Curren$y and Don Cannon - Where is Smokey Robinson at?

I don't even really know what this is all about. I just like Spitta's voice. Pause.

Brother Ali interview

If y'all ain't already copped 'Us', please do yourself a favour. Then listen to Mr Ali talk about said album.

Ghostface Killah speaks on the Chris Brown/Rihanna sitch

Ghost's new album is real. Always entertaining to hear him speak. Cop that new shit.

Dude Perfect

Effing wow. Incredible. Dude Perfect are a bunch of blokes who go to wild places to hit insane basketball shots. Kinda like Jackass with more brain cells. Peep.

Nas speaks in the UK

NAS | LIVE FROM LONDON @ THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL from Roy Thomas on Vimeo.

Great, yet short, interview with Nas, spotted @ Smoking Section.

I gotta say though, this is the first I've heard of the 'Empire State Of Mind' drama and I actually didn't even think about Nas not featuring on OB4CL2. Someone mentioned a 'Verbal Intercourse 2'??? Goddamn.

Weezy turns 27...

Untitled from DERICK G on Vimeo.

Word to his life. LOL @ diamonds on a fucking cake!

Jay-Z Explains the Blueprint Trilogy

Jigga speaks. Real.

Why Emilio Rojas Is Better Than Your Favorite Rapper…

Spotted over @ Kevin Nottingham.

Emilio stays the shit. Peep the spit and the interview...

"Emilio Rojas stopped by FatBoyRadio recently and dropped a little freestyle [see above as he goes in at the 1:16 mark]. They also talked about his upcoming mixtape with DJ Green Lantern, his transition to NYC, how hip hop is changing, being a Latin emcee, haters, Recession Proof and more. Catch the interview after the cut… and look out for our own new interview with Emilio coming soon. The Natural drops next month!"

Keelay and Cook Classics Jam Session

Keelay and Cook Classics Jam Session from gregthedude on Vimeo.

Spotted @ The Audacity Of Dope.

This is fresh. Shouts to Hyph on this one. And look out for appearances from Tunji and Cook Classics on future Movement Fam projects...

"Pretty self explanatory…the homies Tunji, Kam Moye, Jern Eye, and Evangillest rocking rhymes over live production from Keelay and Cook. Shout to GregTheDude on the visuals!"

Raekwon – Have Mercy feat. Beanie Sigel (Video)

Spotted @ 2DopeBoyz.

Freshness. Latest official video from Rae's arguable classic 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2'. I really dig this joint, video is dope.

Brother Ali, Evidence, Toki Wright & BK-One – The Freshest Kids (Video)

Spotted @ 2DopeBoyz.

Man, Rhymesayers are on some shit. Wish tours like this came Down Under. Peep the video above to promote the tour. The boys are on some cypher shit. Dope.

Melanie Fiona - It Kills Me (Video)

This woman is incredible. Great video, amazing song.

Brother Ali - Us (video)

Wow. This is incredible. I'm such a huge fan of this MC, and this album is incredible. As Kev noted, I'm not sure if it's part of the official video for the song or an album teaser but either way, it's brilliant. Cop that.

Justin Bieber - Heartless/Successful

Whoa. Where did this kid come from? Incredible. I'm about to YouTube that...

Oh. OK. Here's the video for the single 'One Time'. Not what I expected. Peep Justin's YouTube for more acoustic stuff. And he's 15. Not bad.

J. Cole speaks on Drake and his buzzzzz

This is some seriously diplomatic shit from J. Cole. Speaking on Power 106 in LA, the hosts blatantly call Drake 'mad overrated', yet J comes smoother than that (pause). And goddamn, 'Lights Please' has GOT to be one of the tracks of the year.

Mayer Hawthorne - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out

Been reading the buzz about this cat for a minute on the blogs, thought I'd finally check it out. Interesting stuff, I feel it...and they actually released the red, heart shaped 7" single as well. Oh and dude is out through Stones Throw, so I'm extra keen to hear more.

Toronto legend Theology 3

The big homie Theology 3, the coiner of Toronto's nickname 'The Screwface Capital', is on his game right now. Y'all might have checked for the '50 Bars Same Pattern' video we posted back in May, so here's a bit of an update - two free downloads to promote his digital EP 'Featuring...No Features' coming next month.

From the man himself:

"Thank you to all the DJ’s and fans World Wide that have continued to show love for the burgeoning movements over the past year! Here is the 2nd PROMO JOINT leading up to the October 2009 digital release of THEO3’s “FEATURING…NO Features” E.P. Big Sproxx constructed a smooth head nodding rhythm to compliment some Life Living observations from the mind of Emcee Theo3. The Result is BE READY! Please Forward, Post, Blog, Spin, Retweet and most importantly marinate on the tunes yourself. A massive daps goes out to Super Engineer and Tru Fam BLAOW from World Rydah Studios who constantly chefs up the goodness."

Download Theology 3 - Be Ready (produced by Big Sproxx)

Download Theology 3 - It's Light Work (produced by Big Sproxx)

Drake - Forever feat. Lil' Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem (Video)

Props to OS for coming through with the premiere!

Brother Ali's 'Us' Midnight Release

So Brother Ali dropped his new album 'Us' (which is amazing, by the way) at midnight in North America. Do yourself a favour and cop that.

Also, the video above is Evidence from Dilated Peoples, who apparently joined Rhymesayers. Well there ya go.

Joss Stone - Free Me (new official single)

I effing love Joss. Here's the new single from her latest album...Peep the info (Spotted @ Honey Soul):

"After a major contract dispute with her former record company EMI Joss Stone is finally releasing a new album “Colour Me Free” on October 20th.The first single is aptly titled Free Me. In the video clips below Joss talks about finally releasing new material and we hear the new single. The album will be sold digitally and at U.S Target stores and will feature guest appearances from Nas, Raphael Saadiq, Sheila E., Jeff Beck and David Sanborn."

A Dozen Things About Emilio Rojas

A Dozen Things About Emilio Rojas from Ruby Hornet on Vimeo.

Emilio is the shit. Watch him.

U-N-I and Ras Kass @ House of Blues

About to check this out, but it looks fresh. The homie Ras and U-N-I rippin' it at House of Blues in LA. Boom.

Model Monday Feature: Christina Carter

Yup. We been slackin'. But thanks to Ms Christina Carter's Googling game, we're back in it! The beautiful NYC native, Bay Area resident found us during her ongoing grind, and we're very happy she did. Check the stunning pics and interview below, and don't forget to get at her on Twitter!



1. What’s your name? Christina Carter



2. Where are you from? Originally Harlem but raised in San Francisco Bay Area.



3. How many years have you been modeling? One.



4. What are the misconceptions people commonly have about models that are untrue? That we’re extremely vain empty headed people, but many are students, etc that just enjoy this kind of work.



5. What shows, videos, magazines, etc. have you been featured in? I have been in videos by Bay Area Rappers The Jacka “Glamorous Lifestyle” and Kafani feat. Dorrough and Gucci Mane “Get That Dough”, I was Based Magazine Beauty of the Month for June and July, Online Features: Hoodgrammys.com – Hoodgrammy Model, prolificsociety.com – Eye Candy section, South Carolina Music Network July Model and VJTV (Visual Radio Network Television) Poster Model.



6. What photographers have you worked with? Mainly Bay Area Photographers B2DPoint Photography and AthruZ Photography.



7. What photographers would you like to work with? That list is soo long lol. Definitely Frank “Hot Sauce Donalds” and Frank Antonio out of New York and Slickforce Studios in Los Angeles.



8. Can you describe the grind of a model trying to break into the industry? I think making the right connections and maintaing professionalism are key to getting you somewhere, network, network, network



9. Any words for the ladies out there that have aspirations of entering the modeling industry? DO IT!

10. What's your plans from here? Right now I am preparing for magazine submissions and getting my website together.

11. How can folks contact you? For bookings/info contact booking@stallionmodels.com. To view my online portfolio you can visit www.modelmayhem.com/christinacarter813, and to chat hit me on Twitter!

“Pursuit Of Happiness” - G.O.O.D. Music + Sprite Green + RSVP Gallery Event in Chicago

Aight, this looks real as hell. Damn I wish we got it like that Down Under...Peep the info after the jump.

Spotted @ Smoking Section.

"Sprite Green hosted the grand opening of the R.S.V.P. store here in Chicago on Saturday by souping up a rooftop in downtown Chicago and bringing almost the whole G.O.O.D. music label down to perform."

Cudi's Set Minus Day and Night from Brandon "N2ition" Riley on Vimeo.

R.I.P. DJ Roc Raida

WTF??? I just saw this on the blogs. Wow. This year is getting insane. Man I even interviewed Roc Raida a few years back, dude was nice as hell. I don't even know what to say, we've lost way too many legends this year. Rest In Peace.

Peep the article from The Boombox below for details:

According to reports, legendary X-Ecutioners DJ Grand Master Roc Raida died this morning at the age of 37. Though very little information about the turntablist's death is available at the present time, the following statement was made by his representative; "The legendary Grand Master Roc Raida has passed away this morning...Family and friends will miss him dearly. Please give the family their privacy."

Busta Rhymes, for whom Roc Raida DJ'd, also tweeted about the universally respected turntablist's passing, saying ""I am sorry 2 say that on this day at 2:05 Sept 19th we lost another incredible life...Dj Roc Raida died 2day my personal Dj is gone... I just wanna thank everyone 4 ur love and support and ur prayers...We will never let ur name die Roc...We love u and will 4ever miss u...RIP."

Neither Busta nor Roc Raida's rep revealed the cause of the DJ's death. His rep denied rumors that his passing was the result of a car accident, as previously reported, saying only that he had been hospitalized last week, and that his death was "unexpected."

Roc Raida was a founding member of The X-Ecutioners, also known as The X-Men, a DJ crew who brought east coast turntablism to the forefront in the mid-90's.

Raida was also a respected producer, who released six solo albums in addition to his work with the X-Ecutioners, and worked with artists from Ghostface, Fat Joe and Black Thought to Linkin Park and Pink. He will be missed.

Nature documentary (snippet)

We got hit with this via YouTube. QButta put together a documentary on New York MC Nature, which looks pretty fresh. Kinda random but Nature been a quiet achiever over the years so I'm keen to check this one out.

Mos Def defends Kanye West (audio)

Mos has 'Ye's back. Real.

Emilio Rojas: Recession Proof [No DJ/No Tags]

Now this is freshness. Big homie Emilio Rojas done released a version of his dope mixtape 'Recession Proof' from earlier this year sans DJ and tags, so y'all get the full songs. Fuckin' boom. New mixtape 'The Natural' coming soon!

Spotted @ Kevin Nottingham.

Download Emilio Rojas: Recession Proof [No DJ/No Tags]

Danny Diggs: Introducing EP

Now this shit is finna be heat. The homie Jermiside put us onto Danny Diggs when we were in Atlanta with him last year, and dude been had heat. And most definitely, look out for myself, Bekah and Notion who did a joint with Jermiside for the collab album with Danny, so hopefully we make the cut!

"Irish producer Danny Diggs drops this free EP entitled Introducing featuring guests Jermiside, Shad, Akrobatik, SoulStice & more. Diggs & Jermiside have a project together called Middle Class coming soon as well. Tracklist & link after the jump."



Spotted over at Kevin Nottingham.

Download Danny Diggs: Introducing EP

Madonna feat Lil Wayne - Revolver

Wow. So Wayne done did a song with Madonna. I don't even really know what to think about this. It's not entirely horrible. I just dunno. Check it out.

Download Madonna feat Lil Wayne - Revolver

Theory and Mario

Big ups to the homie Theory for his feature article and interview with the voice of Mario (you know, from the video games), Charles Martinet, at the request of Nintendo Australia. Dude since been in demand.

Check out the interview, audio and photos for the Mario/Charles Martinet interview at Vooks.net.

"R.I.P. to FEMALE EMCEES" Eternia & MoSS - Road to Release EP#11 feat. MC LYTE & JEAN GRAE

After a few weeks break, the homegirl E is back with another video blog. Her vlog game is vicious right now.

Mark Finds His Goddess

Looks like the creepiest dude on the internet recently found his true love, or his "goddess" as he calls her. Great news though, he's accepting backup applications! Who said romance was dead?



What an, um, lady killer.

Kanye Apologizes

Didn't take long did it? Go on TV for a quick apology and what have you got? Plenty of publicity and not too many extra haters. Well, not a lot more than dude already had, anyway.

Kanye Does It Again

This is almost old news already, not just because it happened on MTV and has been all over various media but because its Kanye - "the only player that got robbed but kept all his jewellery". I'm surprised anyone even cares, to be honest. The man has carefully crafted a reputation for throwing tantrums at award shows.



Most awards are already irrelevant anyway, but the VMAs have got to be somewhere near the bottom of the list. Who gives a toss? I'd say that Kanye needs to realise these award shows are nothing more than a back-slapping public relations exercise, but I think he probably gets that. After all, why else would a teenage girl who likely had nothing to do with artistic direction of a music video be accepting the award for it? If it wasn't clear before, I'm pretty sure the man is knowingly highjacking a farcical PR event and taking all the attention for himself. Then again, maybe he is just an impulsive idiot.

Kanye already apologised for the interruption on http://www.kanyeuniversecity.com/blog/.

Pacewon & Mr. Green: The Only Colour That Matters Is Green

Remember Pacewon? You may have first heard him featuring on Cowboys by The Fugees. Maybe you heard him a few years later on Redman's Malpractice album. Most of you would have heard his banging track I Declare War from the High School High soundtrack. He's always been around but never really delivered anything amazing until last year's collab with producer Mr Green. It stands as one of my favourite albums of 2008, period. Damn shame nobody heard it.

Here's five videos, in the order that the tracks appear on the album. Believe me, each and every one of these is banging. And when did you last see five videos from an underground album anyway? Next level...

Jay-Z - "Answer The Call" at Madison Square Garden

Here's the whole benefit concert Jay-Z held in honour of the victims of 9/11. I love the internet.

Basketball Hall of Fame 2009

Sorry for the lack of recent posts, folks. Big Cee has been away on Realness Tour '09 and the rest of us need to pick up the slack.

Anyway, this year's class of Basketball Hall of Fame inductees could not have been any bigger if you grew up in the NBA's golden era like me. I don't think I really need to say much about Michael Jordan except that he's the greatest ever to pick up a basketball. Every other great NBA dynasty has had a dominant big man, and I mean DOMINANT. It's a big man's game after all. Jordan won six chips playing with such centers as Bill Cartwright, Will Perdue, Bill Wennington and Luc Longley. I own the Ultimate Jordan DVD boxset and the Chicago Bulls Dynasty boxset and regularly watch both over a mug of warm milk before bed. Sayin'.

But this year's class wasn't just big because of MJ. The other inductees were "The Admiral" David Robinson (shown below being dunked on by Lil Bow Wow, would have been one of the greatest players never to win a championship if Tim Duncan didn't land in his lap in '97), John Stockton (was one of the greatest players never to win a championship, being the all-time leader in both assists and steals), Jerry Sloan (perhaps the greatest coach never to win a championship). Hey it ain't their fault Jordan was playing at the same time. Legendary women's coach C. Vivian Stringer, who took three different college teams to the Final Four, was also inducted.

Been Had Fitted Hats

More Been Hads, this time from Jose Hustle. They don't quit.

"Feet Are Funny, Aren't They?"

I was having a Twitter debate the other day about old school rappers and new school rappers dissing each other. I'm kinda of the opinion that it's fine (if you've got a proper reason) as that's just the nature of an emcee: bragging; battling; brawling.

I just don't like it when new school rappers (or fans) don't have respect for the greats. Even if they're wack now (or were always wack) you still gotta give them a certain level of respect, right?

Case in point: Eazy-E. He didn't write his own rhymes. He could hardly spit them. Go back and listen to Straight Outta Compton and try telling me with a straight face that Eazy could flow...

Regardless, we all loved his shit.

This video is from an appearance on Arsenio during the whole 'beefing with Dre' thing. It's beautiful viewing.



"Watch me gamble for paradise, and if I gotta pay the price... easy come, easy go like Eric Wright" - Ras Kass on If/Then

Ghostface Killah - Stapleton Sex video teaser

Ghostface "Stapleton Sex" video trailer from Miss Info on Vimeo.

Fucking real. Spotted @ Kevin Nottingham.

Nas & Damian Marley - 'Distant Relatives' tracklist

Spotted @ Nahright, I have no idea if this is the realness but if it is, fucking wow.

Big ups to K'naan for getting on there. Very keen to hear Joss and Stevie, as well as Erykah. Very excited.

01 Intro (Something New) (prod. Damian Marley)
02 As We Enter (prod. Damian Marley)
03 Revolutionary (prod. Damian Marley)
04 Count Your Blessings (prod. Damian & Stephen Marley)
05 Belief is Key (prod. Damian Marley)
06 Africa Must Wake Up f. K’naan (prod. Nas, Damian & Stephen Marley)
07 Black Horizon f. K’naan (prod. Damian Marley)
08 Only the Strong (prod. Damian & Stephen Marley)
09 Our Generation f. Joss Stone & Stevie Wonder (prod. Damian Marley)
10 Empowerment (prod. Stephen Marley)
11 AID (prod. K’naan & Nas)
12 Let’s End It (Poverty) f. K’naan (prod. 9th Wonder & Damian Marley)
13 The Earth f. Bob Marley (prod. Salaam Remix, Damian & Stephen Marley)
14 Black Man’s Paper f. Erykah Badu (prod. Afry) [UK Bonus]
15 Weed On f. Snoop Dogg (prod. Damian Marley) [iTunes Bonus]

Kid Cudi interview on Semtex

KID CUDI | INTERVIEW & ANGELS FREESTYLE from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.

Cudi interview. Haven't heard the album yet, keen though. Peep the details:

"Talks about how proud he is that Jay kept his year-old vocals on BP3, the twitter convo with Wale about comments, working with Drake, and more."

Spotted @ Nahright.

Raekwon radio interview with On-Air Idiots

Peep Rae speaking about his amazing new album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 on the On-Air Idiots show (never heard of it, either).

Peep the science:

"The Chef Raekwon checks into the On-air Idiot Show and talks about the Only Build For Cuban Llinx 2 album hitting stores Tuesday, his album release party hosted by Diddy, and how he is sick of being asked about the Joe Budden situation."

Spotted @ NahRight.

Eternia - The Pulse Interview (Audio)

The homegirl Eternia BEEN everywhere. Peep the audio interview.

Spotted @ 2DopeBoyz.

Download Eternia - The Pulse Interview

Corporate Social Responsibility

And it got me thinking; do we care about this?

I remember hearing this one speaker talk about how shareholders reacted to the news that a particular company would donate funds to victims of the tsunami in Asia. Great, a very socially responsible thing to do. However, the reaction was less than favorable.

How many of those who reacted that were less than impressed knew that there maybe a chance that a portion of their dividends could end up being doled out as aid dollars would also choose to buy fair trade coffee from oligopolistic fast food chains who use their buying power to bully 3rd world nations into changing their corporate strategy by forcing them not to use slave labour, and then hold them to a fixed price unit of product? (I am a big fan of not using slave labour, I will accept a price rise in a particular good, as long as you can show me that it's going to make a real difference to that regions economy or standard of education and or living.)



In the Hip Hop ages it has now come to a point more of bling than substance. "I went to Jacob with 25 thou, you went with 2500 WOW"

I'm fan of 'Ye, but how many others will just think, 'Man I gotta get me to the best jeweler from Antwerp or Gent & cop the biggest bit of ice I can fit on a ring' etc. The "Jacob's" and the like can never honestly say they don't deal in conflict diamonds. If they do, strap 'em to a polygraph. Every shop in the world has conflict diamonds. It's the trade they deal in. Accept it, or don't buy diamonds!

I digress though...

The point I'm trying to make is consumers are quick to buy a good something with a free trade sticker on it or purchase a carbon offset this or that, but few of us take time to find out what if any help will this be of to anyone but the companies bottom line. I'm sad to say free trade or fair trade are just marketing buzz words used to manipulate us into buying a little piece good will or consciousness for our souls...

New Single From Nobody Famous - "Mary" (featuring Wax)

Man, HiPNOTT seriously do not quit. I'm on the label and I'm surprised at how much shit is happening for such a young company. Love it. The homie Nobody Famous is at it again, peep the official details below but we got some more free shit for ya...

Thanks for your continued support for Nobody Famous... today we are unleashing the third single from the album Order Up! Vol 3 in our Digi 12" format. Cover is attached and details are below:

Released a little over a month ago, Order Up! Volume 3: Chicken and Waffles has proved to be a favorite among the fans. Thank you to those who have supported the album thus far. With this album, Nobody Famous has shown that he can tackle virtually every genre of urban music, as his production style varies from one track to the next. Today we are releasing (free to the public), the third promotional single from the album, “Mary” featuring L.A. emcee Wax. This is the second track Nobody Famous and Wax have paired up for; the first being last year’s “Famous’ Laboratory.”

If you remember back in February of this year, an early version of “Mary” was leaked during our promotional campaign for Order Up! Volume 3. That version used a sample-based instrumental, produced by Nobody Famous. The subject of Wax’s lyrics were so powerful and the delivery was so emotional, that Nobody Famous felt compelled to go back to the studio and recompose the beat from scratch. The result is this sample-free epic composition that made it onto Order Up! Vol 3.

“Mary” is an amazing song with an incredible story and a beat that builds and builds with every bar. Grab the Digi 12″ below and if you still have not checked out Order Up! Volume 3, download your copy now!

1. Mary [Album Version]
2. Mary [Instrumental]
3. Mary [Acapella]
4. Keep It Movin’ (Live w/ Pinot Funk) [Bonus B-Side]

Download Nobody Famous feat Wax - Mary

Wax and EOM: "Relax"

Word to another dope video from the homies Wax and EOM. Peep the info below. Brilliant shit, as usual. By the way, this cut didn't make their album 'Liquid Courage'.

"New short film/music video directed by Casey Chan. http://www.caseychanpictures.com . This video contains Wax and EOM's "Relax" and half of Wax and EOM's "Money". Also contains a snippet of "Paycut" by Wax and Herbal T. "

Mary J. Blige feat Drake - The One (video)

A few days late on this one but peep game. It's fresh.

Trey Songz and Drake on 106 & Park

Yuppp & Drake 106i
by yardie4lifever2

Peep the Drake and Trey interview. Kinda wack and corny, but also kinda interesting. Word to the So Far Gone EP though, might cop that.

Jay-Z Rhapsody advertisement

Wow. So dope. Just heard that The Blueprint 3 leaked online...might have to take a quick peek...