Although he has gained fans from his mixtape appearances and debut album Food and Liquor, Lupe Fiasco is ready to give up the mixtape game as he considers heading toward greener pastures beyond Hip-Hop. According to Billboard, the rapper is having second thoughts as he reevaluates his passion for rap music in terms of making albums. “I’m just wearing down. I’m never doing mixtapes again, not even Internet ones,” Fiasco told Billboard. “My whole energy for making Hip-Hop music is slowing down. I’ve been doing it for seven years. I still don’t think I’m famous. I’ll do what I have to do to promote my next album, but I’m not enthused about doing seven albums. I’ll do my three, and then I am going to keep moving to the next phase of life and maybe grow trees.” In the meantime, Fiasco is putting his efforts into CRS (Child Rebel Soldiers), a new supergroup comprised of Fiasco, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. The trio is currently generating talk among fans with their new song “Us Placers.”
Famed music producer Hank Shocklee is gearing up to give music lovers a different sound to move to with the release of his new album, Shocktronica. Although he is tight-lipped on the details concerning the project, Shocklee revealed that Shocktronica will “be available for experiencing in late 2007.” The album is the latest endeavor for the veteran beatmaker, who is best known for being the founder of the revered rap group Public Enemy and an original member of the production team the Bomb Squad. Shocklee, a former Universal Records senior vice president, currently serves as president of Shocklee Entertainment and the newly launched Shocklee.com.
Top US satellite radio company XM has teamed up with popular social networking website MySpace.com to create “Show Us What You Got,” a search for unsigned new Hip-Hop music talent. All aspiring Hip-Hop and R&B artist must submit an original song to myspace.com/xm from now until August 31st. The top entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of music editors and industry artists who will narrow the competition down to five finalists and post their entries on the XM MySpace community page for open voting. Next, the top three finalist will receive a trip to The Mix Show Power Summit held in the Dominican Republic October 24-27th where they will perform for an intimate audience of industry executives, artists and a panel of judges including Leo G, program director for XM’s Raw Channel who will be giving live commentary and award the grand prize artist. The entire event will broadcast live on the XM MySpace community page for myspace users to view. For more information visit www.xm.com.