Hip-Hop/Rap MUSIC BUZZ by Underground 2010/04/07 15:14
Get all yo latest news and whats creating a buzz in the hip-hop n rap muzik industry internationally [beefs, album launchs, rappers lives updates e.t.c.]
Get all yo latest news and whats creating a buzz in the hip-hop n rap muzik industry internationally [beefs, album launchs, rappers lives updates e.t.c.]
Underground 2010/05/28 14:56
Tracklisting For Eminem's "Recovery" Revealed
Eminem fans will be surprised when they look at the tracklist for the Detroit lyricists latest album, as they won't be seeing usual suspects 50 Cent and Dr. Dre (the latter of which has appeared on every single major label Eminem solo release).
In fact, only one rapper made the cut: Lil Wayne. Joining Em for the track "No Love," the Young Money head honcho repays the favor for the duo's previous track together, "Drop the World."
The rest of the features consist solely of singers, as Kobe, Pink and Rihanna, the last of whom maybe be a surprise to fans of Relapse, as Eminem rapped, "I'll be on Rihanna/ See man I do what I wanna."
Also notably absent from the guest list is D12, who have not appeared on an Eminem release since 2004's Encore.
Below is the tracklist from Recovery, courtesy of Eminem.com:
1. COLD WIND BLOWS
2. TALKIN 2 MYSELF FEAT. KOBE
3. ON FIRE
4. WONT BACK DOWN FEAT. P!NK
5. W.T.P.
6. GOING THROUGH CHANGES
7. NOT AFRAID
8. SEDUCTION
9. NO LOVE FEAT. LIL WAYNE
10. SPACE BOUND
11. CINDERELLA MAN
12. 25 TO LIFE
13. SO BAD
14. ALMOST FAMOUS
15. LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE FEAT. RIHANNA
16. YOURE NEVER OVER
Tracklisting For Eminem's "Recovery" Revealed
Eminem fans will be surprised when they look at the tracklist for the Detroit lyricists latest album, as they won't be seeing usual suspects 50 Cent and Dr. Dre (the latter of which has appeared on every single major label Eminem solo release).
In fact, only one rapper made the cut: Lil Wayne. Joining Em for the track "No Love," the Young Money head honcho repays the favor for the duo's previous track together, "Drop the World."
The rest of the features consist solely of singers, as Kobe, Pink and Rihanna, the last of whom maybe be a surprise to fans of Relapse, as Eminem rapped, "I'll be on Rihanna/ See man I do what I wanna."
Also notably absent from the guest list is D12, who have not appeared on an Eminem release since 2004's Encore.
Below is the tracklist from Recovery, courtesy of Eminem.com:
1. COLD WIND BLOWS
2. TALKIN 2 MYSELF FEAT. KOBE
3. ON FIRE
4. WONT BACK DOWN FEAT. P!NK
5. W.T.P.
6. GOING THROUGH CHANGES
7. NOT AFRAID
8. SEDUCTION
9. NO LOVE FEAT. LIL WAYNE
10. SPACE BOUND
11. CINDERELLA MAN
12. 25 TO LIFE
13. SO BAD
14. ALMOST FAMOUS
15. LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE FEAT. RIHANNA
16. YOURE NEVER OVER
Underground 2010/05/28 14:59
Da Brat Returns From Prison, Talks New Music
After originally being sentenced to three years for striking a fellow clubgoer with a bottle of rum in 2008, Da Brat is out on work release. The first female rapper to have a certified platinum-selling album (1994s Funkdafied), made a cameo on the latest installment of Jermaine Dupris Living The Live viral video series.
Im out on a little pass; I had to do some lawyer attorney stuff, Brat explained. Thank yall for the love and support. I got a job. I work a nine-to-five, because Im in the work release program. I make windows. If yall need a window holla at your girl.
Brat joked that in addition to her newly acquired trade of window making, she would look to continue pursuing new acting and musical projects saying, Too much grass done grew up when I aint done nothing. Prior to the 2007 incident that led to her incarceration, Da Brat appeared in halfa-dozen films and was also a cast member of the VH-1 Reality show The Surreal Life. Her last studio album was 2003s, Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz. Per the terms of her sentencing, Brat must also complete seven years of probation and 200 hours of community service.
Da Brat Returns From Prison, Talks New Music
After originally being sentenced to three years for striking a fellow clubgoer with a bottle of rum in 2008, Da Brat is out on work release. The first female rapper to have a certified platinum-selling album (1994s Funkdafied), made a cameo on the latest installment of Jermaine Dupris Living The Live viral video series.
Im out on a little pass; I had to do some lawyer attorney stuff, Brat explained. Thank yall for the love and support. I got a job. I work a nine-to-five, because Im in the work release program. I make windows. If yall need a window holla at your girl.
Brat joked that in addition to her newly acquired trade of window making, she would look to continue pursuing new acting and musical projects saying, Too much grass done grew up when I aint done nothing. Prior to the 2007 incident that led to her incarceration, Da Brat appeared in halfa-dozen films and was also a cast member of the VH-1 Reality show The Surreal Life. Her last studio album was 2003s, Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz. Per the terms of her sentencing, Brat must also complete seven years of probation and 200 hours of community service.
Underground 2010/05/28 15:04
Unreleased Guru Material To Be Released, Solar Talks Hacker
7 Grand Records, founded by departed emcee Guru and controversial business partner Solar, has announced that the label will release previously unheard material as part of a "triubte campaign."
According to the label, which was founded in 2005, the "tribute campaign" will feature previously unseen footage, behind the scenes "memories of music productions," concert footage and more.
His legacy was timeless and he invented music that will shine forever long after hes gone, said the label rep of Guru in a statement. In our lasting and fragrant memories, we will never forget the emcee who raised the bar and paved the way for many rappers without the exploitative and negative stigma that has seeped into this generation of Hip Hop.
In the meantime, Solar has his hands full with fans and other rappers criticizing him for allegedly forging the letter Guru wrote on his deathbed. In addition, Solar's hacked internet accounts have drawn the ire of the rapper, who lashed out at the hackers through a letter published on fucksolar.com.
Your emails are going to the federal authorities! as well as local law enforcemnet! [sic] wrote Solar to the website, which is deedicated to documenting Solar's controversial activities since Guru's death - and others' reactions to them. This is Solars [sic] legal team! You will be prosecuted! Turn yourself in! Passport federal hacking! etc.We will get you its a matter of time! We know who you are! And all internantioal [sic] enforcements are in place if needed such as interpol! Lawsuits have been filed as well! With international power. You will Pay for this!!!"
The website responded by dismissing the threats as baseless, though it is unclear what legal action Solar can take. More on this story as it develops.
Unreleased Guru Material To Be Released, Solar Talks Hacker
7 Grand Records, founded by departed emcee Guru and controversial business partner Solar, has announced that the label will release previously unheard material as part of a "triubte campaign."
According to the label, which was founded in 2005, the "tribute campaign" will feature previously unseen footage, behind the scenes "memories of music productions," concert footage and more.
His legacy was timeless and he invented music that will shine forever long after hes gone, said the label rep of Guru in a statement. In our lasting and fragrant memories, we will never forget the emcee who raised the bar and paved the way for many rappers without the exploitative and negative stigma that has seeped into this generation of Hip Hop.
In the meantime, Solar has his hands full with fans and other rappers criticizing him for allegedly forging the letter Guru wrote on his deathbed. In addition, Solar's hacked internet accounts have drawn the ire of the rapper, who lashed out at the hackers through a letter published on fucksolar.com.
Your emails are going to the federal authorities! as well as local law enforcemnet! [sic] wrote Solar to the website, which is deedicated to documenting Solar's controversial activities since Guru's death - and others' reactions to them. This is Solars [sic] legal team! You will be prosecuted! Turn yourself in! Passport federal hacking! etc.We will get you its a matter of time! We know who you are! And all internantioal [sic] enforcements are in place if needed such as interpol! Lawsuits have been filed as well! With international power. You will Pay for this!!!"
The website responded by dismissing the threats as baseless, though it is unclear what legal action Solar can take. More on this story as it develops.
Underground 2010/05/28 15:05
Rick Ross, Bun B And More To Perform At Tupac Birthday Concert
On Wednesday, June 16 rappers Rick Ross, Bun B, Too Short, Pill, and more will gather in Atlanta to perform at the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert.
The concert, which will also serve as a benefit, will once again be held at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
"As the sole member of UGK, I understand and accept the role of upholding a legacy, said Bun B in a statement. It's not an easy task, and I accept and appreciate the love and support for family, friends, fans and supporters alike. So I'm always ready to help uphold the honor of hip hop's fallen soldier. I take pride in standing and remembering Tupac, one of the greatest ever."
The event is presented by both comedian Mike Epps and Afeni Shakur, the mother of the late rapper.
This charity event helps support the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Atlanta, Mike Epps explained in a statement. On June 16th, Ms. Shakur and I along with some of the biggest names in hip hop will celebrate Tupac's life, legacy and music! Don't miss it!
Tickets for the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert are available for purchase for *25 and can be purchased at 16thOfJune.com or on site at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.
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On Wednesday, June 16 rappers Rick Ross, Bun B, Too Short, Pill, and more will gather in Atlanta to perform at the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert.
The concert, which will also serve as a benefit, will once again be held at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
"As the sole member of UGK, I understand and accept the role of upholding a legacy, said Bun B in a statement. It's not an easy task, and I accept and appreciate the love and support for family, friends, fans and supporters alike. So I'm always ready to help uphold the honor of hip hop's fallen soldier. I take pride in standing and remembering Tupac, one of the greatest ever."
The event is presented by both comedian Mike Epps and Afeni Shakur, the mother of the late rapper.
This charity event helps support the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Atlanta, Mike Epps explained in a statement. On June 16th, Ms. Shakur and I along with some of the biggest names in hip hop will celebrate Tupac's life, legacy and music! Don't miss it!
Tickets for the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert are available for purchase for *25 and can be purchased at 16thOfJune.com or on site at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.
Rick Ross, Bun B And More To Perform At Tupac Birthday Concert
On Wednesday, June 16 rappers Rick Ross, Bun B, Too Short, Pill, and more will gather in Atlanta to perform at the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert.
The concert, which will also serve as a benefit, will once again be held at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
"As the sole member of UGK, I understand and accept the role of upholding a legacy, said Bun B in a statement. It's not an easy task, and I accept and appreciate the love and support for family, friends, fans and supporters alike. So I'm always ready to help uphold the honor of hip hop's fallen soldier. I take pride in standing and remembering Tupac, one of the greatest ever."
The event is presented by both comedian Mike Epps and Afeni Shakur, the mother of the late rapper.
This charity event helps support the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Atlanta, Mike Epps explained in a statement. On June 16th, Ms. Shakur and I along with some of the biggest names in hip hop will celebrate Tupac's life, legacy and music! Don't miss it!
Tickets for the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert are available for purchase for *25 and can be purchased at 16thOfJune.com or on site at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.
SHARE
On Wednesday, June 16 rappers Rick Ross, Bun B, Too Short, Pill, and more will gather in Atlanta to perform at the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert.
The concert, which will also serve as a benefit, will once again be held at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
"As the sole member of UGK, I understand and accept the role of upholding a legacy, said Bun B in a statement. It's not an easy task, and I accept and appreciate the love and support for family, friends, fans and supporters alike. So I'm always ready to help uphold the honor of hip hop's fallen soldier. I take pride in standing and remembering Tupac, one of the greatest ever."
The event is presented by both comedian Mike Epps and Afeni Shakur, the mother of the late rapper.
This charity event helps support the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Atlanta, Mike Epps explained in a statement. On June 16th, Ms. Shakur and I along with some of the biggest names in hip hop will celebrate Tupac's life, legacy and music! Don't miss it!
Tickets for the second annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert are available for purchase for *25 and can be purchased at 16thOfJune.com or on site at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.
Underground 2010/05/28 15:08
Wu-Tang Music Group Announces "pollen: The Swarm Part III"
the Wu Music Group has released the cover art and tracklist of their latest collection of Wu-bangers Pollen: The Swarm Part III. The announcement comes on the heels of this week's news that the Wu-Tang Clan are slated to perform their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) at this year's Rock the Bells tour. The album features 15 new tracks from the Clan and individual members like the RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, in addition to appearances from Wu-Affiliates like Killah Priest, Prodigal Sun, Street Life and more. Pollen: The Swarm Part III is expected to hit stores on June 22 from Wu Music Group
News
Wu-Tang Music Group Announces "pollen: The Swarm Part III"
May 26, 2010 02:05:00 PM CDT | by Sean Ryon
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Today, the Wu Music Group has released the cover art and tracklist of their latest collection of Wu-bangers Pollen: The Swarm Part III. The announcement comes on the heels of this week's news that the Wu-Tang Clan are slated to perform their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) at this year's Rock the Bells tour. The album features 15 new tracks from the Clan and individual members like the RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, in addition to appearances from Wu-Affiliates like Killah Priest, Prodigal Sun, Street Life and more. Pollen: The Swarm Part III is expected to hit stores on June 22 from Wu Music Group
Tracklist:
1. Roll With Killer Bees (feat. Yellow Jackets)
2. Headline (feat. Armel, 12 O'Clock, Reverend William Burke & Prodigal Sunn)
3. Assed Out (feat. Wu-Tang Clan)
4. Dirts The Boogie (feat. Ol Dirty Bastard & Boy Jones)
5. You Must Be Dreaming (feat. Diaz, RZA & Kinetic 9)
6. M.E.F. (feat. Method Man) 7. Smooth Sailing (feat. Trife Diesel, Solomon Childs & Ghostface Killah)
8. Get It Started (feat. Nate, King Just & YC)
9. Faced Down (feat. Streetlife & Killa Sin)
10. Testimony (feat. Killah Priest & Remedy)
11. Action (feat. Solomon Childs)
12. No Game Around Here (feat. Killer Bees)
13. Into You (feat. Reverend William Burke & The Rugged Monk)
14. Transporting (feat. JoJo Pellegrino & Remedy)
15. Flight Of The Killer Bees (feat. Reverend William Burke & Prodigal Sunn)
Wu-Tang Music Group Announces "pollen: The Swarm Part III"
the Wu Music Group has released the cover art and tracklist of their latest collection of Wu-bangers Pollen: The Swarm Part III. The announcement comes on the heels of this week's news that the Wu-Tang Clan are slated to perform their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) at this year's Rock the Bells tour. The album features 15 new tracks from the Clan and individual members like the RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, in addition to appearances from Wu-Affiliates like Killah Priest, Prodigal Sun, Street Life and more. Pollen: The Swarm Part III is expected to hit stores on June 22 from Wu Music Group
News
Wu-Tang Music Group Announces "pollen: The Swarm Part III"
May 26, 2010 02:05:00 PM CDT | by Sean Ryon
Share
42
Today, the Wu Music Group has released the cover art and tracklist of their latest collection of Wu-bangers Pollen: The Swarm Part III. The announcement comes on the heels of this week's news that the Wu-Tang Clan are slated to perform their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) at this year's Rock the Bells tour. The album features 15 new tracks from the Clan and individual members like the RZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, in addition to appearances from Wu-Affiliates like Killah Priest, Prodigal Sun, Street Life and more. Pollen: The Swarm Part III is expected to hit stores on June 22 from Wu Music Group
Tracklist:
1. Roll With Killer Bees (feat. Yellow Jackets)
2. Headline (feat. Armel, 12 O'Clock, Reverend William Burke & Prodigal Sunn)
3. Assed Out (feat. Wu-Tang Clan)
4. Dirts The Boogie (feat. Ol Dirty Bastard & Boy Jones)
5. You Must Be Dreaming (feat. Diaz, RZA & Kinetic 9)
6. M.E.F. (feat. Method Man) 7. Smooth Sailing (feat. Trife Diesel, Solomon Childs & Ghostface Killah)
8. Get It Started (feat. Nate, King Just & YC)
9. Faced Down (feat. Streetlife & Killa Sin)
10. Testimony (feat. Killah Priest & Remedy)
11. Action (feat. Solomon Childs)
12. No Game Around Here (feat. Killer Bees)
13. Into You (feat. Reverend William Burke & The Rugged Monk)
14. Transporting (feat. JoJo Pellegrino & Remedy)
15. Flight Of The Killer Bees (feat. Reverend William Burke & Prodigal Sunn)
Underground 2010/05/31 09:45
Bizzy Bone To Join Celebrity Rehab
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rapper Bizzy Bone has elected to join Vh1's Celebrity Rehab show.
The rapper is seeking treatment for addiction to marijuana and alcohol.
Provided that the show isn't canceled, Bizzy - real name Byron McCane - could join Tila Tequila and Jason Wahler for the show.
Another rapper, DMX, recently tried to join the show, but his request was denied by a judge because he was reportedly doing well in his cout-appointed substance abuse program.
Bizzy Bone To Join Celebrity Rehab
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony rapper Bizzy Bone has elected to join Vh1's Celebrity Rehab show.
The rapper is seeking treatment for addiction to marijuana and alcohol.
Provided that the show isn't canceled, Bizzy - real name Byron McCane - could join Tila Tequila and Jason Wahler for the show.
Another rapper, DMX, recently tried to join the show, but his request was denied by a judge because he was reportedly doing well in his cout-appointed substance abuse program.
Underground 2010/05/31 09:49
Nas Joins Carlos Santana For AC/DC Cover
Nas continues to expand his horizons, as the rapper has joined guitar legend Carlos Santana to remake a classic rock track.
Nas will be performing AC.DC's "Back In Black" as part of Santana's new alcumb of classic rock covers.
Other artists involved, and the tracks they will help Santana cover, include Joe Cocker for Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," Chris Cornell for Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek for a new take on The Door's "Riders on the Storm."
As for Santana's inspiration? "I paid special attention to the groove so the females would get completely aroused," he explained in Rolling Stone magazine.
Nas Joins Carlos Santana For AC/DC Cover
Nas continues to expand his horizons, as the rapper has joined guitar legend Carlos Santana to remake a classic rock track.
Nas will be performing AC.DC's "Back In Black" as part of Santana's new alcumb of classic rock covers.
Other artists involved, and the tracks they will help Santana cover, include Joe Cocker for Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," Chris Cornell for Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" and The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek for a new take on The Door's "Riders on the Storm."
As for Santana's inspiration? "I paid special attention to the groove so the females would get completely aroused," he explained in Rolling Stone magazine.
Underground 2010/06/01 19:02
DJ Premier & Pete Rock Speak On Guru, Admit Competition
Pete Rock and DJ Premier have been linked in many ways. Both producers are responsible for classic material in the genre, producing quality work for years. Recently, the two sat down together for an interview with Defrag. During the interview, they spoke on everything from friendly competition to Guru's passing.
"We're heavy competitors with each other," Pete Rock notes, before Premier adds his take on their competitive spirit.
"It's not a negative jealousy. It's more like, 'Damn, that's hot! I wish I made that!' It makes you want to top it but in a good way."
Premier was also candid in speaking about Guru. After his recent passing, Premier adds that he misses the emcee and the friend that he lost.
"I love him forever. I miss him already. I got to say my peace in closure a week before he died in the hospital. I got to see him. That, to me, was my closure to a certain degree. The rest of it takes awhile. The rest of it is one day at a time because it's still painful...I still can't believe it."
Pete Rock says that Guru may not be alive but his spirit lives on.
"He's still around. In his physical, he may not be, even though we wish he was still here. We appreciate him regardless."
DJ Premier & Pete Rock Speak On Guru, Admit Competition
Pete Rock and DJ Premier have been linked in many ways. Both producers are responsible for classic material in the genre, producing quality work for years. Recently, the two sat down together for an interview with Defrag. During the interview, they spoke on everything from friendly competition to Guru's passing.
"We're heavy competitors with each other," Pete Rock notes, before Premier adds his take on their competitive spirit.
"It's not a negative jealousy. It's more like, 'Damn, that's hot! I wish I made that!' It makes you want to top it but in a good way."
Premier was also candid in speaking about Guru. After his recent passing, Premier adds that he misses the emcee and the friend that he lost.
"I love him forever. I miss him already. I got to say my peace in closure a week before he died in the hospital. I got to see him. That, to me, was my closure to a certain degree. The rest of it takes awhile. The rest of it is one day at a time because it's still painful...I still can't believe it."
Pete Rock says that Guru may not be alive but his spirit lives on.
"He's still around. In his physical, he may not be, even though we wish he was still here. We appreciate him regardless."
Underground 2010/06/01 19:04
Game Says He Doesn't Believe In Promoting New Album
If Compton rapper The Game had his way there would be no promotion for his upcoming album R.E.D. Instead, Game believes that after three albums fans of his should know when to look out for his fourth project.
"I'm not into promoting. I give you a date, and if you're a Game fan, then you'll get the album," Game explained to Reuters. "I don't sell myself. This is my fourth album. I don't think I need to do all that."
Although Game doesnt believe in promoting, his product manager Andrew Flad thinks very differently. In fact, Game will soon begin a promotional tour that includes several stops in Europe and more.
"Sending Game out to touch the fans this way is a must and always helps," Flad shared. "He will grind it out, he will do the work, and he will love it."
On top of traveling to Europe for promotional visits Game will also pay a visit to BETs 106 & Park, appear on a Geek Out Session with AOL, and visit various cities in the United States to promote the album.
R.E.D. will be released on July 6 on Interscope Records.
Game Says He Doesn't Believe In Promoting New Album
If Compton rapper The Game had his way there would be no promotion for his upcoming album R.E.D. Instead, Game believes that after three albums fans of his should know when to look out for his fourth project.
"I'm not into promoting. I give you a date, and if you're a Game fan, then you'll get the album," Game explained to Reuters. "I don't sell myself. This is my fourth album. I don't think I need to do all that."
Although Game doesnt believe in promoting, his product manager Andrew Flad thinks very differently. In fact, Game will soon begin a promotional tour that includes several stops in Europe and more.
"Sending Game out to touch the fans this way is a must and always helps," Flad shared. "He will grind it out, he will do the work, and he will love it."
On top of traveling to Europe for promotional visits Game will also pay a visit to BETs 106 & Park, appear on a Geek Out Session with AOL, and visit various cities in the United States to promote the album.
R.E.D. will be released on July 6 on Interscope Records.
Underground 2010/06/01 19:09
Kokane Talks Ice Cube, "Detox" & "Gimme All Mine"
Kokane, a.k.a. Mr. Kane, is still gettin it in the Rap game two decades since launching his career on Eazy-Es Ruthless Records. Backed by the funky sounds provided by his cousin, Big Hutch, a.k.a. Cold187um, of Above The Law, Kane unleashed 1991s Addictive Hip Hop Muzick and 1994s Funk Upon A Rhyme during his Ruthless tenure. And while the spitter/singer from Pomona, California would go on to release several more projects via a variety of different labels, his dolo output would be dwarfed by his astounding amount of feature appearances (reportedly over 1,800 total) on other artists offerings, (see: Above The Laws Kalifornia, Tha Eastsidaz I Luv It, Dr. Dres Some L.A. Niggaz, and Ras Kass Back It Up just to name a few.)
But now the hookman-for-hire is once again gettin it for himself with the aptly-titled Gimme All Mine, (due in stores tomorrow, June 1st). Speaking to HipHopDX recently from his homebase in Seattle, Kokane broke down the meaning behind some of the songs from his latest long-player. Additionally in his thought-provoking discussion with DX, the west coast O.G. chimed in on the old vs. new west debate, explained why Ice Cubes jheri curled past provides him the right to declare himself the west, and maybe most notably, Mr. Kane let it slip that Mr. Noble might be joining him for Dr. Dres grand finale.
HipHopDX: You were telling me before I started recording that you just got off the plane from [Los Angeles to Seattle after] working with Dr. Dre. Can you give me any information about what you were doing, or is that cloaked in secrecy?
Kokane: Thats kinda [cloaked] in secrecy. [Laughs] I wont let the cat out the bag.
DX: [Laughs] Can you give me an idea if you were camped out with him for a week or you were just there - -
Kokane: I was camped out for a couple days with him and [Aftermath Entertainment in-house producers] Chocolate and [DJ] Silk. Theyre working on the record, the Detox. And I just submitted a couple of songs that - So its looking real good, and shxts gonna be awesome All I can say, watch what that dude do. Man, its whew!
DX: Lets get to the questions I have specifically about what you got going on. First off, why do you think some cats on the west have wandered into the Twilight Zone ?
Kokane: The south kinda picked up from the west coastand had that unity. So I think it was more or less how the unity disbanded [on the west coast] And then you had the new cats come in which is a good thing, because we needed some type of presence on the west coast. But now that that void is being filled [with new artists], all the O.G.s are starting to hook-up. Its just like, I put out a mixtape, [in April called On The Backstreets], with [DJ] Crazy Toones, featuring Ice Cube, Snoop [Dogg], [WC] and Above The Law. And I was [at the same time] out mixing it up with Aftermath Redman was in the studio with us last night too [So] all the O.G.s is hooking up to go ahead and tell everybody, this is not neither new west[or] old west, this is just the west coast. You dont go to [the] east coast and say this is the new east coast or the old east coast So, its a good thing that the O.G.s are all coming back together like Above The Law just shot a video with them. And its gonna be a good thing. This year, and next year on, you gonna see some big stuff to come out [from the west coast O.G.s.]
DX: One of the O.G.s that is back on the scene[is] Tha Chill, and he gave you some heat for that Twilight Zone track.
Kokane: Aww yeah man! Thats Comptons Most Wanted, and you know what classic cuts they had And I just [was] like, hands-down I wanna put this information on [the track]. And I wanna go ahead and really speak from the ghetto pulpit, how I feel and my outlook on it. I can say [those things in the song] because I was a part of that pioneer movement, an intricate puzzle piece [in] putting the west coast together with my G-Funk sound. So I wanted to go ahead and give that testimony, and talk about Dr. Dreand talk about the homie Snooppaying homage to them, and saying to these new cats, you can learn like they did, its no difference. The importance of Cubes, and your Dres, and Snoops and myself, its not how we can put you on, its how you can learn how we did it... Why go give somebody a hamburger when you can learn to get a whole franchise?
DX: How are these cats on the west specifically fuckin up Eazy legacy, as you say on the song?
Kokane: Wellits many things thats out there. Its just like if you look at radio, they play a bunch of Techno stuff on there. Its not really the west coast like it used to be. If you go to - -
DX: [Interrupts] The D.O.C. had a Techno remix of [Portrait Of A Master Piece in 1989.]
Kokane: Yeah, well he had a Techno mix, but wholeheartedly the sound of the west coast is The Chronic. The sound of the west coast is Too Short. Eighty-five-percent of that sound is our sound, soits just that we gotta get back to the unity that we once had When you look at D.O.C., thats one Techno record [where] he probably had mixed it up for the world, international [audience], but 95% of D.O.C. stuff was west coast.
DX: Yeah, the greatest lyricist in west coast history is from Dallas, Texas.
Kokane: Yeah, exactly. And I dont like to put my ass up on my shoulders, but one of the chief architects of G-Funk is Kokane and I was born in [the] South Bronx, 1969.
DX: So when you say theyre fuckin up Eazy legacy, youre not saying we need to go back to Jheri curls and Raiders caps?
Kokane: Hell nah! We moved forward [Look at] the contribution that Ice Cube had [though], not only from a standpoint of west coast gangsta music which back then we didnt even call it gangsta music, it was [a writer] from the L.A. Weekly [who coined the term Gangsta Rap], we called it "Reality Rap." Eazy and them called it Reality Rap, [but] the media tagged it Gangsta Rap so everybody ran with it. But, the true essence of what you call Gangsta Rap is that sound, with that bottom-bass, that George Clinton feel.
DX: Is there space for U-N-I, Pac Division, the modern day Pharcydes?
Kokane: Right, right. So the good thing about it between the new cats and the older cats, or the O.G.s as you would put it, is that now were starting to perpetuate unity, because anger begot anger. And Ima say this for the record, gangbangin dont have nothing to do with selling records. So [by] the time all these walls come down, it [wont] allow the west coast to have boundaries. And thats what I was saying from [the] standpoint [of] its fuckin up Eazy legacy, because Eazy was the type Therell never be no Eazy! From his tree, from his loins, we are the fruits. Because if it wasnt no Eazy, it wouldnt be no Cubewouldnt be no 50 [Cent], wouldnt be no Dre, wouldnt be no Eminem! So he allowed us to take his blueprint, and principle, and our sound that we have of course with Dr. Dre being the chief architect [of that] to go ahead and push it out there again. So I guess it was a good thing that we went through that void for a little bit, but now we all realize that look, strength come in numbers [Now] you got cats thats mixing it up in the studio [again]: Cube is mixing it up with Dre, Im mixing it back up with Snoop and Dre And its a beautiful thing, because you gotta realize, wasnt nobody ridin Six-Fos like they was in the south like they doing now Its the whole culture, [and] its the whole respect for [it.] And when I was choppin it up with my boy Mac Boney andKiller Mike at Grand Hustle [Records]its not so much that south and east coast was hatin on [the] west, [it was] west coast artists hatin on [the] west, and west coast radio hatin on the west.
DX: Now, I seen you sportin the We Da West hoodie in the Twilight Zone video, and you shout-out Ice Cube on the track for always keepin it gangsta, so I wanted to get your thoughts on Cube declaring that he is the west for his upcoming album title.
Kokane: Him and Dre can say that He had the Jheri curl in 88/87, [so] he can say that. Him, Dre, or Eazy can say that. Even Too Short can say that.
DX: Ice-T.
Kokane: You see what Im sayin? Because theyre the pioneers See, the thing thats so kinda like bland to me is thathow come people say when you get a certain age yall should give it up, throw in the hat? Rappers be doing that, but then when you look at George Clinton, or you look at Ron Isley, they still gettin it, and they 70-years-old! So good music is good music, regardless if you been coming out 1987 on up.
DX: When Cube announced that his new album would be called I Am The West, he wrote that the west lost our way and was trying to cater to the south and Midwest. And on Twilight Zone you too note that, Its like the south came in and snatched the west heart. But Im just gonna be direct and ask you why then did you make tracks like Jelly Jar and Rollin Up On Hoez for your new album that sound like the pandering to the south that you and Cube are currently denouncing?
Kokane: Its not totally denouncing nothing Its not dissing; its telling the truth And at the same time, its a lot of real players out in the south, so therefore Do we wanna be that small-minded enough to close out the south? No. But do we wanna speak the truth? Yes, we do When I say its like the south came in and snatched the west heart [I] played that in front of all my folks, from T.I., to Mac Boney, to Tomcat, to [Gorilla] Zoe, and they said I feel you on that. Because they dont get the [feeling] of that Im dissing the south or denouncing the south They wondering whats going on with the west [like], Why yall cant hook-up? Why when we come out herewe dont hardly hear no west coast records unless you Snoop Dogg or E-40, or [an artist] waiting on Dre.
DX: You still take it back to the clap, mixed with the Zapp for most of Gimme All Mine, with a healthy supply of your signature George Clinton-esque crooning sprinkled around a lot more spittin than I think most cats know you for. Or as French Dude wrote in the comments to the Twilight Zone video post on DX: What? Kokane can rap? [Thought] he was just a singer. Nice song. [Laughs]
Kokane: [Laughs] Well see, people dont know really the contribution I had to add. And its a whole nother generation Sometimes when these kids, and the next generation, know that I was on [Bad Azz and Snoops] Wrong Idea, and know that I was with [Diddy] [on Lonely from The Saga Continues] too, or Busta [Rhymes on Ass On Your Shoulders from Genesis], or whatever song [I] had [back in the day], its just an enlightenment situation, because they didnt know.
I originally checked in the game as a B-boy. I started singing because I seen Parliament come down in the mothership in Oakland Coliseumway back then in the 80s. So [the singing] kinda like bloomed into something. And people gotta knowyou got your Drakesbut Kokane was really one of the first [emcees] to introduce singing and rapping on records.
DX: [And] shout-out to Nate Dogg.
Kokane: Oh much big-ups to Nate Dogg, man! Its two hook masters in this game, thats Nate Dogg and Kokane. As far as the most featured artist in the world, its Kokane. As far as the most featured artist on hot singles, its Nate Dogg. Thats the real.
DX: But you felt like for [your new] album you needed to get the rhymin out a little bit more?
Kokane: Yeah, man! Thats that New York B-boy style [from my birthplace], chillin in my B-boy stance. So I had to go ahead and go back there, to let everybody know And its crazy, brother, because a lot of people be like, Well, he decided to pick up and rap, but I been rappin My pitfall [as a solo emcee] was when Eazy died [and] that kinda stopped my own individual success, because he was the tree for us, man.
DX: Switching gears here, I gotta admit that I was genuinely surprised by your positive-without-being-preachy jewels you drop throughout a lot of the album, [like on Killing Fields], [and] maybe most notably on Made A Difference when you say, We need more leaders than bangers / We need more doctors than slangas / We need more teachers than sangas / More unity amongst the people instead of them flame aimin.
Kokane: I was always touching on it [in my music]. And it gotta be in ya and not on ya. I just felt like [I] gotta say something, because I love X-Clan, but I love N.W.A. I love D.O.C., but I love Public Enemy too. Soeven though you can shake ya ass, talk about something. Because its a problem when these kids out here are continuing to be raised by us and were not perpetuating some type of positivity.
DX: You punctuate the song by speaking to anyone who might be giving you flak about these topicswhen you say, Even if these niggas hate what I say, God knows I made a difference in the hood today. I noticed there are a few shout-outs to the Lord on the album, most notably on the smooth, self-explanatory Can A Thug Get To Heaven. Is Kokane making that transition to Gospel rapper?
Kokane: Oh, yeah. Everything in life is a process So the thing thats relevant for you to do in your walk with the Lord, and your personal relationship, is let God break the yolk He allowed me to be a work in progress. Because if you look at all those people from The Bible or The Quran, those people went through some horrific things to get transformed around I was in quicksand[and] when you struggle in quicksand you only sink more So [by] the time Iput God first, and put my family first, and [stopped] any guilt trip that I ever [had about anything that I did in the past], or anything that was hindering my purposeI got tired of struggling in quicksand. So that is the significance of me saying gimme all mine. Gimme all mine devil. Gimme all mine right back to the industry. Gimme all mine right back what you took from my family. Gimme my sanctity back. Gimme my mind back. Gimme my freedom back And I aint gonna say Im all perfect. Im gonna say Im a work in progress. Yeah, I still roll up O.G. kush. Yeah, I still got a couple songs on there talking about that life and what cloth I was cut from. But 85% of this album is talking about something [meaningful.]
DX: A perfect title for this album mightve been "Contradictions," cause youre clearly working through that duality of man on here. And [so] I gotta ask you about that linefrom Made A Difference: Twenty-thousand-and-ten bangin is played out / How you gon let a color interfere with ya paper route? But then on your joint with Above The Law, Lay You Down, you note that, My name is Jeremy Long, a.k.a. Kokane/Crip gang. And youre also C-Walkin in the Twilight Zone video, so is - -
Kokane: [Interrupts] Yeah because the thing of that is, is that you cant be a hypocrite, you gotta be honest And the reason why I move like this is just like the principles of Jesus. Jesus Christ never ministered to nobody unless he met a need of love. So therefore if I gotta go tell that youngster [like], Whats up, cuz? Whats crackin? Come here, man, I got his attention. Then I can say, Look what God did for you and me. Because its a balance.
Kokane Talks Ice Cube, "Detox" & "Gimme All Mine"
Kokane, a.k.a. Mr. Kane, is still gettin it in the Rap game two decades since launching his career on Eazy-Es Ruthless Records. Backed by the funky sounds provided by his cousin, Big Hutch, a.k.a. Cold187um, of Above The Law, Kane unleashed 1991s Addictive Hip Hop Muzick and 1994s Funk Upon A Rhyme during his Ruthless tenure. And while the spitter/singer from Pomona, California would go on to release several more projects via a variety of different labels, his dolo output would be dwarfed by his astounding amount of feature appearances (reportedly over 1,800 total) on other artists offerings, (see: Above The Laws Kalifornia, Tha Eastsidaz I Luv It, Dr. Dres Some L.A. Niggaz, and Ras Kass Back It Up just to name a few.)
But now the hookman-for-hire is once again gettin it for himself with the aptly-titled Gimme All Mine, (due in stores tomorrow, June 1st). Speaking to HipHopDX recently from his homebase in Seattle, Kokane broke down the meaning behind some of the songs from his latest long-player. Additionally in his thought-provoking discussion with DX, the west coast O.G. chimed in on the old vs. new west debate, explained why Ice Cubes jheri curled past provides him the right to declare himself the west, and maybe most notably, Mr. Kane let it slip that Mr. Noble might be joining him for Dr. Dres grand finale.
HipHopDX: You were telling me before I started recording that you just got off the plane from [Los Angeles to Seattle after] working with Dr. Dre. Can you give me any information about what you were doing, or is that cloaked in secrecy?
Kokane: Thats kinda [cloaked] in secrecy. [Laughs] I wont let the cat out the bag.
DX: [Laughs] Can you give me an idea if you were camped out with him for a week or you were just there - -
Kokane: I was camped out for a couple days with him and [Aftermath Entertainment in-house producers] Chocolate and [DJ] Silk. Theyre working on the record, the Detox. And I just submitted a couple of songs that - So its looking real good, and shxts gonna be awesome All I can say, watch what that dude do. Man, its whew!
DX: Lets get to the questions I have specifically about what you got going on. First off, why do you think some cats on the west have wandered into the Twilight Zone ?
Kokane: The south kinda picked up from the west coastand had that unity. So I think it was more or less how the unity disbanded [on the west coast] And then you had the new cats come in which is a good thing, because we needed some type of presence on the west coast. But now that that void is being filled [with new artists], all the O.G.s are starting to hook-up. Its just like, I put out a mixtape, [in April called On The Backstreets], with [DJ] Crazy Toones, featuring Ice Cube, Snoop [Dogg], [WC] and Above The Law. And I was [at the same time] out mixing it up with Aftermath Redman was in the studio with us last night too [So] all the O.G.s is hooking up to go ahead and tell everybody, this is not neither new west[or] old west, this is just the west coast. You dont go to [the] east coast and say this is the new east coast or the old east coast So, its a good thing that the O.G.s are all coming back together like Above The Law just shot a video with them. And its gonna be a good thing. This year, and next year on, you gonna see some big stuff to come out [from the west coast O.G.s.]
DX: One of the O.G.s that is back on the scene[is] Tha Chill, and he gave you some heat for that Twilight Zone track.
Kokane: Aww yeah man! Thats Comptons Most Wanted, and you know what classic cuts they had And I just [was] like, hands-down I wanna put this information on [the track]. And I wanna go ahead and really speak from the ghetto pulpit, how I feel and my outlook on it. I can say [those things in the song] because I was a part of that pioneer movement, an intricate puzzle piece [in] putting the west coast together with my G-Funk sound. So I wanted to go ahead and give that testimony, and talk about Dr. Dreand talk about the homie Snooppaying homage to them, and saying to these new cats, you can learn like they did, its no difference. The importance of Cubes, and your Dres, and Snoops and myself, its not how we can put you on, its how you can learn how we did it... Why go give somebody a hamburger when you can learn to get a whole franchise?
DX: How are these cats on the west specifically fuckin up Eazy legacy, as you say on the song?
Kokane: Wellits many things thats out there. Its just like if you look at radio, they play a bunch of Techno stuff on there. Its not really the west coast like it used to be. If you go to - -
DX: [Interrupts] The D.O.C. had a Techno remix of [Portrait Of A Master Piece in 1989.]
Kokane: Yeah, well he had a Techno mix, but wholeheartedly the sound of the west coast is The Chronic. The sound of the west coast is Too Short. Eighty-five-percent of that sound is our sound, soits just that we gotta get back to the unity that we once had When you look at D.O.C., thats one Techno record [where] he probably had mixed it up for the world, international [audience], but 95% of D.O.C. stuff was west coast.
DX: Yeah, the greatest lyricist in west coast history is from Dallas, Texas.
Kokane: Yeah, exactly. And I dont like to put my ass up on my shoulders, but one of the chief architects of G-Funk is Kokane and I was born in [the] South Bronx, 1969.
DX: So when you say theyre fuckin up Eazy legacy, youre not saying we need to go back to Jheri curls and Raiders caps?
Kokane: Hell nah! We moved forward [Look at] the contribution that Ice Cube had [though], not only from a standpoint of west coast gangsta music which back then we didnt even call it gangsta music, it was [a writer] from the L.A. Weekly [who coined the term Gangsta Rap], we called it "Reality Rap." Eazy and them called it Reality Rap, [but] the media tagged it Gangsta Rap so everybody ran with it. But, the true essence of what you call Gangsta Rap is that sound, with that bottom-bass, that George Clinton feel.
DX: Is there space for U-N-I, Pac Division, the modern day Pharcydes?
Kokane: Right, right. So the good thing about it between the new cats and the older cats, or the O.G.s as you would put it, is that now were starting to perpetuate unity, because anger begot anger. And Ima say this for the record, gangbangin dont have nothing to do with selling records. So [by] the time all these walls come down, it [wont] allow the west coast to have boundaries. And thats what I was saying from [the] standpoint [of] its fuckin up Eazy legacy, because Eazy was the type Therell never be no Eazy! From his tree, from his loins, we are the fruits. Because if it wasnt no Eazy, it wouldnt be no Cubewouldnt be no 50 [Cent], wouldnt be no Dre, wouldnt be no Eminem! So he allowed us to take his blueprint, and principle, and our sound that we have of course with Dr. Dre being the chief architect [of that] to go ahead and push it out there again. So I guess it was a good thing that we went through that void for a little bit, but now we all realize that look, strength come in numbers [Now] you got cats thats mixing it up in the studio [again]: Cube is mixing it up with Dre, Im mixing it back up with Snoop and Dre And its a beautiful thing, because you gotta realize, wasnt nobody ridin Six-Fos like they was in the south like they doing now Its the whole culture, [and] its the whole respect for [it.] And when I was choppin it up with my boy Mac Boney andKiller Mike at Grand Hustle [Records]its not so much that south and east coast was hatin on [the] west, [it was] west coast artists hatin on [the] west, and west coast radio hatin on the west.
DX: Now, I seen you sportin the We Da West hoodie in the Twilight Zone video, and you shout-out Ice Cube on the track for always keepin it gangsta, so I wanted to get your thoughts on Cube declaring that he is the west for his upcoming album title.
Kokane: Him and Dre can say that He had the Jheri curl in 88/87, [so] he can say that. Him, Dre, or Eazy can say that. Even Too Short can say that.
DX: Ice-T.
Kokane: You see what Im sayin? Because theyre the pioneers See, the thing thats so kinda like bland to me is thathow come people say when you get a certain age yall should give it up, throw in the hat? Rappers be doing that, but then when you look at George Clinton, or you look at Ron Isley, they still gettin it, and they 70-years-old! So good music is good music, regardless if you been coming out 1987 on up.
DX: When Cube announced that his new album would be called I Am The West, he wrote that the west lost our way and was trying to cater to the south and Midwest. And on Twilight Zone you too note that, Its like the south came in and snatched the west heart. But Im just gonna be direct and ask you why then did you make tracks like Jelly Jar and Rollin Up On Hoez for your new album that sound like the pandering to the south that you and Cube are currently denouncing?
Kokane: Its not totally denouncing nothing Its not dissing; its telling the truth And at the same time, its a lot of real players out in the south, so therefore Do we wanna be that small-minded enough to close out the south? No. But do we wanna speak the truth? Yes, we do When I say its like the south came in and snatched the west heart [I] played that in front of all my folks, from T.I., to Mac Boney, to Tomcat, to [Gorilla] Zoe, and they said I feel you on that. Because they dont get the [feeling] of that Im dissing the south or denouncing the south They wondering whats going on with the west [like], Why yall cant hook-up? Why when we come out herewe dont hardly hear no west coast records unless you Snoop Dogg or E-40, or [an artist] waiting on Dre.
DX: You still take it back to the clap, mixed with the Zapp for most of Gimme All Mine, with a healthy supply of your signature George Clinton-esque crooning sprinkled around a lot more spittin than I think most cats know you for. Or as French Dude wrote in the comments to the Twilight Zone video post on DX: What? Kokane can rap? [Thought] he was just a singer. Nice song. [Laughs]
Kokane: [Laughs] Well see, people dont know really the contribution I had to add. And its a whole nother generation Sometimes when these kids, and the next generation, know that I was on [Bad Azz and Snoops] Wrong Idea, and know that I was with [Diddy] [on Lonely from The Saga Continues] too, or Busta [Rhymes on Ass On Your Shoulders from Genesis], or whatever song [I] had [back in the day], its just an enlightenment situation, because they didnt know.
I originally checked in the game as a B-boy. I started singing because I seen Parliament come down in the mothership in Oakland Coliseumway back then in the 80s. So [the singing] kinda like bloomed into something. And people gotta knowyou got your Drakesbut Kokane was really one of the first [emcees] to introduce singing and rapping on records.
DX: [And] shout-out to Nate Dogg.
Kokane: Oh much big-ups to Nate Dogg, man! Its two hook masters in this game, thats Nate Dogg and Kokane. As far as the most featured artist in the world, its Kokane. As far as the most featured artist on hot singles, its Nate Dogg. Thats the real.
DX: But you felt like for [your new] album you needed to get the rhymin out a little bit more?
Kokane: Yeah, man! Thats that New York B-boy style [from my birthplace], chillin in my B-boy stance. So I had to go ahead and go back there, to let everybody know And its crazy, brother, because a lot of people be like, Well, he decided to pick up and rap, but I been rappin My pitfall [as a solo emcee] was when Eazy died [and] that kinda stopped my own individual success, because he was the tree for us, man.
DX: Switching gears here, I gotta admit that I was genuinely surprised by your positive-without-being-preachy jewels you drop throughout a lot of the album, [like on Killing Fields], [and] maybe most notably on Made A Difference when you say, We need more leaders than bangers / We need more doctors than slangas / We need more teachers than sangas / More unity amongst the people instead of them flame aimin.
Kokane: I was always touching on it [in my music]. And it gotta be in ya and not on ya. I just felt like [I] gotta say something, because I love X-Clan, but I love N.W.A. I love D.O.C., but I love Public Enemy too. Soeven though you can shake ya ass, talk about something. Because its a problem when these kids out here are continuing to be raised by us and were not perpetuating some type of positivity.
DX: You punctuate the song by speaking to anyone who might be giving you flak about these topicswhen you say, Even if these niggas hate what I say, God knows I made a difference in the hood today. I noticed there are a few shout-outs to the Lord on the album, most notably on the smooth, self-explanatory Can A Thug Get To Heaven. Is Kokane making that transition to Gospel rapper?
Kokane: Oh, yeah. Everything in life is a process So the thing thats relevant for you to do in your walk with the Lord, and your personal relationship, is let God break the yolk He allowed me to be a work in progress. Because if you look at all those people from The Bible or The Quran, those people went through some horrific things to get transformed around I was in quicksand[and] when you struggle in quicksand you only sink more So [by] the time Iput God first, and put my family first, and [stopped] any guilt trip that I ever [had about anything that I did in the past], or anything that was hindering my purposeI got tired of struggling in quicksand. So that is the significance of me saying gimme all mine. Gimme all mine devil. Gimme all mine right back to the industry. Gimme all mine right back what you took from my family. Gimme my sanctity back. Gimme my mind back. Gimme my freedom back And I aint gonna say Im all perfect. Im gonna say Im a work in progress. Yeah, I still roll up O.G. kush. Yeah, I still got a couple songs on there talking about that life and what cloth I was cut from. But 85% of this album is talking about something [meaningful.]
DX: A perfect title for this album mightve been "Contradictions," cause youre clearly working through that duality of man on here. And [so] I gotta ask you about that linefrom Made A Difference: Twenty-thousand-and-ten bangin is played out / How you gon let a color interfere with ya paper route? But then on your joint with Above The Law, Lay You Down, you note that, My name is Jeremy Long, a.k.a. Kokane/Crip gang. And youre also C-Walkin in the Twilight Zone video, so is - -
Kokane: [Interrupts] Yeah because the thing of that is, is that you cant be a hypocrite, you gotta be honest And the reason why I move like this is just like the principles of Jesus. Jesus Christ never ministered to nobody unless he met a need of love. So therefore if I gotta go tell that youngster [like], Whats up, cuz? Whats crackin? Come here, man, I got his attention. Then I can say, Look what God did for you and me. Because its a balance.
Underground 2010/06/01 19:15
Tom Cruise Rocks The Stage With Black Eyed Peas
Churning out hit after hit with their last album The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas would seem able to have their pick of guest performers whilst on tour. So it was certainly a surprise to fans at the O2 Center in London on Friday (May 28) when actor Tom Cruise was the one on stage with the Hip Hop quartet.
The two aren't completely unrelated, as the Black Eyed Peas song "Some Day" is featured in Cruise's new film, Knight and Day - reportedly due to to the actor's request.
Cruise joined BEP on stage as they performed their hit single, "I Gotta Feeling," after which the group debuted "Some Day."
"Actually when they were performing, we all went to the show and Fergie sent a formal invitation to come onstage. She was like, 'Yo, don't be a wuss, you gotta come onstage for the last song,'" said Cruise of his appearance.
Tom Cruise Rocks The Stage With Black Eyed Peas
Churning out hit after hit with their last album The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas would seem able to have their pick of guest performers whilst on tour. So it was certainly a surprise to fans at the O2 Center in London on Friday (May 28) when actor Tom Cruise was the one on stage with the Hip Hop quartet.
The two aren't completely unrelated, as the Black Eyed Peas song "Some Day" is featured in Cruise's new film, Knight and Day - reportedly due to to the actor's request.
Cruise joined BEP on stage as they performed their hit single, "I Gotta Feeling," after which the group debuted "Some Day."
"Actually when they were performing, we all went to the show and Fergie sent a formal invitation to come onstage. She was like, 'Yo, don't be a wuss, you gotta come onstage for the last song,'" said Cruise of his appearance.
Underground 2010/06/01 19:17
Native Tongues Reunite On Dres' Upcoming LP
Apart from a few scant appearances like on N.E.R.D.'s She Wants to Move (Native Tongues Remix) with Common, Mos Def and Q-Tip, fans of the Native Tongues movement have been hard pressed to find members of the early-90s collective working with one another. Lucky for listeners, however, Black Sheep's upcoming album From the Black Pool of Genius will once again find the Native Tongues in the studio together on the song "Birds of a Feather."
Produced by newcomer Tough Junkie and featuring Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, Trugoy of De La Soul and Mike Gee of the Jungle Brothers, Dres of Black Sheep explained that the song is musical - and given his familial relation to Q-Tip - and literal family reunion.
"It's a long time coming," he said. "'Birds of a Feather' represents the beauty and strength of kinship and unity. Its even greater when your family is dope."
From the Black Pool of Genius is slated for a June 29 release and will feature guest appearances from De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Rhymefest, AZ, Jean Grae, Rosie Perez, Psycho Les of The Beatnuts, and Tough Junkie, in addition to production from the likes of Bean One, Showbiz, Tough Junkie, P. Locke, Urban Soul Music Group, and Willie Evans
In related news, Black Sheep's "The Choice is Yours" was featured in a commercial for the 2010 Kia Soul. The commercial continues Kia's hamster theme, this time featuring a group of hamsters rapping to the 1991 hit song.
Native Tongues Reunite On Dres' Upcoming LP
Apart from a few scant appearances like on N.E.R.D.'s She Wants to Move (Native Tongues Remix) with Common, Mos Def and Q-Tip, fans of the Native Tongues movement have been hard pressed to find members of the early-90s collective working with one another. Lucky for listeners, however, Black Sheep's upcoming album From the Black Pool of Genius will once again find the Native Tongues in the studio together on the song "Birds of a Feather."
Produced by newcomer Tough Junkie and featuring Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, Trugoy of De La Soul and Mike Gee of the Jungle Brothers, Dres of Black Sheep explained that the song is musical - and given his familial relation to Q-Tip - and literal family reunion.
"It's a long time coming," he said. "'Birds of a Feather' represents the beauty and strength of kinship and unity. Its even greater when your family is dope."
From the Black Pool of Genius is slated for a June 29 release and will feature guest appearances from De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Rhymefest, AZ, Jean Grae, Rosie Perez, Psycho Les of The Beatnuts, and Tough Junkie, in addition to production from the likes of Bean One, Showbiz, Tough Junkie, P. Locke, Urban Soul Music Group, and Willie Evans
In related news, Black Sheep's "The Choice is Yours" was featured in a commercial for the 2010 Kia Soul. The commercial continues Kia's hamster theme, this time featuring a group of hamsters rapping to the 1991 hit song.
Underground 2010/06/01 19:18
Wale Makes Amends, Performs At D.C. Black Pride For Free
Last week DX reported that Wales management had cancelled a performance for the D.C. Black Pride Legacy Festival, a gay pride event held at the Washington Convention Center, to which organizers felt was a direct slight toward the gay and lesbian community. However, come Sunday the D.C. rapper was on stage to perform for event attendees at no cost to the organizers.
Clearing up the situation, Wale told the crowd, ''One thing I stand for is Hip Hop music. And Hip Hop music knows no race, no color, no age, no gender, no sexual orientation . none of that. So, the most important thing about it is the music, and if it makes the people feel happy, that's what we hear.
He continued, I will say, sometimes in this business you get aligned with people that don't understand that, or don't necessarily have the same beliefs that you do. And I apologize for not having my best foot forward to understand the people I'm in business with. And I'm going to do better, as we all do.
Wale Makes Amends, Performs At D.C. Black Pride For Free
Last week DX reported that Wales management had cancelled a performance for the D.C. Black Pride Legacy Festival, a gay pride event held at the Washington Convention Center, to which organizers felt was a direct slight toward the gay and lesbian community. However, come Sunday the D.C. rapper was on stage to perform for event attendees at no cost to the organizers.
Clearing up the situation, Wale told the crowd, ''One thing I stand for is Hip Hop music. And Hip Hop music knows no race, no color, no age, no gender, no sexual orientation . none of that. So, the most important thing about it is the music, and if it makes the people feel happy, that's what we hear.
He continued, I will say, sometimes in this business you get aligned with people that don't understand that, or don't necessarily have the same beliefs that you do. And I apologize for not having my best foot forward to understand the people I'm in business with. And I'm going to do better, as we all do.
Underground 2010/06/07 15:44
Game Skips Shooting Video With Lil Wayne To Record With Dr. Dre
in a music sales climate where there are very few "sure things," may in the Hip Hop world would consider passing up the opportunity to record a music video with Lil Wayne.
That is, unless you have an opportunity to record with Dr. Dre.
That's the decision that Compton rapper The Game made, he related to MTV News recently. "I flaked on the video," said Game, referring to "Everything Is Red, which features Lil Wayne and Birdman. "Bird was like, 'Listen, daddy, you can come down here. Junior is gonna turn himself in next Wednesday. You can come down here. We can shoot the video before Junior go in. You just have that in the safe.' I blew it. I didn't make it down. Once he went [to jail], I was like, 'I can't use this.' I didn't want to save it, so I gave it away. That was like, 'Single!' "
Game defended the decision, explaining that, "When Dre is mixing, you don't leave. You gotta stay posted."
Game's The R.E.D. Album is due in stores later this summer.
Game Skips Shooting Video With Lil Wayne To Record With Dr. Dre
in a music sales climate where there are very few "sure things," may in the Hip Hop world would consider passing up the opportunity to record a music video with Lil Wayne.
That is, unless you have an opportunity to record with Dr. Dre.
That's the decision that Compton rapper The Game made, he related to MTV News recently. "I flaked on the video," said Game, referring to "Everything Is Red, which features Lil Wayne and Birdman. "Bird was like, 'Listen, daddy, you can come down here. Junior is gonna turn himself in next Wednesday. You can come down here. We can shoot the video before Junior go in. You just have that in the safe.' I blew it. I didn't make it down. Once he went [to jail], I was like, 'I can't use this.' I didn't want to save it, so I gave it away. That was like, 'Single!' "
Game defended the decision, explaining that, "When Dre is mixing, you don't leave. You gotta stay posted."
Game's The R.E.D. Album is due in stores later this summer.
Underground 2010/06/07 15:52
Supporting Cast of "The Chronic" Reunites For DPG's "100 Wayz"
Veteran west coast Rap group Tha Dogg Pound a/k/a D.P.G. is planning to release their seventh studio album this year, 100 Wayz. The work has been discussed since early 2008, and was reportedly initially intended for Koch Records release.
Although an exact date has yet to be confirmed, the tracklisting for Daz & Kurupt's latest has released, and finds the Long Beach duo working with some of the acts with whom they are most associated.
While Dr. Dre is not yet involved in the project, 100 Wayz does link D.P.G. with The Chronic alumni such as Snoop Dogg, Lady of Rage, Nate Dogg and RBX. Fellow former Death Row Records "inmate" Soopafly will also appear, as well as '90s west coast stars Dru Down and Butch Cassidy.
Once known for producing artists ranging from 2Pac to MC Eiht to Rick Ross, Daz told DX in March of 2008 that 100 Wayz will serve as a renaissance for his music-making abilities. "I got a new and improved sound, he revealed. [Im] just taking it back to the [essence] of Hip Hop breakbeats, all kinds of shxt. That hard bangin shxt. Over two years ago, Daz did say that Swizz Beatz and Hi-Tek were also contributing music. That is unknown at this time.
1. D.P.G. 2010 (feat. RBX)
2. All You
3. Dogg Pound Gangstaz
4. Another Clip (feat. Soopafly & RBX)
5. Sky's Tha Limit
6. Gotta Let You Know (feat. Nicole Wray & A-Dubb)
7. Good Pu**y
8. Cheat'n Ass Lover (feat. Nate Dogg & Dru Down)
9. I Fear's No One
10. I Don't Care (feat. The Lady Of Rage)
11. Do U Drank
12. Fly Azz Fucc (feat. Snoop Dogg & The Lady Of Rage)
13. Crazy N Tha Club
14. Spread Tha Luv (feat. Butch Cassidy, Celly Cel & Latoya Williams)
15. Otha'side Of Town (feat. Soopafly & Tokedasmoke)
16. 100 Wayz
Supporting Cast of "The Chronic" Reunites For DPG's "100 Wayz"
Veteran west coast Rap group Tha Dogg Pound a/k/a D.P.G. is planning to release their seventh studio album this year, 100 Wayz. The work has been discussed since early 2008, and was reportedly initially intended for Koch Records release.
Although an exact date has yet to be confirmed, the tracklisting for Daz & Kurupt's latest has released, and finds the Long Beach duo working with some of the acts with whom they are most associated.
While Dr. Dre is not yet involved in the project, 100 Wayz does link D.P.G. with The Chronic alumni such as Snoop Dogg, Lady of Rage, Nate Dogg and RBX. Fellow former Death Row Records "inmate" Soopafly will also appear, as well as '90s west coast stars Dru Down and Butch Cassidy.
Once known for producing artists ranging from 2Pac to MC Eiht to Rick Ross, Daz told DX in March of 2008 that 100 Wayz will serve as a renaissance for his music-making abilities. "I got a new and improved sound, he revealed. [Im] just taking it back to the [essence] of Hip Hop breakbeats, all kinds of shxt. That hard bangin shxt. Over two years ago, Daz did say that Swizz Beatz and Hi-Tek were also contributing music. That is unknown at this time.
1. D.P.G. 2010 (feat. RBX)
2. All You
3. Dogg Pound Gangstaz
4. Another Clip (feat. Soopafly & RBX)
5. Sky's Tha Limit
6. Gotta Let You Know (feat. Nicole Wray & A-Dubb)
7. Good Pu**y
8. Cheat'n Ass Lover (feat. Nate Dogg & Dru Down)
9. I Fear's No One
10. I Don't Care (feat. The Lady Of Rage)
11. Do U Drank
12. Fly Azz Fucc (feat. Snoop Dogg & The Lady Of Rage)
13. Crazy N Tha Club
14. Spread Tha Luv (feat. Butch Cassidy, Celly Cel & Latoya Williams)
15. Otha'side Of Town (feat. Soopafly & Tokedasmoke)
16. 100 Wayz
Replies: 96
#49 Rap BattleZ
Engage in lyrical battles with other 2wap rappers. Not for the easily-offended.