The Source Magazine recently named Rick Ross it's man of the year, naming such things as the best mixtape and biggest street banger of the year. Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa cover the new issue in which Ross responds to rumors he left the Soul Train Awards after Eminem beat him out for an award...
"Not at all," Ross told the mag, citing production issues as the reason for his early exit. "I been going to award shows for a long time and I've never had a problem with who won. I'm happy I'm recognized. We were in the trailer, going over these particular [performance] issues [with the show's producers]. Out of respect, we came back out there to give them a reaction to the nomination. They gave the award to Eminem. I applauded. Big record. That wasn't the issue. Like I said, the things we requested weren't met."
West Coast rap vet, Ice Cube, recently sat down with Hustler magazine to speak about many topics including fellow rappers Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, along with memories of his NWAdays.
"I like what Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco are doing and where they are taking hip-hop," Cube said in an interview with Hustler Magazine. "Those are good styles that are making hip-hop grow. It's not dying as people say just because the mainstream is not paying attention anymore. It's just back to where it came from--underground. In the '90s, mainstream took hip-hop and tried to play it out. Rap is something that can't die because it's the voice of the youth. There is always something to be said by somebody somewhere, and there's so many ways to say it now."
Ice Cube went on to talk about his days with NWA...
"My best memory was that we were doing something constructive," explained Cube. "You know what I mean? There were so many things to get into that weren’t constructive. I felt good that I was doing something that was not only fun, but also being a part of Hip Hop and being respected. Even before N.W.A. it was about finding something to do. Because I grew up in an area [of South Central Los Angeles] where we used to have after-school programs. We used to have Little League. But as soon as I came of age, all those things started leaving the community. We were still into football and basketball, but the parks were closing, and things started to dwindle."
Cube continued, adding, "We were looking for more things to get into. You could either get into good shit or get into bad shit. Hip-hop was good even though adults didn’t like it. It had a good energy. With N.W.A., I was around people that were making records. We had a style that we knew people in our neighborhood liked, but didn’t know people would like around the world. So being West Coast rappers, we went for it! I still haven’t come down off that cloud which has carried me on this journey. I’m still riding that same wave that started when I was 17 years old."
Lil Kim is reportedly working on her new album, and follow up to "Hard Core," currently titled "Hard Core 2: All Hail The Queen." Just a few days after releasing her Nicki Minaj diss track "Black Friday," rumors are spreading about the new project.
“…She is reportedly working with Polow Da Don, Will.I.Am and others to get that old thing back and I’m sure to shut up Nicki too,” reports Illseed of AllHipHop.com. “With Nicki moving rhymes like weight, that may be hard, but we may see Kim back in true form.” (AllHipHop)
Soulja Boy recently sat down to discuss an upcoming project, that will go along with his upcoming third album, "The DeAndre Way," which is coming out tomorrow.
"These people have been pitching me this movie idea for so long, and now I am letting them orchestrate my art and tell my story and let people see it on the big screen," he explained. "A lot of people say ‘Soulja Boy is a one hit wonder, and he’s lucky.' It's not even about music. It's about a success story, but it's a true story from the bottom to the top, a true success story." "If you look at this third album, it's like I am becoming more personal and more real and telling people about my life as a human being, not as a super star," he said. "I think all my fans, no, I know all my fans are going to feel that." (AllHipHop.com)
R&B singer, and Biggie Smalls' ex, Faith Evans recently was sentenced to three years probation after she was arrested over the summer on a DUI charge. Details of Faith's sentence hit the net yesterday (November 29th).
Authorities say Faith Evans has pleaded no contest to reckless driving after being arrested in August for investigation of drunken driving. Los Angeles city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan says the Grammy-winning singer entered the plea Monday and was sentenced to three years of informal probation. Police say the 37-year-old Evans was arrested after being stopped at a DUI checkpoint in Marina del Rey.
Nas recently spoke about his favorite ten rappers, including artists like Biggie Smalls and Lil Kim. In the new Rolling Stone magazine, Nas even names a song that best illustrates their talent.
1. "My Downfall" - Notorious B.I.G., 1997 -The lyrics are about how he's acing the shadows of death, despite all of his success, and he's giving it to you in a way that makes it seem so real. 2. "If My Homie Calls" - 2Pac, 1991 -He's just saying to his boys that he's going to be a friend no matter how big he gets. 3. "Road To The Riches" - Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo, 1989 -The way we're rhyming now? He was already doing it then. 4. "A Bird In The Hand" - Ice Cube, 1991 5. "Paid In Full" - Eric B. & Rakim, 1987
Young Money's own Nicki Minaj recently spoke about her labelmate Drake and how she believes that he changed the game with his non-drug related rhymes. In the new Rolling Stone magazine, Minaj says Drake is a positive addition to hip hop.
She's immensely proud of the fact that her and Drake are proving that rappers can come from any background. "At one point you had to sell a few kilos to be considered a credible rapper," she says. "But now it's like Drake and I are embracing the fact that we went to school, we love acting, we love theater, and that's ok -- and it's especially good for the black community to know that's ok, that's embraced."
Swizz Beatz recently stepped up to talk about his friends DMX and Jay-Z and how DMX called out Jay-Z during an Arizona concert. While DMX is currently locked up, Swizz Beatz says there is no beef going on between the two artists.
"There's no problem with DMX, with Jay," Swizz said in an interview with DJ Vlad. "X is gonna address that in a certain way. It's 2010. All that fake beef, and all that ignorant tones against each other, I think that's a time of the past unless you really have a problem. I don't get involved in that. I'm not into people's personal problems or things like that. I'm just here to make great music and advise artists how to get to the next level."
Young Money rapper Drake recently had records leak that show he makes around $100-155,000 a show, making him one of the highest paid rap acts currently touring.
In a recent list by thesmokinggun.com, documents reveal that the Toronto rapper pulls in over $100,000 dollars per show. His estimated total per show of $155,000 per show, currently makes him among the highest-paid acts in all of Hip Hop that are CURRENTLY touring. However, Drake's dominance in Hip-Hop is nowhere as dominating to the Country and Pop scene. The list reveals some of the others acts who receive more than Drake, and topping in at number one are the "Rascal Flatts," who make more than 4 times what Drake makes per show. (Hip Hop Wired)
Nelly recently spoke about the issues he has with his label Universal Motown, mainly over the low sales due to small shipments of his new "5.0" album. Taking to his twitter account, Nelly went on a rant.
"A record deal is a 50/50 partnership!As a artist its your job to provide the record company with music that they(record company)can sell! Thing about the partnership is that n the public eye the responsibility is not 50/50!the artist is always the 1who catches 90% of the blame. When a artist doesn't deliver sufficient material they(artist)gets its budget cut for next album or worse dropped from the label! So not only is the label ur partner but also disciplinarian and 90% of the time the one who decides if the partnership continues! Nodoubt wen a artist doesn't deliver a song that does crack top of the charts or even top10 the label is quick to say artist didn't deliver. So intern the artist must bare the brunt of that failure and take responsibility and consequences as handed out by his or her label!!"
Hit producer Swizz Beatz recently spoke about DMX and his recent legal problems and how the negative press he's racked up over the past few years.
"X is forever my brother and whatever he wants to do I'm with it as long as it's the right thing," Beatz said in an interview with DJ Vlad. "X has been X since day one. It's just that now people see another side of X they didn't before. X's been going to jail, his first song was called 'Born Loser'. He's been in and out of group homes, he's been had this trouble in his life that nobody cared about when he wasn't successful. Then when he got successful, some of those elements leaked out and people didn't embrace it and they shouldn't have to embrace it, by the way. I just pray for X a lot, man, because I remember people couldn't even follow up after his performances. Period...At the end of the day, you can't help somebody if they're not willing to help themselves."
Slaughterhouse member Royce Da 59 recently gave his reaction to Lil Kim's "Black Friday" diss record aimed at Young Money's new star, Nicki Minaj. Royce says that Kim's records warrants a response.
"I just listened to Lil Kims fully Nicky Diss n GotD*mmit I dont know what you HipHop fans is on but she gotta respond to that one I'm sorry," Royce tweeted Friday (November 26).
"Anybody that think that record is wack must just not like Kim as a person... Ain't nothing wrong that record it's Just that Nicky is so good." (Royce Da 5'9's Twitter)
The first lady of Young Money, Nicki Minaj, recently spoke about which artist is currently on top of her list to do a collaboration with. Already teaming up with artists like Kanye West, Rihannaand even Eminem, Nicki Minaj says that Beyonce is who she would like to do a song with next.
"Probably just Beyoncé right now," revealed Minaj when asked about who she wants to collaborate with. "I've worked with just about all my dream collabs, like I've worked with Jay-Z and I've worked with Kanye and I worked with Rihanna and I've worked with Eminem. Those were at the top of my list. Now that I've done that, probably the only one on my list that I haven't worked with that I'm really, really excited about is Beyoncé."
After previously reports stated that stat couple The-Dream and Christina Millian reached an agreement in their divorce settlement dispute, details on that settlement have hit the internet.
In less than six months, the celebrity married couple went from separation to a divorce. Hit-making singer, producer and songwriter The-Dream and estranged singer/actress wifeChristina Milian have reportedly agreed to a divorce settlement. The Chicago Sun Times has reported that the couple agreed to close to a $4 million divorce settlement, with the Def Jam Records star paying Milian an additional $5,000 per month. (Hip Hop DX)
Slaughterhouse member Joe Budden recently shared his reaction to Lil Kim releasing her new "Black Friday" diss track towards Nicki Minaj. Admitting that it its simply his opinion and he means no disrespect, Joe Budden gave his thoughts on the whole Nicki Minaj slash Lil Kimsituation.
"No disrespect to Kim.but some1 needs to tell her enough is enough.," Budden tweeted yesterday (November 25). (Joe Budden's Twitter)
As we previously reported, the beef between Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim was boosted when the hip hop veteran released a new diss record using a play on Nicki Minaj's debut album title.
Hip Hop rivals Foxy Brown and Lil Kim share one thing, their disapproval of Young Money's new first lady, Nicki Minaj. Foxy hit first by saying that Nicki lied about having a conversation with her.
Last week, rapper Nicki Minaj told Angie Martinez on Hot 97 that a few people, including rapper Foxy Brown, pulled her to the side and told her that Kim had been talking shit about her but Foxy doesn't recall that conversation at all. She tweeted: "For the record..."Nikki and I never had that conversation, ever." (Toyaz-World)
Lil Kim came second, but harder, by releasing part of her new diss record toward Nick Minajcalled "Black Friday"
Lil Kim has been quiet as Nicki Minaj has had disparaging remarks to her rival, but now Kim has returned fire with a new diss song called "Black Friday." The song, which has leaked online, has Lil Kim lyrically challenging the now-dominantNicki Minaj. On the song, Kim spews, "I'm turning Pink Friday to Friday The 13th." "Aight, you Lil Kim clone clown / all this buffoonery s**t stops now / Time for you to lay down / I'm sick of the fraud / I'll put hands on this b**ch like Obama's guards," Kim says. "We all know your last name / what got you your job / You a put together gimmick / something like a collage." (All Hip Hop)
Waka Flocka Flame recently spoke about his all time favorite motivational song, letting fans know that its by the late Tupac Shakur. According to Flocka, 2 Pac's 1993 song "Keep Ya Head Up" is a pure motivational song for him during his childhood.
"Man, I heard this [Pac record] right here and on some real G sh*t though, on some real n*gga sh*t though, real talk, when this song came on, we ain't have it all, we were struggling," Flocka said about being a child motivated by the late rapper. "I would rock my cousin's shoes, or the shoes he didn't want. Wearing my uncle's big a** shoes that were like three sizes bigger. Gotta go to church every Sunday. Going and getting three loafs of bread every Sunday or Saturday morning by the Chinese store -- my grandma used to send like four grand kids to go do it. We all had Wonder Bread -- real talk though, the number one song is Tupac, 'Keep Ya Head Up.' If you're struggling and you feel down, depressed, your chin's down. Lift it up man, throw on that 'Keep Ya Head Up' [and] I'll bet you'll have some sh*t to think about then." (Hip Hop Nation)
During a secret show slash release party at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City last night,Kanye West continued his rant by expressing his continued issues with singer Taylor Swift and "Today" show host, Matt Lauer. First up was Taylor Swift, who Kanye says is using the incident, where he jumped on stage during her acceptance speech, as a way to boost her popularity.
"Taylor never came to my defense at any interview. ... And rode the waves and rode it and rode it."
Next up was the "Today" show talk-show host, Matt Lauer, who Kanye said "exploited" him during his recent interview on the "Today" show.
Based on only one-day sales figures, it looks like Kanye West's new "Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" album will debut on top of next week's charts at number one with around 525-575,000 copies while Young Money's new first lady Nicki Minaj should take home the number 2 spot as her debut "Pink Friday" album rack up between 375-425,000 copies in it's first week. Please note that the upcoming real "Black Firday" shopping holiday could make these estimates a little less accurate than they usually are.
Other albums debuting this week include Def Jam Records singer slash songwriter slash producer, Ne-Yo's new "Libra Scale" album, which is currently on pace to sell around 115-150,000 copies while G-Unit's Lloyd Banks could sell around 40-50,000 copies of his "Hunger For More 2" LP, the first album Banks has done for G-Unit under their new deal with EMI after leaving Interscope Records. Finishing up this week's debut albums is Jay-Z's "Hits" which should rack up around 25-30,000 copies in it's first week in stores.
Only two weeks after being on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her "What's My Name" track featuring Young Money rapper Drake, Rihanna will make her return to number one on the new chart being released tomorrow (November 25th), this time with her "Only Girl (In The World)" debut single from her new "Loud" album.
This will mark the first time in the Billboard Hot 100 history that an album's first single reached number one status AFTER the second single did. Speaking of Rihanna's 2nd single, "What's My Name" featuring Drake, despite being this week's "airplay gainer" the song dropped from number 7 to 8. With "Only Girl" becoming Rihanna's fourth song to get to reach the top spot in this year alone,Rihanna broke her tie with Usher for most number one songs this millennium (since 2000), snagging her 9th number one-ranked single.
Rapper DMX has reportedly been denied bail and he will have to stay behind bars after he violated the terms of his probation last week in Arizona. Details about the bail hearing hit the internet this morning (November 24th).
Rapper DMX, real name Earl Simmons, made a brief appearance Wednesday morning in Maricopa County Superior Court. Simmons, 39, denied violating his probation on drug charges, failing to submit to a drug test and driving with a suspended license. Court Commissioner Christine Mulleneaux ordered Simmons to remain in jail without bond. Simmons ended up behind bars in Arizona -- for the sixth time in 10 years -- last week. He was three months short of completing an 18-month substance abuse program. (KTAR News)
In related news, beyond spending Thanksgiving locked up in jail, DMX will have to wait until early December before he will get his next hearing in the matter.
Maricopa County Superior Court staff tell us that Commissioner Christine Mulleneaux set another hearing for December 9 at 8 a.m. As we mentioned a couple of days ago, DMX (he's Earl Simmons in the stacks of police and court paperwork about him), told a TV station that he simply took a "sip of alcohol" while performing. The probation department says differently, accusing him of blowing off his required drug treatment program and using drugs. He was arrested after police suspected him of using cocaine and Oxycontin.
If you thought Quincy Jones was a nice guy who seemed like he tries to keep relationships going good, or you have the misconception that as you get older you get quieter and less opinionated, the new issue of US Magazine might change your mind. We don't deny Quincy Jones' talent or resume, but this response seems simply like a typical grumpy old man reply....
Us: Kanye West is similar to you in that he’s the producer everybody wants to work with in the last decade….
QJ: How man? No way. Did he write for a symphony orchestra? Does he write for a jazz orchestra? Come on, man. He’s just a rapper. There’s no comparison. I’m not putting him down or making a judgment or anything, but we come from two different sides of the planet. I spent 28 years learning my first skill. I don’t rap. It’s not the same thing. A producer has to have some sort of skills that enable him to be a producer. It’s totally different to know what to do with 16 woodwinds you know from piccolos down to bass clarinet. It’s a whole different mindset. No comparison. None.
Come on Quincy... We would kindof understand if you were sticking to seperating older music from new artists but your entire new album has new artists destroying classic music... I mean T-Pain redoing "Thriller"?
During her promotional tour for her new debut album, "Pink Friday," Nicki Minaj stopped by the VIP Lounge to talk with Hot 97's talk show host, Angie Martinez. During her interview, theYoung Money star touched on her issues with fellow female rapper, Lil Kim.. calling her simply, "a sore loser." Check out the full interview "
Jay-Z recently let it be known that Kanye West used songs they make for their upcoming "Watch The Throne" collaboration album, for his own new "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" solo album. Jay-Z says that songsl ike "Monster" and "So Appalled" weren't forKanye's project.
In the Q&A session Hov revealed that "Monster," "So Appalled," "Power (Remix)" and "The Joy" were all supposed to be on the album, but the first two ended up on Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy instead. "We went away to Bathe, England, last week," Jay said, referring to him and Yeezy. "I was out there doing some promo and we did about seven records in three days. We gonna finish another three records, [then] probably look at it to see if we should take any records off and record new ones, just to make it better. But it's coming out amazing." (XXL Mag)
Young Money star Drake recently broke his long-time silence on being robbed last year in his home town of Toronto, saying he thinks it was a setup. Drake says that he feels he was set up by a female associate at the time.
Drake was robbed at gunpoint in his hometown of Toronto in May 2009 -- and, he tells GQ he thinks the robbery was an inside job. (The interview is not online, but MTV has summarized it.) "I knew it was a setup, because I had on a sweater and a jacket. But when they banged on the car window with a gun and opened the door, the first thing he said was, 'Yo, run that chain,'" Drake, who had been on a date, says. "They didn't rob [my date], and her purse was sitting right there. So I was like, 'OK, yup -- you set the whole thing up." The rapper lost around $4,000 and a new chain that Lil Wayne had given him.
After Young Money rapper Drake said that she used him like a pawn during their fling last year, Rihanna has come forward to talk about the claim. Rihanna says she was nothing more than a friend to Drake despite the rumors.
"I would definitely say, that was wrong, he doesn't know what he's talking about. We just became friends and we left it at that. We get along really well. Drake has a youthful thing about him and he is very melodic with the way he writes and I felt I needed someone like that for 'Whats My Name.'"
recently some footage of Young Jeezy in Miami hit the net showing the Atlanta rapper responding to questions about Rick Ross. Ricky was on the Tim Westwood show last night in the United Kingdom and Westwood asked him what he thought of the clip.
“I got to see the footage of him walking on South Beach, down Collins Ave…[Tim: it got a little crazy out there.] Yeah, he played himself. You gotta come cross the bridge to Carol City, Lil’ Haiti, that’s where you get your issues. I mean, Washington Ave? Give me a break…..what’s crazy about that, you can see on that same footage, when they asked about my name, they still don’t really have a direct answer. And that ain’t gangster at all. If you really have an issue put it on the table and handle it like a G. Walking down Collins Ave…You played yourself, you’ll get that took from you.” (Rick Ross - Tim Westwood Show)
Nicki Minaj will debut her new documentary "My Time Now" on November 28thon MTV. The new doc is produced by @radical.media, the same people who made Drake's "Better Than Good Enough."
"My Time Now" will follow Nicki Minaj as she travels across the country on tour and heads into the studio to write and record her Pink Friday hits. Fans will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Head Barbie in Charge in her over-the-top artist persona and also as an ambitious businessperson and a beloved family member. (MTV)
Up and coming rapper Wiz Khalifa has teamed up with eyewear company Eyetique to release a custom limited edition line of sunglasses called "The Elevators." The new sunglasses were first seen on Wiz in his new "Black And Yellow" music video "The new official 'Elevators' shades are available!! hair sold separately." (Wiz Khalifa's Twitter)
The new line is currently available for pre-order in black or tortoise (which Wiz wore in the video) for around $225 at Eyetique.com (shipping November 25th).
Dr Dre will cover the new December/January issue of XXL magazine, in which he talks about being done...as a rapper.
"I don't ever see myself retiring totally from music, because I have a genuine love and passion for it," he said. "But as far as me going into the mic booth, that sh*t is over. I'm always going to talent scout and try to find new artists to work with. But, yeah, that's it. I don't see myself doing it the way I'm doing it now. I'm in the studio at least five or six days a week for 16, 18 hours. I think I'm going to back off a little bit and spend some time with the family." (XXL)
Dre also talks about his current state of mind and the status of his upcoming "Detox" album. The hit rapper slash producer says there are a few things that get to him (including his age), but he has ways around that.
“I’m really feeling it now. My energy has been back and forth with the record, tussling with doing it out of obligation, as opposed to doing it because I really feel it. My feelings about it have been going up and down. Now I’m in that place where I’m really feeling it, and it’s coming out right. It’s like, Yeah, I’m excited about it.
“The only part that has been pushing me back is just the fact that I’m getting older, and certain things to talk about… But I can incorporate other artists, new artists with this record, to say some of the things I won’t say. It’s been a little tussle in that area also, just because of age and being able to identify with the younger audience.” (XXL)
Jay-Z recently teamed up with Microsoft and thier search engine Bing for a scavenger hunt where they "hide" all 305 pages of Jigga's new "Decoded" book in 200 locations pivotal in his life. The grand prize winner for the person who "decodes" all the pages online will get a lifetime pass that grants them free access to every single Jay-Z show on earth for the rest of their lives, and lets them bring a friend along for the ride. (Go to Bing.com/JayZ to enter.)
Waka Flocka Flame's mother, Debra Antney, recently came forward to defend her son's image after fans say he's trying to be like Tupac Shakur. Although he called his new album "Flockaveli," (like "Makaveli"), Waka's mom says he will make his own place in the hip hop game.
"People took [his album title] like he's comparing hisself to Tupac. Never that. He know he's not Tupac. You have people that want to be other people, like it's not that. When people are so limited, they stay stuck. l just told him yesterday. "Why you staying stuck?" He did grow up around guns and drugs but he's still a fun person. You have to learn how to channel all of that energy into having fun. It doesn't have to be about shooting and killing. In the hood these are things that you do experience, but he wasn't raised in the projects or some real hard places. He chose to hang out in stuff like that. Those are the places that he wanted to be at. That's where he felt comfortable, where he belonged." (VIBE)
