LISTEN: 2Pac - Dopefiend’s Diner

DOWNLOAD 2Pac - Dopefiend’s Diner (MP3)

This 'new' Tupac track is sad and awful and one of the two previously unreleased track off of The Best of 2Pac – Part 2: Life. It interpolates Suzanne Vega’s song 'Tom’s Diner'. Completely 'sung', no rhyming. Just let the man rest.

NEWS: Ghostface Killah Did NOT Sell Hat On Ebay

Seems like RZA isn't the only person Ghostface Killah has issues with concerning payment. You may remember his video about auctioning off his fitted 'Atlanta Backwoods' cap which has "been in front of Halle Berry". Well the buyer reneged.


Ghost at a recent video shoot by Hesastud. More here.
When the bidding ended on November 4, the lucky winner of said hat — a — agreed to deposit $355 in the PayPal account of Ghostface's intermediary seller. At least that was the plan. "I didn't sell it, because the guy that posted on it that bought it, he reneged on it. So it wasn't nothing to it, you know." More here.

NEWS: J.A.M. Awards Tribute To Jam Master Jay

It killed me to not be able to attend this due to birthday obligations (my own) last night. Mobb Deep, M.O.P., Jim Jones, Papoose, De La Soul, Dead Prez, Everlast, Raekwon, Snoop Dogg and others performed at the J.A.M. Awards, a tribute to the late Jam Master Jay’s vision of Justice, Arts & Music. This sounds it would've hit the old school sweet spot: "EPMD took the stage to perform classics including “You Gots to Chill,” “So Wat Cha Sayin” and “Headbanger.” LL Cool J joined them for a verse, putting his fist in the air for JMJ." (More over at RS)


Related: Inspired by the recent murder of Sean Taylor and other violent crimes recent, P. Rosenberg wrote an interesting, long and worthwhile post about violence, hip hop culture and responsibility here called 'We Must Change This Ourselves'.

LISTEN: Uncle Murda - Informer (ft. Wyclef & Mavado)

DOWNLOAD Uncle Murda - Informer (ft. Wyclef & Mavado) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD DJ Green Lantern & DJ Lenny S. - R.O.C. Stars (Full Mixtape) (MP3)

Uncle Murda's sole contribution to DJ Green Lantern & DJ Lenny S.'s R.O.C. All-Stars - The Street Leak mixtape. I just had to post it for the indiscriminate use vintage gunshot samples. Murda is bringing '96 back. No Jadakiss appearances on the mixtape.

NEWS: Akon Charged With 'Endangering The Welfare Of A Minor'

Akon doesn't usually get any play on here, but this is too absurd to not post. Akon was charged with 'endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment' in fan tossing incident (see video below). It's the girl who functioned as the landing platform for the guy tossed off stage that is now suing. "Hip-hop star Akon has been charged by police after a fan said she suffered concussion when he allegedly threw a teenager off stage, hitting her. Audience members at the concert told Associated Press a spectator lobbed something at the singer and Akon asked the crowd to point out the culprit. A security guard picked out a 15-year-old and sent him up to the stage, where Akon is said to have picked him up onto his shoulders and threw him into the crowd." More here.

You know that Akon and R. Kelly are somewhere going back and forth secretly putting together a super group with a name like 'A Minor Problem'. Lead off single: a cover of Sam Cooke's 'She Was Only 16'.


Via DailySwarm.

VIDEO: Novel - Hit Em With The Shottie ft. Joell Ortiz

DOWNLOAD Statik Selektah - 6 In The Morning ft. Joell Ortiz, Kool G. Rap & Sheek Louch (MP3)

Joell Ortiz will be just fine without Aftermath. Above a stand out track featuring Joell, Kool G. Rap and Sheek Louch from the new Statik Selektah throwback album Spell My Name Right: The Album. Below another vintage Rik Cordero production below for Novel's 'Hit Em With The Shottie' featuring Joell. I think I'm going to try to insert the phrase 'Hit Em With The Shottie' into as many conversations as I can and attempt mainstream culture penetration. It could become the new 'bling bling'. In my dreams at least.

NEWS: Mannie Fresh's Sister Murdered

Tragic. Mannie Fresh 's sister, Angela Bryant, was murdered in her own house while her two young children were inside as well. Right after her birthday and recent marriage.


According to reports, newlywed and mother of two, Angela Bryant, sister of Def Jam South Records producer and former Cash Money Records producer Mannie Fresh (Byron O. Thomas), was found gunned down in her Algiers, New Orleans, home while her young children were inside. Relatives told police the family dined together in a restaurant Wednesday evening to celebrate Bryant's birthday. Mannie Fresh is reportedly making his way back to New Orleans from Texas after hearing news of his sister's tragic death. Police reportedly states it's too early to determine whether or not it was a home invasion or if Bryant knew her killers, because they confirmed there was no signs of forced entry. " (source)

According to New Orleans local news station WWL-TV, Bryant's two children, ages 2 and 7, were found tied up in the home but are reported safe and unharmed. (source)

VIDEO: 50 Cent MTV Cribs Outtakes

Here's some pretty funny outtakes from 50 Cent's MTV Cribs episode. My favorite part is when he pretty much claims his all-see-through shower as an invention of his own. Say what you want about Curtis, but he's entertaining. It's my birthday today, who's buying me this mansion?

NEWS: Ghostface Hates 8 Diagrams

Ghostface Killah spoke to Rhapsody and his level of appreciation for the new Wu-Tang Clan album 8 Diagrams came up. "That s**t is wack. I heard RZA was changing some of the beats around the last minute. I didn’t hear that. I don’t know what y’all listening to out there. I never heard it. I’m with Raekwon." Personally I think the problem is that musically speaking RZA is ahead of the rest of the clan and 8 Diagrams will prove to be an excellent album people go back to in a few years and they'll understand. It's not vintage hardbody Wu, but that wasn't the outset. It's an evolved piece of work that I predict will stand the test of time.


Ghost at a recent video shoot by Hesastud. More here
On RZA and being owed money: "I just won my court case from them n*gg*s. The suit been in there for three years. So put that out there. They just lost their f*ck*n’ case. So who don’t owe who money? Let’s get it straight, RZA. That’s all I’m sayin’, baby. It was a loss, they lost. L-O-S-T. That’s really it. [...] I don’t see RZA, man. That n*gg*’s real sneaky. I love him, though. Ain’t no bad blood. Ain’t nobody doing no bad to him. It’s just that you can’t get money with a n*gg*." More here.

LISTEN: Cause - BBQ's & Music

DOWNLOAD Cause - BBQ's & Music (MP3)


You may remember Cause from his excellent re-workings of 'The People', 'Stronger', and 'Ayo Technology', and today he shares with us 'BBQs & Music' over a Alchemist/Dilated Peoples beat. On December 6th Cause will be performing as part of Stand Up!, a live Hip Hop show at Pianos with underground talents NY Oil, Hired Gun, Donny Goines, a secret guest and Interns Celebrities as hosts. Co-curated by yours truly and OhWord. More info here.

NEWS: Photos From Ghostface Video Shoot

I'm going to join VDB on this limb and say these photos by Hesastud were taken about a week ago on the video shoot for Ghostface Killah's 'We Celebrate' off of December 4th's excellent The Big Doe Rehab.



More photos on this flickr page.

NEWS: 9th Wonder Releasing 'The Wonder Years' In January

XXL reports that a follow up to the second volume of 9th Wonder's The Dream Merchant is coming in January of 2008 on Asylym Records with features by Talib Kweli, Q-Tip, Mos Def, Little Brother, Erykah Badu and more. He brings up an interesting point below.


"The Wonder Years will unite some of today’s top R&B artists with some of the best MC’s in the game in an effort to reach an older, more mature listener. “You’re going to get some younger people who will enjoy this, but my main demographic is women who have careers, women who like to sit in the house and relax as they listen to it. My album is not for the club. A lot of women my age don’t go out, because they don’t like the music being played. I want my album to be played in the beauty salon or a Coach bag store just as much as anywhere. [...]There’s no music that suits them wholeheartedly, you either have young for the young or old for the old. You still want to hear Hip-Hop, but you want Hip-Hop that’s your age.” Read more here.

NEWS: Iran Bans Hip Hop

The US congress as beaten to the punch by Iran!


The Daily Swarm reports that "Iran plans to launch a crackdown on rap music, complaining that the words used by rap artists were “obscene”, the state IRNA news agency reported Thursday. “There is nothing wrong with this type of music in itself,” the official for evaluation of music at the Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry, Mohammad Dashtgoli, was quoted as saying. “But due to the use of obscene words by its singers this music has been categorised as illegal,” he said. “In coordination with the police, illegal studios producing this type of music will be sealed and the singers in this genre will be confronted,” he said. Dashtgoli said a large number of illegal rap singers have been already identified." Somewhere Al Sharpton is cheering and plotting.

NEWS: Dame Dash Finds Another Way To Irk Jay-Z

What happenes after all the fuss about Jay-Z not releasing American Gangster onto iTunes because he wants people to enjoy the concept album as a whole? (Which btw is not the real reason) Dame Dash makes Reasonable Doubt available on iTunes as of today. I didn't even know it wasn't on there to begin with. Read more here. Deep breath Dame, aannnnddddd let go of the past. Go get that social network and movie money and let go.

LISTEN: M.O.P. - Make Em Clap

DOWNLOAD M.O.P. - Make Em Clap (MP3)


Well gosh darnit. I posted a classic M.O.P. toda and look what gets to me! A brand new funk&fire M.O.P. track! If only it would always work that way I'd be posting classic M.O.P. stuff every day until 50 Cent would let them drop an album. Props to Moe Green for sending it over. Check out his blog too.

NEWS: Freeway Explains Just Blaze Situation

Rhapsody spoke to Freeway and one of the things that came up was the Just Blaze situation and him not having a beat on Free At Last.


R: Why was it so hard to get with Just Blaze for this album?
Freeway: There was a little bit of hostility between managers. I think my manager was a little disrespectful to his manager around the beginning of last year. I don’t really know the particulars, but I know it had to do with some publishing. He apologized, but after that, I tried to get at Just a couple times. I’m not saying he wouldn’t, but he wasn’t in a rush or it wasn’t a priority to him. Just is my man. We lived together for a month in Miami. I felt as though we had a good relationship. I spoke to him earlier this year [about it]. We’re supposed to be past it, but still nothing’s happened.

Free does recognize Just's impact on his career and adds: "Just did a lot of songs on the first album, but he’s so good that he could make it sound like 10 different producers. He was responsible for the “What We Do,” “Rock the Mic” and “Burnin’ Up” -- basically my career. I would go there and he’d have joints ready." Full interview here.

LISTEN: Ice Cube + Chuck D + M.O.P.

DOWNLOAD Ice Cube - Endangered Species Remix ft Chuck D (MP3)
DOWNLOAD M.O.P. - Stick To Ya Gunz (MP3)


Since this is a Hip Hop NEWS blog I generally stay away from old stuff, but I felt really odd and soiled after that last post. So I'm doing the blogging equivalent of washing out my mouth after cursing. Here's two of the hardest songs I could think of off the top of my head. The Ice Cube/Chuck D. track is off of the oft forgotten, but excellent Kill At Will EP. The M.O.P. track is of course produced by DJ Premier.

NEWS: JR Rotem Impregnates Britney Spears

I don't do the gossip reporting thing usually, but it involves a Hip Hop producer and c'mon J.R. Rotem! Why'd you go and do that? In Touch Weekly reports that he has impregnated Britney Spears.


On November 14, Britney Spears confided to her friends in e-mails that she was four weeks pregnant — and that she was sure the father was J.R. Rotem, a music producer she's been seeing on and off since she separated from ex-husband Kevin Federline in 2006. JR Rotem has confirmed .
UPDATE: Perez says that Britney says it's not true. Good. Thanks Rachael for the tip. Readers: Go to Hip Hop detox here.

LISTEN: Styles P - Da 80's

DOWNLOAD Styles P - Da 80's (MP3)


Styles P delivers a new twist on that classic D Block material with 'Da 80's'. Gotta love that throwback beat produced by Alchemist. Off of Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) out next week.

VIDEO: Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction

With 'Sensual Seduction' Snoop Dogg brings us the Best Hip Hop Video Of The Year. And he doesn't even rap for the most part. I want a whole album of this stuff.

Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction

NEWS: Hired Gun Interview

Hired Gun is one of the MCs performing at Stand Up! co-curated by OhWord & SitDownStandUp.com, hosted by theiCs and also featuring Cause, Donny Goines, NYOIL and a surprise guest (buy $9 tix here). R.H.S. over at OhWord interviewed him. Excerpts below, read the full interview including downloads here.


OhWord: Where exactly are you from? Do they have running water yet? Where are you currently located? What got you into emceeing, besides a lack of cow-tipping talent?
Hired Gun: I originate from Hopatcong, New Jersey, a small rural northwest town near the Pennsylvania border, but have been a Brooklyn resident since 2000. I credit my older cousin who was from Newark, home of Redman, Queen Latifah and Naughty By Nature [Editors’s Note: those guys are mostly from Irvington, let’s be real], for exposing me to hip hop. Where I grew up it was the land of Hall and Oates, Hair Bands, and southern rock. I spent a lot of time in the summer and on weekends though hanging out with him at my Grandmother’s who lived in Hillside (an area around Newark). Listening to 98,7 Kiss with Red Alert and Chuck Chillout, and WBLS with Marley Marl in the late eighties really hooked me on hip hop. The emceeing became a natural progression from hearing the music and following my cousin as he had grown up rhyming and battling kids in his school. I looked up to him, and identified more with Guru and Q-Tip then I ever really could with Bon Jovi or Eddie Van Halen. So my classmates picked up guitars to follow their heroes…I grabbed a mic to follow mine. Full interview here.

NEWS: Rick Ross's Trilla Pushed Back

Rick Ross's upcoming album Trilla has been pushed back from December 18th to February 19th. With the new album's first single, "Speedin'" featuring R. Kelly, stuck at No. 76 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Def Jam opted to give the project more time to develop. (Billboard)



Not that I was fiendin' for this release and am complaining but, Beanie Sigel's single with R. Kelly was also weak, but he didn't get pushed back. "'Trilla' means real enough and was really inspired by Michael Jackson's 'Thriller. It's going to be the biggest street album of the year." The album is set to feature Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Trick Daddy, Akon, T-Pain, Marsha Ambrosius and production from the Runners, DJ Toomp and Cool and Dre. More here.

LISTEN: Icadon - Wus Dat Sound ft. Redman

DOWNLOAD Icadon - Wus Dat Sound ft. Redman (MP3)


Where has Rockwilder been? Not sure but here he is and he produced 'Wus Dat Sound' for Icadon and Redman. Off of the upcoming mixtape DJ Kay Slay & Icadon: Earthquake In The City.

LISTEN: Ghostface Killah - Yolanda's House ft. Raekwon & Method Man

DOWNLOAD Ghostface Killah - Yolanda's House ft. Raekwon & Method Man (MP3)

It's Ghost hour here at SitDownStandUp.com! Two back to back inbox arrivals. This track off of Ghostface Killah's Big Doe Rehab features Method Man and Raekwon but someone still clocks in only slightly over 3 minutes. Ghost explains the track here.


Ghost & Rae @ Rock The Bells. More pics here.

VIDEO: Miss Info Interviews Ghostface

Miss Info Interviews Ghostface Killah and asks him what exactly a Big Dough Rehab is. Amongst other things. Rik Cordero is responsible. Again. Part I and II. Album snippets throughout and they're fire. More albums snippets here.

VIDEO: Scarface - Girl You Know ft. Trey Songs

Off of Scarface's upcoming mystery album.

LISTEN: Kidz In The Hall - Detention (Full Mixtape)

DOWNLOAD Kidz In The Hall - Detention (Full Mixtape) (MP3)


Kidz In The Hall have signed to Duck Down Records after releasing their debut album on Rawkus last year. Their upcoming album The In Crowd will be released in March of 2008 but for now their brand new mixtape Detention will have to carry the fans over. Mixed by Mick Boogie, the Rik Cordero of mixtapes it seems.

NEWS: 'Featuring.....Eazy E' To Be Released

Most of you out there should have all of these tracks already, but for those who don't Capitol/Priority is releasing a full album of Eazy E collaborations and a few 'rare' solo tracks. On the same day as Best Of the Westside Connection release (Dec. 4th). Tracklist below.


Eazy E - Featuring... Eazy E
1. Luv 4 Dem Gangsta'z* Beverly Hill Cop III soundtrack
2. 2 Hard Muthas w/MC Ren
3. Trust No Bitch* w/Penthouse Player's Clique, DJ Quik & AMG
4. L.A. Is The Place w/Ron-De-Vu
5. Findum, F**kum & Flee w/N.W.A
6. Get Yo Ride On w/Mack 10 and M.C. Eiht
7. Black Nigga Killa Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary compilation
8. We Want Eazy (12" remix)* Eazy-Duz-It
9. Foe Tha Love Of $ w/Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
10. I'd Rather F*** You N.W.A
11. 24 Hrs To Live Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary compilation
12. Boyz In Tha Hood (G Mix) w/ Dr. Dre It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa
13. Fat Girl w/Ron-De-Vu
14. Automobile w/N.W.A
15. P.S. Phuk U 2* w/Penthouse Player's Clique & DJ Quik
16. Ruthless Villain w/MC Ren
* = previously out of print track, exclusively available on this release

NEWS: Joell Ortiz Not Wanted On Aftermath?

XXL talked to Joell Ortiz who says that Jimmy Iovine wants him gone from Aftermath. Check out a video interview here. I'm not going to say I told you so, but this will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

LISTEN: Jay-Z - Dead Presidents III

DOWNLOAD Jay-Z - Dead Presidents III (MP3)


Jay-Z 'Dead Presidents III' has been all over the internet in a tagged up and messy version for the past week, but I wanted to wait for this crispy, beautiful and untainted version that. Produced by Young Guru with a great little Notorious B.I.G. vocal quote to end it off.

NEWS: Westside Connection Release Best Of

And here I was thinking Westside Connection only really released one album. Check out the cover and tracklist for their upcoming The Best Of Westside Connection: The Gangsta, The Killa And The Dope Dealer (Dec. 4th) below.


1. Potential Victims
2. The Gangsta, The Killa And The Dope Dealer
3. Bow Down
4. Cheddar
5. Gangsta Nation (with Nate Dogg)
6. Lights Out
7. Connected For Life (with Butch Cassidy)
8. Gangstas Make the World Go Round
9. West Up!
10. Let It Reign
11. Hoo-Bangin' (WSCG style)
12. Walk
13. So Many Rappers in Love
14. Bangin' (with Master P) [previously out-of-print track]
15. Nobody (with Timbaland)
16. All The Critics in NY
17. Westside Slaughterhouse
18. Terrorist Threats

VIDEO: Murs - Yesterday & Today

While we're in the Bay Area today we might as well post another funny new Murs video. This time for 'Yesterday & Today'

LISTEN: Lil' Kim - I Get Money Freestyle (Dissing Remy Ma)

DOWNLOAD Lil' Kim - I Get Money Freestyle (Dissing Remy Ma) (MP3)


Lil' Kim doesn't get much play around these parts, but the trainwreck appeal of her 'too little, too late' 'I Get Money' freestyle dissing Remy Ma made me do it. And the fact that I found that picture.

LISTEN: Too Short -This My One Ft. E-40

DOWNLOAD Too Short -This My One Ft. E-40


Two Bay legends come together again. Too Short is back and brings with him E-40. Off of Short Dog's new, and out of the blue, album Get Off The Stage (Dec. 4th).

NEWS: Nas's Album Pushed Back To February

Nas upcoming album, tentatively called Nigga or Nigger, has been pushed back to February 08, which is Black History Month. Nas also confirms that the 'What It Is' snippet that went around the internet is an unauthorized blend.


Nas' camp said the MC is still working out the album's final track list. On Monday afternoon (November 26), Nas himself clarified to MTV News that "What It Is" will definitely not be on the album. Those are vocals that were leaked and added onto a random beat. "I never rhymed to that beat," he said.

Producers lines up include DJ Toomp, Salaam Remi, and Diddy and his new Hitmen are also scheduled to come onboard before production closes in the next week or so. More here.

VIDEO: Rappers Bowling

Cause, Hired Gun, Donny Goines, the Internets Celebrities and myself went bowling. Or as I like to say "Bowwwwwllinnnnnn'" Dallas: "Hip-hop has become not like wrestling... but like bowling."


You know the deal. OhWord.com & SitDownStandUp.com curating. Internets Celebrities hosting. 4 dope underground MCs and one secret guest. Git yo tickets here.

LISTEN: Jay Electronica - A Prayer for Michael Vick & T.I. (We Love You Family)

DOWNLOAD Jay Electronica - A Prayer for Michael Vick & T.I. (We Love You Family) (MP3)


Backed by Just Blaze and Erykah Badu Mr. Jay Electronic is currently the most original guy out there in Hip Hop in terms of being left of center. Via Eskay via Sweeny.

Update: Rafi transcribed the track.

LISTEN: Barak Yalad - Bewitch + The Release + Linguistics

DOWNLOAD Barak Yalad - Bewitch (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Barak Yalad - Linguistics (MP3)
DOWNLOAD Barak Yalad - The Release (MP3)


Barak Yalad has an intricate and thick flow right in the middle of John Forte, Pharoah Monche and Blackstar era Mos Def. His album A Loss For Words will be released on Rawkus Records on Nov. 27th and is definitely worth picking up. Strong and solid production, a morphing flow and meaningful rhymes that are still fun to listen to even when they weigh in on the heavier things. Sample three tracks above, and then go pick up the album and support the arts.

NEWS: Wu-Tang Announces Tour

CMJ just announced Wu-Tang Clan tour dates in support of 8 Diagrams. I wonder which members will end up going on the road after the recent tussles.


Wu At Rock The Bells, more photos here.
Wu-Tang Clan Tour Dates:
12/15 - Chicago, IL - Metro
12/16 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
12/20 - Denver, CO - Fillmore
12/23 - Hollywood, CA - House of Blues Sunset Strip
12/30 - Seattle, WA - Showbox
01/03 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
01/10 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
01/12 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom
01/18 - Richmond, VA - Toad's Place
01/25 - Miami Beach, FL - Jackie Gleason Theater
01/26 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing

Bonus: RZA speaks to Tim Westwood about the Raekwon situation.

NEWS: 50 Cent + DeNiro + Pacino In Righteous Kill

I don't exactly know which part of 50 Cent's performance in Get Rich Or Die Tryin' convinced this director it'd be a good fit with legends like Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, but here is the first picture of the three of them together in Righteous Kill.

Bonus: Some guerrilla footage of the three of them on set.

More info on the movie over at Woohah.

NEWS: LL Cool J Almost Ready To Admit It Wasn't Jay-Z's Fault

LL Cool J is almost ready to admit that his comments about Def Jam not pushing his last album, and it being Jay-Z's fault that it tanked, probably weren't true.


In an interview with MTV: "It's an incredible feeling" said Cool J, who proclaims this is the best album he's done in almost a decade. "And you know what? I have to give 50 props for that. If a guy calls you on the phone and says, 'You know what? Your last record was kinda slow and this was a little weak.' It was like, 'Yo, I just thought the record was slow, man, don't mess my LL up.' [...] I'm humble. I'm confident, but I'm humble. "I don't mind having a conversation with a guy who seems to have his finger on the pulse and having a conversation with him and talking with him and seeing if he can push me a little bit and get my mojo back," he added. "I didn't feel I fell off, but I felt I was a little bit out of touch with the things I should be thinking about. I needed to get a little more focused and close to my people and closer to the street." Read the full interview here.

VIDEO: Andre 3000 Is On A Whole Nother Level

Andre 3000 is so far ahead of other MCs that this rhyme goes so far over my head it seems like another language to me.

Andre 3000 - Speechless

This is the seventh of the Writers Guild Of America member-conceived Internet videos for Project "Speechless" featuring A-list Screen Actors Guild talent. For more info go here. Via DailySwarm

LISTEN: Beanie Sigel - Dear Self ft. James Blunt

DOWNLOAD Beanie Sigel - Dear Self ft. James Blunt (MP3)


Yes, that James Blunt. The skinny affected dude that sings 'Beautiful' out of the speakers in every mall in the country. But no worries, this 'feature' is really just a sample that sounds like it came off of a Kanye-esque 1970's soul record. Mack Mittens uses the word 'blunt' in the song, maybe as a clever reference, or maybe out of habit. Excellent song off of The Solution (Dec. 11th).

VIDEO: Ne-Yo On Being Kicked Off Of R.Kelly Tour

Ne-Yo speaks to Ed Lover on the reasons he was kicked off the R. Kelly tour. It's very reminiscent R. Kelly's diva behavior on the 'Best Of Both Worlds' tour with Jay-Z he himself got kicked off.

LISTEN: Jadakiss - Welcome to the Roc (Freestyle)

DOWNLOAD Jadakiss - Welcome to the Roc (Freestyle) (MP3)


Jadakiss backstage at Radio City Music Hall. More pics here.
This Jadakiss freestyle doesn't make any reference to the Roc so it's a bit of a misnomer. Maybe it's revenge for the fumble on his initiation at the Jay-Z show at Hammerstein a few weeks back.

VIDEO: El-P Speaks The Truth

It's likely no one in the Hip Hop world has even heard of Spankrock, but for some reason these guys have managed to get the indie rock crowd excited about their brand of Hipster Hop. El-P however breaks it down properly in roughly 20 seconds.


Via SoMuchSilence.

NEWS: Snoop Dogg To Release New Album in '08

Snoop Dogg is set to release his 9th solo album in March of 2008.



Ego Trippin' will be released on Doggystyle/Geffen Records, with its lead off single 'Sensual Seduction' featuring a sung hook by Snoop. The video for 'Sensual Seduction' will premiere on MTV's TRL on November 28 and on 106 and Park on November 29th.

VIDEO: Baby - 100 Million ft. Rick Ross, Dre, Young Jeezy & Lil' Wayne

Yet another DJ Khaled tagged collaboration song between the usual suspects Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Baby, Lil' Wayne and a hook by Dre (the one who can't operate). It's called '100 Million', a number of dollars that all these guys combined times 2 wouldn't even approach. If they really had anywhere near that kind of money at least that laughable special effect around the 4.30 minute mark where the van blows up would've look a tiny bit more convincing.

LISTEN: Busta Rhymes - Step Up (Prod. by J.Dilla)

DOWNLOAD Busta Rhymes - Step Up (Prod. by J.Dilla) (MP3)


Busta Rhymes and Mick Boogie have teamed up for a brand new mixtape called Dillagence that also feature Papoose, Cassidy, Talib Kweli, M.O.P., Rah Digga and others. This track shows the genuinely joyful Busta we know and love pre-hardbody.

Unrelated Bonus: Freeway got on the mic the other night when Mick was spinning in a club.

LISTEN: Saigon - The Moral of the Story (Full Mixtape)

DOWNLOAD Saigon - The Moral of the Story (Full Mixtape) (MP3)


Well, Saigon just quit Hip Hop, but here's his new mixtape. I'm digging it.

VIDEO: Jay-Z @ Hammerstein (Full Concert)

MSN is streaming Jay-Z Hammerstein Ballroom concert from the other night in full. Go check it out here.

VIDEO: Joe Budden Responds Shouts At Saigon

Joe Budden puts a few words towards Saigon's situation and recent interview. Actually this is the original video Sai responded too. Thanks for the correction Shake.

NEWS: Lupe Fiasco Doesn't Think He's That Good

Lupe Fiasco was interviewed over at R&R. Some choice comments.


Photo by Dave Bullock / eecue.
On himself as an MC:"I am not the Hip-Hop saviour. I am not that guy. I mean, I don’t really think that I’m that good."

On CRS, the collaborative project with Kanye West and Pharrell: "I always say CRS is the last great idea in Hip-Hop to be done. But it’s a scheduling [nightmare]. Kanye is finishing his album [duties], I’m finishing mine, Pharrell is doing N.E.R.D, and then once we all come off tour everyone is doing this. We need to sit down and have a month to do a CRS project, and we aren’t foreseeing doing that til the fall of next year. Outside of the hype - once you get through the hype, the fashion [and] the clothes, the music is going to be phenomenal. That is the one thing that I can almost [guarantee]."

On listening to Midnight Marauders from start to finish since Fiascogate: "No, and honestly I never will." Read the full interview here.

VIDEO: RZA Speaks On His Production History

RZA speaks on his development and which toys he used from his start as a producer at age 11 all the way down to producing the bulk of 36 Chambers. Spotted on BGDB.

LISTEN: Large Professor - Slickmoney

DOWNLOAD Large Professor - Slickmoney (MP3)


A few weeks back I posted a sampler for Large Professor's upcoming instrumental album Beatz Vol. 2series. This is a full track and Spine Mag has another one. Ah now this would be a good one to mash up with an Andre 3000 vocal.

LISTEN: Styles P - Cause I'm Black ft. Black Thought

DOWNLOAD Styles P - Cause I'm Black ft. Black Thought (MP3)


Styles P's new album Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) is coming soon and this is a beautifully conscious soul track featuring the always overlooked Black Thought.

LISTEN: Outkast - Art Of Story Telling Pt. 4

DOWNLOAD Outkast - Art Of Story Telling Pt. 4


Andre 3000 is such of an MC's MC. I'd love to hear him over some New York production sometime. This track is off of the DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz album. Eskay had the hookup.

NEWS: Saigon Quits

Sigh. This would be sad. After catching a lot of flack over a recent drunk interview Saigon is fed up with the music industry and the surrounding fakeness, and he has announced he quits.


No more interviews, no more mixtapes, no nothing....Im not a rapper anymore, Im done.. Im back to being regular me...This shit is too fake for me, I found myself getting caught up in the bullshit but now Ill gladly walk away...SAIGON IS DEAD...I QUIT, Now I have time to focus on my non profit organazation, In Arms Reach/Abandoned Nation, Please if you get the chance, check out Inarmsreach.org and lend your support to the work we do for the children in NYC whose parent(s) are incarcerated, Thank You now I gotta figure out how Im gonna break this to Just Blaze......THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD....hahahahahahaha PROPHECY" Read the full blog.

I understand frustration about all that is fake in today's music industry. There's a lot of exploitation, careless journalism, politics, and other negative stuff, but quitting is letting that side of the business win. Instead I hope Sai reconsiders and decided to only quit the negative side of the industry and just focus on the positive side and make some change happen on his own terms.

VIDEO: Donny Goines - Do It For Hip Hop

Donny Goines is performing as part of Stand Up!, the Internets Celebrities hosted Hip Hop show I'm co-curating with OhWord.com. December 6th, Pianos in the Lower East Side of New York City (more info here). This is the video for 'Do It For Hip Hop' off of The Excerpt Pg.1. Watch out for the remix to that song soon. You heard it here first.

NEWS: Jermaine Dupri Mouths Off For His Boss

Most people that follow the music industry realized that Jay-Z's big statement about not releasing American Gangster on iTunes was not Jay being a boss, but Jay being an employee fighting Universal CEO Doug Morris' war with Steve Jobs. Doug Morris runs the biggest record label in the world, and one that generally operates as a bully to get their way. It must be frustrating for Mr. Morris to have someone who changed the face of music retail, not jump up and dance for him when he wants to. Mr. Morris has been trying to figure out how to put the pressure on Steve for many months now and thought not giving them American Gangster was a great new stab. Steve Jobs probably just chuckled as in the end it's just Universal shooting themselves in the foot through their misguided bullying. Steve doesn't care about American Gangster, just like the public really didn't care in the big picture. Because music is practically free now due to many years of major label incompetence. They still haven't figured out how to monetize online retail, and Steve has been laughing to the bank by offering a superior product in the iPod, and a seamless process with his software. However much he sells through the, admittedly flawed yet well-designed, iTunes store is just the cherry on top of his massive profits from the iPod and iPhone.

The latest executive to go on the war path for Mr. Morris is Jermaine Dupri who wrote a blog entry about it on the Huffington Post. It's somewhat sad to see Jay-Z and JD, two executives that present themselves as top power players, exposed to be minions and pawns in the big picture of the music industry hierarchy. Foot soldiers fighting the 'good fight' for their boss. A few misguided quotes from JD's blog below. I'd laugh if it wasn't essentially so sad to see him being pimped.

"So if we as artists, producers and label executives stand up, those guys at Apple can either cooperate, or have nothing for people to buy and download on their iPods."
Actually, research shows that the average number of iTunes bought tracks per iPod is only 20. The rest if pirated, ripped from CD, or purchased elsewhere. In other words, you're wrong JD, this strategy will not make Apple cooperate and it won't put a dent into their profits, just into your own.

"Back in the day when people were excited about a record coming out we'd put out a single to get the ball going and if we sold a lot of singles that was an indication we'd sell a lot of albums[...]Did consumer complain? Maybe so. But at what point does any business care when consumer complains about the money? Why do people not care how we - the people who make music - eat? If they just want the single, they gotta get the album. That was how life was."
Um, actually JD 'back in the day' there were ONLY singles in Popular Music, followed up by 'albums that were a collection of the singles already released for convenient package purchase. Then The Beatles came along and released the first real album 'that was really conceived as one piece, to be listened to as a whole.' (source) Also about the 'caring' about your customer thing? Well, that's how your boss screwed the industry. Front loading albums with one good single, that you'd then have to buy the shitty album for to get. Didn't work very well for you. Welcome to right now.

"Asking us to let other people mess with all our hard work like that is disrespectful. It's like when you go an art auction, and an Andy Warhol painting is up for sale at $5 million, but a buyer is allowed to just by off the top right hand corner of the canvas for a hundred thou'"
Ah ok, so other people need to respect your wishes, but you don't 'care' to respect theirs? If you want to use a Warhol metaphor correctly you would say it's similar to going to an Andy Warhol exhibit and having to buy every painting in the room even if you only liked one. A song is a completed piece of art that fits in a greater context of an album. Even if it's part of a concept album.

"Apple, why are you helping the consumer destroy our canvas?"
Yes, lets blame Apple and the consumer, and not the boss that is pimping you out to fight Steve Jobs on this customer driven music retail revolution. Lets blame Steve for giving the people what they want, what they've been made to want through your boss' insistence that it's okay to sell those two hot tracks with the 8 crappy ones. What about making all ten songs so good that people want to have them? Ah JD, how disappointing. But soon you'll understand. Read JD's blog post here.

VIDEO: Freeway - It's Over + Lights Get Low

I can't keep up with Freeway. Two new videos were debuted on OnSmash today. I'm not feeling 'Lights Get Low', the collabo with Freeway's beard-brother Rick Ross, so much. Especially not the faux-Pharrell sung hook by Dre, who just doesn't have that on-camera charisma or a distinguishable voice necessary to pull that off. 'It's Over' is a better track with a more interesting visual as well. It's the Kanye West/Just Blaze accusation track I posted the MP3 for a few weeks back. And just two days ago he dropped the video for 'Still Got Love'.

VIDEO: Saigon OnSmash Interview

This weekend Saigon accidentally got himself in trouble during a drunken interview on the radio. Here's one with moving images. Stop the self-destruction!.

LISTEN: Pharrell - Cheers ft. Clipse

DOWNLOAD Pharrell - Cheers ft. Clipse (MP3)


Clipse @ Columbia University. More photos here.
Pharrell left over track or brand new? This Ziplock P track features Clipse and is off of the Gangsta Grillz album.

LISTEN: Chamillionaire - Won’t Let You Down (Texas Takeover Remix) f. Slim Thug, Lil Keke, Mike Jones, Trae, Paul Wall, Z-Ro & UGK

DOWNLOAD Chamillionaire - Won’t Let You Down (Texas Takeover Remix) f. Slim Thug, Lil Keke, Mike Jones, Trae, Paul Wall, Z-Ro & UGK (MP3)



Chamillionaire collects most every Texas based rapper for the 'Texas Takeover' remix to 'Won't Let You Down'. Hm.

VIDEO: Stand Up! Three MC's Cypher

Three dope NYC underground MC's in a street cypher: Hired Gun, Donny Goines and Cause representing Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx respectively. All three underground rappers plus NYOIL and a surprise guest will be performing at Stand Up! An evening of pure hip-hop, hosted by the Internets Celebrities. It'll take place December 6th, 9pm at Pianos on Ludlow St. in NYC. Buy your tickets here. Stand Up! is a Liberated Matter event curated by OhWord.com & SitDownStandUp.com.

LISTEN: Wu-Tang Clan - Take It Back/Wolves/Stick Me For My Riches

DOWNLOAD LISTEN: Wu-Tang Clan - Take It Back/Wolves/Stick Me For My Riches (MP3)


Wu @ Rock The Bells. More pictures here.
Props to HHIR for ripping these from this weekend's 'The Wake Up Show'. All three are off the new Wu-Tang Clan album 8 Diagrams.

VIDEO: Smif-N-Wessun - 'Gotta Say It' (Making of)

Smif-N-Wessun's creatively titled album The Album is out and they got together with Rik Cordero to film a video for 'Gotta Say It'.

NEWS: Hip Hop 'Freak Dance' Banned In Texas

Well gosh darn golly. You've got to love these quotes in a Wall Street Journal article on a Texas town banning 'Hip Hop Freak Dancing'. Yes, the Wall Street Journal is writing about this now. The witch hunt on Hip Hop continues.

"Karen Miller, 53 years old, saw her first "freak dance" four years ago when she was chaperoning a high-school dance attended by her freshman daughter. One boy was up close to a girl's back, bumping and grinding to the pounding beat of the music. "I thought, 'That's just dadgum nasty,'" Ms. Miller recalls. "It really had me sick to my stomach." [...]Mr. Ceyanes says he fears current cleavage-baring dress styles combined with sexually charged dancing could lead to an unsafe environment for students. "This is not just shaking your booty," he said. "This is pelvis-to-pelvis physical contact in the private areas...and then moving around." Interestingly enough Mr. Ceyanes himself was a father at the age of 17. Not judging, but perhaps he is trying to protect the school's students from similar situations. Read more here and here.

NEWS: Damon Dash Owes $2M In Taxes

Ouch. The IRS claims Damon Dash owes $2 million bucks in back taxes. Beware, this information comes from the NY Post, so it very well may not be true at all.


"The records show that hip-hop mogul Damon Dash - whose estimated $50 million fortune bought him a chauffeur-driven $400,000 Maybach sedan, diamond-encrusted watches and more than 1,000 pairs of sneakers - owes the state more than $2 million. Dash, 36, is one of almost 225,000 city debtors who together have shortchanged the city and state more than $1 billion in income taxes, penalties and interest, the records show." Read more here.