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December 10, 2001
Cash Money Records Sign Boo & Gotti
From MTV.com. The fattening of Cash Money Records' roster didn't stop with the signing of Mack 10 earlier this year.
Co-CEO Ronald "Slim" Williams said that in 2002, the label plans to roll out a plethora of new acts, including singer TQ, much-hyped Philadelphia MC Gillie Da Kid and R. Kelly's former protégés Boo & Gotti.
"We thick, bro," Williams said. "Thicker than a Snickers."
It wasn't a matter of Williams and his brother, Big Tymers member Baby, luring Boo & Gotti from Kelly's Rockland label. Williams said that the duo, who rhymed on both the original and remix version of Kelly's hit "Fiesta," reached out to them.
"They called [us]," Williams said. "We used to see them off and on. They called and were like, 'Man, we're trying to do something.' We ain't want no hard feelings with my man [R. Kelly]. We talked to my man. We're businessmen, he's a businessman."
Williams says Boo & Gotti's deal with Rockland had already dissolved, so there were no issues over signing them. "We liked their style," he said. "We thought they had something. I liked the way they carried themselves."
The feeling was obviously mutual. "Before we bring a person to the label, we like a person to come down and check out the operation and surroundings with the label," Williams said. "We don't just sign a person. We let a person come and see if it's something they like."
So with the next Hot Boys album which Williams said will include Juvenile, who is publicly disgruntled with the label (see "A Happier, 'Sunshining' Juvenile Showcased On Project English") not on CMR's radar until close to next Christmas, how do the artists who helped build the label feel about waiting in the wings while family newcomers shine?
"They know it's a business," Williams said. "They ain't tripping. They are my love. That's my heart. But I love my other artists just as much as I love my Hot Boys."
The group should be represented on Lil' Wayne's next release, which is scheduled for the summer. In the meantime, the top priorities for the label are spring releases from Boo & Gotti and the Big Tymers.
The first release from the revamped label in 2002 is scheduled to be the soundtrack to the Wesley Snipes drama "Undisputed." Although Williams says the album's talked-about DMX and Fred Durst collaboration is still up in the air (see "DMX, Fred Durst To Record Together Again"), Carl Thomas and Trick Daddy have supplied tracks.
"The first release off the soundtrack is 'Undisputed' with Lil' Wayne, the Big Tymers, Mickey and Lack," Williams said. "[The video] is being filmed in a prison in Nashville.
"My concept of the video was to do the 2002 'Scared Straight,' "
he continued. "This video is gonna have a real serious message to it
[by] showing [the prison system] to the young teenagers through the eyes of
somebody that's in jail: 'You've got to make a choice. You gonna get it together,
or you gonna end up here.' "
December 5, 2001
Jay-z Plugs New Studio Track Into Unplugged Album
From MTV.com. Though the rest of his next album is Unplugged, Jay-Z will have "People Talkin' " with a plugged-in dividend.
When it arrives in stores on December 18, Jay-Z Unplugged will include a new studio track, "People Talkin'," as a bonus, according to a spokesperson for Roc-A-Fella Records.
Produced by Ski, who molded beats for much of Jay's debut, Reasonable Doubt, the track displays yet another wit-filled Jigga freestyle. "Throw in the towel/ I'm better with vowels," he says. "Come and try to take me for granted/ I'll take you off this planet," he later warns.
The audio companion to his appearance on MTV2's "Unplugged" series, Jay-Z Unplugged features the MC performing past hits and cuts off his September album, The Blueprint, backed by hip-hop band the Roots and an orchestra (see "Jay-Z Cuts The Cord On Upcoming 'Unplugged' Album").
Unplugged is Jay-Z's third album to be released in little over a year. As "People Talkin' " comes to an end, the MC, who celebrates his birthday Tuesday (December 4), suggests that his next LP will arrive in less than a year's time: "The Blueprint 2, baby," he declares. "See y'all in November."
The Jay-Z Unplugged track list, according to Roc-A-Fella Records:
"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
"Takeover"
"Girls, Girls, Girls"
"Jigga What, Jigga Who"
"Big Pimpin' "
"Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"
"Can I Get A ... "
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
"Ain't No N---a"
"Can't Knock the Hustle"/ "Family Affair" (feat. Mary
J. Blige)
"Song Cry"
"I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)"
"Jigga That N---a"
"People Talkin' "
Cam'ron Signs With Roc-a-fella Records
From MTV.com. After almost two years, Cam'ron's struggle to get off of Epic Records has become a reality; he has joined Roc-A-Fella Records and will release a new album early next year.
"Basically, Dame Dash [Damon Dash, Roc-A-Fella CEO] has been managing me for the past year and a half, two years, and we just couldn't get it poppin' at Sony," Cam said of his dealings with Epic's parent company. "We've been vibing together good on the management tip, and we thought if we got it together on the label tip, we could get it poppin'.
"I bring a different essence [to Roc-A-Fella]," the Harlemite continued. "You got Philly [MCs], Brooklyn [MCs], they got some R&B, but they ain't got no Harlem flavor."
With the deal done, Cam said he ready to roll out his third LP, Blow, in March.
"It's time to blow [up]," he explained. "I've been sitting around with two gold albums. It's time to hit that next level. My album's been done. That's why I signed to Roc-A-Fella; they hurried and bought my album from Sony. I'm doing some new songs, but if I didn't touch a song, it would still be hot.
Ty Fyfe and D.R. Period handled a lot of Blow's tracks, Cam'ron said. "I ain't have no A&R. I went in and did it. Me and my man Jim Jones and Freakey Zeakey. There was nobody to be like, 'Yo, you need a radio song.' [Instead it was] 'We going in and knock this out.' "
Cam, who debuted on Lance "Un" Rivera's Untertainment imprint in 1998 with Confessions of Fire, quickly made it to the top of rap's freshman class that year (along with then-newcomers such as DMX and Big Pun) via his Mase-featured hit "Horse & Carriage."
A little before his second LP was released late last year, Rivera lost his distribution deal with Epic, and things went downhill for Cam when his contract was absorbed by Epic (see "Lance 'Un' Rivera Quietly Begins Releasing Music Again"). Cam'ron's primary beef with the label had to do with the way they marketed and promoted him.
"I don't want people to think I'm a team-jumper," Cam'ron explained. "To get it correct, Un lost his deal and I was forced to go to Epic. Epic, they're great on the R&B tip, but I'm not answering to a n---a about hip-hop who's wearing some damn khakis and moccasins. That's what happened with Epic. I felt I couldn't work with them."
Cam'ron said that won't be an issue with Roc-A-Fella. "People up here know what's hip-hop," he explained. "I'm not gonna sit back and listen to somebody who listens to 3LW all day."
November 30, 2001
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth Back Together!!
From MTV.com. It's been a while since seminal producer Pete Rock's soulful loops, jazzy rhythms and trademark horns saturated the radio as musical backdrops for hitmakers such as Nas, Heavy D, Public Enemy, Mary J. Blige, Run-DMC and Das EFX. Now he's ready for another big run.
Not only has Rock reunited with his MCing partner, C.L. Smooth, but after releasing an instrumental LP in May, he's also working on the sequel to his guest-star-studded 1998 solo LP, Soul Survivor.
"If you heard the first Soul Survivor, then it's basically like that, but I'm doing it with different people this time," he said of Soul Survivor 2. "I'm working real hard to make sure every beat I do make is ridiculous."
Ten years ago, Rock and C.L. released their debut EP, All Souled Out, and followed it up with the full-length opuses Mecca and the Soul Brother and The Main Ingredient. With C.L. living up to his name, spitting his effortless flow and reflective lyrics, the duo shined with hits such as their anti-bootlegger anthem "Straighten It Out" and the reflective biography on wax "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)."
In 1995, the two stunned their fans by breaking up.
"I don't got regrets about it," Rock said. "Things happen. Sometimes reality steps in a little early. You never know when its gonna hit. Basically it was us trying to gel with each other's lifestyles. He was one way, I was another. That kinda clashed. Now that we're older and wiser, we all know what we want. We have goals we're trying to set. Why not do it together and make history again?"
After being estranged for years, the two have been working together for the past two months. Their reunion came relatively easy, according to the track master.
"We found each other, I guess," Rock said. "We started talking to each other again through a friend. Next thing you know, we started linking up and doing sh-- again."
One of the first projects the two collaborated on was the remix to Mary J. Blige's "Family Affair," which is just getting play on New York radio stations. "A guy from MCA called and wanted me to do a remix, and it didn't get used because of political reasons," Rock quipped. (Another remix of the song, featuring Fabolous and Jadakiss, circulated earlier.) "They had some CDs and gave it to DJs anyway. Somebody pressed it up."
Rock said that he and C.L. didn't immediately click in the studio. It took a little bit of time for him and his partner to feel each other out and redevelop their chemistry.
"We ain't been together in a while, but we gelled," Rock said. "We still know what it takes. We know how we did it before. I always kept on my toes as far as making beats. He's still got it. I'm not worried about [his rhymes]. As long as I make a beat to bring it out of him, he'll always deliver."
Rock said the duo have recorded four songs so far and hope to release the LP sometime next year after they secure a record deal. Of his solo project, Rock's planning to take the independent route and release that first. He isn't letting the cat out of the bag yet with regard to the guests he's working with.
Rock's work can currently be heard on Busta Rhymes' Genesis LP via a remake of Rock's remix of Public Enemy's "Shut 'Em Down." "I like how [Busta] did it," Rock said of the track. "By quoting some of Chuck D's lyrics, it brought the feeling back." He's also producing tracks for Pharoahe Monch and Planet Asia.
"I miss the heavy work thing, but it's a lot of people that just work
within their own camp, and I respect that," Rock said. "My thing
is, I just love to do music. If I'm needed, so be it."
November 26, 2001
Meet Tha Liks In Person
Come out and meet the Tash, J-Ro, E-Swft of Tha Alkaholiks, get and autograph, Kick it with Tha Liks!!!
ALL APPEARANCES START AT 3PM
11/27/01 Tuesday
King Of Music 125 E Compton Blvd Compton, CA 90220
11/28/01 Wednesday
Backside Records 139 N San Fernando Blvd Burbank, CA 91502
11/30/01 Friday
Coast V.I.P. 1014 E. Pacific Coast Hwy Long Beach, CA 90802
12/01/01 Saturday
Magic Disc 633 A East University Dr Carson, CA 90746
12/08/01 Saturday
Fatbeats 7600 Melrose Ave., Suite J Los Angeles, CA, 90036
We appreciate your support....
Starting this Tuesday Look for Tha Alkaholiks X.O. The Movie Experience DVD at Wherehouse Music in the Xmas Tree Shaped Display at all stores nationwide!!! Support Tha Liks and Independent Hip Hop!
Click here to order the DVD at CDNOW!!!
Royce Da 5'9" Readies Rock City
From SOHH.com. The much-anticipated debut album from Detroit rapper, and frequent Eminem collaborator, Royce Da 5'9", is now set to be released on February 26, 2002 on Columbia/Game Records. The album, Rock City, features the single, "You Can't Touch Me" and according to Royce with the Detroit-themed album, "I'm letting the world know the seriousness of how we feel about our city." Folks might remember Royce's recent memorable appearances on the DJ Premier-produced banger "Boom," the song "Let's Grow" off of Lyricists Lounge, Vol. II, and the "What The Beat" collabo with Method Man and Eminem that appeared on DJ Clue's 2001 album, The Professional, Part Two. "I want to become everyone's favorite rapper all rolled up into one MC. Respected by all, feared by many," is Royce's promise in the '02.
November 7, 2001
G. Dep Prepares Debut Album
From SOHH.com. After making noise with the Bad Boy camp this year, G-Dep is ready to shine on his own. Child of The Ghetto is set to hit store shelves on November 20, with appearances from Rakim, Kool G Rap, Black Rob, Carl Thomas, Marc Curry and of course, P. Diddy. The list of producers include Diddy, EZ Elpee, Yogi, Harv Pierre, Chucky Thompson and Mario Winans. The lead single from the album is "Special Delivery", which has already hit radio and mixtapes. For more info on G. Dep and Bad Boy Records, check out BadBoyOnline.Com.
Outkast Prepare Greatest Hits Album
From MTV.com. Known for their psychedelic, funk-infused hip-hop rhythms and all-around off-the-cuff attire, Outkast, with four studio albums under their belt, are just about ready for a greatest-hits record. Unlike the typical lists of memorable hits put together for most musical collages, Big Boi & Dre Present Outkast will feature songs that make fans not only shimmy and shake, but also stop and think. The message Outkast hope to get across takes form on the album's first single, "The Whole World," which is one of three new songs on the collection. A "The Wiz"-meets-"Alice in Wonderland" musical extravaganza, "The Whole World" is half tripped-out melodies and half social commentary. " 'The Whole World' is like a new-school jam, you know. It's like ... put it like this, it's all about that swang. That's what it's about this season," Outkast's Andre 3000 offered. "It touches on issues serious ones and playful." With a chorus reminiscent of an upbeat, self-esteem-boosting elementary-school anthem, Outkast sing, " 'Cause the whole world loves it when you don't get down/ And the whole world loves it when you make that sound/ And the whole world loves it when you're in the new/ And the whole world loves it when you sing the blues." While the chorus may transport listeners to a place where there are purple skies and it never rains and pink teddy bears dance pirouettes, it's Big Boi's lyrical finale that brings the song home, as it reflects on the recent tragedies in the U.S. "Basically it was a time, right after the terrorist attacks, that every time you turned on the TV, you would see a big pile of rubble, steam and big cranes," Big Boi said, "and at one point I thought it was really desensitizing people to what happened. They kept showing things over and over again, which is like trying to keep people down." Hence, the hook that prompted the song. Even more prominent than the numbing effect was the need to counterbalance those who indulge in hatorade. " 'The whole world loves it when you don't get down' is basically [saying that] people like to see you doing bad, whether it's terrorists or republicans or democrats, government officials, whoever," Big Boi explained, "so you, as an individual, have got to take it upon yourself to really push forward, 'cause there is always going to be negativity. But with positivity, it cancels it out." Big Boi & Dre Present Outkast arrives in stores on December 4, following the release of Even in Darkness by the Dungeon Family. That compilation album, which features Outkast, Goodie Mob and Organized Noize, comes out November 6.
November 6, 2001
Stimulated Records Release Party
Wednesday November 11th
Malathion & Guerilla One, In Conjunction With Mixwell & URB Present... Stimulated Volume 01 Los Angeles Record Release Party
Featuring live on stage: Everlast, Casual, Sadat X, Camp-Lo, HOM ,And Others
located @ Club Vynyl
1650 Shrader Blvd @
Hollywood, East of Highland 21+ 10>>9p-2a
Click here to view the flyer for the party.
October 24, 2001
Stimulated Records Readies LP
From SOHH.com. From the man who brought you De La Soul, Brand Nubian, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth and a host of others, Dante Ross brings you Stimulated Vol. 1. Stimulated Vol. 1 dropped on October 23 and features new songs from De La, Camp Lo, Xzibit, B. Real, Tha Liks, Del, Pep Love, Sadat X, Prodigy and others. Producers that have been tapped for the tracks include Rockwilder, The Alchemist, Stimulated Dummies and other upcoming track masters. The first single from the album is "It's Hom" from Stimulated's franchise artist, Hom. Hom has been featured in The Source's 'Unsigned Hype" and also won BET's Hip-Hop Hall of Fame battle. For more information on Stimulated Records and Stimulated Vol. 1, check out StimulatedRecords.Com.
Canibus Readies New Lp
From SOHH.com. After a short hiatus and rebuilding process, Canibus is returning this fall with a new album. The album, C True Hollywood Story, has 21 banging tracks and is set to drop on November 13. The album features appearances from upcoming emcees Pakman and C4 and upcoming producers Nir Even, Alywad, Chips (reppin London) and Eben (reppin France). In a statement regarding the album, Canibus said, "The album is an E True Hollywood story from my point of view--it represents the things I've done, the places I've traveled, and the people who I've met over the years. This album is proof that I made it. I had total creative control on this one, not to mention more control of the finances."
October 15, 2001
Hip Hop Pioneer Passes On
From SOHH.com. Hip-Hop Pioneer William Stroman aka Boogie Knight Kid Delight of The Boogie Boys was killed on October 9th. Delight, a Hip Hop veteran was the original member of The Boogie Boys who was responsible for the hip-hop staples such as "Fly Girl" and "You Ain't Fresh." (If you attended the Rock Steady Anniversary, you more than likely caught his performance of both songs.) Here are the details to his funeral service: Tuesday October 16, 2001 George H Weldon Funeral Home 343 E. 116th Street between 1st and 2nd Ave in Manhattan 9 a.m to 10:00 a.m.
October 10, 2001
D-12 At A Bar Mitzvah?
From MTV.com. Oy vey! While Eminem was busy honing his acting skills, the rest of D12 turned up at a bar mitzvah in suburban Detroit on Saturday to sign autographs for Ethan Weisman and his friends. Ethan's parents paid the Motor City hip-hop group an undisclosed sum to appear at the event, held at a private country club in West Bloomfield. "It was a wish come true," Ethan, 13, said Tuesday (October 9). "Kids I don't even know are coming up to me and saying, 'I heard you had D12 at your bar mitzvah.' " Ethan, a self-described diehard D12 fan, said he didn't know about his special guests until a few minutes before they entered the room with bodyguards in tow. "They all took different areas of the room, and they could never have been better. They gave out posters and CDs, and everyone could walk up and get an autograph." D12 also asked for some of the attendees' autographs in return. The rappers nicknamed Ethan "E13" and let him wear their massive gold and silver necklaces to pose for pictures. Eminem's crew got the gig through Jon Layne, a friend of both the Weismans and D12. Layne, who runs a local record label called Intuit-Solar, regularly DJs bar mitzvahs and was asked to man the tables for Ethan's big day. "It was never about money or prestige why I wanted to do it," Layne said. "For me, I did it because I love D12 and love the Weismans and wanted to give Ethan a really cool present." When he proposed the idea to D12, the rappers figured it was a good way to spend a Saturday night, according to manager Mark Hicks. "With all the tragic events going on, this was just a situation where it just made sense." Ethan said he plans to give some of the money from his bar mitzvah gifts to terrorist relief efforts. Hicks said D12 member Kon Artis lost two aunts in the World Trade Center attacks. D12 have not ruled out making another mitzvah appearance someday. "We'll have to see," Hicks said. "This is the funniest thing to happen all year." 'NSYNC sang at a bat mitzvah party for a female fan last year. Bar and bat mitzvah refer to the religious coming of age in Judaism. Fans with less generous parents can catch D12 on their first headlining tour, starting October 30 in New Orleans with openers Bionic Jive, Kottonmouth Kings and Sunny Ledfurd. Eminem will make surprise appearances at select dates during breaks from shooting a film based loosely on his life (see "Kim Basinger in Talks To Be Eminem's Movie Mom").
October 5, 2001
From MTV.com.. Like DMX always says, the dog is going to roam. X chose "We Right Here" as the first single from his upcoming album based on the response it received when he drove around in his truck playing it for people, and now he's getting ready to hit the road again and bond with the public some more. During his Hoodstock promo tour for the October 23 release of The Great Depression, X will perform a series of free outdoor shows from October 12 through November 1, according to Def Jam. And since he gets around so well in trucks, he'll be using one as his stage a flatbed 18-wheeler. The DMX appearances will be co-sponsored by local radio stations, and the time and location of the performances will not be announced until the day that X wags his tail into town. The rapper recently shot a video for the second Great Depression single, "Who We Be," with director Joseph Kahn in Los Angeles. On that song, the Yonkers, New York, MC growls about surviving through wretchedness. "The projects, the drugs/ The children, the thugs/ The tears, the hugs/ The love, the slugs," he ferociously rhymes. "The funerals, the wakes/ The churches, the coffins/ The heartbroken mothers/ It happens too often." DMX tour dates, according to Def Jam: 10/12 - Washington, DC 10/13 - Washington, DC 10/14 - Baltimore, MD 10/15 - Baltimore, MD 10/16 - Boston, MA 10/17 - Hartford, CT 10/18 - New York, NY 10/19 - Chicago, IL 10/20 - Detroit, MI 10/21 - Houston, TX 10/22 - New York, NY 10/23 - New York, NY 10/25 - Philadelphia, PA 10/26 - Philadelphia, PA 10/27 - Richmond, VA 10/28 - Norfolk, VA 10/29 - Raleigh, NC 10/31- Atlanta, GA 11/1 - Atlanta, GA
October 2, 2001
Nas To Prove He's Stillmatic
From MTV.com. On Stillmatic, Nas aims to prove he still belongs on top of the rap game, and the December 4 release finds the author of 1996's "If I Ruled the World" taking shots at rivals trying to lay claim to the same lofty turf. According to his spokesperson, Nas has sampled Tears for Fears' 1985 smash "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" for a song of the same title. His spokesperson said the track will probably be the first official single from Stillmatic, but it has not been finalized. Earlier this year, Nas blasted the Roc-A-Fella Records camp on "Stillmatic," and more recently he proclaimed his prowess on the underground gem "The General." "Stillmatic" saturated underground mixtapes late in the summer, and the Swizz Beatz-produced "The General" made its way to the streets last week. Declaring during the chorus that everyone should salute him, during the first verse Nas rhymes, "When I walk through, everything stops/ ... Babies don't cry/ Thugs don't budge/ Cops cut off sirens/ Oxygen freeze." Swizz is one of only a few big-name producers used for the album because the Poet of Queensbridge chose to use mostly unknown beat makers, according to the spokesperson. Interestingly, Kanye West — who produced Jay-Z's "Takeover," a track from The Blueprint (2001) in which Jay disses Nas — said at least one of his tracks will be used on Stillmatic. Dame Grease, who produced on Nas' last LP, Nastradamus (1999), also says he plans to have some of his work on the project. The game plan for Stillmatic was simple — Nas wanted to show the world he was as "Nasty" on the mic as he was seven years ago when he debuted with the universally accepted classic, Illmatic. Even before club-goers and fans along Jay-Z's Blueprint Lounge tour route started exclaiming along with Jigga's line "Ask Nas, he don't want it Hov!" from the barb-laden "Takeover," Nas knew he had something to prove to the hip-hop industry. Although he's considered one of rap's greatest lyricists and his last four albums (including the Firm group project and excluding the Queensbridge's Finest compilation he executive produced) went platinum or better, Nas has found his artistic direction constantly questioned by fans, critics and peers. One of the main reasons was because of his cocaine-smuggling musical alter ego Nas Escobar. As for the fans who are concerned that Esco will rear his reckless gunplay and champagne-sipping head on Stillmatic, Nas' spokesperson said the rapper will stick to dissecting the state of the world on his new disc. Stillmatic was recorded in the Bahamas and New York and should be wrapped up by next week.
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