Amanda Diva’s Diva Speak TV kicks off with season 2 as Ms. Diva recaps the Summer and gives us a hilarious take on what’s going on today!
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EXCLUSIVE: T-Pain Talks ‘T-Wayne’ Album With Lil Wayne
With their two most recent collaborations gaining airplay and chart positions, T-Pain and Lil Waynes proposed collaborative effort also continues to build momentum.
The T-Wayne project has even gained the support and involvement of several high profile producers, T-Pain told AllHipHop.com during a recent interview promoting his third studio album, Thr33 Rings.
Thats going down. Heavily, T-Pain told AllHipHop.com, promising that this project wont go the way of other rumored superstar collaborations.
Weve already got like 25 songs, T-Pain revealed. Its going down after my album drops. Could be the beginning of next year, like January/February.
Now, with Timbaland and Pharrell Williams having voiced an interest in joining the project, T-Pain says he hopes to bring in superstar rapper/producer Kanye West.
T-Pain and Wests last major collaboration, Good Life, won a Grammy Award in 2008 for Best Rap Song.
Throughout the summer, both T-Pain and Lil Wayne have confirmed their desire to create a joint project, capitalizing on the success theyve had with hit singles like DJ Khaleds Im So Hood and more recently Got Money and Cant Believe It, from Tha Carter III and Thr33 Ringz respectively.
However, T-Pain says the project may be delayed by label red tape, especially if all three multi-platinum producers get involved.
But ultimately, T-Pain says he is determined to deliver the project to the fans.
If anything, we aint making no goals [for the date], T-Pain told AllHipHop.com. If we really gotta do it as an album and all those labels gotta work together, itll come out like, two years from now. [So] if it just falls into a bunch of leaks or if it falls into a mixtape, [thats fine]. We might just take the songs weve got [and say]: Here you go world. T-Wayne project. Right up. For free.
Mistah F.A.B. Forms Group N.E.W. Oakland
Bay area rapper Mistah F.A.B. has teamed with upcoming rappers Beeda Weeda and J-Stalin to form the group N.E.W. Oakland.
An album from the group will be released through Town Thizzness, which is a new partnership between Thizz Nation and its distributor SMC.
The goal of the new union is to introduce a new crop of Bay Area rappers into the music business, according to Thizz Nation’s CEO, Stretch.
“The concept is to take buzz worthy acts or conceptual projects from Oakland, CA- make great albums, sell them cheap to introduce them and slowly but surely start building fans,” Thizz Nation CEO Stretch explained to AllHipHop.com.
Thizz Nation released two high profile Bay area albums in 2007, including Da Bidness, which featured PSD Tha Drivah, Keak Da Sneak & Messy Marv and Mistah F.A.B.’s Da Baydestrian.
In addition to the N.E.W. Oakland album, Town Thizzness will release three solo albums by upcoming Bay Area rappers.
Beeda Weeda’s Da Thizzness is due in stores August 26, J-Stalin’s Gas Nation hits shelves on September 23, while G-Stack’s Dr. Purp Thump has a release date of October 21.
DMX Released From Miami Jail
Rapper DMX has been released from a Miami prison earlier today (August 27) according to published reports.
TMZ.com reports that DMX pleaded guilty to minor drug possession charges in exchange for timed served. He was also issued a $483 fine.
A bench warrant for DMXs arrest is still in effect in Arizona, where officials have 15 days to arrest him on multiple charges, including drug and paraphernalia possession.
On August 14, DMX was arrested at a North Miami Beach Wal-Mart store, just days after missing a pre-trial conference in Phoenix.
The rapper also facing 11 counts of drug possession, animal cruelty charges and fraud, for allegedly giving a false name and social security number during a visit at a Scottsdale hospital last April.
Game Ends Beef With Joe Buddens, Brings NYC Rappers To Party
The Game treated his New York fans last night (August 26) to an all-star list of guest MCs, as Young Buck, Joe Budden, Jim Jones, Fat Joe, and Kool Herc made appearances at his album release party at the Filmore.
Former rival Joe Budden was the first surprise guest.
Far removed from their 2005 battle which saw numerous diss records thrown back and forth, the New Jersey lyricist performed Pump It Up and Who Killed Hip-Hop with Game in the role of hypeman.
Young Buck also took the stage to taunt his former G-Unit family, who he stated was just the Unit without his presence.
Making light of his reported money problems, the Nashville MC presented Game with a diamond-incrusted watch from his new Ten-A-Key Collection, to which the Compton MC joked I thought you was broke n*gga?
The two went on to resurrect the infamous G-U-Not campaign to the crowds roaring approval.
With Fat Joe in attendance, Buck clarified to fans that their former beef had been resolved with his dismissal from G-Unit.
Showing respect to Hip-Hops roots, Game brought out Hip-Hop founder Kool Herc and physically bowed down in tribute to the man who birthed Hip-Hop culture.
Touched, Herc announced his love for Games musical contributions and declared his favorite Game record is Hate It or Love It.
The show ended with Jim Jones, the first New York rapper to collaborate with Game outside of G-Unit.
They performed their hit Certified Gangstaz to the delight of the raucous crowd.
Not done, Jones continued on with selections from his own catalogue such as Love Me No More and Byrdgang Money.
Other guests included Maino, who performed his hit Hi Hater, and Ghostface Killah and Raekwon.
The latter pairing performed selected Wu classics and the Game/Raekown L.A.X. collaboration Bulletproof Diaries.
The Games highly anticipated third LP L.A.X. was released yesterday (August 26), and features a staggering list of guest artists: Nas, Lil Wayne Raekwon, Chrisette Michele, Raheem DeVaughn, Common, Bilal, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Keyshia Cole, and Ice Cube.
Production for the set is handled by Kanye West, Hi-Tek, Cool and Dre, and DJ Toomp.
The album is favored to debut at #1 next week on Billboards Top 200 album chart.
Slim Thug and The Boss Hogg Outlawz: Dues Paid
Houston isnt folding anytime soon. Proudly reppin’ the South and showcasing their mainstream appeal, Slim Thug and the Boss Hogg Outlawz follow up their 2007 Serve & Collect debut with Back By Blockular Demand (Serve & Collect 2), an album that still preserves the Outlawz street-value style. “We make the rules in the streets,” says de facto crew leader Slim Thug. “We do what we wanna do. Twenty fours hours a day.” The boss man and his posse of MCs (Killa Kyleon, PJ Tha Rap Hustla, Sir Daily, Chris Ward, J-Dawg, and Young Black) talk about the new record, upcoming solo projects, working for a major label, and why Hip-Hop is hurting. AllHipHop.com: So, tell us about this new album?Killa Kyleon: It’s our second record showcasing the whole group, and the first actual Serve and Collect which we got a lot of good reviews on it it was basically for our region; we had done the record for our region. This go around is more to show that we can go beyond our region and make a lot more mainstream records and showcase our talents a little bit more for ourselves concept-wise, lyric-wise, and content. Boss Hogg Outlawz f/ Ray J Keep It Playa VideoAllHipHop.com: Is it hard getting six MCs on the record and giving everyone enough face time?Killa Kyleon: We six rappers, when get out on the floor, s**t, there ain’t much room left on the mother f**king floor. That’s how we do it we put six out on every song. And you know, the way we work it’s like we all motivate each other. If Young Black be bulls**ttin’ around or something and he taking too long, he ain’t on the song. You wanna be on more songs, then you gotta be working for it. PJ Tha Rap Hustla: We got a lot of mixtapes we do and they call us into the studio, “Hey, come do your flow for this and that,” and you miss that and the CD gets wrapped up and you didn’t get to make whatever it is that you wanted to do, then it’s on you. So it’s like, you know, I ain’t show up and I ain’t on that thing, well you can’t sit back and wait on a motherf**ker, n***a wanna leave a group, then he can leave. They ain’t happy they can leave, you know, it’s just strictly business, man, we just getting to the money. Ain’t no feelings involved; we don’t need more on our shoulder. We a team we got a problem we gonna address it we don’t need emotions and all of that. If you ain’t happy speak up on it and say whatever it is.
The whole game changed, not just Houston, the record industry went down a little bit, and my personal situation I was at Interscope/Geffen and they fired their whole staff and I had to get reacquainted with everybody. Slim Thug
AllHipHop.com: Houston was front and center two or three years ago, what has changed since?Slim Thug: The whole change is that we’re all signed to major deals, man, and you’ll notice that first time we came around it was good because they were letting us do what we were doing. They were just following our lead because they didn’t know s**t about what was up; they just seen we had a hell of a buzz about us, and they just put the machine behind and pushed. On the second time around, we’ve got deals now. So everyone wanna put their input in it and, you know, they wanna do what they wanna do and stuff like that. And not to mention, that the whole game changed, not just Houston, the record industry went down a little bit, and my personal situation I was at Interscope-Geffen and they fired their whole staff and I had to get reacquainted with everybody. So it was a lot of stuff like that happening in the city. And I think that really hurt us. Killa Kyleon: At the time when Houston came to the forefront they were diggin’ what we were doing because it was fresh at the time, but at the same time, when you feel something fresh and new being just a business they still kinda skeptical on taking chances with the type of music we were doing. They were really into the music, but what really ended up hurting us was they wouldn’t let any of the guys work together. They were too scared of one stepping outside of the other that I think not knowing it was really everybody coming together which made the machine push. And now if you look at movements that’s going on, like the whole Florida movement, the Atlanta movement, they didn’t really allow our movement to go on because we couldn’t work with each other, that’s what slowed the movement. AllHipHop.com: Is that a difference youve seen working as an independent group and then being part of a major label?Killa Kyleon: It’s a big difference that I’ve seen. I was signed to a major for four years behind my boss and I wasn’t really able just because they were complications with his records it didn’t allow me to get heard because they wanted to get past his look first in order to get to me. I had a budget and everything; the money was there, they just weren’t ready to move forward. And that’s the thing, they roll the dice a lot; they do a lot of gambling but they’re scared. Being an independent, we don’t give a damn. We just gonna get out there and we’re gonna get that look. We’re gonna get out there and work extra hard and make sure that we’re in control of our look. We gonna fail and succeed on our own instead of failing and succeeding on their behalf because they’re really not willing to take the chance. AllHipHop.com: What did you think of the Ozone Awards?J-Dawg: We loved them. We got good looks. I like all the performers. We liked that fact that the awards even exist. You know, that they giving people who really not heard, as far as mainstream, giving them a good look and people who paid a lot of dues in the game, who got a lot of respect in the game give them what they deserve. With all the work they put in, Ozone gives us props. AllHipHop.com: Are you still signed to Star Trak as a solo artist and what’s your relationship with Pharrell like?Slim Thug: I was never directly signed to Star Trak; I [was] always signed to Interscope-Geffen and it was like, when I got over there, Jimmy Lovine’s whole formula is to put the new artist with a big producer and let it blow up like that. So that’s what he came up with me and Pharrell, we did a few records together. So you know, it got leaked, a lot of the records got leaked when I was gonna put the album out like nine months before it came out. So we had to scramble for more songs. So me and P just got into the studio and got into doing a lot more records. We weren’t supposed to have that many records on my albums, but ended up doing a lot of records on my album doing a majority of it and put the Star Trak stamp on that, the production deal. He had so many beats on that so that’s how that formed. He said, “Alright, I’ll just co-sign that” and, you know, say Star Trak just to give it that look. Well me and P, we’re still cool and he’s still my boy and everything. I still talk to him; it’s all good.
If you ain’t talking about girls shaking their ass or your song ain’t about dancing or something for the kids, the radio ain’t gonna play it. If you ain’t talking about the same thing, they ain’t gonna try to play your video on BET. Slim Thug
AllHipHop.com: What are your thoughts on the current state of Hip-Hop?J-Dawg: Me personally, just to be part of the Hip-Hop game, you know, I ain’t got no complaints. Throughout all the sales and being in a recession, it seems like everything ain’t the way it was, but I think it can get better. I don’t always look at the bad about the situation, I look at it like God blessed you with the good, you gonna get the bad, too. Slim Thug: I think that it’s messed up right now. It’s messed up because they try to censor us too much, man, like this radio s**t. Like if you ain’t talking about girls shaking their ass or your song ain’t about dancing or something for the kids, the radio ain’t gonna play it. If you ain’t talking about the same thing, they ain’t gonna try to play your video on BET. I’ve been on the other side of it, when you gotta talk to other people, you know I’m saying, so I see a lot of that. That’s what I don’t like about it; I don’t like how everyone’s trying to censor [what] artist are doing and make us be role models. When a person write a book they write a book they way they want it, and if you don’t like, you don’t like it, don’t buy it. And it should be like that when we do our music. Everyone with the right sound should be able to be on BET, not cussin’ or anything like that, but as far as the type of songs we wanna do, and the people wanna hear, they should play it. And with that being said, with the radio not doing it and BET and MTV and all these different places not playing our videos or making us change it or if they don’t like certain kinds of songs because they feel like it’s too violent of whatever, you know back when Ice Cube started having videos with guns and s**t, it was the greatest time for Hip-Hop, and now we’re just being censored too much. Boss Hogg Outlawz Ridin Wit No Ceiling VideoAllHipHop.com: After this project, will you all put our individuals?Slim Thug: Definitely, this is gonna set everybody’s up. We don’t give a f**k if you we want you to definitely go purchase the album whether you go to the store [or] get it from iTunes, just go through and listen to a few records. If you f**k with it buy it, if you don’t, don’t. If you ain’t got money or the opportunity, then get it on bootleg, I don’t give a damn. The whole thing is listen to the album; everybody listen to the album there’s six different artists on there, I’m sure you gonna like a few of them. At least three of them. I just want everybody to listen to the album and be a fan of one of the artists, and you know, get ready for their solo albums. And we just gonna take it from there.
Trick Trick Speaks On Yung Berg
Trick Trick speaks on the Yung Berg incident in Detroit, Trick is RAW!
Jay-Z Announces Sale of Vegas 40/40
Rap star Jay-Z and his business partners have officially announced the sale of the 40/40 Club in Las Vegas for an undisclosed amount, AllHipHop.com has confirmed.
The 24,000 square foot sports bar, which is located in The Palazzo and Casino, will no longer operate under the 40/40 brand, as the sale is for the lease and not the rights to the name.
“The sale is a great business decision, we are delighted. We look forward to expanding the brand even further to Chicago and Tokyo ,” Jay-Z told AllHipHop.com in a statement released today (August 27).
Over the next year, Jay-Z and his business partners will open 40/40 sports bars in Chicago, Tokyo and Macau.
The Las Vegas 40/40 Club was opened in December of 2007.
T.I. Ft. Rihanna
“Livin Your Life”
Busta Rhymes Ft. The Game, Reek Da Villain and Show Money
“Flipmode Meets Bstars”
The Game: L.A.X. (Album Review)
The Games alpha male A-type personality and aggressive approach obviously didnt fall in line with G-Units pecking order. But as a solo artist, its these attributes that have allowed him to carve out a unique path in the industry. Hes the Cali rapper with the New York swag.
Hes lyrically talented and street enough to have made the whole G-Unit fiasco a distant and almost forgotten memory. Unfortunately with the release of his third and supposedly final release L.A.X. (Geffen), The Game falls short of nailing the three-peat of critically acclaimed albums.
On the introductory LAX Files, The Game puts it down for the Westside story that Hip-
Hop fell in love with back in the late eighties when N.W.A. introduced it to the world: Ni***s think because they watch Menace a couple times / Seen Cube in Boyz In The Hood and then press rewind / That you could survive when a real Crip run up on ya car and flex the nine / You must be out of ya mind. The soulful hook that follows each verse and lurking keys feels like the classic Los Angeles gangster Rap that The Game has built his career on reviving.
There is a serious roster of heavy hitters featured vocally and behind the boards. The best production comes from the always in demand Cool and Dre. Songs like the power ballad single My Life featuring Lil Wayne and the mid-tempo Money with its electric guitars and Betty Wright vocal sample, shine as two of the better produced songs on the album.
Bulletproof Diaries is an interesting pairing between The Game and Raekwon. Lyrically this unlikely duo feed off each other well, but the Jelly Roll produced beat is disjointed and too busy. That California sound of lazy horns, keyboards, and thumping bass, is layered with video game like blips and bongs. It makes for an odd combination.
Although the album does have its bright spots, there are too many mishaps for this to be his last. The plethora of collaborations hurt the album more than it helped. The track Angel with Common, which is accompanied by a surprisingly unimpressive Kanye beat, and Touchdown featuring Raheem Vaughn, dont fit the initial energy and aggression that L.A.X began with. Furthermore the R&B sound seems to be outside of Chuck Taylors comfort zone as Games Pain with Keyshia Cole also fails to leave any real lasting impression.
The decision to diversify his features and beats didnt always go over well despite the valiant effort. Lyrically he is one of the top players in the game but its disappointing when that is overshadowed by desultory production and all but strange collaborations. L.A.X. has its moments but it has to be more thorough if this is Games parting gift to Hip-Hop as an emcee.
The Game Featuring Keyshia Cole
“The Game’s Pain”
The Game Featuring Lil Wayne
“My Life”
Cool & Dre, DJ Green Lantern Join Loud Battle
Multi-platinum producers Cool and Dre and DJ Green Lantern are among the beatmakers participating in this years Loud.com Online rap battle.
The 20-week long contest, which kicked off earlier this month, will allow registered Loud.com users the opportunity to enter the competition, by using the sites online recording studio to upload original compositions for 99 cents.
In addition to Cool and Dre and Green Lantern, contestants can choose new tracks produced by Sha Money XL, Havoc of Mobb Deep and DJ Khaled to lay vocals over.
The Online Rap Battle is one of two contests launched by Loud.com.
The web site also kicked off its Producer Challenge for aspiring music producers.
Rap Battle participants can select registered and uploaded beats from the Producer Challenge to aid them in their competition.
One winner will be chosen from the Producer Challenge, along with 10 finalists from the Online Rap Battle.
The winning producer will take home $15,000 as well as a production deal through SRC/Universal Motown. Cool and Dre will serve as judges for the Producer Challenge.
The winner of the Online Rap Battle be rewarded with $100,000 and a recording contract with SRC/Universal Motown.
More than 2,000 entries have been cast for the competitions first round. Finalists and winners will featured in season two of the Loud.com webisode series The Finalists.
According to the sites CEO Steve Rifkind, the contests serve as a vehicle for his company to “present all creative instruments for the Loud.com community.
“By providing an improved platform to our users, we hope to make the talent pool even better this time around, and find the next hot aspiring MC and producer we can absorb into the SRC Records/Loud.com family,” Rifkind said in a statement.
Among those benefitting from the exposure of the Online Rap Battle was last years winner Tha Crow.
The rapper is gearing up for the release his official mixtape.
The DJ Warrior-hosted project comes as Tha Crow is currently working on his debut album, which will be released on SRC/Universal Motown.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Superhead Retires!? Mos Def Beats Up Cameraman? Whoo Kids Beat Up Someone?
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! MOS DEF SPAZZED ON PHOTOGRAPHER?
I dont know if you know, but Mos Def does not like to have
his picture taken without his consent. He is sort of like me in that regards.
Well, Mos was at the Magic Convention out in Las Vegas and well a photographer didnt know
said rule. Fact: Mos Def WILDED out on a photographer at Magic. He was walking
in and someone tried to take his pic. According to witnesses, he began
yelling “Everyone knows I don’t
take pictures!” Hey, I know! Who was this photog? He must have been with
tmz. Anyway, Mos allegedly grabbed the camera. Now the photographer guy says
that his camera is all messed up and broken. He also said the he was bleeding.
I did hear Mos gave him fair warning. The Photog reportedly plans to sue Mos
Def. Im hearing that Mos’ lady friend was trying to calm him down, but he
wasn’t hearing it. He was supposed to make an appearance but he just bailed.
Fame just isnt all that its cracked up to be.
FOXY BROWN MOURNS
Dancehall artist Spragga Benz, star of Shottas and
longtime love of Foxy Brown, lost his 15 year old son
to gunfire in Kingston, Jamaica this weekend. Carlyle
Grant, who played a “young Spragga” in his movie Shottas was shot and
killed Saturday night. Our deepest condolences go out to Spragga Benz and
family.
Rumor has it, Foxy is going to the funeral in Jamaica.
Would she be saying this if Pac or Biggie was alive? Too bad
we’ll never know. What we do know is that times must be hard for the former
“First Lady of BadBoy” if she has to stoop to these levels to sell
books.
50 CENT IS WRONG
OFFERING DOWNLOADS OF GAMES ALBUM!
Now, 50 Cent is dead wrong for this one! They are offering
straight up downloads of The Games new CD and calling it a mixtape on his site. The ad said
it is LAX: Featuring EVERYONE, trying to say The Game has too many guests.
Like Buck said…that’s just wrong.
BIGGIE REALLY WANTED
FOXY?
This book Faith is releasing is really the real deal. I just
hope all the good content isnt on the net. They need to send me a copy. Whats
good?
Even before we moved to
Brooklyn, I noticed that Big was kind of rough
and abrasive toward Kim. I once heard him screaming on her at his mother’s
house although I had no idea why.
“You think you special? He screamed. “I’ll go get Inga right
now.” While Kim cried, Big kept yelling at her. “We don’t need you
for this group. Inga would be happy to be down.” (The “Inga” he
was referring to was a sixteen year old rapper named Foxy
Brown who would go on to be Kim’s nemesis)
“You ain’t special,” He said. “I will replace youre a** with
the quickness. Don’t forget that s**t.”
I think seeing the way they talked to her and about her made me dismiss her. I
usually have Spider-Man senses when it comes to other women. But with Kim,
there was nothing.”
I remember going to a hotel room in Manhattan
where Big was staying. And when I got there, Kim was on her way out. She ended
up hanging around for a bit longer and getting a ride back to Brooklyn
with me.
“I know you’re Big’s wife,” she said, as I drove us over the Brooklyn Bridge. “We’re more like brother
and sister.”
I just nodded. My Lil’ Kim bulls**t detector was still set on off.
THE OUTLAWZ AINT
TRYING TO HEAR WHAT FAITH IS SAYING!
EDI of The Outlawz released a statement to streethop.com to
counter the allegations in the book by Faith Evans. I knew somebody was going
to step up to the plate!
“Let me start off by saying that
this is not an attempt to fight Tupac’s battles. Over the past twelve years
there have been numerous articles, books, DVD’s, movies, interviews, etc about
Pac and his life. We normally do not speak nor comment on [bulls**t] because
it’s really not worth it and we all have better things to do than argue with
idiots.
But recently I heard about a book by Faith Evans and there is an excerpt
released to the media in which she portrays Tupac as some sort of sick gorilla
pimp or sex offender. Of course Ms. Evans wants you, the reader, to see her as
the victim, even though she admits to cheating on her husband with not one but
two different men at the same time; but Tupac wasn’t one of them? Of course!
Look none of us was there when it happened but I know what Pac told us and Pac
was a lot of things, but a liar he was not.
I am sure the publishers would not have cut her the check if my homies’ name
was not in the book, so I understand her dilemma. But it is cowardice to make
such an allegation when he isn’t even here to defend himself.
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
There was a dude that had a rumor and strong words for The
Game and Bow Wow a couple days ago. That dude got so many threats to my inbox.
Im glad he didnt show his name!
Rumor had it that M.C. Breed and Dustin from B5 got arrested
on Sunday in the ATL. I dont know who
Dustin is, but I heard they might have found dust in the whip.
There is a nasty rumor floating around that someone really
close to Ciara paid rapper Bugsy 25K to expose Lil Bow Wow if you will. I dont
know what there is to expose, but it must be serious!
If you didnt know, now you know. Angel
Lola Luv is now a rapper. Click here to read the story.
Is Bow Wow making it difficult for Bugsy dare I say
blackballing him?
I am hearing that Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys are all set
to duet on a charitable AIDS song together. Big!
I am hearing that Russell Simmons wont attend his own
Hip-Hop Summit at the DNC in Denver.
Hmmmmm .This is historic and R.S. endorsed Obama…
KARRINE SUPERHEAD
STEFFANS RETIRES?
She retired at the age of 30!?! What is she retiring from? Im
not going to answer that. On second thought. She even said, Im taking the S
off my chest. I guess that says it all.
She has quit a p#### mouth for somebody that once appeared
on Oprah.
KRS-ONE AND SOULJA
BOY!
Check out the two dudes on Rap City
old school, new school no school rules!
SIGNS THE WORLD IS
COMING AN END
This is a rapper named Monster and he is reportedly teaching
Lil Waynes kids how to do their ABCs Note: I dont know if these are actually
Waynes kids.
As far as I know he only has a daughter. Mr. Rogers, this dude isnt.
No disrespect, but we gotta we have to do better.SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END…PART 2If you want to see the biggest clown and idiot at the Democratic National Convention, click here. I mean that lovingly. illseed.com.
TRICK TRICK GOES OFF
ON YUNG BERG
You read the AHH interview now see this one, where he goes
off on Yung Berg.
SHOUT OUT TO MARLO
FROM THE WIRE!
His real name is Jamie Hector and he recently got married!
YAY! Congrats homey!
SHELZ COMES FORWARD!“I’m voting for Mumia Abu-Jamal.”
When asked if they plan to vote, both Stic Man and M1 said, “No.”
DMX has had his bond revoked or denied or whatever they call it. And he wasn’t too happy about it.DMX vs. Judgeby skaybn
LADY DRAMA: THE RUMOR REPORT
Blood shed? Melee? Whoo?
And what is this about DJ Whoo Kid beating someone up? Or someone beating up Whoo Kid? Or someone getting beat up while being near Whoo Kid? Hell if I know. But per Shadyville, Whoo’s decision to join the cast of G-Unit’s reality show on MTV led to some blood shed. But of course you have to wait until the first episode airs to see what all this bloodshed talk is about because I understand the mêlée was caught on tape. Damn. Is Fifty tricking me into writing stuff again?
Less Money, More Problems
Bad enough Dame Dash allegedly is facing foreclosure on his properties, but now it’s being reported that his connection with Pro-Keds has been . well disconnected as the company moves in a new direction.
Ruben Studdard is the latest to face a ridiculous tax bill that he may, or may not, be able to pay. I understand its hovering around $200,000 and liens have been placed on his property.
Not only did those folk from Global Music not have the money to purchase the Death Row catalogue, they are now being sued by the Chapter 11 Trustees representing Death Row.
Oh and wish the Prince of Pop a happy birthday. Today Michael Jackson turns 50.
And again, our thoughts are definitely with you Dre.
Rakim gets Delayed Yet Again but……… So after some major setbacks with Dr.Dre’s label Aftermath, it seems his much anticipated album will see the light of day but… not without another delay of course! Amidst rumors of Rakim signing with Talib Kwalei’s label he has actually signed with Bay Area based SMC Recordings which house artists Killer Mike, San Quinn, Mistah Fabb,Pastor Troy and a host of others. In a press release SMC records stated The Seventh Seal is now slated for a Spring 2009 release. For those who don’t know this will be Rakims first solo album since 1999s The Master. But anyone who doesn’t know that shouldn’t even be on this site 😉 When it Rains it Pours… Dame Dash Loses Pro Keds Deal! Seems like another one bites the dust for Dame Dash! His finances aren’t looking too promising now a days first Roc-A-Fella Records, then foreclosed homes now I’m getting reports that he lost his rights to Pro-Keds sneaker brand after it was reacquired by Stride Rite Corp. The details are Stride Rite gaining back the rights has absolutely nothing to do with Dash’s widely reported recent financial struggles. The Boston Herald says: It was just a matter of timing, Stride Rite spokeswoman Debra Fernandes said yesterday. We just wanted a new direction.But we all know better than that! J.Hud Will Sing the Nat’l Anthem at DNC! Barack must be a huge fan of J Hud, because he handpicked her to sing the Nat’l Anthem on Thurs! Which is the day he will accept his nomination! Good stuff I can’t wait to see Jen work those pipes;-) A Morning Boost for those who need it: The Simmons sisters look quite________ no h### real recognize real can’t hate on them! See I can be nice 😉 If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It….. Jay Z and B were spotted getting dinner last night in NYC looking happier than a winning pick 4 ticket! I’m so glad to see them happy and TOGETHER! Can’t hate on that although I wish I could lol 😉 Brand New: T Pain feat Lil Wayne ‘I Can’t Believe It’ Lady Drama’s Food For Thought: Nothing until after Thurs! Watch the DNC and get at me 😉
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
AHH Stray News: Lil Wayne Misses Court Date
New Orleans, Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne missed a court hearing relating to drug charges in Yuma County, Arizona yesterday (August 25). According to KYMA Channel 11, the rapper missed the scheduled court date due to an unknown medical procedure, which prevented him from making the mandatory appearance. In May of 2008, Lil Wayne pleaded not guilty to weapons and drug charges. The rapper was arrested on January 22, when federal agents seized 41 grams of ecstasy, 105 grams of marijuana and 29 grams of cocaine. Lil Wayne is due back in court in October.
New Deal Could Result In Death Row Sale
Death Row Records could be under new ownership, thanks to a newly signed deal with -MediaTechnics Corporation.
AllHipHop.com has learned that MediaTechnics has signed a letter of intent to purchase the Global Music Group today (August 26) to provide funds to purchase the assets of the legendary label.
GMG originally won the rights to the Death Row catalog, but failed to pay the $24 million need to consummate the deal by the deadline of July 29.
Once MediaTechnics provides the funds needed to complete the deal, it will attempt to gain control of all of Death Rows assets, which include previously and unreleased material by the late Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and other material from the labels catalog of master recordings.
The acquisition of GMG is “a landmark turning point” for MediaTechnics, according to the companys, president Richard Wilson.
“Together with our subsidiaries, the Live Network and CRD Technologies, the prospects of co-branding, licensing and new product development are astounding,” Wilson stated. “Were driving hard to lock in all of the complicated pieces of this puzzle necessary to successfully conclude this remarkable deal.”
The status of Death Row, which was founded in 1991, has generated headlines since the label and its founder, Marion “Suge” Knight, became embroiled in lawsuits criminal convictions and other legal disputes over the past decade.
As a result, Knight sought bankruptcy protection for himself and the label in April 2006.
An independent valuation of the bankruptcy estate completed last month placed the value of the label’s assets at $32 million.
“We are delighted by the prospects that this imminent transaction could bring to our two companies and believe the outcome, both financially and creatively, can be an incredible force” GMG president Susan Berg added.
Despite several factors potentially affecting the completion of the Death Row transaction, MediaTechnics Letter of Intent from a lender to fund the transaction bolsters the companys chances of placing the winning bid for Death Row.
Sha Stimuli: Hotter Than July (Mixtape Review)
Effort and struggle dont equal mainstream success. For anyone who needs a real time example within the culture of Rap could look no further than Sha Stimuli. The Brooklyn MC actually sat in the Ready To Die sessions back in 94, and as we fast forward to 2008, he still is a relative unknown to the masses. Has his ship sailed, possibly, as we know time waits for no man, but that doesnt mean that he isnt dropping hot music.
The MC has dropped mixtapes almost every month this year, and Hotter Than July, his latest mixtape with longtime compatriot DJ Victorious, shows flashes of brilliance behind the traces of Stevie Wonder that can be deemed his best.
Given the title, and the status quo of mixtape music that is flowing through the game, it wouldnt be a stretch of the imagination to think of this as a tape full of songs of getting stacks and making tracks. Hotter Than July is actually quite the contrary; this effort is full of tracks that call to the spirit of self reflection, storytelling, and solid music.
Tracks such as Redemption features three verses that each tells a story of the mistakes one could make and the attempts of wiping the slate clean. Overjoyed features a sped up and manipulated version of the classic and gives the listener with something that could be understood as a piece of Sha Stimulis soul.
The end of the track features the artist talking to a group of kids relaying their dreams back to them. However the song turns for the better at the end when a cynical kid opens up with realistic problems, and Sha ends the track. How can I help dog / Thats how I felt / I looked at my Pops / Then looked at myself / I aint trying to be you idol / I just broke the damn cycle / Just Dream.
With a summer that is sure to be filled with plenty of mixtapes from artists that may not be more popular as others, this tape stands above most as a tape could simply be summed up as good music. Stimulis flow is one of a veteran MC yet he avoids the tag of dated under Stevies music. Sha created a mixtape that may just be Hotter Than July.
Sha Stimuli
“Lately”
DMX Must Stay Jailed; Rapper Cusses In Court
An extradition hearing turned sour for rapper DMX in Miami this morning (August 26).
The troubled superstar appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Schwartz, hoping to be released on bond and ordered back to Arizona, where he faces multiple charges drug and paraphernalia possession.
However, as in a previous decision, Schawrtz decided to uphold the no bond status attached to a bench warrant issued for the rappers arrest on August 12.
The judges decision means the 37-year-old New York native, born Earl Simmons will have to remain in custody in South Florida, for at least one more month.
With the decision handed down, DMX was heard stating I aint going back to no f**king jail as he walked away from the podium, a statement which did not sit well with the court.
Oh, well that just ingratiated you to me, Schwartz replied before issuing a warning to Xs lawyer, Charles Kozelka.
DMX was arrested at a North Miami Beach Wal-Mart store on August 14, just three days after missing a court appearance in Phoenix.
He was set to go on trial for four counts of possessing drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of marijuana.
At the time of his arrest, Kozelka told the courts that he had missed the Phoenix appearance because he had checked into a Miami hospital, as a preliminary step to entering a drug rehab program.
A hearing for an unrelated drug possession charge in Miami on October 2.
LIVE FROM THE DNC: N.E.R.D., Fallout Boy, & Nick Cannon Rock the Vote!
AllHipHop coming to you live from Denver at the DNC. We won’t waste any more time with Michelle Obama as we’re sure you’ve peeped her speech everywhere. But like many conventions, after the show it’s the afterparty and Rock The Vote was more than happy to oblige.N.E.R.D. were co-headliners at the event with Fallout Boy and they rocked the crowd with their massive hit “Everybody Nose”, and N.E.R.D. standards “Lapdance” and “She Wants To Move.” To be honest, there hasn’t been many hotties here at the convention, but every one of them must have been sent an alert because all 20 of them joined Pharell on the stage for their finale. Shout out to one lil homie who managed to sneak in both the show AND the afterparty…although his lady “friend” kept hopping on stage while he was outside. Bag up lil homie!Mechanically, Pharell is getting good at performing and even though there were a ton of older Democrats in the building with the “WTF” look on their faces, they got into the show and Pharell and crew actually tore it down.
Fallout Boy was brought on to close the show. Although they came with tremendous energy, honestly they got “out rocked” by N.E.R.D. and their set was a bit anti-climactic. They did get busy with “Thanks For the Memories,” and “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” from their last album. The highlight of their set however was a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” which they beefed up with a heavier guitar.After milling around for a while we went outside and caught a glimpse of that Obamania. What you gonna do, when the Black Candidate runs wild on you? Sell bootleg Obama t shirts. These cats in Denver would make 125th Street proud. Obama buttons, Obama T-shirts (3 for $20), Obama hats. They had everything but Obama condoms (there WAS a shady vendor behind one of the buses AHEM). I don’t know about his tax plan but with all those t-shirts he’s already bosting the economy.The AFTERafter party was hosted by Nick Cannon who quite frankly did his thing. He banged out the somewhat older crowd with soul and disco joints from the late 70’s early 80’s but he really hurt them with an 80s rock set with hits from Journey, Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses, among others. Oh yeah free food and open bar. America is great. After collecting swag bags we bumped into Murs, who is also running for president. Of what you ask? You be the judge:
Nick Cannon also weighed in on why he Rocks The Vote
Special note to Democrats: When you’re on the dance floor and you flail about as if you were a fish out of water and we give you the thumbs up, I know it looks like it’s approval but it’s really just the green light to keep making a fool of yourself for our personal enjoyment. Rock on!
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The number of police officers, troopers and agents out here in Denver is amazing. A lot of people feel that it is very close to a police state, something unnerving to some in Denver, Colorado. We noticed that there are a lot of fresh new cameras on the city streets. Some appear to be for tickets and others for surveillance. They all look to be pristine, clean and new.
There is an officer every 20 feet when you walk about the area surrounding the Pepsi Center, where the DNC is being held. The officers are equipped with every weapon imaginable. On average, the authorities are don about 60-70 pounds of armor and weaponry. There are snipers on every rooftop, most of which are hidden. Helicopters are in the air and armored vehicles are riding with armed troops on them. There are even behavioral detection officers so any suspicious people are spotted quickly.
Sadly, they need to have it. The authorities busted a man that allegedly plotted to do harm to the Democratic presidential hopeful. Here is a partial report from the Rocky Mountain News:
Authorities are investigating a possible threat against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Aurora police arrested a longtime drug user Sunday afternoon during a routine traffic stop where the man was seen “weaving,” sources said. Two possible other accomplices also were arrested, according to police.
Police found four weapons, including two rifles and two handguns, in a rented pickup.
That arrest then led authorities to a second man staying at the Cherry Creek Hotel at 600 South Colorado Blvd in Glendale. When authorities knocked on the man’s door, they say he jumped out of his sixth floor window, landing on an awning and running from the scene. They say they soon found him with a broken ankle. He too was arrested.
Overall, there is a positive and festive atmosphere. People are friendly and , even with lighting bolts flying out of the lumbering clouds, little can dampen the human electricity in the air of Denver.
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For Yesterday’s Coverage of the DNC Click Here
Saul Williams: Poetry in Motion
The worlds of Hip-Hop and poetry have always had a shared reservoir. Many Hip-Hop artists began as poets before deciding to put their lyrics to music. And many artists long for a mode of expression that does not include a bass or drums, but just a voice and a mic. Enter Saul Williams. Poet, actor, musician, lyricist, and write, Saul has taken his prolific poetry and gifted it to Hip-Hop and created a sound that is all his own. An alum of HBCU, Morehouse College, Williams jumped on the radar of many back in 1996 when he became Nuyorican Poets Cafe’s Grand Slam Champion. His poetry would earn him critical acclaim and worldwide recognition. He is also an accomplished artist performing with the likes of such artists as Nas, The Fugees, Erykah Badu, KRS-One, and De La Soul. Yet he is probably most often recognized as Sivad, the virgin poet on the hit CW show Girlfriends who stole Persia Whites heart on and off the screen. We got a chance to catch up with the multitalented artist to chat about life, love and everything in between.AllHipHop.com Alternatives: Do you have a preference in being considered a poet or an artist?Saul Williams: I think of myself as an artist. I think poetry is an aspect of what I do. But I definitely didnt grow up revering poetry and thinking that was something I wanted to be. Its just something I kind of stumbled into, or it stumbled into me. Its simply been a part of my path, as music has been, as theater has been. So I think artist speaks to the whole spectrum rather than any other term.AHHA: What inspires you to write on a daily basis?Saul Williams: In the past, I would have said I was creating to fill the void between what I was hearing and what I wish I could hear. So that basically instead of becoming a critic, I found that I had to find a way to satisfy my need especially in regards to Hip-Hop. Ive said before that my relationship with Hip-Hop has always been like a womans relationship to lover when shes not satisfied by him and she feels she needs to go purchase a toy. My toy was my journal and pen. A lot of emcees just werent doing it for me. So I had to find another way to get that satisfaction.AHHA: Specifically how were you dissatisfied with the state of Hip-Hop?Saul Williams: I would say it was probably the rise of that whole mid to late 90s. The whole Diddy Era where it was like so pop. I always still liked the gangster stuff, but the pop stuff bothered me. And when it became kind of pop to be gangster, then that bothered me too. There were always cats like Outkast that I felt were exploring, but around the mid 90s a lot of the Trip-Hop stuff started taking off, I found myself wishing that our Hip-Hop here in the States would travel some of those same avenues. But they werent. They were becoming more formulaic and predictable. Where they were starting to experiment more in other countries.
“There was this one time I was at Howard Universitys homecoming in DC
and Tribe Called Quest performed and Grand Nubian and De La and all
these cats, but Tribe was headlining. And when Check The Rhime was on
and everybody started jumping with the 808, I was up in the front. I
swear to this day I saw a tear come to Q-Tips eye as he was watching
the crowd jump to his music. And it had never quite struck me, what it
would feel like to have people feeling you in that way.” – Saul on his happiest Hip-Hop moment
AHHA: What do you think about the future of Hip-Hop and where its going? Are you a little more satisfied than you were previously?Saul Williams: A bit of both. I think there is a lot of interesting stuff out there. And whats most interesting is that there are more artists who are realizing the importance of being adventurous, of exploring a craft and an art form instead of trying to fit into it and compromising. Like you listen to Lil Waynes album and in the first three songs he references Andre 3000 three times. And hes singing and playing guitar, and he is exploring himself as an artist. Really thats all I ever wanted was to hear MCs or see MCs be more interested in being artists than businessmen per se. And thats also what started happening in the mid 90s. You started having a lot of rappers who were like, Im not an artist, Im a businessman. So the business of Hip-Hop started taking over the creativity of Hip-Hop. It lost my attention at that point. Now I see cats getting creative. I mean I like cats like The Cool Kids and theres tons of people out there who are certainly getting interesting. And cats here in America are starting to open their minds a little more to where the hood kid might actually take the time to listen to someone like M.I.A. or Santogold or N.E.R.D. or myself. Were all allowing ourselves to have a broader definition of ourselves which I dont really think we were to comfortable doing say ten years ago.AHHA: For someone who is not really familiar with your work as a poet or as an artist, how would you describe your body of work?Saul Williams: I have no idea how I would describe it. I would send them off to You Tube or something. My work simply chronicles my growth from being an emcee to being myself. And everything Ive had in me, I still have in me. Ive encountered a lot along my journey, and Ive incorporated a lot of what Ive seen and learned and experienced in my work as I feel like I should. I want my work to be a reflection of my growth and who I am. And so I dont know how I would describe it. But I know the path that I would send them on. They could start with Slam and move from there.AHHA: What would you say has been your happiest Hip-Hop moment?Saul Williams: There was this one time I was at Howard Universitys homecoming in DC and Tribe Called Quest performed and Grand Nubian and De La and all these cats, but Tribe was headlining. And when Check The Rhime was on and everybody started jumping with the 808, I was up in the front. I swear to this day I saw a tear come to Q-Tips eye as he was watching the crowd jump to his music. And it had never quite struck me, what it would feel like to have people feeling you in that way. And he seemed like pretty much emotionally overwhelmed by the fact that the crowd was so into what they were doing. That was a dope moment for me.AHHA: Im sure a lot of people are familiar with you through your guest appearance on Girlfriends. If you could just talk a little bit about how that even came about.Saul Williams: The way that happened honestly, I actually knew the producers or rather the producers husband. And they were creating a character that was basically a caricature of me. They didnt think that I would do it, but the day before they held auditions the casting agent called me and said, Look, they are about to hold auditions for this role which everyone is admitting is a caricature of you. Nobody thinks that you would do it. Would you do it? And I was like Hell Yeah, it sounds like fun. I actually didnt own a TV at the time but I was happy to be apart of it. And the rest is history. Thats actually how and when and where I met my wife.
“I would say it was probably the rise of that whole mid to late 90s.
The whole Diddy Era where it was like so pop. I always still liked
the gangster stuff, but the pop stuff bothered me. And when it became
kind of pop to be gangster, then that bothered me too.” – Saul on when he became dissatisfied with Hip-Hop
AHHA: That actually brings me to my next question. People have heard the news that you and Persia White (Lynn) were married recently. How is married life? How has married life changed you as a person and as an artist?Saul Williams: Aw man its beautiful. There is a sense of groundedness that I never thought I never experienced or ever thought would be connected to marriage. Theres this huge confirmation of so many things that Ive wanted to believe and questioned but doubted because of experience. And all of a sudden just a whirlwind of affirmations. Just yes yes yes from all these different directions have come at me as a result of this union. Its been a surreal experience. Just beautiful.AHHA: Was your attraction to Persia something that just happened immediately on set as you two were working together, or did everything happen after you had already filmed your episodes?Saul Williams: It actually took some time. The way we actually connected was we found out that we lived around the corner from each other and that we both had daughters who were close in age. At the time we were both in relationships but we knew we had a lot in common music and art and what have you. So we would hang out, drink tea, and let our daughters play. Our daughters really started conspiring to get us together. But we were both in relationships, so neither of us were really thinking like that. And years passed and we remained friends and our daughters remained friends. And eventually we reconnected at a time when neither of us were in a relationship and saw each other in a completely new light. And that was not too long ago.AHHA: If you could communicate just one idea or one thought to someone about yourself or your work or your music, hat one thing would you want someone to walk away with?Saul Williams: Growth, evolution transformation. Its all one thought. But different words embody different aspects of what it entails. I hear a lot of rappers say nothings going to change me. But for me, change is my God.
Lola Luv Starring In Flick With 50 Cent
Hip-Hop model Angel “Lola Luv” Fershgenet is furthering her career in film with a co-starring movie role with G-Unit front man 50 Cent.
Fershgenet confirmed her work with the rapper during a recent interview with Blok TV.
Although she didnt specify details surrounding the project, the model/actress revealed that the feature, titled Before I Self Destruct, is being produced and directed by 50 Cent, who also stars in the movie with Clifton Powell.
According to Fershgenet, the movie will be released “probably by the end of this year.” Before I Self Destruct is one of a string of projects on deck for Fershgenet.
In addition to modeling, the rap video fixture is embarking on a career as an artist in the world of music.
When asked to describe her foray into music, Fershgenet stated that she would pursue rapping rather than singing.
“I got too much swagger to do anything else anyway,” she said smiling.
Fershgenets new rap ambitions comes after her first film Crazy Like a Fox, debuted earlier this month at the 12th Annual American Black film Festival (ABFF) in Los Angeles.
Although she doesnt have a single coming out right now, Fershgenet did confirm that fans will get a musical offering from her before the end of the year.
“Im working on my mixtape .Im doing it all. Im versatile,” she said, “So definitely doing it all. Modeling, acting, music. All.”
In addition to working with Fershgenet on Before I Self Destruct, 50 Cent will be seen alongside big screen icons Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro in the upcoming film Righteous Kill, which is slated to hit theaters on September 12.