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Graduating from Ghetto Scholarship: Listen to KRS ONE

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“Let Freedom ring with a buckshot / but not just yet / First we have to understand / the nature of the threat” – “Nature of the Threat”, Ras Kass
After 10 long years, the day had finally come. 

Juaquin Davis was finally graduating. As he swaggered across the commencement stage with his pants saggin’ just below his graduation robe, he took a moment to give a shout out to his homies in the audience. They returned the love by holding up a giant cardboard sign that said, “Kongrachulashunz!”

We have officially entered graduation season, the time of year when college seniors are taking their final exams and preparing to go out into the real world to make a difference, not only for themselves, but for their communities.

Well, that’s how it’s supposed to be. Unfortunately, in recent times there has been a decrease in the respect for knowledge, even among the college-educated.

There was a time in our history when knowledge was celebrated, and those who were fortunate enough to obtain a higher level of education saw it as their responsibility to uplift others. According to Lerone Bennett in his work, Before the Mayflower, the first Black college graduate, John B. Russwurm, used this intellect, not to open a strip club/rim shop, but to establish the first Black newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, on March 16, 1827.

So, what happened to our sense of communal responsibility?
In his 1903 essay, “The Talented Tenth”, Dr. WEB DuBois blamed the failure of “the educated and intelligent” to raise the level of consciousness of the masses on “slavery and race prejudice.”

However, Dr. E. Franklin Frazier in his 1957 book, Black Bourgeoisie, suggested that they merely, got their degrees, got hooked up with a nice j-o-b-, bought a fat Caddy and left the ‘hood and never looked back.
Perhaps this over emphasis on material wealth is why today’s college-educated rappers make music for kindergartners.

It must be remembered that 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Plies, and many others are said to have either graduated from or at least chilled for a semester at institutions of higher learning. Also, although Lil Wayne is said to have taken classes at the University of Houston, a 2009 Wall Street Journal article mentioned a study that alleged that peeps who listened to Weezy had lower SAT scores than those who listened to other types of music.

Really?
Unfortunately, these are the people who many high school kids look up to as models of success which carries over into college life.

You may remember the controversy that erupted back in 2009, when according to the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, prestigious Morehouse College, initiated a “get back to the legacy ” dress code that cracked down on such official Hip-Hop gear as saggin’ pants, caps, and hoodies.

The glorification of anti-intellectualism has not always been the case in Hip-Hop. Even during the pre-conscious era, Old School pioneers like The Disco 4 were rapping about the value of education on “School Beats” and Kool Moe Dee was droppin’ mad multi-syllabric words in his rhymes. Although not usually mentioned in the same breath with conscious rappers such as Mos Def or Talib Kweli, in ’96, Ras Kass released what remains possibly the hardest hitting, most in-depth “conscious” song ever, “Nature of the Threat,” on which he quoted Dr. Ishakamusa Barashango among others.

But in recent history, this has been the exception, not the rule.
Even today’s more politically conscious Hip-Hop artists rarely rise above the level of what can be called “ghetto scholarship.”

The term “ghetto scholarship,” was popularized a few years back by Dr. Wesley Muhammad, author of several books including, The Book of God. According to Dr. Muhammad, “Ghetto scholarship refers to a type of particularly poor scholarship; poor because the methodologies upon which this scholarship is based are poor” He goes on to say, “Ghetto scholarship has nothing to do with degrees or formal education, or the lack thereof…”

Of course , he was not really referring to Hip-Hop, but if the Jordans fit….
Even though, Nas gets an A for effort for rappin’ that Alexander the so-called Great blasted the nose off the Sphinx on his hit, “I Can” (even though scholars argue that it was Napoleon), I can only imagine how many kids failed their history exams for listening to a Hip-Hop CD instead of doing their own research.

Maybe rappers spent too much time “diggin’ in the crates,” instead of diggin’ in the books ?
With all the “Hip-Hop” courses being offered at universities, you would think that somebody would have started some remedial classes for rappers.

Unfortunately, Professor Carlton “C-Money” Banks is more interested in teaching Skippy and Heather in his Wacka Flocka English 101 class the deeper esoteric meaning of “Round of Applause” than he is enlightening the aspiring young rappers who live in the ‘hood surrounding his campus.

This can not be separated from the overall emphasis of Hip-Hop to teach middle-aged, White people how to be hip – the low point being when Busta Rhymes taught Martha Stewart the proper way to pronounce “What-tha-deely-yo?” at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.

There may be other reasons for the dumbing down of Hip-Hop. Miami’s Tony Muhammad, a.k.a. “the Hip-Hop educator,” believes that Hip-Hop has been dumbed down by corporations to create “an unintelligent consumer base.” He said that the same companies that control the music industry also run the liquor companies and the prison industrial complex.”

As they say, “a fool and his money are soon parted.”
Back in the day, Public Enemy said it was their overall purpose to raise up 5,000 Black leaders. This should be our responsibility now more than ever. Even today, Hip-Hop still can play a major role in educating the masses.

So, as you get ready to grab your degrees, please remember your responsibilty to use your education to raise the consciousness of the Hip-Hop Nation. To remix a line from Dr. Dubois, your task is not to make men better Hip-Hop artists, but to make Hip-Hop artists better men.

In a time when popular opinion says that in order to reach this generation, you have to communicate on fifth grade level, you must stand your ground and yell, NONSENSE!
Lupe Fiasco said on “Dumb em Down”:

“They tell me I should come down, cousin/ But I flatly refused/ I ain’t dumb down nuthin’”
Neither should you.

[ Music] BLD dropped a new song "Roll Up" his first since:

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 BLD still having the underground raw style
been a while the rapper was a little bite busy with  personal stuff.

with this new track, it seems he's ready for making more great vibes

[ Roll up ] is a freestyle taking right in the studio during the first mic check.

Song is now available for Free Download


Obie Trice Recalls Issues With Interscope.

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Obie Trice gives some insight as to why he left Shady Records, and why he feels he's bested Eminem many times.


As the release of his third solo album, Bottoms Up, drew nearer, Obie Trice began hinting at the reasons behind his departure from Shady Records.


In a recent interview with GlobalGrind.com, the Detroit native spoke a bit more candidly on the matter.

"It was just issues with me," explained Obie, neglecting to point fingers.

 "I missed the Big Boy show out there in LA. And Jimmy [Iovine] had a real problem with that, but it wasn’t just that, though. I was younger, so things were happening that were different."

Obie also recalled when his Akon-assisted single "Snitch" was unable to gain traction, at least in part due to outside circumstances. "I had the Akon single out.

MTV wouldn’t play the record because they had the Snitch campaign going on, and things of that sort. And BET wouldn’t play the record because Eminem missed the BET Awards three years in a row.

Just a lot of backlash we caught that didn’t have anything to do with us, and we thought things should change about that, that they should have worked the record even harder. There were just a lot of things going on, But shout out to Jimmy Iovine: he gave me an opportunity."
Additionally, Trice, who maintains a working and personal relationship with Eminem, wasn't shy to express his belief that he bested his mentor on numerous occasions.

"I body him all the time! I feel like every song we did I bodied him.
 That's how I feel! That's how I go into records."

Nas, Common Praise Tupac Hologram

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Nas and Common react to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg including a hologram performance from Tupac.

It's been three days since Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg debuted the live hologram performance of their late partner Tupac Shakur at Coachella, and Hip Hop is still weighing in on the results.
Now, two of Pac's '90s era peers - Nas and Common - react to the infamous performance.

Nas recently caught up with Billboard to explain his reaction to the posthumous performance from the Death Row star.
He said that the performance was a stunning reminder of Pac's sheer talent and prised Snoop and Dre for making the performance happen.

"Tupac has almost become Elvis, where people still think he's alive, so the hologram thing I thought was genius of Dr. Dre and Snoop," Nas explained. "It just shows you how amazing Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are, and how they hard they're riding for their West Coast brother Tupac, in the name of Hip Hop music.
I thought it was a great look for Hip Hop as a whole - it stepped Hip Hop up a notch. And it was also revolutionary on a performance scale...that's what it's all about. We love Tupac, the world loves Tupac, and he's one of the greatest hip-hop artists who ever lived. He deserves that, to be celebrated like that and remembered like that."

Common also weighed in on the performance with Global Grind, saying that is was a shining moment for Hip Hop culture. He added that he feels the performance's publicity will help keep the slain rapper's spirit and music alive for a younger generation who didn't get the chance to experience it when he was alive.

"I think the fact that we can continue to pay homage to what Tupac meant to Hip Hop and to music and to the culture [is] great," said Common. "Unfortunately the brother passed, but the fact that we can give people the vehicle for people to enjoy and remember what he means to music and our culture is great as a whole.

The good part is you have artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg...who knew Tupac and at the same token, have a high regard for Tupac and keeping the tradition alive and keeping that spirit out there and reminding people, 'Man...we loved him.'"

Prodigy Speaks About Mobb Deep Rumors

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Now that the Mobb Deep breakup saga is seemingly over, with a hacker being blamed on Havoc's inflammatory tweets, Prodigy sat down with Hot 97's Cipha Sounds & Rosenberg yesterday (April 17) morning to set the record straight.

After being grilled by CS and Rosenberg to tell the truth and shame the Devil, P admitted he is still somewhat clueless as to how the whole situation blew up. “I can't even tell you how it happened,” said P. “All I can say is that when we got down to the bottom of it, me and Hav realized what was going on, we knew it was all bogus.”
Prodigy acknowledged that when the duo didn't come forward immediately to clarify the situation it may have looked like something was afoot for someone on the outside looking in. “We didn't get up on Twitter and be like its bogus. So that's probably why people think we set it up or something.

We just waited for a minute, and we was like, ‘You know what? They'll see when we at the game and we working on this album putting out singles that it's all a bunch of nothing.”

The “Shook Ones” rapper even admitted to using the situation to his advantage. “Really, me and Hav are businessmen. We stepped back and was like, ‘Alright, how can we use this to our advantage. And basically we was like, ‘Alright well, P got an album bout to drop. Just wait, do the interviews and promote your sh#t like you supposed to.'”
“Me and Hav, its business as usual,” he added. “We good.”

With so many conflicting stories and information its hard to tell who to believe. But if they say they are cool, they are cool. Right?
Peep the entire interview below:

Rihanna, Whitney Houston Biopic Role: Cissy Houston Says 'Over My Dead Body'

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As reported by AOL Music, ever since Whitney Houston's untimely death on the eve of the 2012 Grammys (Feb. 11), there have been talks about a biopic based on the late legend's life and speculation about who should portray her in the film. Rihanna recently told The Press Association she would "love" to play Houston in an upcoming movie, admitting, "That would be something that I would have to give my entire life to do because I would want to really pull it off."

However, there is reportedly one very important person who is absolutely not a fan of casting RiRi in the role -- Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston!

"Over my dead body!" a 78-year-old Cissy said of the idea, according to a National Enquirer source. "Cissy does not think Whitney should be represented by some­one like Rihanna," the source revealed. "Cissy believes Rihanna cel­ebrates everything she hated about Whitney's life -- the drugging, the boozing, the abusive relationship."

The 24-year-old pop star is known for her hard-partying ways. Ri is frequently photographed leaving nightclubs in the wee hours of the morning, and is quite vocal about her weed-smoking habits on Twitter. Whitney, who battled drug addiction for years, died with cocaine both in her system and all over the Beverly Hills hotel room where her body was found.

As for the similarities in their tumultuous love lives, Houston was married to the physically and emotionally abusive Bobby Brown, who many speculate was responsible for encouraging her drug habit. Rihanna, of course, has reconciled with her own abusive ex Chris Brown, who infamously beat her back in 2009.

Despite Whitney's highly publicized troubles, Cissy wants any future film about her daughter to tell the story of her triumphs as well. "In spite of what anyone thought about Whitney, she sees her as a God-fearing Christian who loved the Lord," the source said.



Watch "Rihanna Wants to Star as Whitney Houston in Biopic"

[VIDEO] E-40 Opens Up On Notorious B.I.G. Incident In Sacramento

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Many years ago according to hip-hop legend, E-40 was very close from something bad happening to the Notorious B.I.G. As the story goes, E-40 had booked a fake concert for The Notorious B.I.G. in Sacramento to perform at and following the concert, he was approached by a handful of gun-toting youths.

Well for the first time, 40 Water speaks on the incident that happened almost two decades ago in his hometown involving the late Biggie Smalls.


What happened that day !!

Secret Service Members Left President Obama's Schedule Around Slores

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Someone should tell the Secret Service that –aside from not getting caught—the first rule of soliciting hookers is: never put the leader of the free world in danger.

The agents who picked up an assortment of prostitutes during an official trip to Cartagena, Columbia to protect President Obama, left his schedule lying around, while they fraternized with their hired company.

Luckily the potential security breach was averted, but the news is the latest in a string of stories corrupting the reputation of the law enforcement agency. It is believed that the 11 men brought up to 21 women back to their hotel for a night of fun. When one of the women was not paid the $47 that she was promised, she contacted hotel security who then reached out to police, and inadvertently blew the lid off the agents' indiscretions. "There are 11 agents involved. Twenty or 21 women foreign nationals were brought to the hotel, but allegedly Marines were involved with the rest," revealed U.S. Senator, Susan Collins, who works as the top Republican Senate on the Homeland Security Committee.

According to Collins, director of the Secret Service, Mark Sullivan, revoked security clearance for the accused men. "Director Sullivan is rightly appalled by the agents' actions and is pursuing a vigorous internal investigation. He ordered all the agents to return to Washington immediately, and all have been interviewed."

The agents were staying at the Caribe hotel leading up to Pres. Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton's arrival, for the Summit of the Americas conference. Five of the agents in question were also hired to protect the presidential motorcade.

[Video] Fabolous (Got That Work)

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New Video From 

Fabolous – Got That Work

Mystikal Violates Probation, and returning back To Prison For Three Months

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After being a free man since 2010, Cash Money rapper and Louisana native Mystikal will be returning to jail for three months on May 14 due to a violation of his probation.

Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was released in 2010 after serving a six-year prison term for sexual battery and extortion.

As reported by The Advocate, “State District Judge Tony Marabella added the extra time as a condition of the 41-year-old Tyler’s five-year probation in the extortion case because he was arrested in February on a misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse battery in Ascension Parish. Prosecutor Sue Bernie said Tyler stipulated to being in violation of his probation, which called for him to remain arrest- and conviction-free.

“Tyler’s attorney, Roy Maughan Jr., said Marabella ordered Tyler to spend another 90 days in jail but is giving him credit for the nine days he was detained after his Feb. 22 arrest.
“Tyler pleaded guilty in 2003 to forcing his hairstylist to perform what a judge called “continuous sex acts.’’

The victim in that case accused Tyler and two bodyguards of making her perform oral sex after accusing her of stealing $80,000 worth of his checks. The woman denied stealing any money.”

Mystikal, who is currently still set to headline an upcoming concert at S.O.B.’s in New York City on May 1 and perform at this year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, will be returning to jail on May 14 to begin serving his three-month sentence.

[ Videoclip] Iyiyi traditional Hip-Hop Music

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BLD Independent Recording Hip-Hop Artist.

The rapper is Still working on his new joint, Bld is recently in the studio getting busy with a new mixtape coming out soon.

Check out the artist on http://www.reverbnation.com/bld
http://fr-fr.facebook.com/BLDMUZIK



[STEP UP] BRUSSELS FINEST STREET WEAR STORE

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Bill Cosby Says It Doesn’t Matter If George Zimmerman Is A Racist Or Not

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The race of Florida teen Trayvon Martin had less to do with his death than the fact that the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed him was carrying a gun, comedian Bill Cosby told CNN in an interview that aired Sunday.

Martin, 17, was shot dead in February while walking back from a convenience store to his father’s Sanford home. The man who admitted shooting him, George Zimmerman, told authorities that he did so in self-defense. Martin’s family contends Zimmerman racially profiled the teen. Zimmerman was detained last week and charged with second-degree murder.

Known for his stand-up routines, movies and as the man behind the breakthrough 1980s sit-com “The Cosby Show,” Cosby regularly weighs in on social and racial issues.

“It doesn’t make any difference if he’s racist or not racist,” Cosby said on “State of the Union.” “If he’s scared to death and not a racist, it’s still a confrontational provoking of something” when a person has a gun on them.

Whether you agree or disagree, one can see why gun violence is a hot-button for the iconic funny man.

Gun violence is personal to Cosby, one of the most successful African-American comedians and entertainers of his generation. His and wife Camille’s only son, Ennis, was shot and killed while changing a tire off a Southern California freeway in 1997. Michael Markhasev, a Ukrainian-born immigrant, was convicted the next year of killing Ennis Cosby during an attempted robbery.

Cosby said that he “used to have a gun,” which he bought to “protect my family.” He insists he has nothing against people having firearms in their homes to protect against intruders, but said he believes that being on the streets with a gun changes some people, making them bolder and more dangerous.

“When a person has a gun, sometimes their mind clicks that this thing … will win arguments and straighten people out,” he said.

Check the interview below.


Afeni Shakur Praises Tupac Coachella Hologram

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Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, found the moment to be "thrilling."

Tupac Shakur made a cameo appearance last night at Coachella 2012 during Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s set, showing up in the form of a hologram to perform “Hail Mary” and “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.”

According to TMZ, Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, was “positively thrilled” about his virtual appearance during the show. She was not in attendance, but instead watched it on the Internet. For Afeni, the moment was “thrilling,” yet “bittersweet.”

Prior to the show, Dr. Dre asked Afeni for her approval and she said yes. In exchange for allowing his likeness to be used, Dre made a donation to The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation.

Three in elite NYPD anti-gun unit accused of treating black suspects like 'animals'

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Top supervisors of an elite NYPD anti-gun unit allegedly handled white suspects with kid gloves while treating blacks like “animals” deserving of a bullet to the head, the Daily News has learned.
The explosive charges appear in sworn depositions from three members of the firearms suppression unit: two current NYPD detectives and a retired first-grade detective.

Their testimony, part of a federal discrimination lawsuit, details how Capt. James Coan and Lt. Daniel Davin created a hostile environment for both their black detectives and suspected minority-group gun traffickers, said the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Eric Sanders.

Davin used the N-word to address black suspects, while Coan considered the unit’s minority-group targets almost subhuman, the depositions indicate.
“Capt. Coan would tell the field team . . . ‘They are f-----g animals. You make sure if you have to shoot, you shoot them in the head. That way there’s one story,’ ” said the retired detective.

The ex-cop, identified only as Undercover 7988, said Coan’s racist rant came before every search warrant executed in Brooklyn’s Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York from 2008 to 2010.
“They didn’t care if it was kids in there, they didn’t care if it was women in there, naked women,” the detective said. “. . . They treated them as if they had no rights whatsoever. It was disgusting."
In contrast, search warrants on predominantly white Staten Island were handled without kicking in doors, said the undercover.

The two detectives still on the job testified that Davin hurled the N-word at suspects — and at one of them.
“On a search warrant which I was present with him and several members of the team, while working in firearms, he called one of the perpetrators a n----r,” said Detective Al Hawkins.

On another occasion in 2005, Hawkins recalled, he walked into an apartment where Davin was instructing white officers, “If you have to shoot a n----r, do what you gotta do.”
“I just walked out of the room and shook my head,” Hawkins said.

The accused captain and lieutenant remain on the job, although in different positions.
The detectives testified last month in a discrimination lawsuit brought by Detective Debra Lawson in Brooklyn Federal Court.

She alleges minority-group members in the unit were passed over for good assignments and career advancement.

The unidentified undercover, before his retirement, had also filed a discrimination complaint against Davin. The lieutenant was “reinstructed” about his offensive comments in 2010, according to court papers.

Detective Gregory Jean-Baptiste, who was demoted from second-grade to third-grade detective after clashing with Davin, testified that the lieutenant called him a “black bastard.”

In his deposition, Coan “absolutely” denied making the racist remarks. He acknowledged involvement in five shootings over the past 20 years — with two people left dead.

While in narcotics, Coan also shot and killed a pit bull. “He didn’t sue me,” the captain testified.

In his deposition, the retired detective also said Coan assigned on-duty detectives to work on his personal boat, the Celtic King, moored in Suffolk County. The roll call would reflect the detectives were on “commanding officer assignment,” the ex-cop said.

Coan said in his deposition that the Internal Affairs Bureau cleared him of the boat allegations last year.
The NYPD and Davin did not respond to requests for comment, while the head of the Captains Endowment
Association defended Coan.
“That language was never utilized and discredits the bravery of this elite unit who routinely enter locations known to be occupied by known felons,” said union head Roy Richter.

Beanie Sigel: Broad Street Empire Vol. 1

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 Beanie Sigel drops off his brand new mixtape, Broad Street Empire Vol 1: Lost Files, hosted by DJ Damage. The tape contains stand-out features from State Property, Raekwon, Freeway, Young Chris and others. Download below.

Ghostface Killah Speaks On Skateboarding And Hip Hop

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Ghostface Killah talks about the similarities of skateboarding and Hip Hop culture.

 To celebrate the opening of their new skate clothing outlet Brick Harbor, Karmaloop enlisted Ghostface Killah for a live performance. Now, in a recent interview, Ghost Deini the Great speaks on skateboarding's place in Hip Hop culture.

Pretty Toney explained that skate culture is akin to Hip Hop in many ways given the unique set of guiding style and ethics. He went on to liken it to break-dancing, saying that skating itself has in many ways replaced breaking as a for of physical expression within Hip Hop.

"Skateboarding and Hip Hop is one and the same," he explained.

"Hip Hop is a way of life. It's our way of life: how we walk, dress, talk, how we do things, b. Y'all say swagger - I don't like to say that word 'cus I've been using that shit a long time ago - but, you know, it's just what it is. When we was break dancing, that was Hip Hop.

Skateboarding, that's still Hip Hop. I had a skateboard, too, when I was younger, you know what I mean…all that shit is all together. It's a culture, yo. Whether you skiing or whatever b, it's all together."

Rumors: Mobb Deep Will Never Put Out Another Album

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Say it ain’t so!!! Even though Havoc has denied sending out the disparaging tweets about Prodigy,  it’s starting to look more and more like he may have indeed done it.

According to a source who works closely with Mobb Deep, tension has been building between Havoc and Prodigy for some time now. Prodigy was locked up from 2007 through 2011, serving a three-and-a-half-year gun charge sentence, and was determined to stay out of trouble when he came home; he stopped drinking and smoking and hit the gym.

 “While he was up there, 50 Cent came to visit a couple times,” the source said. “And 50 had came to him and said, ‘Listen, man, when you come home, I wanna sign you as a solo artist. I’m gonna give you a $500,000 advance check, but I’m not fuckin’ with Havoc because Havoc has been dealin’ with alcohol issues for years.

Since you’ve been in jail, he’s checked in to rehab a few times.” Mobb Deep had previously been signed to G-Unit from 2005 through 2009. With three months to go in his sentence, Havoc still hadn’t visited Prodigy, and though the G-Unit offer was enticing, P was willing to give Mobb Deep another chance if Hav visited him before he was released.

“A week before [Prodigy] comes home, Havoc finally shows up,” the source continued. “[He says], ‘Yo, listen, I’m sorry, man. I’ve been battlin’ alcohol again. I just came out of rehab. I really wanna work again. Let’s get money.’” Prodigy was open to getting back to work with his longtime comrade. He was released in March 2011, and the next month dropped his autobiography, My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy. P and Hav hit the studio a few times—even releasing the Black Cocaine EP in November—but the two rarely interacted. “The only time Prodigy would see him was before a show—at the airport or however they’re gonna get there,” the source said.

 Citing one instance in particular, the source says Havoc spent $20,000 at a casino, but didn’t remember the next day because he had been drinking heavily. “When he went into the account, the money was gone,” the source recalled.

“He forgot because he has these little blackout moments when he’s drunk—that he spent all the money gamblin’. He accused Prodigy’s manager [of] stealin’ the money out of his account. So he knocks on Prodigy’s door, he smacks Prodigy across the face, Prodigy wrestles him down, beats him up a little bit. After, he remembers that he was gamblin’, so he comes back to Prodigy and apologizes and all that.

But at this point, Prodigy is already tellin’ me and my other friend, ‘Yo, this is the last Mobb Deep tour. When I get back to New York, I’m gonna disappear. I’m not fuckin’ with H no more.’”


Havoc referenced an altercation on Twitter earlier this week, writing, “I had to smack P, ask him.”
The Infamous Mobb hit SXSW in Austin for the first time last month, and though they performed multiple times, the tension was continuing to mount.

“When he got back to New York, Prodigy kept his word,” the source said. “He stopped takin’ Havoc’s calls. He wanted to be out that whole situation.” The source also denied accusations that Havoc questioned Prodigy’s sexuality, and said it’s highly unlikely that the two will work together again.

 “To be honest with you, there’s 120 percent certainty that there will never be another Mobb Deep album again,” the source concluded. “How do you come back from that?”

Beanie Sigel Sentencing Pushed Back; Government Says Rapper Owes More Money

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Beanie Sigel appeared in a Philadelphia court today (April 12), where his sentencing date for failing to pay taxes was postponed.

Beanie will be sentenced to prison on July 12, so that he will have time to prepare financial documents, in an attempt to clear up a discrepancy in regards to how much owes to the IRS.

Beanie Sigel, born Dwight Grant, is accused of failing to report income to the federal government, from 2003-2005.

Sigel claims he owes over $350,000 to the IRS, on over $1 million worth of income he earned during the years in question.

But the government disputes that amount and says the rapper owes upwards of $750,000 in taxes.

At today’s hearing, the judge gave Beanie Sigel until April 26 to turn in financial documentation for the years in question.

The judge also ordered Beanie Sigel and his legal team to meet with IRS agents on Friday, June 15, to come to a final agreement on the amount the rapper will owe.

The judge also said that the prison sentence is a separate issue from the auditing of Beanie Sigel’s financial records.

The rapper, who was poised and upbeat at today’s hearing, faces up to a total of 36 months behind bars.
Based on federal guidelines, Beanie Sigel will spend time in prison.

The news comes just days before Beanie Sigel drops a brand new mixtape titled Broad Street Empire Vol. 1: Lost Files.
Beanie will be sentenced Thursday, July 12 at 10:00am.

G-Dep’s Own Confession Could Ruin His Defense

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Lawyers for G-Dep may have a hard time defending their client, due to his own videotaped admission to a 1993 shooting/murder.

G-Dep, born Trevell Coleman, is currently on trial for shooting a man named John Henkel during a botched robbery in 1993.

In December of 2010, G-Dep walked into the 23rd Precinct in New York and admitted to the shooting, as part of a drug rehabilitation program.

What G-Dep did not know, is that John Henkel died from his injuries.


G-Dep, who is currently on trial for Henkel’s murder, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

His defense lawyers claim that G-Dep did shoot somebody that evening, just not John Henkel, the man who died.

G-Dep’s lawyers claim that years of PCP use has clouded his memory.

But G-Dep’s confession was played to jurors during his trial yesterday (April 11).
A full copy of the confession hit the New York Post this morning.

The rapper said that he was 18-years-old and living with his grandmother when the shooting took place.
“I had a gun in the house and I brought it out one night,” G-Dep told police.

 “I got on my bike. My intent was to get some money and rob somebody.”

G-Dep said he saw a man standing on Park Avenue in Harlem, smoking a cigarette.
 He approached the man with a .40 caliber handgun and demanded money from Hencle, who put his hands up.

Henkel attempted to grab the gun from G-Dep, who jerked the weapon away and shot him at point-blank range in the torso.

When Henkel attempted to grab G-Dep, the rapper jumped on his bike and rode away empty-handed.
Two days afterwards, G-Dep said that detectives in the area questioned him in passing, about the shooting.

Over 17 years later, G -Dep said a guilty conscience led him to confess to the shooting.

But G-Dep, who has pleaded not guilty to shooting Henkel, claims that he admitted to shooting someone else.

Prosecutors claim that G-Dep’s confession is too detailed and matches detectives records about the case.
G-Dep is facing 35-years to life in prison if he is convicted.

Mobb Deep’s Havoc Explains Tweets Dissing Prodigy

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 Mobb Deep fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as the group has released an official statement regarding comments from Havoc’s Twitter account about group member Prodigy.

Earlier this morning (April 9), fans of Mobb Deep were shocked to see a number of insults from Havoc’s Twitter account aimed at Prodigy.

Havoc told AllHipHop.com that he was not hacked, he simply lost his phone, resulting in someone else sending out the bogus tweets.


“Just getting back into NY after my Easter weekend with family and friends in Jersey,” Havoc told

AllHipHop.com. “I left my phone at a gas station yesterday evening while on my way to Jersey after a glorious Knick’s game.”

Havoc dismissed any notion of a break up of Mobb Deep, who released their first album Juvenile Hell in 1992.

“To all Mobb Deep fans: it’s business as usual,” Havoc told AllHipHop.com. “It’s Mobb Deep all day!!! My twitter account @THEREALHAVOC will be down until further notice. The only other real account is @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP. Ignore the rest. One!”

Beanie Faces Jail Over Taxes

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Beanie Siegel’s
comeback could be derailed by a prison sentence later this week.

The Philadelphia rapper is scheduled to be sentenced to prison on Thursday (April 12), for failing to report income to the federal government.

In August, Beanie Sigel pleaded guilty to failing to file federal tax returns from 2003-2005, on more than $1 million worth of income.


According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Beanie Sigel’s lawyers will contest the amount the government says Beanie owes during the sentencing on Thursday.

According to the government, Beanie Sigel owed a total of $348,000.
The news comes just a week after Beanie Sigel announced a new record deal through EMI with veteran music executive Chris Schwartz.

Beanie is facing up to three years in prison for the tax violations.

In related news, Beanie Sigel is preparing to release a mixtape of all-new material next week titled The Classic.

New HipHop Fashion Store In Brussels ( VIDEO)

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Klibre is launching an New fashion store in full heart of brussels.
STEP UP keep it real.



Release Dates: Lupe Fiasco, Cam'ron, Saigon, Pharoahe Monch

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Lupe Fiasco announces "Food & Liquor 2" as Pharoahe Monch turns Rock, plus Saigon and Cam'ron get release dates.


It's pretty difficult to remain consistent with Rap Release Dates. Why you ask? Because every time we think an album is an actual album, it becomes a free mixtape. That's great for fans who may or may not already pay for music, but it's a bit of a nightmare when it comes to announcing the dates to our DX readers.

We know a few albums are certain, such as Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday 2: Roman Reloaded happening today, along with De La Soul's Plug 1 & Plug 2's concept album First Serve.

 Dubstep king Bassnectar is dropping his album Vava Voom on April 10th. His title track features none other than Lupe Fiasco.

Remember, Lupe sampled Bassnectar's remix of Ellie Goulding's "Lights" for the track "Lightwork." Speaking of Lupe, he announced that Food & Liquor 2 is well on its way, so that's a plus for fans of the Fiasco.

Meanwhile, Pharoahe Monch is looking to put a little Rock into his life, dropping Rock Vs. Disco sometime soon.
 We're seeing that on June 5th, Cam'ron is dropping a project called More Gunz Less Buttah, with Kool Keith dropping Love & Danger the same day.

Looking way ahead, Saigon will be delivering Bread and Circuses on September 11th. A week later, Skyzoo's A Dream Deferred takes the September 18th slot.
There are plenty more releases in between, so here's to hoping they all stick.

Snoop Dogg "Stoners" EP Cover Art, Features

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Snoop Dogg enlists Tha Dogg Pound, Hustle Boyz, Chris Starr and Indastree for his 10-track digital EP.

 Snoop Dogg has revealed the cover art, features and production for his upcoming Stoners EP, releasing digitally on April 20th.

The 10-track project, which comes on the heels of Snoop's recent leak "Stoner's Anthem," features guest appearances from Tha Dogg Pound, Hustle Boyz, Chris Starr and Indastree. Production on the EP is courtesy of Battlecat, 1500 Or Nothin', Josef Leimberg and more.

Tha Doggfather is simultaneously recording his upcoming twelfth solo album Reincarnated, which he previously said would show a more "loving, caring" side of himself.

"It's a project where it's more about the element of surprise, but at the same time it'll be talked about in due time," Snoop said. "It's special; it's a real special project to me because it's like the reincarnation and the birth of me becoming who I really am...I never really knew who I was through the music.

I was always a very peaceful, kind, loving, caring individual and making music to symbolize that sometimes never was my key."

Scott Storch Sued For Being Too High To Produce Records

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This is where a Notorious B.I.G. quote will suffice. "If you think a crackhead paying ya back, forget it."

Scott Storch, the one time hottest producer in Hip-Hop, has fallen off considerably thanks to an alleged drug problem. Now the former Roots affiliate is being sued by an artist who claims he failed to deliver music he promised to produce for her album.

TMZ reports that Treena Ruberg paid Storch $45,000 (with $30,ooo paid in advance) to prouduce six tracks for the would be singer back in October 2011 (this is where we mention Storch was popped for concealing a bag of that white in Vegas just this February).

Considering that Storch has produced records for the likes of Dr. Dre, Fat Joe and Beyonce, to name a few, Ruberg was getting a bargain.

However, in a lawsuit Ruberg filed  in L.A. County Superior Court, she claims Storch was unable to deliver the music as planned thanks to his ongoing drug habit. Now Ruberg wants her $30K back along with $70K more for wasted studio time, plane tickets and other super producer incidentals she came out of pocket for.

President Barack Obama's Custom New Balance 990s

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The President of the United States' sneaker game is quite official.

If all went to plan, Maine Representative Michael Michaud presented Barack Obama with a custom pair of New Balance 990 running sneakers at a Portland fundraiser.

The kicks are a gift that Michaud hopes will remind Obama  to support legislation that will get the Department of Defense to outfit US troops with American-made footwear.

The move would mean more jobs for Maine, like in Norridgewock, ME where these sneakers were made.
Obama's New Balance 990 comes in the classic grey colorway the brand is known for and features "President" and "Obama" stitched into the heel. And, of course, they were handmade (it took 32 people to create these running shoes) in the USA. Peep photos of Obama's 990s in the gallery.

Mr. Porter Leaves D12, Says Kon Artis Is "Dead"

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Like Bizarre before him, Mr. Porter calls it quits with D12.

Mr. Porter has followed in Bizarre's footsteps, announcing his departure from D12.

Shortly after it was revealed he would be releasing his debut solo album, Mr. Porter, also known as D12's Kon Artis, took to Twitter to reveal that he would be splitting with the Dirty Dozen.

"I love every moment I have shared on this planet and with the people I shared it with I will always love the legacy I was apart off#D12," he Tweeted.


 "I got nothing but love for my crew I am growing and excelling as u should as an artist i hope you all support that!"

Mr. Porter, who clarified that the would maintain his role as Eminem's hypeman, wished his partners-in-rhyme the best in the future. "I want nothing but the best for @McVayD12 @kuniva and @Bizarresworld what proof created was beautiful and we had a great ride! Love N light"

Mr. Porter indicated that his "Kon Artis" persona had "died," perhaps symbolic of his departure from the multi-platinum collective.
D12's last album was 2004's D12 World.

Drake Admits To Using Drugs In Order To Cope With Fame

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Drake admits doing drugs "within moderation."

In his rhymes, Drake often addresses the less-glamorous side of fame.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Drizzy explicitly admitted to using drugs to handle fame.

"Have I sipped codeine before?" asked the Toronto native rhetorically. "Yeah, of course. Have I smoked weed? Yes. Do I drink wine? Yes."

Drake quickly added a caveat, lest he portray himself to be an avid drug user. "But do I do it excessively? No. I'm not a reckless guy. I do it all within moderation."

"I'm not into drugs," he said, before laughing and adding, "I mean any outside the ones I just mentioned."

"Nah, that's not me," he added after composing himself. "I care too much about what I have. I'm not going to throw it away for that."

Game "California Republic" Mixtape

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UPDATE: Game takes it to the left coast with his upcoming mixtape "California Republic."

MTV recently caught up with Game to talk about his upcoming mixtape California Republic. The Compton rapper gave a few details on the impending project, saying that he's enlisted the likes of Rick Ross, Drake, Waka Flocka Flame and more for guest features.

"I've got a mixtape coming called California Republic, so everybody from Waka Flocka to Meek Mill, Wale and [Rick] Ross and Drake [will be on it] - just callin' in Hip Hop favors to get my fans some free music," he said. "Basically, California Republic, it's an umbrella. People come here to do music, a lot of stars are in and out of town for countless awards and what not and everybody appreciates the California sun and everything under it. From the good green, the women, ya know, just our lifestyle. That's pretty much what it's about."

Game also spoke about his tentative plans to part ways with his label Interscope Records. He says that he has been considering moving to an independent label, but that he's worried about losing a lot of the assistance that he had at Interscope.

"Independent - that seems like a really, really good move where I can capitalize off of all the finances being made off of my music for once," he said. "But, I don't know, I kinda like having a lot of help, a lot of assistance from a big label. I don't know, maybe we'll have a meeting about a lot of money or I'll be talking to my conscience."

Check out the full interview below.

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