2010 Keepers of the Art Hip Hop Showcase w/ Whodini and Rakim

Directed by Kevin Lockett

BBC Documentray: Jay Z- Jay-Z: He Came. He Saw. He Conquered [Full 51 Min. Episode]

Kurtis Blow Collection

Kurtis Blow - Kurtis Blow (1980)
01 Rappin' Blow (Part 2)02 The Breaks03 Way Out West04 Throughout Your Years05 Hard Times06 All I Want In The World (Is To Find That Girl)07 Taking Care Of BusinessDownload HerePassword: def-momentum.blogspot.com

Kurtis Blow - Deuce (1981)
01 The Deuce02 It's Gettin' Hot03 Getaway04 Starlife05 Take It To The Bridge06 Do The Do07 Rockin'Download HerePassword: def-momentum.blogspot.com


Kurtis Blow - The Best Rapper On The Scene (1983)
01 Party Time02 Big Time Hood03 Got To Dance04 One-Two-Five (Main Street, Harlem, USA)05 Tough06 Juice07 Boogie Blues08 Baby, You've Got To GoDownload HerePassword: def-momentum.blogspot.com


Kurtis Blow - Party Time (1983)
01 Party Time02 Big Time Hood03 Nervous04 Got To Dance05 One-Two-Five (Main Street, Harlem, USA)Download HerePassword: def-momentum.blogspot.com

Kurtis Blow - Ego Trip (1984)
01 8 Million Stories - Featuring - Run-DMC02 AJ Scratch03 Basketball04 Under Fire05 I Can't Take It No More06 Ego Trip07 Fallin' Back In Love AgainDownload HerePassword: def-momentum.blogspot.com

Kurtis Blow - America (1985)
01 America02 America Dub Mix03 Super Sperm04 AJ Meets Davy DMX05 Hello Baby06 If I Ruled The World07 Respect To The King08 AJ Is Cool09 Summertime Groove10 MC Lullaby11 Don't Cha Feel Like Making LoveDownload HerePassword: def-momentum.blogspot.com


Kurtis Blow - Kingdom Blow (1986)
01 Street Rock02 The Bronx03 Unity Party Jam04 Sunshine05 Magilla Gorilla06 I'm Chillin'07 Kingdom Blow08 Reasons For Wanting YouDownload HerePassword: def-momentum.blogspot.com

Kurtis Blow - Back By Popular Demand (1988)
01 Back By Popular Demand02 Only The Strong Survive03 I'm True To This04 Get On Up05 Suckers In The Place06 Love Don't Love Nobody07 Still On The Scene08 Express Yourself09 Blue Iguana10 I'm Feeling GoodDownload Here

ICE CUBE FEAT DAS EFX - CHECK YA SELF

Flasback Flava: Common Sense - Take it Easy

Wu Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck (1993)

Flashback Flava: Ice Cube-True To The Game

The Heavy D & The Boyz

Heavy D & The Boyz - Living Large (1987)
01 Overweight Lovers In The House, The 02 Nike 03 Chunky But Funky - (remix) 04 Dedicated 05 Here We Go 06 On The Dance Floor 07 Moneyearnin' Mount Vernon 08 I'm Gonna Make You Love Me 09 Overweighter 10 I'm Getting Paid 11 Rock The Bass 12 Mr. Big Stuff - (remix) 13 Don't You KnowListen

Heavy D. & The Boyz - Big Tyme (1989)
01. We Got Our Own Thang 02. You Ain't Heard Nuttin' Yet 03. Somebody For Me 04. Mood For Love 05. EZ Duz It, Do It EZ 06. Better Land, A 07. Gyrlz, They Love Me 08. More Bounce 09. Big Tyme 10. Flexin' 11. Here We Go Again, Y'All 12. Let It Flow Listen


Heavy D. & The Boyz - Peaceful Journey (1991)
01. Now That We Found Love 02. Let It Rain 03. I Can Make You Go Oooh 04. Sister Sister 05. Don't Curse 06. Peaceful Journey 07. Lover's Got What U Need 08. Cuz He'z Alwayz Around 09. Is It Good To You 10. Letter To The Future 11. Swinging With Da Hevster 12. Body And Mind 13. Do Me, Do Me 14. Somebody For Me 15. Let The People Sing Listen


Heavy D. & The Boyz - Blue Funk (1992)
01. Truthful 02. Who's the Man 03. Talk Is Cheap 04. Girl 05. It's a New Day 06. Who's in the House 07. Love Sexy 08. Slow Down 09. Silky 10. Here Comes the Heavster11. Blue Funk 12. Yes Y'All 13. A Buncha Niggas Listen

Heavy D. & The Boyz - Nuttin' But Love (1994)
01. Friends & Respect 02. Sex Wit You 03. Got Me Waiting 04. Nuttin' But Love 05. Something Goin' On06. This Is Your Night07. Got Me Waiting [Remix] 08. Take Your Time 09. Spend a Little Time on Top 10. Keep It Goin' 11. Black Coffee 12. Move On 13. Lord's PrayerListen 1) Listen 2

Flashback Flava: nice n smooth - hip hop junkies

Rare Gems: Heavy D & The Boyz - Gyrlz they love me

Classic Flava: KRS One "Sound of Da Police"

Read The Okayplayer.com Interview with KRS-One @ www.iknowtheledge.com/hip-hop/krs-one-okayplayer-interview/

Rare Flava: DEF JEF - Give It Here

Ladies First: Sweet Tee- on the smooth tip

Rare Gems: D.I.T.C. - RARE AND UNRELEASED

D.I.T.C. - RARE AND UNRELEASED

01. D.I.T.C. Live 02. Day One 03. You Know Now (Buckwild Remix) 04. Time To Get This Money 05. Dignified Soldiers (Remix) 06. Bad Rep 07. Best Behaviour 08. D-Flow Dirt 09. Deal With A Feeling 10. Do Your Thing 11. Drama12. Hold It Down13. I Flip Styles 14. Spit 15. That's That Shit

http://www.zshare.net/download/57188605ce5cbc/

Flashback Flava: Talib Kweli and Hi tek - Move Something

Guilty Pleasure: Missy Elliot - Sock It 2 Me

Respect The DJ: Diamond D- OC's Time's Up

Unsung Flava: MC Hammer - Turn This Mutha Out

If you come across someone who said that they didn't like a pre-"You Can't Touch This" MC Hammer, they're lying.

If you are true fan of hip-hop, you either had pair of pants or least tried to dance like him, even if it was only a brief second; and to be brutually Hammer is probably tougher than whole lot of these "I'm keepin' it hood" rappers we go today.

Unsung Flava: 2 Live Crew - Banned in the USA

Flashback Flava: Lighter Shade Of Brown - Hey DJ (Directed By Brett Ratner)

Rare Flava: Dr. Dre-Been There Done That

Jay Electronica on The Last Call with Carson Daly

Old School Flyer Of The Month

Gangstarr (feat. Nice & Smooth) - DWYCK

2010 AKRON HIP HOP SHOWCASE w/ RAKIM & WHODINI

Directed by Kevin Lockett (www.lockettmedia.com)

Flashback Flava: Brand Nubian-All For One

Flashback Video: Whodini-Funky Beat

ICE CUBE - DEAD HOMIEZ

Mobb Deep - Hell On Earth (1996)

THE RUB - HISTORY OF HIP-HOP VOL. 14:

THE RUB - HISTORY OF HIP-HOP VOL. 14: 199201. Gang Starr – 24/7/365 Interlude02. Redman – Time for Some Action03. Brand Nubian – Punks Jump Up04. Brand Nubian – Punks Jump Up (Remix)05. Das EFX – Mic Checka (Remix)06. Gang Starr – DWYCK07. A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario (Remix)08. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Straighten It Out09. Showbiz & A.G. – Hold Ya Head10. Gang Starr – 92 Interlude11. Gang Starr – Conspiracy12. Nas – Halftime13. Chi Ali – Age Ain’t Nothin But A Number14. Pete Rock & CL Smooth feat. Grand Puba – Skinz15. Brand Nubian – Steal Ya ‘Ho16. Gang Starr – Take It Personal17. Showbiz & A.G. – Hard to Kill18. NWA – Nigga'z 4 Life19. Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics – I’m Outta Here20. Gang Starr – I’m The Man21. Redman – Blow Your Mind (Remix)22. EPMD – Crossover23. Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics – I Went For Mine24. N2Deep – Back to the Hotel25. Ray Luv – Get Ya Money On26. House Of Pain – Jump Around (Pete Rock Remix)27. Ultramagnetic MCs – Poppa Large28. Public Enemy – Nighttrain (Pete Rock mix)29. Big Daddy Kane – Nuff Respect Due30. Eric B. & Rakim – Juice (Know The Ledge)31. Eric B. & Rakim – Don’t Sweat The Technique32. Double XX Posse – Not Gonna Be Able To Do It33. Grand Puba – 360° (What Goes Around) (SD50 Remix)34. Naughty By Nature – Uptown Anthem35. Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You)36. MC Serch – Back To The Grill37. Das EFX – Jussumen (Pete Rock Remix)38. Das EFX – They Want EFX39. Apache – Gangster Bitch40. Arrested Development – People Everyday41. Fu Schnickens – Ring the Alarm42. Dr. Dre – Lil Ghetto Boy43. Dr. Dre – Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang44. DJ Pooh – Sex, Money & Murder45. Too $hort – I Want To Be Free (That’s The Truth)46. Too $hort – In The Trunk47. Son of Bazerk – What Could Be Better Bitch48. The Beastie Boys – So What’cha Want49. Pharcyde – Passin Me By50. Grand Puba – Soul Controller51. Kool G Rap – Ill Street Blues52. Dr. Dre – Stranded On Death Row

Download The Rub

Rare Flava: Skinny Boys - Skinny (They Can't Get Enough

Mick Boogie & Talib Kweli - The MCEO Mixtape (2008)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KXZC4NBN

Rare Flava: Dr. Dre Been There Done That

A Tribe Called Quest Feat Leaders Of The New School - Scenario (1991)

Rare Flava: The Jaz & Jay-Z - The originator

Edutainment - KRS-One / Boogie-Down Productions

1990 “Yo! MTV Raps” segment featuring KRS-One and the BDP crew at a “Rappers For Voter’s Registration” rally in Harlem.

Guilty Pleasure Video: Skee Lo-I Wish

Okay, Skee Lo isn't Common, Talib or Mos Def, but "I Wish" was a really good West Coast/non-gangsta song during the Death Row era of the 90's.

Common Freestyle

Common Freestyle from Starrene on Vimeo.

Rare Flava: D-Nice - Glory

Rare Gems: Goodie mob - Cell therapy

New Clasics: Freeway (Ft. Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel) - What We Do

Flashback Video: Sir Mix-A-Lot - Posse On Broadway

Eric B & Rakim - Let The Rythm Hit Em

Mase ft. Black Rob, DMX, The Lox, & Puff - 24 Hours To Live

Rare Flava: D-Nice - Crumbs On The Table

Eric B & Rakim-Follow The Leader

Unsung Flava: BEASTIE BOYS - Sure Shot

Sure Shot



So What'cha Want

DWELE: W.ANTS & W.OMEN. [ALBUM PROMO COMMERCIALS

Part 1



Part 2

Reflection Eternal - So Good (Video)

A NahRight x Restless Films "One Shot" presentation featuring Reflection Eternal's "So Good" from their Revolutions Per Minute album in stores now!

New Kanye West - Power Featuring Dwele

CLICK HERE

Classic Flava: 2pac-Trapped

Pac Div Live @ Michigan State University

Pac Div - Michigan State University (Live) from Pure Optics on Vimeo.

Old School Flyer Of The Month

the.LIFE Files Sits Down With Nas!!

the.LIFE Files Sits Down With Nas!! from the.LIFE Files on Vimeo.

Dres (of Black Sheep) – Doin’ It Wrong (rmx) (Video)

Rah Digga: The Best MCs Don’t Rush Their Rhymes (Audio)

?uestlove (of The Roots) – Billboard Q&A (Video)

Reflection Eternal – Midnight Hour f. Estelle (Video)

LIttle Brother – LA Stereo Interview (Video)

2dopeboyz: "After one of the first performances together in just about a year, Phonte and Big Pooh chop it up with LA Stereo about their respective futures, collaborations, the future of hip hop and more. If you haven’t already, cop that LeftBack now."

Classic Ol' Dirty Bastard Interview On MTV News With John Norris

New Classics: Slum Village w/ Dwele-Tainted

DR DRE & ICE CUBE - NATURAL BORN KILLAZ

Gang Starr's DJ Premier Comments On Guru's Death

(Via MTV.com)

...."It was a sad day for me to get confirmation on the death of a man who I will continue to call my brother, Keith Elam, better known as Guru of the legendary Gang Starr," the statement reads. "From 1988-2004, we experienced so much success together that we were able to expand our businesses independently and give each other what Guru called 'creative space,' before planning to reunite for our seventh LP when the time was right. Tragically, we will never reach that day.

"I've been asked to comment on a letter speaking ill of me which was supposedly written by Guru in his dying days. All I will say about it is that our time together was beautiful, we built a hip-hop legacy together, and no one can re-write history or take away my love for him. One thing I would never do is play around with the truth about his life.

Read More

Guru's Farewell Letter Scrutinized

Right after Guru's death, a letter appeared that has caused a firestorm of controversy because many feel that Guru did not write the letter.

Here's the letter in its entirety, tell us what you think:


I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.

I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.

I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do!

As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.

Gangstarr's Guru Dead @ 43 Years Old

(Via Yahoo)

Hip-Hop Luminary Guru Succumbs To Cancer

Hip-hop icon Keith "Guru" Elam died Monday as a result of cancer-related causes, MTV reports. He was 43 years old.

Guru was hospitalized in March, and while some outlets reported that he suffered a heart attack, it was never confirmed.

Guru's friend and partner Solar released a statement following his passing. "The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip-hop icons of all-time-my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru," Solar wrote, according to MTV. "Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man a true genius."

Read More

What is your favorite Guru song or moment?

E.W.COM's favorite songs by Guru

7 things about rapper Keith “Guru” Elam of Gang Starr

(Via News Provider)

1. He was a member of Gang Starr, together with DJ Premier. In the 90s they helped shape the sound of hip hop’s sound.

2. He was born in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury.

3. In his later years he partnered with Solar and wanted nothing to do with DJ Premier.

4. With Gang Starr, he released some albums considered classic in hip hop, like Step In The Arena (1991) and Daily Operation.

5. His solo records were acclaimed too. The first one, and possibly the best known, was called Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 and was released in 1993.

6. His last album was called Guru 8.0: Lost And Found and was released in 2008.

7. He was 43 years old when he died after losing his battle with cancer. He had previously suffered a cardiac arrest following which he went into a coma. He woke up from the coma, but unfortunately died two months later.

Notorious B I G Performs One More Chance on Shwotime at The Apollo

Ol Dirty Bastard (ODB) Freestyle On Muchmusic Rapcity

Classic Flava: gable Planets - Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)

3rd Annual Hip Hop Showcase: Rakim Allah Comes To Lock 3 Park in Akron, Ohio September 4th

(Akron Beacon Journal)

....If you call yourself a true hip-hop fan and you don't know who Rakim is, you suck.

Sorry to be so blunt, but it's true.

Way back in the stone age known as the 1980s, Rakim and DJ/producer partner Eric B upped the lyrical ante for all emcees with their watershed debut album Paid in Full. It featured classic tunes I Ain't No Joke, My Melody, the title cut, Move the Crowd and of course their biggest hit Chinese Arithmetic (that's a joke).

While many rappers were still using the simple, old-school, Run DMC style, Rakim brought imagery, different flows and a pre-gangsta seriousness to his lyrics that shifted ''the game'' from the basic, last line of the verse is the rhyming word to more complex schemes that featured rhymes within rhymes.

Eric B & Rakim followed up that classic banger with another, Follow the Leader, featuring Microphone Fiend, the Funkadelic-sampling Lyrics of Fury and the kinetic title track.

Eric B & Rakim broke up after Don't Sweat the Technique, which featured the uptempo Know the Ledge, a first person narrative of a street hustler who realizes he's destroying his community and is living on borrowed time.

Rakim has a new album, The Seventh Seal, that was released last fall after nearly a decade of recording, rerecording and generally taking his time. The album is just OK, but worth checking out. Hopefully, Ra will give us a nice mix of old and new.


Go to http://www.keepersoftheart.com/ for more information

Das EFX-Real Hip Hop

Das EFX-Real Hip Hop

A Tribe Called Quest - Jazz(We've Got)/Buggin' Out (1991)

Flashback Video: NWA-Express Yourself

Jay-Z - Reasonable Gangster (2008)

Jay-Z - Reasonable Gangster (2008)TrackList:01. No Hookz02. Dreaming Again03. Roc Boyz Return 04. Brooklyn 3.0 (Ft. The Notorious B.I.G & Lil Wayne)
05. Too Ignorant (Ft. Beenie Seigel)06. Falling 0907. New Magic08. More Success (Ft. Nas)09. Party Feeling10. So Sweet Jay-Z - Reasonable Gangster Listen
HTML Code:

http://music-gate.info/forum/everything.else/6142-jay.z.reasonable.gangster.2008.album.rapidshare.megaupload.sharebee.html

Unreleased J DILLA - SAFETY DANCE 2010

"
Dilla for the digital DJ
​Though we know very little about the man's culinary tastes, it makes a certain kind of sense (the stoner-y kind) that the donut has become a symbol of late, great hip-hop producer J Dilla.

Tasty loops were a widely known specialty of the beatsmith, who lived out his final days in Los Angeles, a city whose landscape is dotted with palm trees, pot dispensaries and pastry purveyors.

Moreover, Dilla's acclaimed final album, released three days before his death, was titled Donuts, and Stones Throw has just announced a unique follow-up to that in the form of Donut Shop, a collectible DJ-friendly vinyl set produced in collaboration with the J Dilla Estate.

Free MP3 and photo of the greatest slipmats ever conceived (really) after the jump.

Donut Shop is due out May 10 and available now for preorder at a whopping $34.99. Thankfully, the sum of the whole is more than just the six songs contained therein: three heretofore unheard gems, three unreleased instrumental versions.

The gatefold release will include two slabs of wax -- one for use on the old turntable, one rigged for the Serato DJ tools software -- and, more importantly, two donut-shaped slipmats. Close inspection seems to suggest that the flavors are "pink sans sprinkles" and "chocolate with pink plus sprinkles."

Listen to and download the newly leaked Dilla track "Safety Dance" below -- which cops more than its title from the 1982 Men Without Hats single -- then feast (your eyes) on the physical details of the release." LA Weekly

Deep: The Music Industry Exposed 'Destroying DMX' [11 Minute Webisode]

Nas - Made You Look

Old School Mega Mix

Video: Jay Electronica On His Style vs. Juvenile’s

Jay Elec speaks to the LA Leakers about his style versus that of someone like Juvenile who came up in the same neighborhood as him.

Fifth Grader Brings Marijuana Laced Cereal To School

(Hip Hop Wired)

A fifth grader was detained by Pittsburgh police after they say she brought Fruity Pebbles “treats” laced with marijuana to school.

The fifth grade girl shared the snacks with her fellow classmates but police say none of the children got sick or high.

Parents of the children who ingested the food were called and the children were sent home.
The girl says she got the marijuana laced snacks from her sister who used her medical marijuana card to buy the treats.

The fifth grader was fully aware that her snack of choice was laced with the drug.
No arrests have been made.

White Professor Fired For Calling Himself The N-Word

(Hip Hop Wired)

A white professor at Towson University lost his job after sparking controversy by referring to himself as a ni**er.

Allen Zaruba was an adjunct professor at the University until late February when while discussing a chapter about identity in his class he referred to himself as a,

“N**er on the corporate plantation.”

Zaruba says he is stunned by the backlash he's received from the statement especially considering the fact that he grew up with a Black stepfather and serves in the prison ministry.

“I am not a racist. I never have been. I've been raised overseas and in other cultures. It just absolutely kills me.”

Since losing his adjunct position Zaruba has reached out to administration to plead his case.

"Ni**er on a “corporate plantation?"

Is that that a slavery reference I detect? SMH...good riddance.

New: Reflection Enternal-In This Word (Talib Kweli &b Hi Tek)

New single off RE’s long-awaited sophomore, Revolutions Per Minute (due April 6th.)

Video: Stussy’s J Dilla Documentary (Part 3) scheduled

Stussy - J Dilla Documentary Prt3 (of 3) from Stussy on Vimeo.

DJ Premier Confirms Guru's Heart Attack & Coma!

(Hip Hop Wired)

According to many different sources, Hip-Hop Wired has acquired information that rapper Guru has fallen into a coma after suffering cardiac arrest.

Details right now remain very slim, but sources have stated that the news was broken by Guru's sister.

Guru, who is a former member of the rap duo Gang Starr, is considered to be one of the pioneers of Hip-Hop/jazz crossovers. As more details are released, Hip-Hop Wired will continue to bring you all the information regarding the situation.

Our prayers go to Keith "Guru" Elam and his family.

*UPDATE*
DJ Premier, the other half of Gang Starr called up Satelite XM radio station "Hip Hop Nation" and confirmed Guru's heart attack.


"Guru IS in a coma and will go under surgery tomorrow afternoon."

Thanks to Hip Hop Wired

Video: Kidz In The Hall Interview w/ VIBE

Naledge and Double-0 speak to VIBE about bloggers/social-networking, A Tribe Called Quest, and their single Jukebox.

Video: Stussy’s J Dilla Documentary (Part 2)

Video: Stussy’s J Dilla Documentary (Part 1)

Jay Electronica Interview w/ Distortion 2 Static

Video: Raekwon Talks ODB & Ghostface w/ FUSE

Meth Ghost Rae - Avenging Eagles (Mixtape)

Click here for the Method Man Ghostface Raekown mixtape. Look out for their Wu-Massacre album on March 30th.

Def Jam's L.A. Reid flies to Belize to finalize Shyne’s Contract

(Via Miss Info)

7news Belize reports that Def Jam Chairman L.A. Reid flew down via private jet to Belize to deliver Shyne’s record contract, confirming last week’s MissInfo scoop. After landing, Reid, the consummate showman, laid it on thick for the media….

LA Reid: “I have come here to stand by Shyne and to officially kick off our partnership with Island Def Jam Music Group and Gangland Records and so it is really an honour to be here, really very special place.”
[Reporter: Why did you find it necessary to come here yourself?]
LA Reid: “I am here because great people are worthy of travelling many many miles for it and I come here to say that your country is great and I hope you guys know that this is a great man from your country who deserves this kind of respect and who deserves this kind of support. So that is why we are here.”
“We don’t talk about things like but only that there is one and that we are intend to do great things and we are very committed to Shyne’s career.”
[Reporter: Should we expect a big comeback from Shyne?]
LA Reid: “I don’t expect it, I can promise it.”



(PS: The report’s claim that his contract is worth between $5-$10 million seems exaggerated, but the rest seems accurate.) (thanks to reader Nello R. for the tip : )

UPDATE: Eskay/Nahright addresses this report and basically makes too much sense. I wish I could say everything I hear. But time will tell it for me. That said, I don’t blame Shyne for getting everything he can.

Shyne’s response after the jump…

After LA’s high praise, Shyne returned the favor in kind:
Shyne: “It is an honour and a pleasure, not just for me but for Belize. Chairman Reid is on the level of Berry Gordy, Clive Davis, the biggest music men in the history of music, and so to have a partnership with Gangland Records and Island/Def Jam is incredible for me.”

Video: Jon John TV @ Lord Finesse’s Birthday Party (feat. Rakim, Mr. Cheeks, Grand Puba, AG & Doitall)

Jay Electronica At Jazz Cafe (London)

Jay Electronica 'My Dreams Are Coming True' (VIDEO)

MTV Shows

Asher Roth Working with RZA, Pharrell, Q-Tip

(MOG)

Asher Roth recently spoke with Vibe and revealed that not only is he readying his Seared Foie Gras with Quince and Cranberry mixtape for release next month in conjunction with the re-launch of his website, but he's also busy in the studio working on the follow up to last year's Asleep in the Bread Aisle.

"We're getting people ready for the sound of this album where we have cats like Q-Tip, we're down here working with Pharrell and the RZAs and the Premos."

KRS-One Finally Explains Difference Between 'MC and Emcee' + More

KRS-One is one of the greatest rappers of all time. With that out of the way the things he says, combined with the crazed look in his eyes as he makes his points, is the stuff of legends. In a recent video, the Blastmaster explained the difference between MCing and Emceeing, or something. "What I'm saying is, that the MC has to know what rhyme to say at what time. You just don't say any rhyme, you have to move the crowd. A Master of Ceremony doesn't necessarily move the crowd, but an MC, the way Rakim described the MC, moves the crowd. But you can't move the crowd unless you have DJ capabilities. These are some of the differences, and some of the more intricate levels...a DJ is an MC, and an MC is a DJ." Seriously, KRS is one more collaboration album away from declaring magic the 6th element of hip hop. [NahRight]

Eric B & Rakim-Paid In Full

Hip-Hop Is Dead: Adam Serwer & Michael Eric on Nas' Illmatic

(The Atlantic Magazine)

This statement is almost always more memoir than fact. Adam Serwer on Michael Eric Dyson's new anthology analyzing Nas' Illmatic:

It's an uncomfortable fact that, deep down, a good percentage of hip-hop scholars really want to be emcees. Born voyages into some cringe-worthy moments when writers try to seamlessly code-switch between contemporary black vernacular and academic-speak, a feat only Dyson has perfected. Most other writers end up looking as contrived as that kid who brought a written rhyme into a cipher and passed it off as freestyle. By "trees," one writer helpfully explains with an ellipsis, she means marijuana. Uh, thanks for the clarification.

The premature declaration of hip-hop's demise in Born's introduction casts a shadow over the entire book. The only problem with this view, which often happens to coincide exactly with the point at which a given rap critic creeps toward middle age, is that it's perennial. (Even Nas himself has pronounced hip-hop dead.) As rapper Common reminds us in the book's foreword, his own nostalgic eulogy for hip-hop's artistic integrity, "I Used to Love H.E.R.," was released the same year Illmatic ushered in hip-hop's East Coast Renaissance. And the hits of 1994 kept on coming. The Notorious B.I.G.'s hectic and haunting album Ready to Die changed rap forever and Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik foreshadowed Outkast's critical and commercial success. The following year, Tupac Shakur struck platinum from prison with Me Against The World. And two years after Illmatic, a little-known emcee named Jay-Z dropped his first album, Reasonable Doubt.

As most of you know I've pretty much aged out of the music. I think that's fine. But those of over 30 need to be careful not to confuse the music dying for us, with the music dying for the world.

That said, lyrically, it really doesn't get much better than Illmatic. When I was a kid, I thought only better (lyrically) things would follow. I think that was a function of me not really understanding why most people were listening to hip-hop. Sure some of us obsessed over the words, but Dre basically had it right--"Ya'll don't wanna hear me, you just wannna dance." That's basically been the case from jump. Great lyrics were a beautiful and important side-effect, but a side-effect nonetheless.

KRS-One, Redman, and MIMS - "How To Be An Emcee 2010"

Keepers of The Art presents Eric Roberson & Krate Digga @ E.J. Thomas Hall's Stage Door 2-13-2010

If there is a face to the independent soul music movement, it is Eric Roberson. The respect he receives from other artists has been driven by his uncompromising success as well as from the unselfishness he has shown in support of other up-and-coming singers and musicians. That peer love appears to only be exceeded by the near fanatical following he has among a surprisingly large fanbase, making him a sort of indie soul royalty.

Read the rest @ http://www.keepersoftheart.com/

New Classics: Redman - I'll bee dat

Lil Kim (feat. Lil Cease & Notorious B.I.G.) - Crush On You

Video: Nas at BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” Panel

(Nah Right)

Here’s some better footage of what Nas was saying at the BMI “How I Wrote That Song” panel at the House of Blues over the Grammy weekend. He speaks about why he wrote “Hate Me Now,” saying putting out Illmatic, he was successful with It Was Written but he felt some hate towards him. He also speaks to HipHopOfficial about the Damian Marley collaboration album as well as his plans to contribute to the Haiti relief efforts. He also explains how he used to not have to answer to anyone when he was writing those albums, but now that he has such a big following he has to watch what he says.

(Video) Shyheim - Bond

The longtime former Wu Tang Clan associate has returned.

Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Festival Line-Up Announced

(Hip Hop DX)

This week, the line-up for the 2010 Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Festival was announced and it looks like rapper Ice Cube will be the festival’s headlining act.

The fifth annual festival will also feature performances from Murs, Raekwon, Tha Dogg Pound, Dilated Peoples, Freeway, Curren$y, and much more.

Hosted by radio personality Angela Yee, DJ Wonder, and others the Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Festival will take place in San Bernadino, California on April 3, 2010.

Presented by Guerilla Union and Murs 3:16, the Paid Dues festival is one of the biggest festivals showcasing independent Hip Hop.

For more information on the festival visit http://guerillaunion.com/

Classic Flava: Big Daddy Kane-Ain't No Half Steppin'

GRAVEDIGGAZ - DIARY OF A MADMAN

Video: Hi-Tek Discusses Fall-Out with Rawkus

Jay Electronica - Exhibit C (Just Blaze)

This has been out for awhile, but this hot like FIRE!!!! Pure Hip Hop at its finest!

Steady B Going Steady

Rapper Apache Dies

(MTV News)

"Friends and collaborators, including Vin from Naughty by Nature, remember the artist, best known for his '90s hit 'Gangsta Bitch.'"

Rapper Apache (real name Anthony Teaks), a staple of Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit crew and best known for one of the most controversial hip-hop records of the 1990s, "Gangsta Bitch," died Friday (January 22). At press time, the cause of the New Jersey MC's death was unknown.

"I got a call from Shakim [Compere] this morning, Queen Latifah's manager," Vin from Naughty by Nature said. "He was really feeling it. He told me, and I spread the word to Kay and Treach and the rest of our camp."

"I'm at a loss for words," Apache's best friend, Trick, said. "I still don't believe it. I'm numb."

Trick says Apache was found Friday in his home by his brother. Those close to him said he'd shown no signs of illness.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630352/20100122/naughty_by_nature.jhtml

Apache - Gangsta Bitch


Apache - Gangsta Bitch
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Video: A Day with EPMD

Early Flava: Mantronix - Bassline

Before The Neptunes, Timbland, Teddy Riley, there was Mantroix

New Classics: Da Art Of Storytellin - Outkast ft. Slick Rick

Inspirational: 13 Year Old Attending Morehouse College

Here's an inspiring tale of a 13 Year old young man attending Morehouse College after being home-schooled by his mother.

Raekwon, Ghostface, Method Man & U-God - Clap 2010

Video: KRS-One Still Says Jay-Z Bit D.O.A.

(Nah Right)



KRS-One & Buckshot (tho mostly KRS in this clip) talk about their song Robot, which debuted months ahead of Jay-Z’s “D.O.A.”. Both records were essentially saying the same thing. He talks about the respect that Jay-Z showed in re-using the theme, and also about naming his “Blueprint” series, years after KRS released his own album titled “Blueprint”.

Also talks on a possible collab on the song and his overall feelings on Jay-Z.

Flashback Flava: Eric B and Rakim - In The Ghetto

Rakim (Feat. Maino) - Walk These Streets

FAN-TAS-TIC Volume 1: Original Samples

FAN-TAS-TIC Volume 1: Original Samples

Featuring samples from Slum Village’s 1997 demo album, Fan-Tas-Tic Vol 1

produced by J. Dilla.

DOWNLOAD

Thanks Kevin Nottingham

Start The New Decade Right! Jay-Z’s Six-Point Best Life Diagnostic

http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/wealth/Jay-Z-Personal-Success.php