Baldur to become the best possible hero.

Advanced cinematic presentation.

Characters and environments come to life with amazing visual fidelity.

Experience the full excitement of combat through a dynamically driven

presentation system that portrays the combat with cinematic quality.

Survive pulse-pounding battles against hordes of on-screen enemies set

against the vast landscape of the “Too Human” world. A sweeping

orchestral score sets the mood for heartbreak, anger and blood lust

as each tune encapsulates the gamer within the immersive gaming environment.

New level of accessibility

through intuitive combat. Perform Baldur’s elaborate and complex

combat maneuvers, and chain together rapid-fire attacks and combos with

ease. Through the use of an intuitive combat system, “Too Human”

delivers gameplay that is easy to learn and rewarding to master.

Shared experience. Conquer

the world of “Too Human” alone or with friends in advanced, online

two-player co-op gameplay through the Xbox LIVE service. Online co-op

play requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership.

Modern take on classical

Norse mythology. In a world ruined by centuries of war, “Too Human”

chronicles the epic story of Baldur, favored son of Odin and one of

a group of humanity’s protector, the Aesir. As Baldur, you must destroy

the ancient war machines that threaten the world, but to do so you must

balance your sense of duty and honor against your lust for revenge —

perhaps even sacrificing your humanity in the process.

City Of Men (DVD Review)

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Reviews / Music
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City Of Men, a coming of age story set in the bubbling favelas of Rio de Janeiro, is the tale of slum-beautiful redemption that City Of God should have been. The follow-up to Fernando Meirelle’s 2003 Academy-Award winning classic stars best friends Acerola (Douglas Silva) and Laranjinha, a.k.a. Wallace (Darlan Cunha) days away from eighteen.

 

The film’s theme is fatherhood; for Wallace, it comes in the form of a labyrinthine search for his father that leads him through soccer fields, local restaurants, and the prison system. For Ace, the fatherhood falls on the opposite side of the branch as he reconciles responsibility of his newborn son.

 

Mireille captures the same tropical gangbang culture that transformed City Of God into an instant cult classic. We see more of the peculiarity of Brazilian hoods where gangsters bust their guns in broad light, take a nice dip at the beach, and play barefoot soccer all on the same day.

 

City Of Men’s conflict derives from two set mates turned bitter rivals who divide the town into a violent clash for territory. Ace and Wallace are caught in the middle with entangled alliances to both sides. Their friendship faces the ultimate test, however, when the two discover a dark secret about their own fathers’ pasts.

 

City Of Men still suffers from the spell of excessive violence and limited character development in the villains. Still, each character’s struggle to escape the gang-ridden drama is genuine. Ace’s girlfriend is whisked away with the opportunity to make thirty thousand dollars and migrates miles away from home, leaving Ace to bring up a child by himself in the belly of the beast.

 

Wallace and Ace’s extenuating issues with fatherhood keep each other in check; Ace urges Wallace to visit his father’s government subsidized one-room flat, and Wallace, in turn, dissuades Ace from walking out on his own son. With strength of their camaraderie, they begin to break the circles that plagued their own childhoods.

 

Only the gangbangers in City Of Men don’t get much of a fair deal. Viewers don’t get a clear understanding of depth or motivation of these menacing hoodlums. We don’t know why they are driven to violent territorial conquests or even if they feel remorse for the mayhem they cause.

 

Yet, the film’s two young protagonists emerge from the fray and grow from neglected children to optimistic adults. So, City Of Men closes with the favelas spitting out the seeds of slum dissent that grow into two youngsters’ fertile promise for a better life.

 

City Of Men Trailer

The Death of Black Soul

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: Uncategorized
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Play this before or while you read this. Trust me.

 

Isaac Hayes was deep. Musically  deep. Rich in both composition, arrangement, and social relevance. Many times in these situations we are forced to find some way to connect a loss of this magnitude to our lifestyle and our constituents. With Isaac Hayes there is no reach; there is no winding road to connection.  His music supplied the fuel for some of Hip-Hop’s many classic beats.  That Stax-supplied, Memphis-bred soul.  The soul that survived the crash that killed Otis Redding.  The soul that took Burt Bacharach to the mud.  Black Soul.

 

We try to separate race from many things in this era of political correctness.  We strive in the interest of objectivity to eliminate race from classification.  But there is no other way to describe the music of Isaac Hayes. Black Soul.  Mirroring the struggle of Black people, Hayes’ compositions were rarely quick hitting pop records.  Isaac Hayes, who interestingly replaced the chains of the slave with the gold rope chains, was certainly no slave to convention. 

His compositions went as long as twenty minutes, grabbing the listener and forcing them down into musical melancholy.  Towering organs, melodic strings, and orchestral arrangements, long before Barry White altered mood and took you on an emotional journey.  He told a story without words, but by mastering mood and emotion and pitch, drawing you into the Black experience.

 

Isaac Hayes’ most notable moment came as a result of his narrative ability.  In an era of buffoonery, and at a time when Hollywood decided to bank its fortune on the black dollar, Isaac Hayes was given the responsibility of crafting the musical landscape of the movie Shaft.  Shaft differed from the other “blaxploitation” movies of the era in that it had a real budget, and the lead character a non charlatan.  John Shaft was strong, masculine, uncompromising. 

A private eye with an edge and one of the few non-emasculated examples of that era. Directed by the immortal Gordon Parks (also a first for a major motion picture), Shaft needed a backdrop amenable to conveying that Black masculinity to audiences unfamiliar with that on film. Isaac Hayes brought that original Black superhero music. Subsequently, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song , the first non-acting Black Academy Award given out.

 

Hayes’ role as musical tour guide through the realm of Black Soul gave the world a front row seat into our collective expression.  Bold and ambitious, he took innocuous songs and “darkened” them. A prime example of this process involved Dionne Warwick’s classic rendition of “Walk on By”. A musical pop landmark in its own right, Hayes totally obliterated the original mood and made it hauntingly compelling by opening with booming organs and airing it out with string instruments before  settling into the groove that would go on to power Biggie’s warning. Two songs that are entirely the same word for word, yet the power of Hayes makes his version an emotional experience.

 

It is this talent of Isaac Hayes among all of his prodigious ability that makes this loss such a tragedy. The ability to talk without words.  The power to control emotion and to draw in people of all backgrounds to an understanding of pain.  We will miss Isaac Hayes.  Because before Stevie and Marvin, Isaac was socially conscious. Before Barry White brought love unlimited, Hayes was orchestrating.  Before Hip-Hop was sampling and repurposing ideas from all over, Isaac Hayes was colorizing Burt Bacharach. 

 

Sometimes when you are first, you don’t reap the rewards.  I imagine the great, great, great grandkids of the Wright brothers are down in the Carolinas angry with the price of plane tickets like the rest of us. Other times you are revered.  Other times your legacy is cemented and the world is a different place because you chose to go left.  Isaac Hayes went left; to the Black Hand side.  And his indelible mark on Black Soul and the landscape of music itself will live on. You Daaaamn Right.

Below are just two examples of the difference between Isaac Hayes and pop standards.  Same songs word for word. But listen to the stark contrast.  R.I.P. Please learn our music. We are losing soul faster than we can replace it. Peace

 

 

 

Judge Issues Bench Warrant For Rapper DMX

By: Grouchy Greg Watkins (@GrouchyGreg) Updated Category: News
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A Phoenix, Arizona judge has issued an arrest warrant for rapper DMX for missing a scheduled court date today (August 12), AllHipHop.com has learned.

 

DMX, born Earl Simmons, is accused of visiting the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona to receive treatment for an illness and using someone else’s identity, in order to avoid paying the bill.

 

The rapper, 37, was also due supposed to attend a pretrial conference pertaining to marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession charges.

 

According to the Associated Press, Commissioner Phemonia Miller also raised DMX’s bond to $25,000.

 

The judge is holding an arrest warrant until 4 p.m. on Tuesday (August 19), in order for DMX’s attorney to disclose the rapper’s whereabouts, as well as the reason he missed today’s hearing.