Vinyl records - Hip-hop -DJ Equipment News

33third Los Angeles Store is now Open!

2006-01-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - Dj Equipment

33third.com has FINALLY opened their LA store. We are carrying new and used vinyl, CDs, clothing, equipment, and graf gear. We have a mess of ill used hip-hop 12inches all priced at the right price.

You can peep the store here:

http://www.33third.com/Los_angeles_record_dj_store.html

Also if you want to swing through, here is a 33third Los Angeles in store coupon for ya'll.

http://www.33third.com/33third_lastore_coupons.html

33third Los Angeles
5111 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019

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Anti Rap and Hip-Hop Activist: C. DeLores Tucker Dies

2005-10-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

All I can say is good riddance...

C. DeLores Tucker who protested against obscenities in rap music and became semi-famous in hip-hop culture by being mentioned in songs by the late west coast hip-hop and rap icon Tupac Shakur, died Wednesday October 13th at the age of 78

The self-appointed morality monitor C. DeLores Tucker wasn’t a big fan of gangsta rap or for that fact hip-hop.

Ms. Tucker and William Bennett successfully raided a board meeting by the leaders of Time-Warner, and used their might to get the company to drop Interscope and Death Row Records, two major sources of rap music. Afterward, Tucker tried to bully Marion ‘Suge’ Knight, the CEO of Death Row Records, into handing the label over to her. Both companies sued Tucker for extortion. During the fight, Tucker threatened Suge Knight, via her attorney, that if Death Row was not turned over to her Suge would spend the rest of his life in jail.

C. Delores Tucker also has sued hip-hop rap icon Tupac Shakur for his "All Eyez On Me" album, which she described as "ruining her sex-life". Tucker then sued Newsweek Magazine for running a story about her lawsuit against Tupac.

And yes that is the same William Bennett who recently said “”abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down”.

Courtesy of ThugLifeArmy >>

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Light-skinned acts ride hip-hop’s changing tide with dark-skinned Svengalis

2005-09-20T00:52:00.000-07:00

The media is so blind its sickening. They see a couple of new white faces in hip-hop and they think the tides are changing. Welif they actually did their research or were involved even slightly in the culture, they would have realized Rap has had white MCs for a long time. One look shows there have been plenty fo successful white MCs as well... 3rd Bass anyone? Vanilla Ice anyone? Snow anyone? Bubba Sparxxx? The list goes on. That's what kills me when whitey mcwhiterson that makes random comments from outside the realm of rap music and has no clue what they are talking about. Once again the hipsters only get half a clue. Way to go Village Voice... Stick to Williamsburg and your post hippie ideals, leave livin in the real world to the rest of us...

-- NEWS STORY --

Black puppeteers have masterminded successful white musical acts for decades. But while Ruff Ryders producer Swizz Beatz tinkered behind the curtain to make multi-million-selling tracks for the likes of Limp Bizkit, Metallica, and Marilyn Manson, more and more black producers and white artists are celebrating the symbiotic coup of connecting the cred that comes with blackness to the dollar signs studios see when they can market hip-hop hybrids with a white face to white kids. Universal Music and Texas-based label Swisha House are banking on it with their respective September releases of Miri Ben-Ari's Miri Ben-Ari: The Hip-Hop Violinist and Paul Wall's The People's Champ.

The list continues to grow—Dr. Dre and Eminem, Dr. Dre and Gwen Stefani, Timbaland and Bubba Sparxxx, Timbaland and Kiley Dean, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, Pharrell and Justin Timberlake, Rockwilder and Christina Aguilera, the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am and Fergie, Lil Jon and Paris Hilton, Beau Dozier and Joss Stone, Diddy and upcoming ingenue Jordan McCoy. Though there are no guarantees of success, these mixed-race power-couple pairings are worth their weight in potential...

READ FULL STORY AT VILLAGE VOICE >>

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Hip Hop Artists Take Grassroots Approach To Katrina Fundraising

2005-09-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

Dead Prez is known widely for their socially conscious messages and anti-establishment, community-driven activism. The bi-product of this is direct involvement on the local level rather than waiting to be handed the key to a solution. M-1 of Dead Prez showcases this exact mind-frame with a grassroots approach to helping fund the victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

Many entertainment and athletic stars, as well as the general public, have been very helpful with financial donations to help allow people to regain their lives. However, one fundamental flaw that is being raised is the amount of bureaucracy involved with where the donated money will go, how it will get to the people in need, and how quickly the monetary donations will transform into sustainable living products and food. M-1, of Dead Prez fame, has organized numerous hip hop acts to perform a free benefit concert in New York City...

READ MORE AT SOUNDSLAM>>

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Man Pleads Guilty To Attacking Hip-Hop Producer Dr. Dre

2005-09-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES -- A 27-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony assault charge for punching hip-hop producer Dr. Dre during the Vibe Awards ceremony in Santa Monica last year.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner immediately sentenced Jimmy James Johnson to 365 days in county jail and three years of formal probation, said Deputy District Attorney Hamid Towfigh.

Johnson also was ordered to stay away from Andre "Dr. Dre" Young for the next three years, according to the prosecutor.

Johnson was accused of punching Dr. Dre in the face after requesting an autograph last Nov. 15 during the awards show taping at the Santa Monica Airport's Barker Hangar.

Police said last November that the attack on Dr. Dre touched off a retaliatory response from others. Some threw chairs and punches, and a few pulled knives.

Johnson was allegedly stabbed by rapper Young Buck -- whose real name is David Darnell Brown -- during the melee.

Brown, 24, is awaiting trial on an assault charge stemming from the stabbing. He is due back at the Airport Branch Courthouse on Sept. 26 for a pretrial hearing.

Dr. Dre, regarded as Young Buck's musical mentor, was at the second annual hip-hop music ceremony to receive a lifetime achievement award. He was not seriously injured and later accepted his award.

Courtesy fo NBC 4

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Hurricane Katrina Benefit Hip Hop/B-Boy Jam

2005-09-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

Its nice to see the hip-hop community rallying around the efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. All I can say is it seems everyone outside of the Governing bodies was much more responsive ON THEIR OWN. Much more than our pathetic excuses for leaders.

-- NEWS STORY --

Members of the San Diego hip-hop community will be holding a Hurricane Katrina Benefit Jam on September 17, 2005 at the South Bay Family YMCA from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The address is 1201 Paseo Magda Chula Vista, CA 91910. The cost is $5 and all proceeds will go to the San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross. High School students from Otay High, Eastlake High, Bonita Vista High, West Hills High, and other schools will be battling in a break-dancing competition and DJs will be playing music. The public is invited to attend.

COURTESY OF SIGN ON SANDIEGO >>

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Guitarist Clarence Gatemouth Brown Dies at 81

2005-09-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. to a great blues musician...

-- NEWS STORY --

Clarence Gatemouth Brown, an eminent guitarist and singer who spent his career fighting purism by synthesizing old blues, country, jazz, Cajun and R & B styles, died on Saturday. He was 81.

His death was confirmed by Rick Cady, his booking agent, who said Mr. Brown had suffered from lung cancer and heart disease.

Mr. Brown died at his grand-niece's apartment in Orange, Tex., his hometown. He had left his own home in Slidell, La., on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans, to escape Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Cady said that his house was destroyed by the storm, and Colin Walters, his biographer, said there had been a plan to resettle him in Austin, Tex.

"American music, Texas-style" was how Mr. Brown characterized his music, even making that phrase the name of one of his albums; he refused to call it blues and was scornful of musicians who let themselves be too easily understood by settling into a single sound. He disdained deep delta blues, calling it "negative." He wore a western shirt and a cowboy hat onstage, covered jazz numbers like Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train" and Lou Donaldson's "Alligator Boogaloo," and sometimes played the fiddle, mandolin and harmonica in performance as well as the guitar.

Born in Vinton, La., Mr. Brown moved with his family to Orange when he was just a few weeks old. His father, a railroad worker, played fiddle; the first music...

READ FULL STORY AT NY TIMES >>

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Hip-hop giants donate clothes to Katrina victims

2005-09-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

Hip-hop giants Jay-Z and Sean 'Diddy' Combs are lavishing the survivors of Hurricane Katrina with a funky selection of clothes from their respective Roc-A-Wear and Sean John fashion ranges.

The wealthy rappers, who are also donating $1 million (GBP550,000) between them to the American Red Cross, have joined the galaxy of stars who are rallying round following last week's (29 August 05) catastrophic New Orleans, Louisiana, hurricane

Big-hearted Jay-Z and Combs are thrilled to be able to help "their people".

A solemn Combs tells website PageSix.com, "I can hear the cries of the people in the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina and will do whatever I can to help.

"These are my people. I urge all our fellow artists and Americans to answer the call.

"These are communities that I know, people that I grew up with, communities that have always supported me. Now it's my turn to support them."

COURTESY OF PEOPLE MONSTERS AND CRITICS >>

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Smartening up rap - Interview with Little Brother

2005-09-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

How Soon We Forget... It amazes me when people think that Rap is dumb or dumbed down justbecause they don't get it. i will admit the scene right now has its fair shareof ignorance but at the same time alot of the people criticizing it don't come from the background that Rap overall is representing. I mean David Banner is a gangster rarpper or thrown in that crowd persay, however he is a much deeper individual than that (he has his own charity Heal the Hood, and consistenly battles negative imagery with positive). So when someone like Little Brother comes along the white majority or actually the White middle upper class say wow now Rap is intelligent! C'mon in reality its just that those people never "got it" with other rap music. They don't understand the braggadocio and over the top style of most rap, so when i read their reviews and interviews I ahve to treat it with a grain of salt. Anyway even with that said, the Minstrel Show is dope, much better than the little Kim, the 50 Cent, The Game, and even Common... For real this is a nice album even if only because its a respite from the rest of the radio rap bombardment out there.

-- NEWS STORY --

Rappers age in dog years, or so it seems. It’s not like rock, where Social Security recipients from Link Wray to the Rolling Stones cross the country year after year. Where are Slick Rick, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane? There just isn’t the same sense of tradition and nostalgia in rap’s audience.

“A lot of that has to do with record companies totally marketing records just to youth,” says Phonte, fellow rapper to MC Big Pooh and DJ 9th Wonder in the hip-hop group Little Brother. “Those are the biggest record buyers, but look at that generation — that’s the ADD, MTV, 400-channels generation. They are on for whatever is the flavor of the minute.”

Calling themselves Little Brother in a nod to rap antecedents such as Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and the Roots, the Durham, N.C., trio made a huge critical splash with their debut LP The Listening. Their soulful meditations on life recalled the jazzy, bubbling warmth of the Mos Def and Talib Kweli rap duo Black Star, and put a spotlight on 9th Wonder’s production skills. (Success from The Listening subsequently scored 9th Wonder a track on Jay-Z’s The Black Album, which led to work on Destiny Child’s Destiny Fulfilled.) The accompanying buzz prompted Little Brother’s jump to Atlantic Records for their follow-up, The Minstrel Show (out Tuesday, Sept. 6).

And while The Minstrel Show’s smart lyrics and playful tone are an obvious commentary on the present state of commercial rap, the songs never address the issue head-on.

“If I make a song saying I think 50 Cent is bad for hip hop, and cats see...

READ FULL STORY AT METRO TIMES>>

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Numerous Hip Hop Stars Make Social, Monetary Efforts For Katrina Victims

2005-09-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

In lieu of growing devastation analyses, discussions, news coverage, entertainment debacles, and overall criticism, many Hip Hop stars have stepped up to the plate. A few have made their presence known vocally; a group of others, financially. Several others have gone both routes. Nonetheless, in this time of crisis, Hip Hop has voiced its concern and made multiple impacts to help the hurricane victims on the entire Gulf Coast.

Kanye West, Sean Combs, Jay Z, David Banner, 5th Ward Weebie, Juvenile, and many others have issued public statements recognizing the hurricane disaster and lack of immediate response. Chuck D has recorded a song, “Hell No We Ain’t Alright,” and scores of music...

READ FULLS TORY AT SOUNDSLAM >>

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Little Brother: Hip Hop In Blackface

2005-09-07T00:30:00.000-07:00

Little Brother is back again with another banger of an album. i will admit that we slept on the first release from these guys, and honestly even when we heard the first album - it was nice but it wasn't anything we were going that crazy over. However their first album, "The Listening" is one of those creeper albums. We have continued to revisit it and every time it gets better and better. Add to that the collaborative effort with producer Nicolay, and the creation of Foreign Exchange, and these guys are an indie machine. Heavy beats and nice rhymes, these guys just hit the spot.

So now the second release: The Minstrel Show is about to drop. We have the single on 33third.com and overall this album sounds dooope. Loving the first single and the B side on it. After hearing the sampler this to us is probably one of the top hip-hop albums of the year.

-- INTERVIEW --

North Carolina has never had it this good. In a few short years, Little Brother have not only managed to create a movement, but have given hip-hop lovers a reason to keep listening. Their debut album, The Listening, released in 2002, came almost out of nowhere and drew more comparisons than you can shake a stick at. So it was no surprise when the likes of ?uestlove and Pete Rock started singing their praise. Without preaching or taking themselves too seriously, LB have managed to give their audience something to think about while keeping them entertained. No bells and whistles, just straight hip-hop. The Minstrel Show, their second full-length album and first major label release (on Atlantic Records) marks a more mature and pensive trio that has a lot to say.

They recently sat down with HHDX to promote their upcoming project and reflect a little on the current state of affairs, being the G-Unit of the underground and of course, world domination.

Your album is called The Minstrel Show. When I interviewed Paul Mooney, he spoke at length about how so many people still have that slave mentality and don’t want to break out of it…how do you feel about that?

Pooh: Today, as far as music is concerned, the black face has been replaced with: guns, rims, pimpin’… People feel like that’s the only way they can get on. And rapping,...

READ FULL INTERVIEW AT HIPHOPDX >>

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33third.com - Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

2005-09-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

The past week and a half has been surreal to say the least. We are sure you have been watching the tragedy unfold in Louisiana and the surrounding area as closely as we have. The event has truly left us, as individuals and as a company pretty much speechless. We have seen the images from New Orleans and watched as the response mounted slowly but surely to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. While the response finally seems to be in full swing, the overall cost and effect on people is going to be long lasting (months to years).

With the realization of the need for a long term recovery, and putting our political views aside, we at 33third.com want to do whatever we can to help those in need, the poorest and most vulnerable of society. We are here to help, and help in one of the only ways we know how.
Starting this month (September) 33third.com will be donating 8% of ALL SALES DOLLAR AMOUNTS (before shipping) to charity(Redcross.org) to help with the Katrina Hurricane disaster relief. So if you spend $1 on 33third.com know that $.08 of that dollar is going directly to the Red Cross to help with the recovery.

We do not want this to impede any direct donations you may give and we will be adding a link to The Red Cross on 33third.com in order to give you a way to directly contribute to the relief effort. We simple feel this is a way we can continue to give during what will be a very extended recovery period.

If you have any questions and would like to contact us further about our efforts please contact us directly at sales@33third.com.

Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.

Peace

33third.com Crew

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KANYE WEST BLASTS GEORGE BUSH!! LIVE!

2005-09-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the Globe and Mail

"Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina's devastation. Then, to Myers' evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food."
While allowing that "the Red Cross is doing everything they can," West — who delivered an emotional outburst at the American Music Awards after he was snubbed for an award — declared that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, "They've given them permission to go down and shoot us."
After he stated, "George Bush doesn't care about black people. Please call —" the camera cut away to comedian Chris Tucker."

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Kanye West Sets it Straight

2005-09-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

People if you missed it Kanye West made it clear he DOES HAVE A MESSAGE. I was amazed a person in his position was willing to make the statement he did on the NBC telethon. For those that missed it Kanye said "George Bush does not care about Black people." This was live on the telethon and was not cut at least in the eastcoast broadcast of the telethon. Plan on getting it on the net while you can, because I am sure it won't air on television.

This is probably the single greatest comment I have heard any star make in the last 10 years. Much respect to kanye West for having the guts to say what no one else will. He reminded me of Monte Smith tonight voicing the REAL problems with the U.S. The sad part is that this will probably end up hurting his career. I just hope he is ready. He just managed to take on one of the most corrupt disguating band of thieves in the world... yes our current regime in the U.S.

FIGHT THE POWER. THINK OF NEW ORLEANS.

peace.

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Fats Domino unaccounted for in New Orleans flood

2005-09-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rock 'n' roll legend Fats Domino is among the tens of thousands of New Orleans residents unaccounted for after floodwaters swamped the city famed for its musical heritage, friends said on Thursday.

The 76-year-old musician, beloved for his boogie-woogie piano style and such hits as "Ain't That a Shame" and "Blueberry Hill," told his manager Al Embry on Monday that he planned to "ride out" Hurricane Katrina at his home in New Orleans, the Fox News.com Web site said.
Fox News columnist Roger Friedman said the Nashville, Tennessee-based Embry last spoke to Domino on Monday afternoon, the day Katrina slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast and that the musician has not been heard from since.

Embry could not immediately be reached for comment.

But Los Angeles-based comedian Harry Shearer, who has strong ties to New Orleans, told Reuters that he heard unconfirmed reports from friends that Domino had made it to the New Orleans Superdome, where more than 23,000 people have taken refuge.

Friedman also reported that another Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee from New Orleans, singer-songwriter Allen Toussaint, 66, was among refugees at the Superdome.

Courtesy of Reuters >>

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Hip-Hop Renaissance Man: Ice Cube

2005-08-31T10:33:00.000-07:00

So NPR is doing a hip-hop week now. To me this is pretty amusing being that they seem to be trying to jump on a bandwagon that has long since passed them. I have nothing against NPR really I think they do a good job of helping to give at least some kind of alternative to the major news corporations in the market. For their part they are doing something, even if in our opinion its not enough. Anyay, to keep on track, this week is their hip-hop week (all i can think of is first MTV, then VH1, then NPR? - weird) . So Monday they interviewed Kool herc to set it off. Today being wednesday they decided to interview Ice Cube.

What is amazing to me is that, even though Ice Cube's contributions to hip-hop have been huge, what he built his career on is an anti white fuck the man fuck the governemnt, you fuck with me and I'll pull my gat type aggressive pissed off as fuck lyrics. Now he is on NPR? I mean yeh, Ice Cube is the consumate sell out going from one extreme of - I would never eat dinner with the president, to going bonkers in the club, to eating out of the hand of NPR so hopefully he might meet Mr. President. What amazes me the most though is not necessarily the transformation he has gone through (though it has always been a sideline interest watching him sell out), is that NPR deemed it necessary for the bulk of the white yuppie NPR listening to know who Ice Cube is and "what he is about" (at least now). To me when i listen back to Amerikkka's Most Wanted, Kill at Will, Death Certificate , and even into PRedator... This is not someone that I would have ever seen chopping it up with Terry Gross on NPR during the weekday commute across the nation.

-- NEW STORY --

Known today equally as a musician and actor, Ice Cube was born O'Shea Jackson. He first gained notoriety in the late 1980s with the revolutionary gangsta rap group N.W.A. Its first album was Straight Outta Compton.

As a solo artist, Ice Cube's albums include AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Death Certificate, as well as War and Peace.

Ice Cube's film debut came in 1991's Boyz n the Hood. Subsequent roles included Three Kings and Anaconda.

His latest film is the comedy Are We There Yet?, ...

Read Full Story at NPR.ORG >>

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Hip-hop singer Kanye West sues Chicago DJ

2005-08-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

Dya Kanye Kanye Kanye. Everywhere we look its Kanye West. ANyway now he seems to be going after some Chicago natives for falsely distributing some of his older work... Interesting to see what happens...

-- NEWS STORY --

Hip-hop star Kanye West has filed a lawsuit accusing a Chicago DJ of possessing 10 unreleased songs that West produced before he was 18.

The 20-page lawsuit filed on Monday in federal court in Chicago alleges that Eric 'E-Smoove' Miller improperly tried to distribute some of those master recordings earlier this year.
Miller, who helped record the songs before Chicago native West became famous, falsely claimed he had a contract to distribute the music, the lawsuit claims.

STORY COURTESY OF SCOTSMAN.COM

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Consumer electronics for expo coming

2005-08-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

Just another electronics show, this time in Jamaica... FINALLY they are choosing REAL locations for these events.

-- NEWS STORY --

THE JAMAICA Consumer Electronics Show 2005 will showcase the latest gadgets and products for home and office later this month.

Featuring top consumer electronics retailers and distributors in the Caribbean, the JCES will include Panasonic, Sony, Samsung and NUMARK along with local giants Digicel, Courts, Singer, ATL, MiPhone and Anbell. This year promises to be a special one as JCES celebrates its 5th anniversary on August 28-29 at the Hilton Kingston hotel.

BEST BOOTH

ATL and Panasonic, which won the best booth competition last year, are returning with an even bigger and better display for the show. NUMARK DJ equipment and Heineken Green Synergy will be hosting a DJ mixing competition and will feature participants in the current FAME /Heineken spin-off.

Children will be entertained by FRESSH Juices which hosts a Kids Play Area. There will also be a Magna Karaoke Competition and WattsNew play station competition.

Singer Tami Chynn will headline the entertainment on both days along with Elva from Fame Full House Fridays. Main sponsors are Digicel, Magna and The Gleaner.

COURTESY OF JAMAICA GLEANER >>

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No arrests in early morning shooting of hip-hop mogul 'Suge' Knight

2005-08-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Once again Suge is in the news and again its not in a good way. Dude can seriously not stay out of trouble, its like a grey cloud that follows him everywhere he goes. I guess as the saying goes though: You make your bed and now you have to lay in it. I hope for his sake and his kids sake he may be seeing the error of his past ways...

-- NEWS STORY --

Death Row Records CEO Marion 'Suge' Knight is in intensive care at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach this afternoon following surgery to remove a bullet from his leg and repair a fractured bone.

Knight was shot in the leg while partying in the exclusive Red Room at the rear of the Shore Club at 12:30 a.m. today. Knight was among an exclusive group that included rapper Kanye West attending an invitation-only party in advance of tonight's MTV Video Music Awards.

Police have made no arrests and have no suspects. Miami Beach Police spokesman Bobby Hernandez said the investigation was being hampered by witnesses' unwillingness to talk .

''Not everyone has been cooperating with us,'' he said. ``We don't have any...

READ FULL STORY AT MIAMI HERALD>>

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Well, Maybe this is why more rappers don't speak out on the issues... They Want Scion Money!

2005-08-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

The homie Matt Sonzala exposes our friends at Scion for the real corporate tyrants they are. As everyone understood Scion is just appropriating aspects of hip-hop/urban cultures and ideas to fit their needs. Now they have taken it to the next level of not giving a fuck.

-- NEWS STORY --

TEXAS, August 24, 2005. Austin based rapper Bavu Blakes was pleasantly surprised yesterday (Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005) when he got the call from Jay Cortez of Inform Ventures, LLC (info below) announcing that he had been selected from a pool of over 2,000 submissions as a Top Ten Finalist in the Scion: Nextup contest.

According to Allhiphop.com, the “Scion: Nextup contest is holding it's second annual emcee contest which gives unsigned emcees the chance to win a $50,000 marketing deal from Scion. Judges, DJ Premier, Green Lantern and Sean Cane will filter through the applicants to find the ten best. The online contest will then feature the top 10 underground artists original songs on the Scion: Nextup site for visitors to vote on. The emcee(s) with the highest number of votes will win. Prizes include $5000 in cash, the opportunity to perform at Scion events and a fully-produced music video for their winning song.”

Bavu Blakes received an affidavit stating that he was in the Top Ten – chosen by DJ Premier, Green Lantern and Sean Cane, and that voting would commence, online, Monday August 29th on the website www.scionnextup.com.

Today, he received a call, again from Jay Cortez, stating that he had been removed from the contest because of the political lyrics in his song “Black Gold.” The lyrics in question are:

1. "Now Bush and bin Laden got so much they rotten"
2. "Texas home of the real death row"
3. "What'd we really go to Iraq fo?"In reference to line #2, Bavu Blakes was asked if he was referring to the Los Angeles based company Death Row Records. While we understand that any corporate entity has the right to include whoever it wants...

READ FULL STORY AT HOUSTONSOREAL>>>

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KANYE GRACES COVER OF TIME’S HIP HOP ISSUE: Rapper talks about career and his struggle to bubble.

2005-08-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Kanye kanye kanye.... EVERYWHERE WE LOOK THESE DAYS IT'S KANYE WEST! Yes his new album is about to drop and if you don't know its been leaked like a mofo. For his sake I hope he drops some heat because honestly his first lbum was ehh... and as a rapper he is ehhh at best. But anyway the Kanye West craze seems to be a bit out of contol as of late. Now he is on Time? Either we are hurting for news or I am underestimating the impact that Kanye has on the US and world...

-- NEWS STORY --

*“I’d leave meetings crying all the time,” says Kanye West in this week’s Time magazine cover story. The rapper/producer, who graces the cover of a special issue dedicated to hip hop, spoke to writer Josh Tyrangiel about the many tears that would follow brick wall after brick wall while trying to get a record deal.

“It was a strike against me that I didn’t wear baggy jeans and jerseys and that I never hustled, never sold drugs,” said Kanye, whose debut album “The College Dropout” received 10 Grammy nods.

Former Roc-A-Fella CEO Damon Dash co-signed the Chicago artist’s notion that he didn’t look like a rapper.

“Kanye wore a pink shirt with the collar sticking up and Gucci loafers,” Dame said. "It was obvious we were not from the same place...

READ MORE AT EUR WEB >>

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Kanye West: Hip-hop must get over homophobia

2005-08-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

So this isn't really new news as it came out a few days ago (no pun intended), but I am not sureif he is correct in his thinking... I mean I am all for not discriminating against sexual orientation, race, creed etc., however Rap has always been more machismo than anything else. Biggest flyest cars, dopest beats, best clothing, who is more thug, banging broads... and on and on... I know there is a smaller and growing gay rap population and performers and I know there are alot of closeted or kept under wraps in the industry... I am just not sure if at this point Rap music is at a point where it doesn't matter anymore... I am ot sure if its really ready to accept the gay contingent as one of its own so to speak rather than a not talked about or looked at stepchild. Dunno.

-- NEWS STORY --

NEW YORK - Kanye West says "gay" has become an antonym to hip-hop - and that it needs to be stopped.

During an interview for an MTV special, the 27-year-old rapper launched into a discussion about hip-hop and homosexuality while talking about Hey Mama, a song on his upcoming album, Late Registration.

West said when he was young, people would call him a "mama's boy."

"And what happened was, it made me kind of homophobic, 'cause it's like I would go back and question myself," West says on the show, All Eyes on Kanye West, set to air Thursday night at 10:30.

West says he changed his ways, though, when he learned one of his cousins was gay.

"It was kind of like a turning point when I was like, "Yo, this is my cousin. I love him and I've been discriminating against gays.' "

COURTESY OF St. Petersburg Times >>

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Latest 33third.com Updates!

2005-08-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

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Hip-Hop's Old School Rules Again At Fresh Fest — Nick Cannon, Redman In Da House

2005-08-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

Nice to see hip-hop old school artists getting at leasta little credit. Wish I could have been at the show.

-- NEWS STORY --

There might never have been an Anger Management 3, a Rock the Mic or even a Survival of the Illest Tour if it weren't for Fresh Fest.Some 21 years ago, Run-DMC, Kurtis Blow, Whodini and the Fat Boys were among the groups participating in the trek, which was the first hip-hop road show to gross heavy box-office numbers. On Friday night, the Fresh Fest returned with a lineup of hip-hop legends ready to resuscitate the tour, armed with a catalog of timeless music from the '80s and early '90s.

Photos from Fresh Festgroups participating in the trek, which was the first hip-hop road show to gross heavy box-office numbers. On Friday night, the Fresh Fest returned with a lineup of hip-hop legends ready to resuscitate the tour, armed with a catalog of timeless music from the '80s and early '90s. "We'd be able to go on the road, do four nights a week — sometimes five — for three to four months straight," Jalil Hutchins of Whodini said Friday night at the Hammerstein Ballroom. "[We'd] pull up in your town, hit the hotel, go do some radio, go do a soundcheck, come back, eat, do the show, go to the afterparty. [We'd hook up with] a couple of chicks, and then hit the road and come back and do that again and again and again. Now I do one show, kiss a chick and I'm through."Whodini, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Dana Dane, Biz Markie, Nice & Smooth, Chubb Rock and former members of the Sugar Hill Gang all took the stage for the kick off of what promoters say will be a 20-city tour. "I think the world has gotten nostalgic," Slick Rick said. "Hip-hop is pushing 40, but the older generation is not...

READ MORE AT MTV>>

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Bringing the world's hottest hip-hop arsenal to T-dot

2005-08-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

Music has long been linked to fashion — be it grunge flannel or raver “phat” pants — as a means for artists and audiences to signify their subcultural allegiances.

Punk impresario Malcolm McLaren took that even further by essentially making the Sex Pistols mannequins for girlfriend Vivienne Westwood's S&M-based designs. But though that duo boasted a King's Road boutique, they were inspiring a do-it-yourself trend more than marketing a label.

“Which is a shame, because boy did they have a look,” laughs Marc Ecko, who not only heads his own hip-hop clothing line, Ecko Unltd., but he has hiw own hip-hop festival, dubbed Getting Up, which arrives in Toronto this weekend.

Punk originally claimed an...

READ MORE AT GLOBEANDMAIL.COM >>

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Hip-hop pitchmen: Chrysler, Snoop Dogg hook up while Eminem, Ford split up

2005-08-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Chrysler is working on its image in sort of a similar fashion as Scion. However since they have a much bigger budget then they get much bigger stars... Snoop and Lee Iacoca??? I see hijinx hilarity around the corner...

-- NEWS STORY --

If you can find an odder couple, hire them. That approach seems to underlie the Chrysler group's latest TV commercial for its blowout summer sale, which pairs former Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca with rapper Snoop Dogg. The ad, which debuted over the weekend, shows the two pitchmen in a golf cart, both in pink shirts. Iacocca remarks that with the automaker's Employee Pricing Plus program, "Everybody gets a great deal." Snoop Dogg concurs: "Fo' shizzle, I-ca-zizzle." Market research found that earlier Iacocca commercials weren't connecting with young shoppers; Snoop's on the scene to address that problem.

THE #%$@*#% DEAL'S OFF

Hip-hop music videos are big auto product-placement devices these days. And Ford Motor Co. thought it had a terrific opportunity to introduce the Ford Fusion to young buyers when Detroit rapper Eminem expressed interest in putting the new mid-sized sedan in his latest video, a Detroit newspaper says. Then Ford executives perused the contents: an enthusiastic though not very tasteful appreciation of young women's posteriors, in language you wouldn't want your mama to hear. The deal was off. "The song was...

READ MORE AT AUTOWEEK >>

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Legal Problems : Several hip-hop superstars get caught up in a scandal

2005-08-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

So corporate style scandals have even touched the elite of the hip-ohp generation. Seems like a single lady was the main investment channel for the hip-hop elite. However it also looks like everything she was doing wasn't necessarily on the up and up.

-- NEWS STORY --

Have you ever heard of Ms. Gabriele T. Smith? If you are part of the bling encrusted circle called the music business, chances are you have heard of her. To an outsider it would appear that Gabriele had an all-access pass to rap music’s circles of power. Ms. Smith had it all – she was always draped in designer clothing, she even vacationed with hip-hop’s royalty – Jay-Z and Beyonce in the Caribbean. One could even find Ms. Smith dining at Mr. Chow’s in Manhattan.

Ms. Smith had established herself as the money manager to the stars. Over time Ms. Smith had built a client list that included the president of the Def Jam Recordings label, rap stars like Fabolous and DJ Clue, not to mention her huge list of wealthy young music executives.

At one time it would appear that Ms. Smith was defiantly living the high life. These days I would think it is fare to say that those same individuals that once worshiped the young investment genius, are now...

READ MORE AT JACKING4BEATS>>

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Spanish- spiced hip-hop

2005-08-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

So USA Today is running an article and seems to think that Spanish/Latino influence in hip-hop is new... Umm sorry fellas/ladies, itsbeen around since the start. From PuertoRicans in NYC, to gangbangers in LA... its always been a persistant influence in hip-hop. You only need to look at the success of a little group called Cypress Hill to see that its been around and will continue to be around. Anyway check the article below.

-- NEWS STORY --

The sound of the summer in cities with large Hispanic populations — and, increasingly, all over the USA — is reggaeton.

Puerto Rican star Don Omar's Reggaeton Latino is heading up the U.S. music charts.
Machete Music

A Spanish-language fusion of dancehall reggae, hip-hop, salsa, cumbia, merengue and other Caribbean flavors, reggaeton (pronounced reggae-TONE) percolated for years in the streets and clubs of Puerto Rico before making its way to the continental USA. Its infectious, driving rhythms and the sexy bump-and-grind dancing that it inspires made it a favorite in clubs, particularly in such cities as New York and Miami.

"What really made it explode in New York was so much demand in the Latin community," says DJ Camilo (Juan Camilo Sanchez) of New York's influential radio station Hot 97. "It really started with the mixtapes and the buzz in the streets. I would be working clubs six and seven nights a week and seeing how people...

READ MORE AT USATODAY>>

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Hip-Hop Artist Saigon To Be On HBO's Entourage

2005-08-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting mix of backgrounds. High profile show Entourage and Saigon?? I mean Entourage is a pretty amusing show just in the purely ridiculous nature of the life the cats live on it. I am interested to see how they work Saigon into it.

-- NEWS STORY --

Saigon, one of hip-hop’s most talked about new rap artists, adds another notch on his list of notable accomplishments with an appearance on HBO’s super popular new series Entourage.

The show which is said to be a hit along the lines of other popular HBO series like The Sopranos and Sex In The City, depicts the life of “Vince,” the newest “it” actor in Hollywood and his 3 friends from back home in Queens who are along for the ride.

In addition to being featured in three episodes, 5 of the incredible new MC turned actor’s songs were used in making the show as well, including the certified street-banger "Come Again," a "Letter P" remix by Just Blaze and even his remix to Nas' “War” which he will perform on season finale on September 4

Rap artist Saigon, poised to be hip-hop’s next icon, is no stranger to the TV as the artist who’s debut album is touted as...

READ MORE AT THUGLIFEARMY>>

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An unknown rapper hitches his star to a hip-hop sleeper after a phone call and mistaken identity change his life

2005-07-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

- How one rapper made it big via a small movie... Interesting story...

-- NEWS STORY --

It ain't over for me, no it ain't over for me/I'm gonna step my game up and get what's coming to me.

Al Kapone, "Hustle & Flow (It Ain't Over)".

Al Kapone's big break started out as a case of mistaken identity.

Craig Brewer, director of the very hot new movie "Hustle & Flow," was waiting for a call from DJ Paul, a member of the world-famous platinum-selling rap collective Three 6 Mafia. Instead, he got a random ring from Kapone, a famous-only-in-Memphis rapper who moves about 12,000 units per album, selling some of those from the back of his car.

That cell phone conversation, reconstructed from memory by both parties, went like this:
Kapone: "What's goin' on with you, man."

Brewer: "Man, we're so happy to have you be a part of this movie."

Kapone: "Man, I've got to get this music to you. I want you to hear this music. I've got to get this music to you because I want to be in the movie."

Brewer: "It's cool, it's a done deal. Don't worry about it, man."

After another minute of small talk, Brewer realized he was talking to the wrong rapper. After the monumentally awkward moment was over, the director gave Kapone the deflating news that he could only offer him one shot to write a song, with less than 24 hours to prepare.
But Kapone came up so big that he was enlisted to write most of lead actor Terrence Howard's lyrics for the movie.

As the film about a pimp who becomes a rapper made a strong debut this weekend, making...

READ MORE AT SFGATE >>

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Hustle & Flow

2005-07-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

What can we say, but yeh we gotta see this joint... The more we see previews for this movie the more we want to check it. It looks grimy enough to actually show shit at least in a semi-close light... However... I know Hollywood, and their constant ability to screw shit up, so I won't go as far as to say it looks like a winner... Sorry gotta wait until I actually peep it.

-- EBERT REVIEW --

Sometimes you never really see an actor until the right roles bring him into focus. Terrence Howard has made 22 movies and a lot of TV (most notably the series "Sparks"), but now in "Crash" and "Hustle & Flow," he creates such clearly-seen characters in such different worlds that his range and depth becomes unmistakable.

In "Crash," he was the successful Hollywood television director, humiliated when his wife is assaulted by a cop. In "Hustle & Flow," he plays a Memphis pimp and drug dealer who yearns to make something of himself -- to become a rap artist. His quest for success is seen so clearly and with such sympathy by writer-director Craig Brewer that the movie transcends the crime genre and becomes powerful drama.

The movie's first achievement is to immerse us in the daily world of Djay, Howard's character. He is not a "pimp" and a "drug dealer" as those occupations have been simplified and dramatized in pop culture. He is a focused young man, intelligent, who in another world with other opportunities might have, who knows, gone to college and run for Congress. He can improvise at length on philosophical subjects, as he proves in an opening...

READ FULL REVIEW AT ROGER EBERT >>

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An Interview with Cam'Ron... By AllHipHop

2005-07-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

Amusing to say the least... I don't get the east coast's fascination and the hipster fascination with Dipset, as they are all "just ok" in my book, but whatever. They do amuse.

-- INTERVIEW --

In the 1920’s, Harlem was the centerpiece of the Black universe. Poets, writers, scientists, and others all made their presence known. The entrepreneurial spirit was rich, as were the innovators. While the rest of the world admired and resented the oasis, Harlem thrived. In 1929, the stock market crashed and the whole western world went into recession. Harlem was nothing more than a place Across 110th Street for 75 years.

No artist has worked harder in Harlem’s history to bring Hip-Hop’s eyes back uptown. Come Home With Me was not just an album title, it was a five-year plan that brought home deals for the family. The slang, the style, the swagger – Cam’ron has been innovative in every way he represents himself.

No longer on the Roc, Cam’ron is about to lay down a new manifesto. He’s gotten all of his comrades comfortable at a medley of labels. He’s established his businesses, and closed others openly. Cam’ron’s eyes are on bigger things – and all eyes are on him.

AllHipHop.com looks at Cam’s accomplishments, some of his fumbles, and the unturned stones of an artist that’s oft considered one-dimensional. With Diplomats Week in full-throttle, it’s only natural to check in with the architect of the city the Dips claim they built.

Cam’ron: I liked the things going with Mike Jones there; I feel they really helped out with the levy even though...

U.S. hip-hop diva bombs in London

2005-07-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Lauryn, Lauryn, Lauryn... When are you going to realize that to make it as a musician, your fans are your customers??? I mean your personal beliefs are your personal beliefs, but recognize once people stop listening to your music they will stop listening to your ideologies, or at least stop taking them seriously. For real, homie, stop alienating your fans... Not a good look.

-- NEWS STORY --

U.S. hip-hop diva Lauryn Hill's first British concert in seven years was described Wednesday as "shambolic from start to finish."

Hill started on a bad note, showing up at London's Coliseum nearly two hours late and telling angry fans she had trouble deciding what to wear, BBC Radio 1 reported Wednesday.

The sound was described as "terrible throughout" and Hill recited poetry instead of performing her hit, "Killing Me Softly."

Fans were heard filing out of the auditorium grumbling about "a waste of money" and "being hustled," the radio network reported.

Coliseum employees stood in the foyer after the show issuing refunds to fans who had paid nearly $79 for tickets.

FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES

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Shock G Hip-Hop, Rap and P Funk Legend Retires

2005-07-12T21:34:00.000-07:00

This story is a little older, but we thought we would make note of it. Shock G, one of the greats in hip-hop is calling it quits. I am actually glad to see this because it seems like it is a thoughtful decision to bow out gracefully. Instead of clinging to a shadow of the past, he is taking his personal well being into his own hands and doing what he feels best. We wish him all the best with his future endeavors.

-- NEWS STORY --

Hip-hop, rap, P-Funk artist Shock G aka Gregory E. Jacobs has announced he is retiring from music. Shock is also an accomplished artists and writer.

Along with Chopmaster, Shock G formed the Digital Underground hip-hop and rap group with its unique sound in 1987. The group was bizarre, funky and unique in the genre that was being dominated by hard core rappers and gangsta rap groups, but they flourished and survived.

Shock G had many alter ego’s, the most famous was Humpty Hump.

Being born on the east coast and finally settling in the Bay Area, Shock G has made an impact of the music industry worldwide.

One of his accomplishments was introducing the world to the late rap icon Tupac Shakur. Leila Steinberg became Tupac's first manager. Tupac formed the group Strictly dope with 5 other members including rap artist Ray Luv. Later Steinberg introduced Tupac to Shock-G of Digital Underground and Tupac traveled with the Digital Underground, and when Shock gave him his chance on Same Old Song – the world of hip-hop and rap music would never be the same.

Shock G was on many of Tupac’s songs. Some are I Get Around and F**k The World. Shock has worked with almost everybody, from...

READ FULL STORY AT THUGLIFE ARMY >>

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Another Great passes...

2005-07-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Ray Davis, one of the founders of Parliament-Funkadelic, passed away last week due to respiratory complications. Davis was a member of The Parliaments since the group was founded in the 1950’s. The group hit big with “I Wanna Testify,” in 1967, a record that featured a more “funk” oriented Parliaments (the record is ironically backed by legendary Motown session band The Funk Brothers). Parliament-Funkadelic’s body of work has been sampled countless times over the years and was the subject of years of legal wrangling, which recently ended in a court victory for Clinton.

From Allhiphop.com

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Spinning magic at a budget price

2005-07-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

A high end turntable at mid end price??? Apparently its so over seas!

-- NEWS STORY --

SPIN John Lee Hooker's melodious album Boom Boom on the platter of Project's natty new Debut 3 turntable and you'll know why analogue still rings music-lovers' bells.

The Debut 3 at $399 has no serious rivals at anywhere near the price, a performance acknowledged by British audio magazines that have given this budget LP spinner best-buy status.

The value-laden Debut package comprises turntable, dustcover, tonearm and cartridge.
A cracking machine for the money, the budget-priced Project has a synchronous motor isolated from the main chassis. This ensures it won't transmit noise that can resonate in the cartridge and tonearm and degrade sound quality.

This careful attention to detail also sees a tonearm made from a single piece of alloy and equipped...

READ MORE AT HERALD SUN>>

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Lil Kim Sentenced To Prison Time

2005-07-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

We knew this was about to happen...

-- NEWS STORY --

Platinum selling rapper Lil’ Kim was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, fined $50,000 and sentenced to three years probation by a federal judge today (July 6), after being convicted on federal perjury and conspiracy charges.

Lil’ Kim was escorted by rappers Freddie Foxxx (Bumpy Knuckles), Maino and a fortress of security that helped fend off a mob of fans as she entered a Manhattan court house to face sentencing.

Kim, born Kimberly Jones, was found guilty in March of 2005 of lying to a federal grand jury about her knowledge of a broad daylight shootout that occurred in 2001 outside Hot 97’s SoHo offices.

The altercation occurred on February 25, 2001 when members of Kim’s Junior M.A.F.I.A. entourage were leaving Hot 97 as men associated with Capone-N-Noreaga were entering the radio station.

The two groups of men were at odds with each other over a song...

READ MORE AT ALLHIPHOP >>

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McDonald's In Talks With Hip-Hop Designers For Uniforms

2005-07-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

UGH! I really really really hate McDonalds... They are probably theworst at co-opting hp-hop culture to server their own needs... Where were these muhfuggas 10 years ago??? Nah it was just a fuckin fad then... So now they want Hip-hop designers to design their uniforms??? man c'mon... I really hope this shitty wanna be down but has no clue how to, corporation falls off the face of the earth... Them and their non positive contribting shit garbage food...

-- NEWS STORY --

McDonald’s has already tapped into Hip-Hop music to help sell their food and promote their brand and now the fast food giant is in talks with Sean John, Rocawear and Fubu to give employee’s uniforms a makeover.

McDonald’s has hired music mogul Steve Stoute, who runs Translation Consulting and Brand Imaging to oversee the project.

The fast food giant’s aim is to make the employee uniform more desirable and to turn the clothing into walking advertisements for the McDonald’s brands.

“McDonald’s has evolved and become a lifestyle brand,” Stoute told AdAge.com. “Since it now is relevant to our lifestyle, let’s go one step further and make its employees relevant to our lifestyle as well.”

Other designers being considered for...

READ MORE AT ALLHIPHOP >>

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Big Pun's Terror Squad Chain Being Auctioned on EBAY

2005-06-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

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Big Pun’s widow Liza Rios, is auctioning off the deceased rapper’s diamond and gold ‘Terror Squad” pendant on eBay.

Pun originally paid $100,000 for the chain, which features yellow and white gold and has over 1,900 diamonds.

According to the official post on eBay, Rios has received just $8,000 since the rapper passed away in 2000 of a heart attack at the age of 28.

VH1 to give Notorious B.I.G. Hip Hop Honors : LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T also to be feted at ceremony

2005-06-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

So once again VH1 is doing their hip hop awards and once again they get it all wrong... The revisionist history going on regarding hip-hop by a bunch of fuggin marketers is ridiculous. I like how they note below that Big Daddy Kane is an "Old School Rapper"... UMMM ASSHOLES, BIG DADDY KANE IS NOT OLD SCHOOL... Know what you are talking about before you open your mouth... On top of that they are giving BIG more props than LL? C'mon LL was a trailbalzer, and BIG? Yeh he was dope, but was he groundbreaking? mmmm hardly... LL was Bad, Biggie was Juicy, LL was game changing with his production, Biggie had great production... I dunno, maybe the more I think about it they are equal, but just the body of work (even though tis been really weak as of late) that LL has put out to me makes him much more significant than Biggie or at least JUST AS... Seriously I don;t think major media is ever going to get it right.... As long as shit fits their purposes, then that's what it is...

gag.

PS. The only upside to all of this is that VH1 may be playing all sort of dope dope dope hip-hop videos new and old for a week straight!

-- NEWS STORY --

NEW YORK - Both Big Poppa and Big Daddy Kane will get their props from VH1 this year. The late Notorious B.I.G. — also known as Biggie Smalls, also known as Big Poppa — and old-school rapper Kane will be feted at the second annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors on Sept. 22 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. The show will air Sept. 26 on VH1.

Other honorees include LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Ice-T, Salt-N-Pepa and the 1991 film "Boyz n the Hood."

"Our first Hip Hop Honors proved to be an incredible success not only for the channel but also within the hip-hop community. It was a long overdue celebration of the genesis and roots of a genre that has permeated world culture," said the show's executive producer, Lee Rolontz, in a statement Tuesday to The Associated Press.

"This year's honorees run the gamut from MCs to trailblazing duos to an iconic motion picture — all of which have had a massive impact on the hip-hop music landscape."
Last year's honorees included the late Tupac Shakur, Public Enemy and rap pioneers Run DMC.

FROM MSNBC

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Black Sheep Returning To Rap Game

2005-06-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

So Blacksheep look like they are trying to make a comeback. Lets just say I am far from on the edge of my seat... Every comeback album outside of Rakims (and even that to some extent) has been ehhhh... Ok maybe Chronic 2001... but anyway Blacksheep??? They could barely hold it together after their first album (the second was ehh at best)... Anyway I will give them props for trying the game againa nd wish them the best...

-- NEWS STORY --

Rapper Dres and producer/DJ Mr. Lawnge are returning to the Hip-Hop scene with a new album, 8WM.

According to Dres, re-entering the game is just another chance at furthering the Black Sheep legacy and continuing their success.

In 1991, Black Sheep released their seminal debut "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," which reached #30 on the Billboard charts and ended up selling over a million records.

The album spawned two massive singles, “The Choice is Yours” and “Flavor of the Month.”
"Our record plays in a party everyday of the year...a lot of artists can't say that," Dres said of his previous hits. "If we were to get paid for every time our album was played, we would be millionaires."

Guests on the album include Showbiz, Lord Finesse, Kwame, Dinky Bingham...

The Cotton Club: Black-conscious hip-hop deals with an overwhelmingly white live audience

2005-06-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

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A really interesting article in the Village Voice. All you hipsters and white wanna be down folks should be reading this. Remember rap is not white culture, its street and primarily black culture. The current state of white participation is precipitously close to stealing it... Recognize.

-- NEWS STORY --

Armed with messages of Black political resistance, Black pride, and opposition to militarization and corporatization, designed in part to counter the commercial hip-hop party-and-bullshit madness dumbing down the nation's youth, hip-hop's lyrical descendants of the "fight the power" golden era today are booking concerts in record numbers—far beyond anything imaginable by their predecessors. Problem is, they can hardly find a Black face in the audience.

As the Coup (Pick a Bigger Gun), Zion-I (True and Livin'), and the Perceptionists (Black Dialogue) get set for a wave of touring to promote their new CDs this summer, the audience that will be looking back at them unmasks one of the most significant casualties of hip-hop's pop culture ascension: the shrinking Black concert audience for hardcore, political hip-hop.
"My audience has gone from being over 95 percent Black 10 years ago to over 95 percent white today," laments Boots Riley of the Coup, whose 1994 Genocide and Juice responded to Snoop Dogg's 1993 gangsta party anthem "Gin and Juice." "We jokingly refer to our tour as the Cotton Club," he says—a reference to the 1920s and '30s Harlem jazz spot where Black musicians played to whites-only audiences.

Boots says he first noticed the shift one night in 1995, in a concert on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon. Opening for Coolio, he stepped center stage and grabbed the mic as usual, but then saw something unusual about the audience: a standing-room-only sea of whiteness. Some were almost dressed like farmers, he recalls. Others had their...

READ MORE AT VILLAGE VOICE >>

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Kurtis Blow Inducted Into Bronx Walk of Fame

2005-06-23T09:52:00.000-07:00

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Its nice to see Kurtis Blow still getting some recognition for his early rap hits. With The Breaks and Christmas Rappin he helped launch rap as an actual music genre rather than allowing ti to be labelled as a "fad"... Respect due.

-- NEWS STORY --

Hip-Hop pioneer Kurtis Blow will be honored at a ceremony to forever solidify the emcee’s permanent place in Hip-Hop by inducting him into the Bronx Walk of Fame.

The Bronx Walk of Fame honors various people who have contributed to the Bronx’s legacy. Blow, despite being from Harlem, was a fixture on the scene during the early development of Hip-Hop in the Bronx from the 1970’s onward.

In 1979, Kurtis Blow became the first rapper to be signed by a major label, after his independently released hit “Christmas Rappin'," helped him land a deal with Mercury.
Mercury released “Christmas Rappin” and it sold over 400,000 copies and became an annual classic.

Its follow-up “The Breaks” helped ignite Hip-Hop on a global basis and...

Gang Starr To Call it Quits!

2005-06-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

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After seven ground breaking albums, Gang Starr called it quits last year as Guru and DJ Premier decided to go seperate routes creatively after having grown tired of bickering with the majors who failed to help them move units.

www.gurugangstarr.com

New York combo Gangstarr were among the most influential hip-hop acts in the late 80s. The group have since inspired true-school MCs, beatmakers and DJs across the globe. But now, out of the blue, Gangstarr have called it quits.

Guru (aka Keith Elam) is embarking on a solo career, while DJ Premier (Christopher Martin) is (presumably) focussing on studio production. Guru, who took time out from Gangstarr for his critically adored Jazzmatazz in the early 90s, is re-establishing his identity with Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures out later this month via his own indie label, Seven Grand Records.

Guru is currently previewing Version 7.0 on his first Australian solo tour. Ask him how the album compares to his previous endeavours and the MC pulls no punches.

“First of all, I would say it’s the most important because it represents Guru’s emancipation from the major label influences,” he asserts, speaking (for some reason) in third person. “This is my own label, so it’s not only a solo project, but it is Guru as a CEO of his solo project. So it’s a different look.

“Basically, this is more important than any other solo project I’ve done. Also, Jazzmatazz, which was my first solo project, will be coming out through Seven Grand Records as well, so everything that Guru does in the future will be coming through this label.”

Guru is accompanied on Version 7.0 by such disparate identities as Styles P, Jaguar Wright, Jean Grae, Talib Kweli and B-Real. However, the MC stresses that Version 7.0, which he co-produced with the relatively unknown Solar, is distinct from his collaborative Jazzmatazz volumes.

“Jazzmatazz is jazz – it’s not pure hip-hop. It’s hip hop and jazz. This is a pure hip-hop album. This album is for the streets.”

The response in the US to lead single ‘Cave In’ has been “ridiculous”, according to Guru. It seems like he’s well and truly back with a bang.

But what of Gangstarr? The group may be revered by underground hip-hop devotees, but they never matched the commercial success of their peers (like De La Soul) and so, after the disappointment of sixth album The Ownerz, they apparently decided to let it go.

Above all, Gangstarr were unhappy with their label, Virgin. Their promotion was mishandled and they were forced to liaise with a succession of A&R reps. No sooner had they built a relationship with a rep, he or she would be fired in yet another downsizing purge.

“Not only that, but you’ve got A&R and executives making decisions who are not from the culture, not from the streets,” Guru says.

It was around the time Gangstarr released The Ownerz that Guru befriended Solar, his current collaborator.

“I was telling him about a lot of this ...

READ MORE AT GURUGANGSTARR >>

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33third.com Latest Updates - Vinyl, DJ Equipment, and More!

2005-06-16T22:16:00.000-07:00

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Yep! we're at it again with more crazy updates!! We have a pretty large one this week with ALOT of heat in it so don't Sleep!!

-- Just added in the last 24 hours! --

David Banner - Aint Got Nothing b/w Certified
Eminem - Ass Like That
Game, The - Dreams
Gorillaz - Demon Days
Snoop Doggy Dogg - Ups & Downs b/w Bang Out
T.I. - ASAP b/w Motivation
Z-Trip - Shifting Gears

-- RESTOCKS --

Chuck Mangione - Bellavia
Grover Washington Jr. - A Secret Place
L.T.D. - Love To The World
L.T.D. - Something To Love
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Ohio Players - Honey
Pockets - Take It On Up (ORIGINAL PRESSING)
Sly & The Family Stone - Sly & The Family Stones Greatest Hits

-- NEW 12INCHES --

Common - Go
Crooklyn Clan - Lets Get Ill
DeeJay Mad - Dub Plates Vol 1: Reggaeton
DJ Kered - Reggaeton Blendz
DJ Roli Fingaz - Strictly Blends 2: Six Bangin Club Remixes
L.E.G.A.C.Y. - Im A Star b/w Cold As A Butcher
Ladyz In Question - Push Back

-- NEW LPS --

2Mex - Over The Counter Culture
J-Live - The Best Part (Reissue)
L.E.G.A.C.Y. - Project Mayhem
Shade Sheist - Informal Introduction
Tame 1 - O.G. Bobby Johnson

-- USED 12INCHES --

Biggy Smallz - Nobody Rides For Free (Promo)
Cashmere - Do It Anyway You Wanna
Rules Of The Game Soundtrack - Selections From Rules of the Game
World Class Wreckin Crew - Juice

-- USED LPS --

5th Dimension - The Age of Aquarius
Blackbyrds, The - Unfinished Business
Bobbi Humphrey - Satin Doll
George Benson - Weekend In L.A.
Joe Sample - Rainbow Seeker
K-Tel Records - Soundwaves: todays Top Hits And Stars
Kay-Gees, The - Find A Friend
Lonnie Liston Smith - Exotic Mysteries
Marvin Gaye - Superstar Marvin Gaye
Natural Ressources Label - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Nina Simone - High Priestess of Soul
Parliament - GloryHallaStoopid - Or Pin The Tail on The Funky
Rhythm Heritage - Disco-Fied
Roberta Flack - Blue Lights In The Basement
The Platters - Reflections (Original Pressing)
Trammps - Trammps
Willie Dixon - I Am The Blues (Original Pressing)

-- BATTLE WAX (and BREAKS) --
(All Battle Wax titles listed below only $7.99 each!)

Diggin Breaks - Diggin 3
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 4
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 8
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 9
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 11
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 13
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 14
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 15
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 16
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 17
Diggin Breaks - Diggin 19
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 1
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 2
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 3
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 4
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 5
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 6
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 7
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 8
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 9
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 10
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 11
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 12
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 13
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 14
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 15
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 16
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 17
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 18
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 19
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 20
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 21
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 22
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 23
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 24
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Ultimate Breaks and Beats 25

-- NEW CDs --

Brother Reade - Seven Days In The Same Clothes
DJ Piklz - Off The Meatrack?!

-- NEW EQUIPMENT --

Technics - Technics 1200MK2 Turntable
Technics - Technics SL-1200MK5 Turntable
Pioneer - CDJ-100S Professional CD Player
Pioneer - CDJ-200 Professional CD Player
Pioneer - CDJ-800 Professional CD Player
Pioneer - DJM-300S 2 Channel DJ Mixer
Pioneer - DJM-300 2 Channel DJ Mixer
Technics - SH-MZ1200 Mixer
Stanton - Final Scratch Ver. 2
Stanton - 520SK-H4 (Twin) Craze Model Mounted Headshells
Stanton - (Flightcase) 680HP MP4 Matched Pair w/Headshells
Stanton - (Flightcase) 890FS Twin pack w/Headshells & 2 extra Styli

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

B-Boy Birthday - New York Hip-Hop Theater Festival grooves into its fifth year

2005-06-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

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I am glad to see this is still going strong. I thought it was one of those flash in the pan ideas that may lose steam afte you know... the first year...

-- NEWS STORY --

Watching German hip-hop dancer Niels "Storm" Robitzky spin on his head, legs straight up in the air, is like seeing A-Rod hit a home run. You know he's doing it, but your brain is in high freak mode: Is this for real?

How does anyone do that?

An energizer B-boy with elastic limbs, Storm tears up the stage with physics-defying moves, all while battling and bonding with his own video image on an upstage screen, in a duet that's both full-on spectacular and surprisingly, well, reflective.

Storm's Solo for Two is half of the headline evening at the fifth annual New York Hip-Hop Theater Festival (HHTF), running through June 18 at various venues (for more information, visit hiphoptheaterfest.org). Storm shares the bill with the virtuosic Benji Reid, a body popper from the U.K., who contorts, mimes, and percusses his way from the rhythms of bebop to the gestures of hip-hop, fronted by a DJ and three-piece band in 13 Mics.

Haven't heard of either of them? Neither had Danny Hoch, the festival's founder. And that's much of the point. Hoch, who's got a mantel full of awards for his solo shows Some People and Jails, Hospitals & Hip-Hop, was considered by many...

READ MORE AT THE VILLAGE VOICE >>

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Destiny's Child Breaks Up

2005-06-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

Well I guess the wrld will be ending soon... Yes our favorite R&B group Destiny's Child is breaking up... Now what will we do??? Sorry is this really a big deal? you knew this wouldn't last after all the issues they have had in the past... I guess it was just a matter of time... Can someone tell me what else they released besides that 9th Wonder produced track "Girlfriend" (Which was a weak straight up gank of a sample in our aopinion- yeh it was catchy, we can give them that)... Anyway news story below...

-- NEWS STORY --

Destiny's Child announced plans to split up after their world tour that ends this fall, after wrapping up the world tour Destiny Fulfilled ... and Loving It.

Destiny's Child announced plans to split up after their world tour that ends this fall.

Destiny's Child, which includes Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, released a statement with reasons for the break-up.

“After a lot of discussion and some deep soul-searching, we realized that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny's Child on a high note, united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for...

READ MORE AT FASION MONITOR TORONTO >>

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Hip-Hop's Flipsyde 'We the People'

2005-06-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

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Hip-hop is still an engine for social change... the latest is Flipsyde from the Yay Area. We'll see if consicous/political orientated hip-hop can make a come back and be commercially viable again...

-- NEWS STORY --

Where hip-hop has become a force for social change, the hip-hop rap group with punches of rock Flipsyde is getting ready to prove to all they are the people who can help make a difference in hip-hop via their music.

Oakland's own, Flipsyde, will release their debut album, "We the People," on July 12th via Cherrytree/Interscope Records.

The politically conscious & musically unconventional, yet harmonious and innovative outfit Flipsyde consists of Piper's consummate MC skills and stinging rhymes culled from his experiences on the streets of Oakland, Steve Knight's emotive voice and adhesive melodies and Dave Lopez' inspired Latin-flavored flourishes of blazing guitar. The eclectic results seamlessly fuse with the turntable scratches of DJ Sharp.

On the completion of a well-received European run with west coast legendary rap artist Snoop Dogg/The Game, followed by the Black Eyed Peas tour and major European Festivals, Flipsyde's first single, the infectious, "Someday," has garnered phenomenal support from influential radio stations, stateside, such as San Francisco's' Live 105 and Wild 94.9. The commercial single is currently...

READ MORE AT THUGLIFE ARMY>>

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The Away Team

2005-06-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

Producer Khrysis and Emcee Sean Boog make up The Away Team, straight out of North Carolina. The group is part of a large family known as the Justus League. They are makin’ moves to the forefront of NC hip hop, but have thus far been in the shadows of their teammates, Little Brother. Most notably, May 17th saw the dropping of their record “National Anthem,” a showcase of their talents and abilities. SoundSlam had a discussion with The Away Team on topics ranging from how beat-smith 9th Wonder has aided their crew’s Voltron-like mentality. During the discussion they demonstrated that they really are a team, willing to promote each other for the betterment and ‘Justus’ of all.

SoundSlam: Okay, let’s just jump in…so you guys, The Away Team, got this new LP comin’ out, The National Anthem. What can...

TASCAM interfaces now compatible with AppleR's Final CutR Pro 5 & Soundtrack Pro

2005-06-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

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TASCAM's full line of FireWire audio control surfaces and interfaces are now compatible with Apple®'s Final Cut Pro 5 and Soundtrack Pro editing software with Apple's unveiling of the Final Cut® Studio production suite that includes the Final Cut Pro® 5 upgrade.

This major upgrade to the Apple's Emmy award-winning software means that Final Cut Pro 5 and Soundtrack Pro are now fully compatible with MCP (Mackie Control Protocol) devices, so you can use external audio control surfaces— including TASCAM's FW-1884 or FW-1082—to edit and manipulate audio more efficiently.

TASCAM's newest audio controller, the FW-1082, has nine motorized faders for adjusting audio levels during mix playback utilizing the revamped software. Editors can turn up a dialog line or reduce the music level during a voiceover section without clicking on breakpoints. Just grab a fader and go! The transport buttons can be used to start and stop playback in any editor that supports the Mackie Control or Mackie HUI. TASCAM's FW-1082 also has a MIDI fader mode that can be used in programs like Apple Motion 2 to adjust parameters in real-time during playback. And since it's an audio interface as well, producers can record voiceover and sound effects right in the edit suite with professional results.

The FW-1082 has four mic inputs, four line ins and S/PDIF digital in and out – all available at 96kHz. It features 10 inputs, including four balanced XLR...

READ MORE AT MUSICGEARREVIEW >>

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TASCAM Announces 3.10 GigaStudio Upgrade

2005-06-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

Update adds new features and functionality to powerful software sampler

(May 25,2005)

TASCAM is pleased to announce Version 3.10, a free upgrade to the GigaStudio 3 sampling software, adding many features and functions and increasing the functionality of this already-powerful sampling package. GigaStudio version 3.10 adds new iMIDI templates, making it easier to use iMIDI rules for adding life to instrument sounds, and a host of new iMIDI rules and features. The Stack Instrument Selection feature allows you to quickly assign keyswitches to swap sounds on a MIDI channel during a performance effectively shattering previous limits on the number of Dimensions possible. Version 3.10 also adds drag & drop creation of GigaPulse presets, user...

DaveyD's top 10 Hiphop Albums of All Times Article

2005-06-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

A Response to MTV's Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All-Time Picks pt 1by Davey DEditors note: In reading this column please keep in mind, this is written with a humorous tone. Sometimes when we send off emails thesubtlties and nuances of conversation are lost.. The folks I referto our friends of mine who I respect, but as in any good sport or inthis case debate.. I had to bring the heat.. but it's with theintention of sparking more good debate.. Trust me when I'm donesome y'all will wanna give me the 'business as well'

A couple of weeks ago some of the good folks over at MTV set off afirestorm of sorts when they got together to discuss the Top 10Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All-Time. With Hip Hop being over 30years old and arguably the most influential music genre in the world and...

READ MORE AT DAVEY D >>>

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Mos Def, Talib Kweli, dead prez Speak Up For Assata Shakur

2005-05-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

So people are slowly starting to get the balls to speak out, but it seems like it is always coming from the same sources. I appreciate the conviction of Mos Def, and Talib, and Dead Prez, but how come it seems like them and a handful of others are the only ones that take it upon themselves to speak???? I mean I appreciate the fact that some peopel shouldn;t say anything. In fact some people ARE only good on record when their shit is written and produced for them (ie. Britney's comments regarding electing GW)... However I would like to see people like Jay-z and other smart powerful business people do the same (sorry Russell Simmons is done and over, tired of him because he doesn't mean it). Anyway here is the latest controversy...

-- News Story --

Rappers Mos Def, Talib Kweli and dead prez spoke in support of former Black Panther Assata Shukur at a press conference yesterday (May 25) at New York’s City Hall.

Charles Barron, councilman from Brooklyn's East New York called the meeting as a response to a million dollar bounty on the political fugitive, who now resides in Cuba.

Barron also introduced a resolution that seeks presidential clemency for Shakur, claiming that she the victim of “trumped-up charges and a kangaroo court with an all-white jury.”

Both Mos and Kweli stated that they feel Shakur was unjustly convicted...

READ MORE AT ALLHIPHOP>>

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Big Boi & Killer Mike: Hip-Hop Untied

2005-05-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

Looks like there may be a bit ofa rift between Big boi and Andre of outkast. BB has started a new label called Purple Ribbon with Killer Mike leading off the first album. This should be interesteing as Big Boi is saying he is looking for talent to be on his lable, not just do the big label one single thing. Longevity and careers I guess... Do the damn thing.

-- NEWS STORY --

Longevity. Creativity. Thoroughness. These characteristics embody what most artists hope for out of a career in the music industry, but very few are able to attain. So if there were a class offered to students studying the art of the Hip-Hop game, needless to say, Big Boi of the famed duo OutKast would serve as an ideal scholar. He has many under his tutelage – including the already noteworthy, Killer Mike.

Never without a few tricks up his sleeve, this southern gentleman is launching his new Purple Ribbon label, and Killer Mike’s here to forge the name in fame. Big Boi and Killer Mike recently sat down with AllHipHop.com to let us know what the legend and the aspiring have in store for the Rap game, with candid thoughts on the state of Rap today.

AllHipHop.com: How did you come about creating your new label, Purple Ribbon?

Big Boi: Dre didn’t want to be bothered with the whole headache of having a record company with Aquemini

Paris Hilton's Extended Car Wash [2005] (Paris Hilton Carl's Junior Commercial)

2005-05-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

We usually don't do this, but if you haven't seen it yet, ya need to... Yes Paris Hilton Carls Junior Commercial. We know we know, Paris Hilton? Carl's Junior? Yes not the usual but we had to... You'll understand when you see it.

Paris Hilton's Extended Car Wash [2005] from iFILM >>

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TASCAM Unveils X-48 48-track Hybrid HD Workstation

2005-05-23T08:39:00.000-07:00

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World's First 48-Track Hybrid Hard Disk Workstation Offers High-Resolution Recording with a DAW Interface!

TASCAM's new X-48 is the world's first 48-track hybrid hard disk workstation, offering the best of both worlds: the stability and ease-of-use of a stand-alone hard disk recorder with the GUI, editing features and plug-in compatibility of computer-based digital audio workstations. The X-48 boasts 96kHz/24-bit recording across all 48 tracks and 192kHz recording across 24 tracks. Its file interoperability and synchronization surpass even the TEC award-winning MX-2424, making it the ultimate multitrack solution for high-quality music, post and live recording applications. Yet it goes beyond mere stand-alone recorders Ð its built-in automated 48-channel digital mixer, VGA display output, powerful editing functions and DVD+RW backup transform the X-48 into a complete standalone workstation.

"Configuring a professional computer-based DAW of this capability could cost over $20,000 and would require more than a dozen components to install and troubleshoot," says Jim Bailey, Product Manager for TASCAM. "We have created a turn-key multitrack workstation with peerless audio quality and a state-of-the-art feature set while retaining the interoperability and reliability of our acclaimed MX-2424. The Broadcast WAVE file format...

READ MORE AT SYPHA>>

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Hip Hop Historian Davey D on "The Clear Channeling" of America

2005-05-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

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Davey D speaks out agains the corporatization of Americas Radio Airwaves...

-- NEWS STORY --

Over 2,000 people converged in St. Louis, Missouri last weekend for the second-ever National Conference on Media Reform. Among the keynote speakers was journalist, hip hop historian and radio DJ, Davey D of Pacifica Radio station KPFA. He spoke about the "Clear Channleing" of America and the hip hop generation.

Davey D, Hip-Hop historian, journalist, deejay and community activist. He is also a co-founder of the Bay Area Hip Hop Coalition and a member of the Bay Area Black Journalist Association. He's the webmaster for what is considered one of the oldest and largest Hip-Hop sites on the web Davey D's Hip Hop Corner-- which can be found at www.daveyd.com.

To purchase an audio or video copy of this entire program, click here for our new online ordering or call 1 (800) 881-2359.

COURTESY OF DEMOCRACY NOW>>

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RAP-WAR BUST

2005-05-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

So it looks like the police are actually moving on the investigation of the 50Cent shooting outside of hot 97. Amazing, especially since they "don't KNow" who killed Biggie or TuPac YET... Wow great work boys, lets call it a day and get some mroe donuts.

-- NEWS STORY --

An associate of mega-rap star 50 Cent was arrested yesterday in connection with the shooting of two other cronies of the chart-busting singer during an argument near a club in Queens.

Leroy Pressley, 24, a convicted drug dealer, was grabbed as he stood near a parked 2004 Chevy Suburban — registered to 50 Cent's company — that matched the getaway car in Thursday night's double shooting near Club Amazura at 144th Place and Archer Avenue in Jamaica.

The gunfire erupted at about 11:35 p.m. when a burst of more than a dozen shots rang out from a 9 mm automatic,...

READ MORE AT NY POST>>

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Neil Diamond and the hip-hop producer

2005-05-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

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Rick Ruben and Neil Diamond? Yup its true. The man responsible for one of the hottest joints off the Black album, and for cofounding Def Jam and the American Record lable, responsible for hits for Public Enemy, Run DMC, Danzig... and th list goes on and on... Yes Its Rick Ruben the man behind the myth and he is finishing an album with neil Diamond... This should be interesting...

-- NEWS STORY --

In the recording studio where Neil Diamond works, one hallway is lined with 37 of his gold and platinum records, opposite a wall of his album covers: Four decades of American mainstream pop, facing off with four decades of American male hair.

Last week, Diamond huddled in this studio with the producer Rick Rubin, best known for his work with hip-hop and alternative rock acts. Diamond, 64, wore a tan jacket, baseball hat and loafers; Rubin, 42, wore a giant white T-shirt, sandals and the long hair and beard of a Biblical prophet or a ZZ Top extra.

Even by the corporate-merger models of the contemporary music business, Diamond and Rubin make an unlikely couple. Diamond's glossy, not-quite-rock productions have sold 120 million copies and have emboldened men to wear spangled apparel. Rubin, who spent Diamond's heyday attending heavy metal concerts on Long Island, had a recent hit with Jay-Z's "99 Problems," which uses language not found in any Neil Diamond song.

Yet here they were, finishing an album, as yet untitled, for release this summer. They were working on a...

READ MORE AT I HERALD TRIBUNE >>

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Ladies Of Crime Mob Working On Solo Projects

2005-05-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

33third.com - Vinyl Records - DJ Equipment

KNUCK IF YOU BUCK! The ladies of Crime Mob are doin their own damn thang.

-- NEWS STORY --

The ladies of Crime Mob, Princess and Diamond, are branching out with their own set of projects under the BME/Warner Bros. label, including a mixtape and a joint album. Along with returning to work on the follow up to their debut Crime Mob, the girls in the group say they've been juggling hectic schedules for years.

"We were forced to grow up very fast because we started at the ages of 14 and 15, in clubs on a Wednesday or Thursday night, going home at 3 or 4 in the morning and waking up at 6 to have to go to school and then after school going to the studio to record a song, and it's like that constantly," Princess told AllHipHop.com of their grueling work schedule.

However, the frontline crunk females maintain they stay grounded. "We're still in school, we want to balance out with our family and friends...

READ MORE AT ALLHIPHOP >>

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Master P. Clarifies Statements Given In AllHipHop.com Interview

2005-05-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

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Master P clearing the air. What is more interesting is at the end of this interview/article he talks about his new marketing plan not using any video or radio airplay...

--NEWS STORY --

Master P. recently clarified statements made during an interview with AllHipHop.com.

While P. took no issues with the actual interview, the Colonel said radio DJ's across the country only read the feature's headlines without delving into the full story, which resulted in reports filled with rumors and innuendo about his relationship with his brother Corey "C. Miller" Miller, as well as artists Destiny's Child and Ciara.

"If you go back and read the interview, I was explaining how I don't hold things against people," Master P. clarified to AllHipHop.com. "I help myself and I am hustler who makes ghetto street music.”

DJ's across the country contacted him regarding the interview, taking the commander of the New No Limit by surprise.

"It's a misunderstanding," P. continued. "And as far as C., he's my...

Def Jam may 'dis' partner label

2005-05-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

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Well, well, well it looks like Mr. Gotti is headed for a rough road ahead... well maybe not. Even though he won't be associated with the Island Def Jam group any longer, he should have no problem making himself comfortable at another major. I am actually kind of surprised that Def Jam is making this move as I don't think the charges being brought up against Irv would have even hurt sales... In fact I am more surprised that Def Jam isn't capitalizing off of the fact that Irv is now ACTUALLY kind of a criminal mastermind... That the Inc. is actually a sort of kind of criminal outfit... Def Jam what are you doing?

-- NEWS STORY --

After closely aligning itself with the record label Island Def Jam, The Inc. -- a hip-hop brand known for such superstars as Ashanti and Ja Rule -- may soon find itself looking for a new business partner, according to a published report Monday.

Island Def Jam is looking to sever ties with the rap label and its owner, Irv Gotti, as the hip-hop impresario faces federal money laundering charges and lackluster sales of its hottest artists, the New York Post reported Monday.

Gotti, whose real last name is Lorenzo, has reportedly approached other labels such as EMI and Warner Music in the hopes of forming a new partnership, although no label has committed to a joint venture with The Inc.

Federal prosecutors indicted Gotti, and his sibling business partner Christopher Lorenzo, in January on money laundering charges, claiming they...

Mixtape Awards Founder Justo Faison Dies In Car Accident

2005-05-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

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RIP...

-- NEWS STORY --

Updated 5:13 pm-- Many within the Hip-Hop nation are shocked, saddened and even in denial about the death of Justo Faison. Tragically, Faison, the founder of the successful Mixtape Awards, was killed in a car crash sometime early morning Saturday (May 14).Details remain vague, but sources confirmed with AllHipHop.com that Faison passed away in Virginia, while working doing promotions in the evening. According to some sources, Faison was departing Richmond and was extremely tired while driving to an undisclosed destination.Faison founded the Mixtape Awards in 1996 and helped highlight and reward a previously unrecognized component of the music business - the mixtape."Justo was like a brother to me," DJ Kay Slay told AllHipHop.com. "At one time he helped manage me for free. Justo was the only person we had standing up for the DJ's from the heart and he will be missed."

At presstime, a funeral fund, spearheaded by Kay Slay and Kid Capri, was already being erected for the pioneer. One source said it is time for the DJ's to return the favor to Justo. "The DJ's need to step up to the plate on this one. Justo gave his life to them." details of the fund were forthcoming.

DJ Sickamore, like most, remained stunned at the sudden loss of Faison."Its terrible. I'm still kind of in shock. You can't really measure what Justo did for mixtapes," Sickamore said. "He really made a lot of mainstream outlets respect the mixtape grind and gave DJ's something to look forward to at the end of the year. Something just for us. I'll always respect that."
Others like DJ Clue, DJ Kid Capri, 1st Lady El & DJ Lazy K of the Murda Mamis, Rah Digga, DJ Absolute DJ Butta Balled, DJ Ron G, DJ Whoo Kid, DJ Ace, DJ L-Gee, DJ Dub, Brandy Garcia of Power 93.3, Chris Landry of Sureshot Records, DJ Vlad, DJ Warrior and droves of others sent in their condolences.

In March of this year, Faison released the DVD "Justo Presents: The Mixtape Documentary," which gives fan an inside look into the mixtape industry.His forward thinking nature helped him excel in the competitive world of mixtapes."As a DJ striving to excel in the mixtape world, it is extremely disheartening to lose someone who truly elevated and legitimized the art form," mixtape DJ Mick Boogie of Cleveland said. "He will be missed."

STORY FROM ALLHIPHOP

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Hip-Hop & Rap Fans Say Take Our Music Forward

2005-05-12T23:41:00.000-07:00

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Its nice to see more political action generated by hip-hop and its power right now. The interesting thing about it is that its geared at its own industry. Self policing is key to getting quality music... I am interested to see how it works out.

-- NEWS STORY --

A national hip-hop campaign being started in southern Cali right now,will kick things off with a huge protest TOMORROW at Universal Music Group in Santa Monica, starting at noon.

They have already got an endorsement oftheirr efforts from the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rainbow/PUSH coalition, and Cornell West, among a bunch of others.

The major record labels, such as Universal, know that sex and violence sell, so those are the only kind of rap artists they sign, and when they're signed, they're under the label's control. Then, they pay radio stations to play their artists; making sure that the Big Five (the five major record labels that have a monopoly on the mainstream music biz) control all the rap that gets played on stations owned by mega corporations like Clear Channel.

So the labels only promote a type of hip-hop and rap that paints black men as violent thugs and objectifies black women. That means that ...

READ MORE AT THUGLIFE ARMY >>

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Cuban hip-hop artists moving forward, left behind

2005-05-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

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Again more news about hip-hop's influence worldwide. This time coming from Cuba. Its aamzing to see where rap music poops up as an aggregate for social change and expression. Even though heavily commercialized in the US, this shows that hip-hop elsewhere in the world is still seen as a tool for social change... SUPPORT THIS MUSIC!

-- NEWS STORY --

Cuban documentaries typically cover one of only two topics: the way things were, or how things got to be the way they are. The triumph of La Fabri_K, Lisandro Pérez-Rey's Cuban hip-hop documentary, is that it dares to look ahead.

La Fabri_K is the story of hip-hop groups Doble Filo and Obsesión, which join forces to record an album and travel to the United States for performances in Miami and at New York's Apollo Theater.

The hip-hoppers come from the coastal town of Alamar, where -- thanks to radio waves picked up easily from Key West -- hip-hop has been embraced by a small group of young people.
Alamar is dirt poor. For a small group of socially conscience rappers, young Cubans with a stake in their country's future, activism is slinging street poetry about the realities of life.

Their music can't be the bling-bling fantasy of mainstream American rap. It's the old-school, bootstrap, class-conscious rhyming from which hip-hop was born.

''We know that we have the power through our words...

Hip-hop and all that Jazz (DJ Jazzy Jeff That is)

2005-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

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DJ Jazzy jeff to perform at Wimbeldon... DO THA DAMN THING!

-- RELEASE --

AFTER a cancellation, hip-hop godfather and TV star Jazzy Jeff is due to appear in Wimbledon next week.

The turntable twiddling, record deck-manipulator, who has produced records for Will Smith and Michael Jackson, appears at Po Na Na in The Broadway, Wimbledon, on Wednesday, May 18.
18.

He first made his name when he appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air with Smith.

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2005-05-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

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So I am not really sure what to make of this story. I mean really is this an attempt to curb gang violence or add more sanctions onto our poorer communities? Really if they were interested in curbing gang violence, lets work on better wealth distribution. Lets work on supporting the family structure and the education process! Remember "NO child Left behind"??? Well yeh that failed bullshit political stance will probably lead more kids into gang lifestyle than away since it is leaving mroe kids behind than before the program. I mean how much legislation has to be created before the politicians realize the answer is not in the laws but in the socio-economic systema nd the disparities in it? Probably never though sicne the prison industrial complx is such a money maker for the elite in this country... It really kills me, especiallyw hen you look at how the "elite" of this country were able to get to their position... hard work... no... lets try illegal activities... Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney... Care to comment?

-- NEWS STORY --

Reacting to spreading street violence, Republicans pushed legislation through the House yesterday to make gang attacks federal crimes and put gang members in line for long federal prison sentences or the death penalty.

A bill approved 279-144 would expand the range of gang crimes punishable by death, establish minimum mandatory sentences, authorize the prosecution of 16- and 17-year-old gang members in federal court as adults and extend the statute of limitations for...

Game: Winds of Change

2005-05-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

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Finally!!! Finally someone with some popularity in rap music is taking the focus off the beef and pushing for mroe social issues to be addressed. Yeh its nothing mind changing or completely groundbreaking, but for a platinum rapper to say he is done with the beef and bullshit? That's huge in my book and I can whole heartedly support it. For only being a mediocre Rapper in my eyes, The Game has an opportunity to leave a much longer lasting legacy than your typical one hit, platinum rappers. its kind of like a breath of fresh air...

-- INTERVIEW --

The Game has had enough rap beefs, legal beefs and inner-crew beefs to feed a homeless shelter. Now, the rapper says his thugged-out modus operandi has changed for the positive and he’s tattooed a butterfly on his right cheek to represent that dramatic transformation. Across from the new symbol is a tattooed tear, an older sign, which embodies a number of negatives depending on what hood you hail from. Nevertheless, The Game talked to AllHipHop.com about his new tat and the update on everything from G-Unit to Mya to his next CD. He even reminded us of what he says happened in D.C.

AllHipHop.com: What’s the deal with the new butterfly tattoo on your face and the tears?

Game: Man, it just represents new life. I got the teardrop on some bad s**t, stupid s**t don’t even gotta go there but – it’s new life, man. After the shooting...

Motown Remixed Trio of Vinyl Albums Set for Release on May 10th from UMe; CD Release Parties Set for Southern California, Detroit This Month

2005-05-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

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More remixes of back catalogs. It seems the Blue Note/Madlib collaboration had more effect than evenw e thought it would. These remixes seem to be focused more on the dance industry, but still interesting to see MoTown getting in the game with it.

-- NEWS STORY --

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2005--Motown fans and music lovers around the world will have a chance to experience the legendary record label's classics on vinyl when three volumes of Motown Remixed are released on May 10th, 2005. Volume 1 is "hip-hop," Volume 2 is "club" and Volume 3 is "chill." Motown Remixed, the 15-song CD of Motown classics re-grooved by today's name remixers and producers will be released on Motown/UMe on May 24th, 2005.

Two of the three songs on the "chill" volume are already charting. Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" remix by Paul Simpson and Miles Dalto has been on both the Billboard and Radio & Records charts. Meantime, the "Chill Jazz Mix" of Smokey Robinson's "Quiet Storm" by the Groove Boutique features guest soloist Roy Ayers and has gotten radio airplay in select markets. There's also a DJ Jazzy Jeff and Pete Kuzma "Solefull Mix" of The Temptation's "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" on "chill."

Extended mixes of classics on the hip-hop vinyl include two...

READ MORE FROM BUSINESS WIRE>>

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Hip Hop Congress promotes culture with week of activities

2005-05-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

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Once again hip-hop congress is making news... I have always thought this organization was interesting. Kind of the educated old school been around the block voice for hip-hop which in these days of mulitmillion dollar deals and Major labels working their hardest to control hip-hops destiny, they have always seemed like the sane voice, or at least one of the sane voices. Check the story...

-- NEWS STORY --

Ohio University's Hip Hop Congress is celebrating the culture of hip-hop this week with its weeklong Hip Hop Awareness Week.

"Rap is something you do; hip hop is something you live."

The group follows this quote by hip-hop legend Krs One as it shares the hip-hop culture with students and area residents, said Gabriel Gonzalez, OU's Hip Hop Congress president.
This week's activities include a variety of informative events about the hip-hop culture in Athens.

These events will help to bring about a better understanding of the four elements of the culture -DJing, MCing, graphic art and break dancing -in an area where hip-hop is not as well known.
OU's Hip Hop Congress began last year to enhance the arts and promote social justice through hip-hop, Gonzalez said. The group's goal is to educate and inform the public about the real meaning of hip-hop, not the rich and famous...

READ MORE AT THE POST ONLINE >>

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WORLD'S FIRST INDIAN , HIP-HOP & R&B ALBUM!!!

2005-05-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

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So they are claiming this is the first Indian hip-hop album... I beg to differ.. What about Punjabi MC??? He had a US hit "Here Come the Boys" featuring jay-Z... So is this a first?? Highly doubtful... Anyway even with that said its still interesting the effect even today that hip-hop has on the world. Check the release below.

FIRST INDIAN / HIP-HOP ALBUM IN THE WORLD! ALL ORIGINAL MUSIC, NEW ELEPHANT MAN, CHRISTION, YUKMOUTH with INDIAN HEAVYHITTERS RDB & MORE!!New independent label Bollyhood Records will be releasing the first ever Indian-infused Hip-Hop & R&B album. The CD, titled BHOOD, will be available for sale from their website www.bollyhoodrecords.com by the end of this month. BHOOD contains 13 independent tracks including exclusive collaborations such as Christion & Bikram Singh, Sumeet & Canadian MC Rich London, and super group RDB with heavy hitters Elephant Man and Yukmouth. It also includes a touch of Dancehall and Soul resulting in an exotic mix of sounds for those people who wanted more of it after Punjabi MC hit the charts two years ago. DJs will be able to get the lead single “Ishq Naag (Love Bites)” by RDB featuring Elephant Man on vinyl through AV8 within the next 2 weeks. Described as a new sound of Indian / Jazz / Hip-Hop and Dancehall, the single is already getting rave reviews on the mix tape and club scene. RDB, who are undoubtedly the biggest group on the Indian and UK global scene, continue to perform to sold out shows including New York’s Webster Hall this month. This is their first crossover track with well known dancehall artist Elephant Man. For an exclusive preview of the track, visit the Bollyhood Records website.BHOOD: The Album Vol.1 A collaboration of Indian & Urban ArtistsNew, Original Music & Exclusive Remixes!! Straight out of the U.S!Featuring: Elephant Man, RDB, Yukmouth, Christion, Bikram Singh and more!RDB Featuring Elephant Man “Ishq Naag (Love Bites)”Available soon on vinyl through AV8, promo copies available (email below)EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW NOW UP ON www.bollyhoodrecords.com !

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Icon Hip-Hop Group Public Enemy Drops DVD

2005-05-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

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As a fan of Public Enemy, well at least their older material, its nice to see them able to capitalize off of DVD sales. Chances are we will be getting this in the store if not just because of our deep respect for the instituion that has become Publice Enemy...

-- NEWS STORY --

New York-based super hip-hop rap group Public Enemy established itself as the world’s foremost rap group in the late Eighties, a position it has maintained ever since.

This icon status hip-hop rap group has always courted controversy on account of its militant stance and the uncompromising content of many of its songs. These vivid sketches of ghetto life in the mean streets of New York are perceptive, poetic and striking social documents.

The Recordings included are Brothers Gonna Work It Out; Welcome To The Terrordome; Bring The Noise; Son Of A Bush; Shut Em Down; Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos; Escapism (Medley): He Got Game, Revolverlution, 911 Is A Joke, Public Enemy #1; DJ Lord Solo; Give It Up

Don’t Believe The Hype; Rebel Without A Pause; ...

Charges For Hip-Hop’s Dr. Dre Attacker

2005-05-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

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Justice is a dish best served cold... Looks like this whole incident is finally getting hashed out... My question is... Was Suge involved??? Anyone? Police? Just a question...

-- NEWS STORY --

Jimmy James Johnson, the man who allegedly punched hip-hop / rap producer Dr. Dre after asking for his autograph during a taping of the Vibe Awards show on Nov. 15th last year; will stand trial for assault.

Superior Court Judge James Dabney found sufficient evidence to try 26-year-old Johnson for assault. The judges ruling came down Friday but no trial date was set.

The attack set off a chair throwing brawl that spread through the crowd at the awards.

Johnson, who has pleaded not guilty, was...

READ MORE AT THUG LIFE ARMY>>

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This Week's Hip-hop Charts

2005-05-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

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HOUSTON IS DOING THE DAMN THING!!! Look after a week the fad? that is Mike Jones is still selling like hotcakes... Glad to see it cause personally i am feeling his surrrupy style flow. The only down factor of this album is the constant MIKE JONES MIKE JONES MIKE JONES... Great for branding, but doesn't make for good listening. Outside of that minor point though this album straight KNOCKS... The beats are definately on point and it seems as a whole the indie rap community in Houston has finally upped their production game without losing the style that is making their music SO popular right now. Gotta love that trunk rattling bass...

-- NEWS STORY --

On the week's Hip-hop charts, Mike Jones maintains his place at the top of the Rap Albums chart with his major release debut Who Is Mike Jones?, however, the set drops 3-8 on the Billboard 200, still managing to stay in the Top 10.

Debuting this week is fellow Houston rapper Z-Ro, who's Let The Truth Be Told enters the chart at No. 5. Z-Ro is considered one of the kings of the Texas rap scene and has already built a huge local name for himself with independently released material. Meanwhile, Three 6 Mafia maintains and only drops one notch with their combination DVD/CD Choices II: The Setup.
Eminem's Encore falls out of the Top 10 on the Rap albums chart in its twenty-fifth week on the chart. Check out the results of our new weekly top album and top song poll and don't forget to vote for next week.

COURTESY OF ABOUT>>

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Lil'Scrappy signs with G-Unit

2005-05-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

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Rumours from every corner of the earth is that Atlanta based rapper Lil'Scrappy has left Lil' Jon and signed with 50 Cent's G-unit click. Source say that the 2 have been hanging out alot and having meeting discussing him joining the label. If this is true, will Lil'Scrappy's crunkness change I mean lets be honest, Young Buck's album was good, but it so wasn't crunk at least not for me. Right know I hear he is working on his own thing called G'z up, which I've heard some tracks off the mixcd and they are hot so ya'll need to check that out. Whether he's on Lil'Jon's label or G-unit and intern from BME states Lil' Scrappy is in the studio knocking out tracks with the Neptunes, David Banner, TI, and yes sir 50 Cent. I hope this is a solo effort by Scrappy not another double disc cause Scrappy really shines alone. Check out Lil' Scrappy and Trillville at SonicGarden.com Search CBlack

COURTESY OF HIPHOPHOTSPOT.COM >>

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The Game Pays Tribute To Tragic Hip Hop Stars

2005-05-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

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Personally I have mixed reactions to The Game... He seems to be doing alot more charity type work than most rappers in the game, at least focusing a bit of time to those that paved the way, those that helped him, and those that are not as well off. however I still just don't think he can rap... I like some of his beats, but man his rhymes are s bad. I'll take Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Chamillionare, and Slim Thug any day over any G-Unit rapper in general... And peoples I am not from the south... its all about cadence and at least appeearing like you can rap...

-- NEWS STORY --

THE GAME PAYS TRIBUTE TO RAP & R&B'S LOST SOULS

Rapper THE GAME pays his respects to hip-hop and R&B's tragic souls in his new DREAMS video, in which he retells the 2001 shooting incident that left him in a coma, fighting for his life.
The California-based rap sensation admits the tribute song, which name-checks TUPAC SHAKUR, NOTORIOUS B.I.G, AALIYAH and LISA 'LEFT EYE' LOPES (corr), took him a month to write...

READ MORE AT FEMALEFIRST >>

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Hip hop pair sought over shooting

2005-05-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

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Keeping it gully across the globe... Unfortunately this seems like another opportunistic chance by the media to Brand hip-hop as gangster... Is it really important that the duo involved in this crime are part of a hip-hop group? They are not even that well known... So why is the article titled this way? Anyway read on below.

-- NEWS STORY --

Police are hunting for two members of London hip hop band Goodfellas in connection with a shooting.

A 45-year-old man was shot in the stomach in Sharpcroft, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, at 2000 BST on 21 April.

Hertfordshire Police have issued photographs of Karl Morgan, 20, from Acton, west London, and Ambassador Enweremadu, 21, from St Albans, Herts. Tyrone Morgan, 21, from Hemel Hempstead, has been ... READ MORE FROM BBC >>

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Female Rap Artist Has New Legal Woes

2005-05-04T00:50:00.000-07:00

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Lil Kim... well what can we say... She is what she is and the plastic surgery has not helped anything... Anyway read below and you will understand why we really ahve no comment...

-- NEWS STORY --

Hip-hop’s queen bee, female rap artist Lil’ Kim was convicted March 17 of perjury and conspiracy charges, for lying to investigators and to a federal grand jury about her involvement in a shooting four years ago at New York hip-hop station Hot 97 Her sentencing has been scheduled for June 24. Lil’ Kim faces up to 20 years in prison

Now she has new legal problems as a lawsuit filed on April 28 in New York State Supreme Court by songwriters Anthony Jeffries and ...

READ MORE AT THUGLIFE ARMY >>

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The Akai MPC1000 is a little box of love, be you a hip-hop producer, rocker or electronica vocalist

2005-05-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

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A nice write up about the MPC1000 which it seems to be is the current producers choice for beat making. The word I have heard on the net, is that alot of producers are trading in their 2000's for 1000's? Not being a producer I am not sure.

-- NEWS STORY --

Its presentation is flashy: a small, laptop-size durable blue plastic box with red trimmings and multicolored buttons of many sizes.

Green, red and yellow lights flicker with vivid intensity, like jungle eyes hungrily watching a wounded elk, as the ghostly green LED screen flashes beats, bars and ticks.
This is the Akai Music Production Center 1000, and--much like its forefathers--it is a sex machine.

Akai's legendary drum machines/samplers have been used by famous hip-hop producers since the late '80s. Instrumentalist DJ Shadow, DJs Cut Chemist and Numark of Jurassic 5, the ever-popular Neptunes, the remarkably talentless Dr. Dre (so I'm biased toward gangster rap, sue me) and many, many others are no strangers to the MPC4000 and 2000XL.

But these behemoths are usually found only in multimillion-dollar studios, where they belong.
Akai's newest beatbox, the MPC1000, is a more cost-effective instrument as well as a technologically advanced piece of audio equipment. Available for about a grand at Guitar Center and many online stores (including eBay), the MPC1K is a step in the right direction for musicians with an interest in staying up to date.

I speak from experience. This is a truly beautiful device.

It offers a USB 2.0 connection and ...

READ MORE FROM FREDRICKSBURG.COM >>

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MTV Keeps Its "Straight Up Hip-Hop All Week"

2005-05-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

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FUCK MTV. I am tried of them co-opting everything hip-hop and trying to make themselves some kind of authority. just because you play videos to the highest f**kin bidder, DOES NOT MAKE YOU AN AUTHORITY. A bunch of white yuppie executives sippin lattes and determining who is hot or not. Dipshits... Anyway oce again they are bringing it straight hip-hop all week... you know the best since 2000...bullshit...

-- NEWS STORY --

The Ying Yang Twins, Fat Joe, T.I., Mike Jones, Cassidy, Trillville and R&B acts Amerie and Bobby Valentino, will also join Direct Effect hosts La La and DJ Clue for exclusive performances, interviews and video premieres throughout the week.

READ MORE AT SOHH >>

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Trek Life Review from Music For America

2005-05-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

You want more talent? Then get familiar with Trek Life. I reviewed him a few months ago and felt back then that he had the passion and drive to do some serious damage. I heard someone who was hungry, eager, and willing to take his skills to the next level. While he is preparing a brand new album, he’s come out with a mix CD called Keep The Receipt. Check out some of the people who contributed tracks to this CD: DJ Babu, Evidence, DJ Rhettmatic, as well as some self-produced songs. Even though this is a mix CD, it comes off as an album in its own right, and I feel that he has the same intensity that a rapper formerly known as Common Sense was known to have when he was riding jeeps around Chicago. What makes me come up with such a bold comparison? Trek Life sounds borderless. If you don’t understand what that means, then perhaps he’s not... no, you’re not ready for him yet. Take your time, he’ll be around. You can find out more by clicking to his Myspace page.
If you’re not ready to pick up a full CD by Trek Life, but want to catch hints of his wisdom, seek a new mix CD by DJ Primetime, called The Formula Vol. 3. Primetime has been around for a few years, displaying his love of quality music and great records. This one features tracks from One.Be.Lo, Jedi Mind Tricks, Boulevard Connection, and Oh No.

Dave Mays: Real Talk Part 1

2005-05-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

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So now its Dave Mays turn tot alk about the Source... The other side of the story to counteract Reginald's interview about 2 weeks ago. To me this seems like it is more just a publicity stunt to drum up more interest in the Source and its weak game right now... Personally the magazine has been garbage for about the last 5 years at the very least and this isn't going to have me buyig a copy any time soon. If this isn't a publicity stunt, then really I feel sorry for Dave, and Ebnzino as they are plying themselves. Why even respond? If it doesn't matter and the dude is weak, why even take the time to respond to his interview? Lets add to that the fact that they are being sued for sexual harassment... Umm yeh that bright future The Source once had is very quickly dimming.

Quick Word of Advice Dave Mays: DROP BENZINO. He is not helping you do anything but drag what's left of the magazine into the dirt... He is clueless and as much as he wants to be a famous rapper, he just doesn't cut it. NO ONE IS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BENZINO ALBUM.

-- NEWS STORY --

Who is Dave Mays? Is the Harvard graduate the reserved magazine magnate he appears to be in public? Or behind closed doors, is Mays more like the bullied kid former Source staffer Reginald Dennis claimed he is in a recent interview on hiphopdx.com? Only Mays knows for sure, and he's never been one to talk. Until now.

Facing an onslaught of rumors about his magazine, Mays lays it on the line and discusses Dennis, his friendship with Benzino, and the financial status of The Source. You be the judge.

AllHipHop.com: All right. So I assume you’ve read the Reginald Dennis—

Dave Mays: I read the Reginald Dennis fiction chronicles.

AllHipHop.com: Fiction chronicles. Well I guess going right into it why do you say fiction?

Dave Mays: I mean because you know its creative writing at its best. I mean come on; this is a guy who hasn’t been around for about 11 years. Like he left The Source in ‘94; we’re in 2005. Like who has obviously been obsessed with the fact that he’s no longer a part of The Source for I guess 11 years this has continued to bother him to the point he, even in his own articles, he says he’s been behind different schemes to try and mess up The Source and you know create problems for us. What could be more obvious than a guy who was basically forced out of The Source because he wasn’t performing. It was time for a change. The magazine actually flourished in his and the others’ absence, I mean the ‘90’s [staff is] acting like The Source hadn’t been the biggest thing in Hip-Hop since ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, 2000, 2001, 2002; I mean The Source exploded and grew to incredible heights since he left. So obviously you weren’t that important to what The Source is about. It’s pretty obvious that you’re a bitter, closet kind of weirdo. I mean that’s what this guy was. I mean the reality he was a weirdo; he was a loner; he was a guy who was by himself.

READ MORE AT ALLHIPHOP >>

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Buckshot Drops Hip-Hop 'Chemistry'

2005-05-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

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The story behind Buckshot and 9th Wonder’s collaborative union lends credence to the title they selected to matter-of-factly summarize the merging of their vast talents; simply put, it was Chemistry.

What was supposed to be a short visit for Buckshot to 9th Wonder’s secretive recording enclave in North Carolina, ended up resulting in one of the most highly-anticipated Hip-hop LP’s of 2005, as Buckshot laments “We actually came down to work with 9th on Sean Price and Smif N Wesson’s LP’s; we realized they needed some dope tracks and I felt like 9th Wonder was the man to go to. The sessions were going so well with Sean and Smif N Wesson that I was blessed to get on a track as well. The vibe was so good that the next day we did another joint and then another and then another.Our chemistry was so good, that it just became Chemistry.”

If your familiar with Hip-hop you know the name Buckshot; the frontman for the Boot Camp Click, the entrepreneur behind the branding ...

READ MORE AT THUGLIFE ARMY>>

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Legends of Hip-hop tickets on sale

2005-05-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

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Legends??? I am not sure about that... I mean Coolio had his 15 minutes, but he isn't what I would call a legend. Young MC? Dope MC, yes, but legend? Not in my book. Digital Underground? OK maybe. This would be a grey area, because Sex Packets is a classic, and they also helped to unleash the career of TuPac Shakur... Note: we carry alot of Tupac Shakur Records on the site, Don't sleep! We even have some OG Digital Underground vinyl record singles... Sorry no more shameless self plugging...

-- News Article --

VAIL -Tickets for the June 3 concert by the Legends of Hip-hop at the Ford Amphitheater are on sale at various Vail Valley locations. The Legends of Hip-Hop, featuring Coolio, Young MC, Tone-Loc and Digital Underground, will revive some of rap's classic tunes as part of the Teva Mountain Games presented by Volkswagen. Tickets for the concert are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Legends of Hip-Hop tickets will be available at the following locations: Vail and LionsHead Visitor Centers, Mojo Music and Moe's Barbeque in Vail. All tickets are general admission and must be paid for in cash only. Tickets will also be available at...

READ MORE AT VAIL DAILY >>

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Shure E4c sound isolating earphones

2005-04-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

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Good looking... For all the ipod heads... or soon to be ipod DJs?? (see our blog about the numark iPod mixer)

--- NEWS STORY ---

Shure is updating their E Series sound isolating line with a follow-up to the E3c earphones. The E4c’s have been updated as per consumer request for better bass response and modified design characteristics to better complement portable digital audio players. They incorporate the same studio quality components developed for in-ear monitoring by the pros, and feature ultra-wide frequency Tuned-Port technology to deliver both an audiophile high end as well as extended bass. They’ll be shipping with multiple foam and flex sleeves for personalizing the fit to your ear and maximizing the sound isolation. Shure will be showing them off at this year’s Home Entertainment Show at the end of this month.

ARTICLE COURTESY OF ENGADGET>>

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Wendy Williams Releasing Hip-Hop Album

2005-04-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

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PLEASE SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!! Man who the hell is going to buy this album??? Wendy Williams??? Album? Take a lesson from Angie MArtinez, YOU ARE A RADIO PERSONALITY! NOT AN MC! PLAY YOUR FUGGIN ROLE... Hate this crossover shit... Attention-whores unite... everytime I hear about some athlete or someone that is a pro at some job wanting a music career I just want to puke... well maybe not puke but it drives me nuts. I know Actors want to sing and Rappers want to act, and radio hosts just want more attention, but c'mon... LOOK AT HISTORY! Unless you actually have some skills in another arena, don't push your luck! And sorry Wendy when i was referring to the term Pro, I was only loosely associating it with you. Personally you annoy the shit out of me and really I am waiting to alugh at the outcome of your attempts in music... But hey its friday morning I am still on my first cup of joe and I have a shitload of work to do... Oh yeh and its just my opinion.

-- NEWS STORY --

Radio personality Wendy Williams has assembled some of her favorite Hip-Hop and R&B artists to present Wendy Williams Brings the Heat Vol. 1, featuring the likes of Jadakiss, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Black Rob, and M.O.P. "I'm a lover of music, and getting the opportunity to put out this CD has helped me express the full range of my love of R&B and hip-hop," Williams said in a statement. "This album is another READ MORE AT ALLHIPHOP >>

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Analysis: Prototype Numark iPod DJ Mixer

2005-04-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

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It was only a matter of time before it went this far... yes the iPod Mixer... Being a vinyl junkie and just all around lover of wax, I am not sure how I feel about this latest jump. Anyway check it.

-- NEWS STORY --

Via Engadget, some details have leaked out about a prototype Numark DJ mixer that can mix two iPods. I know what you're thinking: Wow, what a scoop! Where are the lawyers? Is it a fake?In fact, in a gesture of spectacularly poor industrial secrecy, it seems Numark showed off an early prototype at the Musikmesse show in Frankfurt. (see the discussion at scratchworx that was the source of the 'rumor') Later in the show, head honchos asked that visitors not take photos, but not earlier in the show; hence we have a couple of images from German...

READ MORE: O'GRADY'S POWER PAGE

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TASCAM DJ Partners With Mixwell World-Renowned DJ Accessory Brand

2005-04-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

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It was only a matter of time before clothing and gear started teaming up... Now its time for RETAIL to join the mix! hahaha.... This looks interesting though. I am interested to see what happens with this partnership.

-- NEWS STORY --

Mixwell, a world-renowned and trusted brand name in the scratch and performance DJ community, has joined forces with TASCAM DJ on a number of co-branded projects and products scheduled for release in the Fall of 2005. “We’ve always had an interest in taking our brand into the professional DJ and pro audio market," explains Shawn Quarles, President, MixwellUSA Inc. "TASCAM is the industry leader and has been known for its quality products for many years. With Mixwell’s undeniable worldwide appeal and TASCAM's market position, the introduction of these products will be a huge success. We are extremely excited about the opportunities that this collaboration presents now and in the future.” “We are really excited to be working with Mixwell," says TASCAM DJ Product Manager Dave Arevalo. "We are working closely together on some very cool and unique products. To have their expert input and seal of approval is an honor.” Look out for Mixwell gear and apparel to be sold on the TASCAM DJ store in the near future.

STORY FROM MUSICGEARREVIEW >>

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2005-04-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

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Look I am all about diversifying your business units and looking for new ventures when you ahve done your thing in one area... But c'mon people, haven't we bastardized hip-hop enough??? haven't we screwed around with the formula enough to know there are some places it just shouldn't go??? Now Russell Simmons in all his street cred knowledge and I am hip-hop wisdom wants to take hip-hop to YOGA... The thing is it will probably make him a lot of money and now we will have latte sippin yuppie soccer moms thinking they are down... I am sure this was exactly the vision old school cats had for rap music... gak.

-- NEWS STORY --

NEW YORK — As country is to line-dancing, rap is to ... yoga?
Hip-hop guru Russell Simmons has entered the fitness world with the release of a yoga video set to rap beats. Russell Simmons Presents Yoga Live is an otherwise traditional instructional video that teaches the basics of yoga postures and breathing.
"For me, this is a very serious venture," Simmons recently told The Associated Press. "If I could move the meter and take yoga and spread it ... then everyone in the world would do it."
The 47-year-old Simmons has practiced yoga for nearly a decade. The creator of rap label Def Jam also has introduced a host of other hip-hop flavored products including an HBO comedy series, clothing lines and beverages — but says this yoga series is especially important.
"Everything you sell has got something to do with happiness," Simmons says. "So this is the best thing that I can sell."
Hosted by Sara Ivanhoe, the video (also available in DVD) has a soundtrack with relatively tame rap beats.
"It's really about silence," Simmons said. "The world can be a backdrop, but you've got to use your breath as the real soundtrack."

NEWS STORY FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE >>

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FAT JOE IN LATINO HIP HOP EXTRAVAGANZA

2005-04-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

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it looks like Fat Joe is giving back to the community (not to say that he never has in the past), which is always good to see because this type of stuff in hip-hop doesn't get promoted unless its a Russell Simmons publicity stunt, or Puffy telling us to VOTE OR DIE!... gag... Great job Puffball you did your thing and really helped the better candidate win... I secretly think he voted for Bush - but then anyone with as much cheddar as he has should be with all the back scratching Bush is doing for the rich. Anyway back to Fat Joe. I am really glad he is finally getting the recognition he is due. Too many years of grinding to not get some exposure like this.

-- NEWS STORY --

The Libertad Festival 2005 kicks off in New York this summer which is the first music tour to specialise in the Latin selection of hip hop, before sweeping Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.

Joey Crack will make sure the tour centres on Latin genres, telling Sohh.com, “The time has come to recognise all that Latinos are contributing to hip hop culture. We created this tour as a platform to recognise some of these promising Latin hip hop artists while helping to unite Latino youth through music.” The Terror Squad tsar who works alongside fellow Latino J-Lo almost every other week, is looking set to rep the tour to the fullest.

Fat Joe fans hold tight as his album is just around the corner.

STORY FROM RWDMAG.COM

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Hip-Hop Culture Explore Bev Smith

2005-04-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

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Hip-hop culture is more than rap tracks and club life. A member of the hip-hop nation should be informed on all areas that involve the entire real world.

As BET and MTV air videos of clubbing, hoochies and other waste of tape, the real world still goes on.

There are many things that touch all of us and it expands way beyond which rap crew is beefin with which other crew or what hip-hop artist is facing legal action now.

There are many good outlets for the real news of what is going on in this country, news that affects all of us. No not CNN or ABC but real resources where an exchange of ideas and comments motivate thought and in many cases a need for action is seen.

There is a talk show on American Urban Radio Networks hosted by Bev Smith which is one of these thought provoking news type programs.

The topics that are brought forth on the show are as thought provoking as the subjects are wide and diverse.

Bev Smith is an award wining journalist who confronts today’s Black leadership and decision makers with hard-hitting questions, at the same time providing her listeners the opportunity to voice their opinions. “The Bev Smith Show” is Urban radio’s...

READ MORE FROM THUGLIFE ARMY>>

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Who is Mike Jones?

2005-04-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

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Damn it feels good to see people up on it! yes the crew from the south that really helped direct the attention of the hip-hop community to Houston is even making headlines on CNN. Even though the single Still Tippin is about 2 years old, it still is burning radio and TV up... I know it is baffling the hell out of the record execs who I am sure passed on the track and video numerous times... Look to all you wack ass A & R's let me give you a hint "The 808 Bass Drum Makes the Girlies Get Dumb!". Its all about that trunk rattling bass from the midwest on.... Like I said in a newsletter, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BASS WE ALL LOVE BACK!

NEW YORK (AP) -- The only ordinary thing about Mike Jones is his name.
Thanks to innovative marketing schemes like making his personal phone number public and saying his name as often as possible, the Houston rapper has managed to shoehorn his "Still Tippin' " single into heavy rotation nationwide.
Now comes his debut album, "Who Is Mike Jones?", which promises to spread his Texas drawl even further. He spoke with... READ MORE FROM CNN>>

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2005-04-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

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So now we can be a DJ in a band... A marching band. I ahve seen this posted around on different forums and it looks like it is slowly gaining speed. I am just a bit concerned about that tone arm and it sliding across my vinyl leaving a nice fat gouge in it...

The Scratchophone is a portable DJ instrument, designed and prototyped in France by student Alari Thierry. Alari realised that his turntables weren’t a real musical instrument, just a big stereo system. Instead, he had a vision of a “portable scratching bongo drum”, something which would let him jam with his friends in bands, and play music outdoors without a sound system.

READ MORE >>

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Still spinnin' - DJ Craze

2005-04-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

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A nice article on DJ Craze, who for all yall non-turntablist, or just not interested in scratch DJs - he killed it on both teh drum and bass scene and the scratch DJ scene for years... on the same level as DJ Q-Bert.

DJ Craze is a rare creature - a veteran turntablist, writes Khalil Hegarty.

Turntabilism is the professional sport of the DJ world. For a few years, certain champions reign supreme. Their techniques and prowess are admired by teenage boys around the world; they appear on magazine covers and accept product sponsorships. Then age sets in; hands lose dexterity, and another set of rookies appear and destroy the competition with new scratches, songs and routines.
Aspiring champions ignore the high workforce turnover at their peril - any number of competition winners have faded into obscurity. But Florida's DJ Craze (Aristh Delgado) has kept his name alive.
Sure, he won the DMC Technics World DJ Competition a record three years in a row from 1999 to 2001, but that's no retirement plan - and Delgado knows it. In Doug Pray's seminal DJ film Scratch, he let fly with a comment almost dismissive of turntablism as a career: "I don't wanna be looking back in 20 years and thinking, 'Yeah, man, I was representing.' "
But even as a turntablist and a DJ, Delgado has...

Female DJ rocks McGintys

2005-04-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

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The ladies continue to hold it down as they usually do when they take on the task of Djing... Not only is she female but she is rocking in Botswanna!!! Nice global effect of the DJ...

-- NEWS STORY BELOW --

What a blast of a gig it was! Most people in Botswana don’t know that women can also spin the vinyls and if you have never seen them in action then you missed out on DJ Rebbecca who rocked McGintys ... READ MORE>>

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Wax Launch Party feat. DJ Q-BERT

2005-04-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

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Its nice to see that scratch Djs are still getting work outside of Raves... Although since Q is looked upon by much of the world as the king of scratch DJs I guess I shouldn't be surprised... Although it does seem over the last year or so more and more hipster Djs tend to ignore Scratching and dog it out, which I never understood. To me a well versed DJ can do all of the above and even if he/she isn't focused on scratching at least has an interest in learning how to scratch to increase their abilities and how and what they can mix. Again this is a whole other argument that is probably better served for a message board somewhere... story below.

-- News Story Below --

HAVING FIRST EMERGED AS A MEMBER OF SAN FRANCISCO’S ALL-CONQUERING INVISIBL SKRATCH PIKLZ (ALONGSIDE D-STYLES, MIXMASTER MIKE, YOGA FROG AND SHORTKUT), Q-BERT HAS REVOLUTIONISED THE ART OF DJING AND BECOME AN AMBASSADOR FOR TURNTABLISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. DMC WORLD CHAMPION THREE YEARS IN A ROW... READ MORE>>

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Amerie: Don't Be Afraid To Touch

2005-04-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

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A nice write up on one of our new favorite artists... Sorry like we keep sayin! 1 Thing is Straight KILLING IT! Read on...
Meet a stranger on the street and chances are you won't start running off at the mouth, revealing your life story in a heartbeat. In correlation, that's how the beautiful Amerie felt with her debut solo effort, and overall emergence onto the R&B scene. She quite simply wasn't ready and comfortable enough to fully open the doors to her life, and let us in through her music.That was then; this is now and today. Amerie, who will be the first to admit that she has grown as not only an artist, but ...

COURTESY OF BALLERSTATUS

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Hip-Hop ads in video games?

2005-04-27T10:35:00.000-07:00

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OK I am not sure how I feel about this. Actually I am fuckin annoyed. I mean its bad enough we are bombarded with ads everywhere, even in movies, but now after we spend $60-$100 on a video game we have to be bombarded with Ads in the game??? Then again maybe I just need to get over it and finish my coffee... hate this getting up in the morning thing...

With the hip-hop and video game worlds colliding very often, it only seems right that the two entities help each other out. The next phase in advertising comes in the form of product placement in video... READ MORE FROM HIPHOPDX>>

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