Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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In 2003, Jersey City rapper Joe Budden [click to read] was reaping the benefits of his successful debut album, Joe Budden [click to read]. The album reached gold status and Budden even received a Grammy nomination.

But fast forward several years and fans of Budden have yet to see a sophomore album from the rapper. Instead, Budden's sophomore effort remained on the shelves at Def Jam for several years.

Budden finally severed ties with Def Jam in 2007 and is currently signed to independent label Amalgam Digital. As a result of the split with Def Jam, Budden will finally have the opportunity to release his sophomore album, Padded Room.

"This album I attempted to step outside of myself, or at least go back to a time in life where everything was different, mentally and emotionally," Joe Budden told HipHopDX. "I wanted to create a space where there were no boundaries, no limits, no walls aside from the ones I chose to create."

Budden delves into matters of sanity and insanity with Padded Room and instead of tracks like "Pump It Up" fans can expect not so club friendly tracks such as "Blood On The Wall".

"With this album, I wanted the listener to get a better idea of what its like to have no idea. The booth became my safe haven. I wanted to be able to showcase insanity, but at the same time have people cater to it, and the only place where that's possible…Is in the Padded Room," Joe Budden explained.

"Touch And Go" the first single off of Padded Room will debut in September and the Padded Room will be released on October 28 on Amalgam Digital.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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During a memorable guest appearance last Wednesday (August 6) on Kanye West’s Glow in the Dark Tour, Jay-Z confirmed he’s working on Blueprint 3, his final album on Def Jam before launching a new recording deal with Live Nation.



Interviews from Timbaland had many believing the Virginia boardsmith would serve as the album’s executive producer, a rumor Jay-Z put to rest after recently appearing on the Shade 45 Morning Show.



“That was a little premature (on his part),” Jay explained. “It’s business. I gotta make the best product; it doesn’t depend on anyone’s feelings, we’re in there to do a job. We gotta put our feelings aside.”



Still early in the album process, the music mogul went on to reveal he has three songs completed, including the leaked, Run-DMC sampled “Jockin’ Jay-Z,” also known as “Dope Boy Fresh.”



“I have three records, but I don’t want to talk about them yet (since) they may not make the album,” Jay disclosed. “But there’s one joint that’s undeniable. You’ll know it when you hear it.”



Last month, Jay-Z announced a $150 million dollar partnership between his Roc Nation imprint and Live Nation, one of the most lucrative contracts ever given to an artist.



The deal requires Live Nation to help finance Jay’s entertainment projects, with profits being split between the two companies.



Despite the deal not starting until Jay-Z’s final Def Jam album is complete, rumors have begun circulating that there are already problems between Live Nation and its only Hip-Hop artist, a claim Jay dismissed as unfounded.



“That’s silly,” Jay quipped. “The numbers are public. I just went out on two tours and made a ton of money. I mean, c’mon.”



Regarding a release date for his final Def Jam album, Shawn Carter remained uncommitted.



“I don’t even know if it comes out this year,” he confessed. “We’ll see.”



At press time, Jay’s last album American Gangster has sold over 1.4 million worldwide.



Last Friday (August 8), Jay-Z teamed with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg for the Summer Streets Program, a project aimed at revamping local streets into car-free recreation zones.

[Cebby]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

We were Hot Boys, now we’re Hot Men.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

GZA has a new album coming up called Pro Tools - just a heads up.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

Not related to hip hop but still interesting to say the least

By Tess Hennigan
Caribbean Net News Staff Reporter
Email: [email protected]

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: Turks and Caicos First Lady LisaRaye McCoy-Misick returned to the country on Monday, into the midst of a new marital controversy, this time involving her husband, Premier Michael Misick and entertainment personality BET VJ Rosci.

Information from the First Lady’s publicist stated that the Premier was spotted at the Turks and Caicos Music Festival with Rosci while his wife was in New York City (NYC). Unconfirmed reports say Rosci stayed at the Misick home and hosted guests as if she were the lady of the house.

This is not the only controversy surrounding the Premier, nor is it the first incident involving Rosci and controversy.

One of many allegations levelled against Premier Misick is one of alleged sexual assault on a female US citizen visiting the residence of the Premier and his wife.

These allegations the Premier has “strongly and categorically” denied, although reports from other media sources, including Internet sites and Bahamian newspapers, stated that Misick admitted there was sexual contact but claims that it was consensual.

In the meantime, reports and photos of LisaRaye with a mystery man in NYC have surfaced on the Internet. However, according to her publicist, “The reports are false” and “the pictures could have been taken as she was walking by,” adding, “LisaRaye is still married and would not do anything to compromise her situation.”

The First Lady is reportedly scheduled to return to the US on August 11 and, according to her publicist, will have comments for the media at that time.


Source:
Caribbean Net News: First Lady returns to Turks and Caicos and marital controversy

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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At this point in their career there is no reason to expect anything from OutKast…and that’s not a bad thing. Since their debut the duo composed of Andre “3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, has consistently put out good music that the public didn’t see coming.

Did anyone expect the extraterrestrial edge of ATLiens from a pair of MCs that had just released an album about the pimp and player lifestyle? Or what about the uptempo, choir assisted, anti-war song “B.O.B” found on Stankonia? Then there was their biggest selling album to date, the diamond certified Speakerboxxx/The Love Below where the two lyricist produced critically acclaimed records ranging in topics from religion to relationships to fears of commitment – and one of them spent most of his half singing.

By the time fans got word about a Depression era rap musical movie with an accompanying soundtrack it wasn’t a surprise — it was just OutKast. So most of the public has just learned to appreciate the music that the group brings, no matter what it sounds like.

Now after the unofficial release of his first solo album, Speakerboxxx, Big Boi prepares his second offering, Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. Big Boi speaks on the new album, southern Hip-Hop, the plans for OutKast, and his work with the Atlanta Ballet. Ballet…did anyone expect that?


AllHipHop.com: So what’s the meaning behind the name of the album?

Big Boi: Sir Luscious Left Foot is one of the monikers I’ve used for years. Big Boi is still Big Boi at heart but I’ve grown over these fifteen, sixteen years. I’m a grown man. Sir Luscious is the point of my life where I’m at right now. I’ve always put my best foot forward.

AllHipHop.com: Now the album, Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, was originally supposed to be released at the beginning of this year so what happen with the New Year's Eve release?

Big Boi: We’re in a new system right now. We’re in the Jive system and it takes them a little longer for them to get it. This album right here is nothing to play with and we just want to make sure all of our ducks are in a row.

AllHipHop.com: Who is going to handle the production on the album?
Big Boi: I co-produced just about every song on the record with Organized Noize, Mr. DJ, my production company Boom Boom Room productions, Lil Jon, and Scott Storch. We got some newcomers on there too. I’m very satisfied with this album…this is like some of the best work I’ve ever done in my life. I just went all the way with it.

AllHipHop.com: Who is going to be featured on the album?

Big Boi: Of course, Andre 3000 and Raekwon. We did “Royal Flush” together. May J. Blige and I just filmed the video for the new record [“Somethings Gotta Give”] which is a super duper smash for the people. I did a song with George Clinton and Too Short—crazy. Also T.I. is on the album as well as various other Dungeon Family members. You know, everything is just trump tight.

AllHipHop.com: What was it like being back in the studio with Raekwon and Andre 3000 together after releasing “Skew it on the Bar-B” on Aquemini? What’s it like to come full circle and do it again a decade later?

Big Boi: It was lovely man. Actually I was just in Atlanta and I bumped into Raekwon. He lives in Atlanta now. I told him I was working on a record and he came through that night. I played beats off the album and he heard one and was like, “Let’s get on that.” After Rae got on it, we recorded two or three records that night, the next morning I got up and didn’t know which direction I wanted to take on it. I didn’t know how to finish it up so I was just going to marinate on it. Dre came into town, I played him some music, and when he heard the song he just wanted to get on it. I let Dre get on it…Dre bust…and we just made some authentic Hip-Hop. This is authentic Hip-Hop. I hear people talking about the south can’t rhyme and that’s bull****. I just wanted to set that straight.

AllHipHop.com: Now to play devil’s advocate, when critics say people in the south can’t rhyme they go out of their way not to include OutKast and other artist like Scarface on that list. They always say that you can rhyme.

Big Boi: Yeah they do say that but you can’t forget about your Ludacris’s, T.I.’s, and Lil’ Wayne’s. We’re all from the south. It’s just really a silly comment and it sounds like borderline hate to me. I mean, nobody said no s**t about me and Dre can’t rhyme because they know that me and Dre bust heads on that microphone. Straight up.


“We’re already creating music for the OutKast record so by the time I turn my album in I’ll start on that while Dre works on his solo.”


AllHipHop.com: Are there still plans for an OutKast album after you and Andre 3000 release solo albums?

Big Boi: Of course. That’s the plan. I’m done with mine basically and Dre is constructing his. I believe he is still in the beginning stages. We’re already creating music for the OutKast record so by the time I turn my album in I’ll start on that while Dre works on his solo. I’ll be working on the OutKast album and the next Big Boi album as well.

AllHipHop.com: Why did you choose to not package these albums together like Speakerboxxx/The Love Below?

Big Boi: The thing about Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is that they were solo albums and people didn’t see it like that because they were packaged together. I guess now to dispel everything people have been saying we’ll break them up because we don’t always do the same thing. Speakerboxxx was the first, unofficial, Big Boi solo record. With this record it’s going to be the same thing – everything funky, the beats trump tight, all the production is excellent, and I’m happy with it. I’ve been working on it for about nineteen months recording vocals and I’ve actually been getting beats for it for the last four year. I took my time on it.


“We’ve sold 40 million records worldwide and won awards so at this point there is nothing to prove. Everybody knows what we are about so right now it’s just all about making good, good music. So as long as it’s still fun for me and I still got my heart in it I’m gonna keep my foot on these n****s necks.”


AllHipHop.com: As a member of OutKast, out of your whole discography the least selling album is platinum and the most is at diamond status. So at this point do you feel any pressure when creating an album?

Big Boi: Oh no. I do this at my leisure. I don’t have to do this. I do it because I love it and I still have the passion for rhyming. We’ve sold 40 million records worldwide and won awards so at this point there is nothing to prove. Everybody knows what we are about so right now it’s just all about making good, good music. So as long as it’s still fun for me and I still got my heart in it I’m gonna keep my foot on these n****s necks, understand me?

AllHipHop.com: What do you want listeners to take away from this album?
Big Boi: I mean, a little bit of everything. No specific, substantive thing. I’m just talking about life. This is life music about things that affect people from the economy, to going to the club, to relationships. This album is not a conscious album, I mean all of our albums are conscious because we’re aware of what’s going on in the world, but it’s definitely not preachy. The first single is for the people. It’s not going straight for the club or straight for the radio. I’m just trying to give the people some knowledge. It’s time for the record right now with the election coming up. I just want people to get the full idea of what I think about the things going on in the world today.


“People might not get everything I have to say on the first listen. I think that’s one of the special things about music. As an artist in one verse you can talk about so many different things.”


AllHipHop.com: Just to jump off of what you said about consciousness. How have you been able to find balance between the conscious and the mainstream without being classified in either? How have you been able to balance your career being that you can do conscious music but at the same time be on the “I’m So Hood Remix”?

Big Boi: “I’m So Hood Remix” is just because I’m from the hood and I’m always going to be hood. That’s a part of me too. Even in that song I said, “Lay hands on a fellow like the man in blue lights,” and that was pointing out police brutality. All they have to do is listen, but I can’t do no A-B-C, 1-2-3 raps. I’m deeper than that so people might not get everything I have to say on the first listen. I think that’s one of the special things about music. As an artist in one verse you can talk about so many different things. Our albums are timeless and this is another timeless classic right here. Buy this product all day because I guarantee you that it’s fresh when I put it out.

AllHipHop.com: Mentioning music you were recently involved in a project with the Atlanta Ballet?

Big Boi: Oh yeah man. The ballet came to one of the fundraisers for the kids that my nonprofit organization was hosting. They asked what did I think about doing a collaboration with the ballet. At first I thought it sounded kind of funny. I just went to see what it would sound like. We picked out the music and met with the choreographer and director of the ballet to throw some ideas around; it just all came together like Frankenstein. Music and dance are forms of expression so it just all mixed together. It just so happen that the show did six nights to a packed house every night.


“We listened to all types of music growing up from Bob Marley and Nirvana all the way down to Def Leppard and Guns N’ Roses. You can take it from there on back to Too Short and Kate Bush and whoever…that’s one of the advantages that we have because a lot of people out there don’t have an open mind when it comes to music, and that’s why they stay their punk *** where they be at.”


AllHipHop.com: Working with the ballet is kind of the unexpected that people have come to expect from OutKast. Almost like doing a Hip-Hop musical set to take place during the prohibition. Before you do an album do you just do it and hope the fans will follow or do you ever worry what the fans will think?

Big Boi: Nah. It’s always been like that. You keep the fans in mind but you have to do the music that you feel. You have to do the music that you believe in and if we believe in something experimentation is the best way to come up with that new stuff. Are albums have always been experimental projects. That’s how we stay ahead of the curve because we’re not afraid to do certain things. We listened to all types of music growing up from Bob Marley and Nirvana all the way down to Def Leppard and Guns N’ Roses. You can take it from there on back to Too Short and Kate Bush and whoever…There’s no lines when it comes to music. I think that’s one of the advantages that we have because a lot of people out there don’t have an open mind when it comes to music, and that’s why they stay their punk *** where they be at.

AllHipHop.com: Do you ever have people that are close to you that question your moves in music?

Big Boi: Yeah…people always question and you don’t always have an answer for them. People are always going to question what they don’t understand. When you give it to them and it’s jamming at the end of the day they’ll be like, “Oh ok. Now I see.” It just really takes work and it’s a trial & error process. Some things work…some things don’t. I remember when we were doing the song “ATLiens” and we tried to get a tuba player in there to play the bassline. It didn’t work but that’s one of the things that happen when you’re experimenting. That’s just a little footnote for ya’ll.

AllHipHop.com: How long have you been operating the production company you mentioned earlier?

Big Boi: Me and Dre have been making [beats] since ATLiens. Now this is something I’ve been doing now for about five years or better. I started the company 2002 and what we’re doing right now is just making beats for artists. Artists come to us wanting music and we just produce for them because there are a lot of good artists out there…they just don’t know how to pick a beat. They’re dope as hell but they just don’t pick the right beat. When you come to us it’s the crème de la crème.

AllHipHop.com: Are you still putting out music on Purple Ribbon Records?

Big Boi: Most definitely. I have a joint deal with Puffy for my artist Janelle Monae and I see [AllHipHop.com] supporting that. We’re going to put out music from Konkrete. We also have a garage rock group Vonnegutt. It’s all about the music right now. The movies and the films – that side of my life is booming, but I wanted to take the time out and give the fans some good music.

AllHipHop.com: Now that you’re a label owner what is some advice that you would give to up and coming artists?

Big Boi: First piece of advice is…everybody…can’t…rap. It looks easy and you might know how to put together a song but everybody can’t have a rap career. It’s good for some people but some people are doing it just to be on the bandwagon. It all depends on the reason that you’re into it. And if you’re really into it you need to hone in on your craft. It’s like studying. You need to perform and write so that you can get better and better. Just know that it’s not for everybody.


allhiphop.com

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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It takes a thorough and savvy individual to prosper during an economic downturn. Considering the current conditions within the music industry, Jay Jenkins certainly feels no pressure. But Young Jeezy has always made good out of any situation. Still under his original moniker, Lil J, he would make his name early on with his independent releases Thuggin’ Under The Influence and Come Shop Wit’ Me. Selling over fifty thousand copies on the street combined, the rep grew bigger and so did the label offers.

Monopolizing on his buzz, Jeezy would sign into Bad Boy group Boyz N Da Hood and his respective solo deal. Now with a classic debut and a respectable follow up in the bank, he is considered one of the Rap game’s brightest stars. As he walks into the conference room of his recording home Def Jam Records, the work never leaves his mind as he greets everyone in the room and makes sure bring up his upcoming album The Recession.

Attempting to further connect with his listeners, the subject matter on the upcoming disc will relate to the everyday struggles of the streets during the current economic slump. Jeezy does exactly that as he details his come up, stresses the importance of maintaining and why quitting school was possibly his worst decision.


AllHipHop.com: How have you been?

Jeezy: I’ve been grinding. I just wrapped up the Janky Promoters with Mike Epps; Ice Cube movie and s**t. Working on you know just my s**t, just getting everything together, getting the 8732, getting ready for re-launch to that; basically just grinding. Out here grinding like the boy Khaled say.


“I didn’t want to do album that was just based on selling units. I wanted to do something that muthaf***ers going to remember for that time and that era. I think back on the s**t I grew up on, 8Ball & MJG, you know Hot Boys, s**t like that, it takes me back to that era. I just wanted to get people through the hard times but give them something they can really relate to instead of just some sky balling ***, I’m on top of world type s**t.”


AllHipHop.com: Why the title The Recession for your new album?

Young Jeezy: Just coming up I’ve been through a lot trials and trills myself, and I always learned how to deal with them s**ts by just staying focused and maintaining and staying down. I think a lot of people think that you know in life you’re supposed to have a lot at one time; when you need money to survive. So it’s a course of maintaining; it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You got your bare necessities then you got the s**t you just want or the s**t you think you need. So during a drought or a recession or what have you, if you continue to try live as everything is all good then your end result you’ll be f***ed up.

So The Recession to me was letting people know that’s it’s really f***ed up out here. Even though it might seem good tomorrow or six months from now, you can be on your ***. So with that being said and just seeing a lot people in my own communities going through a lot of changes, I just wanted to more so relate to the people. Because music as you know even during a time of war or whatever, people relate through s**t with music. But at the same time it’s like the recession is real, it’s like everybody is going to remember this s**t; ten fifteen twenty years down the line like the Great Depression.

People remember, so I didn’t want to do album that was just based on selling units or just making record sales. I wanted to do something that muthaf***ers going to remember for that time and that era. I think back on the s**t I grew up on, 8Ball & MJG, you know Hot Boys, s**t like that, it takes me back to that era. So with that being said I just wanted to get people through the hard times but give them something they can really relate to instead of just some sky balling ***, I’m on top of world type s**t, more so like get me by my day when I’m stressed the f**k out I know what to pop in, I know what number to go to and I’m good. I do that s**t for the streets, people relate to me because they know I know how to deal with the topics they going through.

AllHipHop.com: Sonically Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 is considered a classic while The Inspiration went hard, it didn’t hold up as well as the first album.

Young Jeezy: And I’ma to be real with you, I feel like that too because the second album to me didn’t relate to as many people. The first one did because it was raw like f**k that this is me; this is how I’m going to be. The second one was more so I want to reach more people, but how do I do it? That’s why I called it The Inspiration because I got inspired by the things that was going on around me to do bigger music. But then that’s when the reality check comes in; it’s like okay. It’s a bigger album but is it a better album?

Is it going to touch the hearts of men? Is n***s going to live or die by this s**t. And my answer would be the first one was more so like that and that’s why The Recession is going to be more so like that because I’m relating to the times and not just what I’m going through. When a motherf***er listen to your music, they listen to what’s going on with you and they kind of put themselves in that picture. So when I was doing The Inspiration I was more so going through trials and trills, just getting used to living a different way and just doing things different, f***ing with my career and just different things like that. And everybody else wasn’t going through that at the time and that’s what you had.

AllHipHop.com: So how does The Recession separate itself from the first two albums? It seems like you want to put more of a stamp socially with this effort.

Young Jeezy: Yeah I think it’s the same thing. As long as you got anthems on there and s**t that people want to hear, versus just some s**t you hear on the radio or some s**t you just hear in the club. Like you know you hear club music all the time, but when n****s go in the car they and listen to the s**t they want to listen to. And I think that what this album is, it’s more so like just solid. It’s straight me, it’s straight Jeezy, ain’t no sugarcoating, ain’t nobody in my ear, ain’t none of that. It’s just straight me, I’m going to the studio and this is what I came out with. This for ya’ll, look what I made for ya’ll.

AllHipHop.com: Tell us who’s on it production wise.

Young Jeezy: It’s a drought bro. I didn’t play the name game; I tried to help the n****s out around the way and you know upcoming n****s that were really trying to get on. The n****s that don’t really got it now; it’s a recession. I just helped the n****s that who was hungry; like me. Like Midnight Black, Shawty Redd, Drumma Boy, Toomp. I didn’t really play the name game, I just f***ed with n****s who wanted it; f***ing DJ Nasty. All these is just n****s who probably ain’t got a lot of placements and s**t. But them n****s was hungry and so it’s more so to feed the team type s**t, like making n****s eat and that’s the s**t I was on.

AllHipHop.com: You say you’re not playing the name game but you got Kanye West on the first single “Put On”.

Young Jeezy: It wasn’t even about the name game with ‘Ye; I just wanted to see what “Put On” mean to him because I knew what it was to me.

AllHipHop.com: What did it mean to you?

Young Jeezy: I mean putting on to me is - like right now its f***ed up. Instead of me trying to walk around with my head down or feeling a certain way because you know the game ain’t the same and the stakes are high but the sales are down. Like I throw on a white t and still put on. No matter what’s going on with me I’m going to continue to be Jeezy and do what the f*** I do.

And I just think everybody else should do the same, that’s how I felt about it. So I just wanted to see what putting on was for ‘Ye. When you heard his verse he gave you what putting on was for him and it was a whole different thing. I just did that song by myself; it would have been in one lane. Now the world can accept it. That’s a terminology that came from Atlanta. Like putting on is what we do; like damn you see a n***a it’s like that n***a put it on. He got the new Jordans, he got the new whatever whatever whatever; that’s putting on. But even when a n***a can’t afford no Jordans, he’ll go get his chucks and he still putting on feel me?

AllHipHop.com: What was the feeling in the studio when you were putting down these tracks?

Young Jeezy: I took it very seriously. I went in; I really concentrated on the songs. I turned down a lot of shows, a lot of other opportunities because I really wanted this s**t to be a real album. I didn’t want it to be a bunch of songs on the CD. I was real focused; that’s what we call it. I was focused for real; like some day in, day out, I lived with it. The s**t I was going through I went to the studio and put it right down.

AllHipHop.com: You want this album to appeal to everybody do you think it’s going to be received by everybody?

Young Jeezy: I think it will be received by the people that understand. Of course if you got it like that, this recession ain’t probably hit you at all. You in a different tax bracket or some s**t. But when you talking to a n***a when his brown paper bag getting halfway empty, he going to listen, because he want to fill that motherf***er back up or at least to keep it where it’s at.


“If you heard some s**t I said and you might not think I’m not as lyrical as the next n***a but if you go in the hood I’m God. You can’t tell a n***a no different. He going to walk up to me and tell me some s**t I said that I didn’t even know I said.”


AllHipHop.com: At the end of the day you want to sell records, so how do you reach out to those who can’t relate to that?

Young Jeezy: At the end of the day, one thousand, one million I ain’t never trip, I always wanted to be heard; that’s why I always went so hard. You got to understand that’s a lot of motherf***ers in this game that just got sheer talent. I got a big heart and a lot of grind. I’m not selling albums; I’m selling a way of life. Some n****s sell hit records but I sell real n***a music to real n****s and people who do appreciate, they understand.

If you heard some s**t I said and you might not think I’m not as lyrical as the next n***a but if you go in the hood I’m God. You can’t tell a n***a no different. He going to walk up to me and tell me some s**t I said that I didn’t even know I said. So it’s just different. It’s a lot of motherf***ers you seeing on TV everyday that look good but it ain’t solid. Any given time a n***a will be like f**k him.

At the end of the day if n****s listen to my s**t ten years from now they going to be like “Ok “Trap Or Die”, that’s that trap or die n***a”. That s**t really meant that at the time, n***a was really trapping or dying, that wasn’t a hit record; it was a way of life though.

AllHipHop.com: With the kind influence you have over your community, how do you try to encourage your fans?

Young Jeezy: I’ve always looked at myself as a motivational speaker as crazy it sound. Even my big homies used to call me about advice, I’m just a responsible *** n***a. Like if a n***a on my watch, ain’t nothing is going to happen to him; if we go out together we coming home a hundred percent. If anything happens, it’s going to happen to me first; because it’s always been like that. So I try to relay that in my music, I try to keep motherf***ers in tune to what’s going. Even though you see a lot of things on TV or hear a lot of things on radio, we still deal with real issues.

If you walk outside here right now and go to f***ing Flatbush, there some n****s out there who trying to get their life together and don’t understand how or don’t really have nobody around them to talk to make that step. So when n***a step to me, “How do I get on?" or "How do I do this?” That means a n***a watch my moves or something to make it somewhere, and it was influential enough to even ask me, “How did you do that?” Because that means he idolizing that s**t, “Like dam n***a, I remember seeing you walk around this motherf***er, how you get to where you at?” And I just try to put that in music.

It’s like being in the hood and your older uncle or big cousin or something, he come up, you want to know, how he came up? If you getting out of high school and this n***a driving around in Benzes, you’re like “How the f*** he do that? You ain’t got no job.” But the n***a had a brain though. You got to put that in the music.

It’s like the same thing...I got an eighth grade education but I can sit down with a n***a that run a Fortune 500 company and talk to this n***a about how to get money because I understand. When you have an understanding, understanding is the best thing in the world, you got to spread that understanding. You got to let a n***a know it’s cool to be articulate; it’s cool to be smart if you got common sense. But if you don’t hear that in the music… a lot of music you hear, you used to hear n****s say s**t back in the day, and you used to be like, “Why the f*** he say that?” but then as you get older, you’ll understand this n***a was on his s**t—I just didn’t know. And that’s how I want my s**t to be.

AllHipHop.com: What kind of personal matters did you touch on this album?

Young Jeezy: A lot of times I found myself reminiscing about a lot of s**t I went through coming up and I had to do to get where I’m at. A lot of times I remember being at my grandmother’s house and s**t and all that when I left my mom’s crib. I used to be out all day and night and I used to sleep during the day and she stayed right across the basketball court in the hood, in the projects. So I would sleep and dream about doing s**t like parking a yellow Ferrari in front of my grandmother’s house and just showing her how good I’ve done. I used to hear the basketball [dribble] all the time, every time I would sleep just hearing n****s talking.

But I used listen to them n****s and they weren’t talking about s**t. You ever sleep and you hear n****s talking? The things n****s was talked about; I was like my dreams were bigger than that. And I could do better than that and I took all that s**t and made it something. My grandmother is passed, but I remembered that and I remember all the trials and trills I went through; so what kind of n***a would I be to get on and know that was my motivation and inspiration and then forget it and drop it just because I want to sell records. That’s who I am. That’s my life. That’s why I’m here today.

All the s**t I went through was real pain and real struggle. Even if a n***a listen to my lyrics and he like, “Oh that n***a [isn’t real],” he’ll never understand it because he never been nowhere near what I just came from. And he’ll never go and even if you dropped him off there he wouldn’t know how to survive; he’d be f***ed up. The only way he’ll know how to survive is the guide; the blueprint (laughs). Take him through Thug Motivation 101, listen to it five times and drop him off in the hood. [Now] he’s a hustler.

AllHipHop.com: Detail how your transition from the streets to now.

Young Jeezy: It was day in and day out, just not knowing man, for real. Like even when I see n****s and hearing n****s talking about it, I just shake my head. This is not my fad to me. I hear n****s get into the game and just they say anything. To me it’s almost a sign of disrespect because I respect the game so much. Like I could be so much bigger if I just say f*** that. Keeping it real becomes keeping it dumb sometimes.

But to answer your question, it was hard then and it’s harder now. You should hear what motherf***ers say like “he always talking about that and he always talking about this.” Like n***a, what else do I know? What else could I tell you that you would listen to? I don’t know how to fix cars, or build houses. I don’t know that s**t. I’m quite sure if a n***a that was his area of expertise, he could tell you that. I’m a hustler; I came from nothing to this. And I’m not going to stop; this is not my stop, so I’m going to keep going. I'ma take the people that f**k with me, with me.

But to answer your question it’s hard. I think about the smallest s**t I been through, I think about all the times that I might have not been here. I think about all the n****s that just are seeing thirty, forty years in prison. I think about all the n****s that was hanging with me one day and they dead the next.

I got to fly to Baltimore this week; a n***a killed my little homey Mike. Twenty years old, all he wanted to do was rap. He was in the street. I’m in the studio, we kicking it and we talking. I go to LA to finish the movie, I’m on the set a n***a call me like they just killed Mike. I’m already knowing what it’s about, it’s the effects of the recession. People f***ed up. But you got to think I made it out of there and he didn’t. But a n***a look at my music as his entertainmentl this is what I deal with and I’m still not out of it. I’m still dealing with real n***a issues everyday. And a n***a looking at me like a rapper, and I’m like do you see what the f*** I’m going through?


“When I made my decision that was like the worst decision I ever made, but it was the best decision I ever made. It was the worst decision because everyone looked down upon me like “ah told you, you f***ed up”. You got to look at what my options were. When you quit school you kind of know what you dealing with; death or jail.”


AllHipHop.com: You mentioned earlier you have an eighth grade education, tell us about that.

Young Jeezy: But I’m smarter than a motherf***er, don’t get it f***ed up (laughs). Even in school just coming up, true story, I had to take care of my mom, my sister, and my grandmother, and a lot of my people, I’ve always been a provider. And it’s like I just learned sometimes you got to be focused, like you can’t have it all. I sent my sister through school, she’s a registered nurse, and got her life straight but she was always an “A” student even with the s**t we was going through.

Even when I went to school I was focused and I did my work, I understood everything. I helped my homeboy in jail get his G.E.D. when we was locked up. I can teach another person something. I just got to find ways to make it relate. What I did was, I knew I couldn’t focus. I would had loved to go to college, I used to ride by [the] A.U. center like everyday like, “Damn, if I could just go to this motherf***er.” But I couldn’t because I had to make do.

It was just hard waking up trying to make sure we straight and go to school, staying out late night, sleeping in cars and s**t. On the grind, just up with n****s all night and getting up and trying to focus and go to school. I remember listening to Da Brat every morning out of a little bitty radio, with a Brat tape she had this song called “I’m Going To Give It You”. I used to play that s**t every morning, that used to be my motivation. I used to jump up and throw that motherf***er in.

I used to be so tired; I’m a kid though still trying to go to school still trying to make sure people straight and my options just ran out on me. Either we going to survive or you know and we not have nothing or you can go to school and we going to be f***ed up. And I just had to make a decision; just like f*** I’m going to continue to do what I do. Still stay on my s**t; but I can’t go to school.

When I made my decision that was like the worst decision I ever made, but it was the best decision I ever made. It was the worst decision because everybody looked down upon me like, “Ah told you, you f***ed up”. You got to look at what my options were. When you quit school you kind of know what you dealing with; death or jail. When you know that, if you know that, that’s what you go to know. That’s your options. So you making this choice for everyone else, and you go to be the only that’s got to pay for it. Like I said, that s**t was just difficult, in eighth grade I was like f*** it.

AllHipHop.com: It’s good to hear you’re an advocate for education. What would you tell a young boy that comes up to you that says I want to be just like you Jeezy and drop out, I want to be a rapper.

Young Jeezy: I would tell the n***a to follow his heart. I wouldn’t lie to him, school ain’t the way for everybody. Some people never went and are the biggest businessmen you’ll ever see. But once you can go get it, go get it. That s**t just get you in the game. It takes so much more common sense to deal with this s**t. They can’t teach you life skills, and people skills, like nobody really wins, you just got to play it the best.

That’s a major piece. If you can get it I say get it. It’s good to have. Because a n***a can’t take that from you, they can take those chains and all that ****, take your car. I look at it like I got all this s**t and I’m going to wake up tomorrow they going to knock on the door and it’s going to be all gone.

But they can’t take this from you. They can’t take those motherf***ing plaques. They can’t take the fact that I got a voice and I could talk to n****s.

AllHipHop.com: With such a history deep rooted in the streets, do you feel your associates try to pull you back in?

Young Jeezy: It’s not even the circle I keep. Imagine this, a n***a told me the other day...I was just out and about and you know I still go do the strip clubs and everything, and I still go do my thing. But imagine this being the n***a in the club and you looking at n****s like JD and all these other n****s that’s on and you just a n***a in the club with a chain on and you got your whip outside but you a nobody; and you on the other side and you just watch these n****s like, “Damn, they them n****s.” But then you see how they interact with people, like motherf***ers f*** with him, they speak to him, but they speak to him as who they are. But imagine being the n***a that was on the other side that made it to the other side but you really know everybody.

So no matter what happen or no matter what move I make when I go out, I really know n****s. Like I know all the n****s in the street; all the thorough n****s. I know n****s from Maine to Spain; like literally. So n****s treat me with a certain type of respect, and I have to do the same. So even when I’m on my business s**t, I still got to acknowledge n****s because these are the people I knew before. And it’s like you know motherf***ers, you got to keep your word, like you got be real to what you saying because at any given time if you change up and act different, they going to notice and the word of mouth is bigger than anything. It’s like this n***a tripping, he don’t even know us no more.

AllHipHop.com: Behind all the cars and jewelry and fame, who is Jay Jenkins?

Young Jeezy: I’m a real n***a. I’m a realist and I’m fair. If you ask anybody about me, I’m one of them motherf***ers that I’m fair. I’m always trying to help the next n***a; giving the next n***a game. When I came up the old n****s wouldn’t give me game that’s why I had to learn more to walk.

That’s just who I am, I’m a grinder, I go hard. Sometimes I go so hard, I forget about myself. I might get in the zone and just spazz the f*** out and just go in and wake up a year later and I don’t even know because I just been grinding hard. I’m going to make sure my peoples straight. I got tunnel vision; got my eyes on the prize. I’m not coming up for air until I’m where I’m supposed to be. Everything I do is like a chess game. I don’t bring my dice to the chess game, I come to play. I’m going to sit back and strategize and s**t, like yeah watch my next move. You like that, watch this. That’s what I do everyday with everything, with my meal, with my food, with everything. I play.

allhiphop.com

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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Even though The Cool was released last December, Lupe Fiasco remains on the grind. In addition to performing at Lollapalooza in Chicago this past weekend, Lupe is also still pushing his album. This week Lupe was in New York for the Glow in the Dark tour and will be shooting a video for “The Coolest” as well as another video that is being kept a secret for the time being. He also recently shot the remix for “Everyone Nose” with N.E.R.D., Kanye West and Pusha T of The Clipse.

Lu is also on the cover of the new Complex magazine where he gives some insight on the much talked about collaboration album with Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.

"Yeah, the CRS project hopefully will come before my last album. So that will probably be the next thing that everybody kind of goes into," Lupe says when asked about the project.

In the meanwhile, be on the lookout for the “Paris, Tokyo” remix featuring Sarah Green, Pharrell and Q-Tip.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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After a three year feud [click to read] of not speaking, subliminal and overt insults and an alleged physical confrontation, Outkast's Big Boi and his former artist Killer Mike have reconciled. Atlanta's Maurice G. Garland, reported on the meeting firsthand [click to read]. It seems both artists were encouraged to resolve the simmering conflict at the urging of close family members and a nasty bout of Atlanta weather.

"A bad storm hit Atlanta and knocked the power out over a large portion of the city, including the studio where Mike planned to record [another 'Sunday Morning Massacre']," writes Garland. "Big Boi's uncle Darnell and Bear were encouraging Big to peace things up once and for all." Big's son Cross provided the additional prodding to bring Killer Mike and his father together after both men initially attempted to hide their strained relationship from their children. Later, both men spoke on the phone to resolve all of their underlying issues, and later met at an event yesterday, where the following photo was taken.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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The typical way to start writing a lead to an article is to search for a little background information on the person (or persons) that you are interviewing, create an awesome and/or informative introduction to the Q&A and try your hardest to be creative, funny or amusing. Well, with online publications, bloggers and underpaid writers, important things like integrity, rules and regulations seem to be thrown out the window and all styles of writing, questions asked and obvious biases are fair game. Right? Sure. As a journalist, I was taught to be objective and to look at interviews from a standpoint of being in “the middle.”



Well gas prices are high, rappers are lying and the industry is crooked - so why front?



Pusha-T of the Clipse was funny, frank and respectable and Ab-Liva of the Re-Up Gang was extra chill, specific and very knowledgeable about the culture. In a nutshell, the Clipse is introducing the Re-Up Gang on August 5, 2008. We all know that they have the best series of mixtapes with “We Got it 4 Cheap” and we should rush to the store to go buy this official “Clipse Presents: Re-Up Gang” album. Don’t be alarmed. I’m a journalist and I’m simply reporting the truth. R.I.P. Shampoo.



Give me the official top five emcees of all time.



Pusha: Top five of all time would have to be (in no particular order), Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, BIG, Jay-Z and KRS-One.



Liva: Yeah, KRS-One.



Pusha: An honorable mention goes to Chuck D. I had to put him in there. I’m sorry, he preached to me.



Pusha T, did Malice teach you how to rap?



Pusha: Not per se, I mean not so much taught me like, ‘Sit here and do it like this,’ but everything I learned I got from watching and taking notes from him. It was his enthusiasm that even put me there.



If you had to choose the hustle you’re most addicted to, which would it be: street life or music?



Pusha: You know what? I would have to say right now, by far, the music. I have a new found love for music, right now.



Talk to me about that.



Pusha: I’m excited about the music. I’m excited about what it is that the Clipse and Re-Up Gang do. Man, I think I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum. I’ve sold a platinum record and I’ve sold a record that went wood. I know what it means to be hated and I know what it means to be critically acclaimed. For now, I feel I sorta got a sense of direction to where I think the Re-Up Gang, the Clipse and the Re-Up Gang Records Movement is going.



If you could pick one song (in Hip-Hop history) to have been featured on, which song would it be and why?



Pusha: If I could have picked on song in hip-hop history? Hmm…



Liva: I know what I would’ve been on.



Pusha: What’s that Liva?



Liva: “The Benjamins”… I didn’t know what was going on when I heard that ****. The beat was so ****in’ crazy and everybody got on (there) and killed it. Then, when BIG came in and the whole ****in’ beat changed -- I lost my mind.



Pusha: Wow. Bastard. Ab Liva said, he would’ve been on “The Benjamins” and that’s probably one of the greatest ones. For real, to go back, I would have to say… “The Symphony.” [It] was just a lyrical exercise. I’ve never been impressed by five verses, with no lacking. Everybody got on and got busy. Like for real, everybody got busy. There was no slum -- nothing. It was greatness. I would’ve wanted to be a part of that.



Liva: [Laughs] I knew he was gonna say “The Symphony”..



Hypothetically, the Clipse have a situation where you have the perfect deal, the perfect album and the perfect timing. You sell ten million records, but the hip-hop community doesn’t respect you. Do you (A) drop a street album (B) stop rapping and retire or (C) keep doing your thing and say “f*ck” the streets”?



Pusha: Well, personally I think dropping a street album. If I sell ten million records, the world better beware because all I’m going to do is talk any and everything that I wanna talk. We always say that Hell Hath No Fury was a critically acclaimed album that we did basically for ourselves. I would make ten of those. I want to make ten of those. The point I was getting to really is that, you can do what you wanna do. I watch a lot of guys sell all these records and when they come back it seems as if they’re trying to please. Instead of just doing what we loved them for in the beginning.



So, has the Clipse ever thought about doing solo albums?



Pusha: Hell yeah. Pusha coming out with a solo album. It’s gonna be a son of a bitch.



Fans and supporters are amazed by the flows, delivery, and techniques on the “We Got It 4 Cheap” mixtape series. Describe your thought process behind recording.



Liva: Basically, we really try to go in and attack them like they’re albums. As far as doing our own thing to the beats, if they gotta hook we like, we just put our own spin to it or create our own hooks. We make sure our ad-libs and everything are tight, like we are working on a real album. We attack it from that approach and take it to the next level.



Pusha: As far as the mixtapes, that’s some **** I always give credit to Re-Up Gang for -- especially Ab-Liva and Sandman – and that’s because mixtapes were something that the Clipse were never in to. When we tried to get in the game and tried to get on mixtapes…can you imagine how hard it was trying to get on and being from Virginia? We talking about 2001. We couldn’t get on and New York had it on smash. We could never get in the door. For the mixtapes to be such a part of the Clipse legacy (as far as right now) it’s just crazy.



What’s the best line that Lil’ Wayne has ever spit in his career?



Pusha: Um, I really don’t know. I don’t. When it comes to Lil’ Wayne or whatever. I really don’t know that much about him and him having quotable lines (to me). When I think of him, I think of him on a level of consistency. He’s put out a lot of music and he’s put out a lot of consistent music. I think that’s the prime reason for his public success today. He has a great work ethic, but as far as quotables -- I don’t know any quotables.



What about you Liva?



Liva: Nothing I can think about off hand

Liva, what do you think the majority of people don’t get about hip-hop?



Liva: The creativity aspect. Right now, the climate in music is so much about first week sales and charts… that the creativity aspect of it has lessened. The average fan out there just wants to hear a hot beat and a catchy hook and something they can say slick to their friends here and there. They’re overlooking the creative aspect.



Pusha: The thing that fans don’t realize is that, this thing is so much of a business. You should really, really appreciate the artist and understand that some of the moves that are made are very much so -- business moves. To be successful you have to mash the business and creativity together. Fans are sort of simple sometimes. I wish they could really understand the ins and outs of radio and how videos play a part of radio and how radio spins can play a part of how many times a video is played and so on and so forth and how it trickles down to the public.



How did you guys feel after seeing, N.E.R.D’s “Seeing Sounds” do under 100,000 in the first week?



Pusha: I look at “Seeing Sounds”, Pharrell and N.E.R.D. and they make very creative music. They make very “cool” music – boutique music. It’s sort of the way he sells his clothes. You can’t go buy BBC and Ice Cream in the mall. He sells it in three stores and it’s only for a selected group of people. It’s only for his followers (for real) or the connoisseur who really loves fashion that much and they’re going to go find it or seek it out. You know what I’m saying? So, when they do their numbers and when they out their albums like that, it’s not a surprise to me. I understand that. I made that album. I made “Hell Hath No Fury”. I sold 84,000 the first week? I just saw the charts and I saw Beck. You know white kid Beck? He just sold 80,000 and we all know that Beck is gonna be on TV all day long and they’re gonna call him a genius, they gonna call him this and that. So, when it comes to black media and us… it´s funny you asked that question about creativity. It’s a double edge sword.



Liva, If you had one wish, what would it be?



Liva: One wish? I’d be filthy rich so I wouldn’t have to go through all these politicks and bull****.



Pusha T what type of production can we expect from this Clipse album?



Pusha: DJ Khalil who did “I’ll Still Kill” by 50 Cent and Akon is definitely on the Clipse album. We got Pharrell, the Neptunes, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League (who did Maybach Music), we got Reefa, Dame Grease, and I think we got Just Blaze coming. The album’s not done yet, so we should have a couple more people to go through.



Who is Shampoo?



Pusha: A Virginia street legend who lost his life out here. He was a good friend of ours, for years. He basically died in a tortured kidnapping. Unsolved to this day still.



Marcus Aurelius said, “A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” What do you see and think is in the lives of the Clipse and the Re-up Gang?



Pusha: I think from here on out, we’re going to put out the music that we want to. We’re gonna have a long legacy, a long trail of records that touch a lot of people. Re-up Gang Records, to me, will be the most creditable record and loyal record label that the industry has ever seen. We’re gonna put out music that the fans will enjoy and get them caught up in our world for a minute.



So, you voting for Obama then?



Pusha: Damn, Right!

yoraps.com

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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This will be Busta's eighth album. The first single is "We Made It" featuring Linkin Park.
Tracklist
1. We Made It (w/ Linkin Park) [Prod. by Cool & Dre, Mike Shinoda & Timbaland]
2. Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water On 'Em) [Prod. by LV & Sean C]
3. Don't Believe Them (w/ Akon & T.I.) [Prod. by Cool & Dre]
4. Decisions (w/ Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Mary J. Blige & Common) [Prod. by Kanye West & Dr. Dre]
5. I'm Gonna Get Mine [Prod. by DJ Scratch & Rick Rock]
6. If (w/ Nicole Scherzinger) [Prod. by Rick Rock]
7. G Stroll (w/ Pharrell & Ne-Yo) [Prod. by Neptunes]
8. Kill Dem (w/ Tosh) [Prod. by Neptunes]
9. Let Me Show You [Prod. by DJ Scratch & Busta Rhymes]
10. Right Now [Prod. by Dr. Dre & Focus]
11. Blown (w/ T-Pain) [Prod. by Cool & Dre]
12. Hits 4 Days (w/ J. Holiday) [Prod. by Dready Beats]
13. Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water On 'Em) (Remix w/ Reek Da Villain, Spliff Star, Lil Wayne, Nas, The Game & Big Daddy Kane) [Prod. by LV & Sean C]
14. Throw It Up (w/ Ludacris & Lil Wayne) [Prod. by Cool & Dre]
15. Samurai (w/ Ghostface Killah, Raekwon & Method Man)

[NC State-31 UNC-27]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

You gotta edit those articles man, too long of posts. Maybe include the most interesting part and then give the link.

I'm not cool with the Clipse and Re-Up gang anymore, overrated as hell and they just released that whack record with old songs.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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Devin The Dude speaks out about leaving his longtime label home Rap-A-Lot Records, his desire to smoke a blunt with Woody Harrelson, and he reveals, to SOHH, the secrets behind his his fifth studio album, Landing Gear.

After 15 years on the Rap-A-Lot roster Devin the Dude decided to walk away from the Houston based independent label. “The contract was just up at Rap-A-Lot,” Devin explains. “I’ve been with them 15 years and I felt it was time to just continue with my career. It wasn’t nothing that was totally wrong with the relationship or whatever it was just time to move on.”

Devin’s new move was to Razor & Tie, an established punk and metal label that is making its foray into urban music. Devin signed a one album deal and is planning to release his fifth studio album, Landing Gear, on the indie label this fall.

“Landing Gear is pretty cool. [It’s] a pretty refreshing album. I have a lot of in house cats that I used to work with though the years [like] my brother [and] the Coughee Brotherz,” said Devin.

According the to veteran rapper, the album’s title represents, “having what you need when you get to wherever you’re going.”

“It’s been pretty crazy throughout the course of [my career] so I’m settling down and just concentrating on the music and getting real acquainted with what’s going on in the studio, getting hands on with the mixing and the mastering and the recording and all that.”

Over the years, Devin has made fans of everyone from Scarface to Dr. Dre but his most surprising fan is Emmy-award winning actor, Woody Harrelson.

“I was recording with Dre doing The Chronic album and we was just going over some stuff. Woody Harrelson is a friend of his so he was telling me, ‘Woody Harrelson really loves you.’ It shocked me right there but that was cool,” said Devin.

Devin has an idea of what attracted the actor to his music. “Probably, we’re Coughee brotherz together,” he said, referring to the slang term for marijuana. “He sip a little Coughee too. I might smoking a joint or a blunt or whatever man it would be cool [to] just indulge in some Coughee with him.”

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread

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The never ending saga of the Diplomats internal struggles continue. Depending on who you ask, either everything is all good or the crew is in shambles . Although the future of the Dip Set is only known by those within the unit, the recent news of Cam'ron selling Juelz Santana's contract to Def Jam certainly have cast a cloud over the collective.

According to Miss Info's blog, the deal is in fact a reality and the video message sent out by the Best of Both Offices about Juelz returning means much more than originally perceived.

Miss Info asked Juelz via email about his move to Def Jam and Juelz responded with his own email that Info posted on her site.

"A! What’s good !! Yeah, I’m free!! And ready to do me!! But its still Dip Set 4 life!! Its just going to be a new chapter!!" he stated. Although he said that it was "still Dip Set 4 life," he followed by addressing his relationship with Killa Cam.

"I have no hard feeling for Cam, after all, he did give me a chance!!! But I will say this I was loyal to him and he took advantage."

What Santana exactly means by "took advantage" is unclear but it does show that the Dip Set still has internal issues with Cam. In the meanwhile, Juelz discussed his immediate future.

"Mixtape coming up soon, my solo mixtape ('the Reagan Era')," he revealed

"I have a joint venture with Def Jam, a 50/50 deal," he continued. "Yeah, it’s a new boss in town. Album is called Born to Lose, Built to Win!!!! (The rise of the skullgang)."

More on this as it develops.

[Cebby]

Re: Official Hip Hop/Rap Music Thread