hip hop music

Kudos to all our top artists for recognizing that beef is the backbone of our hip-hop economy, and going that extra mile to provide some stimulus in these hard times.

Game on the 50 Cent Rick Ross Beef (AUDIO)

Game weighs in on the highly entertaining (as long as it STAYS ON WAX) 50 Cent/Rick Ross beef, and sides with his age-old nemesis 50 on this one. So far Rawse is getting McCained.

Game on the 50 Cent Rick Ross Beef (AUDIO)

Where's Camron?

Cam'ron gets on the comeback trail with an exclusive Miss Ino interview. Katie Couric wishes she was dropping exclusives like this.

VIDEO: Cam'ron Interview w/ Miss Info

Saw a lot of people talking about this story, before I even noticed it was by Jeff "Passion of the" Weiss:

Google Deleting Blogspot Music Posts
source

Ryan Spaulding, the proprietor of Boston-based music blog Ryan’s Smashing Life, noticed something odd happening to his archived posts a few months ago. His blog, founded in 2006, has expanded to include four contributors and now rakes in about 25,000 hits a month. Chump change compared to megablogs like Nah Right or Stereogum, which average at least twice that daily, but enough to attract a modicum of ads and a devoted community of readers.

But in November, some of Spaulding’s posts, both recent and older, long-forgotten ones, started disappearing from his site. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. One moment they were there, the next they were gone. Confused, he started comparing notes with other music bloggers, and they noticed a trend. A lot of posts across the Web, on everything from Abba to Zappa, had vanished.

That, of course, sparked countless e-mail-conspiracy theories. Blogger chat rooms buzzed with speculation about the mysterious force behind the surge in disappeared posts. Open e-mails to the Recording Industry Association of America [RIAA] began popping up at such a rapid rate that you’d think they contained new Justice mp3s.

Eventually, though, a consensus emerged: Each post takedown occurred on a blog hosted by the Google-owned Blogger platform, the publishing system used by the majority of mp3 sites, particularly those founded prior to 2007, when the open-source WordPress software became the vogue. Google, the bloggers believe, has quietly changed the methods by which it enforces its user agreement. Whereas in the past, a blog owner would receive a warning before a post’s removal, Google is now simply hitting the delete button. In Spaulding’s case, this means that posts written over the past year or more on Wilco, the Annuals, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Matisyahu and Earth, Wind & Fire are gone...

Google Deleting Blogspot Music Posts

I think maybe Letterman's staff were influenced by Wayne's claims and just freestyled these jokes instead of writing:

VIDEO: Lil Wayne's Top 10 List on David Letterman

Lil' Wayne presents Letterman's Top 10 List
by yardie4lifever2

VIDEO: Lil Wayne's Top 10 List on David Letterman

10. By thanking family and friends on air, I can save money on my long-distance calls.
9. In the course of the evening, I’m hoping to marry and divorce Amy Winehouse.
8. I’m nominated in the category of “Lillest Wayne.”
7. I get to hang with the Jonas Brothers. Have you seen those guys? They’re adorable.
6. Watching Madonna ask for the senior citizen’s discount at the bar.
5. The US Airways pilot is gonna land a plane on the stage.
4. The green room crabcakes are in the shape of Beyonce’s booty.
3. It’ll be more exciting than my usual Sunday night of watching “Desperate Housewives” in my underpants.
2. In these tough times, Americans will appreciate the chance to watch a bunch of rich people kiss each other’s asses for three hours.
1. Winners who talk too much get tased.

via nahright of course:

AUDIO: Rick Ross 50 Cent Diss -"Kiss My Pinky Ring"

Rick Ross returns fire at 50 Cent with a new diss track named Kiss My Pinky Ring. This would be okay as a warning shot in a smaller beef than this one, but after 50's weeklong multimedia ethering I don't don't think this is cutting it. Song is here.

AUDIO: Rick Ross 50 Cent Diss -"Kiss My Pinky Ring"

From last night's UFC Fight night:

VIDEO: Joe Lauzon vs. Jeremy Stephens, UFC Fight Night 17
source

Joe Lauzon proved a capable headliner his second time out, as he submitted Jeremy Stephens with a slick armbar at 4:43 into the second round of their lightweight main event bout at UFC Fight Night 17 on Saturday at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla.

VIDEO: Joe Lauzon vs. Jeremy Stephens, UFC Fight Night 17

Kanye West and Estelle's performance at last night's Grammys:

Grammy Video: Kanye West & Estelle "American Boy"

Hip-hop star Kanye West joined British songbird Estelle for a live performance of their hit “American Boy” at The 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night. Coming after the Jonas Brothers and Katy Perry, Kanye almost seemed like a real singer, and of course his hair was turning heads and launching a thousand snarky twitters. glad to see Estelle getting some shine, her entire catalog deserves more attention from the masses.

Grammy Video: Kanye West & Estelle "American Boy"

Video from the Grammys with TI, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Kanye West singing Swagger Like Us, with MIA on guest chorus vocals while 9 months pregnant. Gangsta! I will refrain from the obvious Chappelle-esque joke about wishing the baby popped its head out to spit a verse..

Grammy Video: "Swagger Like Us" with M.I.A.

Grammy Video: "Swagger Like Us" with M.I.A.

Details here on tomorrow's "Gaza On Our Minds" hip-hop event, with Rebel Diaz and Hasan Salaam among many others.

Gaza on Our Minds Rap-a-thon in NYC: Tomorrow! hawgblawg

I really wish I could go to this event. If you are in NYC, don't miss it. I've not heard any of these rappers before except for Palestinian MC Sabreena Da Witch (AKA Abeer), who appears in the film Slingshot HipHop and guests on Invincible's track, "People Not Places."

Kweli jumps on stage for an impromptu Black Star reunion at House of Blues this week:

Video: Mos Def & Kweli Live on Grammy Night different kitchen

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Video: Mos Def & Kweli Live on Grammy Night

Lil Wayne looking real sharp and lucid lately! And none of that weird over-serious vibe he had with Katie Couric.. hope he keeps up like this.

VIDEO: Lil Wayne on ESPN's Around the Horn
source

VIDEO: Lil Wayne on ESPN's Around the Horn

Pretty good contest this year, although it always feels like they're struggling to make it seem relevant.. they maybe should have retired the event after Vince Carter was done with it:

VIDEO: Nate Robinson Slam Dunk Contest 2009
source

Dwight Howard went back to his Superman gimmick from last year but, in the end, Nate Robinson proved to be Howard's Kryptonite, as he leaped over the defending champ in the final round to capture the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk Championship.

Howard didn't take home the trophy, but he may just have gotten the fans' vote for injecting the most creativity into this year's contest.

Howard brought a second hoop out for one of his dunks, then disappeared into a phone booth (as promised) on the stage to change into the Superman costume that we now associate with Dwight and his dunks. Once geared up, the second goal (which was positioned on a forklift) was raised up to somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 feet, and Howard made it look easy when he threw down the memorable slam.

Nate Robinson enlisted Howard's help for his show-stopper, and jumped over Howard just as Gerald Green had done to him in the 2007 event in Las Vegas. Why in the world would Howard agree to be a prop that might help his competition beat him?

Dwight Howard seemed to know the final result before it was announced, as he was pointing to Robinson before the envelope was opened. Did he know? "I saw it already," Dwight Howard joked. "Nate Robinson did a good job. I'm not mad or anything. I guess the shorter man will always win in a dunk contest, because it looks real hard for him, it looks easy for me."

VIDEO: Nate Robinson Slam Dunk Contest

Pretty good contest this year, although it always feels like they're struggling to make it seem relevant.. they maybe should have retired the event after Vince Carter was done with it:

VIDEO: Nate Robinson Slam Dunk Contest 2009
source

Dwight Howard went back to his Superman gimmick from last year but, in the end, Nate Robinson proved to be Howard's Kryptonite, as he leaped over the defending champ in the final round to capture the 2009 Sprite Slam Dunk Championship.

Howard didn't take home the trophy, but he may just have gotten the fans' vote for injecting the most creativity into this year's contest.

Howard brought a second hoop out for one of his dunks, then disappeared into a phone booth (as promised) on the stage to change into the Superman costume that we now associate with Dwight and his dunks. Once geared up, the second goal (which was positioned on a forklift) was raised up to somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 feet, and Howard made it look easy when he threw down the memorable slam.

Nate Robinson enlisted Howard's help for his show-stopper, and jumped over Howard just as Gerald Green had done to him in the 2007 event in Las Vegas. Why in the world would Howard agree to be a prop that might help his competition beat him?

Dwight Howard seemed to know the final result before it was announced, as he was pointing to Robinson before the envelope was opened. Did he know? "I saw it already," Dwight Howard joked. "Nate Robinson did a good job. I'm not mad or anything. I guess the shorter man will always win in a dunk contest, because it looks real hard for him, it looks easy for me."

VIDEO: Nate Robinson Slam Dunk Contest

Shaq's stellar dance performance with the Jabbawockeez in the introductions for the 209 NBA Al Star Game:

Shaq & the Jabbawockeez All Star Game Dance
source

Towering NBA star Shaquille O’Neal popped and locked alongside America’s Best Dance Crew Season One champs, Jabbawockeez, during player introductions at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night. Shaq, making his 15th All-Star appearance, helped The West take Top Honors at this year’s showing of the NBA’s best players.
Shaq & the Jabbawockeez All Star Game Dance

Farewell to one of the greats..

NYC salsa band leader Joe Cuba dies at 78
source

Salsa band leader Joe Cuba, dubbed the "Father of Latin Boogaloo" for weaving a fluid, bilingual mix of musical influences, died Sunday in New York City, a member of his group said. He was 78.

The musician, a friend and contemporary of the late salsa giant Tito Puente, died from complications of a persistent bacterial infection at Mount Sinai Medical Center a day after doctors disconnected his life support, said Cheo Feliciano, a longtime friend and singer in the Joe Cuba Sextet. Cuba had fought the infection for several years.

Born Gilberto Calderon in 1931 in New York to a family from Puerto Rico, the band leader and conga player helped change the sound of salsa in the 1960s, Feliciano said.

Until then, most popular salsa had been played by orchestras, he said. But Cuba led a six-member band with three singers who also played percussion and danced a routine.

"He had a dynamic group," with a signature vibraphone-fronted sound that "caused a craze because it was different," Feliciano said. Albums such as 1966's Bang! Bang! Push, Push, Push incorporated elements of salsa, Latin jazz and R&B and featured lyrics in both English and Spanish.

NYC salsa band leader Joe Cuba dies at 78

Posting this only because I'm curious who Asher Roth is taking shots at here, hoping someone can clue me in. Copywrite?

Asher Roth "Silly Boy"
stream/download

New video from TI, who is packing in as much action as he can in these last days of freedom.

VIDEO: T.I. & Justin Timberlake "Dead and Gone" w/ Lyrics

Still not sold on the autotune adventures but always respect Kanye's presence, diva-ism and all.

VIDEO: Kanye West "Welcome to Heartbreak" w/ Kid Cudi

VIDEO: Young Jeezy "Welcome Back"

VIDEO: Young Jeezy "Welcome Back"

Personally my first reaction to this Sean Delonas Obama/Monkey cartoon is not even about racism, I'm just mad that he's making fun of the chimpanzee dying! He was that poor woman's only companion after her husband died, now she's all alone in the world after seeing her best chimp friend almost kill her best human friend, and then having to beg for him to get shot to death by the cops...WTF IS FUNNY ABOUT THAT DAMMIT? Especially when you're using it for such a lame, hacky joke.

Sean Delonas New York Post Obama/Monkey Cartoon: Racist?
source

An uproar is brewing about an editorial cartoon in today's New York Post that appears to tie President Obama to a rampaging chimpanzee killed by police.

The cartoon, by Sean Delonas, shows a chimp splayed on the ground in a pool of blood. Two police officers stand over the body, one holding a smoking gun, and the second saying, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill..."

...Sharpton notes that Obama is the nation's first black president and that African Americans have been depicted as monkeys by racists through history.

"Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama and has become synonymous with him, it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?" he asked, according to press accounts.

Sam Stein wrote on the Obama-friendly Huffington Post website that it seems "rife with racial and political sensitivities."

"At its most benign, the cartoon suggests that the stimulus bill was so bad, monkeys may as well have written it," Stein opined. "Most provocatively, it compares the president to a rabid chimp. Either way, the incorporation of violence and (on a darker level) race into politics is bound to be controversial."

The Post is standing by the Sean Delonas cartoon, and questioning Sharpton's motives.

"The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut," editor-in-chief Col Allan said in a statement. "It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist."

Sean Delonas New York Post Obama/Chimp Cartoon: Racist?

via nahright of course:

AUDIO: Dr. Dre w/ Nas & TI "Topless":
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new one from Kid Cudi aka the Reebok Assassin:

VIDEO: Kid Cudi "Day & Nite"

VIDEO: Kid Cudi "Day & Nite"

How does KRS One feel about this title? via dajaz1

AUDIO: TI "I Am Hip-Hop"

sharebee

AUDIO: TI "I Am Hip-Hop"

via dajaz1 & nahright

AUDIO: Kanye West & The Dream "Walking On The Moon"

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AUDIO: Kanye West & The Dream "Walking On The Moon"

I find it jarring to hear Busta cursing this much, guess I usually hear his radio edits.. this sample rocked harder on Ghostface "Apollo Kids" but it sounds alright here too..

AUDIO: Busta Rhymes "Anthrax"

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AUDIO: Busta Rhymes "Anthrax"

....so he can talk to some kids.. (gotta get my deceptive headline on once in a while!)

T.I. In Atlanta Supreme Court
source

The 28-year-old performer TI, whose real name is Clifford Harris, is scheduled to speak to a group of troubled teens at the Georgia Supreme Court in Atlanta on Friday. The "Play by the Rules" entitled event, which according to plan runs from 9 a.m. to noon, claims to teach teenagers how to avoid breaking the law.

T.I.'s appearance is part of the 1,000 hours of community service he must complete as part of his guilty plea to federal firearms charges a year ago. He is scheduled to begin serving a 1-year prison sentence next month. His newalbum, "Paper Trail," shot up to No. 1 on the Billboard charts last year, and it includes two Number 1 singles. His new MTV show, "T.I.'s Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go," currently chronicles the soon to be imprisoned rapper's attempts to help other people avoid the samemistakes he's already made in the past.

T.I. In Atlanta Supreme Court (Talking to Kids)

New video from K-Os, with a loop you may remember from Latee "This Cut's Got Flavor" if you are an old man like me..

VIDEO: K-Os "4,3,2,1"

VIDEO: K-Os "4,3,2,1"

Best of luck with this..

Lil Wayne Rock Tour Dates source

No, that's not a typo, self-proclaimed best rapper alive Lil Wayne is gearing up for his rock debut on May 19. The album is tentatively titled Rebirth, and Wayne is hitting the road next month to test drive the new material.The music video for his lead single, "Prom Queen," is also set to debut soon.

In addition to Rebirth, Wayne is working on at least 5 other projects all due this year, including Tha Carter IV, a rumored Hot Boys reunion LP, a collaborative album with Juelz Santana (I Can't Feel My Face), and a compilation album showcasing the artists on his Young Money label.

Wayne kicks off his tour in Providence on March 17th and winds down in Salt Lake City, UT on March 31st. Consult the tour schedule below to see if Weezy's coming to a city near you.

3/17 - Providence -- Dunkin Donuts Center
3/18 - Wallingford -- Chevrolet Theatre
3/19 - Newark, NJ -- Prudential Center
3/20 - Baltimore, MD --1st Mariner Arena
3/21 - Indianapolis, IN -- Concesco Fieldhouse
3/23 - San Antonio, TX -- ATT Center
3/25 - Oklahoma City, OK -- Ford Center
3/29 - Los Angeles, CA -- Gibson Amphitheatre
3/31 - Salt Lake City, UT -- Energy Solution Arena

Lil Wayne Rock Tour Dates

Technically only going by Doom now, at least for the moment..not his strongest beat IMO but on the mic he's still the most murderous nerd with the turbulent herbalist services:

NEW AUDIO: MF Doom "That's That"

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NEW AUDIO: MF Doom "That's That"

The latest sign that social media is out of control: Perez Hilton Vs. Noreaga on twitter.com.. It started out with Perez Hilton posting about NORE's arrest in Florida, doing his usual snarky thing.. then Noreaga swung back at Perez with a homopohobic twitter avalanche:

Perez Hilton is a douchebag...lol.. about 2 hours ago from web

Alchemist got his brother perez 2 attack me!!! damn alchemist !! about 1 hour ago from web

[reply from Perez: "@noreaga At least you know who I am, bitch! xoxo"]

@perezhilton who you calling a bitch!!!!???

alchemist can u tell ya brother perez 2 be easy! it's jokes queen!!!! All cause u got maxwell on ya 1st single Alc?? LOL!!!!!

@perezhilton dirty mud butt!! u must know who I am cause u on my twitter but my twitter is for str8 people that don't wear wigs!!!!

if u don't know who I am, google me!when I google u,I c a ugly gay guy str8 bashing! I don't have beef wit homos!!!

@perezhilton But u r homo n a way that's foul. if u don't know how I am,y would u call me a douchebag & a pitbull. google my police records!

[reply from Perez: @noreaga Me being a homo is foul? Is it because I'm open about it but you keep your gayness on the downlow??? xoxox]

No disrespect to my gay fans!I make great music that even gay people like. if u don't like it don't listen please. Fake ass madonna!!!

Never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm gonna have to roll with Perez on this one..

via 2dopeboyzzzzzz

New GLC track with GLC missing from it, but featuring Kanye West and T Pain.. Kanye is rapping sans Antares products on this one, so I'm happy for that.. lyrics after the proverbial jump:

Kanye West & T Pain "Flight School" MP3

share, bee

Kanye West & T Pain "Flight School" MP3

I'm painting Obama's face on the front and selling these on TV for $4.99.. act now!!

Duke Ellington Coin!
source

Jazz icon Duke Ellington has become the first African American to appear solo on a US coin intended for everyday use, officials at the US Mint said Tuesday after a celebration to mark the quarter-dollar's release.

"He's the first African American to feature solo and the second African American to feature on a circulating coin," Carla Coolman, a spokeswoman for the US Mint, told AFP.

"The first African American on a circulating coin was York, a slave who was depicted on a Missouri quarter alongside explorers Lewis and Clark. There have been other African Americans on commemorative coins," Coolman said.

The Duke Ellington High School Jazz Band played at an event at the National Museum of American History to celebrate the Washington DC quarter with Ellington's image on one side. The coin was released last month.

"Like many great Americans who succeed in what they love doing, Duke Ellington was equal parts talent, hard work, passion and perseverance," US Mint director Ed Moy told the gathering at the museum on the National Mall, which included members of Ellington's family, originally from Washington.

"When Americans look at this coin, they will remember the man and his art, as well as the place where both were born and nurtured - the District of Columbia," Moy said.

Duke Ellington Coin!

Synopsis and complete video below:

FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09

President Barack Obama struck a balance between grim economic reality and a more hopeful outlook on Tuesday to try to reassure worried Americans their country will emerge from crisis "stronger than before."

Riding high in opinion polls, Obama was careful to include a sober assessment of the economic emergency in his first speech to Congress, seeking to temper expectations that his administration's rescue efforts would yield quick fixes.

But the politician whose memoir was called "The Audacity of Hope" and who won the White House in last November's election amid chants of "yes, we can" was also back in stride, telling recession-weary Americans to expect better days ahead.

"While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover," Obama said in the televised speech.

"And the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," he told a chamber packed with lawmakers, cabinet members and invited guests.

FULL VIDEO: Obama Speech to Congress 2/24/09 - Part One

Jadakiss celebrating Lunar New Year before he heads out to walk his leopard cub.. just another day in the life..

VIDEO: Jadakiss "Can't Stop Me"

VIDEO: Jadakiss "Can't Stop Me"