Kanye Reportedly Will Perform At The MTV Video Music Awards

Accounding to US Magazine, Kanye West will actually be performing at this years VMAs next month, which I suppose is a huge deal because of the little issue involving that White girl…well, even though I know we’re all about to get worked for even building anticipation over it, I nonetheless find myself excited to see him perform. Assuming of course he isn’t going to do the whole performance from the top of another fake mountain.

Young Jeezy: ‘It’s Not A Dis’

Shaheem Reid was able to get the response from Jeezy regarding the matter surrounding a couple of his recent songs…and the answer is?

“It’s not a dis,” Jizzle told MTV News via phone from ATL. “First of all, I’m not gonna get nothing out of dissing that guy. That’s one. What am I gonna get out of dissing him? I think sometimes people can read into things too deep. They trippin’, man. They crazy out there. Basically, if homie takes that as a dis, he’s insecure, and anybody else out there who does, they are insecure.

Read the rest after the jump.

“When it comes to that [Black Mafia Family] situation, I’m gonna talk about it a little flyer anyway,” Young added. “I happen to know that situation very well. But basically [‘Death B4 Dishonor’], it’s off a mixtape that’s coming out. My mixtape is coming out on Thursday, it’s called 1,000 Grams. I took all the records I liked and flipped them my way. It’s a gang of records on there like that. It’s like 12 joints, all records that I heard in the club that I like and flipped them my way.

While Jeezy doesn’t mention Ross by name on “Death B4 Dishonor,” one of the lines fueling the speculation questions: “How you Blowin’ Money Fast?/ You don’t know the crew/ Oh, you part of the fam?/ Sh–, I never knew.”

“That’s for real,” Jeezy explained. “That’s for anybody. I got n—as in prison behind that sh–. I feel that if you speaking on sh–, you gotta at least know who you talking about. That’s like n—as speaking on Cash Money: If he ain’t never been a part of Cash Money, [then] I’mma speak it better if I’m a part of Cash Money. To me, [Black Mafia Family] was real. I know all the members. Who else would say a line like that but me? I’m one of the few people who can say that, so I said it. That’s real life, though. You gotta know the crew, baby. I thought that was the purpose of the game: to get on records and talk your sh–, right?

“Subliminals, for what?” the Snowman added. What’s understood ain’t gotta be said. I didn’t think people would take the record like that. I did it like I would have any Shawty Lo record, any Rocko record, whoever. I got on [Ross’ beat] and did it like how I do it, the best way I know how. I don’t know if because the BMF situation is for real for me that everybody is like, ‘Ooh. Oh, sh–.’ Twitter is a muthaf—a, by the way.”

During our talk, Jeezy said that his song “The Real BMF” had already been recorded (and was sitting in his vault) before Ross’ “(B.M.F.)” was released. “The Real BMF” was supposed to have been included on the upcoming TM103, but once he heard that Ross put out a song so similar, he decided it didn’t belong on his LP; it would just be a giveaway to the streets.

Young also described Ross’ “(B.M.F.)” as “dope” and said he was bound to jump on the record one way or another, either officially or through the mixtape circuit, which he ultimately did. On 1,000 Grams, Vol. 1 he also flips Soulja Boy’s “Pretty Boy Swag” into “Dope Boy Swag” and Kanye West’s “Power” into the record & #8212; so aptly titled for the #1 Trap Star & #8212; “Powder.” Records by the Clipse and Young Money also get their instrumentals borrowed for the tape.

“It was one of those things, you get in a zone and wanna get some sh– off,” he said of the DJ Scream-hosted tape. “I wanted to have some fun. Get in the booth, smoke me one or two.”

So there you have it…I supposed it can be regarded as friendly competition at the most…perhaps.

Fantasia Hospitalized

From CNN:
Fantasia Barrino overdosed on “aspirin and a sleep aid” Monday night, but her injuries are not life-threatening, her manager said.
The overdose came the same day she read a court complaint from a woman who alleged that Barrino carried on a year-long affair with her husband, according to manager Brian Dickens.

“Fantasia is heartbroken and is sorry for any pain she may have caused,” Dickens said in a written statement to CNN. “Yesterday, she was totally overwhelmed by the lawsuit and the media attention.”

The former “American Idol” winner was hospitalized overnight but was expected to go home Tuesday, Dickens said.

The police report obtained by CNN said Dickens called 911 to report the overdose at the singer’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Torch Responds To Jeezy On Twitter

Lol. Most awkward beef ever so far…somebody had to respond eventually. You can click to enlarge.
Let me say this…what I do find interesting is how Young Jeezy (after some forced persuasion from DJ Drama) and put his issues to the side with Gucci Mane only to turn around and start a beef with someone else…a little backwards, no? What happened to focusing on getting money? Also, Meech and his mother gave their approval…did we all miss something?

Dr. Dre Will Not Be On Ice Cube’s New Album

From Ice Cube himself:
What up Fam?
I’m almost done with my record, I AM THE WEST. I’ve been mixing songs and dealing with paperwork all week and I’m down to my last 4 songs to mix. It’s bangin’. I think we’ll end up wit about 15 songs when it’s all said and done and I’m real happy wit it.

As a matter of fact, I’m in the Lench Mob Studios writing this blog right now. I’m going to Philly in the morning to promote Lottery Ticket. I get alot of love in Philly…Go Mike Vick!

Many asked about Dr. Dre working on my album. Negative, Dre has been M.I.A. for a few months now. I asked Snoop has he heard from him and he said, no. I can’t wait. I gotta turn my shit in by Aug. 20th to make street date…Sept 28th. I’ll keep you posted if anythang new develops.

Oh, I did Jimmy Kimmel again and Jamie Foxx radio show. Both were fun, but Jamie’s shit was off the chain.

Keep it Gangsta,

Ice Cube

Lil’ Benny Dedication

This seemed worth putting up, though it’d be nice to have a video…from DCist:
On Saturday, Mayor Fenty and chief rival Vincent Gray attended the dedication of Lil’ Benny Way, an alley near U Street NW. The ceremony took place off 11th Street, between T and U Streets. Anthony “Lil’ Benny” Hurley died in May at the age of 46. He was a noted go-go pioneer, and the event honored his contributions to the District. According to an account at the Post, the event was an odd mix of campaign and ceremony. Fenty supporter Ron Moten was indeed present, touting that Fenty had given Hurley “the biggest funeral in D.C.” If we recall, Fenty was booed at Hurley’s funeral. Council chair candidate Kwame Brown and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham were also in attendance.

Jay-Z’s Book Is Finally Coming

Decoded, a book published by Spiegel & Grau that mixes first-person memoir with detailed discussions of his most famous and provocative lyrics, will hit bookstores on November 16th, 2010. Jay-Z collaborated with former The Source editor Dream Hampton on the book, which includes interviews with Jay-Z’s family and friends as well as the rapper, himself. Over its 336 pages, Decoded will trace Jay-Z’s life from his childhood in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects to his years as a teen drug dealer to becoming a hip-hop superstar. The hardcover, illustrated book will also explore Jay-Z’s creative process.

When Rolling Stone spoke to Jay-Z for our June 2010 cover story, he talked about why he was reluctant to release the autobiographical work, even though it was completed several years ago. “It’s too much. For the book, I was interviewed, people close to me were interviewed. So I was learning a lot of things I didn’t know as a child,” Jay-Z told RS. “It’s not anything I haven’t said in the past, in songs. It’s just more detailed. A song is three minutes long. A book doesn’t have to rhyme, and it has no time limit, so you can say exactly how everything went.”

Jay-Z also admitted he was most affected by parts of Decoded that concerned his father, who abandoned the family when Jay-Z was 11. “It was still wrong, at the end of the day, but he did stick around at a time where it wasn’t particularly cool or popular,” Jay-Z said. “He married my mom at a time when guys were just leaving, and you’d never even meet your dad. So it made me ease up a little bit in how I felt about him.”

Since Decoded was completed several years ago, it remains unclear whether the book will feature additional chapters detailing Jay-Z’s last few years, including The Blueprint 3, his 360 deal with Live Nation, being a part owner of the New Jersey Nets and, his most guarded subject, his marriage to Beyoncé.

Teairra Mari – ‘Sincerely Yours’ EP (Artwork & Tracklisting)

Everybody wants to do an EP these days. Trends seem to be set and followed too easily. Explanation and tracklisting after the jump.

“The reason we decided to release an EP is because At That Point… Honey, I am past that point,” she told Rap-Up TV. “Most of the songs were getting leaked and it was just like, we have to go back to the drawing board for the album because I don’t want to put something out that everybody’s already heard. So I decided that I needed to give my fans something because they bang me upside the head like, ‘Hey, when’s the album coming out?’”

1. “Uneasy”
2. “Sponsor” feat. Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy
3. “Emergency”
4. “Body”
5. “Lucky”
6. “Operator”
7. “Stranger” (Bonus)

Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II: The Gold Deluxe Edition (Artwork, Tracklist & Videos)

The special edition of Raekwon’s critically acclaimed OB4CL2 will be dropping on iTunes 8/17. The tracklist is below, and for those that may or may not have seen them, I posted the already-released videos that will also be included in the package after the jump.
Never Matter To You (feat. Bun B)

Rock Stars (feat. GZA & Inspectah Deck)
About Me (feat. Game) (Remix)
New Wu (Remix)
Broken Safety (Remix)
Penitentiary (Travis Barker Remix)

New Wu

House Of Flying Daggers

Surgical Gloves

Canal Street

Have Mercy

Catalina

Bun B Speaks On Receiving 5 Mics In The Source

From Bun B himself:

When I started rapping, the highest honor a real MC could aspire to was the coveted 5 mics from Source Magazine. It was only given to the best of the best in hip hop, the cream of the crop so to speak. Those that received the honor were sometimes but not always contested, but what WAS always contested were those that DIDN’t receive the honor. If you’ve ever argued about your favorite MC on a corner, in a barbershop or on the comment section of a blog, then you know what I’m talking about….
More after the jump…

…For every album labeled a classic, there are dozens of others that people feel deserve the honor. So I realize that people now feel they have to place my album next to others that they feel were more impactful, and argue their case. With social networking being as prevalent as it is in our society, these arguments now take place in a very public arena, which in order to be heard, you often have to be very opinionated and abrasive to stand out. So people, while having no personal hate or malice towards me, will make very loud arguments about The Source’s decision, and the loudest ones will probably get the most attention. Having been in the music industry almost 20 years, I have learned to receive my accolades with honor and respect, and hold my head high when the hate rains down. I love hip hop just as much or even more than the next person, so I understand the passion behind the argument. At the end of the day, we all want this thing we love to be as real and pure as the day we fell in love with it. Having said all this, it is with great honor and admiration that I humbly accept this esteemed declaration from the Source Magazine and it’s staff for my album Trill OG, and for those that feel they need to shit on me to argue for another artist or album, don’t worry. The Trill OG can take it! UGK for life!

Trill OG Gets 5 Mics In The Source

While I am not sure if this even hold any credibility (lost or regained since the ouster of Benzino and Dave Mays), but former Hip-Hop magazine king The Source has apparently given Bun B’s latest the once-coveted 5 Mics. I can’t help but wonder if the award given is due to an honest an thorough review or the usual politics (yes, I admittedly find myself still wondering this even after the reorganization). For the record, I believe this is by far his best album and definitely one of the hottest this year.

News On Wyclef Jean Running For President Of Haiti

I’ve pretty much avoided this topic since it became one following his interview on Fox Business. MTV News is reporting that Wyclef’s Thursday announcement to run for Haiti’s premiere role will be on CNN’s Larry King Live. I commend him if this does actually happen, I do hope he doesn’t get caught up in the negative side of politics (which unfortunately is inevitable, in my opinion). I’ll be tuning in to see.