Eyedea & Abilities: "Appetite for Distraction" Tour
10/31/07
By: Lolly Eyedea and Abilities plan on rockin 17 shows together on their upcoming "Appetitie for Distraction" tour. Minnesota artists Sector 7g and Abzorbr will also be joining the tour, which kicks off November 30th in Duluth, MN. If you wanna hit up the presale, tickets are now available at http://eyedeaandabilities.ducatking.com. The tour dates and show locations are as follows:
11/30- Duluth, MN @ Pizza Luce 12/01- Chicago, IL @ Abbey Pub 12/03- Denver, CO @ Marquis 12/04- Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 12/05- Scottsdale, AZ @ Chasers 12/06- Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory 12/07- San Francisco, CA @ Slim's (Presale through http://www.slimstickets.com,) 12/08- Sacramento, CA @ Blue Lamp 12/09- Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall 12/10- Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre 12/11- Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey 12/13- Missoula, MT @ Otherside 12/14- Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue 12/15- Breckenridge, CO @ Sherpa's 12/17- Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room 12/18- Iowa City, IA @ Picador 12/20- Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
By: Lolly According to Yahoo Music News, Snoop believes that he should speak to the youth in the U.K. and discourage gang activity. "I really wanted to be a voice to stop gang members, 'cause they respect me enough to get into a room with me." However, the rapper was banned from entering the country after a brawl between his entourage and Heathrow Airport officials in April 2006. "By not permitting me, they're saying they just don't want me to solve this situation," he continued…or because they don't want you beating up anymore airport personnel.
By: Lolly According to the New York Daily News, a new unauthorized biography titled "Madonna: Like An Icon" alleges that Tupac and Madonna almost had a love child. Author Lucy O'Brien writes that in her mid-30's, Madonna "desperately wanted children and had various relationships with unlikely men." One of these unlikely men happened to be Tupac: the two briefly dated a year before his death. However, the short-lived relationship ended because some of Tupac's friends didn't approve. Madonna's friend Alison Clarkson recalls, "She was going out with him…but homegirls were saying to him, 'I can't believe you're going out with a white girl,'" so the rapper dumped the pop star.
By: Mark DiSalvo The LA Times is reporting, the estate of Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G. has filed a motion that states Waymond Anderson was lying when he recanted his testimony in August. On Aug. 20, Anderson recanted his statement that LAPD Officer Rafael Perez told Anderson that fellow officer David Mack, was involved in the shooting. Anderson said in his statement that he was approached by the Wallace Estate to orchestrate a scam for a financial settlement. The estate of Biggie is alleging that Anderson is lying, and is asking for his phone and visitation records from prison. The hope of the Wallace estate is that these records will reveal any loose ends in Anderson's story.
By: Mark DiSalvo When Tha Alkaholiks split up in 2006 after releasing Firewater, it didn't feel very permanent to many. That feeling has been vindicated this week, as E-Swift told Allhiphop.com in an interview that, "We're just taking a little hiatus from Tha Alkaholiks because we all had separate projects." The California DJ went on to say that the split was really a hiatus for each member to do their own thing, because for nearly 10 years they toured and recorded non-stop. E-Swift also said there will be a new Alkaholiks album eventually. He even commented on a reunion of the Likwit Crew for an album, telling the website "Everybody from Tha Alkaholiks, Xzibit, Defari, Madlib, Lootpack, everybody. We're like the legendary Likwit Crew from the West Coast and we haven't really put out an album yet, collectively that one major album." Don't look now, but the Left Coast is starting to reassemble a strong lineup, between Ras Kass and the ‘Liks reunion
By: Mark DiSalvo Lupe's back in the news, and raising eyebrows again. Fiasco was brought to the University of Michigan to speak to students about hip-hop and politics among other things. He was apparently not allowed to perform. The Michigan Daily reported that the Chi-Town MC was asked who he planned to vote for in 2008, and he said he did not believe in voting, but if he did, he would vote for Hillary Clinton. He said, "I'm tired of men, ya'll, I think that a woman in charge of the most powerful nation in the world is going to empower so many women." In fairness to Lupe, he's never really said that he's a political rapper in the vein of Public Enemy; but damn homey. This isn't going to help your image of people who look at you like a conscious MC when you drop a bomb like that and don't explain it.
By: Lolly 9th Wonder is one busy cat. However, in between dropping Dream Merchant 2 and releasing The Wonder Years, the platinum producer took some time to speak to UGHH. During the interview, he shared his thoughts on gangsta rap, ‘Supermanin' that ho,' and his current relationship with Little Brother.
UGHH: Your new album is in stores and you have worldwide respect as a producer. Talk about your journey to this point. Has it been difficult? Any problems you've run into along the way?
9th Wonder: As far as any problems, not necessarily, I mean you know just the repeated Little Brother questions. But other than that there's not really been any problems. As far as you know, comin into this, I've been pretty fortunate and blessed to be as far as I've got. So, I wouldn't necessarily say any problems but I would definitely say growing pains.
U: And your journey to this point. Has it been difficult? Rewarding?
9th: It's definitely rewarding for me. I mean, you know, I didn't expect to be doin all that I'm doin right now so it's definitely a rewarding experience. I get to be close to the cats I really admire.
U: You continue to be an ambassador for North Carolina and give back to your community, you even teach at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Talk about your decision to teach and your love for your home state.
9th: I would definitely say it's humbled me to a sense because I started late, I started in the game age 27-28 years-old. I would say it's humbled me as far as I'm not around the entertainment world all the time. You know I don't go to all the release parties and stuff like that. You know I kinda stay away and North Carolina is a very humbling place, it's a very family oriented place, there's tradition here. I mean that kinda helps me out a lot and that's what ties me close to here, ties me close to the school. I went to that school so ya know, it ties me close to it.
U: How do your students at NCCU feel about having a platinum producer as a teacher?
9th: You know half of ‘em don't even really pay attention. It's true. I mean it's kinda…I don't know…This generation tends to lean on TV a lot and it's like, it doesn't really hit them that I'm standing up there. I guess they're gonna have to leave the class, see me in magazines, or see me on TV a lot to say ‘man I was really in that dude's class.' But they're eighteen or nineteen years-old and it's really hard to grasp stuff like that when you're that young.
U: So hip-hop sales are down and people are downloading music all the time. Is it a tough industry to be in right now? Do you lose sleep at night knowing people are downloading your album after you spent so much time on the project?
9th: No I don't worry about that because I think there's a level of accessibility like…there's still a lot of Americans that don't know how to use a computer at all. So, I think with the whole Internet world, that everybody does not download. I mean, I live in the south, I live in North Carolina which means a lot of people here that are family oriented, that are grown up hip-hoppers, they don't even wanna deal with burning their own CDs and stuff like that. They still believe in goin to the store and buying music. It's just a problem that the stuff that they love is not being put in the stores. That's the problem. It's like a catch-22 situation. I wanna buy music, it's on the net, but I don't feel like goin through iTunes. So I don't really worry about cats downloading my music like that because if it's accessible and they can find it, they'll buy it. But it's hard for me to explain to somebody, well, like [if they ask me] ‘Where can I get Dream Merchant?' [and I respond] ‘Well, it's on UGHH.com.' I mean, it's just hard for me to explain that to a cat my age who doesn't know anything about UGHH.com.
U: If you were to be locked in a studio and could pick only 4 pieces of equipment to have with you, what would you choose?
9th: My laptop, my mouse, some records and a mixer.
U: Do you have any favorite records you would pick?
9th: Any favorite records? Oh…I got some good Curtis Mayfield records that're real good.
U: Do you have any upcoming collaborations or projects that you're looking forward to?
9th: I have a single with Erykah Badu. I did the first single for her new album. I'm looking forward to that. And I'm lookin to see if I made the next Mary [Blige] album, I'm not sure yet. And the Wonder Years, I'm excited about that too.
U: Do you have a favorite artist that you like to work with? Or anyone that you've worked with that meshes with your style the best?
9th: Murs.
U: Phonte did an interview in our store last week and mentioned that after a year of not speaking with you, he picked up the phone and gave you a call. He said he wishes the best for you but wouldn't say that your relationship was on friendly terms. Will you work with Little Brother again or has a friendship gone bad ruined hopes for that?
9th: I wouldn't say that. I mean, he gave me a call and when he called me it was a business situation, it wasn't like ‘C'mon let's have a cup of tea.' I mean it's just the truth of the matter. I don't know, it's gonna take some time. It's gonna take some time for us to sit down and be like ‘Look. I was wrong for doin this or I was wrong for doin this' and whateva, whateva, whateva. We are both Capricorns and we believe in what we believe in. And if you know anything about Capricorns we're very headstrong, when we go in a certain direction we don't turn around. So, that's the situation between me and him. Will there be another Little Brother album? Well I saw in another interview he said ‘Hells no. Oh hells no.' That's what he said. And I'm like, you know, ‘Whaaat can I say to that?' I really don't know but I think, ehh, maybe. I'm never opposed to anything. I can never say never. But hopefully it will [happen] and everybody will be happy.
U: Recently, there's been controversy over the Hip-Hop Museum that's supposed to open in the Bronx and its decision to not include gansta rap. What are your feelings about that?
9th: Gangsta rap is a part of hip-hop. I don't know who decided or tried to take that out. You take out gangsta rap you take out NWA and Ice Cube and I ain't for that. NWA and Ice Cube are a part of me just like A Tribe Called Quest is. You know, this whole new phenomenon about ‘I don't like the talkin about killing.' Okay. That's always been a part of hip-hop. That's a part of music. That's a part of American culture: killing. So I'm not too worried about all that. There needs to be a museum though, hip hop is 34 years-old. There needs to somethin.
U: What are your feelings about hip-hop today?
9th: I just stick with the hip-hop I know. I'm 32, I don't ‘Superman that ho.' And I say that because that doesn't mean a 16 year-old shouldn't do it, I just have a problem when 34 year-olds do it. I think it's very sad that we wanna embrace the hip hop that we know and love and the hip hop that fits us and still would like to do some things that children do. I think that's very very sad. But that's the type of society we live in so…
U: I've read that you sometimes have people your age in mind when working on albums. Does this pertain to your upcoming album the Wonder Years? Was it true of Dream Merchant?
9th: Well Dream Merchant was a boom-bap record and I always say that Wonder Years is more of a parent-friendly record. Like if you're a parent, I wouldn't suggest you listen to Dream Merchant in your car with your babies cuz it's got a whole lotta vulgarities on there. But the Wonder Years caters more to cats my age. You know, we're at a certain age and we wanna hear certain things. And I will say cats my age that are responsible. I can't say that about the cats that aren't really responsible, ya know, [who be] doin the thing around their kids. Me personally, like I said, I live in suburbia. That's where I live. That's where I was raised. I might have seen other parts of the world, but I was raised in suburbia so I know how family life is. We believe in raising our children and havin certain things around our kids [and others not]. So that's what the Wonder Years is for. It's good music that you can pump around your kids without having to be worried. Dream Merchant really wasn't for that.
U: Lastly, who deserves a bigger slap upside the head: T.I. or Michael Vick?
9th: Both of ‘em. Both of ‘em deserve it. Cuz I mean, I'm a big fan of both. I'm a bigger fan of T.I. than Michael Vick, but I'm a fan of Michael Vick too. I'm a fan of any black man that's makin money legally. I mean, it's the truth. I'm a fan of that. I'm a fan of anybody makin money legally. And an artist, an athlete, I know what we go through. I know the phone calls that we get. People think you owe them something. I know about all that, I understand that. Probably not on their [level] but I do understand it. I wouldn't excuse the fact that, ya know c'mon T.I. man…them guns dog, like, who are you goin to fight? Like for real. And for Michael Vick it's like man, you know, I understand you have a passion for dog fighting but man you gotta be more discreet about it. You gotta really watch who your friends are. You need to get some new friends or something.
By: Lolly Mr. Len, DJ and producer of Company Flow, is about to launch a sick program on XM radio. Starting Wednesday November 7th, Mr. Len's label Smacks Records will release a new song from one of it's artists every Wednesday for the next 30 weeks. That's over seven months of fresh, previously unreleased tracks. So who will you be hearin? Smacks Records artists include Roosevelt Franklin, Kice of Course, BullyMouth, Mental Case a.k.a. Sal Diesel, and Eff Radio. Mr. Len's collaborations with I-N-I, El Da Sensei, and Lord Sear will also be broadcast. So, turn your XM receiver to Spitkicker Radio and listen for the upcoming Dummy Smacks Hour on The Rhyme 65. Also, the weekly releases will be hosted online by Amalgamdigital.com and you can gain insight into the songs from the artists themselves on Smacksrecords.blogspot.com.
By: Lolly According to the Roc-A-Fella website, tickets sold out extremely fast for Jay-Z's tour supporting his American Gangster album. The Chicago show sold out in 8 seconds, Los Angeles in 11 seconds, and Philadelphia in 30 seconds. On E-bay, the starting bid for 4 floor tickets to the show in New York is a steep $1,375. I think I have finally accepted the fact that I will never see HOVA live.
By: Lolly KRS-One plans to re-launch the Stop the Violence Movement that made its debut in 1989. KRS released a statement detailing the reasons behind the re-launch: "We are in a state of emergency—school shootings, nooses being hung from trees, domestic violence, gang violence, police brutality and war. In the midst of mass turmoil the Hip Hop community cannot afford to stand still. As Rick Ross has said, "it's time for us to be leaders and not followers." We must use our influence to raise awareness, heal and move toward truth and solutions. We are going to make a change. We are going to build a brighter future. Be part of it. Apathy is no longer an option. Let's stop the violence. Peace, KRS-One" The new campaign will include Public Service Announcements from artists like Lil' Wayne, Rick Ross, Ludacris, Pastor Troy, Chingy, Cassidy, Hakim of Channel Live, Doug E Fresh, Jalil of Whodini, Lil' Dude, Immortal Technique, 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. According to AllHipHop.com, KRS will be working all of 2008 on the campaign to gear up for the movement's 20th anniversary in 2009. Like the anthem "Self-Destruction" in support of the 80's campaign, there is a new Stop the Violence hip hop anthem in the works.
By: Trees In a recent post in Kanye's new blog, the Chi-City MC announced that he is going to be releasing his first official book, titled, "Thank You, And You're Welcome!", (how fitting). "It's dope....10 bucks." Kanye stated, "I teamed up with co-author J. Sakiya Sandifer to make my literary debut...an entertaining volume of "Kanye-isms "-- the creative, humorous and insightful philosophies and anecdotes used in creating my path to success. It captures the same wit, playful irony, and piercing insight found abundant in my lyrics. In Thank You And You're Welcome! I deliver my personal message uncensored, without any five-second delay or media distortion. I'll post some sample pages within a week...". The book is already up for pre-order in some spots, and rumor has it Kanye will autograph the first 500 sold. And if anyone is in Boston tonight, make sure you check K.West @ the Garden performing alongside Weezy.
By: Mark DiSalvo A little bit of humor from the Left Coast; Peanut Butter Wolf, the California DJ and Stones Throw Records founder, was recently tapped to DJ a party hosted by everyone's favorite MySpace icon, Tila Tequila. In an entry on his MySpace, Wolf spoke to how messed up the set-up was and how he struggled to get things working properly. To make things worse, in the midst of his difficulties, Too Short showed up for a surprise performance, and needed a DJ. Too $hort apparently got through one song before Peanut Butter Wolf accidentally cut Too $hort's mic. Oops! Too Short was a good sport about the whole thing and apparently played it off, repeated the song and a few others, and the crowd loved it. Wolf nearly crashed and burned like an amateur DJ at a middle-school social, but was big enough to admit to it all on his personal blog. You need to respect that.
By: Mark DiSalvo On the heels off Jadakiss being freed from his legal trouble, he may have a deal waiting for him at Roc-A-Fella Records. Jay-Z told MTV today that "Well, I've been actually trying to get Jadakiss to come to Roc-A-Fella/ Ruff Ryders for a minute. It's not done. It's in the final stages, though. I spoke to [co-CEO] Dee [Dean] and all of them about doing something really special with a Roc-A-Fella/ Ruff Ryders collaboration." Jada's name has been tied to Def Jam for a while, so Hov can definitely be taken for his word. We'll let you know more when we learn more.
By: Mark DiSalvo Talib Kweli is starting his own YouTube video series, titled "Blacksmith TV," which will be a showcase for the musically talented, and a peak into the life of the Brooklyn MC. In the first episode, Kweli takes us through Fulton Street and Biggie's Block, and shows us an interaction with a brown-nosing fan.
RZA Comments On Ghostface, Cappadonna, & Wu Financials
10/26/07
By: Mark DiSalvo RZA has become more open about the Wu-Tang Clan's current relationship as the release date draws closer for 8 Diagrams. The de facto Wu leader did an interview with Juice, a German magazine recently, and said the only member the Clan had trouble recruiting for the next album was Ghostface, but in RZA's words, "I was in the studio, because I had already started without him. I went to the show, surprised him on stage and we did a song together. Backstage I asked him: ‘I'm already in the studio. are you in or not?' and he answered: ‘Yo, I'll be in the studio tomorrow.' So like that we were reunited again." RZA also said that the music is what drove Wu to the studio, because, "For 8 Diagrams nobody got one cent in advance, instead we talked about it later. I'm very proud that it went down that way, because our managers and lawyers had warned us not to do it."
RZA also confirmed that Cappadonna is now an official member of the Wu-Tang Clan, and that he would have been from the beginning, but he was in jail when the original contracts were being signed.
RZA also got into the Wu-Tang business quite a bit. Most notably, "I gave all the members their names and contracts back. They were allowed to use the Wu logo, and got back their publishing rights." He says he takes no royalties from any other members who use the Wu name in their solo careers.
Living in Los Angeles now, RZA's plans future plans include making a hip-hop movie. He told the magazine, "8 Mile was already pretty good, but personally I was missing a bit more pure hip-hop. I want to bring the culture to the big screen."
By: Lolly Producer Pete Rock plans to release his first album in over four years. NY's Finest is a joint venture between Rock's own Soul Survivor Records and independent record label Nature Sounds. The new album will feature artists Jim Jones, Redman, Masta Killa, Max B., Raekwon, Papoose, The Lox, and others. Several singles will be released, the first titled, "We Roll" featuring Jim Jones and Max B. Others include "Til I Retire" featuring Pete Rock himself and the already released, "914" featuring Styles P. and Sheek Louch. Look for the album in February of 2008.
By: Lolly thisisme then: the best of common is a 15 track compilation of Common's hits from 1992 to 1997. The album includes songs from 1992's Can I Borrow A Dollar?, 1994's Resurrection, and 1997's One Day It'll All Make Sense. All albums were recorded for Relativity Records before he signed to his first major label in 1999. Collaborations with Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Chantay Savage, Q-Tip, and Cee-Lo can be found on the compilation. There will also be four bonus video tracks including "I Used to Love H.E.R.," "Take It EZ," "Invocation," and "Retrospect for Life." Leah Rose, Music Editor of XXL magazine writes, "This collection of songs draws from that much missed era in hip-hop, when lyrical prowess was the hallmark of a rapper's success." The compilation drops November 27th.
Clipse Leave Jive Records - Next LP Won't Feature Neptunes Beats Exclusively
10/26/07
By: Lolly Malice and Pusha T of Clipse have left Jive Records and signed with Columbia. The duo originally signed to Arista Records under the Neptune's imprint Star Trak Entertainment. There they released 2002's Lord Willin', selling 948,000 copies in the US. However, in the shuffle of Star Trak moving from Arista to Jive to Interscope, the Clipse were left on Jive with a four-album contract. The group tried to follow Star Trak to Interscope, filing a lawsuit to try and break the four-album deal. To appease the duo, Jive agreed to a distribution deal of the Clipse's own Re-Up Gang Records label. However, the relationship continued to suffer as the release date of the group's second album Hell Hath No Fury was moved numerous times and sold only 194,000 copies. Recently, the Clipse have left Jive and signed a five year contract with Columbia Records, agreeing to a 50/50 profit sharing arrangement. Additionally, the group will have sole ownership of the masters for Re-Up Gang artists Ab Liva and Sandman. A Re-Up Gang posse album as well as a new Clipse record are set to drop in 2008. However, unlike the duo's past two albums, their new project won't be produced in full by the Neptunes. However, there's no bad blood between the groups, "I can honestly say that we were all friends before the music and will be friends to the end," Malice told Billboard in regards to producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo. "Everything is business. If we had our way, we would always be on Star Trak. But it's what's working for you and what's not. We just want good energy, and Columbia has both the urgency and the muscle." To mix it up on their upcoming album, Malice and Pusha T hope to work with producers Timbaland, Danjahandz, and Dame Grease.
By: Mark DiSalvo MTV is reporting via Fox News in Atlanta that T.I. was granted a $3 million bond during a court hearing today. As we've previously reported, T.I is charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, and possession of firearms as a convicted felon. Reports indicate that he could face up to 10 years in prison, because of his previous convictions, and up to $250,000 for every weapons charge. U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman has told the King of the South that he must remain under house arrest and will be monitored 24 hours a day.
By: Mark DiSalvo One Weezy update this week wasn't enough was it? Lil' Wayne is taking the battle right to the bootleggers, as he'll be leaking his own album Tha Carter III on Dec. 18. The leak will not be a complete version of the album, that version will be released in February, according to Wayne. In an interview with MTV news, Weezy said that people approach him constantly when his songs are leaked to use in ring-tones, mix-tapes, and soundtracks. Weezy said, " So what we feel, we're gonna give you what you want. We're gonna give you the leak. Every song that was leaked is coming out on December 18 — and we have four new songs ." Weezy also said that the tracks that have already been leaked will be included on "Tha Carter III: The Leak," but in "bionic versions" like the track we reported on a few days ago . I guess Wayne likes the T-Pain Weezy alter-ego . It's good to know leaks aren't hindering Lil Wayne, but let's be real: is it still a considered a "leak" when the artist does it himself?
By: Mark DiSalvo The Company Flow updates just keep rolling in. The reunion performance has kept the hip-hop world hungry for anything and everything Co. Flow. We had the opportunity to briefly speak with Bigg Jus of Co. Flow about the reunion at CMJ and the group's future. Check it out.
UGHH: Is this Co. Flow reunion a one-time thing? Are there any plans to make an album or record(s) if it's not "one time only" thing?
Bigg Jus: It more of an organic process, there are plans to make new music at the right time and place. It's kinda hard to get on the same page now, but this show represents an attempt to get fresh again.
U: Is there some kind of beef with Len that kept him from performing with you at CMJ?
J: Nah! No beef. We were all together the night before at Len's gig hangin out. He had to handle some biz out of town.
U: We've been hearing about a Funcrusher reissue- is this still happening? We've been hearing new tracks would be on it as well, if it's true, were they recorded already (with Len?)?
J: Yep, it's still happening.... there will be new tracks with all of us on it.
U: If Len won't come back to do any Co. Flow records, are there future collabs with El-P you're interested in doing?
J: Time will tell.... I think we're both moving in new directions, maybe more similar now than before, in terms of the future of the sound and the industry.
U: What brought you back for the CMJ performance?
J: Kinda of a spur of the moment thing.... El hit me up and asked if I wanted to do it. I happen to be on the east coast so it was on!
