will.i.am Countersues Pharrell Williams

Spike TV Presents the 2003 GQ Men of the Year Awards - Rehearsals

From TMZ:

Will.i.am has fired back at Pharrell in a lawsuit, claiming Pharrell is a serial thief who steals names for profit — including Will’s.

Pharrell has launched a YouTube channel called I AM OTHER. After Will fired off a cease and desist letter, demanding that Pharrell stop using “I AM,” Pharrell filed a lawsuit, asking a judge to protect his right to use the “I AM” moniker.

Now we’ve obtained new legal docs, in which Will.i.am is countersuing Pharrell, claiming the dude has a long, copycat history. Will.i.am notes … Pharrell co-founded a record label called Star Trak Entertainment — sound familiar?

But wait, there’s more. Will also notes Pharrell is being sued by Marvin Gaye’s family for allegedly ripping off “Got to Give it Up” for his summer smash “Blurred Lines.”

And there’s still more. Will claims Pharrell also tried to register the trademark, Pink Slime — which Will says is similar to Slime, owned by Mattel. That’s a stretch, right?

As for using “I AM,” Will points out it will confuse people because they’re both on the same record label and they have similar musical styles.

As for what Will wants … $$$.

EVENT: Lean On Us House Of Faith’s “Transformation Of Inner & Outer Beauty”

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A great day for young teen mothers to be fabulous! Come out and be pampered at Lean On Us Unity House of Faith’s Transformation of Inner & Outer Beauty with celebrity makeup artists and hairstylists.

The event will take place this coming Monday (September 30th) at the Alfred A. Owens Family Life Center on 605 Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington DC 20002 from 5:30 to 8:30. Participants MUST RSVP by calling (703) 649-4519. Additional information can be found on the above flyer.

ADDITIONAL LINKS: OFFICIAL WEBSITEFACEBOOK

NBA Jam creator coded the game so that the Chicago Bulls would always miss last-second shots against the Detroit Pistons.

Mysteries from my childhood resolved in an ESPN interview with the creator of NBA Jam (via Reddit);

It’s true, but only when the Bulls played the Pistons. If there was a close game and anyone on the Bulls took a last second shot, we wrote special code in the game so that they would average out to be bricks. There was the big competition back in the day between the Pistons and the Bulls, and since I was always a big Pistons fan, that was my opportunity to level the playing field.

More here, on the ESPN Go site

BlackBerry Postpones BBM Launch for iPhone, Android


According to The Verge, BlackBerry is postponing the launch of BlackBerry messenger for Apple’s iOS and Android;

The company has now announced that it is pausing the launch of both the Android and iOS versions of the app (the iOS app was scheduled to come tomorrow, and has already been available in some regions), as it sorts out issues caused by a leaked version of the Android app.

Read more here

In other news, my BlackBerry has been broken dog…

“Erica” – Hot Sugar ft. The GTW [Made Men]

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“Erica” – Hot Sugar ft. The GTW [Made Men]

Yo this video is so dope. lolol …Funny too!….. Starts off weird as I don’t know what!. …But then the songs comes together, and the video starts to explain itself… Bravo! …Because you will watch this video more than once. Great production by Hot Sugar. Great abstract Andre 3000-like vocals by The GTW. And I loved the lyrics.

“Tired… I’m so tired of livin’ with you. / You’re my worst nightmare come true / My eyes droop low because of you…”

podcast_the_gtw_mixI can definitely relate! haha …as a dude. Ooooh MM GEE I can relate. lol …smh. #deadbeatgirlfriend … Had a similar situation… smh #DoBetter …(but honestly, I’m sure the feeling for anybody dealing with a deadbeat partner you’re just sick of.. #ScumBetweenMyToes #Lil’Rascalls)

“Erica” by Hot Sugar (ft. The GTW) off Hot Sugar‘s upcoming [Made Men] EP . Posted below. Enjoy…

by Jenewby

@Jenewby  Tumblr  #TheMusicGuru  Jenewby.com

BONUS: This was the first time I noticed Hot Sugar. (“Erica” is by far his best track).

…Took a while to recall this one. But I did remember this beat being pretty dope and the video being especially creative. Hot Sugar is a dope producer.

Video: “Now Dream” – THC

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Video: “Now Dream” – THC

I have no idea how I let this slip past me…. I’m ashamed!!! …Right on 4/20 too! (when the song came out).

A fan of Overdoz., and a fan of Iman Omari. So I’m an obvious fan of THC‘s production style. But I didn’t know they were releasing solo songs/instrumentals of their own. …This is super dope. Deep basses. Hazy and nostalgic. Dope video too. #4theSmokers. …Reminds me of XXYYXX. Posted “Now Dream” below. Enjoy…

by Jenewby

@Jenewby Tumblr  #TheMusicGuru   Jenewby.com

BONUS: Here’s another dope production by THC for a song they did with Overdoz. and Problem. Loved this song when I first heard it.

Lastly… not completely related, but the video for “Now Dream” made me think of this. This is a hot smokers video that similar. By XXYYXX. #dope with the same vibe forreal

“Centerfold” – Tiny Hearts [Stay] EP

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“Centerfold” – Tiny Hearts [Stay] EP

DTR03AA ArtworkYo this beat is so trippy and I’m lovin’ it. . .. This new [Stay] EP by ny, la, detroit trio Tiny Hearts, is really making me happy over here. It’s like some experimental N.E.R.D. x J*Davey-like ragtime jazz. …Slightly twisted and beautiful at the same time..

…actually, this whole EP is good. …Minus the first song :-/. …Wasn’t really feeling the first song… But the rest of that EP RIDES! ….with a “G”-like smoothness! #blackshades #2cool2lose ….Instrumentally. Soundwise. …All there. “Centerfold” is funky! …and “Snow Cold” is literally cold as ice. Like-WTF? Am I trippin or is this dope? …smh. Anyways, I posted the [Stay] EP below. Starting from track 2. It’s some seriously good stuff. Enjoy…

by Jenewby

@Jenewby  Tumblr  #TheMusicGuru  Jenewby.com

Tiny Hearts

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“Falling” – Yuna [Nocturnal]

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“Falling” – Yuna [Nocturnal]

I’ve liked Yuna‘s music in the past, but this is the first joint of hers I can actually say I loved. Apparently it’s off her upcoming album, [Nocturnal]. Didn’t have any anticipation for it, but now I’m curious. Seems like she picked up the tempo a lil’ bit for “Falling.” I’m wondering if the album will follow suit.

Anyways, posted “Falling” below. Enjoy…

by Jenewby

@Jenewby  Tumblr  #TheMusicGuru   Jenewby.com

BONUS: If you’re new to Yuna, do yourself a favor and check out these. She’s a crazy talented vocalist forreal, and these are my hand picked Yuna favorites. You already know….

…the “Live Your Life” remix with Theophilus London. Which I think might be even better than the original.

@LeekeLeek – My Turn (Prod. by @YungCryptonite)


I know LeekeLeek is the “autotune shawty” but I wish he had rapped the entirety of this new song produced by fellow Chicago beatmaker. Leek goes in over an amazing beat and (for the most part) hits his mark. Was that a little jab at Chief Keef? I noticed that the two of them haven’t collaborated on a track in a while. “My Turn” will be on LeekeLeek’s Greed album, coming soon.

Lord Jamar: ‘Macklemore’s Pushing The Gay Agenda’ (Video)

From Vlad TV:

Brand Nubian rapper Lord Jamar explains the difference in rap and hip hop, and claims that “rap is gay friendly,” not hip hop. He then shares his thoughts on Macklemore’s “Same Love” song, and explains why he doesn’t believe white rappers should be able to share their opinion in hip hop.

He previously made some comments regarding the legendary Mister Cee as well. Thoughts?

DMX: I Have $50 To My Name

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From Wall Street Journal:

In a real-life situation that sounds more like a tired old country song than the latest hip-hop single, rapper DMX has $50 in his pockets and nothing in the bank.

New court filings in the bankruptcy case of Earl Simmons, aka DMX, show the rapper has little to report in the way of assets as well as expenses that exceed his monthly income.

One of the top-selling hip-hop artists ever, DMX now says he’s down to $50 cash on hand. Not only does he report, under penalty of perjury, that he has zero dollars in the bank, but he also denies having any personal property of value—no electronic equipment, no jewelry, no clothes and no cars.

Besides the $50 cash, DMX says the rest of the $1.4 million in assets to his name are tied to pending litigation and other claims.

The rapper’s debts include more than $1 million in unpaid domestic-support obligations that, as Bankruptcy Beat readers will recall, precipitated his Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in July, as well as more than $453,000 owed on a mortgage to a property in Mount Kisco, N.Y. His unsecured creditors are owed another $479,000.

As for his monthly budget, DMX is spending more than he’s earning. Court papers show the rapper’s estimated monthly income is $5,000, but monthly expenses are $5,221 (including $1,000 on clothing and $500 on laundry and dry cleaning).

DMX’s bankruptcy attorney couldn’t immediately be reached Thursday afternoon to comment.

The White Plains, N.Y., bankruptcy court has scheduled an Oct. 8 case conference for DMX’s bankruptcy, but the rest of us can catch him on an upcoming appearance on “Dr. Phil.”

UPDATE: About 30 Hostages Still Inside Kenya Mall After Terrorist Attack

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Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) — Fifty-nine dead. At least 175 injured. About 30 hostages still inside, as well as perhaps a dozen gunmen.

Those are the grim numbers, a day after attackers stormed an upscale Nairobi mall, spraying bullets and holding shoppers captive.

By noon Sunday, as grim-faced Kenyan soldiers warily searched the five-story building — and as Al-Shabaab maintained its defiant stance — the siege was no closer to a resolution.
Kenyan government and Western diplomatic sources said Al-Shabaab militants were holding about 30 hostages inside the shopping center.

Officials believe 10 to 15 gunmen are involved, State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said Sunday.

“We know that they were across the building,” Esipisu told CNN’s Zain Verjee. “We know that they are now isolated somewhere within the building.”

The attack has already left 59 people dead, government minister Joseph Ole Lenku said Sunday. Another 175 were injured.

It was the deadliest terror attack in the nation since al Qaeda blew up the U.S. Embassy in 1998, killing more than 200 people.

The attack Saturday targeted a popular weekend meeting spot. Kenyans and expatriates gather at the luxurious Westgate mall on weekends to drink lattes, catch a movie or browse through the more than 80 stores.

Al-Shabaab, al Qaeda’s proxy in Somalia, claimed responsibility, and said it was not backing down. In a message on its Twitter feed, the group said “all Muslims” were escorted from the mall before the attack.

“When justice is denied, it must be enforced,” it said in a tweet Sunday. “Kenyans were relatively safe in their cities before they invaded us & killed Muslims #Westgate”

As the sun rose Sunday, the standoff between Kenyan forces and the attackers continued.
Soldiers kept vigil outside the mall, guns dangling from their shoulders.

“We want to do everything possible, and the security people are doing everything possible to make sure we lose no more lives,” Esipisu said.

Top Dawg Speaks On ScHoolboy Q’s ‘Oxymoron’ Delay

Top Dawg decided to let the folks know that sample clearances are still holding up the follow up to Q’s Habits & Contradictions (Q also recently tweeted that he had turned his album into Top Dawg in full).

@Lyriciss‎ Ft. Pro’Verb (@ALLPROALLDAY) – Maryland (Video)


PG County residents and local rap veterans Lyriciss and Pro’Verb rep the 301 and their entire home state in this new song and reminisce over a great soul-sample beat. This video was filmed on location in MD as well. Apparently Lyriciss dropped this track after it got a lot of love at a show he did with Logic recently (I’m assuming that’s the same show from the end of the video). You can pre-order Lyriciss “The Balance”, now. it will be available October 29th.