The Exciters - Tell Him (U know this had to go up!)

The Exciters Bio

The Exciters were an American pop music group of the 1960s. They were originally a girl group, although a male member (Herb Rooney) was added later. The group consisted of lead singer Brenda Reid, her husband Herb Rooney, Carolyn Johnson and Lillian Walker.

Career

The Exciters' first hit, produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, was "Tell Him" (U.S. #4) in late 1962. Other songs included "He's Got the Power", "Get Him" and Northern Soul classic "Blowing Up My Mind". The Exciters also recorded the original version of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" in 1963; it was covered shortly after by Manfred Mann, for whom it was an international hit.

Billie Davis successfully covered the Bert Berns penned, "Tell Him" in 1963.

Dusty Springfield, on going solo and settling in New York in 1963, said she used "Tell Him" as her model vocal on how to break into the American scene[citation needed].

In 1975, the group enjoyed a hit-single with "Reachin' for the Best", produced by Rooney and young new-comer producer Ian Levine. The song was aimed at the British Northern soul scene but crossed over to the pop chart where it peaked at No. 31.

Courtesy of Wikipedia.com

A Medley of 60's Bands (Notice dem samples)

Wyclef is heading back to the carnival... broke?!

Okay, I know the economy is bad, but I know these entertainers have the money to make ends meet. First Scott Storch, now Wyclef Jean? Latest news, Wyclef is being sued by Jacob and Company Incorporated, the company founded by Jacob The Jeweler, for failing to pay for items he bought. According to The Associated Press, the company claims that the Haitian born rapper bought watches and jewelry from them between March 2002 and January 2006 for $765,100 but still owes $319,680. Jacob’s says the Haitian Star is ignored all correspondence and demands for payment.

In related news, one of Wyclef’s home is being foreclosed in Miami. Go figure???

Courtesy of missxpose.com

Alicia Keys and Jack White to do Quantum of Solace theme

Ann Donahue, L.A.

Alicia Keys and the White Stripes' Jack White will record the theme song to "Quantum of Solace," the 22nd James Bond film, which hits U.S. theaters Nov. 7.

The song, "Another Way To Die," will be the first duet in Bond soundtrack history. White wrote and produced the song, and also will play drums. The soundtrack to the movie will be released Oct. 28.

The score for the film will be composed by David Arnold.

"Quantum of Solace," starring Daniel Craig, will be directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis.

Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis had previously been rumored as the vocalists for the latest Bond theme.

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Miley Cyrus will start at No. 1 on Billboard

Keith Caulfield, L.A.

Miley Cyrus will land her second No. 1 album on The Billboard 200 tomorrow (July 30), as "Breakout" (Hollywood) bows with 371,000 U.S. copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's the second-biggest sales week of the year for a female artist, following the 463,000 debut of Mariah Carey's "E=MC2" (Island/IDJMG).

Cyrus' last album, the half soundtrack, half studio set "Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus" (Hollywood/Walt Disney), started at No. 1 last summer with 326,000.

The first "Hanna Montana" soundtrack, which launched her recording career, also bowed at No. 1 in 2006, with first-week sales of 281,000. It went on to be the best seller of that year's fourth quarter with less than three months of shelf life.

Debuting in the runner-up slot on The Billboard 200 is country duo Sugarland with the deluxe version of "Love on the Inside" (314,000). It's easily the Mercury Nashville act's best sales week and highest charting album ever. The band's previous high came with 2006's "Enjoy the Ride," which debuted and peaked at No. 4 with 211,000.

Sugarland also enjoys the best sales week for any country act since the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" (ERC) shifted 359,000 in its second week of release last fall.

Sugarland has another reason to celebrate, as "Love on the Inside" becomes its first No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The duo's first two sets, "Twice the Speed of Life" and "Enjoy the Ride," peaked at Nos. 3 and 2, respectively.

Next week will mark an interesting sales test, as the standard edition of "Love on the Inside" bowed in stores today (July 29); those sales will be merged with the deluxe edition's total next week. The standard edition lacks five bonus tracks found on the deluxe version.

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Bob Dylan with a triple disc blast!

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Bob Dylan fans are in for a treat this fall, in the form of "Tell Tale Signs," a triple-disc rarities collection that will be the eighth volume in the artist's "Bootleg Series." The project arrives Oct. 7 via Columbia.

Dylan's Web site is featuring a free download of "Dreamin' of You," a Daniel Lanois-produced track from the sessions for the 1998 album "Time Out of Mind."

The track list goes heavy on the past 20 years of Dylan's career, including a number of unreleased songs and alternate versions stemming from sessions for "Time Out of Mind," "Modern Times," "Oh Mercy" and "World Gone Wrong."

A number of soundtrack contributions can be found here too, including "Huck's Tune" from "Lucky You," "'Cross the Green Mountain" from "Gods and Generals" and the Ralph Stanley collaboration "The Lonesome River" from "Clinch Mountain Country."

Live tracks from Bonnaroo 2004, London in 2000 and New York's intimate Supper Club in 1993 round out the package.

Dylan is on tour in North America through early September.

Here is the track list for "Tell Tale Signs":

Disc one:
"Mississippi" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"Most of the Time" (Alternate version, "Oh Mercy")
"Dignity" (Piano demo, "Oh Mercy")
"Someday Baby" (Alternate version, "Modern Times")
"Red River Shore" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"Tell 'Ole Bill" (Alternate version, "North Country" soundtrack)
"Born in Time" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"Can't Wait" (Alternate version, "Time Out of Mind")
"Everything is Broken" (Alternate version, "Oh Mercy")
"Dreamin' of You" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"Huck's Tune" (From "Lucky You" soundtrack)
"Marching to the City" (Unreleased, "Time Out of Mind")
"High Water (For Charley Patton)" (Live, Niagara, 2003)

Disc two:
"Mississippi" (Unreleased version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"32-20 Blues" (Unreleased, "World Gone Wrong")
"Series of Dreams" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"God Knows" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"Can't Escape From You" (Unreleased, December 2005)
"Dignity" (Unreleased, "Oh Mercy")
"Ring Them Bells" (Live at the Supper Club, 1993)
"Cocaine Blue" (Live, Vienna, Va., 1997)
"Ain't Talkin'" (Alternate version, "Modern Times")
"The Girl On The Greenbriar Shore" (Live, 1992)
"Lonesome Day Blues" (Live, Sunrise, Fla., 2002)
"Miss the Mississippi" (Unreleased, 1992)
"The Lonesome River" (With Ralph Stanley, from "Clinch Mountain Country")
"'Cross The Green Mountain" (From "Gods and Generals" soundtrack)

Disc three:
"Duncan And Brady" (Unreleased, 1992)
Cold Irons Bound" (Live, Bonnaroo, June 2004)
"Mississippi" (Unreleased version #3, "Time Out of Mind")
"Most Of The Time" (Alternate version #2, "Oh Mercy")
"Ring Them Bells" (Alternate version, "Oh Mercy")
"Things Have Changed" (Live, Portland, Oregon, 2000)
"Red River Shore" (Unreleased version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"Born In Time" (Unreleased version #2, "Oh Mercy")
"Tryin' To Get To Heaven" (Live, London, 2000)
"Marchin' To The City" (Unreleased version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"Can't Wait" (Alternate version #2, "Time Out of Mind")
"Mary And The Soldier" (Unreleased, "World Gone Wrong")

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Fergie the prostitute sounds good to me!!

Fergie is excited about adding the role of a prostitute to her acting portfolio.

The Grammy-winning singer has been cast as Saraghina in "Nine," a big-screen adaptation of the Tony-winning musical. She will perform the saucy song "Be Italian" with Guido, played by Daniel Day-Lewis.

"She's basically a prostitute on the beach," Fergie told the Associated Press in an interview. "She introduces him to the world of sexuality. It's a very strong song. I'm just thrilled I get to play a character."

Fergie, 33, joins Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench and Kate Hudson in "Nine," directed by Rob Marshall ("Chicago"). Filming begins in October. Fergie, whose real name is Stacy Ann Ferguson, had minor roles in the "Poseidon" and "Grindhouse" movies.

Fergie, who released her hit-packed solo album "The Duchess" in 2006, said she's now in the studio working on a new album with the Black Eyed Peas, their first new record since 2005's "Monkey Business."

"It's a new sound," she said. "We're going into the future. We're not doing the same old thing. We're not trying to copy what's out there on the radio."

Courtesy of Associate Press

Spice 1 has something for Soulja Boy... (Oh my goodnuss!!!)

Man... I love Spice!! Lol this is a damn mess but I know one thing... I wouldn't want to be talking smack and then going to the Bay.

CNN's Black in America Cracked OFF!!!!

CNN’s Black in America was the highest rated program in its time slot for both nights, averaging 2.1 million viewers, 966,000 of whom were adults between 25 and 54, reports Nielsen Media Research. Some 900,000 were in the adults 18-49 demographic.

National Urban League CEO and President Marc Morial has released a statement “applauding” the “Black in America” documentary:

“As America looks at these issues, the focus should turn to solutions,” Morial said. “We need to work on getting Black Americans the education and healthcare services that they need to grow economically independent families. The Black Community deserves the right to go for the American Dream on an equal footing with the rest of the country.”

Courtesy of Missxpose.com

Travis Barker...hmm Kim Kardashian or Shanna Moakler

So we hear that Shanna Moakler, the on and off again wife of Travis Barker, got into a catfight with Kim Kardashian at Carmen Electra’s party at the DKNY Jean Beach House in Malibu this past weekend. Partygoers said that Shanna threw a drink in Kim’s face and called Kardashian a “Whore”. A lil history for you…Kim Kardashian used to model for “Famous Stars and Straps” which was a clothing line ran by Shanna’s ex-husband Travis Barker. Shanna said that Kim wanted more than just to model for Barker…

“She was sending him text messages and e-mails, and this was when Travis and I were working on [staying together],” Moakler told Page Six. “When it happened, I asked her, ‘What are these e-mails?’ She had no answers for me. She was blatantly disrespectful.”

Shanna said if she knew Kim would be at the party, she wouldn’t have showed up. “I was going to leave, but I’m a human being. I get upset. I wasn’t drunk, and I confronted her. She ruined my marriage and my family. If I get passionate about it, they call me crazy,” Moakler said. Reggie Bush tried to calm the two down, but Shanna called his girl a “whore” and revealed that she was trying to have sex with Travis Barker secretly.

Read the rest of the story here.

Courtesy of Missxpose.com

Nelly is flashing new underwear! For Diddy?!

Diddy has named Nelly as the first spokesmodel for Sean John UNDERWEAR! Damn…just the sound of that makes my mouth water, LOL! This official announcement was made today July 28. Nelly will be featured in the Fall campaign promoting Sean John’s collection of underwear and loungewear. The campaign, which was shot by Randee St. Nicholas, showcases Nelly in a modern home overlooking Los Angeles, while modeling the underwear. “I have been a big fan of Diddy and the Sean John clothing line for years,” Nelly revealed. “I have known Nelly for many years and I really admire his work. To me, Nelly is the quintessential definition of the Sean John man,” Diddy said. “He has the attitude, the swagger, and most of all the physique that our customers can both aspire and relate to. And let’s be honest, all of the ladies out there are going to be thanking us for this campaign.”

Courtesy of Missxpose.com

Damnit Ricky Ross say he no damn C.O.! (lol)

By Tai Saint Louis

Hip-Hop star Rick Ross has hit back at recent reports surrounding his previous employment with the Florida Department of Corrections.

During an interview on Friday (July 25), Ross addressed the latest developments as “rumors” and maintained that he is a victim of a massive smear campaign.

Speaking to Phoenix, Arizona Hip-Hop station Power 98.3 (KKFR-FM), he responded to the question of his past employment by simply saying “Don’t believe the hype.”

“In the game we in, it’s real competitive,” Ross told Power 98.3 FM. “Competitors have to do what they have to do to eat. We making the best music. Y’all seen the BET Awards, y’all saw the magazine. We the biggest in the game, we the best in the game. Just keeping it real. And anytime somebody can attack my character, like I said, you get nothing from the Boss. I don’t give haters the pleasure.“

Rest of the story can be read here.

Courtesy of Allhiphop.com

Best Buy gets Better

July 28, 2008
Hoping to cater to everyone from the garage guitarist to a recording musician, Best Buy Co. Inc. is announcing a massive new initiative that sets aside store space for an array of musical instruments and gear in dozens of sites nationwide.

The nation's largest consumer electronics retailer will announce Tuesday that it plans to open as many as 85 of the music centers inside its stores by the end of the year and could add even more locations in the future, executives told The Associated Press.

Each site will use about 2,500 square feet of retail space and include roughly 1,000 different products with well-known brand names such as Fender, Gibson, Drum Workshop and Roland.

"We're not just extending the shelf space in the store, we're creating a designated area specifically for this experience," said Kevin Balon, the company's vice president of musical instruments. "And we're trying to create an authentic and genuine musical instrument store look and feel inside of Best Buy."

The whole story can be found here.

Courtesy of Associated Press

Liz Phair... oh so "natural"

Michael D. Ayers, N.Y.

Although it's still without a title or track listing, Liz Phair's new album is in its final recording stages. "This I can tell you: all my sloppiness is in there," she tells Billboard of her ATO debut, due this fall. "I fought all the way through, and I'm not letting anyone take it to a perfected style.

"It's not going to be '[Exile in] Guyville' again, but I'm using all my tools," she continues. "I keep pulling it out of producers' hands, before they can do anything."

Phair concedes that so far she's confident in about "half of it," but will be busy with the album all through August. The best way I can describe it is 'natural,'" she says. "It has mistakes in it. It has layered background vocals of mine that just make an overall slop, but it's perfect slop."

Having split with Capitol earlier this year, Phair is finding that working with ATO is a breath of fresh air. "They literally look at me and say, 'Here's your budget, don't go over, bring us something good,'" she says. "It's a f*cking mind-bending experience after the last 14 years. Even when I was with Matador, combined with other labels, there were so many chefs in the kitchen. I'm working exactly the way I want to work."

ATO recently reissued Phair's classic 1993 debut, "Exile In Guyville," which she's been performing in its entirety at a handful of recent shows.

"I remember being kind of aggravated, because I was supposed to be recording my new record, and I had to go back and figure out how to play all these songs," she says of the "Guyville" shows. "It was 20 years ago when I was writing all these. And one thing I found out, which is really lucky for me, is that I've become a better guitar player now, and as bizarre as they are, they're not technically hard to play."

Beyond three upcoming "Guyville" gigs next month, Phair says there aren't any plans for more, but she isn't ruling it out. She reports, "If people are into hearing it, I'd like to play it, until it becomes the 'Yeah, yeah, the old traveling 'Guyville' show."

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Shakir Stewart aka the man to fill Jay-Z's shoes

By Dove ~Sheepish Lordess of Chaos~
Last week it was formally announced that Shakir Stewart is the new Executive Vice President of Def Jam. While rumors had swirled for months after Jay-Z’s departure from his Presidential duties, L.A. Reid and the team were already preparing Stewart for his new role in managing the business day to day.

Stewart began his work at Def Jam in 2004 as VP of A&R for the label, and was promoted to Senior VP of A&R in 2006. Shakir’s extensive education and background in music marketing ranges from independent promotions (working with the likes of Too $hort) and marketing to publishing (he signed Beyoncé to her publishing deal at Hitco)

He’s also had his hand in the careers of some of the biggest names in today’s music acts including Ciara, (whom he signed to LaFace during his tenure there), Jeezy and Rick Ross.

Stewart is now poised with enthusiasm and an inspirational attitude to bring about some creative growth at Def Jam. Will he be able to balance the marketing plans for their diverse array of artists? How is he addressing those artists who’ve been unhappy with their situations at the label? How does he really feel about Nas’ latest marketing decisions? We asked, he answered.

Catch the full interview at Allhiphop.com click here.

Courtesy of Allhiphop.com

Nas tips Lil Wayne off the top of the charts

Katie Hasty, N.Y.
One rapper replaces another atop The Billboard 200 this week, as Nas' untitled Def Jam album dethrones Lil Wayne's Cash Money/Universal set "Tha Carter III." Nas' album sold 187,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, becoming the rapper's fifth No. 1 here.

Nas' prior album, 2006's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," also debuted at No. 1 but sold 354,000 over Christmas week. Meanwhile, after three non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, "Tha Carter III" slips to No. 2 with a 15% sales decrease to 105,000.

The Decca soundtrack to "Mamma Mia!," the film adaptation of the hit theatrical musical based on ABBA's songbook, experiences an 89% sales boost after the movie hit theaters Friday (and earned the highest grossing weekend opening ever for a musical); it climbs 7-3 with 91,000. Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Capitol) slips 2-4 with 90,000 (-20%), while the Jonas Brothers-led soundtrack to Disney's "Camp Rock" descends 3-5 with 78,000 (-12%).

Though it slips 5-6 on the chart, Kid Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" (Atlantic) continues to resurge with the help of the Hot AC/Adult Top 40 single "All Summer Long," selling 73,000 with a 20% sales increase.

John Mellencamp's Hear Music debut "Life Death Love and Freedom" bows at No. 7 with 56,000, his fourth top 10 album. It's his 19th charting record overall, stretching back to the Aug. 18, 1979, debut of "John Cougar."

David Banner debuts right behind at No. 8 with his third straight top 10 studio album, "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (SRC/Universal), shifting 52,000. His previous set, 2005's "Certified," peaked at No. 6.

"Beautiful Eyes," a new Wal-mart exclusive EP/DVD from country star Taylor Swift, begins with 45,000 at No. 9. Meanwhile, her Big Machine self-titled debut climbs 14-12 with 35,000 (+20%) in its 59th week on the chart. Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" (SRP/Def Jam) rounds out the top tier, slipping 8-10 with 41,000 (-12%).

O.A.R.'s "All Sides" (Atlantic) earns the group its biggest charting and sales week ever, debuting at No. 13 with 33,000. Country veteran Randy Travis also snares his highest charting album ever on The Billboard 200 as "Around the Bend" (Warner Bros.) debuts at No. 14 with 31,000.

Other debuts this week include Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's soundtrack to new Batman movie "The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) at No. 20 with 25,000 and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's live EP "Magic Tour Highlights" (Columbia) at No. 48 with 12,000.

At 7.48 million units, sales this week are up 2.1% from last week's sum and down 7.85% from the same week last year.


Courtesy of Billboard.com

Rick Ross... I mean OFFICER Rick Ross (lol)

TheSmokingGun.com has confirmed that gangsta rapper Rick Ross did, in fact, work as a prison guard at one time. The site matched the rapper’s Social Security number with that of William Roberts who graduated from the Florida Department of Corrections (DoC) training academy.The 32-year-old rapper was appointed a prison guard in December of 1995 at the tender age of 19. As previously reported, Ross denied the allegations and labeled pictures of him in a correctional officer’s uniform were fraudulent. At press time, Rick Ross was unavailable for a comment on the prison report.

Courtesy of missxposed.com

Diddy needs more cheesecake! Get it bish!

On August 4th, VH1 will premiere its (yet again) new reality series, “I Want To Work For Diddy”. The show reveals 13 contestants competing to land the job of Diddy’s assistant. Each one-hour episode showcases a range of challenges, many based on the real life experiences of Diddy’s previous assistants. In addition to completing these tasks, the applicants must also impress a panel of judges:

Full story can be read here.

Courtesy of missxpose.com

Death Row Records falls to it's knees

Los Angeles - How far the mighty have fallen.

Death Row Records, the legendary West Coast hip-hop label that launched such seminal rappers as Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre to superstardom and made mint at the front of the early '90s gangsta-rap boom, has been auctioned off for a relatively measly $24 million.

New York-based Global Music Group released a statement today confirming it was the top bidder at a June 24 auction and had purchased Death Row, including its hits-laden catalog and any outstanding recording contracts, for a relative song.

Death Row filed for bankruptcy in April 2006 after company kingpin Marion "Suge" Knight was unable to pay a $107 million judgment to former partners (and former couple) Lydia and Michael Harris, the latter a convicted drug dealer. The Harrises successfully sued the label claiming they were owed a lion's share of the profits for providing start-up funds.

After Knight failed to respond to the suit and skipped several court hearings, a default judgment was entered. That forced Knight to file for Chapter 11, posting debts of $137.4 milion and only $4.4 million in assets.

According to his camp, the move also allowed him to retain control of the masters to such classic rap albums as Dre's The Chronic, 2Pac's All Eyez on Me and Snoop's Doggystyle and prevented a judge from appointing a trustee to take over managing the firm and its assets.

Not so, according to the Global Music Group, which was started by former skin-care magnate Susan Berg and also has offices in Tennessee. The company dabbles in country, rock and R&B, as well.

A board member for the music company, who did not wish to be identified, told E! News that GMG had gotten "everything," beating out competitors like Warner Music Group and EverGreen Copyrights, and said Knight no longer has a relationship with the infamous label he cofounded with Dre.

"We've got people out in L.A. masquerading like they own everything when they don't," said the exec. "We're going to be in the process of not only putting out new stuff for the catalog but signing new artists as well."

Upcoming releases could include a new posthumous Shakur compilation, made up of unreleased tracks from the vaults.

The board member said that Global Music Group was still going through what it acquired, including figuring out what artists still have contracts with Death Row.

Knight and his lawyers were not immediately available for comment.

SOURCE: E! ONLINE

Scott Storch... ur a$$ is in trouble!

MSN wrote an article about Scott Storch legal and financial woes and the downfall of his empire ..Check out an excerpt from the article

” Just a few years ago, Scott Storch was one of the top producers in pop music, living in a $10.5 million mansion on an exclusive Miami island, driving a phalanx of luxury cars and dating the likes of Paris Hilton and Lil Kim.

Nowadays, Scott Storch, 34, is missing in action. He owes over $500,000 in real estate taxes and had a warrant out for his arrest when he failed to show up in court in a child-support case last month. He has not had a top 10 hit in three years. He still has his waterfront marble mansion, but his lawyer, Guy Spiegelman, says Storch is attempting to refinance it after a “catastrophic occurrence this year” resulting from “mismanagement.” Storch no longer works with his old manager or publicist. He hasn’t talked to either of his children in months.”

Full story can be finished here.

Courtesy of missxpose.com

Miley Cyrus Q&A (fully clothed and talking sense)

(Except on our blog lol!!!)


Cortney Harding

Let's get it out of the way. That Vanity Fair photo shoot? For a teen idol that's suddenly been turned into glossy rag mag fodder, Miley Cyrus is remarkably sanguine when asked about the bare-shoulder, bedsheet-entwined photo.

"I was embarrassed," she says in her rapid, self-assured clip, "but also it's like, every career thing that I do can't be perfect, and sometimes my decisions are wrong. I think that just makes me even more relatable. I don't think people will look at me any differently because they're like, 'You know what, I'm going to do stupid stuff too, and I'm going to make mistakes, and that's fine.' It still hurts when I think about it—but you know what, it doesn't mean that you can't move on."

So with that in mind, we'll move on. Cyrus certainly has—she's got a new record, "Breakout," out July 22 and is currently filming a "Hannah Montana" movie in Tennessee, followed quickly by a return to the Disney studios to shoot another season of the show that made her a household name. After the season wraps, she'll hit the road for another tour, hoping to mimic, if not best, the remarkable success of her last tour outing.

The hardworking professional spills the beans about her new album, new movie, TV show and the importance of being a good role model.


How is the new album different from your previous efforts?

It's grown-up. I wrote all the songs except two. My last one, "Meet Miley Cyrus," was more just meeting me, finding out who I am, and here it's more getting in depth of what's been going on in my life in the past year.

Not many people are aware that you're a songwriter. Can you talk a little bit about your process?

Songwriting is what I really want to do with my life forever. No matter how long what I'm doing here lasts, I want to be a songwriter for the rest of my life. I love it and it's my escape. I just hope this record showcases that—more than anything—I'm a writer.

I wrote my first song when I was probably 7—it was called "Pink." That shows what kind of song it was about—it's about the color pink. But you know what, darn it, I wrote it and I've been writing since I was my little sister's age.

At this point, though, when I'm writing I like to not listen to music at all because I don't want to ever be like, "Oh, this is cool," and start to sound like anyone else. I try to just kind of focus on my music and just continue to write, just kind of block everything out. I don't watch TV at night; I actually try to make sure my mind is focused.

Full interview can be found here at Billboard.com

Don't fret Janet ya tit is okay with the law

A federal appeals court today (July 21) threw out a $550,000 indecency fine against CBS Corp. for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson's breast-baring "wardrobe malfunction."

The three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Communications Commission "acted arbitrarily and capriciously" in issuing the fine for the fleeting image of nudity.

The 90 million people watching the Super Bowl, many of them children, heard Justin Timberlake sing, "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song," as he reached for Jackson's bustier.

The court found that the FCC deviated from its nearly 30-year practice of fining indecent broadcast programming only when it was so "pervasive as to amount to 'shock treatment' for the audience."

"Like any agency, the FCC may change its policies without judicial second-guessing," the court said. "But it cannot change a well-established course of action without supplying notice of and a reasoned explanation for its policy departure."

Lil Scrappy out on bond after this weekend arrest

Police say Atlanta rapper Lil Scrappy is out of jail in Decatur, Ga., after being arrested following a fight with his sister's boyfriend.

The 24-year-old rapper, whose name is Darryl Richardson, was released on $1,500 bond from the DeKalb County jail yesterday (July 20).

DeKalb County police spokesman Marcus Hodge says Richardson got into an altercation with his sister's boyfriend Friday afternoon after the couple argued. Richardson was stabbed during the fight, but the injuries weren't serious.

Police arrested Richardson and charged him with felony marijuana possession, felony use of a weapon during a crime, misdemeanor obstruction of police officers and misdemeanor battery.

BB King is back at it again! New Album!

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
B.B. King returns to his blues roots with the help of producer T Bone Burnett on "One Kind Favor," due Aug. 26 via Geffen. The legendary artist is backed on the effort by pianist Dr. John, drummer Jim Keltner and bassist Nathan East.

"I saw B.B. at the Central Forest Ballroom in Dallas in '65 or something like that," Burnett tells Billboard. "I remembered exactly how that felt and how that sounded, so I wanted to go back and sort of re-create that very live sound. We all cut it just sitting around in a circle. I tried to be very true to who [King] was when I first heard him and that energy -- in other words, not try to update him in any way."

The track list includes such blues chestnuts as Big Bill Broonzy's "Backwater Blues," Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night," Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and T-Bone Walker's "I Get So Weary."

King, 82, is on tour in North America through Thanksgiving. On Sept. 13, he will be on hand for the opening of B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in his hometown of Indianola, Miss.

Also in September, King will begin hosting a weekly blues radio show with XM Satellite Radio.

Here is the track list for "One Kind Favor":

"See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" (Lemon Jefferson)
"I Get So Weary" (T-Bone Walker)
"Get These Blues Off Me" (Lee Vida Walker)
"How Many More Years" (Chester Burnett)
"Waiting For Your Call" (Oscar Lollie)
"My Love Is Down" (Lonnie Johnson)
"The World Is Gone Wrong" (Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon)
"Blues Before Sunrise" (John Lee Hooker)
"Midnight Blues" (John Willie "Shifty" Henry)
"Backwater Blues" (Big Bill Broonzy)
"Sitting On Top Of The World" (Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon)
"Tomorrow Night" (Lonnie Johnson)

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Black Cotton: Congratz and a double shotgun BLAST on someone!?!?! (Oh my)

Mainly cause I'm not as cool as this lovely bulletin they put up I just copied it cause quite frankly it encompasses everything I want to say... so why redo it!

Black Cotton Webisode 6 7-10-08 (Album Download & Breakin News)

Webisode 6!
In this webisode we announce that we will be releaseing our debut album "Don't Miss Your Flight" for download on our site: The BlackCotton. com & Myspace. com/TheBlackCotton.
We also expose this promoter in San Diego named J Michael/Fam Group because he owes us money and is real FOUL with business. BE WARE.

|More BCTV|

..

Thanks for supporting!

BLACK COTTON...Up!

-TheBlackCotton. com





...............



Shout out to DJ Johnnie French for putting us on VOODOO RADIO.





Click here to LISTEN: http://voodooradio. podomatic. com/entry/2008-07-17T01_48_57-07_00


New WEBISODE from Black Cotton (Album Download & FOUL PROMOTER in SD)

Only God knows why Katy Perry is still number 1 (Seriously...)

I don't get it but she's getting it so buck it.



Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" is further cementing itself as one of the biggest songs of the summer, entering a fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The next closest challengers remain Rihanna's "Take a Bow" and Lil Wayne's "Lollipop," which hold at No. 2 and 3, respectively.

Chris Brown's "Forever" jumps 6-4 and is the top digital gainer after selling 87,000 downloads. Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" is down 4-5, while Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine" climbs 7-6 and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" slides 5-7.

Lil Wayne's "A Milli" rises 11-8, while Miley Cyrus' "7 Things" jumps 10-9, switching places with Plies' "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" featuring Ne-Yo. Jesse McCartney's "Leavin'" is the top airplay gainer and enjoys a 13-11 shift; the track also moves 2-1 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, the artist's first chart-topper there.

The Hot 100's top debut is Toby Keith's "She Never Cried in Front of Me" at No. 72, thanks to early airplay and digital sales of 24,000 copies. The song also jumps 34-26 on Hot Country Songs, where Blake Shelton's "Home" is No. 1 for a second week.

Keyshia Cole's "Heaven Sent" is No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a fifth week. The chart's top new entry comes from T-Pain's "Can't Believe It" featuring Lil Wayne at No. 71.

Billboard's rock charts remain unchanged at the top for an eleventh week, with Weezer's "Pork and Beans" at No. 1 on Modern Rock and Disturbed's "Inside the Fire" leading Mainstream Rock. On the latter tally, Hinder has the top debut at No. 36 with "Use Me."

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Billy Joel has some friends join him at Shea!!

Ray Waddell, N.Y.

Even with a night of crowd-pleasing special guests, at a stadium in its final days with the imposing shadow of a new showplace over his shoulder, Billy Joel and his versatile band ruled the night yesterday (July 16) in the first of two "Last Play at Shea" concerts.

These will be the final live engagements for the home of the New York Mets, which began its musical legacy in 1965 with the Beatles.

If this was indeed a night for an artist and his fans, it was also a toast to New York. Joel had the partying, packed-to-the-nosebleeds crowd in the palm of his hand from the opening national anthem through an expertly paced set, with snippets of "A Hard Days Night" and "Stand By Me" laced throughout.

From the low-flying jets headed into LaGuardia to the ambitious backdrop that shifted artfully from Mets highlights to shots of the New York skyline and other landmarks, the show had a decidedly Big Apple feel. Joel quickly jumped into a rousing "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Down on Broadway), followed quickly by chestnuts like "Angry Young Man," "My Life" "Allentown," "The Entertainer," a sweeping "Billy the Kid" and jazzy "Zanzibar."

But the concert began to live up to its historic status when Tony Bennett joined Joel onstage in the midst of "New York State of Mind" to the joyous response of the crowd of some 60,000. Bennett was the first of a series of star turns, including John Mayer ("This Is the Time"), a guitar-playing Don Henley ("Boys of Summer," in a nod to the owners of the house), and a feisty John Mellencamp ("Pink Houses").

Other highlights included a romp through "Movin' Out," a particularly stirring "Goodnight Saigon," a spiritual turn on "Keeping the Faith," Joel's spectacular vocals on "An Innocent Man" and a thunderous run through "Captain Jack."

Sheepishly acknowledging early that the show wasn't technically the "last" play at Shea given Friday's concert, Joel took a shot at ticket scalpers before calling this stand, surely one of the biggest engagements of the summer, the "last double play" at Shea.

The concerts will be chronicled in a Spitfire Pictures documentary also dubbed "Last Play at Shea," due in theaters early next year. The film will be directed by Greg Whiteley and Jon Small, with Joel producing in tandem with Steve Cohen and Nigel Sinclair.

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Britney on that grind!

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Britney Spears is "spending her summer in the recording studio" to work on her next album, according to a statement from Jive Records and the artist's manager, Larry Rudolph.

Spears is said to be working "with a team of top-notch producers and songwriters" not named in the statement, but JR Rotem, Sean Garrett, Guy Sigsworth, Danja and Bloodshy & Avant have all independently revealed that they're contributing to the as-yet-untitled project.

The new album, for which no release date has been confirmed, will be the follow-up to last year's "Blackout," which has sold 879,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album was largely overshadowed by Spears' tabloid-fodder personal life and her disastrous performance of the single "Gimme More" during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas.

As reported last week, Spears will appear in a video that will be used during a sequence of Madonna's upcoming tour.

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Crosby, Stills & Nash and Rick Rubin in the STUDIO?!?!

July 17, 2008 , 11:45 AM ET
Gary Graff, Detroit
Crosby, Stills & Nash are plotting their first studio album since 1994 -- a covers set for Columbia Records helmed by Rick Rubin.

"Rick Rubin's a brilliant man," Graham Nash tells Billboard.com, "and what he wants is an album with no CSN songs. He wants to do an album of all the songs we love, all the songs we wish we've written. It's brilliant from this point of view because we usually wait five years to record an album. This way there's no pressure."

Nash says he, David Crosby and Stephen Stills have had "many discussions" with Rubin about the project, whittling the proposed list of songs from 60 down to a current 20, which the trio is rehearsing after sound checks during its summer tour. Nash declines to name specific songs but acknowledges most would be considered well-known.

He expects recording to start in early 2009 for a release later in the year. The covers set, which will be CSN's first new release since 1994's "After the Storm," is one of many projects on the trio's plate at the moment. "CSNY: Deja Vu," the documentary of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 2006 Freedom of Speech Tour, opens July 25, with the companion live album due Tuesday. Nash, meanwhile, is overseeing a number of archival projects, including his own boxed set, which will be released in time for his 67th birthday in February.

He's curating a Stills box set as well, and recently discovered an album's worth of material of Stills playing with Jimi Hendrix that will be compiled for another release. Nash is also putting together a live album from CSNY's 1974 stadium tour, a set of Crosby Nash acoustic recordings and a benefit record for the Children's Defense Fund that will feature his and Crosby's collaborations over the years with artists such as Elton John, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Phil Collins, Jackson Browne and others.

Nash -- who will be touring with Crosby this fall -- says the sonic spelunking is invigorating.

"You fall back in love with the reason why you wanted to play with Neil Young in the first place, the reason why you wanted to play with Stephen Stills in the first place, and with Crosby in the first place," Nash explains. "You go, '...I remember all this sh*t. That's what we were trying to concentrate on.' It's very interesting, very enlightening."

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Rocsi Rooooooocs suspended from 106 & Park say it ain't SO!!!

Let me say... lol I can't stand Terrence worth a damn and really can't stand Rocsi but I'm glad he shit on her and she bounced out lol!!!


During BET’s 106& Park last week, Terrence J and Rocsi had an “on air” fall out. During the show, Terrence clowned Rocsi saying she had “bad breath” and even had the nerve to ask her why she didn’t have a body more like singer “Ciara”. Nobody thought it was odd because the two always have innocent “on air” battles with each other, but this time Rocsi got upset and walked off the set (see video below). We hear that BET formally suspended Rocsi for walking off which led to Keri Hilson appearing on the show yesterday taking Rocsi’s place. We also hear that 106&Park is set to making changes due to the decline in tv rating for the popular show.
Do you think Terrence was being harsh? Do you think BET was wrong for suspending Rocsi? Leave your comments!




Courtesy of missxpose.com

Viviva A. Fox... shitting on Pam Anderson lol

Vivica Fox was caught on camera going off on Pamela Anderson for calling Jessica Simpson a “whore” for wearing her infamous “Real People Eat Meat” t-shirt…Vivica wanted to let Pammy know who the “baddest blonde bitch on the planet” was, and it wasn’t the lil cute blondie in her arms. Check out the video here Viv Goes Off.

Courtesy of missxpose.com

Nas's Album Dropped Yesterday

Nas’ album which remained “Untitled” dropped today…He also announced that he will be going on a 21-date North American tour to support his new Untitled album. Commencing on July 22nd, the tour will hit mainly clubs and theaters. On the tour with Nas will be Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica and DJ Green Lantern. The tour will beging in Montreal then it will hit cities like Atlanta, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Houston, Detroit and Chicago, before ending on September 9th in Minneapolis.

Additionally,, Nas along with Jay Electronica and DJ Green Lantern, will also appear on Guerilla Union’s 2008 Rock the Bells tour, which starts July 19 in Tinley Park, Ill. The 10 date hip hop festival will also include A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim and the reunited Pharcyde, among others.

Also in stores today…
davidbanner NASS ALBUM DROPS TODAY...REVEALS TOUR PLANS...
David Banner’s The Greatest Story Ever Told is the fifth studio album by American rapper David Banner released Today, July 15, 2008.

Courtesy of Missxpose.com

July 15, 2008 , 12:15 PM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

AC/DC will embark on a world tour before the end of the year in support of its next studio album, according to authoritative fan site Electric Shock.

The album is likely to be titled "Black Ice" and will be released Oct. 28 in North America via Columbia, but will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores. A Columbia spokesperson was unavailable for comment at deadline.

First single "Runaway Train" will hit radio in late August, the site says. The album was produced by Brendan O'Brien and is AC/DC's first since 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip."

Yesterday, it was announced that the band's "Let There Be Rock" will appear in the video game "Rock Band 2," which hits stores in September.

Courtesy of Billboard.com


Is it me or is something really seriously fucked up when an AC/DC album will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart????

Coldplay is set to kick on the Summer Tour

July 15, 2008 , 10:45 AM ET

Brian Cohen, L.A.

Coldplay opened its North American tour last night (July 14) at the Forum in Los Angeles, treating the sold-out crowd to a career-spanning, 20-song set list. The 90-minute show, complete with floating video globes, confetti and flashing laser beams, went heavy on new material in various different incarnations on multiple stages throughout the venue, including a two-song jaunt up in the top most colonnade of arena seats.

"I can tell it's gonna be a good one," singer Chris Martin told the audience while catching his breath after "Violet Hill" -- the first single from the band's new, chart-topping, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends."

Content to let layers of pre-recorded backing tracks fill out most of the new songs, Martin was free to spend much of the evening hopping, skipping and jumping around the stage like an over-caffeinated gymnast, while his bandmates -- guitarist Johnny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer Will Champion -- tucked into their instruments behind him with satisfactory aplomb.

Barring a few to-be-expected missteps along the way, (missed instrumental cues in "Death and All His Friends," botched parts in "Speed of Sound") the show moved like clockwork, as teams of stagehands hustled to move pianos and makeshift drum kits back and forth onstage between songs.

Clever enough to try and keep the audience from getting too bored at any given time, the group successfully interjected a variety of audio and visual amusements throughout the evening. Peppering new material with at least two songs from each of its previous three albums, Coldplay offered older hits like "Clocks" and "In My Place" early in the set.

Eight songs in, the group decamped to a smaller platform that extended outward from the right side of the main stage into the crowd for "Chinese Sleep Chant" and "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face", both of which featured a leaner guitar-and-bass arrangement, as well as sampled 808 electronic drums.

Back on the main stage, the group wisely ditched the orchestral backing tracks, albeit temporarily, for stripped-down versions of "Trouble" and "Speed of Sound," the latter of which sounded refreshingly under-rehearsed.

Later, the group was led by security onto the floor and up the stairs of the venue to a third platform all the way up in the highest group of the Forum's seats, where, huddled together like sardines, it performed acoustic versions of "Yellow" and "Death Will Never Conquer," which featured Champion on lead vocals.

Los Angeles in certainly no stranger to big-budget, high-production-value extravaganzas, and as Martin befittingly joked, "Where better than to kick off the paid professional entertainment portion of our tour!" Coldplay returns to the Forum again tonight.

Here is Coldplay's set list:

"Life in Technicolor"
"Violet Hill"
"Clocks"
"In My Place"
"Viva La Vida"
"42"
"Yes"
"The Scientist"
"Chinese Sleep Chant"
"God Put a Smile Upon Your Face"
"Square One"
"Speed of Sound"
"Trouble"
"Lost!"
"Strawberry Swing"
"Yellow"
"Death Will Never Conquer"
"Fix You"
"Lovers In Japan"
"Death and All His Friends" / "The Escapist"

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Daz Dillinger's Directing Debut

Quick note from me: I love Alfamega and I hop that folks get with him as his music grows very good new artists.

West Coast M-C Daz Dillinger will make his directorial debut with the independent film Make It Rain. Daz and co-director Patrick J. Black the Second will tell the story of an Atlanta commissioner dedicated to shutting down all of the city’s strip clubs. Grand Hustle rapper Alfamega will star as a local player who seems to be romantically involved with most of the strippers. He tells AllHipHop-dot-com, “My character, ‘Big A,’ messes with all the girls in his club. I end up getting one of the girls pregnant, but because I’m dissing her, her actions lead to me getting robbed… It’s like a [combination of] Friday and Player’s Club.”

Goodie Mob’s Khujo, Kandi Burruss, Big Kuntry, Rasheeda, Boyz N’ Da Hood’s Big Duke, Snoop Dogg and comedian Shawty Shawty will all make cameos in the flick. No word on when Make It Rain will be released.

Daz’s new solo album Only on the Left Side — featuring appearances from Snoop, Obie Trice, Krayzie Bone, Kurupt and Keak da Sneak– is due on August 12th. — Elle Castro

Courtesy of thatshiphop.com

Ryan Leslie's Diamond Girl The Movie!!!

Fresh up on Monday and fresh to u today. It's R-Les making his movie debut in so many ways, "So here it is. I shot this movie to express my many sides as an artist. It's my acting debut, my screenwriting debut, my (co) directorial debut, my scoring debut, my movie producing debut." Enjoy the movie.

LRG Presents... Hello My Name is B.o.B. Mixtape

As featured on MTV the new mixtape from B.o.B.:

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

Download now! Hit that image yaddamean!




Myspace page: www.myspace.com/bobatl

This popped off courtesy of Rap Star Promo, www.rapstarpromo.com

Get ya hottest mixes and talk shows from Voodoo Radio Podcast just click the name.

Flesh N Bone Released from Prison

After serving a near 10 year sentence, “Flesh N Bone”, Stanley Howse was released yesterday from a California State Penitentiary. Howse was originally sentenced for threatening an individual with an AK-47.

Upon Flesh’s release he immediately reunited with the other four members of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Bizzy, Karyzie, Layzie and Wish Bone, and entered the studio as a full group for the first time in a decade.

Bone has reunited to begin creating an upcoming album to be released on Interscope Records, through Swizz Beat’s Full Surface imprint. Bone broke mainstream boundaries with their single, “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” in 1994 on Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records Label.

Courtesy of HHLO.net

1 Year Anniversary for this ATL Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Atlanta Blog Celebrates One Year of Trend-Setting, Information Dissemination and Exclusive Access

(ATLANTA – July 11, 2008)

The Kaos Effect (TKE) has become a leading, online source for trends, news and public opinion nationwide. Based in Atlanta, TKE provides information and commentary on lifestyles and cultures involving art, advertising, marketing, hip-hop, fashion, sports, politics, video games and more. The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) just announced TKE has been selected as one of the official blogging partners for their 20th anniversary year.

Created by marketing expert Señor Kaos in 2007, TKE's coverage expanded through a team of regular contributors as well as occasional guests. Guest contributors include DJ Mars, founder of the World Famous Superfriends DJ crew who is currently on tour with pop sensation Ne-Yo, and Fadia Kader, celebrity stylist and manager.

Within a year, TKE has become the site for exclusive video content, music downloads, latest news, firsthand interviews, new releases and more. With daily updates and RSS feeds available, the blog has developed a broad audience dependent on the content, from stylists to corporations to mass media. TKE has been referenced by such publications as Creative Loafing and URB Magazine. The Kaos Effect effectively captures a very elusive, urban culture.

Señor Kaos and the TKE committee also operate a lifestyle marketing company, Vintage Imperial, which specializes in viral marketing, product seeding/placement, focus groups, web development and event coordination. Vintage Imperial clients include Toyota-Scion, EA Sports, Kool, Heineken and Reebok to name a few. For more information on The Kaos Effect, Señor Kaos, Vintage Imperial or to get connected to the latest in counter culture, visit www.thekaoseffect.com.



- Prepared By Nicole Rateau

Million DJ March Performer: The Dey

Those who have survived the night's unforgiving darkness cherish basking in the light of dawn, in the warm promise of a new day. Every so often, in the world of music, an act emerges like a beacon of light, proudly proclaiming its uniqueness, its disinterest in the norm, and its potential for sparking a sonic revolution. In 2007, just like with The Fugees and the Black Eyed Peas, a new era in urban music will be ushered in thanks to a group fittingly known as The DEY. Composed of Divine, Élan, and Yeyo (DEY), the bilingual Latino trio fuses hip-hop, R&B, pop, and Afro-Latino influences for a unique, singing/rapping fusion-heavy sound that celebrates Latinos' rich cultural heritage while also inviting non-Latinos to share in the festivities. Their innovative Epic Records debut promises to unify English-only, Spanish-only, and bilingual Latinos, and to address the interests and concerns of today's generations of multicultural urbanites.

Exclusive Interview: Prodigy Live from the Belly

By Ei8ht

Prodigy, half of Hip Hop’s most prominent duo, Mobb Deep gives Ei8ht with Hip Hop Lives Online (HHLO) an exclusive interview from behind prison walls. Even though he is locked up P still finds the time to promote his new album, take a shot at Nas and reaffirm his loyalty to G-Unit.

HHLO: What’s good P, first things first, how is your health holding up on the inside?

Prodigy: I’m good, I’m chilling.

HHLO: I know that sickle cell is something that you have been battling for your whole life. I actually bumped into you in Montifiore Hospital in the Bronx right before you went in, I didn’t want to press for an interview because I respected your situation. Now around that time a lot of people were speculating that you were trying to exaggerate your sickness to avoid going to jail, how did that make you feel?

Prodigy: I don’t give a fu*k what people say, know what I’m saying. I know what it is, I was born with sickle cell.

HHLO: Ok, so let’s talk about the new album H.N.I.C. pt2. What was it like making this album knowing that when it dropped you would be behind bars? I can only imagine the cramming and preparation that was involved as far as making videos and setting up the proper promotion avenues.

Prodigy: I mean it’s all good because I like working hard. I work my best under pressure, so knowing that I was about to go in it put me at my best with my lyrics, with concepts to videos, just everything. So it was good, it felt good making the album and I think I put out one of my best pieces of work with this album and DVD.

HHLO: Now you clearly had a message to get out on this album. You touched on a lot of government issues, the Sean Bell case and more. What spurred on the new “Political P”?

Prodigy: I mean it’s nothing new. If you pay attention to Mobb Deep, if you pay attention to Prodigy you would know that in ‘95, ‘96 this is how I was talking, maybe they didn’t understand it back then but it is what it is. If you do your research and do your homework and go back and look you would see on albums like “Hell on Earth”, and on mixtapes and songs like “I Shot Ya” with LL and Keith Murray and Foxy Brown, these are the same things that I was talking about. Illuminati, the Secret Government, this is what I talk about, this is what’s real, these are facts. Everybody should know about it because it’s out there, it’s not like hidden information anymore, it’s all over the Internet and in bookstores, so people just need to know what time it is.

HHLO: Speaking of politics, what are your views on our prospects of having our first black President?

Prodigy: I mean it’s cool. I’m happy that it’s looking like we’re definitely going to have our first black President but that don’t mean that the dude is (going to be) a good President. That doesn’t mean that he is going to do the right thing just because he’s black. So people need to check on him, check his background, check his record, people need to put pressure on him, make sure he’s doing the right thing and look into him find out what he’s all about. I mean that’s how I feel about it. Everybody’s all open that Obama’s going to be President. I mean that’s cool and everything but what is he going to do? What does he represent?

Complete interview can be read here: http://hhlo.net/lead-story/exclusive-interview-prodigy-live-from-the-belly/

Courtesy of http://hhlo.net

New Performance at the Million DJ March, Joell Ortiz

Brooklyn-born rapper Joell Ortiz, who has long been among the most critically acclaimed unsigned talent on the East Coast hip-hop scene, has gone a long way to earning that reputation. A dedicated and accomplished student through his early years, and always a person to whom language came easily, Ortiz was an impressive rapper by his early teens. As Ortiz reached high school, family strife and his urban environment turned his attentions from his studies and rap career to street life and the drug trade. After a short time, however, Ortiz turned his attentions back to the life-giving pursuit of excellence in his music. Thanks to his natural talent and serious work ethics, opportunity soon found Ortiz, and he began to gain some recognition. An appearance in The Source magazine and winning Chairman's Choice from XXL magazine earned Ortiz credibility and buzz that resulted in his appearance on the NBA Live 2005 soundtrack. Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label offered Ortiz a contract that year, a deal which quickly went sour, creating bad blood between Ortiz and one of the industry's most powerful players. Since that time, Ortiz continued to record and write actively, collaborating with artists like KRS-One and Kool G Rap. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, All Music Guide see original post http://music.aol.com/artist/joell-ortiz/biography/496196

The Offspring: Self Esteem LIVE

One of the classic songs from this group before the big big time.

Self Esteem LIVE



The Offspring Bio

The Offspring (sometimes referred to simply as Offspring) is a popular and influential[7] American punk rock band from Garden Grove, California formed in 1984. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Dexter Holland (lead vocals, guitar), Noodles (lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals) and Greg K. (bass, backing vocals). Their current drummer is Pete Parada, formerly of Face to Face and Saves the Day, who has been with the band since 2007.

To date, The Offspring have released eight studio albums, one compilation, four EPs and three DVD's[8], selling over 40 million albums worldwide[9], making them one of the best-selling punk acts of all time.[10] The band is credited, along with fellow California punk bands Green Day and Rancid, with reviving popular interest in punk rock in the United States during the mid-1990s.[11]

Since the release of their 1994 album Smash, which is the best-selling independent label album of all time,[9] The Offspring have achieved commercial success over five albums, with singles such as "Come Out and Play", and "Self Esteem". The band's next three albums, Ixnay on the Hombre, Americana and Conspiracy of One, were also successful, reaching platinum certification and gold status respectively.[12][13] Longtime drummer Ron Welty left The Offspring in early 2003, and was replaced by Atom Willard. Later that year, the band released their next album, Splinter, to moderate sales and fairly warm reviews. In 2005, The Offspring released a greatest hits album and toured in support of the compilation. Their most recent studio album, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, was released on June 16, 2008 in Europe and a day later in the United States[14].

3 x Krazy : Keep It On The Real

If you west coast and older than 25 you know why this is a favorite song of JF!

Keep It On The Real



3 x Krazy Bio


3X Krazy was formed in 1994 and were signed to Str8 Game Records. The groups debut EP Sick-O was released in 1995, and although not a commercial success, the group still managed to attract major record label, Virgin Records who signed the group in 1996. 3X Krazy's only released for Virgin was 1997's Stackin' Chips, which would prove to be the groups most successful released, making it to 136 on the Billboard 200, 28 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and 6 on the Top Heatseekers album charts. The group would later release 1999's Immortalized and 2000's Real Talk 2000 before disbanding. 3X Krazy reunited in 2003 to release their fifth album Flowamatic-9 and the groups sixth album, Roots of Hyphy is due on March 26, 2008. All three members have pursued solo careers, B.A. and Agerman have each released six albums, while Keak Da Sneak has released over 20 albums.

Celly Cell West Coast Classic Cuts

I dedicate this one to my dude Pops who brought to light these old cuts to me. I chuck up W's all the time and this is a great representation of what we used to bump on that bike!!!


It's Going Down Tonight


Hot Sunny Day


Celly Cel Bio

Celly Cel (born Marcellus McCarver) of Vallejo, California is an American rapper and hip hop producer, renowned for his Hardcore 'Gangsta Rap' lyrics. He released his first single on his independent record label Realside Records in 1992 called “Lifestyle of a Mack”. Celly Cel then debuted in 1994 with Heat 4 Yo Azz; after dropping Killa Kali a year later, he did not resurface with G-Filez until 1998. Deep Conversation followed in mid-2000. Celly has collaborated with fellow Bay Area Rappers E-40 & B-Legit on several occasions.[1] He has also collaborated with artists including WC, Mack 10, Keak Da Sneak, Dat Nigga Daz, MC Eiht, Juvenile, UGK, Lil' Flip, Mistah F.A.B., Spice 1, Rappin' 4-Tay, Messy Marv, Kurupt, Silkk The Shocker, Young Bleed, C-Bo, Yukmouth, JT the Bigga Figga, Baby Bash, Bad Azz, Trae, Fat Pat, Crooked I, Devin the Dude, Lil Jon, Fiend, C-Note, Twista, and Too Short.

Rumor Alert! Rumor Alert! Bun in Badu!??!!?

By illseed

DISCLAIMER:


All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.

UH OH—ERYKAH BADU MIGHT BE PREGNANT!

ILLSEED EXCLUSIVE! I love how people use the word "exclusive" so here is my time to use it. Erykah Badu is pregnant, according to sources! Now, I am told this is rock solid, but in the name of "allegedly," let's say it is very possible and highly likely. From what I hear, this is her third child and the father is none other than Jay Electronica, the super hip new dude on the Hip-Hop block. He can rap, he can produce in just one show.

He's also done work on the new Nas album and he's already appeared on magazine covers with his boo. Well, this is Badu's third baby by a rap artist. I have to say, her track record is flawless. Andre 3000, The D.O.C. and now Jay Electronica. Now, this is his first child, from what I heard. Who doesn't love E. Badu? I wish I could have a baby with her, but I am not even worthy of such an honor. Congrats to these two (if this is in fact true).

For more on illseed's column go here

Courtesy of allhiphop.com

First 2pac... then Nas... and now AZ?!?!?

By Chris Richburg

Rapper AZ has teamed with DJ Absolut to release a controversial new mixtape titled N.4.L. (N***az 4 Life.).

In addition to songs such as "Knowledge Freedom," "Runaway Slave," "Conspiracy," "Negro Spiritual," and "Self Savior," the mixtape features images of the past, which include a black and white picture of civil rights protestors being violently hosed by firemen on the cover.

N.4.L. also references historical lynchings and makes analogies to today’s rappers by featuring an illustration of AZ hanging on a noose on the inside jacket.

AZ is quick to point out a difference between his album N.4.L. and that of his rhyming partner Nas’ who’s upcoming album is untitled, but was formely titled N***er.

“I'm not doing N.4.L. to be in Nas' shadow," AZ told AllHipHop.com. “I was inspired by the message behind the movement. I'm just adding to the concept because the message is so powerful. It's about our culture and our people. He and I are cut from the same cloth, so I understood where he would have gone with it if the forces hadn't intervened."

The controversial title ignited discussion among rap fans as well as those at Nas’ label Def Jam, who later persuaded the rapper to change the title of the release, which is scheduled to hit stores on Tuesday (July 15).

"The title N.4.L. has a dual meaning for me. The first suggests that no matter what you achieve in life, as a black man, even if you become President Of The United States, in someone's eyes, you'll always be looked at as a 'n***a for life,'" the rapper said as he revealed how title pinpoints a gap between generations in regard to the use of the n-word. "I'm from the '80s era and our experiences with the 'n' word are different. Growing up, 'n***a' was just our way of communicating and acknowledging each other. You might roll up on someone and say what's up my n***a. Depending on who is saying it, you may not be offended. Although I understood what my mom and grandparents felt about the word, it's not the experience of our generation."

As for whether the mixtape and Nas' untitled album will result in a collaboration between the two lyricists, AZ confessed that both offerings serve a purpose in bringing both artists’ views to the forefront.

"The closest thing to us rhyming together for now is the N.4.L. mixtape," AZ shared. "You'll get him burning the candle from one end, [and me] burning the candle from the other end, [and] at the end of the day we gotta meet up in the middle. What you didn't get from Nas, you can get from AZ."

AZ’s N.4.L. mixtape is slated to be released on Aug. 5.

Courtesy of allhiphop.com

Actor/Comedian John Witherspoon (Oh maaaan) down to release a comedy/rap album!!

Let me just preface this by saying..."WTF MATE?" if u don't know what I mean google it. Go on John with ya foot up a dog's ass all day... I mean don't go in the bathroom for 35 to 45 minutes!!!!


Comedian John Witherspoon is readying the release of a new Hip-Hop/Comedy album titled 63 Cents.



Witherspoon's rapping album will be available on iTunes soon and will be listed under both genres, the accomplished television and film actor told AllHipHop.com in a new interview.

Featuring songs like “Don’t Nobody Go In The Bathroom,” and “Dance Now With Your Big Ole Ass,” Witherspoon takes credit for writing the majority of the lyrics on the new project.

Also contributing to the album is the Detroit-born comedian’s brother Ron, who produced three tracks on 63 Cents and rapper Big K.

Despite previous collaborations in movies and videos with Kid-N-Play, Ice Cube, Jay-Z and others, don’t expect any guest appearances or even a stellar performance, Witherspoon warns.

“It’s just me,” Witherspoon told AllHipHop.com in a recent interview. “It may not be the best rappin’ in the world, but it’s funny as hell. Very entertaining.”

Witherspoon will personally fund at least two videos from the new album, one for “Dance,” and the other for “Don’t Be P***y Whipped.”

Perhaps best known for his turn as cantankerous patriarch Mr. Jones in the Friday trilogy, Witherspoon has appeared in several urban classics, including Boomerang, Hollywood Shuffle, House Party, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, and The Five Heartbeats.
He also has roles in cult classic Hip-Hop films like I Got The Hook Up and Soul Plane.

His even lengthier television credits include appearances on TV shows like 227, Amen, Barnaby Jones, Good Times, What’s Happenin’, and of course his four year run on The Wayans Brothers as John “Pops” Williams.

Most recently, Witherspoon voiced the character of Robert “Grandad” Freeman on Adult Swim’s popular series The Boondocks, based on the highly-acclaimed comic strip of the same name.

“I relate to the younger people because those movies and TV shows kind of stop your aging,” Witherspoon said of his most recent body of work. “I’m still like a young person on those projects.”

Witherspoon’s first hour-long stand up special, You Got To Coordinate, which premiered on Showtime in March, is currently available in DVD and CD format, as well as on iTunes.

To read the full feature click here: http://allhiphop.com/stories/lifestylefilm/archive/2008/07/01/20230766.aspx

Courtesy of allhiphop.com

Guitar Hero: Beatles & Metallica? Not so fast my friend

Antony Bruno, Denver

Although rumors continue to buzz, Metallica and the Beatles aren't headed to the "Guitar Hero" franchise just yet, according to Kai and Charles Huang, the sibling founder of game publisher RedOctane.

Speculation abounds that Metallica will be the next band featured in their own version of "Guitar Hero," much like the just-released recent Aerosmith-centric game.

"We're not ready to comment about Metallica yet, but what I will say is that we'd love to work with all of the top rock bands of all time, whether it's Aerosmith or Metallica or AC/DC or Led Zeppelin," Kai Huang tells Billboard. "If we get an opportunity to work with those bands, we would love to do that."

As for reports that "Guitar Hero" is in discussions with the Beatles to bring their music to the game, Kai Huang would only say, "Unfortunately, those are rumors right now and we don't have any comments yet."

"Well, I don't have to tell you how difficult it is," Charles adds. "Everybody in the world has tried to get the Beatles to put their music on all kinds of different platforms, and it certainly would be exciting, but it's also a difficult challenge."

Next up for the franchise is "Guitar Hero: World Tour," which for the first time adds drums and vocals to the mix in a bid to compete with rival "Rock Band." An added twist for the expected fourth-quarter release: The game's "music studio" feature allows users to compose and record tracks and share them online.

Courtesy of Billboard.com

Guns N Roses tracks leaked...but plugged just as fast!

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Nine purported "mastered, finished" tracks from Guns N' Roses' 14-years-in-the-making album "Chinese Democracy" were leaked online yesterday (June 18) by the Web site Antiquiet.com, prompting a quick cease-and-desist from the band's handlers and the removal of the links.

Six of the songs have already leaked in one unfinished form or another: "Better," "The Blues," the title track, "Madagascar," "IRS" and "There Was a Time." But these versions appear to be much further along on the path toward completion, and feature new touches like organ and tambourine on "IRS" and a beefed-up chorus with multi-tracked vocals on "Madagascar."

The three previously unheard songs are "Rhiad and the Bedouins," "If the World" and a track whose title is unknown.

"Rhiad," which was played live by Guns N' Roses in 2001 and 2002, is a pounding rocker with a trademark down-and-dirty main guitar riff and a flashy solo. "If the World" is a head-spinning blend of flamenco guitar, industrial synth tones, bluesy piano licks and Rose at the top of his vocal register, while the unnamed track is an even more unusual melange of piano-led crooning, orchestral bombast and a serene instrumental outtro.

"Chinese Democracy" was last on Interscope's release schedule in March 2007. In late March of this year, the Axl Rose-led band signed a new management deal with industry heavyweights Irving Azoff and Andy Gould and began what it described as "negotiations" with Interscope to release the album.

But even if its release is drawing near, "Chinese Democracy" will likely go down as the album with the most troubled birth in rock history. Work began on it way back in 1994, and since then, Rose has burned through a reported $13 million in production costs as well as every lone original member of the group.

The endless delays reached comic levels this spring, when soft drink manufacturer Dr Pepper offered to send a free can of the drink to "everyone in America" (excluding ex-GNR members Slash and Buckethead) if "Chinese Democracy" arrives anytime during the calendar year 2008.

Courtesy of billboard.com

Fredro Star tells us about Brandy's Terror Dome!

WOW! This is crazy. Rapper Fredro Star totally XPOSED R&B Singer/Actress Brandy! The Rapper, turned actor, who played on a couple of episodes of Brandy’s hit sitcom, Moesha, recently spoke about his relationship with Brandy with C.O.D. DVD. Check out what he had to say about her:

Interviewer: [Brandy] was your chick at one time right?

Fredro: NEVER

Interviewer: So you were just smashing that?

Fredro: Nah, I never f*cked her. The head was good though. The head was crazy …. I never hit it though.

When I was trying to hit it she was f*cking with Wanye (of Boyz to Men). But Ray J’s my n*gga, Brandy’s my n*gga. It was a good time, man. Moesha was good.

Interviewer: She’s the one who co-signed for you for the role on Moesha.

Fredro: Yeah, she saw me in a movie I made with Rhea Pearlman called Sunset Park. All she would watch every day was - Sunset Park. So she kind of had an obsession over me. But for $25,000 an episode it was cool for me. That was good money.

Courtesy of missxposed.com

Pharrell to lose the ink?!?!

Apparentally Pharrell Williams wants a fresh new start. The N.E.R.D star is planning on spending thousands of dollars on a new treatment to remove his MANY tattoos. Williams says he is sick of his body art and plans to undergo a new method of erasing tattoos which involves scientists growing skin grafts in a lab to be placed on top of the tattooed body part. He says, “It’s going to be pricey, but f**k it, it’s worth it. I got fire on my arms! I’m a grown man! There’s an institute called the Wake Forest Institute in North Carolina for Regenerative Skin Treatment. It’s basically like getting a skin graft, but you’re not taking skin from your ass or your legs. These guys actually grow the skin for you. First you have to give them a sample of your skin, which they then replicate. Once that’s been done, they sew it on - and it’s seamless.”

Williams says he may want to get replacement tattoos in the future. He adds, “When it has healed you can go get whatever tattoo you want.”

Courtesy of missxpose.com

Rock Steady Crew celebrate 31st Anniversary

By Chris Richburg

Legendary collective Rock Steady Crew (RSC) will celebrate 31 years of preserving Hip-Hop culture during its annual anniversary celebration.

The four-day event will kick off with the celebrity benefit basketball challenge and Against The Grain Concrete B-boy/B-girl battle on July 24 at The Cage in New York City.

The day will also feature a popping/locking and B-boy dance workshop presented by RSC members Mr. Wiggles, Fabel, Suga Pop, Crazy Legs, Servin' Ervin, Bonita and Ynot at the Red Bull building.

"For some reason, Hip-Hop has that natural ability to bring people together and bridge the gaps that divide us, because of our common interest,” RSC Founder Crazy Legs told AllHipHop.com in a statement. When people come to the RSC anniversary, it becomes more than the anniversary. It’s a pilgrimage to the Mecca of Hip-Hop. It’s a way to get in touch with why they got in to Hip-Hop, and to meet some of the people that help to pioneer this culture.”

The week will honor legendary DJ Red Alert, who will celebrate 25 years on the radio as special guest DJ during the UK B-Boy Championships US qualifier, which takes place on July 25.

The Spy Awards and 5-on-5 crew battles will highlight the third day of celebration as B-boys and B-girls compete for a grand prize during round-by-round eliminations on July 26.

The day holds an additional meaning for RSC supporters and members, as it marks the official Rock Steady Crew Day in New York City.

The Rock Steady Crew will conclude it’s celebration with a free all-day outdoor concert and food drive on July 27.

The event will be held in conjunction with the third annual Lincoln Park Music Festival. Artists scheduled to perform include the Beatnuts, Buckshot, Craig G and Marley Marl, Sadat X, Soul Sonic Force, Positive K, Grand Master Caz, DJ Premier featuring NYG’z and Blaq Poet, Termanology and DJ Statik Selektah, A-OK, Akrobatik, Skyzoo and others.

A food drive will be held in honor of Wayne 'Frosty Freeze' Frost, who died after a long illness on April 8.

Prior to his death, Frosty Freeze gained mainstream exposure with an appearance with his Rock Steady brethren in the 1983 film Flashdance.

"Frosty Freeze was one of the last B-boys who embodied the very DNA of the original style, character and moves that existed when this dance began in the early '70s," Crazy Legs said.

For more details on the Rock Steady Crew 31st anniversary, visit www.rocksteadycrew.com.


Courtesy of Allhiphop.com