Listen to it for yourself, and decide. "Crazy", just hit at the right time and put G.B. on the mapy, but I'm feeling the new single called "Run". http://sharebee.com/97c8bcc5
OK, everyone has said it before, But this album will the be the definition of New York City Hip-Hop, it's far from dead.

Feelin the new tat's D'.

Just a few days after Lil' Wayne was arrested in Arizona on felony drug and gun charges, he let the folks in Richmond, VA how he's really feeling. He told the crowd, "I just flew in about ten minutes ago--I just had to deal with a whole lot of bullsh*t," Wayne addressed the crowd. "I want you to know that none of you up in this building have nothing to do with this attitude I got right now. I'm not the most happiest man right now."

He then looked at his entourage behind him and said, "When your friends turn their back on you and say they're gonna be there for you..... I just want all the motherf*ckers that been with me that ain't gone never be with me again to know, I did it for y'all! Those who won't be with me no more, Die!"

He finished with,"Everybody want to talk about the boy on too much drugs and Baby need to take me to rehab," Wayne told the crowd. "I just want everyone to know one thing. A junkie can't do what I do! I tried to tell you can't no drug, can't no b*tch, can't no n*gga, none of that can fade me! I am the ultimate high. I am my drug. You understand me? I just want the motherf*ckers that's wit me to know it ain't about what I'm on, it's about what I do! And this is what the f*ck I do!"

Japanese photographer Kiks Tyo and Aki Hoshino are back, this time teaming up with New Balance. Get yours Feb.16th
The Clipse have a new clothing line coming out called Play Cloths. We'll see if there is any Pharrell influence in there.
One of the original "Roc Boys", Peedi Crakkk recently came out with a Jay-z diss track.

5 years after his solo debut, Joe Budden is finally releasing his sophmore set titled, Padded Room. The album will hit some time this spring. For now, keeping bumping Mood Muzik 3.

                                                                                                                                                                                              

He had some choice words for his whole Def Jam experience. "The people that signed me to Def Jam and had so much faith in me and believed in me, those weren't the people who were in charge anymore...if the people who are running Def Jam now were in charge in 2002, 2003, who could say if I ever would have been signed to a deal."

                      Loot Freestyle

 

Mariah's next album will be in stores very soon and as the media keeps adding fuel to the fire; the Mariah vs. Janet battle is growing into a 50 vs. Kanye type of event. From what a few people are saying about Janet's album (thanks to a private listening session LA Reid held in his offie), Mimi better have everything perfect.

Well after the video of Amy Winehouse (crackhouse) smoking crack was leaked to tabloids, it's finally rehab for ol' girl. After months of battling her record company and family's wishes for medical treatment, Amy is ready to go and try her best not to end up like Bobby Brown.

For the record, I'm a big fan and hopes she gets through all this.

RIP Heath Ledger. He was found dead in his Manhattan apartment, apparently from a drug overdose. Sad News.

Take it back to the concrete streets, original beats, and real live emcees... (J5)

For all those in the NYC area come out and check out my boy super producer/emcee WRECKA

 

 

        I'm not a photographer... Tell Jose Hurry up wit that Rose`

 

Fresh '08

I RAK NEW YORK. Steal clothes from the magazine you work for.. .you deserve it. Afterall, does the clothing company really need it back. The best stuff has already been picked out by the fashion department anyway. The days when they are sorting everything to be mailed back is the best time to get fresh. HAHAHAHA

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=racking

Hmmm... people love posting pics of their meals on their blogs. I'm guilty of it too, unfortunately I was a little late this time. Dim Sum is the best stuff on earth, go to a CHINATOWN near you have a taste. Peep the lone chicken foot.. yummy

Belly stopped by The Source to talk a little bit about his new projects including a full-length album with Kurupt that will be dropping this year. In case you don't know, Belly is the king of Canadian Hip-Hop. He has worked with the likes of Scarface, Fabolous, Ginuwine, and Nina Sky.

 

                                    A snippet from our conversation.

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JsjiOszipXg Must peep this video

Shawty Lo is proof that there is life after one-hit wonder criticisms and incarceration. Bringing his southern swagger and dialect to New York City last night, Asylum and RockMeTV.com presented Shawty Lo, Laffy Taffy free...

 

Big Bang Theory

 Both musically and visually, Gagle has taken diverse approach in representing their art form. It’s time for the public to take off those ridiculous sunglasses and sneakers, and carefully discover what Japanese Hip-Hop is really all about with the helpful words of Gagle.

(TheSource.com): The group needs a proper introduction.

Hunger (H): The name Gagle is from “Gaggle”. We formed in 1997, consisting MC “Hunger”, PRODUCER “Mitsu The Beats”, and DJ “Mu-R”. We are representing North Eastern part of Japan called “Sendai”.


(TheSource.com): Does each member participate in solo projects on the side? If so, please list some of the projects that were done outside the group.

H: I made various guest appearances on other musician’s albums, most notably with Hifana and DABO.

DJ Mu-R (M): I released numbers of MIX CDs, such as official mix CD of “ABB RECORDS”.

Mitsu the Beats (MTB): I released several solo projects, produced for Hip-Hop and pop acts such as Bonnie Pink, and remixed works of Platinum Pied Pipers, m-flo, Soul’d Out, Rip Slyme, Kero One etc.

(TheSource.com): The group’s music is what many consider as “true-school Hip-Hop” where a DJ, emcee and a producer are all equally active. What type of musical aim does Gagle have?

H: Thank you for the compliment. I think we are able to achieve that balance because we constantly communicate.

M: It’s really our pleasure for you to say that. Gagle is very unique in that all members can DJ. So I think that keeps us focused and communicate more easily.

MTB: The type of Hip-Hop we all like is based on sampling. That in addition to the fact that we all DJ, makes our musical interests similar.

(TheSource.com): The group’s music is very reminiscent of the Golden Age (1990 to 1996) Hip-Hop in the USA. Was that era a major influence?

M: Yea, I think our root is definitely 90s Hip-Hop. But is not fresh to copy the past. So to respect the past, I think is important to add an essence of the present to the sound.

MTB: Of course, I do get greatly influenced by that period. I think is important to hand down what I experienced from that era, to the up and coming generations.

(TheSource.com): From songs like “Big Bang Theory”,  “Kuro Fessional MC” and many other songs that I enjoy, I see that the group’s music is heavily influence by Jazz. Please expand on this.

M: Sure. I think Jazz is a big part of our music, but we also check for 70s and 80s Soul/Funk/Disco and some additional House genres. We dig through anything we feel good and it doesn’t really matter about the genre or the release date.

MTB: It might depend on my personal taste as a producer. I mainly like Jazz, but Mu-R is right on his points.


(TheSource.com): What kind of Hip-Hop scene exists in Japan? And how would you describe Gagle’s position in the Japanese Hip-Hop game?

H: Hip-Hop music is very diverse in Japan. Artists like Zeebra and DABO can be considered major, while Rhymester can be called old school. Street style like MSC and Japanese original experimental style like DJ KRUSH also exist. DJ Kentaro and Hifana can be considered Japanese turntablists. Jazzy Sport is heavily based on Afro rhythm. There is also a freestyle scene and a battle scene. There are too many to list, but I think Gagle’s music is somewhere between creative and Jazzy.

(TheSource.com): Why do you think that Japanese audiences are still willing to buy CDs compare to the countless other people from other countries where CD sales are continually decreasing?

H: The sales of CD is decreasing in Japan as well, but the downloads through the web is not the biggest reason here. Mobile download is more popular over here. So it seems that our CD sales aren’t seriously damaged by downloads.

(TheSource.com): Is Gagle considered an underground group in Japan? Is the group’s music exposed on a national level?

H: We try not to focus on the boundaries between major and underground. We tour about 20 to 30 places every time we put out an album, so I believe our music is spreading. But we are still one of the club music artists; it makes me want to work harder.

M: We don’t want to say our music is underground. We actually put out our music through major labels, but musically speaking we could still be categorized as an underground group.

MTB: Like Mu-R said, we are underground artists musically. There are some people that wonder, “How could they put out that kind of sound through a major label?” I’m very proud of that ironic fact.

(TheSource.com): What are the group’s thoughts on “commercial” Japanese Hip-Hop music? Or pop rap in general.

H: Although I don’t really want to say anything bad about pop music, I personally don’t find such music with same flow and same melody interesting. There was certain period of time I didn’t like pop music at all since people outside of Japan could only have access to the commercialized music. But thanks to YouTube and other outlets, non-commercialized music is finally getting the proper image.

M: Japanese music market is in a state of danger. There is no problem if pop artists release their music as pop music, but when they start call it Hip-Hop, then it becomes a problem. I believe Hip-Hop is something beyond sound, but it’s a culture and lifestyle.

MTB: I personally think it’s good if those pop artists have enough knowledge and skill to create Hip-Hop music, but if they do have the knowledge and skill why would they go commercial in the first place? I just want to make clear that there’s a lot more than commercialized Japanese Hip-Hop, so please dig in more deeply.

(TheSource.com): Is Hip-Hop becoming a firm culture in Japan? Or is it more of a trend that started to fade away?

H: Yes, it’s becoming a culture over here. Everywhere in Japan, you could see people learning more and more about Hip-Hop. Through the younger generation, Japanese Hip-Hop market is becoming more enriched.



(TheSource.com): Please tell us what comes to mind when you hear the following. (Please indicate each member’s preferences)
1. Jazzy Sport
2. Miyagi-ken
3. 3 Peat

Hunger
1. Dark Brown
2. Green
3. Light Blue

DJ Mitsu The Beats
1. Crew w/ black
2. Good to live
3. Current GAGLE history

DJ Mu-R
1. Mass of sense
2. My hood
3. Present GAGLE

Interview by Essentic

RECOGNIZE! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture showThe Smithsonian finally recognizing Hip-Hop as an art form and culture.

 

http://www.prohiphop.com/

http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/curex30.htm

   They gotcha on camera DIDDY, come on you of all people should know that in NYC there are cameras everywhere! Well the incriminating video doesn't involve either of these two ladies thats all I can say...

                                        

   They gotcha on camera DIDDY, come on you of all people should know that in NYC there are cameras everywhere! Well the incriminating video doesn't involve either of these two ladies thats all I can say...                                        

 

                                                  

                                               Tapas and Live Music

In Spain, they eat tapas instead of dinner some nights. Tapas is really just a few small, appetizer type dishes that encourage you to try a lil or this and a lil of that. Good stuff.

Always one to show both sides to every story, Chi-town’s Lupe Fiasco skated his way into every ipod and twenty-dallor Panasonic alike in 2006. With a critically acclaimed LP already under his belt and a mass following of even more critical fans bickering in internet forums about whether or not Kanye and Pharrell will make guest appearances, Lupe plans to make his next effort nothing short of Cool, “The album is based around that particular character from my song The Cool that was featured on my last album. The name of the character is Michael Young History, and if you heard “The Cool” on the first album, it’s about a hustler who gets killed and comes back to life,” explains Lupe via phone while taking a break from the studio.

 Listeners shouldn’t be worried of the redundant subject matter that has plagued many artists when trying to create a conceptual album, “I didn’t want to do a straight concept album and get locked in, trying to chase the concept”, explains Lupe on what direction he went in for his sophomore set. The kid posses the ability to make people from all walks of life relate to his music. Instead of rapping about resorting to violence in every unfortunate circumstance and drinking champagne every time he’s thirsty, Lupe embodies the sensibility and balance between good and evil that is lacking in much of today’s Hip-Hop, “It’s basically just like the premise forward, the album talks a lot about what happened in the past year; a very dark album, with only a few bright spots on it,” says Lupe.

 

The commercial success Lupe failed to achieve with his debut LP, Food and Liquor hasn’t taken anything away from his star power. The relevance of Lupe Fiasco and his 1^st and 15^th movement is based solely on the fact that he makes timeless music, “Food and Liquor was more of records that came out over time through different record deals I had. That’s like 5 years in the making”, explains Lupe. It isn’t about getting the hottest producers of the minute or snatching up the latest “young whoever” for a guest 16 and catchy hook. Talk about some meaningful and the people will listen, “The Cool came together like in two or three months from the period of time after Food and Liquor when I just conceptualizing and figuring out what I wanted to talk about.” – Lupe Fiasco

 

Continuing on like the next entry in his diary and timeline of his very own life, The Cool will show that Lupe’s beautifully kept musical integrity has not changed one bit,” On this album I just want to continue on in my career. I don’t care if we sell a million records or five records. Honestly deep down, it’s just like “whatever”. I really just want to get back on the road. I’m just making sure that I’m making the music that I want to make, the album cover is what I want, the artwork is what I want. Everything is 100% from me.”

 

Studio Survival Pack

1. My engineer

2. French candles

3. Mac book pro

4. Personal assistant

5. Food

Apparently, Beyonce was undefeated until Kanye stepped up to the plate.


Bape Knit Tiger Hoody
Good Luck, The NYC store is sold out

        

  Supreme Frog Skins (sunglasses)

f

 

 

 

For New Yorker's taking the "Iron Horse" as a means for transporation is just a daily routine. Whether you're taking the subway to your night shift at Mickey D's or your 9 to 5 on Wall Street, the train is the fastest, most reliable option. The subway can pretty much take you anywhere in the city, set your destination far or near the train will get you there.

                                         9th Street and Broadway, NYC

     It's rumored that MTV execs worship Satan in this room.

                                   Just A Rumor...

                         The Offices of MTV U.          www.mtvu.com

 

 Yea Yea, smile when the cameras on I know...

Starting their careers while still trapped in Juvenile Hell, Mobb Deep has persevered through both hood and professional struggles. The strife that has been going on in Queensbridge has divided many of the emcees that have helped to create QB’s legendary status in the rap game. Without hesitation or question Mobb Deep’s leading mouthpiece Prodigy has maintained the Infamous sound that combined the grittiness of the 41^st side of QB and the misunderstood art of Basquiat. “I don't really know what is lacking in Hip-Hop right now, I'm just the type of person that is focused on my music and my music only, says Prodigy during one his final press days before he must surrender himself to authorities and began a 3 ½ year prison sentence. Earlier, this year Prodigy was pulled over by police for an illegal turn while driving in Manhattan and a questionable search led to the authorities finding an unlicensed firearm in his vehicle. This was Prodigy’s third offense, and was being thrown the book, “The prosecutor was going trying to portray me as a psychopath and an evil person based off of my music videos. This is just my art. I knew what the DA was going to do in court, so I "said fuck that" and copped out. I took the little punk-ass 3 1/2 years, explains Prodigy with noticeable aggravation.

 

 

“After I caught my case, I really took the time out to concentrate on my 2^nd solo album, and I made a video for every single song on the album. I just want all my real fans to hold me down while I’m on this little trip.”, ~ Prodigy. HNIC 2 will be P’s next project that is scheduled to drop this March through Voxonix Music; A move that has led fans to bicker about Mobb Deep’s unexpected alliance with G-Unit. In reality Prodigy demonstrated his loyalty by refusing to cooperate with police in efforts to set-up 50 Cent in return for his own freedom. Prodigy has publicly stated to numerous media outlets that the authorities tried profusely to get him to set-up the G-Unit Boss, “They told me I could be a free man, if I set up 50 Cent with drugs and guns.”

 

 

Mikey: Past Mobb Deep Albums such as Infamous and Hell Earth are considered classic Hip-Hop albums. However, over the past several years many critics and fans have questioned the sound of recent albums such as Blood Money and Return of the Mac, is HNIC 2 a classic album?

 

 

Prodigy: I can't automatically say that HNIC 2 is going to be a classic, or it’s this... or that. But I can say that it's Prodigy, and everything I've been known for. The music I chose to rap on was 100% me and all my personal feelings and the things I wanted to express to the world.

 

 

Mikey: With your recent music videos, you have been going straight to the internet when releasing them. What motivated you to stop relying on major networks like MTV and BET for air-play?

 

 

Prodigy: Me and Alchemist used to just sit there and talk in the studio like "rap really needs to get back to when it was mysterious and only the hood new about it. That's really how this shit started. Then the rest of world wanted to know. That's how I've been approaching my videos, straight on the youtube.com and just let the word of mouth build my buzz. We a group that’s blessed with a fanbase that will check for Mobb Deep no matter what year it is

 

 

Mikey: Your last solo release came out on Koch, but last group album from Mobb Deep was released through G-unit. Why Voxonix Music for you next solo album?

 

 

Prodigy: For HNIC 2, I signed a deal with Voxonix Music, they have the technology where they can translate my voice into different languages, and it still rhymes. So this will released in multiple languages. Really, I'm just concentrating on HNIC 2 and that's it. HNIC 2 is my official second solo album, don't get Return of The Mac confused as a solo album. That was just a mixtape. It's really been a long time coming for HNIC 2, and don’t get it fucked up Mobb Deep still got an album dropping on G-unit that will dropping when I come home.

 

 

Mikey: How do you plan to stay both mentally and physically healthy during your upcoming prison sentence of 3 ½ years?

 

 

 

Prodigy: I'm going to be in there working some screenplays, more music... just trying to keep my mind sharp. You know working out every day, just getting’ my mind and body cleansed. I'm like a machine, I don't stop. Depending on if I get access to computer or not and fans can write me letters. I'm  a Depending on if I get access to computer or not, I'm try to keep in touch with my fans through my website

 

 

Mikey: Is there anything else you want to say to your fans and the rest of the Hip-Hop community?

 

 

Prodigy: I hope other Hip-Hop artists can learn from my situation, it's not a game. When you really living the life that you’re rhyming about… what can I say my life is real. So the reality is you can't get killed, go to jail, you gotta be careful and just learn from your mistakes. Of course you got dumb-ass muthafuckas that think they just keeping it real or whatever. Then you got the people that really are living this life that we rap about.

 

 

The Holidays are over and it's back to work for Hova. He has stepped down as president of Def Jam and partnered up with Apple to launch the first digital music label.125th Street, Harlem USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve often heard that “one monkey don’t stop no show”, but for one man the monkey has been the star of the show that has turned his vision from a t-shirt line to a lifestyle brand that generated nearly fifty-million dollars in 2006. A Bathing Ape or Bape for short has been seen clad all over Hip-Hop stars and even A-list Hollywood types. It’s trademark vibrant colors, and cartoon-ape first started popping up in music videos and celebrity events via Pharrell Williams from as early as 2003. Pharrell’s affliction for Bape even led to a collaborative effort between Bape’s owner/creator Nigo and himself resulting in Billionare Boys Club; another brand that took off in Tokyo and found it’s ways into urban America. Recently, Nigo was in town with his Hip-Hop group the Teriyaki Boyz for a performance in Central Park. As the Teryaki Boyz resident DJ, Nigo brought the attention of the group to none other then President Carter (Jay-z) who signed the group to Def Jam Recording/ BAPE Sounds. Known for being a man for few words, fewer words in English, Nigo speaks… (Via Teriyaki Boyz frontman, Verbal as translator)

 

I know you been to New York many times before, what do your trips here usually consist of?

 

Nigo: I’m always working, so you know really my schedule is jam-packed with meetings, just tons of work.

 

There’s been constant talk and rumors about a Billionare Boys Club store opening here in New York, has anything been finalized yet?

 

Nigo: We’re actually planning on opening a BBC store sometime this year, and currently we are looking for a space in the Soho area.

 

How do you feel about the American Hip-Hop culture embracing your brands like Bape and BBC?

 

Nigo: To tell you the truth I’m really happy about it. I love Hip-Hop but I’d never thought that Hip-Hop would take to my brand like this. I’m a fan first, even with Pharrell I never thought that one day I would be working side by side with him. I was really a fan of his music first, and now we’re friends.

 

Does the bootlegging of Bape bother you, especially here in New York there is more bootleg Bape then real that is being sold on the streets?

 

Nigo: Imitation is the highest form of flattery. There are a lot of other things besides bootleggers that I don’t like; brands that copy. That’s cool too, but in the end only the real will survive, so I’m not worried about it.

 

Tokyo and New York City so share many similarities but really are two worlds apart…

 

Verbal: It’s our first time in New York City, so it’s definitely an honor and pleasure to be here. I can’t even describe the feeling like; this is the mecca of Hip-Hop I mean, Red Alert is spinning. Pharaohe Monch is performing, MF Doom, just crazy.

 

Being that you are a Hip-Hop artist from Asia has been a challenge receiving accolades in the Big Apple?

 

Verbal: I just went outside just to hang out, and people were recognizing me and showing me so much love. I definitely feel that New York City has embraced the fashion and music of Tokyo.

 

Right, it’s a really a good time for the Teryaki Boyz to cross over to the States, but do you think with language barrier…

 

Verbal: I mean reggae, reggaeton, etc have made it in America, and a lot of the times the listeners don’t understand everything their saying, why not? If can make some music that people can enjoy and just bump. Even if they don’t understand Japanese, I’m all for it.

 

It’s definitely on the horizons, I mean artists like Kanye West have collaborated with you guys in the past, what’s next for the Teryaki Boyz?

 

Verbal: We dropped our last single in Japan featuring Kanye West, “I Used To Love Her”. We’re working on our next album, really it was supposed to be a one album deal with the Teryaki Boyz, but the response has been incredible and Everyone was just sending us tracks that we had to do something with them.  Kanye gave us a bunch of new tracks. We are making this a step 1, so we can be stepping stones for other artists from Japan to come out to the United States and be successful

     

  Mikey Fresh is the newest addition to Rap Pages Magazine

                         Check out my Pitbull feature 

http://www.rappagesmagazine.com/feature/Pitbull.html

Rap Pages Magazine : Rebirth

Rap Pages Magazine, at its pinnacle, was regarded as the most popular magazine focusing on Fashion, Culture and Music in the Hip Hop World. Our publication and our website has access to today’s hottest artists, celebrities, sports, and fashion designers.Rap Pages Magazine targets the rap/hip-hop community (5.5billion-dollar market) that has been strongly growing over the past 20 years.

“The Influence of hip hop is enormous, and it reaches far beyond music.”

“Perhaps the most crucial reason for the mass acculturation of hip hop goes beyond themusic. Societal shifts have made it easy to be part of hip hop culture.”

TODAY’S YOUNG URBAN MEN’S CULTURE IS RAP PAGES

MAGAZINE….

HIP-HOP # 1 VOICE AND URBAN LIFE HAS REVOLUTIONIZED HIGH FASHION,

ITS BECOME A WAY OF LIFE. From Jay-Z, Diddy to Trump society has changed in many ways. Men are more focused on how they look and what they are wearing, and how theyare groomed. They want to know what’s going on in the world around them and to be able torelate to a magazine that relates to their needs. From sneakers to cars, music to movies andsports to style, men have become more compulsive about their obsessions. Men today are more demanding.Rap Pages Magazine is still able to reach all men from streets to the college graduate. With life’s many changes Rap Pages Magazine is a online magazine and a buyer’s guide for men of all ages in the worlds many trends, music, movies, sports, and beverages. Rap Pages Magazine usesa street wise manor and takes a fun but knowledgeable look at today’s products and what defines the urban men of today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So as I'm doing my laundry today, blasting Alicia Keys in my ipod. I throw my last pair of boxers into the machine and look up to see Cassie strolling into the laundry room... yea we shared a moment, complete with my double take, " Oh shit that's Cassie" Anway, she looks good even without makeup and in sweats.

My Kind of girl

 

                                                       Goodbye Ryan's

     One of the local bars from my neighborhood closed it's doors for good last week. So many crazy memories.... Just Blaze lives across the street

 It looks a lil' funky, but this a dish that all korean people eat on New Year's day with their families. It' called Duk Gook ( rice cake soup) Yall dont know what your missing.

 

 

 

                                                The Cool Kids

 The duo of Chuck and Mikey are The Cool Kids. At first glance critics may throw some rocks at the throne, and prejudge from the name alone. Yet these two young dudes have built themselves in to  the sneakerhead's, hipsters', and other "cool kid's" very own version of EPMD. Currently touring everwhere in the world. The Cool Kids are defintely on the come up. Look out!

 

 

                                This video that started it all Black Mags http://youtube.com/watch?v=b34U3-CutuU