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'