Metal Lungies

Hate it or love it the MTV VMA’s are still the best award show in town (at least for us, sorry VIBE award fans). They know how to market a show as best as anyone as evidence in the pic above. They hooked up with a Dave LaChappelle for a series of photos to promote the show, and having a history of being big on Rihanna’s pop prowess (looks aren’t too bad either) we had to post. Kanye also shot a set of photos (we’ll share those when we get em).That we can definitely guarantee won’t be modest. Speaking of Kanye, we kinda want the Justice video to win video of the year just to see what he’ll do, both videos are dope.  In the end how can you hate on an institution that brought together 50+Vivica, Nas + Kelis, Snoop+ 2 randoms.

The VMA’s air live on 9/9/07 @ 9pm.

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Bermuda-bred dancehall artist Collie Buddz drops his self-titled debut tomorrow, off the strength of his first single, “Come Around”. You know the song — “finally de erbs come arowwwnd!”

Though I wish dude the best of luck, it’s worth pointing that introducing one’s self to the masses with a weed anthem of such epic proportions as “Come Around” can be equivalent to digging one’s self a hole for self-burial. Sometimes, artists pigeonhole themselves by coming out with a weed-anthem-first-single, so when their next single strays from the topic, people are like, “What gives?” Other times, these artists are true-to-form as being weedheads, and pretty much have no memory and/or work ethic for putting out a quality second single (I’d consider Afroman a prime candidate for that). Peep the following examples of artists who have made classic songs about weed, and not much else. And, unless you’re just mean like that, let’s hope that Collie doesn’t follow in their footsteps.

Download: Afroman – “Because I Got High”

Download: Channel Live – “Mad Izm” featuring KRS-One

Download: The Luniz – “I Got 5 On It”

Download: The Luniz – “I Got 5 On It (Remix)” featuring Dru Down, Richie Rich, E-40, Shock G & Spice 1

[At least The Luniz had the foresight to make a massive remix to their hit. Collie Buddz is off to a good start in that regard, with a “Come Around” remix featuring Young Buck and Tony Yayo, and another remix featuring Paul Wall, B-Real, Shaggy, Aztec and Ray Cash.]

Download: Mista Grimm – “Indo Smoke”

Download: RBL Posse – “Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed”

[And while we’re on the topic of forgotten rappers and marijuana — hold your head, Paperboy. Before there was ever a Diddy, there was the Ditty.] Sphere: Related Content

Apparently, before you get to stand under Rihanna‘s umbrella (ella, ella, ay, ay), you need Poppa Hova’s approval. According to People magazine, Jay-Z “screens” all of Rihanna’s potential dates:

“I just found out from a mutual friend that guys will talk to Jay first before they try to approach me… He’s very protective. Jay has my best interests in mind. If it’s a good guy I know Jay won’t shut him down. But if he’s not, Jay will be like, ‘No, no, no.'”

So young, so naive. Myself previously having been a potential suitor of Rihanna (… oh, just play along …) who has been through this so-called screening process, I’m calling “bullshit” here. I spoke to Jay about trying to set up a date, and I found out the real reason why he’s keeping tabs on the young star. And also, don’t think for a minute that Jay’s really spending time trying to “screen” dudes for Rihanna — I never even got to see Jay in person, only speaking to him through an intercom (on some Charlie’s Angels shit) and honestly, I don’t even think Jay was on the other end, it was just someone playing lyrics of his. Peep the transcript and see for yourself…

Read the rest of this entry »

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That’s what Eminem did… and to Michael Jackson, no less. [Pause for the customary “no homo”]

XXL reports that the “King of Pop” just purchased a portion of Eminem’s catalog, and now controls the publishing rights to some of Em’s most popular records. Jackson was first put on to purchasing publishing rights to music back in the ’80s by his buddy Paul McCartney, and he showed his appreciation to Paul by soon after purchasing much of the Beatles’ catalog, and later refusing to sell them back to Paul, greatly damaging their friendship. Last I heard, there might have been some negotiations between Jackson and McCartney to work something out, in the wake of some “legal fees” that Jackson has incurred in recent memory.

There’s lots of money to be had in publishing — money that Eminem might not need at the moment, but may be interested in several years from now. If Jackson wouldn’t mind losing a good friend over keeping his valuable Beatles’ publishing rights, I doubt that he’ll have much sympathy for Eminem — a man who dedicated an entire music video to mocking Jackson’s legacy, legal woes and lack of a certain facial feature used for smelling. [And if Jackson’s purchase means that the planet will forever be rid of that godawful song, then I applaud Michael for his actions.] Sphere: Related Content

You think of what you were doing at age of 19 (or what you will be doing) and chances are you weren’t releasing your third album on Def Jam. You weren’t working with hit-producer Timbaland, soulful singer-songerwriter Ne-Yo, or sexyback-bringer Justin Timberlake. You weren’t a spokesperson for Covergirl or Nike. Damn, did you even have a job at 19?

Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad, slated for release in early June on Jay-Z’s Def Jam Recordings, hits the sweet spot somewhere between a widely accessible album and showcasing the talent of Rihanna and her legion of ace collaborators. In an industry where sometimes the emphasis seems to be who can get whom to produce the hot tracks, Good Girl seems to just have a solid set of club-bumpable songs without all the hype.

Still in this up-tempo album there’s variety. “Umbrella” pays tribute to Rihanna’s undeniable Dance Hall roots, “Don’t Stop The Music” and “Breakin’ Dishes” are guaranteed to get you on dance floor (or if you are like me and have 0 moves, then looking at the dance floor). “Rehab” and “Hate That I Love You” depart from this high-synth low-bass sound, exploring a more soulful sound – but still manage to be up-tempo.

And if you didn’t have a job at 19, you’re bound to have one now, and this album is well worth your cashish.

-JP

http://www.thisisrihanna.com

Recent and Upcoming Albums
5 June 2007 – Good Girl Gone Bad
4 June 2007 – Good Girl Gone Bad [UK Digipak w/ Bonus Disc of Remixes] Sphere: Related Content

I just came back from a nasty bout of the flu and as soon as I find something newsworthy it has to be this………N*E*R*D* is no more. The Supergroup broke up after a stream of management conflicts at Virgin Records. This is a sad day in music history, N*E*R*D* was a group who broke out of the boundaries of Rock and Roll, mixing the musical genius of the Neptunes (which Chad and Pharell are also part of) with a talented band whose members looked good on paper and sounded great on wax. They could play hip hop, rock, r+b, techno, and just about anything else. The group has no animosity towards each other and do not cite personal differences as a reason for disbanding the group. On Radio1 (where the split was announced) the group said they might still release songs they record together and bootleg them to the internet. I hope they do this and show that bastard record company that the label does not control the music. Don’t get me wrong I would kill for another studio record, but if that means compromise, then fuck it. On the other hand, if no new music ever comes and I am forced to listen to “Fly or Die” and “In search of….” in a constant loop then I will claim the head of a Virgin Music Executive.

If you love producers, and I know you do, then you need to cop that upcoming Motown Remixed album. This album is basically taking 15 Motown classics and remixing them for the Hip-Hop Heads. The album will feature:

– The Randy Watson Experience: Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson and James Poyser – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Gladys Knight & The Pips)

– DJ Green Lantern – “Mary Jane” (Rick James)

– Salaam Remi – “ABC” (Jackson 5)

– DJ Z-Trip – “I Want You Back” (Jackson 5)

– DJ Jazzy Jeff – “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” (The Temptations)

– DJ Spinna – “Keep On Truckin” (Eddie Kendricks)

– Hank Shocklee – “Smiling Faces Sometimes” (Undisputed Truth)

– Easy Mo Bee – “Just My Imagination(Running Away With Me)” (The Temptations)

– Mocean Worker AKA Adam Dorn – “I Just Want To Celebrate” (Rare Earth)

– Hotsnax AKA Full Phatt – “The Tears of A Clown” (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)

– King Britt – “War” (Edwin Starr)

– DJ Smash – “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (Stevie Wonder)

– Da Producers, including Paul Simpson – “Let’s Get It On” (Marvin Gaye)

– Rafe Gomez and David Baron as The Groove Boutique – “Quiet Storm” (Smokey Robinson)

– Tranzition (everyANYTHING) – “My World Is Empty Without You” (Diana Ross & The Supremes)

The album, which will also be complemented by an Unmixed Version, will drop May 24th.

Speaking of producers, you also need to head over to the Priceless Productions webpage. These are some MoCo guys who make some hot beats. My Four Favorites from their new shit are: Late Night, Girl, How I Feel, and Dismatled. “Late Night” sounds like the beat for the next Dipset single, classic. Check Em’ Out and tell em’ what you think.

Track of the Day (In Memory): N*E*R*D*- Maybe

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Queen Bee is going away!!!! Lil Kim was found guilty of perjury and conspiracy. She was found not guilty of Obstruction of Justice. What does this mean for Hip Hop!? I DON’T CARE!!! The Bitch has like two songs I like, one of which is “Money, Power, And Respect” which is a Lox song anyway. But seriously, this is a huge loss for Award Shows everywhere. How could we ever forget the classic moments:

We will miss this shit………

In other news, anyone who thought that the first Gorillaz album was a heat rock should be happy because on May 24th the hybrid group is set to release their next LP, Demon Days. Word is De La Soul, and the Madvillain MF Doom will be appearing on the album. Watch out for production by Danger Mouse.

I heard about this shit today at school but I couldn’t believe it till I saw it. Yes ladies and gentlemen this is a vacuum but not just any vacuum, this one costs $500 dollars!!! The reason this consumer obscenity came to my knowledge is because I found out today one of my teachers actually bought one of these. Now, I have no problem with the person but if my future spouse were to buy one of these IT HAD BETTER CLEAN UP SIN!!! You see this shit will be on the next episode of Cribs. I can see it now, Joey Crack’s custom Dyson Vacuum, completely pink with the Terror Squad logo on the oustide. You ain’t a gangsta till you got a Dyson.

Track of the Day: Q-Tip ft. Busta Rhymes and Pharell- For the Nasty

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