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Jay-Z is ready to step out of retirement with Kanye West lined up to produce his new album.

Kanye let slip the news in an interview with Playboy Magazine, saying: "I'm producing Jay-Z's new album. I'm doing the whole thing."

Jay hung up his mike in 2003, following his massively successful Black Album, but rumours of a comeback never went away. Kanye has previously produced hits for him including six tracks from his 2001 album The Blueprint.

As yet Jay has not confirmed – or denied – Kanye’s comments.

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YOU ONLY GOOD AS WHAT YOU COME UP AGAINST

Ghostface Killah & MF Doom News



Ghostface Killah's Fishscale comes out on March 28 on Def Jam, and as the flashy king of slanguage tells it, he and Island/ Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid did not meet under the best circumstances but they have a relationship that works.

"He caught me in the hallway barkin'," Ghost said recently in New York. "N---as on the streets was telling me that they didn't know my last album, Pretty Tony, was out. I wasn't barking on L.A., but I was barking on [some employees]. Reid heard the commotion, came out of his nearby office and asked Ghostface what the problem was and how could he help.

"I had to tell him, 'I'm a live n---a. They treating me like a bird," Ghost explained. " 'I'm a legend. This is what I do. This is how I eat.' "

"He was like 'Yo, I'm new here too. I'm trying to make it work, too. But I'm glad you can come out and talk to me because that's what I need,' " Ghostface continued. "He likes to have a relationship with the artists, and that was the best thing any executive ever [said]. Then when I started visiting him on the one-on-one tip, he made a n---a feel like family. "

Pete Rock, MF Doom and the late J Dilla (a.k.a. Jay Dee, are among the Fishscale producers that Ghost hasn't worked with before.

"I didn't get no tracks from RZA," Ghost said. "RZA was doing his thing and I took it like I'm messing with a bunch of new n---as. I had RZA all my life."

Even though there are no RZA beats, Ghost said the whole Wu-Tang Clan, including ODB, are all featured on the Fishscale LP. Ghost's next album, on the other hand, might just be a collaborative effort between him and Doom. The two met while Ghost was on the Projekt Revolution tour with Linkin Park. Someone slipped Ghost a MF Doom beat CD, only it wasn't labeled MF Doom — it had the mysterious Metal Fingers name.

"I didn't know who Metal Fingers was," Ghost remembered. "So my manager was like, 'I'm gonna find him,' and it turned out to be MF Doom.

"He's a soul baby. He loves good loops," the hip-hop Ironman said. "Him, Mad Lib, they all in that camp. I got some beats from Mad Lib too, but I didn't use them yet. But Doom, he's a underground warrior. They love him for his beats, lyrics, everything. Being in the studio, he knows what I like. We are almost the same n---as. We are almost the same soul babies. I like to be different. I like a few beats n---as is putting out now, but I like old hip-hop. He's got a lot of that sh-- in his box and in his heart and soul."

Ghost says he's already recorded five or six records for the duet album with Doom and plans to do at least three more records with him for the project. There is no word yet on which label will release the album or when it will be out.

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Young Jeezy's Protégé Shot



Slick Pulla, an artist from Young Jeezy's Corporate Thugz Entertainment label, was recently shot close to a popular Atlanta pizzeria on Friday (February 10).

Sources say the shooting took place following an altercation between Pulla and an unidentified man. Word is the shooter, who was intoxicated, had been harrassing patrons at Slice, a pizzeria known for being a hot spot for Atlanta's top industry players. Pulla reportedly had words with the man, an upstart rapper from Tennessee, who apparently pulled a gun and shot Pulla at around 6 p.m.

Pulla was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and is presently in stable condition.

This doesn't mark the first time one of Jeezy's signees is involved in a shooting. In May 2005, Henry Clark III better known as Pookie Loc of Loccish Lifestyle was shot to death by Gucci Mane. Gucci claimed self-defense, contending he was ambushed by Loc and other assailants.

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Cool C Faces Execution

80’s rap artist Cool C, once a member of Philly crew The Hilltop Hustlers, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on March 9th. The former rapper, whose real name is Christopher Rooney, was convicted in 1996 for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Lauretha Vaird and has sat on death row since. The shooting occured during a botched bank robbery attempt with longtime partner Steady B, who is currently serving life for his role in the incident. Rooney is probably best known in hip hop circles for his 1987 track "Juice Crew dis" which took aim at Marley Marl’s legendary MC collective.

Here in NY a recent string of police shootings has prompted the death penalty nuts to call for even heavier penalties for suspects convicted of violence against cops, bringing to light their absurd contention that the life of a police officer is somehow more valuable than that of black, latino, or white victims of police violence. In December officer Bryan Conroy, who was convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of African immigrant Ousmane Zongo, walked away with a slap on the wrist sentence of 5 years probabtion and 500 hours of community service. Then people want to act like somebody is wrong when these racist, homicidal maniacs get clapped at. What I want to know is, where’s the death penalty for trigger happy scumbag cops?

quelle: http://nahright.com/news/2006/01/12/coo ... execution/

er ist einer meiner lieblings-oldschool-rapper... "glamorous life" ist der scheiss! perfekter song...

http://rapidshare.de/files/11617712/Coo ... e.mp3.html

noch mehr stuff gibts hier: http://www.xanga.com/FunkyPimp

If you've been wondering where Fabolous has been, DX has the answer.

While the emcee has appeared in various videos, we haven't heard an official album release from him in quite a while. Apparently, the wait had to do with his label situation.

According to close associate, DJ Clue, Fab's been hard at work and he's ready to sign on with Jay-Z.

While speaking about a mix-tape to MTV, Clue opened up about Fabo's future.

"[Fab's contract with Def Jam] is almost official, but it's not, like 100 percent inked and signed. But it's almost there. It should be official within the next couple of weeks," he said.

Soon, we'll find out if Fab will join the likes of Ghostface, Nas, Juelz and Young Jeezy on Def Jam's roster.

Until his album's actual release, some mix-tape joints may keep listeners in tune with Mr. F-A-B.

"We were in the studio working on his mixtape — he's got a mixtape coming out next week, Clue admitted.

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YOU ONLY GOOD AS WHAT YOU COME UP AGAINST

LL Cool J Reveals 'Todd Smith' On New Album



March 21 has been set as the release date for LL Cool J's 12th Def Jam album, "Todd Smith." His first self-titled affair features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, 112, Ginuwine, Freeway and Juelz Santana, with production by Timbaland, Pharrell, Scott Storch and Trackmasters, among others.

A video for Jermaine Dupri-produced lead single "Control Myself," featuring Jennifer Lopez, was recently shot in New York and Atlanta by director Hype Williams. A spring tour is also in the works.

"Todd Smith" -- taken from the rapper's given name, James Todd Smith -- will be the follow-up to 2004's "The Definition," which peaked at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 747,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

LL Cool J discussed the new album during a recent interview for a Billboard Stars special feature that will appear in the March 11 issue of the magazine (on sale March 3).

"All I can really do is what I do and what comes natural, what I love," he said when asked if, as a veteran artist, he consciously tried to appeal to a younger audience. "If you pay attention to that, then hopefully someone should be able to relate to it. Whatever project I'm involved with, I try to make it positive and fun and as cool. I just make it to my taste, in other words, and go from there."

And with more than 20 years of rap seniority under his belt, the artist said the difficulty comes in innovating and reinventing each time around.

"The challenge always becomes trying to do the best work you can, trying to make the best music you can, trying to do something that's really exciting -- and at the same time not repeating yourself," LL said. "So it becomes more and more of a challenge for me. I don't take it for granted. That's why I like to work with a lot of talented people."

Having already tackled film and television, LL is also venturing into fashion with the launch of two new signature collections. He premiered his high-end line Todd Smith and the active wear line TS last week during Olympus Fashion Week in New York.

Here is the "Todd Smith" track list:

"It's LL and Santana," featuring Juelz Santana
"Control Myself," featuring Jennifer Lopez and Jermaine Dupri
"Favorite Flavor," featuring Mary J. Blige
"Freeze," featuring Lyfe Jennings
"Best Dress," featuring Pharrell
"Preserve the Sexy," featuring Teairra Mari
"What You Want," featuring Freeway
"I've Changed," featuring Ryan Toby
"Ooh Wee," featuring Ginuwine
"Down The Aisle," featuring 112
"We're Gonna Make It," featuring Mary Mary
"So Sick" (Ne-Yo Remix featuring LL Cool J)

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Little Brother News



Last Wednesday (Feb. 8), Atlantic Records and rap group Little Brother, among others, held the first Hip-Hop Summit at North Carolina Central University (NCCU).

The one-day event began at 9AM and ended at 5pm, and included panel discussions with artists like Big Pooh, Phonte, and producer/DJ 9th Wonder, on a multitude of topics related to the entertainment field.

The summit sessions included were “Hip-Hop’s Impact on Popular Culture,” “The Exploitation of Women in Hip-Hop,” “Getting in the Game,” “Journalism: Creation through Words,” “Fashion is My Passion,” “Radio Workshop,” “Production 101” and “NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music Entertainment): The Women Factor.”

There was also a "Music Appreciation" Panel, where Little Brother engaged in a one-on-one meeting with the members of the Boys and Girls Club, a "Meet and Greet" with the students and panelists, and a "Free Style / Talent Search" where students were able to display their crafts to panelists and attendees.

The purpose of the summit, which was organized by Sherise Malachi, NCCU alumni and the international promotions coordinator for Atlantic Records, was to shed light on the current state of hip hop and discuss the social issues that exist throughout the culture. 9th Wonder, aka Pat Douthit, felt that it was important for the students to see how hip hop has changed and how it has "lost" some of it's cultural value and expression.

"Greed is behind hip hop's current emphasis on violence and sexual exploitation," explained 9th Wonder. "The current generation of hip hop fans should remember its beginning in the 1970's, when early artists sought a way to give inner-city kids a form of cultural expression."

A majority of the summit focused on many of the topics that the group, Little Brother, raps about on their latest offering, The Minstrel Show.

“To me The Minstrel Show is ultimately about responsibility," explained Phonte, a 2001 graduate from NCCU. "As rappers, we have to take responsibility for what we say, and for the images we portray to our people. If not, we're doing essentially what minstrel shows did: perpetuating negative images and reinforcing those negative stereotypes,” he further added.

At the end of the summit, NCCU’s chancellor, Dr. James H. Ammons stated his intentions to make the summit an annual conference on the campus.

"I'd like to let you know that we have plans for an annual hip hop summit that has intellectual discussions on the campus of North Carolina Central University," said Chancellor Ammons.

In related news, Little Brother, who met while attending NCCU in 1998, recently wrapped up their first North-American tour promoting their latest release, The Minstrel Show. The group is set to hit the road again on February 22 in Los Angeles with The Dilated Peoples.

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Mos Def in Child Support Trouble



Mos Def is facing a whole new danger.
The rapper/actor is having trouble paying his $10,000 monthly child support payments, and went before the Supreme Court in Brooklyn yesterday to explain the circumstances of his late payments, according to The New York Post.

Mos had been ordered by a judge to pay $10,000 a month to support the seven- and eight-year-old daughters he had with estranged wife Maria Yepes-Smith. In the two months since the court order, which went into effect January 1, Mos has been short close to $2,000 each month.

"I'm the only person who's providing for my children," Mos said in court.

Karen Blaustein, a lawyer for Yepes-Smith, was not sympathetic. "I've bee seeing him in these commercials with Bruce Willis for his new movie," she told the Post. "I'm sure he made enough money to pay his child support for his seven- and eight-year-old daughters."

"It's the best he can do under the circumstances," Mos' attorney, Steven Goldfeder, said during the hearing. "He has several children. He's always provided for them."

Mos has three other children.

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BUSTA RHYMES STATEMENT



Busta Rhymes has finally made a statement about the deadly shooting on the set of his video last Sunday that claimed the life of his 29-year-old bodyguard, Israel Ramirez. But despite pleas from the police to talk, Rhymes' comment was about his friendship with Ramirez, not a statement to authorities.

"I have sent my condolences to the Ramirez family during this time," Rhymes said in a statement issued by attorney Robert Kalina. Ramirez who was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest on the set of the video for Rhymes' remix of his song "Touch It."

Rhymes praised Ramirez in the statement, saying he was "one of the rare friends that you come across that you can trust with your life. ... The conversations I have had with Izzy's wife have all been focused on comforting her and helping her get through this. To that end, I've assured her that I will be taking responsibility in making sure that my friend, a devoted husband and a loving father, is laid to rest in a proper fashion."

After a family wake was held on Wednesday, Rhymes was one of the guests at a second wake for Ramirez on Thursday in New York. "He put out his condolences, and that's it," said Alex Echavarria, 34, a friend of Ramirez's, according to The Associated Press. Ramirez's funeral was scheduled for Friday (February 10). Also in attendance at the wake were other artists who were on the set of the video the night the bodyguard was shot, including Missy Elliot and G-Unit's Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks.

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Jay-Z Chats With Roc Fans; Reveals Foxy Brown Had Surgery




Rapper Foxy Brown has undergone ear surgery and is in the process of recovering her hearing, Def Jam president Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has revealed.

Of the Def Jam-signed artist, Jay-Z said, "She just had an operation out in L.A. and hopefully within the next couple of weeks her hearing will slowly start to come back."

According to her doctor, Brown lost hearing in both ears because of a condition called "sudden sensorineural hearing loss," a rare condition that remains permanent without treatment.

Recovery time is expected to be brief, but the time frame varies per person.

The revelations came as Jay-Z engaged with fans in a live chat on the Roc-A-Fella Records website Wednesday (Feb. 15), allowing fans to ask a myriad of questions.

The topics ranged from rival Cam’ron to Nas to Freeway’s involvement with G-Unit, among other topics.

The artist in the Def Jam president came out when he was queried about the possibilities of recording a new album.

"I don't know this time about doing a new album, although I'm itching to do one. We'll see," Jay-Z said.

Jay-Z also commented on the status of current Def Jam artists The Roots, Freeway, Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek.

"I've always had a friendship with [drummer] Ahmir [Thompson]," Jay-Z continued. "We've done a lot of work -- Unplugged, different concerts. I just felt that he was the one to lead that whole Def Jam movement. He led the movement that was considered to be neo-soul. I hate that word but you know what I mean."

Jay-Z also revealed that a tribute song for producer Jay Dee, who recently passed away from complications due to lupus, was being planned.

"They had made a song dedicated to him before he passed and we're gonna put that out in honor of him," Jay-Z revealed.

Both Beanie Sigel and Freeway are still recording for Roc-A-Fella Records, where Freeway is putting the finishes touches on a collaboration album with G-Unit with Jay-Z's blessings.

Sigel is currently negotiating a deal for his own record label, while Memphis Bleek is working on a new clothing line and a possible career acting in movies.

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Common News

After letting it Be with his last album, Common is going with a more evocative title for his follow-up, Finding Forever.

"Finding Forever really means to find a place in music where you can exist forever," the rapper said last week, "Music can be forever if you make it from the heart, if you make it from the soul and it's good. And I look at music like Bob Marley's or Marvin Gaye's or Stevie Wonder's or A Tribe Called Quest's, that's forever music. And I'm continuing on the quest to make forever music."

Common is just starting to record what will be his seventh studio release, but he has a clear plan already laid out.

"I want to work with Kanye again," Common said. "And I would love to work with Dr. Dre because it'll be something fresh for me, because I feel like he's someone who is a classic producer. I like people who can consistently do it throughout time and be great, and I feel that Dr. Dre is one of those individuals."

Common is touring now through early March and is scheduled to perform at Coachella on April 29, but he's most likely near the end of promoting last year's Be. If there is another single, it will be "They Say" featuring Kanye and John Legend, "but right now I think we're moving [on]," he said.

The Chicago rapper, who has done a few television guest spots over the years, is also expanding his acting résumé. He just finished filming "Smokin' Aces," a crime drama due later this year that also features Alicia Keys in her theatrical debut (and Ben Affleck, Jeremy Piven, Andy Garcia, Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta;. And Common will hit the big screen March 3 as a performer in "Dave Chappelle's Block Party," directed by Michel Gondry.

"My hat line, Soji, is coming out too," Common added. "I know I've been talking about it for a minute, but it's coming now."

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B.G. Is Back With New Album and Video




.G. has reunited with former Cash Money mate Mannie Fresh on his forthcoming album, The Heart of tha Streetz Vol. 2 (I Am What I Am).

Due March 21 via Chopper City Records/Koch, the album's lead single, "Move Around," was produced by Mannie Fresh. The video for the single, which was filmed in Atlanta and New Orleans, premieres today (February 20) on Yahoo Music! It will also appear on BET and MTV Jams soon.

Since leaving Cash Money in 2001, B.G.'s career has had its share of ups and downs. The New Orleans native struggled with a heroine addiction, lackluster sales, and a recent arrest in Michigan. However, as Co-CEO of Chopper City Records along with partner, Carol Dorsey, the original Hot Boy hopes to prove that he is still a force to be noted in the rap game.

"Everything that I've been through qualifies me to be the heart of the streets," said B.G. via a statement. "Everybody knows my history and my background, so I've got the right to call myself the heart of the streets. I've been in the game since I was 14. This is my tenth solo project; nine solo albums, three Hot Boys albums, and gang of underground discs. I ain't but 25 and I'm already a legend."

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50 Cent To Sign Public Enemy, Black Star To G-Unit Records for Black History Month
NEW YORK — While Public Enemy and Black star are both widely regarded as two of hip-hop's most consistently excellent groups, neither has been burning up the sales charts lately. For years they've said, and their fans have echoed, that with the right label push, the top of the Billboard charts would become familiar territory.

Both acts, now free agents, may be getting their best shot at moving those elusive units by aligning with 50 Cent and his G-Unit Records. On Saturday in Brooklyn, where 50 was directing — singer Olivia's new video for "Twist My Back Out," he told MTV News that by Presidents day he will definitely have signed both groups to to his G-Unit label.

He said he's "very close" to signing both Public Enemy and Black Star which consist of Mos Def and Talib Kweli. "I'm ready to expand and do other things," 50-Cent explained. "Creatively, there are certain artists out there I respect. I've been listening to their music for a long time. I wanna work with them. I want to be able to put my full effort into it, but I can't work for it unless it's in both of our best interests, and that's with them being signed to G-Unit as a record company. It'll be serious. We've got a chance to go do some exciting things. It's time for Mos Def and Chuck D to get their PIMP ON "

Talib Kweli agreed. "We've been talking to 50 for a minute, maybe 2 days," he said. "Initially we were gonna sign to Interscope. After a while we saw it best [to sign] with 50 because of the style of music [we do]. We sat down with 50 and he let us know what he could do for us. We're satisfied with the move. I don't know how other people are gonna feel about the move. It's probably gonna be a lot of hate in people's blood, but we don't give a f---. We're gonna continue making our music. I feel we have a bigger platform. I can't wait. The adrenaline is pumping, its real Krunk in here. I just wanna get it started. I always wanted to pimp some hoes and sling some hydro on tracks, even if I never lived it, its very exciting to rhyme about. Everybody has been waiting for Chuck D to spit some gang banging lyrics and if he is going to be on G-Unit he will have to do that."

"The material I've been hearing from both of those ends lately, it's dead right," 50 said. "It's exactly where it needs to be right now. I know I can put them in a good position where they could become priority."

50 reiterated that neither group is officially signed, but if he does woo them in time, he may bring one or both on tour with him. I already measured Chuck D and Mos Def for Bulletproof vest and a business man like me never waste any money."

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YOU ONLY GOOD AS WHAT YOU COME UP AGAINST