The Boombox Music Blog

Romeo Launches College Boyys Clothing Line

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST

Arnold Turner, WireImage Following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of his father, Master P, Romeo Miller, formerly known as Lil Romeo, recently launched a new clothing line centered on affordability and a positive message. Romeo's new line, aptly named College Boyys, has already been endorsed by the likes of Jaden Smith and Justin Bieber and is now being carried at select retailers across the country. College Boyys caters to males from ages 2 to 7 and ages 8 to 20, and features an array of polo shirts, t-shirts, button-downs, argyle sweater vests, hooded sweaters and jeans. In a recent press release sent out from Romeo's camp, the line is described as "more than a brand, it stands for something and is making a real difference." ...

Romeo, who is currently in his senior year at the University of Southern California, credits Master P for giving him the motivation to pursue his own goals and aspirations at an early age. The 20-year-old businessman plans to use his brand to inspire youth and promote education.

"When I was a kid, my dad use to write with a marker on my t-shirt, 'I'm going to college' and that imprint stuck in my head and made a difference to me in my life, turning it into a reality," Romeo said. "I want to implant the same positive message to young boys as they dress themselves each day with a feeling of success. They can look in the mirror at themselves with a positive goal in mind for their bright future knowing that going to college can make a big difference in their lives."

DJ Premier Calls Out Hip-Hop Outlets for not Honoring Guru

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:45:00 EST

Jerritt Clark, Getty Images | Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images Despite the rumors of inner turmoil and a well publicized separation, DJ Premier and Guru will always be remembered for the impact that they left on hip-hop music as the duo Gangstarr. With Guru's untimely and tragic death earlier this year, Preemo has dealt with constant attacks on the Gangstarr name and the group's legacy. However, over the weekend, Premier spoke out on another issue. The legendary DJ made known his feelings towards many major hip-hop outlets that he feels did little to honor the late emcee. Through his blog, the legendary DJ called out all major rap publications. "IT'S SAD THAT ALL OF THE SO-CALLED HIP HOP MAGAZINES DID NOT GIVE HIM A WELL DESERVED COVER WHEN MOST MC'S OUT NOW CANNOT CONSTRUCT RHYMES, FLOWS AND UNIQUENESS AND ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS LIKE HE DID FOR 22 YEARS REPRESENTING THE CULTURE......WE ARE ALWAYS WATCHING WHAT THE INDUSTRY DOES TO PAY HOMAGE AND RESPECT TO OUR LEADERS OF THIS RAP SHIT..." ...
While Premier went on to thank many well respected tastemakers and DJs who he felt did Guru justice, he had no pity for those gatekeepers who he feels were negligent in paying respects. He specifically addressed BET for cutting their Guru shout out from their televised award show last month.

".....I WILL NEVER FORGET IT AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE.......B.E.T. DID THE SAME THING BY REMOVING HIS SHOUT OUT FROM THE 2010 AWARDS DUE TO TIME ISSUES......THAT SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH THEY USE YOU AND THEN THEY SHIT DOWN YOUR THROAT.....ALL I DO KNOW IS THIS : WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO BE REMEMBERED, WE WON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU........WE GIVE RESPECT WHERE IT'S DUE....."

Last week (July 18th), Guru's immediate family held a private memorial service for the rapper in his hometown of Boston. The entire Gangstarr Foundation, including DJ Premier and Big Shug, were those in attendance. Fans can continue to stay updated and receive information on Guru and his foundation at Gurutributes.com.

Game Giving Bling to Fan Buying Most Copies of 'R.E.D. Album'

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST

While many record companies are hard at work trying to mastermind new and creative ways to sell records in a declining music industry, the Game is actually offering some flashy incentives to encourage fans to pick up his forthcoming LP, 'The R.E.D. Album.' Over the weekend, Game (@ihategame) tweeted a message to his 180,000 + followers that read: "Bout 2 give my iced out "Twitter Icon" chain 2 the fan who purchases the most R.E.D. Albums 8-24-10 stay tuned." Included with the tweet was a photo of an impressive diamond encrusted chain and pendant of his all red Twitter avatar. ...

The Compton rapper has been notorious for going lengths to keep his name in the press when he has a new project on the way.
With no other details or information about the jewelry, Game's fans bombarded the rapper with replies, but Game gave no further details. While some fans adamant on picking up 30 or 50 copies, another pointed out, "... i dont think i will need so much of 1 album."

Also in support of his next LP, Game has a new DJ Skee hosted mixtape titled 'Brake Lights' on the horizon.

Former Def Jam President Receives Parisian Top Honor

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:45:00 EST

It seems as if the French hold hip-hop in a higher regard than we may think. Recently, rap mogul Kevin Liles was named an honorary citizen of Paris and honored with the Médaille de la Ville de Paris -- the highest award an individual can receive for their contributions to Parisian culture. Kevin received his award during his last visit to France for the 5th Annual Paris Hip-Hop Awards which took place from June 22-July 4. The former Def Jam president shared his admiration for the culture and graciously accepted the prestigious Médaille de la Ville de Paris award. "I am profoundly honored to receive the Médaille de la Ville de Paris, especially for my role in helping to make Hip-Hop a mainstream art form globally," Kevin Liles said. "Spreading the message of Hip-Hop and what it can mean to anyone has long been a personal passion of mine. To be given such a special honor in one of the world's best cities for just that purpose is genuinely overwhelming." ...

During the upscale awards ceremony Paris' Vice Mayor Christophe Girard spoke on behalf the Parisian government and expressed his sincere gratitude for Liles' efforts in spreading the art to his city, "Kevin Liles represents for me hope and talent, energy and commitment. He never gave up his battle for hip-hop and today hip-hop is a fully recognized art," said Girard. "He is an example for the new generations and now he is my friend and a friend of Paris."

Back stateside Kevin continues to work as CEO of KWL Enterprises and is currently preparing for release Def Jam's latest video game 'Def Jam Rap Star' which is scheduled for release in October 2010. Over the weekend Liles also wed longtime girlfriend Erika Jones in Birmingham, Alabama.

Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj Collaboration Puzzling Even to Track's Producer

Mikey Fresh — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST

As Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj continue their bitter feud, the leak of a mysterious track featuring both female rappers has fans in disbelief. With Lil Kim continuing her tirade against the rising Lil Wayne-affiliated rapper, fans were left guessing when and how the track was recorded. "As soon as Kim came home from jail -- right before 'Dancing With the Stars' -- I was like, 'There's this new bitch that's about to be hot, you might want to fuck with her," recalls Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, the song's producer via Vibe. "Nicki came to the studio and did the verse with me. She hadn't even met Kim." ...

The record that would come out from those fateful sessions titled 'Everywhere We Go' made its way on to the Internet earlier this month. A former Bad Boy producer, D-Dot maintains that the track was recorded over two years ago and was never completed by Lil Kim. The verse that you hear on the record is actually just a reference she laid prior.

"[Lil Kim] said 'cool when you put Nicki on it send it back to me,'" he explained. "I sent it back and she never re-did a new verse. So that's the same old Lil Kim reference verse." D-Dot couldn't give an explanation as to why Kim never came back and finished recording her vocals. But it's without a doubt that the song was recorded long before their current rivalry began to bubble. Still, the producer has no clue as to how the record even made its way to the public, "I didn't leak the record. The only people that had a copy was Lil Kim and me," he says. "So I don't really know where that came from."

Pusha T Records Dedication to Jamaican Drug Lord

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:30:00 EST

In wake of the recent capture of international fugitive Christopher "Dudus" Coke, an alleged Jamaican drug kingpin who authorities are also claiming holds ranks as the supposed head of the infamous "Shower Posse" gang, Clipse's Pusha T has recorded a dedication to the imprisoned, larger-than-life figure. Dudus has been fighting extradition to the United States from Jamaica since last May when he was indicted on various international drug and weapons charges. During the five week man hunt that led to his arrest, more than 70 Jamaicans -- including civilians and security officials -- were slain in his pursuit. ...

Considered to have a shadowy past, Coke is seen as a Robyn Hood type to the many of the citizens of Jamiaca's impoverished neighborhoods such as the Tivoli Gardens Garrison where he calls home. His connection to government officials as well having massive influence and manpower from the streets has allowed Dudus to become one of the most powerful outlaws on the island of Jamaica.

Over Diddy's Angels instrumental, Pusha echoes his drug dealer sentiments to the infamous mastermind known as Christopher "Dudus" Coke. "First God, then Dudus."

The-Dream Switching From the Mic to the Pen

Mikey Fresh — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:20:00 EST

Terius "The-Dream" Nash prefers to keep a low profile. His arsenal of platinum plaques and ASCAP awards seem to play the back door to his need for personal privacy. The songwriter/singer is credited for being the creative force behind chart topping hits penned for international pop stars such as Britney Spears, Madonna, Rihanna, and Beyonce, among others. With his third and rumored final solo album, 'Love King,' scheduled for release on June 29, The-Dream has his eyes set on putting the mic down. Because contemporary urban artists simply aren't challenging his creative palette, The-Dream intends to use his pen to dominate the R&B charts "I love Kanye. He's literally the only person that challenges me. He has an overwhelming love for music also, and that's why he's misunderstood. The boy is a genius," The-Dream told The New York Times. "You can be mad all you want, but he loves what you listen to more than you love it. When he lost his mom I cried." While always referring to himself as a songwriter, first, The-Dream's infectious solo records have quickly becomes staples on radio outlets and clubs across the globe. With that said, his constant threats of hanging up the mic often create cliffhangers of sorts when it comes to his albums, will 'Love King' be his last? Only time will tell. ...

Fat Joe Disses 50 Cent on New Album's Intro

Mikey Fresh — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:45:00 EST

Just as we thought Fat Joe's long standing feud with 50 Cent was finally buried for good, journalists in New York City are reporting that Joey Crack still has some venom for his nemesis on his forthcoming album 'The Darkside, Vol. 1.' The news rang out this past Monday night during the album's listening session when Fat Joe was heard maliciously calling 50 Cent out by his government name and stating that the event of his demise would call for celebration, "We gone throw the biggest party when Curtis die," Joe says on the Scram Jones-produced intro off the new album. Both Fat Joe and 50 Cent have traded scathing diss tracks directed toward one another since '05, but have never been engaged in any physical altercations. You can hear the diss for yourself when Joe's tenth solo album hits stores on July 27. 'The Darkside, Vol. 1' tracklist is available after the jump. ...

'The Darkside, Vol. 1' tracklist:

1. Intro [Prod. by Scram Jones]
2. Valley Of Death [Prod. by Cool & Dre]
3. I Am Crack [Prod. by Just Blaze]
4. Kilo (feat. Clipse & Cam'ron) [Prod. by DJ Infamous]
5. Rappers Are In Danger [Prod. by DJ Infamous]
6. Slow Down (Ha Ha) (feat. Young Jeezy) [Prod. by Scoop DeVille]
7. If It Ain't About Money (feat. Trey Songz) [Prod. by Cool & Dre]
8. No Problems (feat. Rico Love) [Prod. by Scoop DeVille]
9. How Did We Get Here (feat. R. Kelly) [Prod. by Raw Uncut]
10. Money Over Bitches (feat. Too $hort & TA) [Prod. by Raw Uncut]
11. Heavenly Father (feat. Lil Wayne) [Prod. by STREETRUNNER]
12. I'm Gone [Prod. by DJ Premier]

Tupac and Biggie Remembered at Wax Museum

Mikey Fresh — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST

Commemorating the late Tupac Shakur's thirty-ninth birthday, the famed Madame Tussauds wax museum brought together the wax statues of Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. at their Washington, D.C. branch yesterday morning (June 16). This marks the first time that the replicas of the West Coast and East Coast emcees have been presented side by side. The figures will be on display in Washington for three months and open to the general public, giving fans a chance to take photos with the statues and get a close look at the wax copies of the two hip-hop legends. Tupac's wax figure dons his trademark bandana, Emporio Armani underwear, sagging jeans and tattoos. Artists crafted the statue using hundreds of photos and real clothing measurements provided by Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur. Biggie's wax interpretation is dressed in a white three piece suit and complete with signature cane and was met with the approval of Biggie's mother, Violetta Wallace. Fans who want to remember the fallen rappers in a state of peace and coexisting harmony may want to make a trip to our nation's capitol before it's too late. ...

Fabolous Being Eyed by NYPD in Murder Case

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST

The New York Daily News is reporting that Fabolous, whose real name is John Jackson, may be currently under investigation by the NYPD as a possible person of interest in the slaying of up and coming Brooklyn rapper G-Baby. While Fabolous has yet to be questioned in the March 13, 2010 murder of Greg "G-Baby" Brown, video evidence has surfaced that shows Fab leaving the nightclub just minutes before the 20-year-old was brutally gunned down. G-Baby was the protégé of another Brooklyn rapper, Memphis Bleek, and was also signed to Bleek's Get Low Records. On the night of his murder, G-Baby entered the venue without his usual entourage to serve as the opening act for a scheduled performance by Fabolous at the Queen's nightclub Amazura. A police source told the NYDN, "[Fabolous] is about to get in the car as the shooting goes down." ...

Former hip-hop crime investigator Derrick Parker was present on the night of G-Baby's murder and says Fabolous made his exit around 4AM with no incidents or altercation during the night. Soon after, several blocks away, G-Baby was fatally shot in the back along with an innocent bystander who was hit in the groin and suffered non-life threatening injuries.

With no arrests or further leads in the case, G-Baby's mother also linked Fab to the murder, "My son was going to talk to Fab in a car and he got shot three times," Ms. Brown tells the New York Daily News. She added that she is only seeking justice for her son, "I don't want to talk to Fabolous," she said. "I want whoever did this to pay."

Fabolous' camp has yet to release a statement and his lawyers have not returned phone calls to the Daily News. Even with Derrick Parker confirming that G-Baby and Fabolous once shared a beef, Police have yet to name him as an official suspect in the case.

The Kid Daytona Is His Own Trendsetter on 'The Interlude'

Mikey Fresh — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST

Somewhere along the race for the next King of New York, The Kid Daytona decided to take another route. Back track to the early 2000s, Daytona was in the fast lane, alongside other up-and-comers like Mickey Factz and Jae Millz, battling in the streets of New York. While many artists wanted to be the next heir to the throne, The Kid Daytona was looking for something more. "New York Hip-Hop just got to a point where everybody was just talking about the same thing," Daytona tells the BoomBox on a day off from the studio. "I don't like following anybody's trends, so really I just started making the music that I wanted to make. F--- what anyone was saying," says Daytona. ...

Currently, the South Bronx-by-way-of-the-Dominican Republic emcee is hard at work in the lab recording a new project that'll be released in April. "I got a new mixtape in the works called 'The Interlude' and it's going to be presented by LRG," Daytona reveals. "DJ Green Lantern is actually putting it together, and it's pretty much just a teaser for my album. I'm rhyming over classic breaks and interludes with production from Bink, Doo Wop and of course Green Lantern." These days, after several label deals gone sour early in his career, Daytona is perfectly content with putting his music out independently using the Internet as his primary medium for connecting with fans.

Even though he's labeled a new artist, Daytona has spent years learning a great deal about the marketing and promotion of his music. He's a part of the New New York generation, determined to bring musical credibility back to Big Apple, after all the King of N.Y. died on March. 9th, 1997 and there's no replacing him. Before he dipped off to a photo shoot, Daytona made it clear that he's here to create his own, "When you're true to yourself, people always f--- with you. I always remain true to myself and who I am. I refuse to present anything fraudulent in my art."

Jim Jones Ready to Free 'The Ghost of Rich Porter'

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Even though he now lays his head in a plush suburban neighborhood, tucked safely across the water from his old stomping grounds on the uptown blocks of New York City's Harlem, Jim Jones is still in tune with the pulse of the street. Jones has a new mixtape made especially for the hustlers and go-getters ready to be released, "It's coming on 3/23, 'The Ghost of Rich Porter.' I got all original production on there; Byrd Gang is on there, Shawty Lo, Gucci Mane. I just felt the need to make recession music, you know records that'll motivate you to want go out there and make money," Jimmy tells The BoomBox from his private studio located indiscreetly near Manhattan's garment district. After running nearly an hour late, Jones has finally arrived to his last minute listening session and a group of anxious journalists are already several tracks into his latest creation. The mixtape pays homage to the infamous Harlem Drug Kingpin, but the essence of the music is much deeper than one man, "Rich Porter sent the precedent for the life that we wanted to live. He made Harlem look good and people look up to the whole borough. That's what we do as rappers, even when Mase had his run. Everybody was forced to look at Harlem," says Jimmy between puffs off a freshly rolled blunt. Jones recalls that through his early childhood days, adolescents, and even now he constantly hears and sees reminders of the impact that Rich Porter had on his neighborhood. It was the big jewelry, fast cash, shiny cars and allure of the good life that made Jim pay close attention at such a young age. ...

"I really felt like I was hustlin' again when we recorded 'The Ghost of Rich Porter.' It really just brought me back to that time in my life," Jones tells The BoomBox. There's a mysterious grin that takes over the rapper's face as he reminisces about his wild days running around the streets of Harlem doing whatever he could to make ends meat. Though it's been quite sometime since Jim was searching for fortune on the street corner, the hustler inside him seems to have remained unscathed throughout the trials and tribulations of one Joseph Guillermo Jones II. Street life may be a thing of the past for Jimmy, but it's clear that the streets will always be a part of him.

Consequence Recruits Kanye West, Q-Tip for 'Cons TV'

Mikey Fresh — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:45:00 EST

Dexter Mills was first introduced to the hip-hop stage in the summer of '93 when his older cousin Q-Tip decided to put him on the remix to A Tribe Called Quest's 'The Chase, Pt. II.' The then sixteen-year-old rapper from Queens was just getting his feet wet as his alter ego, Consequence. "It's always great to be on stage with Tribe, there's just a special kind of energy between us. When we did 'Beats, Rhymes, and Life' in '96, I had already been running with them since '94. The nostalgia will just never die with Tribe's music," Cons tells TheBoomBox.com about reuniting with the group last month in Brooklyn. ...

With a new mixtape warming up the streets, and slew of viral video circulating through the Net, Consequence has nothing but spreading his music on his agenda. "I've been working on the album which is slated for the summer, 'Cons TV.' But at the same time I was just giving so many records to radio that I had to put the mixtape out," says Consequence from the ICED Media offices in downtown Manhattan. Admittedly, Cons says he isn't concerned with any monetary gain from this mixtape which contains all original material and guest appearance from Maino, Asher Roth, Diddy, The Lox, and more, "I don't even want your money, I just want your ears," Cons added.

Currently, the Native Tongues alumni has several remixes to his Kanye West produced banger 'Whatever U Want' rackingup spins across radio stations nationwide. Including the Bad Boy remix featuring Puffy and The L.O.X. which stands as a testament to the record's overall vibe. It's clear that this time around, Consequence is simply trying to make GOOD Music that'll move you, "'Cons TV' is just about making the best records with the best producers. I mean, Kanye and Q-Tip executive produced this whole album."

Nicki Minaj Recruiting Swizz Beatz and Kanye for Debut?

Mikey Fresh — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:30:00 EST

Nicki Minaj is continuing to dominate the female rap world in 2010. Young Money's rising femme fatale has been the "go-to girl" for remixes and has already assisted Mariah Carey, Ludacris, and Robin Thicke on their lead singles. With a game plan already in motion, Nicki finally has all eyes on her and she's not planning on slowing down any time soon. Minaj hopes to recruit some of hip-hop's best producer's for her debut. Her lead single 'Massive Attack' already features production from Sean Garrett and should hit radio soon. "I worked with Sean Garrett," she told Rap-Up.com recently. "And probably Swizz Beatz, he's gonna send me something." While she says she's open to beats from unknown producers, she adds "I'm probably definitely going to work with Kanye." "I have songs that, where I am now, they aren't a great representation of me to where I'm at musically," Minaj told MTV. "I wanna start from scratch but I do have my single and it'll be out." ...

Jay-Z Involved in Race Track Pork Barrel Scheme?

Mikey Fresh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST

It looks like the US Attorney's office is sticking its nose into the business dealings of hip-hop mogul Jay-Z and former U.S. Congressman Reverend Floyd Flake's Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG). The two were recently awarded the winning bid to contract and operate 4,000 video slot machines at the Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, New York. Allegations are being made that the two only received the winning bid due to their relationships with Governor Paterson, who is accused of awarding the contract to AEG in order to gain political support from the company's investors. ...

Jay and AEG supposedly bid much less then rivals, offering the least amount of money and financial details while also making unrealistic financial projections. Another prominent figure in hip-hop, Russell Simmons, wound up on a losing team, acting as an advisor to Penn Gaming, who also put in a bid for the Aqueduct Race Track. It was reported that AEG's winning bid totaled in the $200 million vicinity for the license while competitors offered upwards of $300 million, including bonus incentives. All three men were reportedly subpoenaed yesterday (Mar. 2) by the Inspector General's office, which is working with the US Attorney's office in this matter. At press time Gov. Paterson and AEG have denied all allegations.

"People should focus on the community development, rather than the personalities of people involved," Rev. Flake said in a statement. "If the media frenzy drives the development process, then all of the good that could be born out of this possibility will be precipitously lost. From my 30-plus years as a developer in this community, I can tell you that media innuendo does not build projects; strong leaders and solid, well-financed ideas build projects. Aqueduct has the potential to use racing as a Trojan horse -- if you will -- to deliver on a long-elusive and sustainable goal of a new private sector driver of the local economy. To a great extent this reality is part of the rationale for my involvement."

Bun B Blames Collaborations for 'OG Trill' Delay

Mikey Fresh — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EST

Still known as the "trillest" emcee to step out of Port Author, Texas, Bun B recently paid a visit to the Big Apple to shoot a music video with newcomer French Montana for their record 'Bad Habits.' While in town, TheBoomBox got to speak with Bun B on his long awaited third solo album, 'Trill OG,' which has been hit with multiple setbacks. However, the godfather of Texas rap maintains that the hold-ups are due to artists and producers reaching out to contribute to the album. "The reason I can't put out 'Trill OG' yet is because every time I think I'm done someone calls me like, 'I need to get on there!' Bun B explains from the Trump Hotel overlooking NYC's Central Park. "All of sudden here comes Premier, here comes Pharrell talking about 'I need to get on that Bun!" ...

'Trill OG' has been an album in the works for almost two years now with Bun also searching for a new recording home in the process. His previous two solo albums 'Trill' and 'II Trill' were released through Warner Bros/Asylumn, but Bun believes it's time to move on and is currently in talks with Universal to release the new album. Still Bun has kept the streets fed by appearing on more remixes and mixtapes then one can count, "I got a quick turnaround, so people will block out eight hours to do a song and I'm done in an hour and a half, we ain't got nothing else to do but more music," Bun B tells TheBoomBox.

Bun is still finalizing 'Trill OG''s final features and aims for a late summer release. With two records already completed with rap's current Rookie of the Year, Drizzy Drake, Bun B is looking reign over the competition once again.

Kidz in the Hall Get Personal on New Album

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST

Kidz in the Hall's third album -- 'Land of Make Believe' -- dropped online and and in-store today, March 2. This project marks the group's most personal album to date. Naledge, the duo's mouthpiece spoke with The BoomBox during a recent press day in New York City. "There was a period of time when a lot of soul searching was done. Between 'In the Crowd' and now it's just been a whirlwind of ups and downs. There really hasn't been a sense of calm since then." DJ Double agreed that 'Land of Make Believe' will be the album that defines who they are as a group. "It was a focus to make this album more personal because we felt like if we didn't then we'd never be able to separate ourselves from everybody else." ...

Since the two former Penn State graduates were selling their mixtapes by hand at car shows across the West Coast, Naledge and Double-O have advanced with technology and have adapted to using the Web as their medium to connect with fans, "It's a revolution of artists, saying "we are going to take everything into our own hands. We don't really like what's going on the radio, so iPod is the new radio," Naledge says of the duo's constant contact with their largely Internet built fanbase.

With their release date quickly approaching, Kidz in the Hall recently hit the road with their eyes set on the upcoming SXSW music festival. In a few weeks, artists from across the country with gather in Austin, Texas for a week-long schedule featuring some of best independent artist showcases of the year. Kidz in the Hall are currently out on the road with 88-Keys, Izza Kizza, and Donnis.

Drake Takes Notes From Nas

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:45:00 EST

Even though Drake came up empty handed at this year's Grammy Awards, the Canadian-born rapper remains celebratory of his accelerated success and confident in his talent. This past weekend during Sprite's Step Off Show in Atlanta, Drake spoke on transitioning from creating mixtapes to his forthcoming solo debut titled 'Thank Me Later' and the direction he's taking for the album. "You can expect it to be bigger and sound happier. It's going to sound more victorious because that's where I'm at in my life," Drake told Imflashy.com while backstage at the event. With a host of super-producers like Pharrell, Timbaland, and Kanye West already on board to produce on the Young Money/Universal Records release. Drake admits that he's spent a sizeable amount of time working on perfecting his craft and pushing his musical abilities. "I feel like I got a lot got better at rapping, I went back. I really studied Nas, to be honest, because he used to be one of those people who I used to listen to and not really understand how he did it," Drake explained. He continued to break down what exactly made him take such an affinity for the Queens, NY bred emcee. "I always wanted to understand how he painted those pictures and his bar structure. So I really went back and studied Nas and Andre 300 and came back with this album." ...

Eminem, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth Up for Doobie Awards

Mikey Fresh — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:45:00 EST

A few of hip-hop's favorite stoners were nominated in this year's High Times Magazine's coveted Doobie Awards. The annual awards ceremony honors those artists who openly use the green leaf to help get in touch with their musical side. Past hip-hop recipients of Doobie Awards include Snoop Dogg and Cypress Hill. This year's nominees for Best Hip-Hop Artist include Method Man and Redman, B-Real, Asher Roth, Kottonmouth Kings, and Kid Cudi. Four rap songs also made it into the Pot Song of the Year category -- Eminem's 'Must Be the Ganja', Kid Cudi's 'Day N Nite', Meth & Red's 'Dis Iz 4 All My Smokers,' and Asher Roth's 'Blunt Cruisin.' The most reefer-friendly jam will be announced at the 2010 Doobie Awards on March 21 in Austin, Texas, which also coincides with this year's South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival. ...

Akon Reminisces Signing Lady Gaga

Mikey Fresh — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST

Since breaking into the mainstream in '04, Akon has steadily built an empire that has turned the former car thief into a business mogul and record exec. "Lady Gaga pretty much retired me," Akon told the Associated Press recently. "She was definitely a blessing. She came at the right moment. I'm glad I believed in her, boy. That goes to show, if you believe in something good -- it will pay off." Akon has not only written, produced, and sold millions of his own records, he's pioneered other artists signed to his own Konvict Muzik Record Company. Lady Gaga was apparently on her way to being dropped when Akon was the only one who still believed in her talent, "She had went through like four or five labels. When I closed my deal at Interscope, she was getting dropped that week ... they was dropping her again. I was like 'Yo, I wanna sign that right there.' Jimmy [Iovine] was like, 'Yeah, whatever you want, take her. Let's get it done.' She's blossomed into a super-mega star." In addition to Gaga, Konvict's roster boasts T-Pain, Colby O'Donnis, Kardinal Official and more. While Akon seems to have taken a step back from the spotlight to carefully develop his clothing and music distribution businesses, his artists have several projects scheduled to be released this year, with Lady Gaga showing now signs of letting up on her rule of the pop charts anytime soon. The life of a Konvict doesn't seem so bad after all. ...

Wyclef Discusses Recording 'We Are the World 25'

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST

Twenty-five years after the original 'We Are the World' recording was organized to benefit the famine relief in South Africa, the resurrected song featuring a bevy of superstar artists -- Wyclef Jean, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Usher, and more -- is the iTunes top download. The original track -- co-written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson in 1985 -- featured more than 40 artists and was produced by Quincy Jones. Since its release on Feb. 12 with an accompanying music video, the redux version, titled 'We Are the World 25,' has held the Number One sales position on iTunes. Wyclef Jean was recently in New York City for Sony's Make.Believe campaign and spoke about getting involved with 'We Are the World 25.' "I got the call from Quincy and Lionel Richie and they just told me that they needed me on the project and that all the proceeds would be donated to Haiti," Clef told the BoomBox from his Manhattan hotel room. ...

"It was just a surreal feeling for me, man. Here's a song written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson - both were huge influences on me growing up," Clef said of being asked to participate on the record. The Haitian-born singer has played an ambassador role for his country and has been a vital part in getting recording artists and the music community involved in the aide of Haiti during this time of crisis.

Before making his exit to hit the stage at the Canal Room, Wyclef shared his final thoughts on the recording session. "Being in the studio with Quincy Jones and seeing how he vibes, hears the music, and from Barbra Streisand, Kanye West, Will.i.am, Pink all contributing, was absolutely amazing for me as an artist. It's just like every generation has come kiss this man's ring."

MF Doom Disappoints Chicago Crowd With Another Imposter

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST

Hip-hop's masked villain MF Doom pulled another concert no show this past Saturday night at the Congress Theater in Chicago. Billed as "MosDoom," with longtime supporter Mos Def also scheduled to perform, fans in attendance are claiming that Doom once again tricked them into thinking they would see him perform live. The ever so mysterious 40-something-year-old rapper is notorious for sending imposters wearing his trademark metal mask to lip sync his songs at scheduled concerts. Even with a loyal underground following, the rapper continues to dupe fans at shows across the country. Things looked bleak earlier in the night when Mos Def performed a few of Doom's most notable songs wearing a gold version of his super villain mask. The only reassurance the packed venue had were from Mos Def's attempts to calm the crowd down by frantically announcing that Doom was in fact in the building. ...Doom's latest alleged imposter didn't go over too well with fans who had paid for tickets and waited over five hours to see his performance. Concertgoers grew rowdy and restless after they had realized this was yet another disappointment and began pelting the stage with bottles after about ten minutes into the lip syncing performance by the visibly shorter Doom imposter. This was yet another let down by the emcee who continues to live his life behind a mask and walk the fine line between being hip-hop's most hated and celebrated villain. Check out video footage after the jump.

Drake Heading Out on Eco-Friendly Campus Tour

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST

Young Money Entertainment artist Drake has announced that he will be partnering up with the environmental non-profit, Reverb, for his first ever headlining solo tour. The 25-date campus jaunt -- titled the Away From Home Tour -- will also feature Canadian rapper K-OS and the New York City based band Francis & the Lights. In an effort to off-set his carbon footprint, Drake plans to use bio-diesel fuel in his tour bus, as well as biodegradable and recycled products backstage. Environmental and other socially-conscious groups will be allowed to setup booths in the tour's "Eco-Village." The Away From Home Tour kicks off on April 6 at Eastern Illinois University and will end on May 8 in Plymouth, New Hampshire at a private location. The outing -- also dubbed the Campus Conscious Tour -- will mark the first time Drake performs shows without his Young Money family. In related news, Drake's mentor and close friend Lil Wayne is less than 24 hours away from the start of his expected year-long prison term. His Young Money Entertainment staff plans to relocate to New York City while Wayne serves his time incarcerated at Rikers Island. ...

Ciara's Twitter Account Hacked

Mikey Fresh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST

Ciara is the latest celebrity to have their Twitter account hacked into and personal life toyed with. Late, last night an old picture of the twenty-four year old singer and former boyfriend Bow Wow was sent from her account with the tweet,"@Ciara Gosh guys you don't know how good it feels to be back with Bow again." Within minutes the infinite speed of the Internet had fans and media scratching their heads wondering if Cici and Bow Wow had really rekindled their love. The two young entertainers shared a serious relationship in 2006, but have pretty much steered clear of each other since their breakup. Ciara was quick to dispel the rumors and confirmed through her publicist that someone had indeed hacked into her Twitter account, this marking the second offense. "I am so sooo sorry for any confusion if any," Ciara declared with a follow-up tweet. "It was very immature for someone to hack my account! I am hoping everything will be fine now." Currently, Ciara is working on her fourth studio album and has been featured on a number of remixes as of late, including Ludacris' latest single, 'How Low.' ...

C-Murder Speaks from Prison

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:15:00 EST

In an exclusive interview with AllHipHop.com, incarcerated rapper C-Murder spoke out for the first time since being sentenced to mandatory life in prison in August of 2009. This sentence stems from a 2002 incident where C-Murder shot and killed 16-year-old Steve Thomas with a single gunshot to the chest following an argument at Platinum Club in Harvey, Louisiana. Originally, C-Murder caught a break after he was convicted of the crime in 2003 and released after a retrial in which the prosecution was caught expunging the criminal records of their key witnesses. However, new video evidence of the crime makes his current chances of being released again pretty slim. But, it seems as if the New Orleans native, born Corey Miller and brother of rap mogul Master P, has accepted his current circumstances, "Of course I hate it, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do," C-Murder told AllHipHop.com. "Life is short and the time you waste in jail can never be replaced." C-Murder also maintained that he was keeping his mental and physical condition in shape, "I'm holding up pretty good here at Angola. I work out regularly and participate in all sports leagues," C-Murder told AllHipHop.com. ...

With another appeal already in progress, C-Murder is doing his best to remain positive while serving his time and reports for kitchen duty at 5:30AM every morning. C-Murder isn't using his conviction to glorify his "gangsta" rap persona or sell records, but instead asking his fans to learn from his mistakes. "I'm asking you guys to take heed to my situation and better yourselves to live a positive and productive life," C-Murder said.

Lupe Fiasco, Jay Electronica Planning a Collaboration

Mikey Fresh — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:45:00 EST

Lupe Fiasco and Jay Electronica have finally let constant Internet chatter and pressure take control of their music. For months, underground hip-hop devotees on blogs, forums, and message boards buzzed about the magic that could be produced if these two wordsmiths were to hit the studio together. This past Tuesday on Tony Touch's Shade 45 radio show Lupe mentioned that he, himself, would like to collaborate with Jay Elect. "I wanna do a whole album with Jay," Lupe said when asked if the New Orleans native would appear on his forthcoming album, 'L.A.S.E.R.S.' "He's a good guy, I respect him as an emcee." Today Jay Electronica also addressed the wishful thinking of the fans in an interview with Brooklyn Bodega. "We going to be on a track together in the immediate future," Jay assured. "That's my brother. He reached out. I got bad phone etiquette so it took me a minute to reach back. But we gonna reach, we gonna talk. We've been in communication and we're going to work." The thought that a future hip-hop classic may be crafted off what originated from nondescript Internet banter, shows how much of a vital role the World Wide Web plays in today's rap ecosystem. While nothing has been confirmed from either party's label, fans are sure to remain optimistic and continue the online pressure. ...

Rihanna's Flame Matt Kemp Faced Rape Allegations

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST

It seems L.A. Dodger Matt Kemp hasn't been able to keep his name out of the tabloids since becoming Rihanna's first public romance following the Chris Brown debacle. The latest drama stems from a 2002 police report that has recently resurfaced. It was filed by a woman that claimed Kemp, who was 17 at the time, and two former teammates of his Midwest City, Oklahoma basketball team had forced sexual conduct on her. The victim's name was not disclosed. The woman claimed that three men -- Kemp, Sheldon Williams, De'Angelo Alexander -- forced her into sexual conduct at the Columbus Hyatt Hotel at about 2AM on a Sunday morning. All three accused men were in high school at the time, and in Columbus, Ohio for the National Hoops Classic basketball tournament. ...

No arrests or charges were filed against the men but Columbus police confirmed that during their investigation both Williams and Alexander had been questioned. "The woman's accusations are false," Williams was quoted saying in 2002 about the incident. "We were in our room getting ready to go to bed, and someone came in, and things got out of hand, and then Coach came in and broke it up." As a result, he and his teammates had been suspended from school and kicked off the basketball team. Williams, however, went on to play basketball for Duke, Alexander to shoot hoops for the University of Oklahoma and Kemp to bat for the L.A. Dodgers.

This is the second time Kemp's name has come forward up in a domestic abuse case. Last week, it was made public that Felisha Terrell, who dated Kemp in '08, filed a restraining order against him citing verbal abuse and threats made against her. The media circus continued when Kemp's reps claimed that Terrell lied in the restraining order and that all allegations of abuse were false.

Waka Flocka Shot Twice in Robbery Attempt

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:15:00 EST

Upcoming Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka was reportedly shot twice earlier this afternoon after a robbery attempt by two unidentified gunmen. Waka Flocka, born Juaquin Malphurs pulled his car into a local gas station off Old National Highway in Atlanta and shortly thereafter was approached by two gunmen who demanded that he give up his chain. After Flocka refused, the assailants fired shots in his direction hitting him twice in non-fatal areas. Sources say Flocka is in the hospital and in stable condition for now. Waka Flocka is best known for his recent hit 'O, Let's Do It,' and as Gucci Mane's protege. The two share the same label, So Icey Entertainment, as well as management company. At press time, Waka's camp has not released any official statement, but KarenCivil.com has confirmed that they have spoken to a party at Waka's label and confirmed all information. Gucci Mane Featuring Waka Flocka and Soulja Boy, 'Bingo' ...

Twista Records Track for Haitian Earthquake Victims

Mikey Fresh — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:15:00 EST

Chicago native Twista has just released a dedication track to the victims of the horrific earthquake that killed thousands and devastated the country of Haiti early Tuesday evening. Remixing Wyclef and Mary J. Blige's '911,' the tongue twisting emcee wasted no time in expressing his feelings on the disaster and recorded a verse that asks for donations. Twista is one of the first rappers to speak about the tragedy on wax. Before Twista breaks into his rapid but smooth as silk flow, the emcee gives a brief testimony over the songs opening guitar strings, "We all connected by one spiritual web, so I know y'all felt the pain when you seen what happened to my people in Haiti. You couldn't help do nothing but cry, so we now gotta do our part and help. This is dedicated to my people in Haiti. We shall overcome." ...

Currently, you can donate $5 in relief funds through Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti organization by texting "yele" to 501-501. Also UPS is offering free shipping under $50 to Haiti and there are multiple organizations which are collecting supplies and donations for the country's aid. To find more information on how you can help, please visit Yele.org. You can listen to Twista's version of '911' after the jump.

The Clipse Address Reported Jay-Z Diss Track

Mikey Fresh — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:15:00 EST

The Clipse recently addressed the rumors of Jay-Z throwing a shot at them on his record 'Thank You,' which was featured on his latest album, 'Blueprint 3.' The particular line in question, "Let us save you some trouble son/What size suit you is?/This way after the Ruger shoots through a few clips/You can lay in your casket just as you is/We appreciate the target practices/We'll be sure to send flower baskets kid ... ", has had many hip-hop journalists and fans pondering if Jay could really be dissing the Virginia-based duo. In the past The Clipse and Jay have never shared any kind of beef or have even crossed paths for that matter. It seems almost as if Jay has never even acknowledged the duo -- even when Pusha T named dropped Hov on the mixtape track 'Big Dreams.' "Pre-pay rappers, with no minutes/the real niggas limit, they mimic, they H-O-V lane it, they don't pen it/The difference is the Blue Magic ain't in it," rapped Pusha on the song, previously released on the Clipse's 'Till The Casket Drops.' ...
Vibe.com finally got the chance to ask the brothers Thornton whether or not they thought Jay-Z was dissing them, "People have been asking me about that," Pusha T explained in the interview. "I don't know. I don't know man. Jay-Z has to like The Clipse. He raps ... He's a rapper, he has to like The Clipse. Come on, he's heard us before. He knows we're good." Sarcastically, Malice also put his two cents into the thought, "I hate to think that, I mean, really we just The Clipse," Malice added. "You know, we ain't sold millions and millions of records so why would anybody do that?"

Lil Wayne Addresses Gun Charges in New Track

Mikey Fresh — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST

On the new track 'That's What N----- Do,' Lil Wayne finally opens up about his impending prison sentence. Last October, Wayne pleaded guilty to a weapons charge stemming from an arrest in New York City after a search by police turned up a loaded, unregistered handgun in the rapper's possession. In exchange for his guilty plea Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter is expected to receive a one year prison sentence and begin serving his time in February, 2010. While Weezy has remained pretty tight-lipped to the media about his feelings toward his first incarceration to date, the track 'That's What N----- Do' certainly clears up any media generated preconceptions, "They wanna lock me up and throw away the key/I wanna pop 'em up and throw away the heat," raps Wayne on the songs opening bars. Accompanied by some haunting Tupac vocals from his previously released 'Thug Angels' DVD, the track channels the rebel spirit of the fallen rapper. "I'm not going to change cuz a muthaf---- got money," the Tupac sample plays before the beat drops in. 'That's What N----- Do' was originally premiered by KarenCivil.com earlier this afternoon with no other official release information. With the track being a little more than two minutes in length, it will most likely appear on an upcoming mixtape from rapper. ...

Beanie Sigel and Freeway Team Up for 'Roc Boys' Album

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST

Former Roc-a-Fella recording artists Beanie Sigel and Freeway are coming together to release a full-length collaborative album. Both rappers are Philly natives and existing members of the group State Property along with fellow Philadelphia emcees Peedi Crakk, Oschino, Omillio Sparks, Young Chris, and Neef. In the early 2000's the whole squad was signed to Roc-a-Fella Records and on the path to hip-hop superstardom with Jay-Z and Damon Dash cosigns. Fast forward to 2010, and more than half of the Roc-a-Fella family have claimed wrong doing by both Jay and Dame. Subsequently none of the pre-existing relationships or contracts survived the internal conflict. Beanie Sigel was the latest former Roc artist to verbally attack Jay-Z on wax. Regardless of any merit or validation from their former bosses, Sigel and Freeway are preparing to release an album titled Roc Boys on the indie label Siccness Records that also released Sigel's last street album 'Broadstreet Bully.' The name is an obvious play on their previous label and reputation, but neither emcee has stated whether or not there will be any diss tracks geared toward Jay or Dame. It looks like only time will tell. The album has no official release date but is scheduled to be released sometime next month and features guest appearances from Wale, Young Chris and DMX. ...

Kanye Working on New Blog

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST

Kanye West's current blog has garnered almost the same amount of attention as his hit records. Throughout his career, Ye has used the web space as an outlet to express his most intimate feelings as well simple thoughts that may have just come to him at the moment. However, many argue that Kanye isn't even the one posting much of the content which includes everything from modern art, fashion, architecture to much acclaimed pictures of beautiful women such as his current girlfriend Amber Rose. Even with the constant traffic and high praise from his fans and peers, Kanye has announced that a new blog is on the way. ...

This past Sunday (Dec. 10), a blog entry was posted that read, "Sorry for the slow posting. I've been working on a whole new blog for months now. It's very close to completion." There were no further details or clues as to what he may be working on. Many also found it odd that the entry wasn't written in all caps as Kanye usual does when he's making a personal statement on the site.

While there hasn't been any official word from Kanye's camp or any new entries posted on his blog, insiders are speculating that a brand new domain name and layout may emerge in the next month. Currently, you can still access Kanye's blog at www.KanyeUniverCity.com/blog.

Pill Signs to Asylum Records

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:15:00 EST

Atlanta rapper Pill recently announced that he has officially signed with Asylum Records. Known for his exceptionally lyrical but gritty and brutally honest rhymes about life growing up in some of Atlanta's roughest neighborhoods, Pill has built a national following with major help from the Web. His straight-to-YouTube music video for 'Trap Goin' Ham' was an uncensored look in Atlanta's drug-dealing scene known as "the trap" and became his breakout record. After releasing two highly acclaimed and street certified mixtapes '4180: The Prescription' and '4075: The Refill,' a bidding war began between major labels such as Interscope, Def Jam, and Universal Motown putting the twenty-three year-old rapper in high demand. XXL Magazine spoke with Pill shortly after the news of his signing hit the Internet. "They were the first to reach out to me and if you look at the urban side of the music they got control over that shit right now," he said about his new recording home, Asylum Records. ...
With the independent hustle in mind, Pill has strong faith that Asylum will be the best place to develop and bring his talent to the masses, "If you look at the other labels I haven't really seen them break an artist in I don't know how long, I mean a new urban act ... most of these labels are breaking R&B artists. I was like, 'Damn, I got in a spot where I can actually be heard and not be overpowered by some big R&B pop star," Pill explained. Asylum is also the recording home of Gucci Mane, Lil Boosie, and Cam'ron.

Diddy Mediates Rick Ross and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Altercation

Mikey Fresh — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

This past weekend things almost turned ugly between world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and rapper Rick Ross. Rumors of beef between Mayweather and Ross began earlier this year after photos of Ross' ex-girlfriend and kids with Floyd and 50 Cent were leaked to the Internet. 50 Cent and Mayweather's well-documented friendship has only fueled further tension with Ross. At last weekend's grand opening of Vanity nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, the two men and accompanying entourages literally bumped heads in the hotel lobby. The party which was being hosted by hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs almost came to a halt when tempers flared and words started being exchanged between the two crews. However before any physical altercation ensued, Diddy came to the rescue and deflated any possibilities of violence from occurring. Diddy reportedly acted both as a mediator and peacemaker and stepped in between the two. Both parties eventually returned to the event with no further incidents. Diddy's camp and Ross's camp both declined to comment on the situation, but Floyd's father Mayweather Sr. confirmed to TMZ that there's been a real beef between Floyd and Ross for some time now because Ross has allegedly been, "talking s---." ...

Keyshia Cole Engaged?

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:15:00 EST

Pictures of Keyshia Cole -- who is pregnant with her first child and, reportedly, due in March -- and NBA basketball player Daniel "Boobie" Gibson of the Cleveland Cavaliers have been circulating the Internet for months. Since images of the couple canoodling at night clubs and leaving romantic dinner destinations hit the Net, rumors of marriage soon followed. Mediatake.com is reporting that shortly after 12:00AM on New Year's Eve, Boobie proposed to the R&B singer on one knee with an engagement ring in hand. "Keyshia loves Daniel, and she wants to be married - but she didn't want to pressure him," a source said. "I'm so happy for both of them, they're perfect for each other." Still, there has been no official word from either the Cole or Gibson camps. The source also told Mediatake that "Keyshia was taken by surprise by everything. She immediately said 'yes' and broke down and started crying tears of joy." Keyshia's engagement ring was also rumored to be a flawless ten carat diamond valued at over $800,000. It's certainly affordable on a professional baller's salary, but let's just hope young Boobie springs for the pre-nup. ...

10 Music Predictions for 2010

Kanye West Models for Bape's Spring 2010 Collection

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST

No stranger to the fashion world, Kanye West recently lent his influential style and presence to Japanese clothing company A Bathing Ape, a.k.a BAPE. Owner and founder, Nigo started the brand with just a few hand printed t-shirts in the early '90s and carefully crafted BAPE into a globally renowned and progressive lifestyle brand that is highly respected in the street and high fashion communities. Today, long supporter Kanye West is the next face of BAPE's latest collection. Mr. West was photographed by Keiichi Nitta for BAPE's Spring 2010 collection. Kanye confirmed the news on his blog, saying he would be appearing in a series of still photos for the season's new look book. "This shoot was mad fun," West wrote. "This collection uses really great fabrics, easy to wear cuts and still the occasional super expensive decadent prints. BAPE ran the last decade and they're ready for the next one!" Known was for their trademark multi-colored camouflage prints and limited edition patent leather tennis sneakers, BAPE has been a favorite of the hip-hop community and seen on the likes of Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, and many more. Pharrell Williams was such a fan of the line he started two adjacent clothing lines with Nigo, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream. To check out Kanye's photos from the shoot head to his blog at KanyeUniversityCity.com. ...

Lil Wayne Returns to New Orleans for Farewell Tour

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST

Approximately a month away from beginning a one year prison sentence, superstar rapper Lil Wayne made his way back home to New Orleans Monday (Dec. 28) night for a farewell concert dedicated to his hometown family, friends and fans. Lil Wayne was arrested in New York City following a traffic stop of his tour bus which turned up a loaded firearm. After more than two years of postponements and delays, Lil Wayne finally pleaded guilty to the charge this past October and will be sentenced this February with his plea deal calling for a 365-day sentence. Before thousands of supporters at the New Orleans Arena, the twenty-six year old father of three told the audience, "I'm nothing without you" as they continued to cheer at his proclamation. Weezy kicked the show off with "A Milli" and ran through his recently lengthened catalog of smash hits. His Young Money crew was also in the building backing the Grammy award-winning rapper. New Orleans was just the first stop on what is being labeled as Wayne's "Farewell Tour." ...

Even with his limited time as a free man, Weezy is continuing on his non-stop work schedule. Wayne's "Farewell Tour" is scheduled to hit multiple states around the nation in the coming weeks. Crowd favorites like "Go DJ," "Lollipop" and "Every Girl," which also features rap's current "Rookie of the Year" Drake, received the most reaction from the N.O. crowd during Wayne's bittersweet performance. Wayne is also gearing up to release his rock-influenced album 'Rebirth' -- which was prematurely released last month -- on Feb. 1.

Lupe Fiasco Releases Statement Regarding Leaked Song

Mikey Fresh — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST

On Christmas Eve, a brand new Lupe Fiasco track hit the Internet to the rapper's dismay. The song, titled 'I'm Beaming,' began popping up on blogs and forums just hours before the clock struck midnight on Christmas Eve. Throughout his career, Lupe has been plagued with early leaks. His debut album, 'Food and Liquor,' hit the streets several months prior to its scheduled release date in 2006. Always one to be vocal in the personal anguish created by his music being released prematurely, Lupe released a statement via his MySpace page regarding the matter. "Plain and simple it's STOLEN property," he wrote in regards to the leaked track. "Actions are being taken and the authorities have been notified. As a personal plea to all my fans PLEASE DO NOT share, stream, or download any unauthorized or stolen Lupe Fiasco music." ...
Lupe asks fans to not share, stream or download any of his stolen music. "A lot of time and energy goes into the creation of this music, not to mention large sums of money, money provided by my record company as well as from my own personal finances," he said. "My music is the product of my life. It means so much to me. I take pride in it and I also take pride in how it changes peoples lives and gives them hope. So to see it treated in this manner really numbs the soul."

The Chicago-based rapper then really laid down the guilt trip. "So many of my family and friends rely on me for their well-being and I rely on my music to give me the opportunities that allow me to provide for them. So this one i'm taking personal. And I will do ALL that is in my power and my circle of influence to make sure that the persons directly or even remotely responsible for this and any future events involving the piracy and illegal distribution and solicitation of my music will be brought to justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Prior to the leak, Lupe was scheduled to release a mixtape on Christmas Day titled, 'Friend of the People.' It was to follow its highly-successful predecessor 'Enemy of the State,' which dropped this past Thanksgiving. However, the demands of his charity efforts have taken priority over his recording schedule, and Lupe stated that he would be dedicating much of his time preparing for his climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in an effort to raise awareness for the global water crisis through the Kenna-led group Summit on the Summit. Currently, there is no official release date for 'Friend of the People.'

Incarcerated Buju Banton Receives Support From Label

Mikey Fresh — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:45:00 EST

Since being arrested on drug charges earlier this month, acclaimed reggae artist Buju Banton has spent his time incarcerated while still awaiting trial. The BoomBox previously reported that Banton was arrested on Dec.10 after authorities raided his home and took the singer into custody. Undercover agents put together enough evidence to charge Banton with the conspiracy to possess and distribute more than five kilos of cocaine. However, his record label and family are firmly standing behind the man who is easily one of the most influential artists in reggae music today. Tracii McGregor, president of Banton's current recording home, Gargamel Records, recently spoke to CaribWorldNews.com and broke the silence on his current legal case. "This is Buju and we're going to get him the top legal representation there is. We are ready to fight!" exclaimed McGregor. After waiving his right to a bail hearing, Banton still remains in a Miami federal prison. McGregor also revealed that the lawyer who represented Banton in his initial court appearance after being charged is no longer acting as his attorney. His defense team has not yet been selected with McGregor making sure that Buju will receive the best possible legal representation. If convicted on these drug charges Banton faces 20 years to life in federal prison. Despite these shocking charges his latest album 'Rasta Got Soul' remains nominated for the 2009 Reggae Album of the Year Grammy. His label also plans to continue supporting Banton's musical career by releasing several music videos that were filmed prior to his arrest. ...