The Official Rap Thread

[Masa]

Ghostface Killah and Common Pay Homage To J Dilla Via New Album!

"BBE Records has announced that they will release producer J Dilla's posthumous album, The Shining, this July.

Dilla (born James Yancey) had completed the majority of The Shining before his untimely passing due to health complications related to lupus on February 10. His mother, Maureen Yancey, entrusted Karriem Riggins, Dilla's friend/frequent collaborator, with completing the final pieces of the project.

The Shining features appearances by Busta Rhymes, Common, Pharaoh Monche and Madlib, among others. It is also accompanied by a DVD celebrating Dilla's life and work, produced by Okayplayer Films' Brian Atkins.

"This album is inspired by and represents love," Riggins said of The Shining. "All the artists that contributed to this project Dilla considered family and when the world hears it, they will see that the love bleeds thru the music."

Later this year, Jay Love Japan, another Dilla album, will be released on Operation Unknown. It features completed collaborations with Ghostface Killah, MF Doom, Skillz, Madlib, Busta and more.

Hip-Hop fans and artists around the world have been showing J Dilla and his family love since they found out the shocking news. Last month, Justus League affiliate Skyzoo released "Sky's Last Donut," a tribute song to the fallen beatsmith.

Donations on behalf of Jay Dee's mother can be made to Mrs. Maureen Yancey, and sent to 132 N. Sycamore Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036, or by bank wire to Wells Fargo Bank of Los Angeles, CA, Routing Number: 122000247, Account Number: 6043250676, 800-869-3557.

J Dilla's The Shining will hit stores on July 11."

[Masa]

DJ Premier and Christina Aguilera      

Aguilera Looks 'Back' On Upcoming Album

Christina Aguilera receives musical assistance from an unlikely collaborator on her upcoming album, "Back to Basics," due in June via RCA. Gang Starr principal DJ Premier produced five songs for the project, which finds Aguilera paying tribute to the music that inspired her: soul, jazz and blues from the 1920s, '30s and '40s.

"It was kind of a shock because I was like, 'How the hell does she know about me?'" Premier recalls of his first conversation with RCA about the album. "I'm one of those guys that really doesn't expect pop artists to really be up on me. My first question was, 'What does she know about me?'"

It turns out Aguilera was familiar with some of Premier's jazz-influenced work with Gang Starr in the late 1980s and early 1990s, especially the song "Jazz Thing."

"It had elements of Miles Davis and Billie Holiday and little horn pieces," Aguilera says of the tune. "The way he combined that, I was like, 'Hm. I bet he would get where I'm trying to go with this record.' It was taking a chance. God knows if he would even do it because it was kind of his first time, I think, even venturing into the 'pop' world. I knew that it would be a different and new thing for him."

Aguilera says that her work with DJ Premier is new territory for both of them and continues her legacy of taking creative chances with her music. Likely single "Ain't No Other Man," produced by DJ Premier and Charles Roane, clocks in at 127 beats per minute -- most pop and rap songs rarely exceed 10 -- -and features energetic horn blares. Another song, "Thank You (Dedication to Fans)," finds Premier slicing up pieces of Aguilera's first hit, "Genie in a Bottle," and pairing them with voice-mail messages from Aguilera's fans.

These songs gave Aguilera the sounds she desired and allowed her to fulfill another one of her mandates. "The thing that I try to do with each record, I don't necessarily go to the main people that are the No. 1 chart-toppers in music," she says. "I really like to go left field, think a little bit out of the box and go with someone, maybe a little bit more obscure, that I really respect. Not to say that Premier is that, but just to say that I'm not going to go to the obvious person, say, the Neptunes, Pharrell or Lil Jon. I really like to go someplace different that people haven't approached."

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002198977


Seriously, what the fuck?!  

[Foxy Brown]

A judge halted sales of Notorious B.I.G.'s breakthrough 1994 album "Ready to Die" after a jury decided the title song used part of an Ohio Players tune without permission.

[daigong]

A judge halted sales of Notorious B.I.G.'s breakthrough 1994 album "Ready to Die" after a jury decided the title song used part of an Ohio Players tune without permission.

DAMN. A little too late isn't it to milk the Biggie Gravy train

[daigong]

R.I.P. Eric “Eazy-E” Wright (1964-1995)



11 Years ago. March 26, 1995. The hip hop world lost a legend. Eric "Eazy-E" Wright, father of Gangsta Rap, founder of N.W.A. and Ruthless Records (funded from his own drug money and prototype of the rap moguls today), and Compton's finest lost his battle with AIDS. He was only 31.

Only 5'3" ... Eazy-E is a  giant in rap history.

For more info, visit his official site at http://www.eazy-e.com or the wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eazy_E

[Foxy Brown]

The city has agreed to pay $1.1 million in legal costs to the family of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. because of police errors during a wrongful death case brought against the city and the LAPD.

[hide321]

The city has agreed to pay $1.1 million in legal costs to the family of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. because of police errors during a wrongful death case brought against the city and the LAPD.

Great! That's a very small step (the killer of Biggie needs to be discovered, even if that person/people are already dead or in jail) for the family to get their retribution.

[daigong]

Gotta PIMP Kardinall Offishall. Official supporter of JPH!P :lmao:



Here's this is his 1st album featuring hits like Bakardi Slang + Ol Time Killin. My fave track is Maxine
DOWNLOAD
http://rapidshare.de/files/15859876/Kardinal_Offishall_-_Firestarter_volume_1_-_Quest_for_Fire.zip.html

thx to Mochanutz, peep his 1st indie album
DOWNLOAD
http://rapidshare.de/files/15838769/Kardinal_Offishall_-_Eye_I.zip.html

Hunting for his recent mixtape album and any other singles.

[Masa]

RZA Speaks on Cuban Linx II
RZA released some exclusive information on Cuban Linx II to Wu-Tang Corp today. RZA promises the fans it will be a real classic, Raekwon is said to be in his most murderous vibe of writing and the songs are coming along lovely. The whole Clan (minus the late ODB) is confirmed to appear on the album. The next street single after the well accepted "State Of Grace" will probably be the RZA produced "Secret Inditement". Although RZA is sceptical about outside producers making the final cut, there are a few that have a good chance of getting on there.

With respect to the late J.Dilla, the song "House Of The Flying Daggers" is a candidate for the album. Scram Jones has also shopped his beats to Raekwon and RZA. The one producer everyone is wondering about however is Dr.Dre. RZA and Dre were in the studio last week together going through a mass amount of beats. So far, according to RZA there are 3 songs produced by Dre that both Raekwon and RZA are feeling heavily. These three songs are recorded, mixed and done!

One of the songs features Raekwon, Busta Rhymes and RZA together over a booming Dre beat! Whether this song will make the album is still uncertain. Raekwon however is confirmed for the Busta Rhymes album and RZA says the new Busta album is absolutely crazy. The song featuring Stevie Wonder is his absolute favorite and he urges all Wu fans to cop that album and support Busta who is also a very close and loved brother to the Clan. Furthermore RZA said hes very happy for Ghost to get the respect and first week sales he received for "Fishscale". He added that "if people liked the Ghostface album, they are gonna LOVE the Cuban Linx part II album."

http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=678

[MochaNutz]

Hunting for his recent mixtape album and any other singles.

dang, i totally forgot about giving you that one.  Here it is

http://rapidshare.de/files/17707414/Kardinal_Offishall_-_Kill_Bloodclott_Bill_Volume_1_Mixtape.zip.html

[daigong]

^ YEAAAH BABY!! thx man. lost u on IRC. KARDI's expression when that Tim guy won Much VJ! I gotta see again  

RZA Speaks on Cuban Linx II

http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=678

Dre. Busta. RZA!!    

Hey. just noticed the official site is back! Finally. and my username "daigong" still works after all these years. AND they use vBulletin. Time to do some JPH!P pimpin.

[MochaNutz]

http://www.hiphopgame.com/news.php3?id=1259

D-12's Proof Shot and Killed in Detroit

Rapper Proof of the hip-hop group D12 was shot and killed this morning at an illegal afterhours club on Eight Mile, police said.

Proof, whose real name is Deshaun Holton, was dead on arrival at Conner Creek Medical Center in Detroit, according to a spokeswoman for St. John Health System. He was 32.

Proof befriended Eminem long before he was a houshold name, and was a nearly constant presence as the rapper rose to superstardom. He toured with Eminem as his on-stage hype man, was a member of his group D12, had a bit role in the "8 Mile" movie and served as the best man at his wedding in January.
An unidentified 35-year-old man, who was shot along with Proof, is in critical condition at Detroit's St. John Hospital.
Police were called to the shootings around 5 a.m, following reports of a fight and shots fired.
The club where it occurred is called 3C, and it's at 8 Mile near Hayes. The club isn't illegal but it was operating illegally after hours.
This is the second shooting involving Eminem's entourage in three months.
Another Eminem affiliate, Obie Trice, was shot and wounded New Year's Eve while driving along the Lodge Freeway.
Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call Detroit Police at 313-596-2260.

 

D12 kinda sucked, but still, another fallen member in the hip hop game.  Personally I thought Proof was the best one besides Eminem.  R.I.P.

[Masa]

R.I.P. Proof

And then some good news:

Nas/ Rakim Collabo In The Works


Over the years, Nas and Rakim have frequently been compared to each other, both for carving out their own respective niches and for their profound influence on the rap game. But they'd never sat down for a joint interview — until last week, and MTV News was there.

The historic event wasn't short on historic news, either: As our cameras rolled, the two solidified plans to collaborate officially on record for the first time. (Both MCs were featured on a 2003 studio version of Alicia Keys' song "Streets of New York (City Life)" (see "Alicia Keys Locks In Nas, Rakim For New Album"), but the track was never officially released and has been relegated to mixtapes.)

And with both MCs currently crafting their latest LPs, the rapper known as "The God" posed the collabo question to God's Son.

"I'mma ask a question," Rakim said to Nas and everyone in the room. "Me and Nas, we been talking about this for a long time. Our people around us been talking about it and the whole world [has been talking about it], but it's about time, man.

"We gotta do a joint together, man. We gotta do a joint."

"We got to," Nas answered with a smile.

"I'm working on my sh-- now, I know you working on yours, I got some things in my mind," Rakim continued. "If it's both [albums we collaborate on], that's even better. Let's think about that in the next few weeks."

"Yeah dawg, that's done," Nas responded before the MCs began exchanging numbers. "It's done. I'm glad you brought that up."

"MTV, you got it first," Rakim said with excitement. "Hopefully we'll find the right chemistry and right track — because you know [Nas] as well as me, we not going to do it if it don't make sense. [It's gotta be] on and poppin'. I just wanted to get that out of the way, because it's [been] a long time coming."

Rakim said his forthcoming LP, The Seventh Seal, should be wrapped up within the next two months. He said he's teamed up with some investors and has started up his own label; however, his new LP will be distributed through a major label.

"I just wanted to feel free with the way I like doing what I do," Ra explained. "It's hard to do an album where Rakim is pleased, the label is pleased and the world is pleased. I figured [going the independent route], I could do it because I know what the world wants. Hopefully I'll be able to give it to them."

Meanwhile, Nas is tight-lipped about his forthcoming LP, which is his first offering under the Def Jam umbrella (see "Nas On 'Partnering With' Jay-Z: 'I'm Ready To Go — I'm Ready To Kick Ass' "). Rakim is just one of many in the hip-hop community anticipating Nas' next album.

"I always respected Nas," Rakim said. "He was always a lyricist, and I always respect a true lyricist. Me and Nas got a rapport, we go back. He used to come up to Power Play Studios [located not far from Nas' home base in the Queensbridge neighborhood of New York City] when I was working on my early albums. Watching him grow, and having respect for him and getting respect from him, is a beautiful thing."

It goes without saying that Nas and Rakim are two of the best MCs of all time — but did they make it onto MTV's "Greatest MCs of All Time"? Keep checking "The Greatest MCs of All-Time" feature throughout the week to find out — and don't miss "Unveiling the Kings: The Five Greatest MCs Of All Time," premiering on Sunday, April 16, at 3 p.m. on MTV2.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1528276/20060410/nas.jhtml?headlines=true

[daigong]

LOL Rakim was with Aftermath forever


RIP Proof...next HHH we'll have a tribute show.

[MochaNutz]

The shooting at a Detroit night club that led to the death of Proof early Tuesday morning remains under investigation.

D-12's Proof was killed in a double shooting just after 4 a.m. at the CCC after-hours club on Eight Mile Road, according to police. The second victim, former U.S. Army Sgt. Keith Bender Jr., remained hospitalized on life support Wednesday morning, Local 4 reported.

Police have not released details of their investigation, but witnesses said Proof pulled out a gun and shot Bender, and then someone else shot Proof, Local 4 reported.

Police said they are looking for at least one other person in connection with the shooting, and a murder weapon.

"I was not there, so I cannot tell you what happened. All I know is that it shouldn't have happened," said Bender's aunt, Deborah Bender.

Fans have created a makeshift memorial of flowers, stuffed animals and messages to pay their respects to the rapper outside the night club.

"It's devastating," said Steve Young, a friend of Proof.

Funeral arrangements for Proof have not yet been announced.

Bender was recently discharged from the military because of a heart condition, Local 4 reported.

Proof shooting first?  If this is true, it changes my view on it.  Maybe he deserved it then...

[ctz]

Well, kinda cruel to say that he deserved it, but he definitely lost my respect.

[daigong]

damn Proof...:evil:

I still haven't seen Fishscale for sale here...

Any Vancouverites going to see Raekwon this weekend?
http://www.wutang-corp.com/news/article.php?id=679

[daigong]

This is a while back but I missed the Junos - Canadian ver. of the Grammys.

Kardinal Offishall To Boycott Future Junos
Monday April 03, 2006 @ 07:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Kardinal Offishall is considered by many to be Canada's official hip-hop ambassador, but his diplomatic tenure at the Juno Awards has officially come to an end.

The rapper says he's never going to attend a Juno Awards show ever again.

"I'm not going to be the Juno's monkey no more," he said from the red carpet of Sunday evening's Juno Awards broadcast. "I'm not coming back any more."

Offishall, who has one win for the six Juno nominations he's garnered since 1997, cites Canadian hip-hop's low profile at this year's awards as the catalyst for his decision.

"Really, to me it's really atrocious what they do to hip-hop in this country and what they do for the artists," he said. "And it's one of those things, I just feel like the token hip-hop artist from Canada."

This isn't the first time a Canuck hip-hopper has had issue with the Junos. Back in 1998, Vancouver group the Rascalz refused to accept their best rap recording award because they felt that the genre had been marginalized and kept off the televised portion of the awards show due to racism.

This year, although dance act Massari, R&B songstress Divine Brown and American hip-hoppers Black Eyed Peas all had performing slots during the show, no urban music awards were actually presented in front of a TV audience.

"For urban music in this country, I mean, not only was hip-hop not televised, but also reggae and R&B," said Offishall. "To me, it's sickening — and then they have the nerve to bring in a hip-hop act [Black Eyed Peas] from outside the country. I just had enough.

"The Black Eyed Peas are huge and if I was getting paid as much by the Junos as they were getting paid, I'd be here too," he said. "It has nothing to do with the Black Eyed Peas."

Offishall had performed to a music industry audience during the Saturday evening non-televised Juno Awards gala ceremony and also teamed with Sophia Milman to present the artist of the year award to Michael Buble on the TV show.

"They had me perform last night and give away the award — to me it's all a farce," he said. "I really can't put up with it anymore.

"It's not even that it's embarrassing, it's just disappointing. It doesn't matter what you do in this country, for me anyway, they don't recognize what I do.

"It's just a bunch of garbage so I won't be a part of it anymore."

http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/04/0307.cfm
--------------------
Straight up. They didn't even put on weak ass R&B acts like Shawn Desmond and Massari?? Sheesh.. and they get Coldplay guy to appear. Hate to say this, but even the Muchmusic Video Awards is more Canadian.

[Mugen]

which vancouver? the one in BC or WA?

[daigong]

Y'all seen this?? Looks interesting...


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EK5DEE/

-------------
TRACK LISTING
-------------
1 - Clinton Sparks Intro
2 - Kanye West Intro - Coronation [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
3 - Kanye West, Bump J & Sly Polaroid - Freestyle
4 - Pharrell & N.O.R.E - Yeah n**** [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
5 - Busta Rhymes feat. Dr. Dre - Look Who [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
6 - D-Block feat. Sheek, Styles P & Jae Hood - Take Everything [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
7 - Diddy & Notorious B.I.G - Welcome To Bad Boy [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
8 - Kanye West - So Offensive [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
9 - Freeway feat. Jay-Z - R.O.C. Too Strong [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
10 - Notorious B.I.G - Rap Phenomenon Pt. II [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
11 - Lil' Kim - Get Touched [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
12 - Kanye West - Blow Your Mind [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
13 - Nas & Jay-Z - Twin Towers [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
14 - D-Block feat. Styles P - Ready To Dump [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
15 - Slim Thug - Round Here [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
16 - D-Block feat. Sheek Louch - Set It Off [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
17 - Alicia Keys (Live On SmashTime Radio/Shade 45 with Clinton Sparks)
18 - Ludacris & Shawnna - He Said, She Said [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
19 - Mike Jones & Slim Thug - H-Town [prod. by Tombstone & Clinton Sparks]
20 - N.O.R.E feat. Pharrell - Watch Me Now [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
21 - Kanye West - Sophomore Slump (Interlude)
22 - Busta Rhymes feat. Pharrell - Followers [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
23 - Q-Tip - Freestyle (Live On SmashTime Radio/Shade 45 With Clinton Sparks)
24 - Kardinal Offishall - GFN [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
25 - Kanye West & Busta Rhymes - Love To Hate [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
26 - Peedi Crakk & Young Chris - Freestyle (Live On SmashTime Radio/Shade 45) [prod. by Clinton Sparks]
27 - Papoose - Freestyle
28 - Remy Ma - Freestyle (Live On SmashTime Radio/Shade 45 With Clinton Sparks)
29 - Bossman - Untouchable [prod. by Clinton Sparks] (Baltimore)
30 - L.T. - Rain When Its Hot (Boston)
31 - Kanye West Outro
32 - SmashTime Radio // Get Familiar
33 - Edison Chen - Get Familiar Freestyle (CLOT, Hong Kong)
34 - Sway - No Doe, No Show (UK)

Edison WTF?? Stupid tycoon's son  :evil: