The Game On Dub Magazine For August
July 31, 2008
Check out The Game on the front cover of the August 2008 issue of Dub Magazine in stores now!
Album Cover: The Game - ‘L.A.X. (Special Edition)’
July 31, 2008
The Game will release a special edition of his third album L.A.X. on August 26th. This version will include two tracks not on the regular release plus bonus footage.
The video for Game’s ‘My Life’ featuring Lil Wayne will premiere in the next week.
Cam’ron Sells Juelz Santana To Def Jam For $2 Million
July 31, 2008
The never ending saga of the Diplomats internal struggles continue. Depending on who you ask, either everything is all good [click to read] or the crew is in shambles [click to read]. Although the future of the Dip Set is only known by those within the unit, the recent news of Cam’ron selling Juelz Santana’s contract to Def Jam certainly have cast a cloud over the collective.
According to Miss Info’s blog, the deal is in fact a reality and the video message sent out by the Best of Both Offices about Juelz returning means much more than originally perceived [click to check out video].
Miss Info asked Juelz via email about his move to Def Jam and Juelz responded with his own email that Info posted on her site.
“A! What??s good !! Yeah, I??m free!! And ready to do me!! But its still Dip Set 4 life!! Its just going to be a new chapter!!” he stated. Although he said that it was “still Dip Set 4 life,” he followed by addressing his relationship with Killa Cam.
“I have no hard feeling for Cam, after all, he did give me a chance!!! But I will say this I was loyal to him and he took advantage.”
What Santana exactly means by “took advantage” is unclear but it does show that the Dip Set still has internal issues with Cam. In the meanwhile, Juelz discussed his immediate future.
“Mixtape coming up soon, my solo mixtape (’the Reagan Era’),” he revealed
“I have a joint venture with Def Jam, a 50/50 deal,” he continued. “Yeah, it??s a new boss in town. Album is called Born to Lose, Built to Win!!!! (The rise of the skullgang).”
More on this as it develops
Big Boi Gets Political On ‘Luscious’ Lead Single
July 31, 2008
Outkast’s Big Boi is putting the finishing touches to his first solo album, “Sir Luscious Leftfoot … Son of Chico Dusty,” due in October via Laface/Zomba. The first single, the politically driven “Sumthin’s Gotta Give” featuring Mary J. Blige, was released a few weeks ago.
The song touches on rising gas prices and the war in Iraq. An accompanying video, with guest appearances from Hill Harper and John Legend, was serviced this week.
“I chose this song first because being in the game, I feel a responsibility to entertain but also lecture about life,” Big Boi told a room full of media insiders yesterday (July 30). “I’d rather get people to vote instead of running to the strip club.”
So far, the 16-track set features production from Organized Noise, Lil Jon, Scott Storch and Mr. DJ, while George Clinton, Too Short, Raekwon and cohort Andre 3000 make guest appearances. Cee-Lo is slated to appear on a track as well. “I’m six verses from being done,” the rapper says, “and I stand behind this motherf*cker 100%!”
Other tracks on the album include the guitar-laden “Night Night,” which addresses “those who have been sleeping on me”; the chopped-and-screwed “Daddy Fat Sax”; the cars-inspired “Dubbz”; the title track, on which Big Boi shares his thoughts on other MCs; the ladies anthem “Turns Me On”; and the street single “Royal Flush,” on which he rhymes, “I am the wrong n*gga to cross / and the fist n*gga to jam / with the AK4-7 over microphone in hand.”
Also making the cut are the tambourine-tinged “Tangerine Village,” which Big Boi says is “strictly for the booty club”; the drum-infused “Back Up Plan,” about infidelity (”although I don’t condone that, since I’m married”); the lullaby-like “Fo You Sorrows”; and the as-yet-unfinished “Hustle Blood,” written by Sean Garrett.
And while details were scant, Big Boi did share he plans to work on another OutKast album very soon. “I wanted to work on it first, but Andre thought I should work on my solo project first, so, I just followed his lead,” he said.
Outkast’s last album, 2003’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below,” has sold 5.7 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Ludacris’ Obama Song Strikes A Chord W/ Women’s Group
July 31, 2008
Atlanta rapper Ludacris has found himself in hot water as his new pro-Barack Obama song has offended women??s political group, WomenCount, who are now calling for a public apology.
As previously reported by SOHH??s Ya Heard blog, the ATLien??s political song ??Politics: Obama is Here?? takes a jab at previous Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton with the line ??Hillary hated on you, so that b*tch is irrelevant.?? Despite the minor mention, Barack??s camp immediately issued a statement claiming Luda should be ??ashamed of these lyrics.??
??As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn??t want his daughters or any children exposed to,?? the statement read. ??This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear.??
WomenCount, which has started a campaign called “Stop the Silence” in an effort to eliminate gender bias in the media, claim the song promotes hatred and sexist language.
??This is not an issue of being PC,?? said Rosemary Camposano, communications director for WomenCount, in a statement. ??This is about beginning the grinding and painful process of rooting this kind of hate language and behavior whenever and wherever it exists. The Democratic leadership have pledged to unhinge our nation from gender-bias, hate-language and misogyny and we are taking them at their word.??
WomenCount was established to ensure that women??s values and votes are counted in the political process. During this year??s election the group has run a series of ads for the presidential campaign and contributed to women??s candidates running for Congress.
As of press time there has been no word from Luda??s camp.
The Outlawz Say They Are “Greatest Rap Group To Do It”
July 31, 2008
Constantly referred to as the prot???g???’s of late rapper Tupac and repeatedly outshined by the late rapper’s huge celebrity, The Outlawz know all to well that credit isn’t always given where it’s due.
With their latest album We Want In The Outlawz are ready to prove themselves to the world.
“We not getting our credit right now,” EDI explained to HipHopDX.com. “Because we came up under Tupac he was such a bright star, but I feel that people overlooked the bright stars that were around him. In the end, we will go down as the greatest rap group ever to do this”
Formed by Tupac in 1995, The Outlawz consist of E.D.I. Mean, Young Noble, Kastro and Stormey; the New Jersey quartet has been featured on albums such as Better Days, All Eyez On Me, and Makeveli.
The video for The Outlawz’ title track off the new album “We Want In” is already being circulated on the internet and they couldn’t be more satisfied with the results of their project.
“‘We Want In’ the title track of the album is a statement. It says that we are long overdue. We’ve been on over 100 songs with Pac…and we want shine,” Outlawz member Noble told HipHopDX.com. “This project will definitely kick some doors open. The streets can’t understand why we haven’t been signed to a major label. They love us ’cause we make substance music that is real. We feel like we are better than we have ever been on this project.”
The Outlawz latest album We Want In will be released on August 5 in the United States, the UK, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. Following the release of We Want In, The Outlawz will hit the road for the Tupac Still Breathin Tour (tour dates yet to be released).
The Game Pays Macabre Tribute to Dead Rap Icons
July 31, 2008
The Game has paid a macabre tribute to his hip-hop heroes Tupac Shakur, Eazy-E and the Notorious B.I.G. in a new song - by stepping into their shoes for the last 10 minutes of their lives.The Los Angeles-based hitmaker claims the new track ??Never Can Say Goodbye?? off of his third album L.A.X. offers his version of the late icons?? final moments.
He explains, ??I wanted to be in Biggie, Pac and Eazy-E??s shoes the last 10 minutes of their lives, so I wrote verses as if I were. In their last moments, they knew they were going to die, or at least felt like they might.??
The Game insists he can put himself where they were before they passed - because he almost died after getting shot.
He tells King magazine, ??I got shot and felt like it was over for me. I??ve got something in common with them (Shakur, Eazy-E and Notorious B.I.G.), except I didn??t pass; I came back to life.??
Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. were both killed in shooting incidents in 1996 and 1997 respectively, and N.W.A. star Eazy-E lost his life to Aids in 1995.
Miami Insiders Weigh In On Rick Ross As C.O. Controversy
July 31, 2008
He professes to be ??realer than the fake?? but after images and documents surfaced on the net confirming his past as a correctional officer, Rick Ross?? authenticity has been challenged. While he??s repeatedly denied ever working as a C.O.; SOHH caught up with a few industry insiders in Ricky??s hometown to get Miami??s take on how the rumors will affect his career and see what his own streets are saying about the buzz.
Turns out, the talk is nothing new in the MIA.
??People have been saying he was a C.O. in Miami since he came out,?? said Ali Muhammad, the publisher of 21st Century Hustle magazine who also manages DJ ChipMan, a pioneering Miami street DJ.
Apparently the pictures weren??t anything new either.
??Everyone had knowledge of those pictures here in Miami,?? said femcee Jacki-O, who has been accused of leaking the photos, which she vehemently denies. ??Everyone knew of his past job or whatever.??
Regardless of who knew before, the world knows now. But some don??t think it??ll have any affect on the Trill rapper??s career.
??People forgot about R. Kelly,?? Muhammad pointed out. ??As long as Ross keeps making hot records that people want to listen to it??s not going to matter. It??s only a core group of people who will be saying he??s not real but most will like him for his music.??
Though it will inevitably matter to some, TJ Chapman a Florida DJ who is not from Miami, but is famous for breaking Southern rap tracks with his TJ??s DJ??s record pool - said he doesn??t see why it should.
??It doesn’t change the person he is,?? he said. ??Whether or not he was a corrections officer from ‘95 to ‘97 and now it’s 2008. That’s 11 years, man.??
Miami radio personality DJ Irie knows Ross personally and said anyone who does is gonna ride with him.
??He shows love to the people who have been supporting him,?? Irie said. ??He??s not one of these dudes who thinks he??s better than anybody else.??
And who??s to say Rick??s raps aren??t real, even if his was a C.O.?
??It’s very easy to be a correctional officer, and you in Miami, the cocaine capital of the world and you got all these big drug dealers locked up. They need a middle man,?? TJ pointed out. ??They still doing business on the streets, how do you know he wasn’t the connect? How do you know he didn’t get the connects from when he was working there to become who he is???
Whether the talk is true or not, everyone SOHH spoke with agreed, the rumors aren??t about to stop Rick.
??He??s had an amazing year so far,?? Irie said. ??As long as he keeps doing what he??s doing, he??s gonna continue to rise and be a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.?
House Apologizes For Slavery; Rappers React
July 31, 2008
Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen created the vote as one of his first actions as a new congressman in 2007.
The resolution was introduced after Cohen found out the Senate would not be able to do a joint resolution.
Cohen also made history as the first white lawmaker to represent a majority black district (Memphis) in over 30 years, and is also Tennessee??s first Jewish Congressman.
??Slavery and Jim Crow are stains upon what is the greatest nation on the face of the earth,?? Cohen explained to the Associated Press. ??Part of forming a more perfect union is such a resolution as we have before us today where we face up to our mistakes and apologize as anyone should apologize for things that were done in the past that were wrong.??
The resolution, while not speaking about reparations, acknowledges the responsibility of government in correcting the ??lingering consequences of the misdeeds committed against African Americans under slavery and Jim Crow.??
For Russell Simmons, who actively campaigned for reparations for African-American??s, the resolution is a step in the right direction.
??It??s just another statement that America is changing,?? Simmons told AllHipHop.com. ??It has changed enough to accept the fact that it is impossible to fully heal without acknowledging the past.??
The resolution also explains that Africans under the slave trade ??were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage.??
The resolution ends with a formal apology, stating the House ??apologizes to African Americans on behalf of the people of United States, for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow.??
Outspoken Atlanta rapper Killer Mike proposed his own interesting alternative to monetary reparations for slavery.
??When they start talking about reparations, let’s not make it about the money,?? outspoken rapper Killer Mike told AllHipHop.com. ??Let’s make it education based. I think every Black person in America should be able to go to college for free. I think they should have eight years to go after their Bachelor’s, Master’s, whatever they can get in those 8 years. And the reason why I say 8 is that some of those people are gonna be single parents [for example], and so I think they should have twice the amount of time the average kid in college takes. And for those people that’s too old or already got a degree, they should get a tax break for a certain amount of years.??
Cohen felt that with only five states formally apologizing for the atrocities enacted on African peoples, it was long overdue for Congress to acknowledge its role in creating laws that oppressed its own citizens.
Cohen is scheduled to defend his seat in an August 7 primary.
Snoop Releasing Debut From Dubb Union
July 31, 2008
Track listing is below:
1. Hata Talk
2. Welcome To The Majors!! (Feat. BJ)
3. Sign Language
4. Westurn Union!! (Feat. BJ & Daz Dillinger)
5. Don’t Like You Girl (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
6. We Both Know (Feat. Dion)
7. Dippin Thru
8. Turn It Up
9. Eusi Umoja (interlude by Minister Tony Muhammad)
10. Struggle (Feat. BJ)
11. Tear It Off
12. Bacc Talk (Feat. Dion)
13. Dub You!! (Feat. Kurupt & Traci Nelson)
14. Miles Away!! (Feat. BJ)
15. Getting Mines (Feat. Uncle Chucc)
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