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The Diplomats Reunite...

selo — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:06:06 +0100

The Diplomats Reunite On Jim Jones' Next Album While Dipset has experienced its share of issues and infighting among members of the group, they have still managed to patch things up. Members Jim Jones and Cam'ron put put aside their differences after a long period of not speaking and recently recorded a track, which will appear on Jim Jones' fifth album, Capo. The song, titled "Salute ," also features Dipset member Juelz Santana. Although the three rappers will appear on the record together, it by no means signifies an abandonment of their solo careers. The album will be Jones' follow up to 2009's Pray IV Reign, which debuted on the Rap charts at No. 9 last year. Capo will release on Sep. 28 on Jones' new label home E1. DIPSET: Get Down/The Best Out

Miles Davis Bassist Sues Snoop Dogg Over Samples

selo — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:32:08 +0100

Snoop Dogg and a number of other West Coast rappers are being sued by a legendary bassist who claims the artists illegally sampled a record and never paid him. Michael Henderson cut his teeth touring with Stevie Wonder and recording extensively with Miles Davis, before he launched a successful solo career and released eight critically acclaimed albums. His music has been sampled by artists like Jay-Z, Eminem, Notorious B.I.G. and others. Lawyers for Henderson filed a lawsuit against Snoop Dogg, MC Eiht, Goldie Lo, Kam, Doggy Style Records and Universal Music on Tuesday (July 6th). According to the lawsuit, which was filed in the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District, Snoop and company illegally sampled “Riding,” a song on Henderson’s 1979 album Do It All. Henderson accuses the rappers of incorporating his music into their song “Riding” and also “Hands on the Wheel,“ which were both available for stream, download and purchase. In the complaint, Henderson claims “Flashbacks” featuring Warzone (Goldie Loc, Kam and MC Eiht) was released on a mixtape, which was used to promote Snoop’s album Ego Trippin’, which was released in March of 2008. Henderson also says “Hands on the Wheel” illegally incorporated his music and was used to boost ticket sales for Snoop’s West Fest tour in June of 2008. Henderson is suing for copyright infringement, unfair competition and unjust enrichment. He is seeking unspecified damages in a trial by jury.

MC Eiht - All-Starz & Strapz Vol.2 (Hosted by DJ Nik Bean & DJ Clean)

selo — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:52:12 +0100

MC Eiht-All-Starz & Strapz Vol.2 (Hosted by DJ Nik Bean & DJ Clean) Download:http://limelinx.com/files/b81d7848623ab0d1a01d14eb5f6aabf4 TRACK LIST

01. can't change my mind
02. you see what's in my hand
03. you get shot
04. paybac
05. you know we g's
06. what we do
07. give me some
08. bury u niggas
09. just a minute
10. i get around
11. get it bac
12. aint that simple
13. dat's me
14. cpt 4 real
15. cpt all day
16. everybody get high
17. y'all aint tight
18. ride on em
19. what does it all mean
20. west up 2010
21. city niggas
22. another story
23. so well (bonus track)

(Back in the day) MC EIHT " you can't see me " Video (1996)

Vinnie Paz Discusses AOTP Album

selo — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:43:30 +0100

Underground Hip Hop super-group Army of the Pharaohs released their third album, The Unholy Terror earlier this week. The group, started by Jedi Mind Tricks emcee Vinnie Paz over a decade ago presently includes emcees such as Connecticut's Apathy, Florida's Celph Titled, Massachusetts' Esoteric, Brooklyn's Block McCloud and a large Philadelphia delegation. Asked about how such a spread out group maintains such an authentic sound on their records, Vinnie deduced, "I think the fact that we have long-standing relationships, dating back as far as 15 years, really. We're all of the same mind-state and mindset, and sort of all have the same approach to how we make music, it's a little bit more organic than those type of records that seem forced. I think that's really, what it all comes down to. We're all on the same page. When that's the case, you can be 10,000 miles away or 10 blocks away." The hardcore Hip Hop emcee told HipHopDX that communication adds to the connection in the music. "Me and Celph [Titled] will be on the phone before we get into the lab, and then, from there, it's still organic - even though we're both not physically there." Within Unholy Terror, both Vinnie and AOTP brother Reef The Lost Cauze drop several sports similes touching on Philadelphia's first sports championship since 1983, courtesy of the 2008 Phillies. A consummate underdog, Paz was asked if the underdog mentality still exists in the city's Rap community as it has in athletics. "Absolutely. We've always been the type of city that's always been the little brother of New York. We never really had or got the respect that was [deserved]. We never really got our just due. So I kind of feel like we always approach it as the underdogs, you know?" The veteran rapper spoke to DX from Newport, Kentucky on Tuesday night, kicking off the Jedi Mind Tricks/Army of the Pharaohs tour. The day of the album's release, and Vinnie Paz revealed that unlike many live Rap acts, he sees no pleasure in performing new material to virgin ears. "It's just out today. We really haven't been doing anything off [The Unholy Terror] yet," Paz said after being asked about the album's best-received track. "We never really have done that - even with the Jedi [Mind Tricks] stuff. We kinda let people build with the record a bit before we rock. That's not an approach that everybody takes, but it's one we've always taken. I feel like newer material isn't always received if they're not familiar with it. Familiarity is an important thing when it comes to live music." The fan in the emcee may have been what instituted this unwritten, but honored rule. "Being in Hip Hop shows since the late '80s, it's just something that I [experienced]. I never liked hearin' new material. I liked hearin' it on my headphones or in the car first. Then I'm familiar with the music, and then hear it live and appreciate it." Having a catalog that dates back as far as 1996, Vinnie also recognizes his paid dues in the ability to carve performances. "The flip-side of that is that we're lucky enough to have a catalog like we do, of nine-plus records of Jedi and Army of the Pharaohs. We're able to do that, whereas a lot of people don't have more than a fuckin' twelve-inch out." The Unholy Terror is released through Babygrande Records, a label that Vinnie and his outfit have worked with for close to a decade. After some public disputes about money and the handling of the Jedi Mind Tricks' catalog, many believe that this project could be one of the final label/artist collaborations. Although Vinnie did not speak on his future with Babygrande, the emcee did explain that he asserts control along with his brothers in maintaining their musical integrity. "Regardless of the problems we've had, the bottom line is we've always, always, always kept creative control of the record. We would never allow the label to have any - and I mean any say in the creative process." Vinnie did allude to the fact that his conglomerate is headed for independence, reminiscent of Jedi Mind's rise to prominence with their own Superregular Recordings, "Now, we're back to putting out our own ****. This is the happiest we've been in a while." A friend and frequent collaborator of Ill Bill, Vinnie was also asked about Uncle Howie, Bill and Necro's late uncle and mentor, who passed away last week, after a struggle with drug addiction. "My memories are just how good of a guy he was. Regardless of the problems he might;ve had, he was full of life. That's what stood out the most to me, being around him the times that I was. He was just a really happy guy, always had a smile on his face, always had a kind word to say, and I'm sorry that we lost him." "My memories are just how good of a guy he was. Regardless of the problems he might've had, he was full of life. That's what stood out the most to me, being around him the times that I was. He was just a really happy guy, always had a smile on his face, always had a kind word to say, and I'm sorry that we lost him." Speaking of Bill, Vinnie and the former Non Phixion emcee and producer are presently at work on a collaborative album. "Me and Ill Bill are 23 song into the Heavy Metal Kings record, and we don't even feel like we're halfway done," said the Philly emcee. With their Enemy Soil imprint, Vinnie and his crew have a slew of releases planned for the next two quarters. On the heels of his leaked collaboration with The Clipse, "Street Wars" , Vinnie says he turned in his full-length solo debut Season of the Assassin last week. At present the album is planned for June 22 release and features appearances from The Clipse, Paul Wall, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Ill Bill, and R.A. The Rugged Man. Additionally, Vinnie recruited production from Da Beatminerz, Lord Finesse, DJ Muggs, Madlib, MoSS, and M.O.P.'s Lil Fame. "I'm really happy with how that came out," said Vinnie, who also has 2010 releases line up for Outerspace, and fellow JMT artists Stoupe and Jus Allah (Meanest Man Alive). Looking at his summer solo debut, Vinnie was asked about his collaboration with legendary emcee/producer Lord Finesse, who's worked with the likes of Dr. Dre, Notorious B.I.G. and discovered and mentored the late Big L. "[Lord] Finesse is just the coolest guy in the world," Vinnie said. "Him being a product of that late '80s, early '90s ****, and he's still relevant and making good music, I think there's a part of him that wants to stay relevant with the younger generation. I went to New York. [DJ] Premier bought the old D&D Studios, it's called HeadCourterz, that's where Finesse works out of. Me and Crypt [the Warchild], my brother from Outerspace, we just went up there and kicked it with Finesse. We just hung out all night, drank 40s and ****. He basically crafted me like three beats, specifically for me. They were all amazing, [but] I only ended up using one on the record. But we talked recently, and we're definitely gonna work again this year on something."

T.I. Gives First Post-Prison Interview

selo — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:01:10 +0100

A video of an exclusive interview with T.I., his first since his stint in prison for criminal weapons possession, was recently uploaded to the rapper's YouTube page. "I'm happy to be home," said the platinum-selling rapper. "I'm feeling better than I've ever felt. Learned a lot, grew a lot. And now, I think it's time to put that to good use." Tip revealed that he didn't write very much during his stay in prison, saying he didn't have very much time. "There was a lot of activity around me. So I wasn't really motivated to create." He also spoke on his upcoming album, saying that it would be different from Paper Trail, which was "a lot more about thoughts." In contrast, T.I.'s upcoming project will be "a lot more about feelings. This is significantly more aggressive." The end of the interview indicates that the new album will drop August 24 of this year. Watch the interview below:

Uncle Howie Has Died...

selo — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:47:22 +0100

Fans of Non Phixion, Ill Bill and Necro are likely familiar with Howard Tenenbaum. Uncle to both Necro and Bill, "Uncle Howie" became known as an affiliate of '90s and early '00s Brooklyn hardcore Hip Hop quartet Non Phixion, as well as an official mascot/spokesman to Bill's Uncle Howie Recordings label. Throughout many releases in the camps, Howie appeared on interludes, commercials, webisodes and DVDs. Late last week, Bill confirmed through Twitter (@IllBill1972) that his uncle had passed away. "Uncle Howie RIP - Rest in power my G," part of the message said. The cause of death is unclear, though Howie had reportedly been sick for some time. In October of 2008, Ill Bill told HipHopDX about his relationship with his uncle, after recording a dedication track "My Uncle" on that year's acclaimed release Hour of Reprisal. DX: With the song “My Uncle,” how do you set the tone so people can understand how much this person, struggling with an addiction a lot of the Hip Hop community laughs at, means to you? Ill Bill: I can only do that by doing interviews or putting it into the music the way that I did. I’m trying to really illustrate what my thoughts are and where I’m coming from with my uncle with this song. That’s a big part of why I did that record in the first place. It’s hard to really do that. Unless I’m having a one-on-one conversation with somebody, it’s hard to do that. Part of the reason I put the skits on the record is really to just give my uncle some [positive mental attitude]. Dude is going through it. He’s relapsed numerous times since he was living with me. He’s really just not doing the right thing. The back-story on that song was that I did it for him. My intention beyond that was open-ended; I didn’t know if I was gonna put it on the record or not. I didn’t want to embarrass him. I’ve never really went that far; I never got that personal, as far as my uncle goes. He loved it. He told me he’d be upset with me if I didn’t put it on the record. It’s hard to really talk about, but dude walks around if he – knock on wood, man, he’s still here, but he walks around as if he’s gonna be dead tomorrow. That’s just his attitude, and it kinda fucks my head up to even think about it. He appreciates his life less than I do. DX: He’s always been credited as your manager. Regardless if there’s utility in that role, does that mean a lot to him? Ill Bill: You know what? [Laughs] Just to clear the air on that one, he’s the furthest thing from managing anyone, let alone his own life, but I mean, he’s like our spiritual manager. Beyond that, he’s been my conscience through my life. When I get to that fork in the road, I always tend to make the right decision. I give a lot of credit to my uncle for that.

Beatsweeper extends our condolences to both Bill and Necro, as well as Non Phixion and others who knew him. May Uncle Howie's legacy live on through music, stories and the label named after him. R.I.P UNCLE HOWIE!!!

Welcome to Beatsweeper.com!

selo — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:49:33 +0100

Beatsweeper plans to change the way in which original beats & instrumentals are bought and sold in cyberspace. Since the websites launch on August 1st, many music industry professionals have become instrumental to the companies success. These industry insiders range from top producers & executives to labels in charge of artists. In addition to endorsing the site, they also take on important tasks such as evaluating talent within the websites member list and judging a yearly contest in which members will have the chance to win cash and make major beat placements. Beatsweeper offers innovative methods for members to upload and sell their music. Up until now, not many websites have offered music producers and artists a decent place to connect. Beatsweeper has created various marketing tools for their members to market themselves through an array of useful means, such as a Myspace MP3 player with buy now buttons, Unique Embeddable Banner Advertisements, and personalized "SEO friendly" URLs. Beatsweeper’s MP3 player allows its members to place a flash audio player in any Myspace page, or comment board. The functionality to buy the music directly from this MP3 player should undoubtedly increase its member’s profits. Beatsweeper sees its competitors as aging fuddy duddies that lack a desire for innovation. That's why we are fast becoming the most popular hip hop website & social network for hip hop producers, rappers & hip hop fans... producers & artists can sign up for a free account. you can upload 10 Mp3's to your profile producers can also join beat battles,artists & beat makers can post live updates to advertise your latest tracks, get featured in the artist spotlight & beat charts. If you're a hip hop artist looking to sell your beats to millions of hungry artists & hip hop fans, look no further than Beatsweeper.com if you're searching for a place where you can buy hip hop beats & instrumentals for your albums demo's mixtapes or multimedia productions, check out the Beatsweeper.com Beat Shop... Sign up today & find out what all the fuss is about. it's free to join! http://www.beatsweeper.com

Nicki Minaj Skips Out On XXL's Freshmen '10

selo — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 08:48:31 +0100

Nicki Minaj recently revealed to MTV.com the reason she and fellow Young Money artist Drake decided not to participate in XXL magazine's Freshmen 2010 issue, which highlights up-and-coming talent in the rap game. "Drake and I, we love XXL," said Minaj on the set of her video for the song "Massive Attack." "We just shot for XXL. With all due respect, we felt like we kinda had graduated from the freshman class. We felt that XXL missed the mark when they didn't put us on the cover prior to that. They have to pay for that. They can't say, 'Hey, get on the next one.' But we love XXL. That's like a Hip Hop classic. So we said, 'Can we have something just a little bit more catered to us, so that we feel like we have still grown as artists, so we're not at all disrespecting the magazine?' They were cool with that." Minaj insists that she and Drake were cordial about the request, and that the magazine took no issue with it. As such, the Freshmen 2010 group consisted of OJ Da Juiceman, Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock, Pill, Donnis, Fashawn, J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, Freddie Gibbs and Big Sean.

DMX Arrested, Battling Addiction

selo — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:05:40 +0100

DMX's penchant for getting in trouble with the law continues, as the once-superstar rapper was once again arrested. According to TMZ.com, the Yonkers rapper was arrested March 9 in Arizona for violating the terms of his probation by using illegal drugs over the past nine months. "He's been battling addiction for some time and he's in need of treatment," says X's lawyer, Gary Jenkins. "We're hoping that maybe Dr. Drew might be able to help him," added Jenkins, referring to Dr. Drew Pinsky, a radio and television personality who specializes in addiciton medicine. In addition to hosting the syndicated radio talk show Loveline, Pinsky produces and stars in the Vh1 show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. The Ruff Ryder has been arrested for countless charges in recent years, including having a warrant for having no vaild driver's license, as well as drug and animal cruelty charges. UPDATE: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio revealed to MTV News today that the Yonkers emcee admitted to using cocaine, as drugs were found. As a result, the once-platinum superstar rapper remains in Maricopa County Jail. The sheriff was quoted as saying, "I think it's about time to give him hard time." The sheriff did also suggest a behind-bars drug program that could allow DMX more leniency to expected parole violation sentencing.

Gang Starr legend GURU out of coma

selo — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:12:44 +0100

The following article will appear in tomorrow's Boston Phoenix, which went to print late yesterday, before GURU released this statement to AllHipHop.com. As reported, he is doing well. Furthermore, though, he is no longer in a coma. We're all pushing for a big recovery here; hopefully this woke some hip-hop fans up to how we need to respect the architects while they're still here with us. “So whassup?” “Moment of truth.” “Above the clouds?” “Credit is due.” Those were just a few Gang Starr song-title sentiments that fans cried on social networks following the news that hip-hop legend Guru suffered a heart attack in New York City, where he has been hospitalized in a coma since Saturday. Besides Brooklyn, where Guru and Texas-born producer DJ Premier helped write the blueprints for East Coast boom bap, the news especially rocked Boston, where Guru was born Keith Elam in 1966. Since word of his comatose condition surfaced, several national reports traced his career back to the landmark 1989 single, “Words I Manifest.” But in Roxbury, many memories go back further, to the mid-’80s when Elam rocked microphones as M.C. Keithy E. “He was always an excitable dude who was trying to do the next big thing,” says Big Shug, a Gang Starr member who is in touch with Premier and others who have gathered at Guru’s hospital bedside. “He was smart and ambitious — once he learned about the rap game and decided that was what he wanted, he never stopped from there.” Though raised on tough blocks, Guru does not have a stereotypical hip-hop pedigree. His father, Harry J. Elam, was the first African-American judge appointed to the Boston Municipal Court of Massachusetts. In high school, Guru rode the METCO bus to Cohasset; later he graduated Morehouse College in Atlanta. No doubt his worldly experiences manifested in some of the most enlightened street-savvy cuts in hip-hop history. The Gang Starr catalogue is deep, with six celebrated full-lengths spanning nearly 15 years. As a solo artist, Guru is best known for his four remarkable Jazzmatazz compilations, in which he teamed with the likes of Branford Marsalis for organic feats that would inspire countless hip-hop artists to dig beyond samples and experiment with live instrumentation. In recent years, Guru has mostly worked with Solar, his producer and partner in 7 Grand Records. In September 2008, the duo performed a memorable tribute to John Coltrane at Northeastern University, and the year after dropped the album Lost and Found. Through it all, there has been much speculation about the state and fate of Gang Starr, as Shug and Premier have for several years remained at an amicable distance from Guru. That said, it appears that personal differences have already been forgotten. “All that stupid **** is out the window right now,” says Shug. While Guru remains in a med-induced coma, Shug reports that his Monday surgery was successful, and his brain is relatively healthy despite being deprived of air in an asthmatic episode that led to his heart attack. “He still has a long road to recovery, but the whole Gang Starr family is with him the whole way.”

Game Officially Returns To Aftermath Records

selo — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:38:15 +0100

Saturday afternoon, rapper Game officially announced his return to Aftermath Records. The announcement, made via the Compton star rapper's Twitter page (@IHateGame), comes after pictures and statements already confirming Game's musical reunion with one of his early mentors, Dr. Dre. Claiming, "It's funny how things come full circle. R.E.D." Game linked to a photograph of him wearing four Aftermath medallions on chain necklaces. R.E.D. is the title of Game's spring album, which may now carry the Aftermath logo. Having released his multi-platinum debut, The Documentary on G-Unit/Aftermath/Interscope in 2005, the Black Wall Street founder would later release his two subsequent releases 2006's The Doctor's Advocate and 2008's L.A.X. on Geffen Records. Geffen, a sister-label to Interscope in the IGA (Interscope-Geffen-A&M) family. Many believed these actions were due to tension between Game and 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and even Interscope head Jimmy Iovine. By returning to Aftermath, Game joins Eminem, 50 Cent, as well as two newer artists Slim Da Mobster and this week's DXnext artist, Hayes. Throughout his career, Game has worked with Aftermath producers including DJ Khalil, Hi-Tek and of course, Dre.

Did Hip-Hop Get Snubbed At The Grammys?

selo — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:14:31 +0100

People in the hip-hop nation are wondering if the Grammy Awards are snubbing hip-hop. At Sunday night's show, the only hip-hop award that was broadcast during the show was Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, which Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna won. The only hip-hop act to perform was the finale of Lil Wayne, Drake and Eminem performing "Drop the World" and "Forever" — and even with that coveted spot, the performance was mired in controversy due to network's overzealous muting of the song's lyrics. There was no moment in the spotlight for Eminem's two wins; no show-stopping performances like last year's "Swagga Like Us" tag-team of Jay-Z, T.I., Lil Wayne and Kanye West with M.I.A., which killed it collectively and individually. "CBS DOES NOT CARE ABOUT RAP PEOPLE!" fumed radio/blog and television personality Miss Info on her Twitter page. "Looks like none of the hip-hop categories makin' it to TV," DJ Drama tweeted midway through the telecast. "So best comedy album gets aired but not hip hop?? #BoycottGrammys" Q-Tip said on Twitter. "I don't think there was much balance this year at these awards," Wale tweeted. "Just my opinion." Are people overreacting, or will artists start boycotting the Grammy Awards again for not paying respect to hip-hop? "I was a little surprised that they didn't let Eminem come up and give a speech for Best Rap Album," Rolling Stone online editor Caryn Ganz said. "He's such a titan in the field. I felt they should have given him a moment of shine. Personally, I think it was a slight — they should have done Best Rap Album — but they were stretching [the nine categories that aired during the show] over all genres. To be fair, maybe it was just a numbers game. But there was only one hip-hop performance, and it was heavily censored to the point where it was almost unwatchable." A spokesperson for CBS explained to The Associated Press Monday that the muting of the Eminem/ Lil Wayne/ Drake teag-team was a standards issue. "It was a rousing musical performance, but words were edited from the live telecast that didn't meet our broadcast standards," Ender explained, according to The Associated Press. "We have great respect for artists' creative freedom, but there are certain things you can't say, or sing, on television." Was hip-hop snubbed by the Grammys this year? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Pete Rock, D.I.T.C., 9th Wonder On Sadat X's Wild Cowboys II

selo — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:24:13 +0100

Along with AZ's Doe Or Die II and Capone-N-Noreaga's War Report II, one of the bigger confirmed sequels for 2010 is Sadat X's Wild Cowboys II. To be released on March 23, through Fat Beats Records, the follow up to the 1996 solo debut features a lot of the same personnel from 14 years ago. Among producers, "Lump, Lump" maker Buckwild returns, along with Pete Rock, Diamond D, and Minnesota on production. Also included is famed Ice Cube producer Sir Jinx, 9th Wonder, as well as veteran New York underground Hip Hop producers Nick Wiz and DJ Spinna. In the way of guests, Wild Cowboys II will again feature The Money Boss Players, as well as 'Dat's Brand Nubian cohorts. Also appearing is Pete Rock, A.G., Rhymefest, Kurupt, dead prez, Ill Bill and Cannibal Ox alum Vast Aire. The tentative tracklisting is below: 1. Return Of The Bang Bang [Prod. by Will Tell] 2. Turn It Up (feat. Pete Rock) [Prod. by Pete Rock] 3. In Da Jungle (feat. AG) [Prod. by Diamond D] 4. Nuclear Bomb [Prod. by Will Tell] 5. Still On Deck (feat. Twan) [Prod. by DJ Spinna] 6. Roll That (feat. Rhymefest) [Prod. by Grant Parks] 7. Wherever (feat. Shabaam Sahdeeq) [Prod. by Nick Wiz] 8. Swerv (feat. Swerv) [Prod. by Will Tell] 9. Pray (feat. Kurupt, Umi, M-1 (of Dead Prez) & Sir Jinx) [Prod. by Sir Jinx] 10. We Kewl (feat. Twan & Sean Black) [Prod. by Will Tell] 11. Knock Me Down (feat. Kim) [Prod. by Dub Sonata] 12. Long Years (feat. Grand Puba & Lord Jamar) [Prod. by Buckwild] 13. Bargain With The Devil (feat. Vast Aire) [Prod. by Thanos] 14. Everybody Know (feat. Money Boss Playas) [Prod. by Minnesota] 15. X And Bill (feat. Ill Bill) [Prod. by 9th Wonder] 16. Last Time Out (feat. Twan & Sean Black) [Prod. by Yuani] The Wild Cowboys II EP will release digitally and on limited vinyl from Fat Beats Records. It will release on February 23, There are five tracks included, with added instrumentals from Pete Rock and 9th Wonder. 1. Turn It Up (feat. Pete Rock) [Prod. by Pete Rock] 2. Roll That (feat. Rhymefest) [Prod. by Grant Parks] 3. Wherever (feat. Shabaam Sahdeeq) [Prod. by Nick Wiz] 4. We Kewl (feat. Twan & Sean Black ) [Prod. by Will Tell] 5. X And Bill (feat. Ill Bill) [Prod. by 9th Wonder] 6. Turn It Up (Instrumental) [Prod. by Pete Rock] 7. Roll That (Instrumental) [Prod. by Grant Parks] 8. Wherever (Instrumental) [Prod. by Nick Wiz] 9. We Kewl (Instrumental) [Prod. by Will Tell] 10. X And Bill (Instrumental) [Prod. by 9th Wonder]

Joell Ortiz To Release Star-Studded "Free Agent"

selo — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:16:35 +0100

As the rest of Slaughterhouse has already released, or readies their next solo albums, Joell Ortiz unveiled his latest to the mix. The Brooklyn veteran will team up with E1 Entertainment again for Free Agent for a April 20 release. Originally announced, the release was due for March 23. The album, Joell's first since 2007's The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), boasts production from DJ Premier, DJ Khalil, Sean C. & LV, Statik Selektah, MoSS, Lil Fame and others. Appearances come courtesy of Motown Records icon Smokey Robinson, as well as Rap peers Bun B, B.o.B., Talib Kweli, Brother Ali, The L.O.X., Raekwon and M.O.P. Ortiz's Slaughterhouse brethren will also be featured. Alan Grunblatt, General Manager of E1 Music, says, “Joell Ortiz is one the hottest new emcees to come out of New York. We had a lot of success with the first Joell release and are very excited he continues to be in the E1 family.”

Just Blaze Closes Down Baseline Studios

selo — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:53:58 +0100

In the legendary company of D&D, Can-Am, The Hit Factory, Quad Studios and Chung King, there has long been Baseline Studios in New York. The historic recording studio will be closing today. Baseline Studios, longtime home to Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records will say goodbye to the public. Originally owned by Jay and O.G. Juan, the studio has spent the last years in the possession of one of its biggest hit-makers, Just Blaze. From 4pm to 10pm today, the Midtown Manhattan studio will be open to artists, media and friends. Fans are welcome to take photos, video and see the place used by Jay-Z, Kanye West, Saigon and others. No official word has been given on new ownership or the future for one of '00s Hip Hop's landmarks.

8Ball & MJG To Release New Album

selo — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:51:21 +0100

Legendary southern Hip Hop duo 8Ball and MJG have recently announced that they will be releasing their latest album, Ten Toes Down, spring of this year. “Ten Toes Down, in my opinion, is one of the best 8Ball & MJG albums ever,” said 8Ball. “It's a heart-felt, soul-filled, portion of the lives of 8Ball & MJG. 8Ball & MJG sounds and feels like 8Ball & MJG on this album [for] sho!" The duo’s much anticipated twelfth album will feature a number of guest appearances from artists such as T.I., Snoop Dogg, David Banner, and Bun B. “T.I. and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Ball & Gee from the very beginning. We've both been fans, and this new album is classic Ball & Gee material & we're excited for the world to hear it,” Grand Hustle’s Jason Geter explained. 8Ball and MJG first emerged on the scene in the early 90’s with their album Comin’ Hard and over ten albums later they still remain icons in southern Hip Hop. Ten Toes Down will be released on April 6, 2010 through Push Management/Grand Hustle/E1 Music.

Copyright Criminals Tackles Sampling Issue

selo — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:12:26 +0100

With the issue of sampling and the legal ramifications behind it becoming more and more prevalent in Hip Hop , a new documentary produced by Benjamin Franzen and Kembrew McLeod seeks to answer the question of who truly owns music created through samples. Titled Copyright Criminals, the documentary features over a dozen interviews with some of Hip Hop’s most recognizable figures, including Pete Rock, El-P, Chuck D of Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Bobbito Garcia. Along with artists who have sampled during their careers, Copyright Criminals also highlights a handful of artists who themselves have been sampled. One musician in particular is drummer Clyde Stubblefield, who played in James Brown’s band during recording sessions. “I didn’t know anything about sampling until people came up and said some other artist is using your drum pattern…So many groups have sampled my stuff,” explains Stubblefield in the documentary. “They say I’m the world’s number one sampled drummer; I haven’t got a penny for it yet though.” Copyright Criminals will be available January 26 via Amazon.com and iTunes, as well as in select local retail DVD stores. View the trailer at the address below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHw8w6il_FQ&feature=player_embedded#

GZA Speaks On New Album

selo — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:22:20 +0100

GZA has been working in the shadows, crafting new material. With the Wu-Tang legend, its classics and "drama" placed on the side, he is expanding his borders, unafraid to tackle new challenges. Now, GZA is determined and he has recently spoken about this, collaborating with artists from other genres and the status of a forthcoming Wu-Tang Clan album with writer Jeff Weiss. GZA may have surprised fans by working with The Black Lips and King Khan but he says it was a natural choice to put their minds together. "The bands were fans of Wu-Tang and I and we decided to perform together. It worked out well; they’re good musicians and we have a mutual admiration and love. The thing is, they were already connecting with me in some way first. I’d never heard their music before, but I was feeling it and when I saw both of those groups perform live, I knew I could work with them. The vibe was there." Devendra Banhart is also working with GZA. "I met Devendra at Coachella. I watched him and Gang Gang Dance perform and thought they both put on really great performances. I was like ‘who is this guy,’ because he was rocking, and it turned out that he was a big fan. When I met him, he told me what an honor it was and how much he loved Liquid Swords and Wu-Tang. So it was a beautiful connection." It seems any time a Wu member is interviewed, the question of the next Wu album is innevitable. As it stands, the question is one that needs to be asked, specifically due to the group's last effort, which was followed by rumors of tension, disagreements and more. However, GZA, while speaking on it as "drama," says he is hopeful. "I’ve got some songs done for my own album, but I’m still writing and recording. There’s been talks about doing another Wu-Tang album and going out on the road to promote it. We’ve just all got to get together and do it."

Queens Veteran Rapper Killa Sha Dies

selo — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:06:00 +0100

Rap artists including Planet Asia (via Twitter) and website Unkut.com have confirmed that veteran Queens emcee Killa Sha passed away this weekend due to complications from Diabetes. A onetime partner of Tragedy Khadafi, Sha was a member of Juice Crew affiliates The Super Kids. Later becoming Killa Kids, Killa Sha released several vinyl singles. Throughout the '90s, he remained close with Mobb Deep and Tragedy Khadafi. Sha, who also recorded as Sha Lumi, worked as a deejay for Prodigy and Havoc, while also recording as a rapper with Jedi Mind Tricks, Tragedy and Screwball. He last released God Walk On Water on Traffic Entertainment in 2007. There was a rumored full album with Large Professor in the works, with whom he worked on last year's Main Source. UPDATE: Christian Hedlund of the Traffic Entertainment Group, spoke of the rapper's impact to the label, and what they witnessed in Sha. "We felt that Killa Sha was perhaps the last real Queensbridge rapper, period. He was a righteous individual, real stand-up guy, who delivered what he promised, and delivered quality. Not something we run into all the time." To read a recent and brilliantly researched interview conducted by Robbie Ettelson, visit UnKut.com's September 2009 piece with Sha. Beatsweeper sends our condolences to Sha's family, peers and fans.

How To Create Beat Battles

selo — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:40:41 +0100

Here is the documentation for creating battles at Beatsweeper.com: 1. go to polls in your artist control panel & choose "create challenge". 2. enter battle details into the "challenge creator" & "rules" sections. 3. press the "Create Challenge" button beneath the "rules" section. you should get a message saying "you have successfully created this poll". 4. click the "add my entry" button. you will now be taken to the "battle hunter" menu. 5. Select one of your beats from the list, then click the "challenge" button next to the selected beat. it should now say "success: Answer saved." 6. Click the "find a challenger button" 7. Select the competitors beat that you want to challenge, and your done! (the "cash" that you see is not real money, it is a points system. the more battles you win, the more points you get.)

Dr. Dre’s Detox Put On Hold Till 2011?

selo — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:06:05 +0100

It looks like fans of Dr. Dre will have to wait just a little longer for the release of his highly-anticipated and hugely delayed solo album Detox. In a Q&A that will be featured in the March edition of SLAM Magazine Dr. Dre revealed that the album will not be available until next year, 2011. When asked about Detox Dre responded with the following, “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.” This latest update is sure to have fans of Dr. Dre wondering if Detox will even be released at all. Detox was initially set for release several years ago, but Dr. Dre was again swamped with solo projects from several artists on Aftermath and the album was gradually delayed. Dre did give fans a very small taste of Detox when a snippet from Detox was included in a Dr. Pepper commercial last year.

Zaytoven Reacts To Shawty Redd Murder Involvement

selo — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:15:45 +0100

While sitting in an Atlanta jail on charges of first degree murder, associates of producer Shawty Redd have expressed their shock at the events of January 1st. Redd, born Demetrius Stewart, was arrested on New Years Day after Damon Martin, 35 of Detroit was as shot and killed at the Hip Hop producers home in Hampton, thirty miles outside of Atlanta. Producer Zaytoven, who has worked closely with Shawty Redd after re-locating to Atlanta explained to MTV that the producer who has crafted songs for Snoop Dogg as well as Young Jeezy is simply not a "troublemaker." "I really couldn't believe it," Zaytoven said. "You hear a lot of rappers going through that type of trouble, but a producer? That's my first time hearing that. I was just shocked." Speaking about the revered producer, Atlanta's very own DJ MLK expressed his shock upon hearing about the incident. "Hopefully, he'll be good. That's all I could say. I just pray for him. Nobody knows the real situation until he comes out and tells it ... but it's shocking," the deejay explained. Shawty Redd is being held without bond in an Atlanta jail until he appears in court on January 12th.

Swizz Beatz Wants International Sound For LP

selo — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:44:37 +0100

Renowned producer Swizz Beatz has big plans for his next album, as he plans to take his sound overseas. Posting on his Twitter account (@THEREALSWIZZZ), the producer wrote, "MY NEW ALBUM IS GOING TO BE OUT OF THIS WORLD 2010 STYLE IM MIXING INDIAN MUSIC WITH ARABIC SOUNDS MEETS BDP! YOU WILL SEE.NEW SOUND TIME!" Swizz also explained that he would be donating 30% of the profits made from his album to art and music schools. The producer will also be searching for internationsl talent, "NOT JUST THE SAME OLD PEOPLE YOU HEAR 500 TIMES A WEEK!" Currently Swizz Beatz is working on Busta Rhymes' upcoming album, Chemo.

Geto Boy Willie D to Serve 20 Years for Wire Fraud

selo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:27:22 +0100

Willie D, one-third of revered Texas group the Geto Boys, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud over the fake sale of iPhones and other electronic goods. The 42-year-old rapper, born William James Dennis, pleaded guilty to phoney sales of goods via local electronic company Texas One Wireless. Dennis is set to commence his sentence on April 23, and will face up to 20 years in prison. He was first charged in June, accused of selling iPhones and other electronics to online shoppers without delivering the merchandise. The scam, which had been operating since September 2008, is claimed to have taken in $132,000 according to local investigators and involved at least 29 duped customers. The rapper is currently free on bond and has been ordered to make restitution to the people he deceived. After the formation of the original line-up (first called the Ghetto Boys), Rap-A-Lot Records owner J Prince decided to take his flagship group in a new direction, renaming them the Geto Boys cultivating an edgier sound. Consisting of Willie D, Bushwick Bill and Scarface the controversial group had such hits as Mind Playin' Tricks on Me and 6 Feet Under between 1989 and their first split in 1996. They reformed in 2005 for the well-received album Foundation.

Kanye West Compares Himself To Kobe.

selo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:28:06 +0100

Kanye West took to his blog discuss staying dedicated, how he only get better & being thankful for the support over his career. "FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR CONSTANT LOVE AND SUPPORT OVER THESE PAST 6 YEARS! I�M SO HAPPY TO BE BACK IN THE STUDIO MAKING NEW MUSIC. I WILL BRING YOU THE BEST I HAVE TO OFFER WITH THE SAME DEDICATION THAT KOBE HAS ON THE COURT. IT�S FUNNY HOW SO MANY RAPPERS GET WORSE AS THEIR CAREERS STRETCH OUT BUT TRUE POETS GET BETTER. WE WILL FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MAYA ANGELOU, GILL SCOTT HERRON AND NINA SIMONE. THEIR WORK IMPROVED WITH TIME. THEY DOCUMENTED WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN CULTURE. THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS THE MODERN DAY ARTISTS AND POETS, TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW, SO WHEN THE POWERS THAT BE TRY TO REWRITE HISTORY YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT OUR WORKS AND FIND TRUTH AND SINCERITY IN A WORLD OF PROCESSED INFORMATION. LET US SOAK IN POSITIVE FORCES AND LOOK DOWN ON UPON THOSE WHO MASQUERADE AS TRUTH TELLERS AND OBJECTIVE FACT GIVERS WHEN IN REALITY EVERYTHING THAT IS PROJECTED HAS AN AGENDA OF BRAINWASHING US, THE �CONSUMER�, THE PUBLIC, TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY WANT US TO. LET US LOOK PAST HEADLINES AND DEAL WITH JUST A BIT OF REALITY IN THIS NEW DECADE. WE HAVE OUR OWN OUTLETS NOW. WE DON�T HAVE TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING ANYMORE. NOW I�LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THAT RYHME LOL!!!"