Who remember the joint Come Clean by Jeru The Damaja? It was released in 1993 and it was produced by DJ Premiere. Now this is straight up Hip Hop, this is a classic:
Showing posts with label Hiphop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hiphop. Show all posts
Friday, August 2, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Hip Hop Steps up to protest Guantanamo Bay
You know I was kind of suprise and proud at the same time when I read the article over at HipHopDX.com website which says that some individuals in the hip hop community is standing up to protest the US Government treatment of prisoner at the gulag in Guantanamo Bay.
From HipHopDX.com
From HipHopDX.com
The American Civil Liberties Union is marking the sixth anniversary of the arrival of prisoners—or as the government calls them, “detainees”—at Guantanamo Bay with a call for a nationwide protest.
Today, thousands of people across the country and throughout the world will wear orange “to symbolize their sadness and disgust with the national shame that is Guantánamo Bay.”
Many celebrities, including those in the Hip Hop community have thrown their support behind the ACLU, who are calling for Guantanamo to be closed after allegations—and photos—of prisoners being tortured surfaced in 2005.
"Everybody has the right to be treated justly and the injustices and corruption of this facility has already been exposed,” One Be Lo says of the situation.
Rasco, one half of Cali Agents, echoed the sentiments of many that preserving human rights is a key to protecting humanity. “I wanted to get involved with this cause because I feel no matter the situation, Human Rights come first,” the Northern California MC said.
In May of 2005, 60 Minutes interviewed Sgt. Erik Saar, a soldier who spent several months at Guantanamo. Saar—a military translator—described several incidents of questionable interrogation tactics on the part of US soldiers.
He spoke of one situation in which a “high priority” prisoner’s interrogation by a female soldier.
"As she stood in front of him, she slowly started to unbutton her Army blouse. She had on underneath the Army blouse a tight brown Army T-shirt, touched her breasts, and said, 'Don't you like these big American breasts?'" he said of the interrogation. "She wanted to create a barrier between this detainee and his faith, and if she could somehow sexually entice him, he would feel unclean in an Islamic way, he would not be able to pray and go before his God and gain that strength, so the next day, maybe he would be able to start cooperating, start talking to her."
According to Saar, during the next encounter, the soldier went a step further.
"She started to unbutton her pants and reached and put her hands in her pants and then started to circle around the detainee. And when she had her hands in her pants, apparently she used something to put what appeared to be menstrual blood on her hand, but in fact was ink.”
Sarr also added that the interrogator later told the prisoner she was “menustrating right now” and wiped the ink on the prisoner’s face.
According to the ACLU web site, more than 100,000 pages of documents exist outlining the conditions prisoners were subjected to at Guantanamo. The human rights group also filed a complaint in 2006 in federal court on behalf of nine prisoners.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Immortal Technique - The Cause of Death
Ice Cube - Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It (Official Video)
Check it out, I found this new video by Ice Cube, and it has a polical edge to it. I would say the song and video has a pretty good concept to it. It's like he's holding a mirror up to america's face and saying "look Mofo don't don't blame Hiphop for all of america's ills , there's been bad shit going on in america way before hip hop came along".
Monday, December 24, 2007
Jay-Z to step down as President of Def Jam
The Jigga's up...and out the door.
Jay-Z will be having lots more time to spend with Beyoncé this New Year's after it was announced Monday that he would be stepping down as president of Def Jam effective Jan. 1.
He took over the reins at the famed hip-hop factory in 2005 shortly after he announced his brief retirement from recording.
During his two-year tenure, Jay-Z has signed the likes of Rihanna and Ne-Yo and overseen blockbuster releases by himself and Kanye West.
Universal Music, the parent of Def Jam, says the rapper will continue to record for the label.
Last month, the 38-year-old rap kingpin, whose real name is Shawn Carter, saw his latest album, American Gangster, open on top of the pop charts. That gave him 10 number one albums in 10 years and tied him with Elvis Presley for the most chart toppers by a solo artist. Hova and Presley trail only the Beatles, who have 19 number one albums.
He is also up for five Grammy Awards, while he helped steer Def Jam to a total of 26 nods.
In August, Jay-Z was tapped as the top Hip-Hop Cash King by Forbes magazine, pocketing $34 million the previous year.
Before taking over at Def Jam, Jay-Z cofounded Roc-A-Fella Records and several spinoff companies, including the Rocawear fashion label, which he has since sold for $204 million.
Link
Rapper Yung Joc Arrested on gun charges
Rapper Yung Joc has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon, after cops say they found a loaded semi-automatic gun in his carry-on bag at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. It's goin' down!
Joc, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, was arrested around 6:15 AM Sunday morning, before boarding a Delta flight. He was attempting to go through a regular security checkpoint when police say they found the handgun and ammunition. Cops say the rapper told them he didn't know the weapon was there. Oops!
He was arrested without incident, is now free on $50,000 bail and will be arraigned Wednesday.
His attorney told the AP, "Yung Joc maintains his innocence. He would appreciate privacy as he addresses these allegations."
Link
Joc, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, was arrested around 6:15 AM Sunday morning, before boarding a Delta flight. He was attempting to go through a regular security checkpoint when police say they found the handgun and ammunition. Cops say the rapper told them he didn't know the weapon was there. Oops!
He was arrested without incident, is now free on $50,000 bail and will be arraigned Wednesday.
His attorney told the AP, "Yung Joc maintains his innocence. He would appreciate privacy as he addresses these allegations."
Link
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Beanie Sigel, Bill Cosby March For Peace
By Chris Richburg
Rap star Beanie Sigel generated talk of a different kind during Philadelphia’s Peace Week 2007, when he walked hand-in-hand with actor/comedian Bill Cosby, during an anti-crime march.
The pair, who marched alongside each other on Thursday (December 20), spoke earlier that day to 30 at risk youths at William Penn High School in Philadelphia.
The event allowed Sigel the opportunity to help direct youth towards positive options that he was not able to fully utilize.
"I come from these things, the streets," said Sigel. "I'm at a time in my life where I'm trying to make the transition from something negative to something positive."
Sigel, Cosby and men’s outreach group Men United for a Better Philadelphia are working to help keep Philadelphia’s murder rate below 400.
The rapper will continue to raise awareness by embarking on an ongoing tour of local high schools, juvenile facilities and jails.
Additionally, Sigel will encourage youths to exercise their minds and stop the violence through local public service announcements.
The effort comes on the heels of the recent release of the rapper’s new album The Solution.
The project, which finds Sigel addressing the issues of crime, teen pregnancy and personal struggles, is in stores now.
Source
Rap star Beanie Sigel generated talk of a different kind during Philadelphia’s Peace Week 2007, when he walked hand-in-hand with actor/comedian Bill Cosby, during an anti-crime march.
The pair, who marched alongside each other on Thursday (December 20), spoke earlier that day to 30 at risk youths at William Penn High School in Philadelphia.
The event allowed Sigel the opportunity to help direct youth towards positive options that he was not able to fully utilize.
"I come from these things, the streets," said Sigel. "I'm at a time in my life where I'm trying to make the transition from something negative to something positive."
Sigel, Cosby and men’s outreach group Men United for a Better Philadelphia are working to help keep Philadelphia’s murder rate below 400.
The rapper will continue to raise awareness by embarking on an ongoing tour of local high schools, juvenile facilities and jails.
Additionally, Sigel will encourage youths to exercise their minds and stop the violence through local public service announcements.
The effort comes on the heels of the recent release of the rapper’s new album The Solution.
The project, which finds Sigel addressing the issues of crime, teen pregnancy and personal struggles, is in stores now.
Source
Music Producer Dame Dash being Sued
Another day, another lawsuit. An Atlanta woman, Jamie Roberts, 24, claims that she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder after a random encounter with Damon Dash back in 2004. She is suing Dash for $30,000 and claims that he made her crazy after meeting him in Miami:
The bizarre suit, which Roberts, 24, wrote up herself, says she met Dash at a Miami club that March, where he inexplicably used the name “Jeremy McIntyre” and took her to a nearby marina. There he showed her “his genital area” in an “offensive manner” and tried to force her into performing oral sex, the suit claims. Nine months later, Roberts said she “began to hear defendant’s voice in her ear, giving her certain directions to follow.” The suit says she discovered McIntyre’s true identity in early 2005 “while watching a taping of the “Dave Chapelle Show.”
This sounds like pure comedy. Broads going crazy over some “D” and writing up their own lawsuits. What’s even funnier is that she discovered who he was after watching the “Roca Pads” episode of Chappelle’s Show.
Damon Dash made a statement on the situation: “We know nothing about it. It’s quite obvious this is a false allegation.”
Source
The bizarre suit, which Roberts, 24, wrote up herself, says she met Dash at a Miami club that March, where he inexplicably used the name “Jeremy McIntyre” and took her to a nearby marina. There he showed her “his genital area” in an “offensive manner” and tried to force her into performing oral sex, the suit claims. Nine months later, Roberts said she “began to hear defendant’s voice in her ear, giving her certain directions to follow.” The suit says she discovered McIntyre’s true identity in early 2005 “while watching a taping of the “Dave Chapelle Show.”
This sounds like pure comedy. Broads going crazy over some “D” and writing up their own lawsuits. What’s even funnier is that she discovered who he was after watching the “Roca Pads” episode of Chappelle’s Show.
Damon Dash made a statement on the situation: “We know nothing about it. It’s quite obvious this is a false allegation.”
Source
Friday, September 28, 2007
Banner Sounds Off On Hip-Hop Lyric Controversy
Excerpt
September 27, 2007, 12:25 PM ET
Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
On Sept. 26, David Banner joined fellow MC Master P, music industry executives and scholars to discuss offensive language in hip-hop music before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Reading from a statement, the 33-year-old Mississippi rapper/producer tenaciously defended hip-hop from its detractors.During his testimony, Banner said, "If you fix our communities, we'll fix our lyrics." Asked how that would affect change, he tells Billboard, "In the Katrina hearing, one congressman asked, 'Haven't we done enough for Katrina?' They live in a world that we don't live in, and it's hard to speak for a majority when you don't live under the same conditions. People don't sing happy songs if they're broke.""Rap music does for us the same thing gospel did for the slaves," he adds. "We communicate our anger through our music."
******
September 27, 2007, 12:25 PM ET
Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
On Sept. 26, David Banner joined fellow MC Master P, music industry executives and scholars to discuss offensive language in hip-hop music before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Reading from a statement, the 33-year-old Mississippi rapper/producer tenaciously defended hip-hop from its detractors.During his testimony, Banner said, "If you fix our communities, we'll fix our lyrics." Asked how that would affect change, he tells Billboard, "In the Katrina hearing, one congressman asked, 'Haven't we done enough for Katrina?' They live in a world that we don't live in, and it's hard to speak for a majority when you don't live under the same conditions. People don't sing happy songs if they're broke.""Rap music does for us the same thing gospel did for the slaves," he adds. "We communicate our anger through our music."
******
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Gangsta Rap, Dying in the Street
If I were a gangsta rapper, I'd be changing my tune. Not because congressional hearings on misogynous rap lyrics are slated for next week. And certainly not because a group of church folk held a protest last week at the home of a Black Entertainment Television executive who lives in the District.
No, what would concern me is the money. The hustle and flow are getting too slow. Rap album sales have fallen far faster than those for the music industry as a whole, plummeting 43.6 percent since 2000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's getting hard out here for a pimp.
Here's my rap on why: Gangsta rap is contemptible, the lyrics indefensible. The rapper isn't credible, just plain old irresponsible. And the public stopped being gullible.
Check out the results of a recent national survey of black, white and Hispanic youths by the University of Chicago. Among the findings:
72 percent of black youths agree that rap videos contain too many sexual references.
41 percent of black youths say rap music videos should be more political.
Majorities of all young people agree that rap music videos portray both black women and black men "in bad and offensive ways."
About 58 percent of black youths (ages 15 to 25) say they listen to rap music daily and watch rap music videos several times a week, compared with 45 percent of Hispanic youths and 23 percent of white youths. That's still a lot of youths. But interest in the genre is clearly waning. In 2006, rap sales were down 21 percent from 2005 and 27 percent from 2004.
This steady decline in demand has been all but obscured by anti-rap protests and misguided calls for censorship.
"We want media and music companies to develop universal creative standards for the music and videos they produce, market and distribute," says the Rev. Delman L. Coates, pastor of Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton and leader of an anti-rap group called Enough Is Enough.
On Saturday, Coates and about 500 others, mostly church members, staged a protest in front of the home of Debra Lee, chief executive of Black Entertainment Television. They want BET to ban any show that "objectifies, degrades or promotes violence against women" and "portrays black and Latino men as gangsters, pimps, thugs and players."
And they plan on returning to Lee's home every weekend until BET meets their demands.
Nice try, Reverend. But we call that kind of censorship "Taliban-ing." And it doesn't sit well with the spirit of the First Amendment, either.
"I want the rest of you to come out and let the world know we are not pimps, gangsters and thugs and that our women are not sexual objects, not female dogs," Coates told the group. "We have to stand up and say we aren't taking it anymore."
But will anyone stand up against such movies as "American Gangster," which makes its premiere the first weekend in November? Will anyone be marching to protest Hollywood? Or will they all be inside the theaters watching Denzel Washington star as the gangster?
I'm betting on Denzel.
Excerpt
*********
No, what would concern me is the money. The hustle and flow are getting too slow. Rap album sales have fallen far faster than those for the music industry as a whole, plummeting 43.6 percent since 2000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's getting hard out here for a pimp.
Here's my rap on why: Gangsta rap is contemptible, the lyrics indefensible. The rapper isn't credible, just plain old irresponsible. And the public stopped being gullible.
Check out the results of a recent national survey of black, white and Hispanic youths by the University of Chicago. Among the findings:
72 percent of black youths agree that rap videos contain too many sexual references.
41 percent of black youths say rap music videos should be more political.
Majorities of all young people agree that rap music videos portray both black women and black men "in bad and offensive ways."
About 58 percent of black youths (ages 15 to 25) say they listen to rap music daily and watch rap music videos several times a week, compared with 45 percent of Hispanic youths and 23 percent of white youths. That's still a lot of youths. But interest in the genre is clearly waning. In 2006, rap sales were down 21 percent from 2005 and 27 percent from 2004.
This steady decline in demand has been all but obscured by anti-rap protests and misguided calls for censorship.
"We want media and music companies to develop universal creative standards for the music and videos they produce, market and distribute," says the Rev. Delman L. Coates, pastor of Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton and leader of an anti-rap group called Enough Is Enough.
On Saturday, Coates and about 500 others, mostly church members, staged a protest in front of the home of Debra Lee, chief executive of Black Entertainment Television. They want BET to ban any show that "objectifies, degrades or promotes violence against women" and "portrays black and Latino men as gangsters, pimps, thugs and players."
And they plan on returning to Lee's home every weekend until BET meets their demands.
Nice try, Reverend. But we call that kind of censorship "Taliban-ing." And it doesn't sit well with the spirit of the First Amendment, either.
"I want the rest of you to come out and let the world know we are not pimps, gangsters and thugs and that our women are not sexual objects, not female dogs," Coates told the group. "We have to stand up and say we aren't taking it anymore."
But will anyone stand up against such movies as "American Gangster," which makes its premiere the first weekend in November? Will anyone be marching to protest Hollywood? Or will they all be inside the theaters watching Denzel Washington star as the gangster?
I'm betting on Denzel.
Excerpt
*********
Kanye West outduels 50 Cent
By Steve Jones, USA TODAY
Kanye West won in a landslide in his face-off with fellow rapper 50 Cent. West's Graduation outsold his rival's Curtis 957,000 to 691,000 in the first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures.
The two discs topped Billboard's albums chart, followed by country star Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, which sold 387,000 copies.
Graduation's sales are the largest since 50 Cent's The Massacre opened with 1.1 million copies in March 2005 and the first album to surpass 800,000 since West's Late Registration sold 860,000 copies in August 2005. Graduation also set a first-week record with 133,000 digital downloads.
"It's a great day for hip-hop and for artistry because people in hip-hop emulate success," says Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, president and CEO of West's label, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam. "It signals that with the right amount of attention and a credible album, there is still an interest in buying physical CDs."
Jay-Z says West got a boost in street credibility with defiant single Can't Tell Me Nothing. His Daft Punk-fueled Stronger did well on rhythmic and pop radio stations. Most reviewers favored Graduation over Curtis.
Despite all the attention leading up to the Sept. 11 releases, it was the quality of music, not the hype, that drove sales, says Island Def Jam chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid.
He says the date was chosen to take advantage of West's participation in MTV's Video Music Awards two nights earlier.
And while the rivalry got people talking, such pairings are unlikely to become routine.
Competition is "invigorating to the participants and to the spectators," Reid says. "But if people think this is a new way of releasing records, they are going to be sadly mistaken."
The public was fascinated in this case thanks to the outsized personalities of the controversial rappers. For weeks, the debate raged on radio, TV, magazines and blogs.
Early on, 50 Cent, who previously had outsold West by a wide margin, declared he would quit making solo records if he finished second. He has since backed off, saying he has another album in the works (Before I Self-Destruct) and blaming his label, Interscope Records, for not promoting Curtis well.
A new version of 50's hit I Get Money (Billion Dollar Remix), featuring Jay-Z and Diddy, was released Monday. "We're still competing, but we're not enemies," says Jay-Z.
This week's numbers were good news for the ailing record industry. West, 50 Cent and Chesney sold 2.04 million albums combined to surpass total sales for the previous week's top 200 albums (2 million). Still, overall sales are down 9% compared with the same week last year.
Barack is the new 'bling'
Inspired by Barack Obama, or 'B-Rock,' rap artists are shifting focus back onto real-life issues and politics
By Sara Libby
Los Angeles - Rap stars have long been in the business of name-dropping. Louis Vuitton. Escalades. Dom Perignon. Even Holiday Inn gets its share of attention.
But more and more, hip-hop artists are doling out shout-outs of a different kind: presidential endorsements.
It all hearkens back to rap's roots – and suggests that an epic change could be in the making.
Hip-hop music was born out of racial and social unrest, and its earliest pioneers took seriously their roles as the pundits of the streets, addressing real-life issues such as racial profiling, political corruption, and poverty. Rap groups such as Public Enemy and NWA showcased the gritty, rebellious perspectives of an oppressed community.
Yet as the genre gained mainstream attention and began raking in Grammys and record sales, some of its biggest stars reduced themselves to touting bling, belittling women, and not much else. This year has been especially rough for rap music, thanks to Don Imus. The radio commentator's remarks had conservatives blaming rappers for creating an environment in which racist and sexist remarks are casually tossed around.
With all the finger-wagging that the genre has endured, it's made it easy to overlook the fact that rap has taken the lead in acknowledging what is promising to become a monumental presidential race.
Many of today's more socially conscious rappers are putting the spotlight back on political issues and candidates – and their go-to guy has become Democratic contender Barack Obama, or "B-Rock" as he was recently dubbed by Vibe magazine. Rap artist Common, whose latest CD debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts earlier this month, brags that he'll "ignite the people like Obama." Talib Kweli echoes that on his latest release when he says, "speak to the people like Barack Obama."
This brand of socially conscious rap has become unique in that it still has incredible appeal with young audiences yet doesn't necessarily resort to a dumbed-down agenda. Aside from the blind flag-waving kind of patriotism that has become a hallmark of country music, most of today's popular musicians tend to sidestep politics altogether. And top-selling pop outfits certainly never mention specific politicians.
It's easy to see why the hip-hop community is so excited by Mr. Obama's ascent. In him they see not only someone who is young, black, and, for many rappers, a native son (from Chicago) – but someone who acknowledges the badly broken political process that still marginalizes minorities and the poor. Indeed, Obama seems to address a need to fix the very conditions that necessitated the genre's formation.
Instead of rappers urging people to fight the power, their shout-outs to Obama signify a collective sense that they could actually "seize" the power. Instead of fighting the man, a black man could "be" the man. With Obama having a legitimate shot at becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, there exists a hope that has at least temporarily replaced sentiments of constantly being given the short end of the stick.
As Obama tries to appeal to a wide swath of voters, he has been wary of embracing hip-hop too openly. Yes, he's met with rap stars like Ludacris, but he also had some harsh words for hip-hop after the Imus debacle, saying that rap music lyrics include the same offensive language that got the radio host in trouble.
Still, rappers' frequent references to Obama show what an extraordinary cultural-historic moment the politician's rise to prominence has created for the hip-hop generation.
Meanwhile, the growing popularity of politically conscious MCs has changed what it means to be a star rapper. In outselling artists like 50 Cent, they've proven that their audience is ready to embrace a return to social awareness and focus on community.
By Sara Libby
Los Angeles - Rap stars have long been in the business of name-dropping. Louis Vuitton. Escalades. Dom Perignon. Even Holiday Inn gets its share of attention.
But more and more, hip-hop artists are doling out shout-outs of a different kind: presidential endorsements.
It all hearkens back to rap's roots – and suggests that an epic change could be in the making.
Hip-hop music was born out of racial and social unrest, and its earliest pioneers took seriously their roles as the pundits of the streets, addressing real-life issues such as racial profiling, political corruption, and poverty. Rap groups such as Public Enemy and NWA showcased the gritty, rebellious perspectives of an oppressed community.
Yet as the genre gained mainstream attention and began raking in Grammys and record sales, some of its biggest stars reduced themselves to touting bling, belittling women, and not much else. This year has been especially rough for rap music, thanks to Don Imus. The radio commentator's remarks had conservatives blaming rappers for creating an environment in which racist and sexist remarks are casually tossed around.
With all the finger-wagging that the genre has endured, it's made it easy to overlook the fact that rap has taken the lead in acknowledging what is promising to become a monumental presidential race.
Many of today's more socially conscious rappers are putting the spotlight back on political issues and candidates – and their go-to guy has become Democratic contender Barack Obama, or "B-Rock" as he was recently dubbed by Vibe magazine. Rap artist Common, whose latest CD debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts earlier this month, brags that he'll "ignite the people like Obama." Talib Kweli echoes that on his latest release when he says, "speak to the people like Barack Obama."
This brand of socially conscious rap has become unique in that it still has incredible appeal with young audiences yet doesn't necessarily resort to a dumbed-down agenda. Aside from the blind flag-waving kind of patriotism that has become a hallmark of country music, most of today's popular musicians tend to sidestep politics altogether. And top-selling pop outfits certainly never mention specific politicians.
It's easy to see why the hip-hop community is so excited by Mr. Obama's ascent. In him they see not only someone who is young, black, and, for many rappers, a native son (from Chicago) – but someone who acknowledges the badly broken political process that still marginalizes minorities and the poor. Indeed, Obama seems to address a need to fix the very conditions that necessitated the genre's formation.
Instead of rappers urging people to fight the power, their shout-outs to Obama signify a collective sense that they could actually "seize" the power. Instead of fighting the man, a black man could "be" the man. With Obama having a legitimate shot at becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, there exists a hope that has at least temporarily replaced sentiments of constantly being given the short end of the stick.
As Obama tries to appeal to a wide swath of voters, he has been wary of embracing hip-hop too openly. Yes, he's met with rap stars like Ludacris, but he also had some harsh words for hip-hop after the Imus debacle, saying that rap music lyrics include the same offensive language that got the radio host in trouble.
Still, rappers' frequent references to Obama show what an extraordinary cultural-historic moment the politician's rise to prominence has created for the hip-hop generation.
Meanwhile, the growing popularity of politically conscious MCs has changed what it means to be a star rapper. In outselling artists like 50 Cent, they've proven that their audience is ready to embrace a return to social awareness and focus on community.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
$1.5BN RAPPERS PLAY GIG
Stars' secret gig is the richest stage show ever
By John Dingwall
IT WAS the most expensive onstage gathering of music talent in history.
When Jay-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent and Diddy all appeared at New York's Madison Square Garden, the US stock market must have skipped a beat, as the quartet are worth Û1.5billion.
The foursome surprised the 20,000 crowd who turned up for the Screamfest 07 tour show, co-headlined by 50 Cent's girlfriend Ciara and rapper T.I. During the second half of Ciara's set, former drug dealer turned hip-hop mogul 50 Cent appeared and they performed Can't Leave Him Alone. He then sang I Get Money and was joined by rappers Lloyd Banks, Mobb Deep and Tony Yayo, who are themselves multimillionaires.
Then during T.I.'s set as he played Watch What You Say, Jay-Z strolled down a runway in the middle of the stadium to the main stage. Kanye West was next before 50 Cent crashed the gathering, with Diddy last to join the party. And as if to underline the staggering wealth of those onstage, they then sang Money In The Bank. As well as being hip-hop artists, the four are all involved in businesses ranging from record labels to clothing lines.
And Jay-Z is so rich that he can afford his own basketball team - he owns a share in the New Jersey Nets. The gathering dwarfs the impromptu jam session by rock 'n' roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis on December 4, 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Sun Records Studios. Recorded by Sam Philips, an article about the session was published in the Memphis Press-Scimitar under the headline "Million Dollar Quartet".
50 CENT
Makes a mockery of his name after picking up $487million from his share in water firm Glaceau which was sold to Coca-Cola.
$531MILLION
KANYE
The son of former Black Panther and photojournalist Ray West is a newcomer on the back of his 2004 album The College Dropout.
$114MILLION
DIDDY
The hip-hop heavyweight is a record producer and has a clothing range, a movie production company and two restaurants.
$346MILLION
JAY-Z
Beyonce's boyfriend shot to fame with Hard Knock Life. He is president of Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella records.
$547MILLION
By John Dingwall
IT WAS the most expensive onstage gathering of music talent in history.
When Jay-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent and Diddy all appeared at New York's Madison Square Garden, the US stock market must have skipped a beat, as the quartet are worth Û1.5billion.
The foursome surprised the 20,000 crowd who turned up for the Screamfest 07 tour show, co-headlined by 50 Cent's girlfriend Ciara and rapper T.I. During the second half of Ciara's set, former drug dealer turned hip-hop mogul 50 Cent appeared and they performed Can't Leave Him Alone. He then sang I Get Money and was joined by rappers Lloyd Banks, Mobb Deep and Tony Yayo, who are themselves multimillionaires.
Then during T.I.'s set as he played Watch What You Say, Jay-Z strolled down a runway in the middle of the stadium to the main stage. Kanye West was next before 50 Cent crashed the gathering, with Diddy last to join the party. And as if to underline the staggering wealth of those onstage, they then sang Money In The Bank. As well as being hip-hop artists, the four are all involved in businesses ranging from record labels to clothing lines.
And Jay-Z is so rich that he can afford his own basketball team - he owns a share in the New Jersey Nets. The gathering dwarfs the impromptu jam session by rock 'n' roll legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis on December 4, 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Sun Records Studios. Recorded by Sam Philips, an article about the session was published in the Memphis Press-Scimitar under the headline "Million Dollar Quartet".
50 CENT
Makes a mockery of his name after picking up $487million from his share in water firm Glaceau which was sold to Coca-Cola.
$531MILLION
KANYE
The son of former Black Panther and photojournalist Ray West is a newcomer on the back of his 2004 album The College Dropout.
$114MILLION
DIDDY
The hip-hop heavyweight is a record producer and has a clothing range, a movie production company and two restaurants.
$346MILLION
JAY-Z
Beyonce's boyfriend shot to fame with Hard Knock Life. He is president of Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella records.
$547MILLION
Sunday, August 19, 2007
The divide between Old School and New School Blacks
Apparently rapper David Banner doesn’t take too kindly to Rev. Al Sharpton’s recent protests against rap lyrics. I read here David Banner called Sharpton a “permed-out pimp” and said, “They’re killing kids in New Jersey and all he’s got to talk about is rap lyrics?” Oh yeah, how can I forget, Banner also said, “The next time you see Al Sharpton, tell him I said f*ck him and he can suck my d*ck!”.
Wow.
Rev. Al Sharpton responded to Banner’s comments, at least through a spokesperson, Kirsten John-Foy, a leader with Sharpton’s National Action Network: “I am sure Rev. Sharpton would not call Crump the “N” “B” or “H” word. And, despite Crump’s personal request, I am sure Reverend Sharpton would not call him a f-g–t. He would just pray for him. We at NAN are pro civil rights for everyone, even Levell Crump (David Banner’s real name)who has not had a banner year since his debut album in 2003.”
Again…wow.
These back and forth statements between the civil rights leader and the Mississippi born and bred rap star clearly illustrates the deep, bitter problems that exist between the older generation of African-Americans and the Hip-Hop generation. Forget about the media and white America, it seems to me that the black community really needs to have dialogue that will bridge the gap and help both generations to understand the concerns of the other so that we can all get on the same page as far as the progress of blacks in American society.
-Snip-
Link
Wow.
Rev. Al Sharpton responded to Banner’s comments, at least through a spokesperson, Kirsten John-Foy, a leader with Sharpton’s National Action Network: “I am sure Rev. Sharpton would not call Crump the “N” “B” or “H” word. And, despite Crump’s personal request, I am sure Reverend Sharpton would not call him a f-g–t. He would just pray for him. We at NAN are pro civil rights for everyone, even Levell Crump (David Banner’s real name)who has not had a banner year since his debut album in 2003.”
Again…wow.
These back and forth statements between the civil rights leader and the Mississippi born and bred rap star clearly illustrates the deep, bitter problems that exist between the older generation of African-Americans and the Hip-Hop generation. Forget about the media and white America, it seems to me that the black community really needs to have dialogue that will bridge the gap and help both generations to understand the concerns of the other so that we can all get on the same page as far as the progress of blacks in American society.
-Snip-
Link
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
50 Cent places big bet on the record
Friday, August 10th 2007, 4:00 AM
50 Cent is betting his entire rap future that he'll beat Kanye West on Sept. 11 - the day both artists drop hotly anticipated albums.The two have long competed, but Fitty upped the ante yesterday when he swore to hang up his mike if his CD "Curtis" didn't outsell West's "Graduation."Fitty blasted it out over sohh.com, knowing the hip-hop site gets 4.5 million visitors monthly - many of them teen record buyers."Let's raise the stakes," said the Queens-born rapper, whose given name is Curtis Jackson 3rd. "If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11, I'll no longer [perform] music. I'll write music and work with my other artists, but I won't put out any more solo albums."West knows how to make hits: His last CD, "Late Registration," has sold 2.8 million to date - but 50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'?" has sold nearly 8 million."They would like to see Kanye West give me a problem," Fitty mused to sohh's Carl Chery, "because I've worked myself into a space where I've become the favorite. Everybody roots [for] the underdog when he goes against the favorite. "And I bet this: When Kanye West's sales come in, he's gonna have a 70% decrease cause Def Jam is gonna buy records [the first week] to keep him closer to 50 Cent. So watch the first week and then watch the second week. Watch his a - drop off the planet."He added: "I didn't get one trophy for ‘The Massacre.' ... I don't get trophies, I get checks. He gets the trophies. ... And I'll be sitting here like, ‘It's cool 'cause I get the check.'?" Last week, Fitty - who has his own label, G-Unit Records - accepted an offer from BET of a debate with Kanye to be televised on the network; in it, the two would decide which had the better-produced record. "I accept the challenge," Fitty said on BET's "106 & Park." "Kanye, he's not going to want to show up." "What am I going to debate about?" West asked reporters at the MTV Video Music Award nominations Tuesday. "I thought [the debate] was the stupidest thing. When my album drops and Fifty's album drops, you're going to get a lot of good music at the same time."He didn't comment on Fitty's challenge by deadline.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Jay Z - Who You Wit(video)
I just had to bring you this video WHO YOU WIT by Jay-Z, this is one of my favorite Jay-Z songs I like his flow and swagger on this one
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