SOHH.com

Raekwon Co-Signs DJ Kay Slay's New Album, "Support Real Hip Hop"

2010-02-09T23:15:33Z

Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon has made a calling to all hip-hop fans to show their love for his genre of music by supporting DJ Kay Slay's new album, More Than Just A DJ.

]]> Writing through his popular Twitter page, Rae also paid homage to the renowned deejay's release.

"Go out today and support real hip hop by my dude dj kay slay album "more than just a dj" in stores today! Rt this crack!," Rae wrote Tuesday (February 9). "@RealDjKayslay Congrads on ya album release lord, Much sucess to u !" (Raekwon's Twitter)

Slay also promoted his album by calling it a project capable of bringing authentic hip-hop back.

"I wanna thank everyone on twitter for the retweets and support on my 4th album!Im a strong supporter of real HIPHOP from day 1! peace!," Slay wrote on Twitter today. "DjKayslay Album in stores NOW!! More than just a Dj!!!!!!if u on a budget its kool! Best Buy has it for $7.99 2Nite The album release party @ Sues Rendezvous!! DjKayslay,FunkMaster Flex,All The StraightStuntin Ladies and My Rap Homies!!." (DJ Kay Slay's Twitter)

The deejay recently explained why Drake did not make his final album tracklisting.

"I had the record and what happened was the people at the [E-1 Music] record label was giving a hard time for clearing it," Slay explained in an interview. "But they didn't know that Baby cleared the record...[then] it was too late, I had already turned the record in. So shout-out to him, I don't have no hard feelings. Baby gave me the record, it was the d*ckheads at the record label, with the business affairs that were acting silly -- but they ain't tell me that because they didn't believe it was gonna happen so by the time I got on it, it was a little too late. So you know, it is what it is." (Champ Mag)

His latest album features appearances from 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Ray J.

DJ Kayslay, legendary DJ, magazine owner, mixtape master, is set to release his new album, More Than Just A DJ on E1 Music. The album features Busta Rhymes, Jim Jones, Bun B, 50 Cent, OJ Da Juiceman, Juelz Santana, Joell Ortiz, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and many, many more. The first single, 'Blockstars' featuring Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes & Ray J is hitting radio now. A second single, 'Thug Luv' featuring Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe and Ray J will follow. (Press Release)

Check out a recent DJ Kay Slay interview down below:

Jay-Z Headlines Bonnaroo Music Festival, Joins Kid Cudi & Wale Line-Up

2010-02-09T22:35:00Z

Jay-Z has been announced to headline the upcoming Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival this summer in Tennessee.

]]> According to reports, the event will also feature performances by Kid Cudi and Wale.

Headliners will include Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band and Kings of Leon, in what is currently the Grammy-winning band's only scheduled U.S. show of the year.Bands already announced this afternoon include Ingrid Michaelson, The xx, Regina Spektor, Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers, Wale, Mayer Hawthorne & The County, Phoenix, Weezer, OK GO, Baroness, John Fogerty, Medeski Martin and Wood, ISIS, Bassnectar, Blues Traveler, Jeff Beck, Avett Brothers and Chromeo with Daryl Hall. The Flaming Lips with Stardeath and White Dwarfs will perform Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" in a special late night set. (Billboard)

Tickets for the upcoming festival have already been made available.

Artists are being announced in a series of rolling reveals that will continue throughout the day on Bonnaroo's MySpace page. Tickets for the fest are on sale now through its official site, with a four-day pass running $234.50. An RV pass (if you want to experience the fest in luxury) will cost an extra $150. As in previous years, Bonnaroo is also offering attendees the opportunity to purchase tickets on an installment plan. (MTV)

Rapper Snoop Dogg headlined last year's event.

This year's 2009 line-up includes Beastie Boys, Al Green, Erykah Badu, Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Snoop Dogg, Ben Harper, Santogold, Raphael Saadiq, The Knux and more artists will be announced for the June 11-14 Manchester concerts. (Bonnaroo)

Jay is also scheduled to perform at the upcoming Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival this spring.

The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival will bring a youth movement to the low desert this year. After several years of greybeard headliners, California's signature festival is going back to the future with younger acts including Gorillaz, Muse, Jay-Z, Thom Yorke, MGMT, Hot Chip, Spoon, Vampire Weekend and LCD Soundsystem at the very top of the bill for the three-day concert that begins April 16 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio. (Los Angeles Times)

The 2010 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will be held June 10-13.

Cracked Tooth Keeps Lil Wayne Out Of Jail, Sentencing Delayed For Dental Surgery

2010-02-09T21:25:00Z

Lil Wayne's sentencing, which was originally scheduled for today, has been delayed until March 2 due to an emergency dental surgery.

]]> Lil Wayne's lawyer, Stacey Richman, spoke on his behalf in a Manhattan courtroom.

She informed the judge that she sent a notification to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office that the rapper is suffering from a cracked tooth and would need to postpone his sentence. The rapper is set to undergo surgery February 12 in Miami, according to Richman. He will need a week to 10 days to recover. His defense offered prosecutors February 25 as a date for Wayne to turn himself him in after surgery, but Judge Charles H. Solomon instead selected March 2.(MTV)

In anticipation of his impending jail term Wayne thanked his followers for their support via UStream last night.

"I'm out this b*tch," he said. "To all my fans, my real fans, I really, really, really truly love you. I love you with all of me, for real. I'll probably be loving everything else because I love you so much. Thank you from the bottom [of my heart]. Do not forget about me 'cause I will forever think about you, and I cannot wait for you to see me again. I'm out." (UStream)

Retired NYPD detective Derrick Parker has analyzed what Wayne's stint behind bars would likely consist of.

"Lil Wayne is gonna be OK," Parker said in an interview. "While he's in jail, it's a matter of fact they may not put him with the general population because of who he is and his popularity. They might lock him down and let him come out with a supervisor and stuff like that [when he's] in the main area -- but he's definitely going to be treated differently...Wayne is from the streets, from the Magnolia Houses in New Orleans, so I'm sure those guys have been in jail or locked up at some point. So being in prison is no big deal to them." (MTV)

Young Money's Drake recently shared his views on Wayne heading to jail.

"I think you'll miss everything about Wayne," Drake suggested in an interview. "I don't think there will be anybody like Lil Wayne ever again in hip-hop. He paralyzes a room when he walks into it, his wordplay, the excitement that he brings to his music. I think that for eight months a lot of us will have to work a lot harder to keep hip-hop as exciting as it's been for the last two years. He's a strong-willed guy. I can imagine it would take a toll on anybody. I just hope that he comes out for the better." (Rolling Stone)

Nelly Tries To Stop Violence At Party, "He Got In The Middle & Got Punched By Mistake"

2010-02-09T20:45:00Z

Rapper Nelly has made headlines after reportedly being assaulted during a fist fight at a Super Bowl party.

]]> According to reports, the St. Lunatic rapper attempted to break-up a physical confrontation.

Rapper Nelly took a punch trying to break up a brawl between his bodyguards and bouncers at club Liv at Miami's Fontainebleau Friday night. As Nelly was taking the stage at the pre-Super Bowl party attended by Jets Mark Sanchez and Braylon Edwards, "his security appeared to get into an argument with the hotel's security staff," said a source. "Nelly got in the middle and got punched by mistake. Then it spilled out of the back door and continued outside." Reps for Nelly and the hotel didn't get back to us. (New York Post)

Reports last month said Diddy attempted to break-up a potential fight between rapper Rick Ross and boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Floyd Mayweather was ready to rumble with a famous nemesis in Vegas this weekend -- but just before a fight broke out, Diddy saved the day. It all went down at the grand opening of Vanity nightclub in the Hard Rock Hotel -- which was hosted by Diddy. We're told Floyd Mayweather rolled over to the party to see Diddy, when he literally ran into rapper Rick Ross. Sources tell TMZ one of the men "bumped" into the other man and their entourages immediately became "confrontational." But as things started to heat up, we're told Diddy swooped in between the guys and calmed everyone down. We called Mayweather's camp for comment and his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., told us there's been beef between Floyd and Ross for a while because Ross has allegedly been, "talking s**t." We're told both Mayweather Jr. and Ross eventually went back in the club and partied the rest of the night away without incident. (TMZ)

Aside from personal matters, Nelly is currently working on a new album.

"'DL2!' This is one thing, we know we can't in no way shape of form can we outdo part one," Nelly said about "Dilemma Part II." "There's no way. You're in a lose situation if you go in trying to do that. What the new song is doing is a continuation of the story. It's produced by my man Jim Jonsin and my man Rico Love. We were in the studio in Miami and I called K and she was in the bed and just shot down to the studio. I got a collaboration with Taraji Henson that was produced by Jermaine Dupri. It's crazy." (BV Buzz)

Producer Jim Jonsin recently spoke on working with Nelly.

"We've done a few songs so far," Jonsin said in an interview. "Nelly's great, he's really super talented. I just know he looks pretty anxious about dropping [it] within the next couple of months for sure. I did 'Dilemma (Part 2)' with [songwriter] Rico Love and Nelly had this melody idea. I've worked with Kelly Rowland and I've heard her sound, and that kind of triggered me to call and put her in the studio. It came out really amazing. It's similar in that it's musical and it has a great melody. But the sound is a little different, a little newer." (Rap-Up)

No further details have been released as of now.

Check out a recent Nelly interview below:

Grand Hustle's B.o.B. Says T.I. Is "Really Focused Now That He's Out"

2010-02-09T19:50:00Z

Grand Hustle Records' B.o.B. has given an update on the well-being of T.I. since reportedly being placed in a halfway house last December.

]]> According to "Bobby Ray," the rapper is out to regain his spot in hip-hop.

"Yeah, I actually worked with Tip on some stuff from my album and some stuff from his album," he revealed in an interview. "We came up with a banger--might I add that. He seems like he's really focused now that he's out, and he seems like he's got something to prove. I'm excited to see what he's gonna do, and I'm excited to see what the songs we made are gonna do." (Hip Hop DX)

Producer Swizz Beatz recently spoke on hitting the studio to work on Tip's next solo album.

[T.I.] that's the homie. I don't have nothing for him yet. His mind and his thought pattern before he went [to jail] is gonna be different from when he gets out. That man has been in the penitentiary at a time that was the height of his career -- he might come out and not wanna use curses no more. He might come out and use more curses. I don't know. I can't create the sound for Tip that's based on 'Swing Ya Rag' and 'Bring Em Out' and all these things we've done unless it's his plan. He's gotta come out, [I] sit down with him, chill how we chill. I gotta do a couple of records with him. I can't be the first thing coming out." (MTV)

Producer Jim Jonsin also confirmed T.I. is working on a new album last month.

"It doesn't seem like he missed a beat," Jonsin said in an interview. "He was so upbeat, his spirits were up, and he's excited to be out and working. He hasn't changed, he sounded exactly like he did when I talked to him months before he went in. He's back in the studio. I sent him some music via email. He can work during the week and not on the weekend, I believe. He's definitely working on an album for this year right now." (Rap-Up)

Lawyer Steve Sadow said the rapper returned to his hometown, Atlanta, Georgia in December.

"He was released this morning from his place of incarceration in Arkansas," Sadow said in an interview. "As I understand it, he's on his way back to the Atlanta area. He has to report to a halfway house in Atlanta sometime this evening. And he will then spend somewhere between the next two or three months in a halfway house, ending his Buruea of Prison sentence. A halfway house is more along the lines of a residential dormitory. You live within this house that is broken into areas for living, and you are permitted to leave during the day for certain reasons of which would be employment, medical reasons, things of that nature, and you return to the halfway house in the evening. So it's a restriction on your liberty but it's a way for you to reenter into society and not be confined within a jail type institution 24-hours a day." (XXL Mag)

No further details have been revealed as of now.

Check out some past B.o.B. footage below:

Soulja Boy Tell Em Ends Yung Berg's Career: "Is That Your Chain?"

2010-02-09T19:20:00Z

For Caption Diss, the good ol' folks at SOHH are back on the votin' grind to give y'all, the erry day reader a chance of a week-time to serve up the final word. The "Best We've Ever Read" headline gets to hold down the SOHH Caption Diss crown para siete dias! Comprende? Pronto!

]]> [Editor Note: The views of this column do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH.com]

LOL!!! Oh sh*t, Soulja Boy Tell Em is going hard these days. Whoa, not that type of hard (pause, doggies). Now I won't lie, WTF is all this about? First Yung Berg gets smacked by Maino, then by some random white kid, then disses the ol' "blacker the cherry, sweeter the juice" phrase, then gets his chain jacked.....yada yada yada....AND NOW, Soulja Boy Tell Em? LMFAO!!! Oh sh*t!!!! And by the looks of how dude is gripin' that thang, it's deeper than making a statement. WTF is going on in this dude's head? Berg = Charles Hamilton? It's Ovvvvver!!!

Congrats, congrats, congrats to the one and ONLY @BulldogButterworth for putting up the best caption ~~y'all have seen thus far~~ last week with my big dog, Kanye West. Yes, doggies, no time for excuses. I made a promise I'd grab a "W" sooner than later and I'm here. On some real sh*t though, who can really mess with quotes (*refers to the new STFU Honors Pulse Report section*).......LOL.

So I'm calling out a two-week win streak going on. Soulja Boy? Yung Berg? Beef? LOL!!! Bring it back to the lunch room days or even during those late shifts with your peeps getting on that dude and that chick b/c I'm heatin' up like Drew Brees in the third quarter. Y'all know the routine, ink 'em, submit 'em and remember the cut-off is Monday, February 15th. Doggy, I'mma get 'em!!!

Kanye West Readies New Blog Launch, "It Should Be Up This Week"

2010-02-09T18:20:00Z

Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West has announced plans to launch a new blog this week.

]]> While not offering many details, Yeezy said fans could anticipate a new site launch any day.

"I've been working really hard on this new blog," Ye wrote in a KanyeUniversecity blog posting, "and I'm really excited about it. It should be up this week!" (Kanye West's Blog)

Ye gave fans the inside scoop of a new site launching after an initial posting last month.

"Sorry for the slow posting," Ye wrote on his current blog Sunday (January 10) evening. "I've been working on a whole new blog for the past few months now. It's very close to completion." (Kanye West's Blog)

Last December, the rapper appeared at a Kid Cudi concert and voiced his thoughts on the rap industry.

"I had to get up out this motherf*cker for a second," Ye told the crowd. "I love the game so much and I'm so passionate about it that I just can't take this sh*t sometimes. And if they take everything away from me it wouldn't f*cking matter. Artists be too concerned about their well-being sometimes. Artists be too scared to stand up for something. They scared to lose they f*cking house or they scared to lose their record deal. I sold my soul to the devil, I know it's a crappy deal/At least it came with a few toys like a Happy Meal." (Miss Info TV)

He was recently crowned one of the top ten producers over the past ten years.

Hot 100 Producers: 1. The Neptunes 2. Timbaland 3. Kanye West 4. Scott Storch 5. Will.i.am 6. Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith 7. Stargate 8. Bryant-Michael Cox 9. Jermaine Dupri 10. Dr. Luke (Billboard Biz)

No further details on Kanye West's new blog launch have been revealed as of now.

Check out some recent Kanye West footage below:

Special To SOHH: The Rise & Fall Of Death Row Records

2010-02-09T18:15:00Z

As hip-hop enters a new era of business ventures, endorsement deals and growth within the music industry, SOHH reflects on the highs and lows of the rap empires who opened the today's black entrepreneurs.

]]> Death Row Records

Founded in the early 1990's by rap moguls Suge Knight and Dr. Dre, Death Row Records reached some of the highest peaks in all of rap history. Under their watch, Tupac Shakur developed into a renowned rapper and respected actor under. In addition, the label was responsible for building the careers of Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. Online estimates suggest the company profited over $325 million.

Soon after the creation of Death Row, the company struck a distribution deal with Interscope, a relatively new record company which had made a name for itself through its willingness to support and distribute obscure or controversial bands. Inter-scope, headed up by James lovine and the financial magnate Ted Field, was partly owned and financed by Warner Music Group, a division of Time Warner, and thus gave Death Row the financial clout necessary for a successful debut. (Encyclopedia)

The Players

Suge Knight

The rap world is no stranger to controversy, but the vast majority involves its recording artists, and perhaps an occasional outbreak of violence at a show. Yet, few industry figures ever attracted the kind of notoriety that Death Row Records label head Marion "Suge" Knight did. A particularly flamboyant and visible executive, Knight built Death Row into the biggest hip-hop label of the early '90s, thanks to a stable of talent that included Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and 2Pac. Death Row brought gangsta rap to the top of the pop charts, and made the West Coast into the epicenter of '90s hip-hop. But along the way, Knight acquired a reputation for using threats of violence as a business tactic, and made little attempt to hide his gang connections. (All Music)

Tupac Shakur

Signing with Death Row Records in late 1995, 2Pac released the double-album All Eyez on Me in the spring of 1996, and the record, as well as its hit single "California Love," confirmed his superstar status. Unfortunately, the gangsta lifestyle he captured in his music soon overtook his own life. While his celebrity was at its peak, he publicly fought with his rival, the Notorious B.I.G., and there were tensions brewing at Death Row. (All Music)

Snoop Dogg

After many delays, Doggystyle was finally released on Death Row in November of 1993, and it became the first debut album to enter the charts at number one. Despite reviews that claimed the album was a carbon copy of The Chronic, the Top Ten singles "What's My Name?" and "Gin & Juice" kept Doggystyle at the top of the charts during early 1994, as did the considerable controversy over Snoop's arrest and his lyrics, which were accused of being exceedingly violent and sexist. Snoop exploited his impending trial by shooting a short film based on the Doggystyle song "Murder Was the Case" and releasing an accompanying soundtrack, which debuted at number one in 1994. By that time, Doggystyle had gone quadruple platinum. (All Music)

Dr. Dre

When he left N.W.A. in 1992, he founded Death Row Records with Suge Knight, and the label quickly became the dominant force in mid-'90s hip-hop thanks to his debut, The Chronic. Soon, most rap records imitated its sound, and his productions for Snoop Doggy Dogg and Blackstreet were massive hits. (All Music)

Death Row's Achievements

Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg's Popularity, Selling Ability

In 1993 the Recording Industry Association of America certified The Chronic album multi-platinum and Dr. Dre also won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for his performance on "Let Me Ride". For that year, Billboard magazine also ranked Dr. Dre as the eighth best-selling musical artist, The Chronic as the sixth best-selling album, and "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" as the 11th best-selling single. Besides working on his own material, Dr. Dre produced Snoop Dogg's debut album Doggystyle, which became the first debut album for an artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 album charts. In 1994 Dr. Dre produced the soundtracks to the films Above the Rim and Murder Was the Case. (Wikipedia)

Tupac Shakur Lands Movie Roles

In addition to rapping and hip hop music, Shakur acted in films. He made his first film appearance in the motion picture Nothing But Trouble, as part of a cameo by the Digital Underground. His first starring role was in the movie Juice. In this story, he played the character Bishop, a trigger happy teen, for which he was hailed by Rolling Stone's Peter Travers as "the film's most magnetic figure." He went on to star with Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice (for which he was nominated outstanding actor in 1994, but did not win) and with Duane Martin in Above the Rim. After his death, three of Shakur's completed films, Bullet, Gridlock'd and Gang Related, were posthumously released. (All Eyez On Me)

Kurupt & Daz Dillinger's Dogg Food Release

The album spawned two singles -- "Let's Play House" and "New York, New York," featuring Nate Dogg and Snoop Dogg, respectively. It landed on the top of the Billboard 200 chart producing a first-week sales of 277,500 albums. Though it eventually sold over 3 million records (3x platinum), Dogg Food did not equal the success of preceding Death Row Records releases. (Wikipedia)

Downfall

Suge Knight's 1996 Las Vegas Arrest:

Videotape at the Las Vegas hotel where Knight and Shakur had been watching a boxing match prior to the murder showed an altercation with Crips gang member Orlando Anderson, who some believe was the eventual triggerman. Knight's involvement in the fight violated the terms of his probation. Moreover, it was revealed that Knight's light sentence may have involved a conflict of interest on the part of prosecutor Lawrence Longo, who rented out a Malibu home to Knight and even had his teenage daughter sign a recording contract with Death Row. Knight was sentenced to nine years in prison, which effectively spelled the end of his Death Row empire. From the beginning of the company's creation, Death Row had been dominated and shaped by Knight. According to Lynn Hirschberg, writing in The New York Times, Knight "was on top of everything at Death Row--from choosing artwork, promotional materials, singles and the track for the B side, to hiring the video director." As California law forbids an inmate from running a business from prison, upon Knight's incarceration, Death Row was left without one of its most vital players. (Encyclopedia)

Dr. Dre Leaves Death Row Records In 1996

More losses ensued as in March 1996 Dr. Dre had creative differences with Knight and left Death Row to establish his own label. Nevertheless, even while the company experienced internal conflict and legal turmoil, it grossed $75 million in profit by year's end. (Encyclopedia)

Interscope Cuts Ties With Death Row Records

Several months after Knight went to jail, Interscope, bending to pressure from Universal, ended its distribution deal with Death Row, marking the first time in the company's history in which the latter's records had no permanent distributor. Death Row began developing distribution deals with other companies on a record by record basis; Shakur's posthumously released soundtrack to the film "Gang Related," for instance, was distributed by Priority Records, a company known for its readiness to distribute and promote material deemed undesirable or too risky by other labels. (Encyclopedia)

Suge Knight's Home Burglary

During his time in prison, Knight's home was burglarized, and police seized a vehicle at the Death Row offices thought to be the getaway vehicle in the Biggie Smalls murder. He was released in August 2001 after serving around five years, and immediately went back to work, retooling his label as Tha Row and searching for new talent. (Encyclopedia)

Tupac Shakur Estate State Demands $150 Million

Shakur estate filed a $150 million suit against Death Row, demanding back payment in royalties and the return of Shakur's master recordings, of which Death Row claimed ownership. The case was later settled out of court, with Shakur's masters being returned to his estate. (Encyclopedia)

Death Row Raided, Suge Knight Returns To Jail

In late 2002, police raided Tha Row's record offices and several of Knight's homes looking for evidence in two gang slayings. Only Knight's associates were implicated in the crimes, but consorting with gang members was another parole violation, and Knight was briefly jailed again; he was eventually sentenced to 200 hours of anti-gang community service. (Encyclopedia)

Resurrection

Although Death Row was eventually sold by Suge Knight, the iconic label was later resurrected through its purchase by WIDEAwake last year after an auction placed the company's worth at $18 million.

WIDEawake Deathrow Entertainment LLC a Delaware company was formed as soon as the Death Row Assets were fully paid for in early 2009. WIDEawake Entertainment Group Inc. - the Canadian company which is funded by New Solutions Capital in Ontario, Canada assigned the entire Death Row Asset to the Delaware company. The Assignment documents are on file with the New York Supreme Court. The Delaware company has two members US citizen, Lara Lavi who is the managing member, and CEO/President and Canadian, Ron Ovenden who has a minority share in the US company and is also the Chairman and CEO of WIDEawake's lender New Solutions Capital. Litigation continues in both the USA and Canada between Lavi and Ovenden over control of the Company because of New Solutions Capital's efforts to interfere with Lavi's ability to manage her company. (Hip Hop DX)

Tahiry Wants To Dead Her Joe Budden Tattoo, "Get Set To Kill The Wife Beater!" [Video]

2010-02-09T17:35:00Z

King Magazine covergirl Tahiry Jose wants to move past her ex-boyfriend/rapper Joe Budden by getting rid of a tattoo she still has of his name.

]]> Labeling Budden as a "wife beater," Tahiry and her girlfriends cross out the mark and call out the emcee in a video.

"So, it is finally going down," Tahiry said in a video. "Get set, to kill the wife beater! Yeah!!! [laughs] So people, Tahiry, ThisIs50 and uhm today we are killing that tattoo of, the wife beater. Yeah! So today is the day, to take off this. F*cking loser. [laughs]" (This Is 50)

Last month, Budden released a song called "Downfall" which revealed his physical relationship with the model.

"Caught up in the he say, she say, blog sites/Him and her broke up, World Star, NahRight," Budden raps, "Dumb fans, they believe, everything that y'all write -- Tell me what am I to do, if I ain't have a soul a n*gga always had you/Pardon Duke, but I gotta speak candidly, with five years of blood, sweat and tears/But it was obviously a disconnect, we turned that into a disrespect/Since she been holding it inside for years, she's unhappy so the girl I wanna marry was afraid to come and tap me/So I went away ontour and you went on one of your own/While you was on the horn all day with ol' boy did you ever think what it would do to your home/What's his name, where's he live/What is it he offered, what's he got to give/I loved you so much that when I caught on to your fibs, I hit you like a man, you wore it in your ribs/I was heated, but had it strong enough to remove the infidelity and see what's underneath it/Come to find out you felt lied to and cheated, mistreated, and kept it a big secret..." ("Downfall")

Budden also recently broke up with model/rapper Somaya Reece.

"Because Somaya, I blocked your b*tch a**," Budden said in avideo recording. "I blocked you on my Twitter and as soon as I leave a f*cking Tweet, your f*cking crazy dumb a** sends me a f*cking text. You better stop f*cking stalking me n*gga. Stop f*cking stalking my Twitter feed b*tch. That b*tch is f*cking stalking my Twitter page. That b*tch made a f*cking fake Twitter account...A**hole year is gone -- [she] pretended to be really, really, really cool -- and then after so long, she revealed her crazy Spanish colors and begin to act like a lunatic and getting out of a five year relationship, why do I want to be with anyone who is a f*cking lunatic? I just left someone who is a f*cking lunatic...I don't want any beef with motherf*cking Somaya, I don't want any beef with Gloria Velez, I don't want any beef with Tahiry, I don't want any beef with b*tches. Period. I'm off that. It's a new year, it's a new year, grow the f*ck up..." (YouTube)

Outside of her past relationship, Tahiry said she planned to take her career into films last month.

"Right now, we're setting it all up, I'm looking at reality TV," Tahiry revealed to interviewer DJ Vlad. "Possibly try some acting. I just had a couple interviews and I said I'm not trying to be Halle Berry, but Rosie Perez 2010 why the f*ck not? I'm never afraid to try anything. Hosting, I did that for the Rucker -- whatever door's open, I'm walking right through them. [Me and Joe] were doing meetings [for a reality show], but we were doing it together. Now we're basically, there's a fork in the road. Yes, it was pretty close [to finalizing]. Sad but true. We got as far as sitting down and being right where we need to be." (Vlad TV)

Check out Tahiry speaking on Joe Budden below:

DJ Kay Slay On Online Magazines, "This Downloading Sht Fcked Up The Whole Industry"

2010-02-09T16:55:00Z

DJ Kay Slay has opened up about his Straight Stuntin Magazine venture and explained why he refuses to jump from print to online formats.

]]> According to Slay, his magazine offers a direct outlet to expose the public to a streamline of models.

"I figured the modeling thing would be simpler if I gave them a platform to show their talents and It would be good to come through a magazine. It's female DJ's, rappers, models, adult entertainers. No requirements, just come correct. Everything is run right like any other magazine you see. I didn't do an online magazine because that's how you lose. This downloading sh*t f*cked up the whole music industry. The last thing you want to do is put it online cause people won't purchase it. You can't bootleg a magazine. The time that it takes to do it and the money, a n*gga aint gonna take the chance to do it. The only way you could lose if you did an online version. I don't care if you have to pay for it, a motherf*cker will figure out how to get that sh*t for free. It's a gift and curse." (All Hip Hop)

Giant Magazine recently said it would transition from print to an online counterpart called GiantLife.com.

Interactive One, LLC the digital connection for Black America and the digital division of Radio One, Inc., the largest African American multimedia company, today announced the launch ofGIANTLife.com to super-serve a highly underserved audience, affluent African Americans 21-34 and will suspend printing the bi-monthly Giant Magazine. GIANTLife.com will continue and expand upon the magazine's original vision by providing a larger audience with superior original content and access to an exclusive lifestyle. (PR Newswire)

Artists like 50 Cent have vouched for the power of online marketing.

"As far as the Internet is concerned, it's so new that the younger kids can take better advantage," Fif explained in an interview. "Soulja Boy is one of the guys that is more open-minded to the Web, and he'll go there immediately...I watched and learned from people like him. From my perspective, what the mixtape circuit was is now a viral video...When I make material and I see it be viewed a million times, I know that I pleased a small demographic that watched it so often that there's a million views. Or a broad demographic of people are drawn to it. I feel good either way... As [the Internet] changes and there's new applications and new things involved with the site, I learn that right away. That makes me comfortable...The kids, the new age group, the new kids are more perceptive of computers. They don't have to have the experience of going to purchase your CD or going to see your movie." (XXL Mag)

Kay Slay's latest album, More Than Just A DJ, hit retail stores today.

DJ Kayslay, legendary DJ, magazine owner, mixtape master, is set to release his new album, More Than Just A DJ on E1 Music. The album features Busta Rhymes, Jim Jones, Bun B, 50 Cent, OJ Da Juiceman, Juelz Santana, Joell Ortiz, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and many, many more. The first single, 'Blockstars' featuring Jim Jones, Busta Rhymes & Ray J is hitting radio now. A second single, 'Thug Luv' featuring Maino, Papoose, Red Cafe and Ray J will follow. (Press Release)

Check out a recent DJ Kay Slay interview below:

Game Talks Going 1-On-1 W/ Ashanti, "She Can Sing Like A Motherf*cker"

2010-02-09T16:15:00Z

Game has opened up about his recent studio sessions with Dr. Dre and Ashanti saying he has placed the music over his past beef with Murder Inc.

]]> According to Game, tagging Ashanti for a collaboration was strictly Dre's idea.

"Hey, man, it's 'No beef 2010,'" he promised in an interview. "That's the trending topic on this interview, man. Dre called me and he was like, 'You got any current-day problems with Ashanti?' I was like, 'Nah. I ain't got no problems with Ashanti.' She can sing like mutha----a and you put her on a hook, it's automatically radio. So he was like, 'I'mma have her come down.' Dre was going through beats and I picked one. I was like, 'Let's try her on this hook.' Me and Ashanti wrote the hook, I went in on the verses and that was it. The song me and Ashanti did, it don't even have a name for it yet. It's crazy. We just did that a week ago and I ain't even name it." (MTV)

Shanti broke the news of recording music with Game and Dre through her Twitter page a few weeks ago.

"On the way 2 the lab!!! flyin dwn santa monica I think we took like 3 red lights lol!!! ( U guys dnt do tht tho) lol!!!," she wrote Wednesday (January 27). "@only1NOTTZ heyyyyyy!!!!! Wz crackin!! We gotta link up I'm in LA now jus leavin the lab!!!! Awwwwwww sh*t its a problem!!!!! Me DR. DRE & GAME in the lab ohhhhhhh booooooy this is a SMMMMIZAAASHHH!!!!!http://tweetphoto.com/9709437 & @ihategame jus debo'd my cup of tea!!!!! Smh!!! Lol!!! & of course @LTHUTTON is in the mothaf*#kin buildin!!! Hollaaa!!!" (Ashanti's Twitter)

Last month, Game denied being romantically linked with the R&B singer.

"No, no man," Game said about a romantic relationship with the singer. "Ashanti came by the studio and worked with me and Dre the other day. She's real cool and that was it. And they took a picture of me and Dre and Ashanti and put it on the net and that's how rumors start. But it's those Media Take Out people, what is that? TMZ.com, my homepage." (TMZ)

Prior reports suggested the two's relationship was deeper than music.

MediaTakeOut.com just learned, from an EXTREMELY reliable source, that something is going on between R&B singer ASHANT and rapper THE GAME. According to our snitch, Game is helping Ashanti with her new album. But when the two were together in the studio, they couldn't stop flirting with each other. The insider told MediaTakeOut.com, "I think something's going on." Time will tell . . .but that's a good look for Ashanti . . (Media Take Out)

Check out Game speaking on Ashanti down below:

Nicki Minaj Calls Lil Wayne Unstoppable, "No Matter What You Throw At Him, You Can't Take Away His Confidence"

2010-02-09T16:10:00Z

Young Money's Nicki Minaj has spoken on Lil Wayne's one-year jail sentence and explained why the emcee is unstoppable.

]]> Although she feels Wayne should not be obligated to serve time, Minaj revealed how the rapper's work ethic has been non-stop over the past few weeks.

"He's such a strong person, and it's weird -- he's sitting there doing videos," Nicki said in an interview. "I found myself e-mailing him about something I wanted him to do for me. When I thought about it, I was like, 'It's so selfish,' 'cause it's, like, what is the mind frame of somebody that's supposed to go to jail for months and never served that amount of time in jail? I don't know. I'm always amazed at Wayne's dignity. Everything he does, he does with dignity. No matter what you throw at him, you can't take away his confidence. Something about him is always like, 'I am still who I am.' That's just dope. This dude is a legend." (MTV)

Drake recently said Wayne's time away from his team will force Young Money to work harder.

"I think that for eight months a lot of us will have to work a lot harder to keep hip-hop as exciting as it's been for the last two years. He's a strong-willed guy. I can imagine it would take a toll on anybody. I just hope that he comes out for the better." (Rolling Stone)

Reports last month suggested the rapper was shooting a "Drop the World" music video with Eminem.

Lil Wayne featuring Eminem: Music Video. Producer: Megan Gutman Director: Chris Robinson Casting Director: Randy Donaldson Shoot/Call Date: 1/31 Pay Rate: $100/10 Location: Los Angeles [MOSH CROWD - EXTRAS] Looking for young people for a riot/mosh scene. Must be willing to mosh and/or run around city streets. (Rap Radar)

Wayne scheduled time to shoot music videos for Shawty Lo and Playaz Circle in late January.

"Lil Wayne and rapper Shawty Lo will be shooting a music video in Atlanta on Monday. The video is for a song featuring Lil Wayne off of Shawty Lo's upcoming album" a source told NewLilWayne.com. "Lil Wayne will also be shooting another music video the following day with Birdman and Playaz Circle for the record "Big Dawg" off of Playaz Circle's current album Flight 360: The Takeoff." (New Lil Wayne)

Check out Lil Wayne & Eminem's "Drop the World" down below:

Lloyd Banks Prepared To Carry G-Unit, "Look Forward To Me, I'm The Future"

2010-02-09T15:35:00Z

G-Unit's Lloyd Banks has stepped forward to take the pressure off 50 Cent and Tony Yayo by offering to lead his crew to the next level.

]]> Calling himself the future of G-Unit, the "Punch Line King" said his crew is here to stay in rap.

"Well the status is, I am the present, the past and the future," Banks explained in an interview. "So they can definitely look forward to that. Tony Yayo, of course. The founding members are always gonna be there. We built this up, gave opportunities to other artists that were signed including [Young] Buck and Game and so on. But as long as that structure is there, we're good. We're solid. You can look forward to me, I'm the future. This summer [for my album]. It's a tight schedule...hopefully we can push for late summer." ("KG Radio Show")

50 recently spoke on the status of his G-Unit Records artist roster.

"As far as the rest of the roster, of course the original G-Unit as a group are gonna stay together," Fif promised in an interview. "That's myself, Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks and on the actual label, G-Unit Records as a roster, I let Prodigy and Havoc go off the label because P had to get extra money before he went into jail. And Havoc just had idle time while P was gone because he didn't work as often as P does. M.O.P. was kinda just waiting for me to do it for them...Hot Rod and Spider Loc are still technically signed to G-Unit Records...Buck is still signed to G-Unit Records, hopefully he can come up with a record. If he can come up with a song, we can get my money back, you know what I'm saying? I hope he can come up with something right quick. I'm looking forward to that check at least. [Game] gotta pay me not to put the [G-Unit] logo on it." (This Is 50)

Last September, Banks touched to his chemistry with Yayo and Fif.

"Oh yeah, that sh*t is crazy," Banks told DJ Whoo Kid about an upcoming mixtape he's on with 50 Cent. "I mean, that's back to where it started. Once we get in there, it ain't really much talking going on, to be honest with you. It's always been a good competition with us, it's only competition. I mean, we don't really need nobody else you know what I'm saying, because nobody else was here in the beginning. We're locked in that room and it's on and popping, automatic pilot. Probaby about eight songs done a night, two days, that's a mixtape." (Sirius Satellite Radio)

Last year, Yayo wished the best for ex-Unit member Buck since he was dropped in 2008.

"Shout to Young Buck," Yayo began in an interview. "I wish you was with us, getting some money, living the life. When I see it, I feel a little sorry for him, because he could be taking the same advantages I'm taking. I just wish that the guy thought better or was a better businessman, instead of just being a good rapper. You being disgruntled towards 50, now what do you have? You could have been with us in Peru. We went to Switzerland, Istanbul, we went everywhere man. I'm too real for the industry. Even if I was disgruntled about anything, I wouldn't care, because I'm still getting money. Still got houses, still got cars, sprinklers still come out the ground. I think people get jealous of 50 of how big he is." (MTV)

Check out a past Lloyd Banks interview below:

Busta Rhymes Schedules "Chemo" Check Out, "The New Album Is Coming" [Video]

2010-02-09T15:15:00Z

Busta Rhymes has announced a release date for his upcoming Chemo album and said he plans to continue his venture into the movie industry.

]]> According to Busta, the new album will be out this summer.

"First and foremost, the new album is coming the fourth of July," Busta said in an interview. "The Chemo. I definitely felt it was necessary to find an antidote to cure the cancer in this industry. And last but not least, we gonna nose dive headfirst without a parachute to the big screen, get these movies popping again and have fun." (CBS)

Writing via his daily Twitter page, the New York rapper promised to make "history" with producers like Swizz Beatz and Rockwilder last December.

"Rockwilder, Swizz Beatzzz, Busabus!!!!What the f*ck yall think is happening in the studio right now!!UN"F*CKIN'"DESCRIBABLE!! THE CHEMO!!!," he wrote Wednesday (December 16) night. "WHEN I TELL U TED SMOOTH JUST SENT ME A F*CKIN' MOSTER 4 THE ALBUM!!!!!STRAIGHT F*CKIN' CLASSIC SH*T!!!!SWIZZ, ROCKWILDER, NOW TED SMOOTH!!! CHRISTMAS IS ARRIVING REAL EARLY 4 ME OUT THIS MU'F*CKA!!!!!DREADY U GOTTA GET BACK 2 THE STATES BRUDDAH...SH*T IS F*CKIN' KRAZY OUT HERE!!! @djmikesessions U already know big homie!!!We makin' history in this b*tch...Ted Smooth,Swizz Beatzzz, Rockwilder and now Jerry Wonder!!SICK." (Busta Rhymes' Twitter)

The rapper recently explained his motivation for calling the album Chemo.

"I called the album The Chemo because it seems like the industry and music overall is dying slowly," Busta explained in an interview. "The cancer that's stricken the business is killing the music, not only from a business standpoint, but also the value of the content and the creativity behind it. I just want to start the first stage of chemotherapy treatment that needs to take place and hopefully inspire others to do their part and contribute to different stages of the cure." Still, Busta recognizes those artists who are taking a stand against the "dying industry" by putting out "great music," stating, "Jay-Z put out an incredible album this year and Lil Wayne put out an incredible album last year." (Billboard)

He announced plans to begin work on a new album last year.

"The new album is 80 percent finished, and it's called The Chemo," he revealed in an interview last September. "It's the first time I'm announcing the name of the album. It's self-explanatory. We're coming to kill the cancer in music. I ain't trying to offend anybody. I think it's real important that we keep -- We gotta re-establish the understanding that the perspective of hip-hop is to make music that always felt undeniable and unprecedented and we set a standard. And we always made sure we supplied the demand of being the ultimate cutting-edge form of entertainment that we always have and will always be. We always did a good job at doing that. The Chemo album is one of them albums that feels like what hip-hop is supposed to feel like, not what it's made out to be by the people in these positions at the executive level." (MTV)

The Chemo is scheduled to drop Sunday, July 4th.

Check out Busta Rhymes speaking on The Chemo down below:

Lil Wayne Bids Farewell To Fans, "I'm Out This B*tch" [Video]