SOHH.com

"Biggie Smalls Was Able To Do That. 2Pac Was Able To Do That. He Was Able To Do That."

2012-02-09T05:15:00Z

[You Came Up: Each week, SOHH asks two entertainment personalities to name who they feel is the most underrated emcee in hip-hop. After Nems gave props to the late Big Pun, Capital Punishment contributing producer Mike "Trauma" D crowns the fallen heavyweight SOHH Underrated.]

]]>

I have to go with Big Pun for SOHH Underrated. I still can't say that "Dead in the middle of Little Italy" rap.

He really looked up to Kool G Rap. G Rap was one of his favorites. You could tell in his wordplay and how fast he would rap.

One thing I tell my people and a lot of people who ask me about hip-hop is there's good artists and there's great artists. Now the difference with a great artist is if they can make the hardest street record and everybody loves it, respects it and think it's the hottest street record and then turn around and make a mainstream, fun record, when you can do both of these kinds of records? When people can love both sides of your music, fully? That's when you've become a great artist.

Biggie Smalls was able to do that. 2Pac was able to do that. He was able to do that. But not too many artists can do that. Not too many artists can do both of those types of records and make people not think, "Oh, he's doing this to be mainstream." A lot of artists may try to do it now but it doesn't come off a genuine. It comes out as a radio-sounding record.

The thing about Pun is you knew he was genuine. You knew that he was genuine and you couldn't f*ck with him. That's what made him so great. He could do the street, grimey records and then make records that all of the women would love without changing up.

Pun was a perfectionist. There aren't too many artists who are trying to really work on that. He would stay in the studio and really work on that. An artist now, they don't even care and just spitting whatever so they can go out to the club.

Arkatech Beatz (formerly known as The Infinite Arkatechz and often nicknamed The Arkatechs for short) are a Grammy nominated hip-hop production duo from New York now based in Atlanta. They were affiliated with Loud Records/ Sony Music Entertainment as A&R's in the late '90s and has produced for artists such as Big Pun, Nas, Raekwon, Shawty Lo, Mýa, Alley Boy, Max B and others. The team consists of Mike "Trauma" D & Jugrnaut.

Check out some Big Pun music below:

Photo of the Day: Mya & Mike "Trauma" D Lean Back In The Studio

2012-02-09T05:00:00Z

Sugar & Spice: R&B singer Mya kicks it with Arkatech Beatz's Mike "Trauma" D.

Be sure to check out Mike "Trauma" D break down the late Big Pun's "Capital Punishment" in Singled Out!

Tyler, The Creator Announces Earl Sweatshirt's Return

2012-02-09T04:30:04Z

Estranged Odd Future group member Earl Sweatshirt is reportedly back from a long music hiatus according to crew leader Tyler, the Creator.

]]> While details are still scarce, Tyler has hinted at Sweatshirt's return.

"Ive Never Been Excited And Angry At The Same Time Until Today. Thats A F*cked Feeling.," Tyler tweeted February 8th.

"Oh. Thebe Has....I Mean Earl Has A Twitter. @earlxsweat" (Tyler, the Creator's Twitter)

Earl has already begun tweeting on the same Twitter page Tyler revealed.

"home," he tweeted.

"n*gga need followers. give me 50,000 and i'll release this shit for everybody."

"50K. It's coming now. Thanks" (Earl Sweatshirt's Twitter)

Although Earl's return appears legitimate, Odd Future are known for being pranksters.

In his return to the web, Earl promised to release new material, if he reached 50,000 Twitter followers. His count stood at nearly 27,000 on Wednesday evening. His future with Odd Future is unclear: Tyler's Twitter page alluded to a dramatic situation, while Hodgy Beats wrote on his Twitter page, "Nowadays people have personal intentions tryna use my ni**a earl... Earl isn't free." Odd Future, however, are notable pranksters -- it may take a more public appearance to prove that the MC has finally returned. (Billboard)

Last year, a mysterious statement allegedly from Earl emerged online.

"Initially I was really pleased that all these people claimed that they wanted me released because I thought that translated into 'they care,'" Earl wrote. "So time progresses and the fan base gets bigger and the 'Free Earl' chants get louder but now with the 'Free Earl' chants come a barely indirect 'F*ck Earl's Mom' and in the blink of an eye my worry changes from 'will there still be this hype when I get back' to 'Oh sh*t I just inspired a widespread movement of people who are dedicated to the downfall of my mom.' ... The only thing I need as of right now is space. I've still got work to do and don't need the additional stress of fearing for my family's physical well-being. Space means no more 'Free Earl.' I miss home. I don't have any definite date though. Even if I did I don't know if I'd tell you. You'll hear from me without a doubt when I'm ready." (New Yorker)

Initial speculation developed suggesting he was deliberately taken out of the spotlight by his family.

The leader of the group is a 19 year-old named Tyler, or Tyler The Creator. The second-most prominent of the group is a rapper named Hodgy Beats. The rest of the group splinter off into sub-groups. The youngest member is Earl Sweatshirt, who was recently sent away to boarding school by his parents. (Esquire)

Check out some recent Odd Future footage below:

Ashanti Takes A Giant Step, Salsa Dances W/ NY Super Bowl Champ

2012-02-08T22:35:52Z

R&B singer Ashanti showed her love for the New York Giants this week by salsa dancing with the team's superstar wide receiver Victor Cruz in the Big Apple.

]]> Hours after their Super Bowl XLVI championship parade, Cruz and the music star were spotted dancing Tuesday (February 7) night.

Let's just start this post with a disclaimer. Victor Cruz is fine..But he's also taken and his girl just had a newborn a few weeks ago. So he's definitely off limits. The NY Giants cutie and salsa dancing lover hit up Kiss & Fly event last night in New York and was spotted showing some love to Ashanti who was hosting the event. The two got it in on the dance floor with some salsa and just seemed to be having an all around good time. Victor was not only celebrating his Superbowl win but he's also just signed a contract with IMG. They will manage his career when it comes to endorsements, licensing, speaking engagements literary deals and fashion opportunities. (Necole Bitchie)

Cruz has been a hot name over the past week and heard on rapper French Montana's "Shot Caller" New York Giants-inspired tribute.

French Montana celebrates his home team's victory at Super Bowl XLVI with his New York Giants remix to "Shot Caller." The Bad Boy signee honors the champs including Victor Cruz and MVP Eli Manning. "We them shot callers, Super Bowl ballers," he raps. "Just another win, just another ring, give 'em time to breathe, let Madonna sing." (Rap-Up)

Prior to their victorious outcome, Slaughterhouse's Joell Ortiz said Cruz would be key to winning Super Bowl XLVI.

"The Giants embody New York," Ortiz tells XXLMag.com. "They are the way New York runs. It's hard nose, it may not be pretty, but the job gets done. And Victor Cruz is the perfect example that you ain't gotta go to this big [college] to get noticed. You just have to work hard. He worked hard, he outworked people and he impressed people and he's one of, if not the best wide receiver on the Giants. Eli Manning, it doesn't look pretty. It's not finess, it's not like his brother [Peyton], the crispness [in the passes], but the job gets done. That's what New York dudes do: we get it done. Everybody knows when New York is in town. The Giants embody New York to me, man -- Honestly, as a fan of football, not just because I'm from New York, I honestly think they have a great shot of winning the Super Bowl because of that wining attitude." (XXL Mag)

G-Unit's 50 Cent recently hyped up the New York Giants' championship player.

"This boy victor cruz is the TRUTH. He said I don't care were they throw the ball I'm catching it Lol GANGSTA http://lockerz.com/s/178345097," January 27th. (50 Cent's Twitter)

Kendrick Lamar, SchoolBoy Q Female Affiliate Dead At 25, "Still Can't Believe This"

2012-02-08T21:01:47Z

Emerging singer Alori Joh, most known for hip-hop collaborations alongside rap artists like Kendrick Lamar and SchoolBoy Q, has reportedly passed away at the age of 25.

]]> While details are still forming, a slew of notable hip-hop artists have sent their condolences to the singer.

"Woke up too some bad news r.i.p Alori Joh still can't believe this.....," rapper Jay Rock tweeted Wednesday (February 8). (Jay Rock's Twitter)

SchoolBoy Q also alluded at her untimely passing Wednesday (February 8) monring.

"smoking one for alori JoH............. peace Homie," he tweeted. (SchoolBoy Q's Twitter)

Kendrick Lamar is largely responsible for getting Alori mainstream attention.

Lamar's national exposure over the last two years helped to bring attention towards Alori's vocal abilities. She sang on 'Heaven & Hell,' a song that appeared on his 'Overly Dedicated' mixtape in 2010. She was also featured on 'HiiiPOWER,' featured on the rap star's lauded project 'Section.80.' Schoolboy Q, who featured Alori on 'Phenomenon,' a song off his 'Setbacks' mixtape, released last year, paid homage to the fallen entertainer by "smoking one" and shared the news with his Twitter followers. (The Boom Box)

In past interviews, Alori spoke on wanting to make a bigger name for herself.

An interview from West Coast YouTube show Toast It Up highlighted Alori Joh, revealing the singer's sassy and sultry side while she displayed a bit of humility. In an AllWestEverything interview from last September, Alori was candid in wanting to be taken more seriously than just a singer of hooks. "I am definitely am working on new material. I wanted people to start asking me about my music because they are so familiar with my features," said Alori in the interview. (Hip Hop Wired)

No further details have been revealed as of now.

Check out SchoolBoy Q & Alori Joh's "Phenomenon" below:

"I Feel A$AP When He Says He Embraced [Houston] But It's Gotta Be More Than That"

2012-02-08T19:39:55Z

Shortly after wrapping up a nationwide tour alongside Big K.R.I.T. and Method Man, Houston rap newcomer Marcus Manchild, spoke to SOHH about the rise in prominence his city has experienced from out-of-town rappers.

]]> Referencing Harlem MC A$AP Rocky, he said that adopting the slang and trademarks of the Houston lifestyle was understandable as long as rappers were sure to recognize the pioneers.

I feel that it's cool if you're inspired by Houston, that's what's up. But you always gotta show that respect to the people that came up with the styles and sounds, you know what I mean? So that's all there is to it, if you hear it and you feel inspired, that's all love. (SOHH)

Manchild, who recently made his own version of the track "Purple Swag," told SOHH it was difficult to determine if Rocky was showing proper homage to his hometown.

I don't really see that respect. I feel him when he says he embraced [Houston] but it's gotta be more than that ... I don't hear no shoutouts or none of that, that's all I'm saying. You gotta pay respect to the people that made up what you're talkin' about. I can't go somewhere and talk about something I don't know and then not respect the people that are from there. (SOHH)

Rocky explained his affliction toward the Houston sound and culture during a 2011 interview.

Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, Houston had a huge influence on hip-hop around 2005. I was fascinated with the culture [down] there. I just wanted to embrace it in my music. Scarface and everybody else influenced me heavily, "Minds Playing Tricks on me." That wasn't really the [DJ] Screw era though. It [90s Houston hip-hop] did have an influence on me but it really wasn't my main influence. I'm talking about the screw era and even the UGK era, guys like Devin the Dude, Lil Keke and Z-Ro. (DJ Booth)

Last December, Texas rapper Sparkdawg told SOHH he saw no problem with East Coast artists emulating Southern culture.

There's alotta people that might look at what he's doing as disrespectful, or as if a New York artist is stealin' swag ... but I'm definitely not one of those type of dudes. I see his style as more of a salute. Like, who else but me? The Lone Star Kid. So for my track, I basically combined both of his records, "Purple Swag" and "Peso" and freestyled over them both, then combined them into one continuous song and called it "Open Letter to A$AP Rocky."(SOHH)

Check out Marcus Manchild's "Purple Swag" Remix below:

UPDATE: Don Cornelius' Fatal Gunshot, Death Ruled Suicide

2012-02-08T19:29:51Z

After days of speculation and reporting, television icon Don Cornelius' unexpected death from a fatal gunshot wound has now been confirmed as a suicide.

]]> According to reports, Cornelius killed himself with a gunshot to his head.

The agency made the determination after conducting an autopsy on Cornelius' body Friday. Investigators are still awaiting the results of toxicology tests before issuing a final report. Police quickly ruled out foul play after responding to Cornelius' Mulholland Drive home early Wednesday morning. His son had alerted authorities after receiving a call from his father. (Associated Press)

Details of his passing emerged online last Wednesday (February 1).

"Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius was found dead at his Sherman Oaks on home Wednesday morning. Law enforcement sources said police arrived at Cornelius' home around 4 a.m. He apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case was ongoing. The sources said there was no sign of foul play, but the Los Angeles Police Department was investigating. (Los Angeles Times)

Cornelius' "Soul Train" show marked the dawn of a new era in black entertainment.

Cornelius is best known as the creator of the dance/music franchise "Soul Train," which aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. The show was the first major American TV venue for soul music. It was instrumental in bringing acts like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson to a larger audience. Cornelius hosted the show from 1971-1993. He was known for closing each episode with the catchphrase: "I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul!" The show spun off the Soul Train Awards and the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.(Orlando Sentinel)

He hosted the show from 1970 to 1993, and the program continued to air for more than a decade after his exit.

Cornelius, with his deep voice, stylish clothes and Afro, provided a hipper alternative to Dick Clark and "American Bandstand" when his show debuted on Aug. 17, 1970. It was syndicated a year later, making Cornelius a national star. Although he dropped out as host in 1993, the show continued running until December 2007. (New York Daily News)

Rick Ross To Music Rivals: "Success Is The Quickest Way To Kill The Enemy"

2012-02-08T19:18:45Z

Maybach Music Group leader Rick Ross recently opened up about putting hip-hop disputes to rest from 50 Cent to Young Jeezy and why success is the ultimate counter attack.

]]> For Ricky Rozay, he places accomplishments and success as his greatest goals.

"Right now it's just all about me remaining creative, keep putting this dream team together. That's what I'm about and I think that's what everybody out there should be about, get your ones up. Success is the quickest way to kill the enemy. ... I'm always 'bout business; that's why I'm here. I haven't taken nothin' personal since I came in the game and I think if you in this business and plan on having longevity in this you shouldn't take nothin' personal" (MTV)

Last year, Ross spoke on his past issues with Young Jeezy.

"You gotta understand, when you talk about this street life and being one hundred and being solid, it's certain things that you just bring to a person," Ross added. "That's what I was expecting. And that never happened. However homie feel, that's him. Just all the way being real -- we were just at the BET Awards, and I sat in the front row, and he performed. If it's any pressure, handle it right then." (Hot 97)

Months prior, DJ Khaled, who shares ties between both rap stars, said they were on good terms.

"Well first of all, I don't condone problems," Khaled explained in an interview with radio host Bootleg Kev. "That's what I do. I represent that love and making great music. And them two guys, they don't have no problems. So, you know, I guess this is an exclusive, they don't have problems. I guess people in the streets, they try to make things into a problem. But that's just life. That's when you know you're hot and that's just part of the game, man. Being in the game and being successful, you have to deal with things like that. But you know, they ain't got not problems. It's all love. I don't know what to tell you. It's all love." (Bootleg Kev)

A few weeks ago, Ross' "Stay Schemin'" collaborator French Montana spoke on the disadvantages to beefing.

"Beefing is always gonna slow your money up. When you start beefing, everybody is gonna stop trying to spend money with you. You scare people away. It's a lot of things that happen when you start beefing with people. I think a lot of people were introduced to me [via the beef between Jim Jones and incarcerated rapper Max B], but when did I get more popular?" (Hip Hop DX)

Check out some recent Rick Ross footage below:

UPDATE: Lil B & David Banner Squash Dispute

2012-02-08T18:58:20Z

West Coast rapper Lil B has clarified speculation surrounding his new "I Own Swag" record taking aim at hip-hop veteran David Banner and said they have squashed past issues.

]]> Writing on Twitter, the Based God set the record straight for fans.

"JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH @THEREALBANNER AND REAL TALK I LEARNED ALOT AND JUST NO I ROCKS WITH BANNER OFF TOP AND WE GOT SWAG - Lil B," he tweeted February 7th.

"SHOUTS OUT TO @BIGVON FOR LINKING UP AND DAME SHOUTS OUT TO @THEREALBANNER AND JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE AINT NO SHOTS AINT BANNER - Lil B"

"AND I NO MY PLACE AS A YOUNG ARTIST IN THE GAME I RESPECT THE ARTIST THAT PUT WORK IN @THEREALBANNER SO ITS LOVE HIP HOP UNITY LOVE - Lil B"

"ALL THE #BASED SALUTE TO BANNER LETS STOP THE NEGATIVITY AND SUCH I DIDNT DISS HIM STAY POSITIVE AND KEEP IT #BASED @THEREALBANNER - Lil B"

"Stay positive have a good day show respect all we do is live life we only have one look at the people your around this our class - Lil B" (Lil B's Twitter)

Speculation on Lil B's alleged response to Banner hit the Internet this week.

With Valentine's Day red roses in hand, Lil B responds to David Banner's summer 2011 track "Swag", a messy collection of talking points which called young rappers like B and Tyler, the Creator to task for being goofy-dancing atheists. On "I Own Swag" B sings back, You know that I'm more famous than you! and invokes Mac Dre's "Not My Job," where the Bay Area legend rapped, I can bust you a rap, but anything else, not my job. (The FADER)

Last summer, Banner's "Swag" record reportedly took aim at West Coast artists like Lil B and Kreayshawn.

David Banner sparks a riot with his charged words on "Swag" off The Make Believe Album. The Mississippi MC/producer criticizes the new generation of hip-hop, calling out newcomers including Kreayshawn for her reported use of the N-word (she has repeatedly denied the accusations) and hip-hop collective Odd Future, who he claims "feeds evil to the streets." "The homies is busting slugs/ The women is shaking a**/ A white girl call us ni**a and we just sit back and laugh/ We call it swag," preaches the righteous rapper in a style reminiscent of Lil B. (Rap-Up)

Months later, Banner responded to Kreayshawn's rap sidekick V-Nasty striking back at him on wax.

"It don't bother me at all because let me tell you something. One problem with hip-hop is people try to act a certain way and they put it on their sleeve. I don't have to talk about the stuff I do," Banner said. "The stuff that I did that was hood, I can't talk about it on the record. It's funny when people tell these kids to be hood and they don't stay in the hood. They give the kids this mentality of staying in the hood and that shows you what other cultures think about us as black people and what's important to us and how they try to play us as black men against each other. The sad thing about it is at the end of the day, I'm the big mean black guy. Regardless of how articulate I am, if I move any kind of way I will always be crucified. Regardless of if it's these Disney deals I'm doing, whether its these Paramount deals I'm doing, I'll always be looked at in that manner so what I realize that as black people, we have to stop letting people play our culture like that." ("Sway In The Morning")

Check out Lil B's "I Own Swag" below:

RareInk's 2Pac & B.I.G. Art: "These Pieces Are Officially Licensed & Approved By Their Estate"

2012-02-08T17:05:00Z

[With hip-hop's growing appreciation for the finer things in life, RareInk co-founder David Sanders supplies 5 reasons you should consider copping some limited edition 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G. artwork.]

]]> 1. Charity Starts Here

One of the reasons why you should consider buying these paintings is because of what RareInk stands for. When we created the company, we started out wanting to have this autographed artwork for fans and we wanted to focus a part of the company on giving back. The first reason why you should consider buying is because a portion of the proceeds from every purchase goes to charitable causes. In this case, with Biggie and 2Pac, a portion of the purchases goes to their foundations. It's something we feel strongly about. If you go to our site, you can see the logos and information about each charity. With each piece we do, there's a designated charity attached to it.

2. Haute Living

The second reason is because when we looked out there for what's available for music fans, in general, we wanted to make sure to create really cool art but make sure it's on a fine art level. We're making it accessible to fans. It's really high, fine art quality and it's still very affordable for fans. A lot of the canvases start off at $100 a piece and go up with the larger canvases. You're getting a pretty good value with the fine art pieces, really good quality and you can see the security label on the back of the artwork. It can't be counterfeited.

3. Tupac Back

The third reason is because when we looked at 2Pac and Biggie art, some of the stuff that's out there, you're seeing a lot of stuff by fans that are artists. There's some cool stuff out there but people need to understand these pieces are officially licensed and approved by their estates. So we're partnering directly with their estates. It's on a whole 'nother level. It's not just artists saying, "Here's my Biggie piece. Here's my 2Pac piece." It's something we're really involved in, had the artwork approved for both of them.

4. Check Yourself

The fourth reason would be the art itself. We spent a lot of time looking at different artists who we felt would be great with their style. The first release is with Tes One. He's gaining a lot of momentum right now. He's a big artist out of Florida and we featured him in our Ice Cube series. He came back with the Biggie and 2Pac series. His concept behind the art is really based on the marketing of them at the time and sort of the East Coast and West Coast rivalry. The marketing almost seemed to contribute to their untimely death. It's like a combination of a target, vinyl and then a turntable. When we first saw it, we didn't know if it would be right with the target on there, but as we talked to Tes One, he explained the concept and we got more comfortable with it. Then the David Flores pieces are really great too. He's getting bigger and bigger out here in Los Angeles. Flores is a pretty big artist in the sense he has a really well known style in his art and the portraits he does. He's worked with everybody from designer toy companies like Kid Robot to Disney. He's done a lot of different art projects.

5. Ballin'

The final reason is because of what we're offering. If you're the ultimate baller or art collector, we are selling the original paintings on the site. So the Tes One originals, he did those as 36x48 pieces on wood and we're actually selling those for $5,000 a piece. There's something for everybody. If you're the ultimate art collector and ultimate fan looking for a perfect piece for your home, we are selling the originals of both Tes One and Flores' pieces. Flores' pieces are smaller, on canvases, and they're going for $3,000. I just want to put it out there because fans might find it interesting and it also shows that the pieces are for art collectors.

You Decide. Will you purchase these RareInk exclusive pieces?

To preview/purchase, just click here.

SOHH/RareInk Twitter Contest:

Want a chance at winning your own canvas? Here's what you gotta do:

1- Follow @sohh & @sohhdotcom on Twitter.

Beginning around 1 PM EST, check out SOHH's Twitter accounts for questions based on David Sanders' 5 Reasons you should buy the exclusive paintings. Make sure when you answer the question, you include the hashtag #SOHHRareInk in your response. G'luck!

Drake Schemes Atop The Competition, LMFAO & Rihanna Returns To Top 10, Young Jeezy Keeps The Chart Hot

2012-02-08T16:30:34Z

In this week's Sales Wrap, Drake leads the pack just outside of Top 5, LMFAO and Rihanna walk their way to Top 10 plus Young Jeezy moves up to No. 12.

]]> Leading the pack this week is Drake's Take Care moving up three slots to No. 6 with 29,800 behind Kidz Bop 21 (30,300), 2012 Grammy Nominees (34,000), Leonard Cohen's Old Ideas (41,000), Lana Del Ray's Born to Die (77,100) and Adele's 21 (121,900). According to Nielsen SoundScan, Drizzy's sophomore album rests at 1,400,100 sold records after 12 weeks in stores.

Rap duo LMFAO's Sorry for Party Rocking jumped back into the Top 10 moving up nine slots to No. 9 with 22,100. With 33 weeks knocked out, their latest offering has served 621,000 records.

Grammy-winning singer Rihanna's Talk That Talk received a six-slot boost to No. 10 with 22,100. After 11 weeks in stores, her new record has pushed out 624,300 units.

R&B veteran Mary J. Blige's My Life II...The Journey Continues jumped forward 14 slots to No. 11 with 22,000. After 11 weeks on store shelves, her latest album has moved 475,700 records.

Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy's Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition received a five slot boost to No. 12 with 22,000. Heading into his second full month in stores, the rap star's newest LP stands at 419,700 sold records.

Music veteran Seal's Soul 2 dropped eight slots to No. 16 with 18,900. With 14 days in the books, his new LP has pushed out 46,100 copies.

Music icon Tony Bennett's Duets II, which features the late Amy Winehouse, jumped up 11 slots to No. 17 with 18,900. After 20 weeks, his new collaborative project has sold 769,600 units.

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV jumped up seven slots to No. 31 with 13,600. With 23 weeks in the books, Weezy's summer anthem has pushed out 1,981,100 records to date.

Rap duo Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne fell three positions to No. 33 with 12,800. After 26 weeks, their joint effort has sold 1,298,300 units.

R&B diva Beyonce's 4 moved up 12 spots to No. 37 with 12,100. With 32 weeks in the books, the singer's new LP has sold 1,109,600 copies.

Evening out Top 50 is pop star Bruno Mars' Doo-Wops & Hooligans moving up five slots to No. 48 with 9,100. With 70 weeks knocked out, the singer's newest offering has sold 1,479,000 records.

Be sure to check back next week to see what new releases impact Sales Wrap!

Jay-Z & Kanye West Pack Bags, "N*ggas In Paris" Music Video Coming

2012-02-08T15:47:53Z

Grammy-winning rap duo Jay-Z and Kanye West are reportedly not done promoting their heavy-hitting "N*ggas in Paris" Watch the Throne single with reports claiming an accompanying music video will premiere this week.

]]> According to reports, the "Paris" music video will debut some time tomorrow (February 9).

Jay-Z and Kanye West have revealed when a music video for their latest joint single "N*ggas in Paris" is going to come out for fans' viewing pleasure. The two rappers have planned to premiere the clip in full this coming Thursday, February 9, on VEVO. Accordingly, the upcoming video is going to include footage from their tour stop at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. During the gig which was held last December, the two heavyweight rappers performed the song onstage 10 times in a row. (Ace Showbiz)

Hollywood actor Jon Heder recently reacted to Yeezy sampling his voice off 2007's Blades of Glory movie for the hit record.

"I actually heard about it after the fact," Heder revealed in an interview. "Then I called up my manager like 'What's going on here? Is there some kind of compensation happening?' It was like 'Whatever, the glory of the song is your compensation Jon. Listen to it.' I was like, 'All right.' I am like one of those in Paris. [I'm a part of history?] Yeah, I guess, we have to give it probably a few more years to see its history. ... I'm not quite sure what the connection is but I feel very but I feel very honored. It's a compliment right?" (FUSE)

In November, Heder's Blades of Glory co-star Will Ferrell said he hoped to get sampled on more hip-hop records.

"Kanye reached out to me and I said, 'Of course,' " Ferrell wrote in an e-mail referring to the Blades of Glory sample request. "I was completely flattered when they asked if they could sample me into the song ... and when I heard it for the first time, I just started to laugh because it felt so surreal. But I really did like the song." So much so, in fact, that Ferrell said he's hoping to take the Throne collaboration to the next level -- "We were trying to film a piece that they would use on the video boards of their concert, but haven't gotten it together," he wrote -- and the whole process has opened his eyes to an entirely new career opportunity: Being the go-to sample guy on the hip hop circuit. "I think [something from] 'Step Brothers' would be good [to use in a song]," he wrote. "Or the Woody Allen movie I did, 'Melinda and Melinda.'" (MTV)

Over the fall, Jay and Ye performed "Paris" seven times at a Detroit show.

Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Watch The Throne" tour came to Detroit on Saturday to a massive crowd at the Palace. The duo played 39 songs total, for a two-and-a-half hour set. Many of those were classic solo hits, but the pair also seemed particularly drawn to the song off their joint-effort "Watch The Throne" album. They were so drawn, in fact, that they performed "N*ggas in Paris" seven times. The multiple-encore is apparently not a new phenomenon, at least on this tour. West and Jay-Z played the same song six times at a previous show in Boston. And before that, they played "N*ggas in Paris" five times in Miami. (Huffington Post)

Check out "N*ggas In Paris" below:

Nicki Minaj Stays Put, Roman Zolanski Releasing New "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" Anthem

2012-02-08T15:20:47Z

Young Money star Nicki Minaj will turn into her rap alias' alter ego, Roman Zolanski, this weekend when she hits the 54th Grammy Awards stage and premieres a new Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded record.

]]> If all goes accordingly, Minaj's new "Roman Holiday" will premiere this Sunday (February 12).

The Young Money raptress announced that she will use her set to debut material from her upcoming sophomore album, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded." Appearing as her alter-ego, Roman Zolanski, she, OK he, will unveil the album track "Roman Holiday" onstage. Following Sunday's performance, the Grammy nominee will take to Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show on Monday to premiere the album's new single, "Starships." The track will be made available to iTunes the same day, while "Roman Holiday" and other Grammy performances are expected to go on sale immediately after Sunday's telecast. (Los Angeles Times)

This news comes just days after Nicki's unofficial "Marilyn Monroe" record leaked online.

A new and unofficial track leaked to the web this week, in which the rapper appears to be channeling Barbie rather than her other male alter ego, Roman. The song is rumored to be titled "Marilyn Monroe" and features Minaj's sweeter, softer vocals instead of the rapid-fire rhymes we're accustomed to hearing from her. The song is likely unfinished, but this start certainly sounds promising. Minaj has a knack for straddling the line between hardcore rap fans and bubblegum pop lovers, with "Monroe" very clearly catering to the latter demo. (Billboard)

She recently decided to push back Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded's release date to the spring.

"New Album Date: April 3rd. Pink Friday: ROMAN RELOADED. But have no fear. Tons of surprises before then ;). Love Always, HB," she tweeted January 20th.

"Lmaoooooooooooooooooo. I'm crying" (Nicki Minaj's Twitter)

Despite multiple nominations, Minaj recently said she does not expect to bring home any Grammy awards this weekend.

"When I was at the Grammys last year, it was like I didn't even exist. And then to now be performing and nominated, it's a big deal," Minaj said in an interview. "I'm not going to be nervous about winning because I really don't think I'm going to win anything. The way I look at it is, I know eventually, in my career, I'm going to have Grammys. This year is just about being nominated and feeling grateful, feeling like my fans and I have come a very long way and we're just going to celebrate this moment. Nothing else matters - winning, not winning, it doesn't matter. It just matters that they get to see a girl from the hood take these steps and continue to take these steps, just with hard work." (Pandora Internet Radio)

Check out a recent Nicki Minaj interview down below:

Alicia Keys Billed To Perform Special Grammy Awards Tribute

2012-02-08T15:05:31Z

Award-winning singer Alicia Keys will grace the stage at this Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony and pay homage to late music icon Etta James with a tribute performance.

]]> While details are still emerging, Keys' tribute set is officially penned in.

Etta James recently passed away after her battle with leukaemia and, as is utterly appropriate, the Recording Academy have decided to pay their respects to the iconic R&B star with a tribute at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Alicia Keys has been confirmed as the live tribute act to Etta at this year's Grammy Awards. The 'New York' singer definitely has the powerful vocals necessary to hit Etta's highest notes, but we have yet to know which song she will tackle. Christina Aguilera already performed 'At Last' at James' funeral, whilst Kelly Clarkson is well known for blasting out 'I'd Rather Go Blind'; will Keys take on one of Etta's lesser known hits, or add her own spin to one of these two power ballads? (Pop Dash)

Keys took to her Twitter page following the singer's unexpected death last month.

"Wow Etta James! :-( What a phenomenal woman and spectacular voice! http://huff.to/AAPrnY," she tweeted January 21st. (Alicia Keys' Twitter)

James' passing made global headlines around mid-January.

Etta James, whose assertive, earthy voice lit up such hits as "The Wallflower," "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and the wedding favorite "At Last," has died, according to her longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon. She was 73. She died from complications from leukemia with her husband, Artis Mills, and her sons by her side, De Leon said. She was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010, and also suffered from dementia and hepatitis C. James died at a hospital in Riverside, California. She would have turned 74 Wednesday. "This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world," De Leon said. "She was a true original who could sing it all -- her music defied category." (CNN)

Along with the Grammy-winning Keys, music stars like Chris Brown and Lil Wayne will also be on hand to perform.

Current nominee Chris Brown will return to the Grammy stage as part of a special performance highlighting dance and electronic music. The singer will be joined by Deadmau5, Foo Fighters, David Guetta and Lil Wayne. Also added to the lineup Tuesday were Tony Bennett with Carrie Underwood, and Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt. Keys and Raitt are set for a musical tribute to soul-jazz legend Etta James, who died last month. (Los Angeles Times)

Hosted by LL Cool J, the 54th Grammy Awards will be televised Sunday, February 12th from Los Angeles.

Check out some past Alicia Keys footage down below:

Nick Cannon Publicly Apologizes To Ex-Girlfriend, "I'm Sorry For The Things That I Did"

2012-02-08T14:47:06Z

Former Hollywood couple Nick Cannon and Christina Milian finally reunited recently during a live radio interview and briefly reflected on their past days together.

]]> During their talk, Nick used the opporturnity to offer Milian a public apology.

Nick Cannon and Christina Milian were one of Hollywood's hottest young couples. But their relationship ended in 2005 after Nick reportedly cheated on the "Dip It Low" singer. Since then, both stars have been through a lot including marriage, divorce, and children. They reunited on-air during Nick's radio show "Rollin' with Nick Cannon." Milian phoned in to promote her role on NBC's "The Voice" and the talk turned to their past, with both owning up to their mistakes. "Regardless of my big mouth back in the day, I've got all great things to say about Nick too," said Christina. Nick's co-host Sarah Lee wouldn't let him get off so easy, demanding that he apologize for his past "gigolo" ways. "I'm sorry for the things that I did," he told Christina. "We was young." (Rap-Up)

In the mid-2000's, Milian explained how she found out Nick was cheating on her.

"While I was filming the movie Pulse in Romania, I started getting calls from my friends back home, asking if we were still together. All the time we were together, I heard nothing. No rumors, no gossip, and then all of a sudden I'm in Romania and I start hearing stuff," she explained in an interview. "Once I found the code to Nick's phone and cracked it, my concerns were confirmed. I did something no woman should do. But sometimes you're entitled to ... and I think a lot of women do it, but it's my first time doing it. When I broke up with him, he admitted cheating on me for the entire three years we were together. The whole time with different girls, not just one, but different girls. He said to me that these girls helped his ego and made him look good." (Blender)

A few years later, she offered her take on Cannon marrying R&B star Mariah Carey.

"I do have well wishes for him and I'm really happy for him cause honestly I feel he is in a good place and this is where he is always," Christina told Hollyscoop at KIIS Fm's Jingle Ball concert on Saturday. "He wants to be as far and married and happy and all that stuff." In regards to Nick and Mariah having kids soon, Christina told Hollyscoop: "As far as maturity, I don't know if he is having kids. I've heard stuff and I know he wants to have kids so I'm sure they are gonna get started, Haha." (Hollyscoop)

Outside of love talk, Cannon recently spoke on getting hospitalized following kidney failure a few weeks ago.

"Two days before New Year's (Eve) I started feeling this horrible pain in my back, I starting thinking maybe when I was boxing I got hit. . . . My wife, who was my angel throughout this entire thing. . . . She was like, 'You gotta go to a doctor' and I'm like 'No'. ... I thought I was good. The scariest part was when they said 'You can go home while we get these other tests back.' . . . They sent me home. . . . I got to my house and that's when I thought I was going to die... The pain came back twice as much and other stuff wasn't working and I had to go back to the hospital. ... I'm good. I've got to go back to the doctor a couple more times, but I'm fine -- I'm totally recovered." (SF Gate)

Check out some recent Nick Cannon footage below: