Ja-rule has new album on the way ~ The Mirror

Irv Gotti's Office

Ja-rule has new album on the way ~ The Mirror

                                               Wow, a very young Ja-Rule, Young Hov, Irv Gotti, and DMX...History

 

                                                                     Wake Up Ja

 

                                 Irv Gotti breaking down the hottest chicks in the game... more to come

 

               

 

Fire has been re-defined and interpreted into the Hip-Hop vocabulary as a synonym for something that is “ of quality” and noteworthy. For Bronx bomber C-Rayz Walz, Fire was responsible for taking over 20 rhyme books containing a lifetime’s worth of material, thus giving C-Rayz a fresh start. Forget the symbolism; the rhyme sayer is back with new “fiyaaah”. “This album was made from concepts that were created through a friendship, between a producer extradonire , beat maker master,- Sharkey and emcee C-Rayz Walz from the Bronx.,” says C-Rayz Walz.

 

Teaming up with critically acclaimed, but somewhat unknown producer Sharkey, the duo has taken on the moniker of Monster Maker and has blessed the summer with a collaborative album that actually sounds like the producer and emcee were in the studio together at the same time, “C-Rayz and I were actually good friends before we ever even decided to work together creatively. The sessions that we had were just so strong and productive like there was one song that we did “pain the picture” that he wrote pretty much as I was just playing for him the track for the 1^st time to see what he thought of it , and he was jus scrolling thru his sidekick writing all the verses in like 20 minutes,” says producer Sharkey.

 

Already with several albums under his belt through independent powerhouse Def Jux and the clout to back up his rhyme skills; having served countless battle-credible emcees like Supernatural, C-Rayz still remembers where it all started at, “I grew up near Echo Park, so all the old school parks jams I was there, man. 10 Blocks from Kool Herc’s crib.” says C-Rayz Walz The golden era is over, that’s just a fact of life. However, it’s soul and essence continues to live on and teach the next generation through cats like C-rayz. His agenda appears to be very clear – make quality Hip-Hop music. Monster Maker has already begun planning their next album, but still weren’t ready to let the cat out of the bag, “For right now I just hope that me and Sharkey can continue to make incredible music and continue to expand to new horizons and landscapes for me to paint my vocal windows on.”, says C-Rayz Walz

Diddy is the new face of Ciroc Vodka                             

                                                               Thanks Diddy

                   More to come with the Shiny Suit Man... makin-moves son!

                           Buckshot was one of the first artist/execs don't sleep, Duck Down has been doing indepedent Hip-Hop before Rocafella, Bad Boy, Death Row etc.

                           Buckshot was one of the first artist/execs don't sleep, Duck Down has been doing indepedent Hip-Hop before Rocafella, Bad Boy, Death Row etc.

Education, conversation, and inspiration were the focus of the 2^nd chapter of Guitar Center’s Sessions, a vitalizing panel and discussion with some of the most innovative luminaries that Hip-Hop has birthed. Cats like DMC, Chuck D, Buckshot, Rob Swift, Dru-Ha, Grand Wizard Theodore, Large Professor, and 88-Keys all gave some insight on what it takes to be successful in the music industry. Partying has become too prominent and exploited in the music. How good can your music be if you’re at the club 5 nights a week? The point is that if we put the drinks downc for a little while and focus on our craft, we can move Hip-Hop forward and get out of this stagnant rut that this culture has been plagued with.

            The revolutionary Chuck D emphasized making music that was “genuine and 100% you” and that “falling to the pressures of record execs’ everlasting quest to make the maximum profit off a record is deteriorating Hip-Hop”. Chuck’s powerful voice and articulate wordplay controlled the audience like a preacher on Sunday afternoon. It was clear that his speech had inspired more then just a few, the Public Enemy front man was welcomed and finished with standing ovations complete with P.E’s most memorable lyrics being shouted out, some attendees almost in tears. With DMC and DJ Happa hosting the event the energy continued to build in the small room as Large Professor, BuckShot, Dru-Ha, 88 Keys, DJ Jab (Fat Beats), and Rob Swift took to the panel and answered questions from the crowd and dropped some knowledge. They shared their personal sagas filled with their failures and successes. Large Professor, the same producer that gave Nas his introduction to the world repeatedly explained the importance of taking your time to learn every step of making music before your consider yourself “hot”. 88 Keys (Kanye West,Mos Def,Tribe) shared his stories of “ditching piano lessons because I wanted to play drums, now I got to hire a piano player”, who would of thought a producer with a name like that, can’t play the keys? Partners Buckshot and Dru-Ha brought up crucial points on “spending your money wisely” and clearing up what it takes to be an independent label. “We’re not independent because we wanna be”, stated Dru-Ha co-ceo of the legendary Duck Down Records which has been in business since 1992. Bringing the event to a close Grand Wizard Theodore and Rob Swift shut it down with immaculate sets each combining the new school with the old school. The next Sessions event will be hosted in the Midwest and will include artists and entrepreneurs from the region.

The name DJ Cucumberslice may not ring a bell, but sneakerheads, basketball fans and Hip-Hop aficionados know the name as just another alias for the legendary Bobbito. With a resume that includes playing pro ball in Puerto Rico, freelancing for publications such as The Source, Vibe, Rap Pages, and Fader, and breaking unsigned emcees like Wu-Tang, Big Pun, Jay-z and Nas, Bobbito can me defined as one of the most respected Hip-Hop tastemakers to come out of New York City. Nike recently honored the DJ, writer, and basketball/sneaker connoisseur with his own series of Air Force One sneakers. On one early Monday morning Bobbito took a couple of minutes of his hectic schedule to break down the science on Uptowns and Hip-Hop.

Damn, after all this time and free promotion you’ve done, Nike has finally decided to let you design some sneakers, huh?

Bobbito: Yea, I’ve been collaborating with Nike for a long time since like 1993 on and off throughout the years, but for the 25^th anniversary for the Air Force One, we decided to do a shoe that reflects my passions such as sneaker designs, basketball, and DJing. I worked very closely with the art director to develop the logo treatment with the hand over the basketball and the hand over a 12 inch record because I play wax, no mp3’s or none of that bullshit. On the heel of the sneaker we put love because Cool Bob Love is one of my nicknames and people really been bugging out over it, I’m really like beside myself on how the sneakers jumped off like they did, I didn’t really think they were going to blow up like that. All the Hip-Hop heads and DJ cats that I’m down with are feeling em’ because they represent that spectrum and all my peoples that I grew up with that were playing ball in the Air Force Ones since they first came out. People now forget they originated as a performance sneaker. They just think of Air Force Ones as street shoe.

Nike really lucked out with the Air Force One’s popularity in the Hip-Hop community,

Bobbito: Nike’s stupid happy because my shoes, and I have three in the pack, each one has different color combos, they really pleased because there’s a story behind my sneakers. Their personalized and really represents me and the dues that I’ve paid also showing my pedigree. I wrote the 1^st sneaker article in the world for The Source in 1991 called “Confessions of a Sneaker Addict”. I was holding on to sneakers doing what people call now “keeping them deadstock”, and I was doing that since the 70’s keeping sneakers on ice, wait a couple years until their not out anymore and then rocking them. From that article it was like boom!!!, that lead to working with Nike, I did over 40 commercials with them in the 90’s and into 2000. I also did consulting for them in design and advertising. I got a long term relationship with Nike. (laughs)

Being that you been in sneaker game since the 70’s, you’ve seen all the eras come and go. Especially in the last couple of years the sneaker culture has become so huge with kids camping out for days for limited releases and the internet bringing a lot of information to the consumer, tell me a little but about the evolution of the sneaker game.

Bobbitio: I tell you a lot about it, read my book, Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987(laughs) I can’t say it any better then I did that book, literally I nailed it with that one. Not one person has come to me since the book has come out like “yo you forgot to mention…”, nah I mentioned it all, but now it’s definitely a different time from what my generation went through in the 70’s and 80’s. In the same token there are also a lot of similarities too, but if you really wanna go deep with it, go and read my book. There’s also a full length documentary that goes along with it and I just signed the deal, so look out for that.

Do you think the game is getting oversaturated though with Nike releasing new Dunks almost every week and all the retro Jordans being reissued?

Bobbito: Well, it definitely feels like there are more sneakers out more then ever. In the same token though the sneaker companies are very smart, they’ll tease you by only putting out 2000 of these and 100 those. “We’ll only give a certain amount to the players” and so forth. No matter what though, not only is there a sneaker out there for somebody, but there’s going to that ill sneakerhead that wants to have that sneaker that no one else has.I always tell this to people the sneaker industry and culture for the most part is not like music, it’s ok if your artist is broke but he’s making dope songs. The sneaker industry is not like that, they make sneakers specifically to sell. They want every single sneaker that they put out to sell.

Adding to that Nike put a ton of money and marketing in the Air Force 25,they even went and got Nas, Kanye, Rakim, and Krs-One and the shoe didn’t sell well at all. You could say it “flopped” and Nike’s just sitting wondering “what happened”, we didn’t put a dollar into the original Air Force One and it is one of our best selling.

Bobbito: I think that there’s been a lot of sneakers over the years from all the brands that were heavily marketed and didn’t sell, you can go back to the Shaquille joint that Reebok did, Number 1 if it’s Nike or whoever if a brand puts a lot of money into promoting a certain shoe and it doesn’t sell. They are still promoting their brand, and their still promoting the concept that our brand equates basketball and high performance. So that ripples to the rest of their releases and tells the consumer “ yo we care about you”, we may not it hit it on the nose with every sneaker. I did some consulting on the very late stage of the Air Force 25 for the low cut that their putting out which I hope that their still putting out. There’s a lot of R&D (research & development) that really pays a lot of attention to the performance of the shoe, and if you play ball the Air Force 25 in them like dead up them shits is bananas B, mad comfortable… mad comfortable but it’s like sneaker companies are not in New York. There’s no main company that has a headquarters in New York, so when they get caught up designing all the specifics sometimes they may be too concerned over the comfort and miss that fashion aspect.

 

So on the music and basketball side where can fans still catch you doing your thing?

Bobbito: Aside from working on the Air Force One campaign, I’m also the 1^st Latino announcer in the 60 year history of the Knicks franchise, I do a halftime report with celebrities from the crowd called Hot Minute at The Half, and I been doing that the whole season during home games. Also I co-founded Bounce Magazine, we just partnered up with Dime Magazine, we have website Bouncemag.com which is strictly about grassroots and playground basketball. I still DJ the last Monday of every month at Apt., I got a party which Rich Medina called Happy Feet that’ll happen every Sunday in the summer that’s a long weekend: Memorial Day wknd., Independence wknd., and Columbus Day Wknd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harlem’s always making it and Brooklyn’s always taking it, you’ve heard the saying but for those who’ve never been across 110^th Street may not quite fully grasp the swag of those from Uptown. Historically, Harlem has always been a threshold of the arts, rich in musical talents and of course producing some of Hip-Hop’s most Flamboyant emcees. RIP Big L. With the beef rumors between the Dipset Capos thicker then ever, and Mims making Washington Heights look suspect the need for a familiar name to take Harlem on his back has landed right in Cardan’s lap. He might not have the familiar face to match his clout but Cardan has played the cut for a long time coming, penning multi-platinum hits for artists like Bow Wow, Nelly, and Puffy, “I’ve been working, staying busy. I really been doing a lot of ghostwriting for a few people for like the last 5-6 years. Still recording songs working on the mixtape. “ ~ Cardan.

Over 8 years ago as just a shorty, Cardy was spitting on some of DJ Clue’s most coveted mixtapes holding his own with Mase, Cam’ron, Noreaga and Tragedy Khadfi.While still searching for a deal the streets were left wondering “ Can we get a mixtape already?”, “I know, its crazy. I don’t even know why. But I was tripping, I was sadly mistaken I should have been flooded the street and dropping a mixtape every month .” ~ Cardan. Now with his own label and team to support him, Academy Records recently dropped Cardan’s 1^st mixtape, “They love it, man. I love it which is most important, people come up to me in the street and on myspace saying it’s hot. It’s my first mixtape that I ever did.”~ Cardan. There’s no looking back now with money on the table and the whole world listening the final product will be judged by the masses, “Fans are loyal but their only going to be as loyal as you’re going to be to them, emphasized Cardan. There are two things that seem lost in today’s Hip-Hop community, honor and loyalty. Even the crews who’ve proceeded the Bad Boy/Death Row era have only stuck together for 2 or 3 years , it’s the ones who’ve paid attention and took what they learned that are ready go for self, “I see myself as very experienced and I see myself with a lot of knowledge of the game.I don’t think I’m missing any element as a rap artist. I got the bounce, the flow, melody, lyrics, and the charisma, but the music business has changed a lot. It evolved for the better, the stakes are higher people today that come out make more money. It’s business; 95% business - 5% talent. It’s who you, how you know them; a lot of politics.” ~ Cardan breaking it down.

You can’t argue with this young man’s brash but honest demeanor. Almost every week we here of two more major labels merging, but at the same time the emergence of several thousand start up-independent hip-hop labels has given the upper hand to the underdog , “Me and my homeboy “Baby J”, Jason; we’re partners in the company; Academy Music and everything is going really good right now. I don’t think I can just sign to a major and give up all the rights to my music. I feel like I’ve paid my dues for that, so I don’t want just the regular new artist deal. ~Cardan. With the right distribution deal, who needs them? Cardan has the power and talent get it in with the current generation of Hip-Hop stars, “I’m working with Cool & Dre. Rick Ross just did a feature for my album. I’m actually also about to do a song with Fat Joe and Juelz Santana, that’s gonna turn out crazy.” ~ Cardan.

Before Cardan had to get back into the studio and finish enjoying South Beach’s festivities, (Cardan recording in Miami during the interview) I had to see if he knew what was up with Mase and how he felt about Harlem’s current place in the rap game. When I asked if he could put any truth into the Mase and the Transvestite rumors, he gave his honest thoughts, “Ma$e. I don’t know man… I don’t know what to believe. Hopefully, hopefully it’s not true. I hope nothing like that happened…. But me and Ma$e are cool I speak to him every now and again. “ ~Cardan. Also having a very positive view on Harlem’s rising place in the limelight, “I’m not an ungrateful guy, so I can’t just sit here and say “No,No,No, Harlem’s not being represented right. I’m happy Jim Jones had the number 1 record “We Fly High” and he represents Harlem. I’m a be honest and correct, I’m happy Harlem is being represented to the masses. Whether it’s good or bad; I’m glad that Harlem is being represented. Now would I be representing Harlem that’s way it is… that’s a different story. ~ Cardan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount at Atmos, hahahahaha Big Ups to Consequence who performed at Statik Selektah's album release party... SPELL HIS NAME RIGHT

             

                                                            Lafayette Street, NYC

 

 

                 JP is doin the damn thang, big shit poppin - real talk ( Check out his work in The Source, Village Voice, Blow, Warp, etc)

 

                                                        Near St. Marks, NYC

                  Crif Dogs is the jumpoff, I recommend the Tsunami Dog.

         30% to 70% off brands like 10 Deep, Crooks & Castles, Nike, dont miss out

                                                     151 Orchard Street

 

Did this interview with Saigon a while back, but since he finally has a release date I figured it was relevent.

   See rappers can smile too!

The authenticity and street credibility of a rapper can often times be used to jump start their career before they can even record an album. How many times have you heard about a rapper’s war stories before you’ve even listened to their music? Does it really matter how many ki’s a rapper sold or how many bodies they’ve caught? Well, if they’re rapping about all these things, then I guess it does. In any case, Saigon has been a name that’s been buzzing in barbershops, street corners, and online all-alike for the last several years. The Yardfather has been busy in the lab cooking up his Fort Knock’s debut album, “Greatest Story Never Told” with Jus Blaze, Abandoned Nation, and Hip-Hop Since 1978. Though he is a product of the street, Saigon is not just another rapper talking that gangsta shit, “You got people that advocate it and glamorize it when they only show ‘em one side of it. They show the crip walk and the flag hangin’ out, but they don’t show the dead nigga layin in the casket, why don’t you show em that part. Show em’ the harsh realities of this lifestyle,” Saigon explains the problems with exploiting street life on wax.

 When are we going to hear the album, it feels New York has been waiting a lifetime for The Greatest Story Never Told?

Saigon: I’m guaranteeing the best Hip-Hop album in the last 20 years. Guaranteed to change the game, but it’s gonna do more then change the game, it’s going to change life; the state of life for a lot of people in America because it’s the unadulterated truth. I mean like actual truth, the things people think about everyday, hear about, but don’t wanna say because they scared of the repercussions or what’s going to happen. It’s the same things I been spitting but it’s me a lil bit more advanced. Jus Blaze and Kanye pretty much did my whole album, so you can imagine what the production is like and I know how to pick beats. I got the best outta of Jus and Kanye and… Greatest Story Never Told, July 31^st.

Is this album going to be different from what is being released in Hip-Hop today or from at least what is being forced on to the public ?

Saigon: I’m not even into Hip-Hop right now, I don’t wanna be subliminally influenced by nothing because I’m in my zone, so I’m not listening to any rap right now. I haven’t heard anything out there that inspires me. I will say that there’s not been an album in the past 20 years that is going to better then mine.

Why though, what’s Saigon bringing that’s not already been heard. You’ve always been known to be on some like “educated thug shit”.

Saigon: My shit ain’t even educated thug shit. It’s so beyond that. My shit is like… I feel like a politician that’s running for office…( Source VP. Julie Als walks by) Oh My God, stop distracting me Julie (laughs). Yea , you know I just think because the content of the music, the timing now with all the diamonds and bullshit in rap. It’s getting repetitious, it’s not important no more. We know if you sold a few million records you can afford a diamond that’s not a secret. If you still talking about “ look I got ice” 3 albums in. You shouldn’t be allowed to make another fuckin record unless you come up with something new to talk about. There should be a committee; matter of fact The Source should start a committee to where yall bash anybody who talks about the same thing that they talked about for three, four years. This shit is artistic, that’s like a person drawing the same picture over and over again, trying to impress you. “Look son, you showed me that picture last time”, you’re not an artist if you can’t come up with new ideas. Creativity is lacking, really the record companies and radio got a lot to do with it because everybody is trying to make a radio hit. One thing I didn’t do is try to make a “radio hit”, I didn’t try to make radio songs. You see the 1^st song I leaked and that was not a single. I put out “Pain In My Life” on my own.

With that also what do you think of the comparisons and similarities of Ludacris’s verses from Runaway Love with Mary? Do you feel like it took some of shine away from your joint.

Saigon: Yea, yea I feel like it did. I’m not insinuating Ludacris stole my shit, but we met for the 1^st time in August when my record was out and his wasn’t, and he told me that he loved my record and he didn’t mention about the one he had. He didn’t say “ yo I got one just like it”. He didn’t say nothing. See what I’m sayin and my record goes “ Young Felcia was only four when she learned how to ride a bike…”, his record goes “Little Erica is only five years old, she trying…”. Come on doggy, I call a spade, a spade something smells fishy. (laughs) and you know what’s funny I’m glad that he came out with it because it gave my me power at my label. My label didn’t want to put a dime behind my record. They were like “ you can’t dance to this in the club”. Every fuckin record doesn’t have to be club song.

Records that used to get played in clubs weren’t “club songs”,

Saigon: Exactly, they usually have the same tempo or catch phrase that everyone can sing along too, and make people buy into it and the label didn’t understand my record. Then they saw Luda’s do well in radio and win a grammy and perform. That gave me a little bit more leeway. Then came the bbbut,bbb,bbbut, the stutterings. Bbbut that’s Ludacris, so what muthafucka. I’m Saigon, I’m not Ludacris but there was point in his career, when he was at my stage. The labels are followers, they don’t wanna develop artists anymore, spend time. They wanna cut and paste what is already out, just copy.

How has Jus-Fort Knoxx and Hip-Hop Since 1978 been supported you in giving you the artistic freedom to make music however way you feel?

Saigon: It’s like you gotta find a happy medium, you gotta find a way to where everybody is happy because if the label is not happy their not going to spend the marketing dollars that you need, if they don’t believe in your shit, there’s no way you’re going to get that extra push that you need. That’s kind a of why it took so long with my project, it was finding that happy medium to where everybody was happy. “Ok, we can finally agree of this, they gonna put up the money up that I need, and I don’t feel like I’m compromising my sound and what I’m about and we met in the middle. Jus Blaze is a genius man, I gotta give him so much credit. I think this album is gonna put him up there with the Dre’s and all them. Everybody knows he can make dope beats but nobody ever seen what he can do with one artist.

True, you mean like actually sitting down with the artist and coming up with concepts…

Saigon: Yea, not just giving a dude a beat being like there go make a song. My album don’t stop from when you turn it on to the end there’s no space. It all flows together. It’s like reading a book that’s why I called it Greatest Story Never Told. Each song is like a chapter, imagine reading a book and chapter 3 had nothing to do with chapter 2, it wouldn’t make sense. It might be a good chapter but you like “damn that had nothing to do with what the fuck you were just talking about.”

So can people who can’t relate to your story or who are from a different environment relate to your music?

Saigon: My shit is for everybody because I don’t glamorize the street. Why try to glamorize something when their nothing glamorize about it. Anybody that’s really in the street know that’s something that you’re trying your hardest to get the fuck out of, anybody who really came up out of the hood hard knows. You might say that shit once, but there’s no need to keep emphasizing it.

Especially now from the majority of the music, there’s a real twisted picture about what it’s like in New York hand to hand sales, crowded blocks with fiends, doesn’t really go on like it used to.

Saigon: If you even still thinking about the crack game man… hell no. That’s why a lot of down South artists that even talk about that shit now, regardless of whether they gonna like me for saying this or not they were always years behind us because my family is from the South. When I would go down South and I had on some new sneakers muthafuckas would think I was from the future, son. “ Oh my god, where did you get these from??”Man, I copped these shits on the corner ( laughs) even with the music. I’d come down there with the new Rakim tape, same reaction. Anybody that had fam. Down South knows what I mean, growing up in the 80’s going down there. Now, it’s reversed they got their own style with the grills, all that.

 

What about the argument when rapper’s claim that they are just telling a story?

Saigon: We know that story, you not telling us something that we don’t know, so who is your music targeted too. You can’t preach to the choir, you preaching to the choir by saying “yo it’s fucked up in the hood”, who don’t know that. These dudes emphasize it, and they tell themselves this is what’s good and what’s selling right now. The label’s don’t want us to start thinking, they don’t want us to get smart because they make money off our ignorance the more ignorant we seem the more money they make.

They say “ignorance is bliss”, well if that’s true, then bliss may equal to a generation of young people lost in their own quest of money and jewels. The irony of the situation is that Hip-Hop started as a voice for the people but was lost when the culture started generating billions of dollars and the corporate take over began. “Artists that are really about something, they don’t get the same push as a negative person that’s pushing poison gets, not even half,” voiced Saigon on his views of many record company’s harmful practices. The beauty of Saigon’s pending success and longevity is that it won’t matter how many records he sells in his first week, or how many singles he gets. Saigon is one of last to represent a breed of emcee’s that were gangsta before they ever rapped guns or drugs on records. “Greatest Story Never Told” like I said if it ain’t the best album that you ever heard. You see me in the street and I will personally refund your money,” in true boss form, Sai-Giddy makes them an offer they can’t refuse.

Live footage of Nas, EPMD, Slick Rick and Jeru The DamajaSneaker Pimps 07' - NYC
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hdceEqcl-3k Nas - Ny state of mind/represent/world is yourshttp://youtube.com/watch?v=PEnZzk7Q8F0 nas-hate me now/ I wanna talk to youhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=LzPKW0p6DZM nas-ether/black republicanhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=32WKxV3S8fg nas - nas is like /do ragshttp://youtube.com/watch?v=euNYjKXN0QQ hip hop is dead/it aint hard to tellhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=cRl2Tp97bMk jeru the damajahttp://youtube.com/watch?v=Ssgc6Vv2DMA epmdhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=H50rAhg09Ag slick rickYou're all welcome

Can't help it. I loveJordans.

 

                 Shout out to all the female sneakerheads

 

 

                                   Methamphiban doin his thing

                                     Stash was in buiding

                            What's a sneaker event without Haze

 

 

                                    Big Craig (def jam) and Leigh (sneakerfiend)

                                 Bobby and Roy Lee (55 dsl) grillin

                             Atmos represented Yos and Roman

                               Karma is a champ

                                    Blah Drunk Asians ! Birthday shouts to Kwik and LS

 

 

            Nas, EPMD, Slick Rick and Jeru The Damaja. Yup, you missed out (Easy Kwik)

                                                               Whos that?

                                                           5,000 sneakerheads

                JB Classics x Sneaker Pimps. Only a few hundred pairs made

 

 

                                                                     Simon Says

 

 

 

                         

                                       No words needed

  

     

 

 

 

One third of the West coast based trio known as Dilated Peoples, Ev was in NYC a lil while back promoting his Weatherman LP. Ev performed at the Knitting Factory and held a listening party at Negril Village.

       

 

 

These dudes have been doing it on the underground scence since the mid 90's, DJ Babu of the world famous Beat Junkies is their maestro. Check out their videos "Worst Comes to Worst" and "Walk This Way" on youtube.

 

                                                                  Import Fun

 

                         Kwik isn't phased by Jasmine Mai or her homegirl

                                   Wrecka she only wants what's in your wallet kid

                                                             Get Low

 

              Prodigy just caught 3 1/2 years for a gun charge, ouch ! I guess Saigon is the last of his worries now.

 

 

 

 

 I made it on to Sohh.com and Allhiphop.com yesterday with my Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey interviews and received over 50,000 hits on youtube.com in one day! Now I'm hearing the video is all over the place ( Hip-Hop Crack, Strait Talk NY, if you find any other links hit me with them)

http://allhiphop.com/blogs/rumors/archive/2007/10/09/18708180.aspx
http://blogs.sohh.com/nyc/archives/2007/10/freekey_zekey_says_camron_is_d.html

Big ups to my homey Reckless at sohh.com, who has been holding down their NYC blog for a minute now, NYC rappers don't get caught slippin! Check it out everyday http://blogs.sohh.com/nyc/

Miss Info spoke with A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip regarding the "VH1 Hip-hop Honors"-- and the very arrogant walking-fiasco, Lupe, who excitedly cut loose like a chicken with no head on HHDX. Fiascogate told the website that Q-Tip made it his business to reach out to him to get him to perform Tribe's "Electric Relaxation," from their 1993 album Midnight Marauders, saying "he could have picked anybody but he picked me for whatever reason so I can come out and represent the young people."



In response, Q-Tip dismissed the lil newbie, and collectively, Tip's statements--although unintentional-- painted Lupe as delusional and ... well, delusional. And all the while spared to express how Lupe slit the song by the throat (Q-tip was being nice):

"I'm not trying to make this any bigger than it is. But, I just want to clear up one thing….

We never hunted him down and begged him to be a part of the show or anything like that. His name was pitched to us by VH1, and we said, ok cool. The only time I spoke to Lupe about the Hip Hop honors performance was on a conference call, which we did with the others artists too, like Busta and Common, to plan the performance.

When VH1 brought his name up, based on what he had said about us before, I thought it was ironic and it kind of humored me. All that stuff he said about never listening to a Tribe album before and having no interest in doing so, it doesn't make sense to me.

...no, I never hunted him down to be part of the tribute. That didn't happen."

                       



                                                                                Queens

                                                      61st and Roosevelt Ave, Queens NYC









                                                                           L.E.S., NYC

    Jim Jones jus signed a multi-million dollar deal with Sony. I caught up with Jones and we chatted about the where abouts of Cam'ron, a possible deal with 50 Cent, and his new album.

 

   Freeky Zekey, president of Diplomat records speaks on Cam'ron, 50 Cent, Juelz Santana and the future of Diplomat Records. Mikey Fresh brings you the exlcusive.

          AWOL is one of Boston's premiere clothing/sneaker boutiques. Located on Harvard Ave in Allston, AWOL  carries brands like Supra, 10 deep, Orisue, Green Apple Tree, and Eriffs.

 

 

                                  Streetwear should now be called "Internet Wear"

 

                    Check em' out, if your ever in the Bean. One stop shop to get fresh!

                                                 http://www.awolboston.com/

 

                           One of the nicest emcee's to emerge out of Boston in the last few years, Termanalogy is working on his album produced by DJ Premier.

 

Return of the Boom Bap

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”, is a phrase too often true when applied to “making it” in the entertainment industry. Hip-Hop is no exception, a co-sign from a person like DJ Premier or Tony Touch can be the judging factor on whether an A&R throws your mixtape in the trash or acutally gives it a listen. Fortune enough for Termanology, this young emcee has got both indivduals giving the whole world their respected industry co-sign. Termanology was in NYC last week and stopped by The Source to let everyone know what was going on in Murda Mass. Tegano of the Wrong Crowd was on hand to get all the info straight from the hoarse’s mouth.

Tegano: So you just had your album release party for 50 Bodies, your new mixtape co-hosted by Tony Touch, Statik Selectah, and DJ Deadeye. How’s it feel to have someone like Touch showing you so much love?

Term: It feels good man. As far as Tony Touch, just him being Boriqua, and just representin’ what he represents, know what I’m sayin. It was just dope that I got to do a mixtape with him and even bring my DJ’s into it. The album release party was dope too, of course.

Tegano: A lot of people compare you to Big Pun, even you, yourself compare yourself to Pun. Do you feel any pressure for having to try and fill in his shoes?

Term: Hell yeah, but I’m not even really tryin’ to fill his shoes like that. It’s just tough bein that theres not many other Spanish artists that came out like that. There’s always goin to be Big Pun, Fat Joe…that’s kinda where it stops at. You know what I’m sayin, so you always gonna get those comparisons. And I be on some crazy lyrical shit, so I always get people like “Yo, you remind me of Pun.”, just the way I do all the fast shit and all that, but I definitely wanna stand on my own two. I wanna be a good example to all the Latin artists that are coming up, like you don’t have to be the next Pun to make it. You can only be you, the next YOU! So I just want people to know what Termanalogy represents, but at the same time I do wanna keep Pun’s name alive because I feel like a lot of times niggaz be disrespecting him, and not give him the props that he deserves because he was one of the greatest lyricists of all time.

Tegano: So what’s your next move after dropping 50 bodies?

Term: Well, I’m about to go on a tour with Statik Selectah, and we working on the next mixtape, Hood Politics 5. Also, I’m working on my Debut album. So the tour and the album, I always stay grindin.

Tegano: Aight, crazy question, you got that song “Everything I Got”, were you’re spitting in the prespective of Diddy. What inspired you to write that?

Term:Well…, Kanye’s verse.You know what I’m sayin, if you listen to the Hook, “Weee frommm Harlemmm… “so he’s spit that as if he were Diddy. So I wanted to go the extra mile and really rap as if I were Diddy. Basically, I got the inspiration from that Kanye Verse and I just took it my own way, ran with it.

Tegano:Well, we all know how you met Preemo, but what really him made start messing with you like that?

Term: I don’t know man, I think even before we did “Watch How It Go Down”, he knew I was a good dude, but he didn’t know that I was that good of a rapper. After the record deal, people that was even around him was like “ohhh this kid is something else”, but I was like still “waddup yall know me son”.Basically, people were just amazed cuz they didn’t really know that I could rap like that. So everything changes once somebody finds out you can really rap well, but Preemo always looked out, even before I had a record with him, I had this other record called “This is Hip-Hop”, and he used to play it on his radio show. So he always showed me love. Then I was thinkin “aight I got a chance now” , I knew he wasn’t gonna just play my shit if he thought I was wack, that was when we really started fucking with each other.

For Termanology, the road to riches and diamond rings may seem like a long journey ahead, but coming this far is already more then any hopeful emcee cold ever wish for. Hailing out of Lawrence, Mass., Termanology has endured his shares of trials and tribulations. Just last year Term had to fight custody battles over his young daughter, and also stand trial through a shooting case, all while trying to run his own record label. “Man, I had to pay $13,000 last year on lawyer fees alone, I could of spent that to press up my cd, buy another preemo beat, feed my daughter, you know whatever.”, he says with a serious tone. Term also cleared up the misconception that he was from Boston, “I’d hate to be seen as a Boston representative because I’m really from Lawrence, but the areas are similar”. When asked about the current gang epidemic that is taking over the Boston area, “It’s basically the same shit, in Boston it’s the Bloods and Crips; Lawrence, Latin Kings, Outlawz and G’s. It’s all the same, a sad thing cuz mad youth dying, innocent people getting killed. It is what it is though, cuz this shit has been around forever. That’s why I hate when they wanna blame the rappers for the violence. Violence has been around way before rap was, gangs too.”

With all the odds in his favor, Termanalogy is hard at work, cooking up his debut album with who he calls the “starting 6”, DJ Premier, Knottz, Hi-Tek, Pete Rock, Alchemist, and Buckwild are all contributing beats for the album.The only guest appearances so far are M.O.P’s Lil’ Fame and Papoose, and Term made it clear that,“I know how to rap, I don’t really need no other niggas.” Determined to bring back that, Boom Bap sound of Hip-Hop’s “golden era”. Fans everywhere will just have to wait and watch how it goes down.

by Mikey fresh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   Beanie Sigel played some joints off his next album, slated for a Dec. 11th release the material was nothing short of Rocafella's "glory days". Remember when Jay and Dame first introduced us to Beanie Sigel and the rest of State Property. The Broad Street Bully carried a new aura with him, "stay focused put the bullshit behind you. Ain't nobody to blame but yourself".

 

                                 "Sirr, no pictures allowed.",...Get out my face!

 

 The offices of Universal/ Def Jam, 49th and 8th Ave NYC. Jay-z, Jermaine Dupri, LA Reid and Mikey Fresh all have offices here. No, wait not...

          The album is going to be title The Solution, if you don't know Beanie's previous albums were titled The Truth, The Reason, and most recently The B.coming. Bean's is one of the only artists from the "dynasty" to still be holding his own. Beating cases in Philly in full John Gotti Swagger. The songs he played ranged from his traditional street hop, rock, songs to make you dance, heartful and soulful, and course that grimey-ass sigel funk that we love, well I hope we all do.

 

 

                                             Alife is having their annual backyard sale. Half priced Jordans,son.

Brooklyn is a beast, but a gentle beast. Michael Vick won't be able to get his hands on this pit, dont worry.

             

Emily has the same job as many of you. She lays around the house all day eating and sleeping. Damn, a dog's life doesnt seem that bad after all

 

                                                                      Sniff Sniff

                         Alien or dog?, I'm not sure Romeo is cool peoples though.

 

 

                                                                           Westside!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

             Big ups to Jin Tha Emcee, he got another banger that he's cookin up for yall.

 

 

 

   Check Out my peoples, Essentic www.Essentic.wo.to . A lifestyle brand from a young g's perspective. Be on the the look out for thier debut collection, coming soon.

A Few links

blog.thesource.com/archive/2007/08/15/on-the-come-up-singapore-kane.aspx
http://blog.thesource.com/archive/2007/08/19/the-last-of-the-pro-ricans.aspx
http://blog.thesource.com/archive/2007/09/30/the-tokyo-music-festival-07.aspx
http://blog.thesource.com/archive/2007/09/30/blitz-the-ambassador.aspx

The summer is a time when Hip-Hop anthems become synonymous with booze-fill memories of crazy cook-outs and late nights at the club. Recognizing his own  powerful presence and the general thirst that fans have for his riot starting music, Swizz Beats aka The Monster has attacked the of summer 07’ with a barrage of club bangerz such as “It’s Me Bitches”, “Money In The Bank”, and most recently “Top Down”.




Taking a cool summer night off, The Monster gave a few journalists, fans, groupies, and close friends all alike a preview of what he calls the One Man Band Man. In the heart of NYC’s trendy Soho district boisterous tracks like “Here Comes Big Muny” and “Come and Get Me” featuring protégé Cassidy blared in the offices of Iced Media. While the theme of most of the album revolves around Swizz’s usual slick talk and swagger bragging; the monotonous subject matter is tolerable through Swizz’s trademark production style. Swizz has been one of the few New York producers to successfully expand his career from behind the boards to directly into the spotlight. Keeping guest appearances minimal, the highlight of the album comes from a surprise collaboration with Rock band Coldplay. The result is a track titled “Part of the Plan”, where Swizz proves he can do more then get you dancing.


After a couple of Rum and Pinapples, the One Man Band Man gleefully asked everyones opinion of his new music Video, “ I need the truth yall, I’m bringing this up to 106 and Park tomorrow.”~ Swizz Beats. Furiously rapping every word to his songs and feeding off the crowd’s reaction the transformation into his alter-ego the Monster was evident. The summer doesn’t look like it is over quite yet, there’s an album on the way that will make sure you “Keep Bopping”, forget about all the “Money Azz Hataz”, and end off the summer with a reason to “Take a Picture”.



Having a full plate in front of him, it doesn’t look like Swizz Beats will have to much time to be “Chillen in my Beamer, listenin’ to Ether”. Though we haven’t heard much work between Swizz and his Ruff Ryder brethren, when I asked him how things were with him and Dee and Wahh, the answer was simply, “family”. Swizz Beats always known for causing riots in the clubs doesn’t look like he has no plans of slowing down. When mentioning the power of his brand name, Swizz said “I’m on the outskirts with the music, you know. I got a big digital company deal that I just merged with my company… It matter of fact their a billion dollar company, I got the car dealership in Vegas, the Kid Robot Line is doin’ very well.” One of the co-owners of Kid Robot, a clothing line that has a cult like following paying almost $350 for a hoodie on E-Bay. With key figures like Kevin Booker of Pharrell’s Ice Cream skate team being a loyal supporter from day one, “I’m one of the owners of Kid Robot, It’s gonna get crazy, we about to make Kid Robot so huge like we been keeping it underground for a long time now, and we about to explode but still keep the underground feel, says an excited Swizz Beats. Before, “The Monster” got a little to wild, I couldn’t help but ask him the differences he noticed when spending time in Atlanta and New York City, “The Atlanta scene is more organized as far as, you know the clubs, the dances…the people are more united over there in ATL, and that’s what made Atlanta so big, it’s because they have unity,  and it was something new to the industry because it was like you got Lil’ Jon, and this one, that one in the same video,  and even Monica, like everybody’s coming out and supporting each other. That was unique, New York we all wanna beef each other, and hold each other down and, that’s our downfall.Until we fix that, it’s gonna be what it is. I think the NY’s comeback is gonna start with people like myself, and people that’s unexpected, I don’t think it’s gonna happen with the expected, just like I didn’t expect “It’s Me Bitches, to be the song that it is. And to be fillin’ that slot that its fillin’ in New York." - Swizz Beats

Enduring label drama, incarceration, and even beefing with The Game, West Coast OG Ras Kass has never let his pen run dry. New York City was recently treated to a special performance by the veteran wordsmith, courtesy of Sano-In of My Latin Roots, Inc. Ras Kass took the stage at S.O.B’s around 11:30pm and to the crowd’s surprise was joined by Wais of The Ranjahz. The Ranjahz are best known for being featured on Jay-Z’s highest selling album of all time, Vol.2 - Hard Knock Life.
                                                    

Ras Kass dove right into his set by spitting a freestyle that was like a declaration of his true talent and authenticity. The man standing barely 5’7 spit darts sharp enough to cut any average “mixtape rapper” to shreds.  Dressed in a white tee, white do-rag, and crispy white Bapes, Kass stopped the DJ in the middle of his set to give Wais some shine, the beat from “If I should Die” immediately rips through the speakers. The dope boys go crazy, “Got a lot to look back on, in '88 got my crack on, ten years later gettin' my rap on, gettin' shorties like a thespian, had an episode with two lesbians, got a fetish for that, drunk ginseng with Japanese chicks & pulled the root out, squeeze my whole clip to survive shootouts, been on both coasts fired all kinds of heat, probably be kinda glad to leave these mean streets, I got dead mens to meet and questions to fulfill like is that mystery God real? and how was Kennedy killed? I ain't mad I must've smoked a ton of reefer, sipped Coronas with Latifah, broke the code of Geneva, I know when I reach the other side, I'ma see the cat I had beef with who blood remains on my sneaker, then it's on again if I could be born again I live my life through my son and tell him never have a friend just family reincarnated I'll show him the time that I waited to get paid tell him never be afraid niggas hearts pump Kool Aid and yo blood run thicker never shed tears cry liquor my nigga


Brooklyn was definitely in the building. With the crowd hype, Kass cued right into his Preemo banger, “Golden Child”, and had the entire front row singing along word for word. In a city where “you might get got, if you come from outta of town” this California legend defined the term of a Coast to Coast G.