In this week's Sales Wrap, Eminem and Rick Ross battle for the top spot, Drake loses a step inside of Top 5 and Big Boi remains within the Top 15.
Grammy-winning rapper Eminem's Recovery has continued its reign atop the charts at No. 1 with 187,200 sold copies. According to Nielson SoundScan, the rapper's latest solo effort has sold 1,669,600 units after five weeks on the charts.
Def Jam juggernaut Rick Ross' Teflon Don opened up this week at No. 2. Making his first non-number one solo debut, the "Boss" was able to shell out 176,700 pieces after seven days in stores.
Young Money rapper Drake's Thank Me Later moved down a notch selling 43,400. After six weeks on the charts, Drizzy's long-awaited debut continues to move units resting at 880,500 sold copies.
Meanwhile, Usher's Raymond V. Raymond received a nine-slot boost to No. 11 with 20,800. With 17 weeks under his belt, the bachelor's latest effort has sold 956,100 units.
OutKast frontrunner Big Boi's Sir Lucious Left Foot slipped one slot to No. 15 with 18,400. Heading into his first full month, Boi's solo debut has pushed out 107,000 records to date.
Award-winning group Black Eyed Peas' E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) got a five-position boost to No. 20 with 14,900. After 59 long weeks, the crew's 2009 album has sold 2,685,000 units to date.
Grand Hustle rapper B.o.B.'s Adventures of Bobby Ray moved five slots to No. 27 with 12,000. Headed into his 14th week, the rapper's debut currently sits at 320,400 sold pieces.
R&B singer The-Dream's Love King moved down one spot to No. 30 with 11,600. After a month in stores, the recently divorced singer's new album stands at 106,300 scanned discs.
Music newcomer Ke$ha's Animal remained at No. 33 this week with 11,400. With 29 weeks under her belt, the singer's new album stands at 849,900 sold discs.
M.I.A.'s Maya took a hard hit this week moving down 25 positions down to No. 34 with 10,900. After two weeks, the singer's new album has sold 39,900 records.
Philadelphia-based crew The Roots' How I Got Over dropped nine slots to No. 47 with 8,700. After five weeks in stores, the new album stands at 105,500 sold discs.
Evening things out in Top 50 is Alicia Keys' Element of Freedom which moved down two slots to No. 48 with 8,500. With 32 weeks knocked out, the mother-to-be's new album has sold 1,383,300 units to date.
A report by the New York Daily News has revealed that Hip Hop entrepreneur/rapper Diddy is just one of many well-known celebrities, companies, and residents that collectively owe the city of New York over one billion dollars.
Diddy and Bad Boy Entertainment owe almost a million dollars to the city for illegally placing promotional posters around the city.
A rep for Bad Boy has explained to the city that the $996,000 bill was paid years ago by a partnering company. Their claim is currently under review.
Money owed to the city has reportedly resulted in the funding for schools and day care centers being cut.
"We are going to find these people," the Finance Commissioner of New York City, David Frankel, explained to the New York Daily News. "We're going to turn them upside down by their ankles and we're going to shake them until the money comes out of their pockets.”
Doug E. Fresh and Remy Ma’s defense lawyer are also one of the many people that owe money to the city as well.
Posted to bottomupradio 7-26-2010
Source Hip Hop DX
LeBron Rips Off Cavs Jersey On Mag Cover
SOHH has learned NBA superstar LeBron James will grace the cover of Raymond "Benzino" Scott's new sports and lifestyle magazine called Skyboxx which is set to make its newstand debut next week.
Benzino, the former co-owner of The Source magazine, and current co-owner of Hip-Hop Weekly, spoke to SOHH about the direction of his new venture.
"We got something coming out, we just finished LeBron James, I'm actually looking at it now," Zino told SOHH. "We're coming out with a monthly magazine called Skyboxx and it's basically going to cover sports. But, a lot of magazines out there kinda cover sports from the sports perspective. We kinda want to cover stuff from a lifestyle angle. These athletes are like the new hip-hop stars nowadays so there's a lot of things going on around their lives that people are interested in so we're gonna cover that on a monthly basis." (SOHH)
Zino also said the issue will also allow fans to peel off the NBA star's former Cavaliers jersey.
"Right now we have LeBron James on the first issue with a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey but when you peel it back, it turns into the Miami Heat jersey," Zino added. "It's going to be crazy. This has all been a blessing to do something like this." (SOHH)
The sports magazine also plans to encourage female readership.
The first issue of the monthly magazine, called Skyboxx and arriving on Aug. 3, is almost entirely devoted to Mr. James, whose Cavaliers uniform on the cover can be peeled away to reveal a Heat jersey underneath. The new magazine is also meant to attract female readers better than sports magazines usually do, by including significant amounts of style and lifestyle coverage. Women make up 23% of the Sports Illustrated audience, 21% of ESPN the Magazine's audience and 17% of the Sporting News audience, according to the most recent round of GfK MRI research. (Ad Age)
LeBron James joining the Miami Heat has caught the attention of rappers like Fat Joe, Ice Cube and Lil Wayne.
"Oh Lebron! The recent move by the Miami Heat confirms that we will someday soon have that good ole basketball back with all due respect to the Lakers-Celtics 7 game series. This move reminds me of the days when it was Johnson, Worthy, and Jabbar vs.Bird, Parrish, and McHale, or Thomas, Dumars, andLambeer. Well now we have Bryant, Gasol, Bynum, and Pierce, Allen, Garnett, and ultimately, Wade, bosh, and James! Do expect this to become "protocol" to win an NBA title. As for many more teams have and will be stacking their rosters with stars. I believe that this Miami team will be explosive as intended. Anything less than an NBA championship title will be uncivilized. 72-10 anybody?" (Weezy Thanx You)
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 7-26-2010
Source SOHH
Laurn Hill Breaks Silence
For many years, one of the biggest questions looming in the music world has been, "Where is Lauryn Hill?" After creating critically acclaimed work as a member of the Fugees and as a successful solo artist, she stopped releasing music. This caused many fans to ask why someone at the top of the music world would leave it all behind. She began making rare appearances, building a mystique around her personality, story and work. In the Rap world, some have begged for her return while her former group members have said she is "mentally ill" and "the problem." Through it all, few have gotten her to speak on the incredibly long hiatus. However, she seems to be poised for more appearances this year. She's presently committed to performing at this year's Rock the Bells and she recently did the Harmony Festival. It was at this Festival that NPR got a chance to speak with Ms. Hill about a variety of things, including that hiatus.
"There were a number of different reasons," she told NPR when asked why she stopped releasing music. "But partly, the support system that I needed was not necessarily in place. There were things about myself, personal-growth things, that I had to go through in order to feel like it was worth it. In fact, as musicians and artists, it's important we have an environment — and I guess when I say environment, I really mean the [music] industry, that really nurtures these gifts. Oftentimes, the machine can overlook the need to take care of the people who produce the sounds that have a lot to do with the health and well-being of society, or at least some aspect of society. And it's important that people be given the time that they need to go through, to grow, so that the consciousness level of the general public is properly affected. Oftentimes, I think people are forced to make decisions prematurely. And then that sound radiates."
Adding some insight, Hill also shared that she has five children, the youngest of which is 2 years old.
"I don't know if you know this, but I have five children. The youngest is 2 now, so she's old enough that I can leave her for a period of time and know she's going to be okay. That's one reason [Hill is starting to perform again]. And I think it's just time. I'm starting to get excited again. Believe it or not, I think what people are attracted to about me, if anything, is my passion. People got exposed to my passion through music and song first. I think people might realize, you know, 'We love the way she sounds, we love the music, but I think we just love how fearless she is. How boundless she is, when it comes to what she wants to do.' And I think that can be infectious."
Ms. Hill also spoke on the importance of taking care of herself when she is asked about the responsibility that comes with being an influential voice.
"I have to take care of myself in order to take care of this gift, which has affected so many. I don't treat it lightly. It's important to me to be healthy and to be whole."
She also said that if she records again, fans may hear a different side of her.
"I'm trying to open up my range and really sing more. With The Fugees initially, and even with Miseducation, it was very hip-hop — always a singing over beats. I don't think people have really heard me sing out. So if I do record again, perhaps it will have an expanded context. Where people can hear a bit more."
Source Hit Hop DX
Posted to bottomupradio on 6-28-2010
Dimond Signs with Battery Records
It was announced today that Atlanta rapper Diamond is the latest artist to sign with Sony's Battery Records impriny. The former Crime Mob member is the latest addition to the label, that last month, signed Bronx rapper Mickey Factz.
"I'm very excited about joining the Battery/Jive family and know we are going to make a lot of great music together. This move will definitely provide the platform for me to continue making great music for my fans, and to continue repping for the females," said Diamond.
With her debut Battery single "Lotta Money" due to hit radio next month, Diamond is at work on her solo debut. Leading up to this contract, she has worked with both DJ Smallz, as well as Ludacris' "My Chick Bad" all-star remix.
Source Hip Hop DX
Posted to bottomupradio.com 6-8-2010
Lil Kim Disses Diddy At Baltimore Concert
New York rapper Lil Kim has taken her issues with Nicki Minaj to the next level by calling out the Young Money emcee's manager, Diddy.
Rapping at a concert in Baltimore, Maryland over the weekend, Kim let out a verbal diss toward Puff.
Kim continued her anti-Nicki campaign at Sonar Nightclub in Baltimore last night and this time, she added her soon-to-be manager, Puff into the mix. Around the :27 mark of "It's All About The Benjamins" performance, the Queen Bee says "Ay, Puffy should be ashamed of his f*ckin' self!". Kim later brought out B-More's Keys The Problem to spit her Nicki diss freestyle. The saga continues. (Rap Radar)
Recently, Diddy professed his admiration toward Minaj and detailed her "greatness."
And now, Nicki Minaj is finalizing the paperwork that will allow the Last Train to Paris superstar to guide her career. The Young Money femcee has already been in the studio with Diddy, and he's been singing her praises. "Nicki Minaj, she's definitely one of the great ones," Diddy told MTV News while promoting "Get Him to the Greek," speaking publicly for the first time about his new signee. "She has a long way to go, but you know how we recognized LeBron [James] was a great one, Tiger [Woods] was a great one, and Kobe [Bryant] was a great one? Nicki is up there. Her story has just begun." (MTV)
Speaking in a radio interview with Kendra G, Kim said she felt Minaj had to pay homage to her.
"Here's my thing, all females that come in the game, we all need to stick together and I always try my best to embrace them but what happens is when you come into the game and realize that I'm not going away and my fans are still here and they can't just step over me. They can't just step on me and then they're kinda like, they get upset and then they don't want to be my friend anymore and I think that's really childish, you know what I'm saying? It's stupid because all I ask for is to be respected -- pay homage at the end of the day, a lot of things go on behind the scenes that people don't know about and it will be aired out. You can't hide the truth -- when I came out to do this promo tour, it was a reminder of where it came from because if you're gonna swagger jack somebody and take their style, at least pay the respect and the homage..." (Kendra G)
Over the weekend, Drake vouched for his Young Money labelmate during a Connecticut concert.
"I know you be calling women b*tches in sh*t but I can't say you the baddest b*tch. I can't do that because I respect you, I love you too much and you look too beautiful. So I just wanna say you the baddest WOMAN to do this rap sh*t. I don't give a f*ck what Lil' Kim or nobody else is talkin about, you're the baddest chick to ever do this sh*t! " Nicki turned around laughing, then came back and hugged him. He told her "I love you." Then he left the stage. (Necole Bitchie)
Recently, Houston rapper Chamillionaire allowed his $2 million mansion to go into foreclosure. According to the hit-maker behind songs like "Ridin' Dirty" and "Hip-Hop Police," his extensive touring schedule kept him on the road for so long that owning a 7,583 sq. foot mansion became more of a hassle than a luxury.
"I chose to be foreclosed on…I was always on the road touring," he said. “I just didn’t feel like it was a good business investment to pay that much mortgage for a house I was never at."
Although he admits he did stop making payments on the house as the housing market began to decline, he told TMZ that he is not broke. He still owns all of his other houses and cars, and in a recent Twitter post, even purchased another mansion this one's place.
Source Hio Hop DX
Posted to bottomupradio on 6-7-2010
Drake Thinks That Album Leak Will Help Sales
After tweeting his initial response to Thank Me Later leaking yesterday, Drake has addressed his debut's unauthorized release and said the unfortunate situation could still work in his favor.
Drake believes the good quality of music leaking could spark more interest for fans to go out and support his new album.
"I always said if I had put out an album that was poor quality and music that people didn't enjoy, then I think the leaks would hurt me," Drake said in an interview. "Because a lot of the feedback has been great. The word of mouth, music is something that is to be enjoyed. I think it can help me so, June 15th, I'm still confident." (The Life Files)
Yesterday, Drake addressed the leak with a Twitter posting.
"I gave away free music for years so we're good over here...just allow it to be the soundtrack to your summer and ENJOY! JUNE 15th!" (Drake's Twitter)
Southern rapper Killer Mike placed the blame on Drake's label.
"If i got the bootleg of Drakes album shud i thank him now or wait till it drops and Thank him later.....lemme know?! Gone!"
"Thank Universal for Leaking Drakes Album Now and I will Thank Drake Later. Gone on dem h*es!" (Killer Mike's Twitter)
West Coast rapper Game said he was impressed from the leaked material he heard.
"RT @YUNGBUCK3: Not really feelin Drake album, right now!!!! Maybe I need to listen to it more. "Cmon Son" ed lover voice... Give em a chance"
"The couple joints I heard on da kid r dope musically n lyrically, hope the album follows up the tape n singles.#hiphopneedsclassicmaterial" (Game's Twitter)
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rapper Bizzy Bone has elected to join Vh1's Celebrity Rehab show.
The rapper is seeking treatment for addiction to marijuana and alcohol.
Provided that the show isn't canceled, Bizzy - real name Byron McCane - could join Tila Tequila and Jason Wahler for the show.
Another rapper, DMX, recently tried to join the show, but his request was denied by a judge because he was reportedly doing well in his cout-appointed substance abuse program.
More on this story as it develops.
Source Hip Hop DX
posted to bottomupradio on 6-1-2010
Swizz Beatz to Pay $334,000 In Child Support
Producer Swizz Beatz has reportedly met ex-wife Mashonda's $334,000 child support lawsuit demand by paying the debt and avoiding an upcoming court date.
According to reports, Beatz' was scheduled to appear in court this month.
Beatz was accused of falling behind on his alimony and child support responsibilities for the former couple's three-year-old son, Kasseem Jr. The producer was due to appear before a judge in New York's Manhattan Supreme Court in June (10) to answer the allegations, but Mashonda's lawyer, Bernard Clair, has confirmed Beatz has paid up the $334,000 debt and the court date has now been cancelled. Beatz separated from Mashonda in 2008 after four years of marriage. (Singersroom)
Beatz's ex-wife, Mashonda, initially filed a lawsuit against the producer in New York.
In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Mashonda Deansays the man who officially became her ex-husband two weeks ago already owes her $334,000 in missed payments. "I so much wanted both of us to get on with our lives and maintain our respect for one another, but he now shows that his priorities and sense of responsibility are screwed up," R&B singer Dean said. Dean's lawyer, Bernard Clair, called the nonpayment "particularly troubling" because of reports that Beatz bought a seven-carat engagement ring for Alicia Keys earlier this year and that they're moving into a $14.5 million duplex penthouse on Crosby Street. (NY Post)
However, Beatz later defended himself and refuted his ex-wife's claims.
He said he'd agreed to pay Dean more than the judge required and much more than his lawyer recommended -- he even had to sign court papers acknowledging that he was going against his attorney's advice. "I gave over what the judge was recommending to give. I gave her $700,000 up front, because I thought $200,000 wasn't enough for what she wanted to do. I still get spit in my face for it," he said. He suggested that the subsequent payments had been ready to go when he discovered "she'd been selling all my stuff out of my house." (NY Post)
Moving past Mashonda, Beatz is now set to marry Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys.
Alicia Keys is in a motherhood state of mind: She's pregnant with her first child. The Grammy Award-winning R&B singer has been dating producer Swizz Beatz, who has written hits for Beyonce (bee-AHN'-say), Jay-Z and others. They're engaged to be married at a private ceremony later this year. Representatives for the couple confirmed the news Thursday night. (Associated Press)
After originally being sentenced to three years for striking a fellow clubgoer with a bottle of rum in 2008, Da Brat is out on work release. The first female rapper to have a certified platinum-selling album (1994’s Funkdafied), made a cameo on the latest installment of Jermaine Dupri’s “Living The Live” viral video series.
“I’m out on a little pass; I had to do some lawyer attorney stuff,” Brat explained. “Thank y’all for the love and support. I got a job. I work a nine-to-five, because I’m in the work release program. I make windows. If y’all need a window holla at your girl.”
Brat joked that in addition to her newly acquired trade of window making, she would look to continue pursuing new acting and musical projects saying, “Too much grass done grew up when I ain’t done nothing.” Prior to the 2007 incident that led to her incarceration, Da Brat appeared in half–a-dozen films and was also a cast member of the VH-1 Reality show “The Surreal Life.” Her last studio album was 2003’s, Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz. Per the terms of her sentencing, Brat must also complete seven years of probation and 200 hours of community service.
Source: Hip Hop DX
Posted to bottomupradio on 5-27-2010
No Diddy on "Last Train To Paris" Album Cover
The cover art to Diddy's upcoming Last Train to Paris album has been released on the Internet.
Diddy is noticeably missing from the cover. Instead, random train station pedestrians are shown.
The new album cover for Dirty Money's "Last Train to Paris" just premiered on diddydirtymoney.com. The cover was confirmed to me on Twitter by Capricorn Clark, Global Brand & Viral Marketing Director for Sean Combs/Bad Boy. Check it out below. (Bad Boy Blog)
Producer Rico Love recently spoke with SOHH about helping co-write Diddy's new album.
"I did a few records on the album. I was in New York, Puff flew me out. I was just in [Daddy's House studio] vibing. I came across the beat that Danja sent me. I don't write anything down usually the first like that I hear in my head is the keeper. I went in the booth and I heard "hello, good morning.' It was so quick, it was so fast. It's still unbelievable. I grew up really looking up to him. People have misconceptions about Puff [but] he kept his word. He said, 'I'm gonna make sure you get your look.' He called me for the video. He didn't have to show the love that he does." (SOHH)
According to Love, Diddy's long-awaited solo album will be a classic.
"If he comes out and the record is not good, then y'all are gonna trash him but with the fact that he went in and he said 'I'm gonna take my time until I'm happy with what I'm delivering to the people,' I really take my hat off to Puff, I take my hat off to the whole Dirty Money crew -- it's tough for an artist to deal with that type of pressure," Love said in an interview. "I think it's gonna be one of the best albums to come out, and I'm really gonna say this, it's gonna be one of the best albums to come out in the past five, six years. It's gonna be mentioned with 808's & Heartbreak and College Dropout, Blueprint III, like those types of albums I really feel like, 'Dangerously in Love,' I think that Last Train to Paris album has the possibility to be that big." (Rap-Up TV)
Diddy recently said he would save space for artists on the album like singer Janelle Monae.
"On Last Train to Paris, Wayne is on the album, Drake is on the album, we're trying to get [Jay-Z] on the album, trying to get Janelle Monae on the album," Diddy said in an interview. "Everybody that's on the album, it's not done in a regular appearance way. It's done in a unique way that's authentic. It's not about a single or [album sales]. It doesn't have that behind it. Wayne is on a record that's called 'Strobe Lights.' It's one of the first records where I hear him talking about love and how love has affected him. That's the type of things I wanted to get out of people if they were on the album. I wanted people to get out of their comfortzone and do something that was special. He did the videofor me over the weekend. 'Strobe Lights,' it's gonna be tough." (MTV)
Last Train to Paris is scheduled to drop Tuesday, June 29th.
Last week, Nielsen SoundScan reported that weekly album sales reached an all-time low of 5.3 million sales, a number unmatched since Nielsen first began analyzing sales in 1991.
At the top of Billboard's charts was Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 with 60,000 sales, beating out the 2007 soundtrack to Dreamgirls as the lowest selling number one album by only 300 copies. Following behind Bieber was country trio Lady Antebellum's Need You Now with 54,000 units sold and rock group the National's new release High Violet with 51,000 units sold.
Despite the low numbers, Nielsen Entertainment president Eric Weinberg remains confident sales will pick up during the summer. With the past week yielding few popular album releases, Weinberg says that the coming weeks promise a number of highly anticipated releases.
“While there’s a lot of talk of declining album sales, a number of highly anticipated albums are scheduled for release in the next few months and we expect sales to trend upward,” he said.
Source Hip Hop Dx
Posted to bottomupradio on 5-25-2010
Rick Ross to Sue Rapper Rick Ross Over Name
The real Rick Ross could face off against the rapper Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II) in court this summer, over the usage of the name “Rick Ross.”
Rick Ross controlled thousands of workers at the height of his power in the mid-1980’s, who dealt millions of dollars worth of cocaine each day.
In 1996, Ross was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to purchase over 100 kilograms of cocaine.
Ross was released from prison in 2006 and attempted to reclaim his name.
Ross claims that Miami rapper Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II) signed a multimillion dollar deal in 2006, based on his image and likeness as a drug dealer.
Rick Ross claims that he protested the use of his name in 2006 by sending cease-and-desist letters to Def Jam, which were allegedly ignored.
Sources told AllHipHop.com that Ross’ lawsuit will claim that the rapper stole his identity and based it on Rick Ross’ real drug dealer image in the black community.
According to sources, Ross is planning to sue Def Jam, Universal, William “Rick Ross” Roberts II and others.
The rapper Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II) is preparing to release his fourth album Telfon Don.
SourceAll Hip Hop
Posted to bottomupradio on 5-25-2010
Kanye West Slaps Amber Rose w/ 7 Figure Gag Order
More reports on Kanye West's alleged gag order on Amber Rose have surfaced with sources claiming she is being paid at least a million dollars to remain silent.
A source revealed more details about the agreement to blogger Perez Hilton.
Sources are saying that Kanye West has signed a multi-million dollar contract with ex-girlfriend Amber Rose to "silence" her from speaking about his personal life. She reportedly agreed to never reveal any details about the rapper in return for cash. An insider says, "It's pretty common to have 'silence' agreements amongst entertainers. I heard that Amber's getting seven figures to keep her lips closed." Hmm, we wonder why Kanye is shelling out so much to keep Amber's mouth closed. What does he have to hide?? (Perez Hilton)
Initial speculation grew after a tweet from Rap-Up Magazine last week.
"Kanye has the gag order on Amber Rose. She just told us she doesn't do interviews. But she was still cool about it." (Rap-Up's Twitter)
Rose recently turned down an interview while attending a California party for Maxim Magazine.
Amber Rose busted out of her form-fitting dress on the red carpet at Maxim's Hot 100 party. But reporters had no luck getting Amber to bust out an answer to their questions, as Kanye put a gag order on his model girlfriend. (Rap-Up)
West and Rose helped feed the homeless during the 2009 Christmas holiday.
"The day after Christmas, Amber, my cousin Ricky, and I went to feed the homeless at the LA Mission," he wrote Monday (January 4). "It was really humbling and emotional for us. I wanna thank Mari Ronquillo and the LA Mission for allowing me to participate." (Kanye West's Blog)
Despite previous indications that it would drop in June, new reports reveal that Kanye West's next projects might not hit stores until September.
According to TheHipHopUpdate.com, Ye's album, tentatively titled Good-Ass Job, may be pushed back to the fall release date. The report comes from an attendee at the Island Def Jam Grammy U. event on Wednesday (May 12). No further specifics were given regarding the release date, though it appears that the album certainly won't be dropping next month.
Other tidbits from the event revealed a September release date for Ne-Yo, and that Los Angeles rapper Y.G. "will be a focus of Def Jam in the near future."
Source: Hip Hop DX
Posted to bottomupradio on 5-17-2010
Drake Clears Up DJ Drama Beef
In a recent interview with XXL magazine, Drake offered an opinion about DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz mixtape series that surely had Hip Hop fans buzzing.
“I just find that boring, you know," said Drake, in a portion published online as an outtake. "People might want to hear it, but it's just not something that I really want to give you. I'd rather just give you something that lasts a little longer than that 'cause those mixtapes never really last much longer than six months.”
Yesterday evening, Drake spoke to AllHipHop.com to clarify his stance on the matter, explaining that he meant no disrespect. “In no way did I intend to discredit the Gangsta Grillz brand,” said Drake. “I have listened to many of Drama’s mixtapes and will continue to do so for years to come.”
Drake revealed that he prefered entirely new content rather than new lyrics over previously released beats, and that he likes to “hear how different artists put together an entire song from lyrics to hooks to beat selection." He also added that he did not believe he could do an entire mixtape over other artists' beats.
Source Hip Hop Dx
Posted to bottomupradio on 5-11-2010
T.I. to Have One on One Interview w/ Larry King
Southern rapper T.I. will reportedly have a one-on-one interview with renowned CNN television host Larry King this week.
According to reports, Tip will open up about his time behind bars.
T.I. will appear on Thursday's "Larry King Live," airing at 9 p.m. ET, to talk with the CNN host about the nine months he spent in prison on federal weapons charges, among other topics. The rapper was sentenced to one year and one day of prison last year following his arrest in October 2007 for attempting to illegally purchase firearms. The rapper was subsequently released to a halfway house in December to serve out the remainder of his sentence before his ultimate release at the end of March. (MTV)
Last year, singer Chris Brown appeared on the program alongside his mother and attorney to discuss the aftermath of his fight with Rihanna.
"We have to be like 10 yards away from each other," he says. "When I look at it now, it's just like, wow, like, I can't -- I can't believe that -- that actually happened. On his sentencing, Brown says that "everything comes with consequences. They want me to pick up trash remove graffiti...I'm a hard worker. It's something I'm willing to do." Chris also talks about his life with his abusive father. "I used to be scared to go to bed," he recalls. "Nobody taught us how to love one another. Nobody taught us a book on how to how to control our emotions or our anger...I wish I could have changed that night." "I just need to prove to people I can be a role model," Brown says. "That's not who I am as a person, and that's not who I promise I want to be." Chris says he misses Rihanna and admits he's not sure how to deal with her dating other guys. "I definitely would be affected by it, but, at the end of the day, I mean, we're not together, so, if she's happy, I'm cool...We'll always be friends." (CNN)
Tip is currently putting together his new album, King Uncaged.
T.I. is setting the bar high for his post-prison album, King Uncaged, comparing it to Tupac's 1996 classic All Eyez on Me, which was released months after 'Pac got out of prison. "This is the most significant return from incarceration that the game has had since then," T.I. says. "Just given the enormous success of that project, everyone's expecting the same results. I just want to meet the expectations, if not surpass them." (Rolling Stone)
His upcoming solo effort is scheduled to drop in mid-August.
"sneak peak #2 of the "i'm back" video @ http://bit.ly/b6cCta - debuts monday @ 2pm EST on www.trapmuzik.com and oh yeah...the album date is pushed up 8.17.10 - King Uncaged." (T.I.'s Twitter)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio on 5-11-2010
White Guy in Young Jeezy Mask Robs Banks
There are a lot of people that want to be like Young Jeezy. What's not to love? You get a successful rap career, solid role as ambassador of the streets and touring duties with international stars like Jay-Z. Yet in some bizarre news, a Florida resident has taken what appears to be Jeezy's likeness to one of the more ridiculous levels we've seen in awhile. Reports and crime photos indicate that Conrad Zdzierak used an elaborate, Hollywood-caliber mask of the ATL rapper to rob several banks.
Zdzierak, a 30-year old Caucasian, was arrested for a string of robberies using the mask and is currently being held behind bars with a whopping $3 million bond. He's facing six counts of aggravated robbery in a Hamilton Country court. So yeah, it should be pretty tough to get out of this one.
Acting on a local tip, officers from several departments served a warrant at an Extended Stay America Hotel where Zdzierak has been staying since last year. They looked into the suspect's car and found traces of a red dye pack that bank employees had exploded during the crime. This was more than enough to bust in on Zdzierak in his hotel room, where a dog bit one of the officers and prompted one cop to fire his gun. An arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday (April 21).
Source The Boom Box
Posted to bottomupradio on 4-22-2010
Ginuwine Opens Up About Issues With Timbaland
R&B singer Ginuwine has shared more details on his recent issues with Timbaland and why he has decided to publicly reveal their dispute.
According to Gin, Tim snubbed him on a video shoot for their "Get Involved" record.
"We did a song called 'Get Involved' and we paid him $50,000 to appear in the video," Gin explained in an interview. "And we paid him his producing fee and this dude didn't even get in it. He messed me up to the point where we had to make an animation of the video and put it overseas. Now throughout the years, he always said he was gonna work with me and all of that but he never did and I didn't say anything. I always said [to the media], 'Our schedules are conflicting.' I'm definitely a professional, but when you actually do something, you deserve to be called out. And it's not only me he's done things to, I'm not gonna speak on that, I'm gonna speak on me. But when people do that, they can't just get away with it. Whether you're a friend or supposedly a friend or not, you don't do that to people." (Atlanta's 107.5)
Earlier this week, the singer revealed his initial problems with Timbo.
"Me and Tim were real close at one point," he explained in an interview. "A lot of the times that I reached out, there were a bunch of excuses. I begged and pleaded with him because I felt a certain way but I was like, is it just a bad vibe that I'm picking up on? Maybe I'm bugging out, I don't know. But it came out to be true and I still feel like he owes me an apology for that. The reason I'm pissed off at him now is because of what he did. I would've been cool and not bothered him if he would've said, 'Nah, I'm too busy,' or gave me the lame excuse like he's been giving me. But don't do it and then not do what you're supposed to do [to promote the song]." (VIBE)
Rumors on their issues began to surface on multiple music blogs last fall.
What's really good between old pals Timbaland and Ginuwine? It seems Tim doesn't want to be in Ginuwine's video for "Get Involved" ft Missy and Timbaland himself, and is said to have dodged Ginuwine's calls. He even used the excuse that he was getting "too fat" as a reason to back out of the video which left Ginuwine hurt about the situation. (Bryonce)
Tim is widely acclaimed for helping shape Ginuwine's early singing career.
With the strikingly inventive Timbaland behind the boards, Ginuwine cut his debut album, Ginuwine...The Bachelor, and released it later in 1996. "Pony" became a number one R&B smash, also reaching number six on the pop charts, and the album became an eventual double-platinum hit. It spun off several more R&B hits over the next year, including "Tell Me Do U Wanna," "I'll Do Anything/I'm Sorry," "Holler," and "Only When Ur Lonely"; it also featured a homage to one of Ginuwine's main influences in the cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry." (All Music)
Young Money artist Nicki Minaj is giving fans more glimpses of the woman behind the persona as she prepares for her anticipated debut album.
In an interview with Details Magazine, Minaj said that while Hip-Hop has welcomed her as a bisexual female emcee, she believes the culture is still not ready to accept a bisexual or homosexual male rapper.
“I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so Hip-Hop is too,” she explained. “But it's harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced. People view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we'll see one in my lifetime.”
While acknowledging double standards regarding what content and images are considered acceptable from women, Minaj believes that sexism has also allowed her to cultivate a creative edge over many of her male counterparts.
“I have a lot of freedom to be crazy. I can rap in a London accent, make weird faces, wear spandex, wigs, and black lipstick,” said Minaj. “I can be more creative than the average male rapper. And I can show my boobs. Guys can't do that.”
Recognizing Hip-Hop has become an image-driven art form, Minaj wants to entertain but is conscious of her previous overtly sexual images due to younger fans.
Still, she maintains there must be a balance and she cannot deceive her core audience with propaganda.
“I look at rap as an opportunity to act. My head is full of different characters; in each song I'm auditioning a character,” she explained. “I'm a role model now. I didn't know I was gonna have 13-year-old fans, so I've tried to change a few things here and there. But I also know that the girls don't want me to be Miley Cyrus, either.”
Nicki Minaj’s yet to be titled debut album is tentatively scheduled for a summer release
Source All Hip Hop
Posted to bottomupradio on 4-19-2010
Eminem Announces "There Will Be No Relapse 2 LP"
Grammy-winning rapper Eminem has lived up to his promise and announced there will not be a Relapse 2 album.
Although brief, Em inked the unexpected message on his Twitter account early Wednesday (April 14) morning.
As promised, the rapper returned with a bombshell which he tweeted. However, instead of giving update on the status of the album, the legendary rapper threw fans for a loop when he tweeted "There is no Relapse 2." This latest development fuels online speculation that Eminem could be working on a new album that is not aimed to follow up his 2009 effort "Relapse." (Icon Vision)
The rapper's previous message suggested he had a "big" announcement to make.
Just over a year ago, Eminem revealed his comeback plans with the announcement of two albums set for 2009, Relapse and Relapse 2. While Slim Shady delivered on Relapse, its follow-up was postponed from the second half of '09 to TBA 2010 to make way for his Relapse: Refill reissue late last year. However, Eminem made a rare appearance on Twitter yesterday (March 29) to give fans a message -- "Don't worry. Some big news is coming. Soon" -- perhaps hinting that there may finally be some movement on the Relapse 2 front. (Rolling Stone)
Last month, D12's Bizarre said Eminem recruited his hometown rap crew for the upcoming Relapse 2 album.
"We're still recording the third album, and we just finished a song on Relapse 2 for Marshall's album," Bizarre said via phone. Tentatively titled "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," Bizarre says the collaboration shows that despite major losses such as the death of co-founding member Proof, nothing can keep the group down. "We're still family, but everybody's got their own situations going on," he added. "No matter what y'all do, you can't hold D12 down. We've been through a lot of sh*t, but we're still gonna come back and recover." (Hip Hop DX)
Producer Just Blaze recently said there was still more work to be done on the project.
"[The album], it's getting there, but we still got a lot of work. So I wish I could stay [in Miami] longer," Blaze said in an interview. "As far as what's going on in Detroit, a lot of good music is being made. He's really back spitting. The wordplay is crazy, the metaphors are crazy. He's really back on his game. He had his ups, he had his downs, he's back way, way, way up. This is definitely going to be up there with the best of his albums, for sure, for sure. The fact that he's branched out working with a lot of different people now, collaborating in a lot of different ways that he never has before, I think he's going to surprise a lot of people." (MTV)
Check out a past Eminem interview below:
Source SOHH
posted to bottomupradio on 4-14-2010
Young Jeezy Denies Name Change
Southern rapper Young Jeezy has denied shortening his rap alias to just "Jeezy" after reports about the name change surfaced last month.
Speaking with MTV News editor Shaheem Reid at a Fat Joe video shoot yesterday (April 12), Jizzle said he still goes by his original alias.
"@djrtodaizza Sean and LV are two of my favs. They need to get more credit for being OGs and just 4 being dope ("Roc Boys" horns blasting)! At the Joey Crack/Jeezy video shoot. All black everything! Don't get it confused. Jeezy just told me he's still "Young Jeezy." @LamonteBall looking real "nice" up in there." (Shaheem Reid's Twitter)
Reports last month suggested he changed his rap alias.
First Diddy dropped the P. from his name, then Bow Wow grew out of his Lil status, and now Jeezy has decided he no longer wants to be Young. Jay Jenkins' name change graces the cover art for "Lose My Mind," the street single from his forthcoming album Thug Motivation 103. The moniker first appeared on the credits for Rihanna's "Hard," but it's now official. So Jeezy it is. (Rap-Up)
Currently, Jeezy is putting the finishing touches on his upcoming Thug Motivation 103 album.
"But June, by the way," he said of the LP's release date. "That's what I'm thinking. If you the boss, you can talk like that. I'm thinking June. I wanna own the summer. If you coming out [with an album] in June, you might wanna think about that, bruh. TM103, I will be there...I'm just going in, basically handling my business. I gotta say what's on my mind. But I'm not here to sell you on no album. Like I said, June, you will be surprised, homie. That's real talk. I been working on this. I been back in the lab...I got you." (MTV)
He recently discussed his close knit relationship with fellow Atlanta, Georgia rapper T.I.
"I always took this thing like me and Tip was like Big and Jay. Just in the sense of we always coexist. We really never had no issues or nothing we couldn't work out. And if it was it was just whatclub we meeting at. What time, you know what I'm saying? Anything he's done, I've pretty much supported him, just as well as anything I've done, he pretty much supported me. He like the cat on the other side of town who get money, too. And it's like that. You could be in the city and two n*ggas run the city, you know what I'm saying? Like, we been on a few tours together, you know, did a couple of classic records, and um, it's just one of those things. That's how I always looked at it. Like we was like Big and Jay. Pac and Snoop." (VIBE)
Source SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio on 4-13-2010
Dr. Dre Says "Detox" Will Come Out This Year
In their latest press stop, Interscope Records President and Chairman Jimmy Iovine and longtime flagship star Dr. Dre stopped by CNBC yesterday, after a Fenway Park stop on Sunday. Iovine, an executive with a heavy-hand in the careers of Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent spoke about the adaptation going on in the music industry right now. "We're heading towards a real interactive stage in music, I believe. I think the entire deejay revolution taught us something: that people want to be part of the music and program the music themselves. They don't want to be told what to play, and most importantly, [told] what to play next."
Between his line of headphones with Dr. Dre and the success of Interscope artist Lady Gaga, Iovine believes his business formulas have changed with the times. "I believe that with streaming on-demand, some software that we're building over at Beats [By Dre] which teaches young people how to interact with music and make their own playlist, and [with] some of the things we're doing with the [cellular] phone companies, I think we have a great future in the record industry. I think seeing the [success] of Lady Gaga shows you that the audience is out there," said the Los Angeles-based mogul.
Despite sales declines in recent Rap artist projects from 50 Cent and Game, Jimmy Iovine said his company is thriving. "We're doing very well at Interscope," who (with subsidiaries A&M and Geffen Records) saw platinum 2009 releases from Lady Gaga, Eminem and The Black Eyes "It's no longer making one hit song and having 12 attached to it. You need complete albums, complete thoughts." Jimmy pointed to his Glam Pop sensation, "Lady Gaga is a great example of this." The man also compared Dr. Dre's mastery of music to Michael Jordan with basketball and George Lucas with film.
As a follow-up, Dr. Dre, who's been professionally working in music for almost 30 years, was asked if his formulas have been altered. "It's pretty much the same for me: I'm just putting my all into what I'm doing. [Making sure] that it's something I'm going to be proud of, and of course not embarrass myself or anybody that I'm working with," said the Compton Rap icon.
Lastly, less than 24 hours after revealing the name of his Jay-Z assisted single from Detox, Dr. Dre revealed a timetable for his fans. "Hopefully we'll be releasing ['Under Pressure'] in the next two weeks or so. I'm definitely gonna be puttin' [Detox] out this year. Finally. I think everybody's gonna be happy with it," said Dre of the album that's been nearly a decade in-the-making.
Source: Hip Hop DX
Posted to bottomupradio on 4-6-2010
Erica Badu's New Video Causes Controversy
Erykah Badu's latest music video, "Window Seat" has received a mix of critique and praise for its explicit imagery. The video features Badu in one continuous shot as she sheds her clothing on a Dallas sidewalk. At the very end, Badu acts as if shot by gunfire, which is an allusion to John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination.
"There should have been a permit issued for the filming," said Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway. "Had there been a permit, then certain boundaries would have come into play and it wouldn't be such outright shock."
The boundary Caraway may be referring to is the reality that children were present as Badu took off her jacket, shirt, bra, and underwear. According to MTV News, had the singer's actions been witnessed by police officers, she may have been fined $4,000 and sentenced up to a year in jail.However, no charges are likely to be fined.
"Window Seat" is coming off of Badu's new album New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). "It's a win-win for her," said Caraway. "Even if we were to fine her a million dollars, she'll probably make $200 million."
Erykah Badu's fifth studio album is now available in stores.
Source Hip Hop Dx
Posted to bottomupradio on 4-1-2010
Nicki Minaj Drops First Single "Massive Attack"
The track began to circulate online Monday (March 29) evening with a music video expected to follow later this week.
In preparation for her upcoming debut album, which has yet to be titled, Minaj drops the first single from the project, "Massive Attack" featuring Sean Garrett. Well, the beat will definitely make ears pop like an airplane flight. Along with the track, fans can expect the music video which will be dropping later within the week. (Hip Hop Wired)
The song features producer Sean Garrett on the hook as Minaj lays down her vocals.
"Hotter than in Pakistan," Nicki raps, "Click, click, Young Nick the atomic bomb/Yeah, see it then you like your tongue/Wet that, it taste good, get you some/Whip it, got ten bad, bad, we sh-sh-shut it down/The club's got glitches/Dig it? And while you do that, GT's pulling up -- Pop a bottle just to get my head right, tell the doctor go and get my meds, right/Monster, you know it wouldn't be proper if we didn't return with a big rocket launcher..." ("Massive Attack")
In addition to "Massive," Garret will also link with Minaj for their "Get It All" music video.
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio on 3-30-2010
"I'm in my 2010 Rambo, so hard I had to let Nic pink out the Lambo/ Ya'll already know we got the ammo, massive attack," sings Sean "The Pen" Garrett on Nicki Minaj's first single, "Massive Attack," which he co-produced with Alex Da Kid. The brawny Garrett gets his Rambo on in the militaristic clip, shot against a jungle backdrop and in the desert of Lancaster, Calif. Next Friday, the singer-songwriter will head to Miami to film a video for his Barbie-assisted single "Get It All" with director Gil Green. (Rap-Up)
Minaj recently talked about recruiting model Amber Rose for the shoot.
"I brought my BFF Amber Rose out here," Nicki said in an interview. "This is a massive attack. We shot the helicopter scene. Obviously, I had to have a hot-pink Lamborghini. We're having fun in the car, and we see a freakin' helicopter chase us. So we get on the walkie-talkie, like, 'Mayday! Mayday!' It's really fashion and beauty shots, and we're acting like we're doing something important...You can expect it to be almost like the soundtrack to a movie. It's gonna take you somewhere that ... it's kinda gonna tell a story. I didn't just want to make an album that had a club record, just the obvious. I wanted to paint a very graphic picture. And every record that I'm doing for the album, I can see the stage show, I can see the video. It's just gonna be big. You can expect it to be big." (MTV)
Big Boi Talks Def Jam Deal
With OutKast's Big Boi finally inking a deal with Def Jam last week to release his Sir Luscious Left Foot solo album, the rapper sat down with www.gyantunplugged.com to discuss his past and present label situations, as well as future endeavors.
"It was a lot of behind the scenes, label politics, basically." said Big Boi in the video interview. "A lot of people don't know, we started at LaFace Records with LA Reid, a very creative mind. He definitely gave us an avenue to make the music we wanted to make."
Big Boi went on to explain LaFace's acquisition by another company with whom he didn't have a personal relationship. However, Jive finally allowed Big Boi to make a move to Def Jam. "Just recently, as of maybe three weeks ago, they gave me the opportunity to take the album elsewhere. I called my big brother LA Reid, he said, 'Meet me in Miami.' The next day, we flew to Miami, played him the music, he said, 'Let's do it,' [and the] deal is done."
Describing himself "Happy as hell," Big Boi allayed any ideas that he may be concerned with Def Jam's perceived lack of present-day marquee artists. "I'm not even concerned with nothing but me. People might say [Def Jam] doesn't have any hot artists, but he got the number one record with Ludacris' last week...My album is a musical nuclear bomb, and we finna drop it."
Source: Hip Hop DX
Posted to bottomupradio on 3-29-2010
Olivia's Manager Responds to 50 Cent's Remarks
R&B singer Olivia's manager, Rich Dollaz, hit up SOHH to put an end to the recent remarks by 50 Cent who claims the singer cost him over $2 million in expenses during her time on G-Unit.
From Rich's perspective, Olivia's commitment to touring with 50 helped him recoup from any financial losses.
"I just feel people don't really understand two million versus four million versus six million, the bottom line is if you're a record label person and you understand you're trying to recoup, the way you would recoup is to put a project out," Dollaz explained to SOHH. "Now if you're going on the road in support of the main artist and that doesn't allow you to get into the studio and do the proper work necessary for you to put an album out, then you can't blame somebody for that. Your recoup comes every night when you make $200,000 a night at every show. That's your recoup. You're recouping because Olivia's opening, [Lloyd] Banks is on that show, [Tony] Yayo is on that show, I don't know who else was on that [G-Unit] tour, but you're on tour for d*mn near three years and you're talking about spending $2 million over three years when she's performing every night. So it's not because we're sitting at home doing nothing that you're not recouping, it's because you're on the road, making money daily, $2 million isn't a lot over three years to have somebody on the road performing in front of hundreds and thousands of people where glam is necessary, hair and make-up is necessary, wardrobe is necessary, travel is necessary. That's an expense you incur because you chose to incur that expense." (SOHH)
50 previously said Olivia used her finances as if she were an R&B superstar.
"Yeah, that was a loss," Fif said about investing in Olivia's G-Unit run. "The problem you get with female solo artists is they look, their game is really small. So they look at it and say, it's Beyonce, Rihanna, Keyshia Cole but when you have an African American female solo artist, she sees where she fits immediately. Problem is, they spend financing like those artists at that point, having the set-up, the make-up artist, the stylist, those different things but when you don't have a record that connects fast enough, you'll accumulate a tab like a motherf*cker. And you look around like 'You spent $2 million on this sh*t and have me compromising myself at certain times.' See, I made sacrifices for other artists that I don't think people acknowledge them. Don't get f*cked up, when I'm doing the Get Rich Or Die Tryin' soundtrack, I know I'm supposed to be doing 'I'll Whip Your Head Boy,' and I'm doing 'If I Was Your Best Friend,' because I'm already two million in the hole on the actual project. I already spent all this paper moving around doing all this other sh*t that I gotta keep that in a position where I can potentially sell it." (All Hip Hop)
The Unit's Tony Yayo vouched for both 50 and Olivia in the past dispute.
"Shout-out to Olivia, I don't got nothing against her, she's a pretty girl," Yayo said in an interview. "But what label do you know that's gonna give a n*gga $4 million? In this day and age? And you didn't sell anything? I could see if you sold five million records, and then the label says we're gonna give you [a certain amount], she didn't sell any records at that period of time for 50 to spend $4 million over her so he's basically saying he spent $2 million on something that didn't lift off yet. Would you spend $4 million on something that's not guaranteed yet? And another thing you have to remember too is with female artists, it's totally different on the road than for the male artists. If I have a regular male artist, all I have to do is get him regular sh*t...Woman [artist], you gotta have her feet done, nails done, eyebrows done, you got makeup for hours before the show -- so it's more maintenance." (Fobez DVD)
While Olivia has chosen to no longer address the matter and said she is still on good terms with G-Unit, she did tell SOHH about linking with Rich Dollaz as her new manager.
"He's a character" Olivia told SOHH with a smile. "I love Rich, I'm glad we teamed up. We probably met, I wanna say six or seven months ago. And it feels like I've known him my whole life. So it's a great connection with the both of us, we work very well, I don't have to tell him what I need done, like, he'll call me and be on top of it all the time with like interviews and whatever. Most managers don't talk to their artists on a daily basis and he does that, which is really good." (SOHH)
West Coast rap veteran Xzibit recently said it is vital for West Coast pioneers to hand the torch to newcomers.
According to X, rap vets like himself should show respect to up-and-coming artists trying to make a name for themselves.
"I feel like if more of us held down more of our own, it would generate and circulate throughout the whole coast. We'd have a vibrate f***in' scene here," X said in an interview. "How did I get on? What happens if King Tee wouldn't have come through and been like 'Hey man, not only can you drink 40s, you can rap' (laughs). King Tee came through and gave me a shot, and Tha Alkaholiks a shot. It's gotta start somewhere. It gotta start somewhere. I think f***in' with these dudes, they gonna be representatives of where we at." (Baller Status)
Last week, Ice Cube inked a blog post speaking on West Coast newcomers.
"What's up with these local MC's in L.A. who keep disrespecting me? They're just mad cause I don't f*ck with they wack-a**," he wrote. "They ain't on my level, why should I waste my time. I don't even remember ever meeting these clowns or even being in the same room with any of 'em. They can't make a name for themselves so they need help from the O/G's. I refuse the throw'em a life line. F*ck'em. It ain't my job to make nobody famous. And for the record, I ain't scared of no n*gga. Especially, no rappers....seriously people." (Ice Cube's Blog)
This later sparked a reaction from California rapper Jay Rock who felt the posting may have been a diss toward him.
"WATTS UP WIT ICE CUBE TALKIN KRAZY ABOUT NEW WEST N*GGAS.IF HE GOT A PROB WIT 1 OF US HE SHUD SAY R NAME N STOP BN SCARED 2 CALL A N*GGA OUT," Rock wrote Wednesday night. "What's up with these local MC's in L.A. who keep disrespecting me? They're just mad cause I don't f**k with they wack-a**. -ice cube They ain't on my level, why should I waste my time. I don't even remember ever meeting these clowns -ice cube (cont) ... ON SOME REAL STUFF I AINT NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH CUBE OR NONE OF THE OG N*GGAS. BUT IF HE SAY NEW WEST IM APART OF THAT (CONT) TO ME HE TALKIN BOUT ALL OF US IF HE DIDNT SAY A NAME. THATS HOW THE WEST GOT F*CKED UP IN THE FIRST PLACE.(CONT) YALL KNOW AINT NO N*GGA STAMPED ME. I DONT NEED NO N*GGA. ALL I NEED IS A MIC MY HOOD MY FANS AND THIS BIG A** GUN THIS AINT THE 1ST TIME LIL SH*T HAS BEEN SAID THIS IS THE 3RD TIME. I SIT BACK AND WATCH EVERYTHING N*GGAS BE SAYING AND DOIN." (Jay Rock's Twitter)
West Coast emcee Crooked I previously spoke on the lack of fellow artists lending support to younger rap generations.
"You've got all these people on the West Coast," he explained. "The 'Men' stands for 'mentality': No country for this old mentality. We don't want to deal with this mentality that says we can't like each other, we can't unify...After this stuff, man, I've been really thinking. That [album is] cool. That's something that needs to be said. But right now ... I've been in these [life-threatening] situations before...My focus now is if Ice Cube, Snoop, Dre, none of them dudes wanna reach down and help the new dudes, that's fine. Maybe I'll call them and have a healthy conversation about it and move on. I'm not in that zone no more. I want to leave a body of work behind that matches a Biggie or Pac." (MTV)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomlupradio.com on 3-23-2010
Nas to Pursue His High School Diploma
Earlier this week, rapper Nas revealed to a group of high school students that getting his high school diploma is one of his goals right now. He also expressed his resent for dropping out of school at a young age.
Pittsburgh’s the Post-Gazette reports that Nas spoke to the students at the Boys & Girls Club of America's annual National Keystone Conference in Pittsburgh.
"The reality of it is, you need to keep educating yourself, and I wish I had stayed in school," Nas revealed to the group of high school students.
Nas, who dropped out of school in eighth grade, also spoke on leadership and his personal life.
"This is an incredible message, to have someone who succeeded so much in their life, but there is still a void," said Frank Sanchez, the vice president for corporate and partner relationships for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
NBA player Bob Lanier and R&B singer/producer Ne-Yo also spoke to student’s at the annual conference.
Source: Hip Hop Dx
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-17-2010
Michael Jackson Estate Reach $250 Mill Agreement
The Michael Jackson estate and powerhouse Sony Music have agreed on a seven-year $250 million deal that approves the rights to release 10 more albums of the late singer's recordings.
Confirmation of the deal landed online earlier today (March 16).
TMZ has confirmed the Michael Jackson estate has signed the biggest deal ever in music -- worth up to $250 million with a guarantee of $200 million. The estate made the deal with Sony Music Entertainment -- the contract is for 10 projects over seven years. (TMZ)
The first of seven projects is slated to be released next fall.
According to reports, one of the first releases from the $250 million deal will be an album of unreleased material culled from Jackson's personal musical vaults, which reportedly house as much as three albums' worth of unheard material. That release is expected out by the end of 2010, most likely in November to capitalize on the annual pre-holidays sales. (Rolling Stone)
Since his passing last summer, Jackson has sold millions of albums.
Sony has sold about 31 million copies of Jackson's albums worldwide since his death on 25 June, the report said. His estate may soon be able to pay off some of the huge debts he left behind, our correspondent adds. According to US media, Jackson also left behind dozens of new songs, which may be released, along with revamped packages of old hits. (BBC)
The singer's This Is It compilation has continued to sell large quantities.
Late iconic singer Michael Jackson's This Is It took a hard hit moving 11 slots to No. 46 this week. Moving into its 19th week, the compilation project rests at 1,493,400 sold units. (SOHH Sales Wrap)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-17-2010
50 Cent Whips Up "Black Magic" For New Album
G-Unit leader 50 Cent has begun work on his Before I Self Destruct follow-up album and said he is attempting to experiment outside the realm of hip-hop.
According to Fif, the upcoming album will be called Black Magic.
"I actually recorded three songs," Fif revealed to interviewer Jonas Pettersen. "I had this idea, I went to a nightclub, afterparty, and it was a different kind of music going on there a little while before I actually got there. You know they play your music when you come, but the music they played before, they started playing material I created, which was more uptempo, more dance. I wanted to make a song like that so I went to the studio because I'm traveling with my live band, I took the band with me and we sequenced it and recorded the actual record while I was out there. I did two of the songs I had production for and I had been writing those songs for a while so I finished them and actually recorded them while I was out here...Black Magic project, I'm excited about it. It has a different vibe, I won't allow myself to be placed in a box where I can only do one style or do one kind of music...If they can understand how I enjoy different genres of music, for the people who have various tastes, they'll really like it." (Most Hated TV 81)
The rapper's latest album reached gold status last January.
50 Cent has another Gold certified album on his hands. The rapper's 2009 effort "Before I Self Destruct" was recently certified Gold by the RIAA due to sales in excess of 500,000 copies. Led by the single "Baby By Me," 50 Cent's "Before I Self Destruct" closed out a strong decade of hit albums and singles for him. (Examiner)
It also became the number one iTunes release last November.
50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct, which was yesterday exclusively on the iTunes Store, has already skyrocketed to the number one spot on iTunes' album chart. iTunes customers can purchase the album as a deluxe version with two exclusive tracks and iTunes LP, which includes 90-minute gritty coming-of-age film Before I Self Destruct, written, directed and starring Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent); the Two Turntables And A Microphone: The Life And Death Of Jam Master Jay documentary about 50 Cent's late mentor and friend. (Press Release)
50 previously spoke on dealing with the project leaking online weeks prior to its official release.
"All you gotta do is get the response," Fif explained to radio personality Jenny Boom Boom. "The response is so well, so good, that I know the record is a hit. So whether the consumed it from actually purchasing it or they got it off the web or wherever they got it from, when they hear it and enjoy it, they end up at the show. How can I focus on album sales now when it's to the point where my record is released four weeks before schedule. The marketing, everything that's planned to sell the actual record, is happening four weeks late, now that the record is out a month early. You know, those things are happening after they had an opportunity to hear it and it's confirmation to the doubters that the record wouldn't be good." ("Jenny Boom Boom TV")
No further details have been released as of now.
Source SOHH
posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-15-2010
Soulja Boy Cranks Out New Album Title
Southern rapper Soulja Boy Tell Em has reportedly changed the title of his upcoming album, The DeAndre Way.
Based on reports, the upcoming solo project's name will be shortened.
Soulja Boy Tell'em hopped up out the bed and onto the stage at Eva Longoria Parker's nightclub Eve in Las Vegas on Friday night (March 12). He hosted and performed a three-song set including "Kiss Me Thru the Phone," "Turn My Swag On," and his chart-topping hit "Crank That (Soulja Boy)." Jay-Z and Eminem are on the 19 year-old rapper's wish list for his upcoming third album, now titled Dre. (Rap-Up)
Last January, the rapper released a video announcement regarding his album's completion.
"[I'm] in the studio, recording my new album, I should be finished with it in like two weeks," Soulja Boy said in a video recording. "My first single should be hitting the radio. Make sure y'all request that 'Pronto,' me and Snoop [Dogg], request that 'Bingo' [with] me and Gucci [Mane]...and my first single is coming in two weeks. So be on the look out for that...It's 2010, I got signed in 2007, so it's three years now, officially, my third album finna drop. Everybody who ever bought any of my music, everybody that ever bought any of my albums, appreciate it. And we about to get ready to do it again. And I'm also headlining my own tour this year, 2010." (Soulja Boy Video)
Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West has also reportedly signed off on the project.
"Three [beats]," Soulja Boy told radio host Tim Westwood regarding their completed tracks. "They sounding awesome. This album, I'm mostly doing it myself but I got a lot of producers that I'm working with. I'm working with a lot of artists, like even onTwitter. I'll send out blasts like 'Send me beats.' I got a producer called Super Sed in the 'A' that did 'Pronto,' he did 'Pronto' for Snoop Dogg..." (Tim Westwood TV)
Soulja Boy recently explained his studio process working alongside West.
"Him showing me a lot of stuff I didn't know [and] me showing him a lot of stuff he didn't know," Soulja Boy described about their in-studio relationship. "He had an ear for my sound. Of course I had an ear for all the stuff he did. Genius! ... It was three different samples that we was working on. On one of them, he was like, 'I want this to go here, I want you to do this.' I like when an artist pushes me how he was pushing me. He doesn't go easy on me." (MTV)
Dre is slated to land in stores July 2010.
Source SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-15-2010
DMX Arrested For Violation of Probation
Authorities in Arizona say rapper DMX has been arrested for allegedly violating his probation by using drugs.
DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, had served about half of his 18-month supervised probation when he was booked Tuesday night into the downtown Phoenix jail. The rapper was released from jail in May after serving a 90-day sentence for felony convictions including cruelty to animals, theft and two drug counts.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says his deputies have arrested Simmons five times now, including an August 2007 raid on the rapper's north Phoenix home where they found 12 neglected dogs, three buried dogs, drugs and a cache of weapons.
Simmons pleaded guilty in late December to cruelty to animals, theft and two drug counts. In 2008, Simmons was arrested for speeding on a Phoenix freeway and allegedly going to a Scottsdale clinic and giving a false name to receive care with the intent of not paying.
Source: Six Shot
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-11-2010
Waka Flocka Gets Into Brawl With Jeexy Affiliates
The public truce brokered last December between Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane appears to be compromised following a violent altercation between their affiliates in downtown Atlanta Thursdy (March 4).
The brawl began around 4PM outside of the Walter’s Clothing Store in downtown Atlanta, ironically the location where Jeezy and Gucci Mane first met several years ago.
According to Patrick Morrison, an eyewitness and Walter’s Clothing employee, the animosity was renewed when Waka Flocka’s entourage entered the store and came face to face with Slick Pulla and other Young Jeezy affiliates.
“They just started going at it,” Morrison told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
In the midst of the struggle, a security guard for Waka Flocka discharged his firearm, possibly as a warning to dispel the fighting.
Numerous sources allege that Flocka was attacked by Slick Pulla, an artist signed to Young Jeezy’s Corporate Thugz Entertainment label, and member of the group USDA (United Dope Boyz of America).
“Story has it that Waka Flocka and Slick Pulla have been beefing since an alte rcation that happened in Miami a few months ago,” explained celebrity photographer Freddy O. “Slick Pulla wanted to get it popping and that’s what he tried to do. After a tussle and fight throughout the entire Walter’s store, with customers, gunfire rang out. In the end, Slick Pulla left the store while Waka was left with a bloody nose and eye.”
Patrick Morrison confirmed the assault as well, stating “whoever he (Waka Flocka) is he’s got a big swollen eye now.”
Slick Pulla was just released earlier this year from prison after serving a 2 year bid for parole violation. The terms of his release allowed him to leave the location on work release, which may now be violated if criminal charges are levied.
Thursday’s brawl marks the second Atlanta attack in three months on Waka Flocka Flame. In January, the young rapper was shot in the arm at a car wash on Old National Highway after refusing to give up his jewelry.
Flocka took his Twitter several hours ago, and offered a different version of earlier reports that he was left battered and bloody.
In his response, the Atlanta rapper made light of the conflict and boasted that he administered his own beating to his attacker.
"Shout out to shawty who ran up wit the lumps on his face that look like Martin Lawrence ...... lol," quipped Flocka, alluding to a memorable episode of the comedian's sitcom where Lawrence was humorously disfigured after a bout with boxer Tommy Hearns.
At press time, neither camps have released official statements.
Source: Six Shot
Posted on bottomupradio.com on 3-8-2010
Plies Sued By Nightclub Shooting Victims
Victims of a 2006 Florida nightclub shooting are suing the rapper Plies claiming he has increased his credibility in the violent gangsta rap world and made money because of their suffering.
The five victims had non-life threatening gunshot wounds after a fight broke out between the entourage of rapper Plies and another rapper at the club in Gainesville.
An amended lawsuit filed Wednesday in Alachua County Circuit Court adds the rapper's brother and his record label, Big Gates Records, to an existing civil suit against Plies, whose real name is Algernod Lanier Washington. The lawsuit was originally filed in April 2008.
Plies pleaded no contest to illegal possession of a concealed weapon found after the shootings and served no prison time. His brother, Ronell Levatte, served three years in prison after pleading no contest to weapons charges.
The plaintiffs' lawyers say the rapper makes references to the shooting in his lyrics and has generally used it to promote his street cred.
"The irony is that when you criminally prosecute (gangsta rappers) their stock goes up," said Chad Roberts, a Jacksonville-based attorney representing the shooting victims. "It's hard to punish them. The only way to punish is them is to hold the record company accountable."
Robert Rush , Washington's Gainesville-based attorney, called the suit "baseless propaganda." He said his client didn't have a gun in the club and that it's not clear who fired the shots that harmed the plaintiffs.
He also accused the plaintiff's attorneys of trying to grab publicity by amending a lawsuit that had been stagnant for months in a county court.
"This is defamation of character and it is all false. If his music wasn't any good, he wouldn't have gotten anywhere. This happened four years ago, his record sales are not doing great because of this," Rush said.
Source: Six Shot
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-4-2010
Lil Wayne Gets New Sentencing Date
Lil Wayne has been given a third sentencing date for a 2007 gun charge, after a fire in a New York courthouse postponed the sentencing yesterday (March 2).
The rapper was scheduled to be sentenced to a one-year prison term for attempted possession of a weapon, after he pleaded guilty to the gun charge in October.
Judge Charles H. Solomon was supposed to sentence the rapper to prison on February 9th, but he postponed the sentencing so Lil Wayne could have dental work done.
Judge Solomon rescheduled the date for March 2, but a fire broke out in the basement of the courthouse yesterday.
Over 1,000 people were forced to evacuate the building, which was shut down for the day after eight people, including five firefighters were treated for injuries.
According to TMZ.com, Lil Wayne will be sentenced to prison on Monday (March 8).
Source: Six Shot
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-4-2010
Trina Talks Leaked Nude Photos
Rapper Trina has addressed a cell phone she recently lost which she claims contains content that would leave her "devastated" if it leaked worldwide.
Speaking in an interview, Trina opened up about her lost phone.
"I lost my phone and I had some pictures of me that I don't want the world to see," Trina said in an interview. "And I'm thinking, if it ever comes out, I'm devastated, but I mean, it's not sex tape pictures but still, I don't want you to see them, they're not for you. But losing a phone and all this stuff happens -- but it's a wake up call...I just feel like, what's personal is personal. I don't feel like, as an artist, like I need to do anything to expose myself. I don't need to put out a nude photo for press...I don't need a sex tape of me and my, my significant other to be worldwide, for the world to see." (STR8 NYC)
Reports claim her phone may have been stolen over the weekend.
Trina's story that her cell phone turned up missing while she was onstage performing at BET's Rip The Runway, does hold water. Theft is a well-known problem at fashion shows. Especially when the shows aren't organized properly and models have every Tom, Dick and Shanaynay visiting them in the dressing rooms. Sometimes the models themselves steal from each other. Just hang around long enough after a fashion show and you're bound to hear models complaining about personal items turning up missing. (Sandra Rose)
Trina recently denied rumors of dating rapper Soulja Boy Tell Em.
"Actually I was in Jamaica, I was supposed to perform on the Jamaica, I think it was like the Jamaica Dance Fest or whatever," Trina told radio personality Angela Yee. "And Soulja Boy was supposed to perform on the same show, and I just recorded a record for him which is called 'Like That.' And they were trying to shoot some scenes for his video for that record so it was all fun, we all went out. We were just skiing. We were supposed to do the whole sky diving thing or whatever, and I was just looking up at that balloon like 'I don't think I'm getting up there,' but it was really cool. I got a chance to perform, it rained, we just had a good time...No we weren't grinding, Angie. [laughs]" (Sirius 45)
Trina recently joined forces with rap mogul Diddy's Circoc Vodka brand.
"Things are gonna be real big," Diddy said about Trina. "She's an official Ciroc girl...Ciroc is gonna be promoting her album, she's gonna be helping us, we gonna be doing it together. We got a new partnership that we rocking with but most importantly, the record and a video is off the chain...You gonna see us performing the joint live, too. She's gonna have the full-length chinchilla and just be buckey-naked with some stickies on. You know what I'm saying, because the body is thorough. Believe that, she's in the gym!" (Slip N Slide Records)
Source SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 3-1-2010
Chris Brown's Community Service Duties in Question
R&B singer Chris Brown is reportedly heading to court today to face a judge who is questioning whether or not the type of community service Brown has been performing in Virginia is truly hard labor.
According to reports, Brown will appear in a Los Angeles courtroom this afternoon.
Our sources say Judge Patricia Schnegg has been skeptical about the type of community service Brown has been performing in Virginia. She wants to make sure it's true hard labor. Brown and his lawyer, Mark Geragos, will go before Judge Schnegg at 2 PM PT today ... and we're told they're armed with a list showing Chris got plenty dirty performing his community service -- one of Chris' specialties ... cleaning brush off Virginia highways. (TMZ)
Photos of Brown working outside in Virginia landed online last September.
Chris Brown has started his community service and RadarOnline.com has got the exclusive photos to prove it. The singer, dressed in an orange vest and red baseball cap, appears to be pulling weeds on a roadside. The R&B singer tweeted Wednesday morning 'on my way to community service...' (Radar Online)
His probabtion was determined in court in the summer of 2009.
Pop singer Chris Brown was sentenced today to five years of probation and 180 days community labor -- to be personally supervised by the chief of police in Richmond, Va. -- in connection with his attack on former girlfriend Rihanna. L.A. County He was also ordered him to stay at least 50 yards away from Rihanna, 21, for the next five years. (Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles Judge Patricia Schnegg personally announced the sentence.
"You are going to be placed on formal felony probation for a period of sixty months," Schnegg told Brown. "I'm going to keep probation to be supervised by state of California with Mr. Brown performing his domestic violence counseling and community labor in the state of Virginia." (E! Online)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 1-18-2010
Shyne Signs Seven-Figure Deal With Def Jam
Recently freed rapper Shyne has inked a seven-figure deal with Def Jam, according to reports.
According to Miss Info, Def Jam won a bidding war between Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and other labels, for the rights to release Shyne's highly anticipated album, his first since 2004.
Shyne is also reportedly being managed by HipHopSince1978, the same company that manages the careers of Drake, Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne.
It’s being reported that Shyne is planning to record his album in London, although he was not allowed entry into the country last week, because of his immigration papers.
This is the second time that Shyne has inked a deal with Def Jam.
He signed a seven-figure deal with the label in 2004, although he clashed with CEO LA Reid over the promotion of his album, Godfather: Buried Alive.
His first album, Shyne was released in 2000, but his career was brought to a halt in 2001.
Shyne, real name Moses Michael Leviy , was convicted of two counts of assault, reckless endangerment and gun possession, after the high profile 1999 nightclub shooting, which also involved Sean “Diddy” Combs and his then girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez.
Source: Six Shot
Posted on bottomupradio.com on 1-18-2010
Lil Wayne Slapped With $2.5 Million Lawsuit
Lil Wayne may end up in front of a judge again, but this time to defend himself against a copyright infringement lawsuit.
The Royalty Network filed a $2.5 million dollar lawsuit against Lil Wayne in Manhattan Federal Court yesterday (February 17).
According to the lawsuit, the record was produced by Darius “Deezle” Harrison, who claimed he owns the rights the song, along with all profits that have been derived from the hit song, which also featured R&B crooner Bobby Valentino and rapper Kidd Kidd.
“Mrs. Officer” peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart was one of the popular singles off of Tha Carter III, which sold over a million copies the first week it was in stores.
Harrison, who also hails from New Orleans, also helped produce six other songs on Tha Carter III and has worked with artists like Kanye West, Yung Joc, Birdman, Teena Marie and others
Source Six Shot
Posted on bottomupradio.com on 1-18-2010
Drake Teams w/ "Forever" Producer For First Single
Young Money's Drake has announced the lead single from his upcoming Thank Me Later debut and said it would be produced by the hitmaker responsible for his "Forever" hit.
According to Drake, the single will be called "Over."
The wait is almost over. Drake has selected the first single from his highly-anticipated debut album. The first offering from Thank Me Later will be called "Over." Drizzy exclusively tells Rap-Up.com that the track was produced by fellow Canadian Boi-1da, who is responsible for two of his biggest hits, "Best I Ever Had" and "Forever." The Young Money signee went through a painstaking process before choosing the right single. (Rap-Up)
Earlier this month, producer Boi-1da revealed his involvement on the project.
"Yes I do, that's just because I love doing that and experimenting, whereas if you work with someone who has their sound already, you have to cater to it," he told interviewer Sajae E. "Right now I'm solely focused on making Drake's album a classic album as of right now, so that's all I can say, but be on the look out for a bunch of stuff coming through. Shout-out to all of Toronto." (iLuvLoLa)
Producer Swizz Beatz recently spoke on working with Drake's debut.
"For Drake, I'm like, 'What you want? A party joint or you want another story joint? What you wanna do?' He said the smartest thing: 'We could shoot for a club thing but don't leave out anything else.' I like that. He's being open-minded, 'cause that means I'm comfortable with surfing in different areas musically. We could surf there, surf there, but don't box me in a corner, like, 'I need that #1 club smash right now.'" (MTV)
Kanye West associate No I.D. has reportedly clocked in time with the rapper
"I am working with J. Cole and we are pretty deep into his album, which is turning out great, also working with Drake, Jazmine Sullivan," I.D. said in an interview. "Kanye and I are executive producing Common's next album and then I want some new and unexpected things." (Hip Hop DX)
A release date for Thank Me Later has not yet been confirmed.
Source: SOHH
Posetd on bottomupradio.com on 2-15-2010
Lil Wayne Talks Haiti Vs. New Orleans & Jail Time
Lil Wayne recently discussed how the massive 7.0 earthquake in Haiti on January 12 impacted his life.
In an interview with MTV News, the rapper revealed that he had numerous Haitian friends who lost family members in the earthquake, which left over 200,000 dead and over three million people displaced.
“I live in Miami, so I have a few Haitian friends,” Lil Wayne told MTV News. “So it impacted me seriously, because some of them lost some of their kids and I had to help out with those situations.”
And although the New Orleans’ Saints are celebrating a Super Bowl victory that will surely boost the city’s spirits, the rapper noted that the conditions in the city are still dire.
“Before I go I think it’s amazing what’s been for Haiti, but I also think it’s amazing what hasn’t been done for New Orleans,” Lil Wayne told reporters.
Today (February 9), Lil Wayne will start serving an one-year jail sentenced on New York’s Rikers Island for a felony gun charge possession in July of 2007.
“This is Lil Wayne going to jail. Nobody I can talk to can tell me what that’s like. I just say I’m looking forward to it,” the rapper told Rolling Stone Magazine.
Lil Wayne is planning the release of Tha Carter IV, shortly after he is released from prison.
Retrieved on February 9, 2010 From Allhiphop.com
Posted by, Beverly, L.
Ludacris Releases Spirited Mixtape
Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris announced plans to release a new mixtape called Conjure: A Hustler's Spirit.
According to Luda, he has found a renewed sense of value and inspiration in rap.
"Before the album, after the album, I'm just in a space where I'm inspired," he says. "I'm inspired by beats of course, the ones that are on Battle of the Sexes. But even beyond that, I'm jumping on stuff. It's my exercise. I wanna give all my fans something -- [the ones] that have been supporting me for the last 10 years -- something for free. It's as simple as this. Spirit has a double meaning. When you talk about spirits, you talk about liquors, as in Conjure [cognac]. Then my spirit, I have a hustler's spirit. People that listen to the mixtape have a hustler's spirit. It's a lot of people out there getting money. That's basically what this thing is about. Even in the rap game, you have to sell records, we hustle. This is for the hustlers. Simple as that." (MTV)
The rapper recently moved up his Battle of the Sexes album release date.
"The release date on the new album is officially March 9th, it was March 16th, it's been pushed up a week due to the anticipation, feeling good, Battle of the Sexes, just got picked up on the Black Eyed Peas tour, so we'll be promoting that starting Thursday all the way until the end of April," Luda said in an interview. "So look for Battle of the Sexes on March 9th. Females from the past, present and future. Everybody from Eve, Trina, Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, I got records talking about women, to women, women talking back to me and at the same time, just great music. I always try to out-do myself and re-invent, this is album number seven." (Meet Tha Dealer TV)
A partial tracklisting for the album was revealed during a listening session earlier this month.
Noting that the tracklisting was subject to change before its tentative March 16 release date, Bridges thanked the crowd for supporting him over the last decade and offered his latest battle footage. 1. "Hey Ho" featuring Lil Kim 2. "Tell Me a Secret" featuring Ne-Yo 3. "My Chick Bad" featuring Nicki Minaj 4. "Got a Man" featuring Flo Rida 5. "Can't Live With You, Can't Live Without You" featuring Monica 6. "How Low" (Remix) featuring Ciara, Pitbull, Rick Ross, Twista 7. "Sex Room" featuring Trey Songz (Los Angeles Times)
Reports last month suggested production from hitmakers like Swizz Beatz.
Ludacris is waging an all-out war with the opposite sex. The Atlanta rapper has challenged some of female rap's biggest stars to a battle on his new album. Lil' Kim, Eve, Trina and Nicki Minaj are among those getting in the ring with the Grammy winner on his seventh studio album Battle of the Sexes, due March 16. Previously planned as a joint album with femcee Shawnna, the set will also include appearances from Ne-Yo, Ciara, Flo Rida and Plies. Bangladesh, Swizz Beatz and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League have all contributed to the project. (Rap-Up)
Battle of the Sexes is scheduled to drop Tuesday, March 9th.
Source: SOHH
Posted on bottomupradio.com on 1 -8-2010
Mystikal to Help C-Murder With Legal Woes
Mystikal recently spoke about former No Limit Records labelmate C-Murder's 2009 murder conviction.
In addition to Murder, Mystikal also updated fans on his relationship with Master P.
"I haven't had a chance to speak with him since I been back though," Mystikal told DJ Whoo Kid in an interview. "I ain't get a chance to holla at him yet. I hollered at C before his [case] went the way it did, you know. We gonna see if we can work on that too, I can't let him sit in there like that. He still got some breathing room, he got a little fight left in him." (Radio Planet TV)
Master P recently spoke about his brother, C-Murder, doing time behind bars.
"Your image can get you incarcerated and take a lot of things away from you," P explained. "I think he realizes that right now and he definitely will be fighting an appeal but it takes times. It might take two to three years. He's innocent from his crimes, everybody knows that but that goes to show you how your image and all the stuff from your past -- it makes others think 'Oh, you know this guy's name is C-Murder, so he's guilty.' They don't even look at, 'Oh you wasn't in the club, you didn't pull the trigger.' Man, your image can really describe your life." (SOHH)
C-Murder's financial woes have reportedly landed him the help of two Harvard attorneys who have agreed to assist with his appeal.
Though Miller himself has no income, property or savings, two Harvard lawyers have come to his defense, declaring him indigent so that he may make his appeal and access court records at no cost. The cost for the case records is $20,702, which Miller is unable to pay. His hearing is set for Dec. 10, but he also faces a civil suit for the teenager's death. (The Boom Box)
According to a letter from Miller's attorneys, the Southern emcee's funds are limited.
Miller cannot afford the estimated $20,702.75 to pay for the entire case record and all hearing and pretrial hearing and trial transcripts and fees, according to a motion filed by attorneys Robert J. Smith and John Adcock. The transcripts would cost $17,335, the attorneys wrote. Miller would not have to pay the costs if Judge Hans Liljeberg of the 24th Judicial District Court declares him indigent. Miller is presumed to be indigent because he is incarcerated, does not own a vehicle or real estate or have income or savings, the attorneys wrote. They note that Miller's trial attorney, Ron Rakosky, has not been paid. Rakosky withdrew from the case when Miller was sentenced Aug. 14. (NOLA News)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 1-28-2010
Dr. Dre Not Rushing "Detox" Release
Producer Dr. Dre has addressed his long-awaited Detox album delay and said he is still trying to create the "perfect" record.
Dre also said the studio time he's dedicated to other artists has further delayed the album.
"Once that sound is right, once that mix is right, it's a feeling that you get, here -- It's unexplainable," Dre said about putting together his records. "I have to go out to clubs now...You need to understand what people are listening to. I'm working hard on it. I'm stopping to work on other artists in-between, but the minute it's done and I feel it right here. I don't think I've done that [perfect] record yet. I'll know what it is when it comes; I know exactly what it is in my head, but I haven't done it yet. It's close...I got some sh*t coming, believe me." (Guardian)
Dre associate Warren G recently spoke on the album delay and having a possible collaboration on the project.
"Yeah, he gonna drop it, I mean, he's just, he's a perfectionist," Warren promised in an interview. "So when he feels right, that's when he's gonna let it go but I think he's close because when he starts working with Snoop [Dogg], that's when I know he's getting down to the wire. Me and him are supposed to do a record on there, he said as soon as he finds the right record, with the right melody, we'll do it. So you know, I'm gonna be waiting so if I'm on Detox this time, cool. If not, I think it'll be something that the world would love to see because it's never been done, the publicity on it will be huge it's like 'Warren G and Dr. Dre doing a song? That's crazy.'" (Hard Knock TV)
Dre recently admitted that the album would likely not come out until closer to 2011.
A script for another huge push back of the mythical album has been written. Dr. Dre is featured in the Dimedrop section of the March Edition of SLAM Magazine. The interview is mainly about Basketball but as usual, the interviewer Konate Primus couldn't resist asking the producer about the status of the album. "Well, I'm working on it, but also I've been working on other people's projects; you'll probably hear something in a year or so." (Hip Hop N More)
Speaking at an in-store media conference last November, Dre also explained why he has to feel "right" about the solo project before dropping it.
"You know what, I'm working hard on it man," Dre promised during an in-store interview. "I'm going and I'm stopping, I'm working with other artists in-between and what have you, but I'm working hard on it and the minute it's done and I feel it right here [in my chest] and it feels right to me, that's when it'll come out. And you know, hopefully at the beginning of the year." (Ms. Drama TV)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 1-25-2010
Waka Flocka Shot in Atlanta
Up-and-coming Atlanta MC Waka Flocka Flame was shot Tuesday (January 19) in his hometown, according to Fulton County Police.
Flocka (real name: Juaquin Malphurs) suffered a gunshot wound to the arm as he was stopped at a carwash on National Highway. He was rushed to nearby Grady Hospital. A spokesperson for his record company said Flame will be fine.
Police said the matter is under investigation and wouldn't say whether there was a suspect. Sergeant Scott McBride, a spokesperson for the Fulton County Police Department, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that "a scuffle broke out, then shots were fired." According to several reports, an unknown assailant tried to take the rapper's jewelry.
Flocka, part of Gucci Mane's So Icey camp, has made a name for himself recently with the song "O Let's Do It." An unofficial remix of the record has hit the Net featuring Lil Wayne, Trae Tha Truth and Rick Ross. Ludacris also jumped on the record with his own version for an upcoming mixtape. Waka appears on Gucci Mane's The State vs. Radric Davis on the track "Bingo."
Waka was in the midst of putting together a new mixtape with D J Holiday before Tuesday's shooting.
Source: Six Shot
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 1-21-2010
R&B Legend Teddy Pendergrass Passes Away At 59
R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass has passed away after a year-long battle with cancer at the age of 59.
According to reports, the singer passed away Wednesday (January 13).
Teddy Pendergrass, one of the most successful R&B singers of the 1970s and '80s, passed away yesterday after a battle with colon cancer. He was 59. Pendergrass was diagnosed with cancer last year and had a difficult time recovering from surgery; he died at Bryn Mawr Hospital outside of his native Philadelphia. (Rolling Stone)
The singer had break out fame in the 1970's.
Pendergrass broke out on his own in 1976, and became the first black male singer in history to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums. After playing to sold-out shows around the globe, tragedy struck in 1982 when he lost control of his Rolls-Royce and crashed on Wissahickon Drive, resulting in severe spinal chord damage and paralyzing him from the waist down. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
His passing has caught the attention of artists like DJ Drama.
"RT @questlove sad loss. just heard the immortal Teddy Pendergrass has just gone to a better place. Soul will never be the same," he wrote on Twitter. "Teddy had the OG Philly beard and had all the jawns throwin they panties! RIP Teddy............His music will live forever!" (DJ Drama's Twitter)
Young Money's singer Shanell also displayed her shock in learning of the music legend's loss.
"dont tell me teddy pendergrass is not alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!," she wrote Wednesday night. "HHHOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!!!! WWWWWHHHEEEENNNNNN... I WAS OUT CHILLIN... AND I GET TO TWITTER AND THIS IS THE NEWS I GET!!!!" (Shanell's Twitter)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 1-14-2010
Jay-Z Shoots Down Devil Worship Rumors
Jay-Z's new avant-garde video for "On to the Next One" — with images of ram skulls, black crows and a Joker-like clown — has some bloggers talking that Jay is dabbling in demonic imagery and Freemason symbolism. Hov thinks that's ridiculous.
"I got a lot of money," Hov told Power 105.1 radio host Ed Lover on Wednesday (January 13). "When people get a lot of money, they start getting those rumors like Tom Cruise, Willie Smith. That's ridiculous."
Hov is also the subject of a new independent street DVD that alleges he is "Hip-Hop's Master Mason" and the Blueprint pays homage to a secret society.
"That's crazy to me," Jay scoffed. "I gotta remind people I'm from Marcy Projects. I can't get into a golf club in Palm Springs."
Swizz Beatz also denied rumors that the "On to the Next One" clip promotes devil worship.
"I don't think about that. I know that's a billion percent not true. The video displays another level of art and creativity from two great minds: the director and Jay — and myself, bringing the collaboration together. It's no satanic ways around me and that's for sure," he explained. "I'm with Jay — I never see none of that stuff around him unless he's hiding something, which I doubt. C'mon, man. That's silly stuff. T hat stuff you don't even comment on; we on to the next one."
"I'm aware of the stir the video has caused and what people are saying," the clip's director, Sam Brown, told Vibe.com. "I think when you're dealing in abstract imagery people are going to want to draw lines between things and make sense of it. However, I've always felt that the viewing public was, in general, extremely visually literate. They don't always want or need things to be spelled out for them. One of the great things about music videos are they can be enjoyed purely visually — it doesn't need to mean anything or make any sense. Conspiracy theory is another thing entirely, and seems to me to be about projecting pre-existing beliefs and desperately looking for things that confirm them. There is imagery in this video that is drawn from all over the place. None of it is owned by any one culture or belief system. You can connect anything if you try hard enough, and make it mean anything you want it to."
"It didn't look like we was worshipping the devil," Swizz continued, speaking on behalf of himself, Jay and Young Jeezy, who are all featured in the video. "It was easy. The song, the chemistry between me, Jay [and] Jeezy is a natural flow. When you put that in front of the camera, it's natural. Jay was on set, I think, for only two hours. I was on set for like, an hour. Same thing. Jeezy was there. It was real quick. The director took it and went on to the next one. ... I never expected the video to come out like that ... it's like a portrait. It's like a canvas he took, which was the green screen, and he took that canvas and really painted it Murakami, Basquiat style. There go the results."
Source: Six Shot
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 1-14-2010
Unreleased Michael Jackson Songs Leaked
An unreleased Michael Jackson song called "Another Day" has reportedly leaked online and is allegedly an unheard verse from his duet with Lenny Kravitz.
The track began to make its rounds on the Internet last night (January 3).
Much like 2Pac, Michael Jackson has no problem releasing new music, even though he's ... ya know, dead. An unreleased song called "Another Day" is making the rounds, an alleged duet with Lenny Kravitz. The verse Michael sings seems to be the same as from an older Kravitz song called "Storm." Kravitz gave an interview with Spinner shortly after Michael's death where he mentioned working with him on a song that hadn't been released. Kravitz called it "the most amazing experience I've had in the studio." (TMZ)
On the leaked verse, Jackson declares his love for an estranged person.
"My life, has taken me beyond the planets and the stars," Jackson sings, "and you're the only one that could make me this far/I'll be forever searching for your love...You're the one that makes me go, I can't make it another day/Your'e the fire that keeps me warm, I can't make it another day/How do I get through this storm/I can't make it another day without your love..." ("Another Day")
In a past interview, Kravitz reportedly suggested he has an unreleased track from Jackson.
"I got to work with Michael on a track that has not been released and it was the most amazing experience I've had in the studio. He was funny. Very funny and we laughed the whole time. I also saw what a beautiful father he was. He was a beautiful human being. I am deeply saddened this evening." (Zap 2 It)
The record marks Jackson's latest leaked track since last summer.
If "Another Day" proves to be legitimate, it'll be the second track from Jackson's vault of unreleased material to find its way to the streets. In July 2009, 24 seconds of a Jackson song called "A Place With No Name," a reinterpretation of America's 1971 hit "A Horse With No Name," leaked. (Rolling Stone)
Source: SOHH
Posted to bottomupradio.com on 1-4-2010
Nas Speaks On Recent Chicago Violence
Nas has been one of the few celebs to step up and speak out against the violence taking place on the streets of Chicago (and many other urban areas). He penned an Open Letter to Young Warriors after the video taped beating death of Derrion Albert hit the Internet. Over the weekend, Nas hit the CNN airwaves to talk about the deadly street violence and what (if any) role music plays in the healing process.
Posted Oct 5, 2009 Cited from http://lawitchesbrew.blogspot.com
Bow Wow Signs To Cash Money
Published Aug 16, 2009
Lil Bow Wow has officially signed to Cash Money Records, the rapper revealed Sunday night.
The rapper made the admission via his Twitter page with a simple message that read, “BOW WOW SIGNS TO CASH MONEY.”
The rapper then took to a live stream where he talked further about the deal.
“Its the triple threat Bow, Wayne, Drake. Its about to be real stupid.”
“Any Bow Wow fan that I let down..what I am getting ready to do, I got y'all. I apologize to the fans that I let down. It’s finna to go down. Its on now, baby. Me, Drake and Weezy…lets get to the money.”
Bow Wow, once signed to Sony Records, had strongly considered retiring from music for an acting career. He did say that he was finishing a movie with Ice Cube, but would start on his Cash Money debut right after wrapping the film.
Now the rapper said he will be in the studio for 40 hours a week recording new material.
The rapper had been hinting on the move, but had made no official confirmation.
“I appreciative everybody’s appreciation,” he said.
One of the the last person Bow Wow told of the finalized deal was his mother, which whom he shared the new via his live stream. "He was driving me nuts. He had be stressed out and I don't even stress she said. One good thing about it is that's a blessing. At least you had a choice. I think its hot," his mother said.
