Hip Hop Board - Hip Hop News

Raekwon Announces Release Date For Collabo Album With Ghostface & Method Man

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-05T08:17:25Z

Although they've been traveling heavily over the past few months, Wu-Tang members Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man found time to get into the lab for their first collaborative album.

With the recent success and critical acclaim Rae received on his latest Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... 2 album, fans starting buzzing about a collabo album between the three MCs.

In a recent interview with XXL, Rae revealed that their upcoming project is coming real soon ... March, in fact.

"Yo, March 9th, Three, the Hard Way album coming," the hip-hop vet said. "Me, Ghost, Meth, get ready. We gonna be shooting a video next month or something ... Everybody get ready."

According to TheBoomBox.com, the trio recently held a contest for fans to choose a group name, but as of press time, a name had not been announced.

But, Chef told XXL that if it were up to him, he'd name them the "Bastard Swordsmen."

Source:BallerStatus

Saigon Admits That He's Still Under Contract With Atlantic Records

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-05T08:16:03Z

In 2008, Saigon said that he had been released from Atlantic Records following countless delays of his debut album, The Greatest Story Never Told. Well, maybe he spoke too soon ... because he said recently, he's still under contract at the major label.

In a new interview with AllHipHop.com, the rapper admits he's still signed to Atlantic Records, saying they've been delaying the split with paperwork.

"We still on Atlantic, man," Saigon told the site. "We just getting out of there. Still on Atlantic, bro. That's the thing. They the real paper gangsters, man. Everyone talking about, 'They still won't let me out my contract,' you play with them, you deal with some serious dudes.

"Nah, we didn't get off, we just tried to fake. But it wasn't working, that's why I laid low for a minute," he added. "I was gonna try to disappear off the radar cause they don't wanna see you go up the street being successful so they just hold you in with the paperwork."

When Sai's longtime producer Just Blaze woke up to the news, he wasn't very happy. He fired off some morning tweets to explain.

"I did NOT 'try and fake' ANYTHING in regards to Atlantic. Far as I know Saigon is/was off the label," the producer wrote. "If there were particulars still lingering, I was not aware."

An agitated Just Blaze followed up with a few more tweets, standing behind Sai's claim that paperwork was most likely the reason for the hold up of his release.

"I don't do publicity stunts. And I don't fake things for public perception," he said. "That devalues my word to the people when I'm speaking on something real. What's done is done at this point, but I don't play that game. Faking being off of a label would not help anyone at the end of the day.

"Let me clarify. I was a bit aggy when I woke up.. To my knowledge Atlantic agreed to release Sai," Just continued. "But there were probably terms that had yet to be resolved. I know it took a second for the agreement to be put in place as far as being able to walk with the masters, but there were probably other terms that still needed to be renegotiated. Probably point overrides and buyout fees. That was the last I heard. Apparently that end of it still isn't done I guess? I was never involved with that part of the situation really. When Sai said that I think he wasn't really thinking about te context and it probably just came out a little wrong. All the more reason we gotta be careful when talking to the folks with cameras. All is good tho. I just dint like waking up to headlines like 'Just Blaze lied!!!.' Back to destroying and rebuilding. Good day all.

While fans continue to await the release of Saigon's official debut, he dropped a few digital-only projects last year via Amalgam Digital -- All In A Day's Work and Warning Shots 2.

Source:BallerStatus

DJ Green Lantern Approves PreWritten Freestyles "As Long As What You're Saying Is Hot

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-05T08:10:08Z

DJ Green Lantern has discussed the use of pre-written freestyles by artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj.
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Despite the typical tradition of non-written freestyles, Green said his Sirius Radio rap segments cater to both styles.

"Not at all. To me, I don't care. As long as what you're saying is hot; why would I care if what you're saying is written or not? Unless it's a segment purely designated for that like Supernatural or one of these guys that do observational freestyles, I don't care if you look at your Blackberry or write something down. That infamous Eminem freestyle on Tim Westwood's show, where he did that freestyle over the Mobb Deep 'Got it Twisted' beat. He had it in his mind but he took a minute to write it down because it was so complex. I wouldn't trip if anybody was to write something down." (XXL Mag)

The Clipse's Pusha T said he would easily leave traditional non-written raps to artists like Jay-Z and Lil Wayne last month.

"I have the coolest little writing journal. I love to just blackout in it, and I can't wait! It's like everything. I'm just taking on all beats and all types of sh*t and just spilling," Pusha said about his pen game. "To me, not too many people are good at freestyling. Everyone always talks about how they freestyle lyrics. Freestyling lyrics with no depth is stupid to me. That's corny. I can do that. I've done it, and it's never as detailed as it could be. Someone like Jay-Z that does that has mastered it. People try to mimic, but they don't understand, you can mimic the process but you have to master it to have that type of effect. I freestyle melodies. I'll find a melody by just vibing with a record, but not actual lyrics. That's a puzzle." (Artist Direct)

Drake recently spoke on avoiding unwritten raps.

"I'll never forget how nervous I was," Drake explained in an interview when he freestyled from his BlackBerry phone. "It was such a rookie hip-hop moment -- and, obviously, the controversy of me pulling out my phone and rapping off my phone because I just wasn't prepared. A lot of people don't know the difference between freestyle or off the top and coming to a radio show knowing you got to go there, so you got verses cued up in your head, whether they be off your upcoming album or verses just that you have laying around. A lot of artists get that preparation time...I'm a writer, man. I appreciate the elements of hip-hop. I appreciate a guy like Common who goes city to city and just spits at the crowd for 10 minutes about everything he sees. I admire talent like that, because that's just not my creative process." (MTV)

Rapper Nicki Minaj also addressed the negative feedback she received from performing her BET Hip-Hop Awards 2009 freestyle based off written rhymes.

"How many people on that cipher do you think spit off the top of their head?," Minaj asked in an interview last fall. ""I don't write off the top of my head. I can't come up with those punch lines and metaphors off the top of my head. Everybody besides KRS-One, who else can you name that spit off the top of their head -- The only thing that matters is that I wrote on a paper and memorized it." (iPower921)

Source:SOHH

Jay-Z Files $3.7 Million Lawsuit Over His "Empire State" Hotel Deal

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-05T08:08:40Z

Rap mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has reportedly filed a $3.7 million lawsuit against an investment firm regarding a 2007 loan for a New York City hotel.
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According to reports, Jay is seeking legal action against Highland Capital Management.

Carter says that when the value of the property fell, he attempted to return it to Highland to avoid repossession, and that the company's subsequent unresponsiveness cost him millions; the lawsuit seeks $3.7 million in damages. The lawsuit also claims that Highland improperly diverted funds meant from a reserve account. Highland says his claims are "meritless," and that the loan remains in default. (Entertainment Weekly)

Speaking in its own defense, the investment firm said it is unfazed by the rapper's position.

Calling Jay-Z's claims "meritless," Highland says it "will vigorously defend itself" and pursue obligations owed to investors. The investment firm says Jay-Z's loan matured last August and is currently in default. (Black Book Mag)

A statement from Jay's attorneys has also been released.

"This action arises out of the efforts by defendants to bleed additional funds from the plaintiff," the rapper's lawyers stated in legal documents. "Defendants embarked on a bad faith course of conduct." (BBC News)

Aside from the legal matter, Jay-Z and his wife/singer, Beyonce Knowles, were recently named the top earning couple in entertainment.

Music duo Jay-Z and Beyonc� Knowles earned $122 million between June 2008 and June 2009, landing them atop the publication's annual Top-Earning Couples list in Hollywood for the second year in a row. The couple married quietly in 2008 and are responsible for everything from music ("Single Ladies" and "Empire State of Mind") to clothing lines, worldwide tours, and product endorsements (like American Express and Budweiser). (Billboard)

No further details have been revealed as of now.

Source:SOHH

Swizz Beatz Demands Respect, "Some People Don't Know 70 Percent Of The Work I've Done

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-05T08:07:17Z

Ruff Ryders producer Swizz Beatz has decided to make 2010 the year that he is recognized for the contributions he has made to hip-hop.
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Aside from his rap achievements, Swizzy said he has also become a strong force in the rock game.

"What I'm doing this year, I'm doing a bio on Swizz Beatz," he revealed in an interview. "I'm doing a bio on Kasseem Dean. Some people don't know 70 percent of the work I've done. They know the obvious stuff that I've done. I think that me being so anti-press, so anti-publicist, mentally, it kept me cool, but on the music level, it held me back. Simple things I see, like ... for people that think me and Bono hanging out was, like, weird, awkward, I know that's a lack of education of who I am. I've been working with rock and roll since way back when -- Limp Bizkit, all these different people from way back when. I still don't get my props like that. But it's cool. When I get it, it's gonna all make sense." (MTV)

Last month, Swizz said he also wanted to take a new, refreshing approach to his next solo effort.

"MY NEW ALBUM IS GOING TO BE OUT OF THIS WORLD 2010STYLE IM MIXING INDIAN MUSIC WITH ARABIC SOUNDS MEETS BDP! YOU WILL SEE.NEW SOUND TIME!," he wrote on Twitter Monday (January 4) morning. "IM GIVING 30% OF THE $ MADE ON MY ALBUM TO ART & MUSIC SCHOOLS IN NEED SO WE CAN KEEP THE KIDS DOING POSITIVE THINGS WITH THERE LIFE ! ALSO FOR MY ALBUM IM GETTING NEW TALENT FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO BE APART OF THIS NOT JUST THE SAME OLD PEOPLE YOU HEAR 500 TIMES A WEEK! I WANT TALENT THATS BEEN LOST& OVER SEEN ON MY ALBUM LIKE FROM AFRICA,ASIA,INDIA,HATI, ETC YOU NAME IT ! ITS TIME TO SET THE BAR HIGH! 2010." (Swizz Beatz's Twitter)

He previously touched on working with DMX and Eve on their upcoming albums.

"Wait until y'all hear the finished product of [DMX]," Swizz said in an interview. "We've taken it way to the next level and the whole double R movement from Eve to X, those are my main first priorities right now and I mean the music is coming out crazy...It's time for that, I told X like, 'You not gonna finish the legacy? Like, what we doing? I remember when people couldn't on stage after you. Like, what are we doing?' It's a whole different team around him, like, X, he needs the right team around him and right now he's got the right team around him. The team around him when we was doing it real major, that team is around him again. So it's easier for me to communicate with him. find him, because all these 'Yes' people that were around him, they fans. You can't have no fans around him, you gotta have family around." (Jenny Boom Boom TV)

His upcoming solo project will mark the first in over two years.

It wasn't until his first solo album, 2002's G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories, that he started to get notices for his production style and interesting ideas. The next five years would find him landing hit after hit and becoming more in demand with each production. In 2007 he released the infectious single "It's Me Snitches" to promote the coming full-length One Man Band Man. (All Music)

Source:SOHH

Diddy Reveals Plan To Launch Business School In Harlem

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-04T19:20:12Z

Sean "Diddy" Combs recently made a appearance on Anderson Cooper's CNN show, "AC 360", to discuss how his image affects people and his plans to recreate his image to leave a positive mark on society.

In the past, the has had brushes with the law, including gun possession and assault charges.

On the show, he spoke with guest host Wolf Blitzer about his desire to shed his bad boy image, and present himself as a role model in the fields of business and entrepreneurship.

One way Diddy says he'll make an immediate change is by establishing a business school to help train and educate the next generation of entrepreneurs. He says the school would most likely be located in Harlem, New York.

As Diddy continued, he explained that he hopes that the school is known for breeding leaders.

"It's more than just about business, there's more that I'm supposed to do, there's more that I'm gonna do," Diddy said. "I want to have an academy that's known for building leaders. I feel that's one of the things I can have an impact on."

In recent Diddy news, he was recently honored by BET, at their annual BET Honors ceremony, for his contributions to hip-hop and his entrepreneurship.

Source:BallerStatus

Olivia Responds To 50 Cent's "2 Million" Spending Claims,"You Should Have Spent $4MIL

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-04T19:14:40Z

Olivia Responds To 50 Cent's "2 Million" Spending Claims, "You Should Have Spent $4 Million"

Former G-Unit singer Olivia has fired back at 50 Cent after the rapper claimed that her excessive $2 million spending was to cause for her failure on G-Unit.
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Olivia believes that the money 50 spent on her project was worth it.

"I mean, I'm worth it," Olivia suggested in an interview. "You should have spent four [million]. I'm just saying, if you have an R&B artist and you're used to dealing with a whole bunch of rappers who all you have to do is get up and put on a sweat suit, like, come on. That's not fair. I'm a girl, like you said, I'm beautiful, I don't wanna OD and be extra cocky, but come on. There's a lot of stuff that comes with having an R&B artist, so, what's the problem? He can afford it. I'm your artist, you love me, you gonna take care of me, you gonna take care of all your other artists so why is it a big deal for me? I don't know what he spent, but the point is you're supposed to be taking care of your artists. Why would you even want to throw out a number or whatever you're doing. It's not that serious." (Forbez DVD)

According to Fif, Olivia used her finances as if she were an R&B superstar like Beyonce or Rihanna.

"Yeah, that was a loss," Fif said about investing in Olivia's G-Unit run. "The problem you get with female solo artists is they look, their game is really small. So they look at it and say, it's Beyonce, Rihanna, Keyshia Cole but when you have an African American female solo artist, she sees where she fits immediately. Problem is, they spend financing like those artists at that point, having the set-up, the make-up artist, the stylist, those different things but when you don't have a record that connects fast enough, you'll accumulate a tab like a motherf*cker. And you look around like 'You spent $2 million on this sh*t and have me compromising myself at certain times.' See, I made sacrifices for other artists that I don't think people acknowledge them. Don't get f*cked up, when I'm doing the Get Rich Or Die Tryin' soundtrack, I know I'm supposed to be doing 'I'll Whip Your Head Boy,' and I'm doing 'If I Was Your Best Friend,' because I'm already two million in the hole on the actual project. I already spent all this paper moving around doing all this other sh*t that I gotta keep that in a position where I can potentially sell it." (All Hip Hop)

However, according to Olivia, she decided it was time to leave the Unit to pursue her own recording career.

"Again, miscommunication came into play, because I felt like I was just being a hood girl. So I spoke to Fif about it and told him that I was trying to do R&B, and being marketed as a rapper was not going to work. I loved being with them, but the direction that we was going wasn't working out for me. I already knew that I was not going to stay with them for a long time anyway because them with me would become ludicrous after a while, and plus I always saw myself as a solo artist, but with them it was always 50 Cent and G-Unit. After I left, the rumors hits the radios saying that I was dropped from the label while I asked to be let go." (City Scenes Magazine)

In the past, Fif has broke down examples of how he tried to help Olivia's G-Unit career.

"I feel like even down to the 'I'll Whip Your Head Boy' on the Get Rich Or Die Tryin' soundtrack, I went into a different direction because I was trying to save the Olivia project," he explained. "I went for 'Best Friend' and had [Olivia] create a remix to it, and played that version and shot a video for it, when 'I'll Whip Your Head Boy' was already going. In the club, that was their choice." (Hot 97)

Source:sohh

New 50 Cent Movie Goes for $2 Mil at Sundance

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-02T08:16:14Z

Twelve, the new Joel Schumacher movie starring 50 Cent, was recently bought at the Sundance Film Festival.

The New York Times reports that the film unit of Hannover House, an independent publisher and media company, purchased the drama for $2 million.

As previously reported, the flick, which is based on the 2002 novel of the same name, finds Fif portraying a Harlem drug-dealer named Lionel. 50�s character provides Gossip Girl heartthrob Chace Crawford with drugs to sell to his rich friends on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

The G-Unit general has several other film projects in the works. He is currently filming Gun with Val Kilmer and Jekyll and Hyde�a remake of the horror classic that he will co-star in with Forest Whitaker�is in pre-production according to imdb.com.

Source:xxlmag.com

Cool & Dre Look Beyond Lil Wayne's "Rebirth" Sales, "[It'll] Open Avenues

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-02T08:14:05Z

Cool & Dre Look Beyond Lil Wayne's "Rebirth" Sales, "[It'll] Open Avenues & Create A Lane"

Producers Cool & Dre have shared their overall impression toward Lil Wayne's Rebirth album, which goes on sale tomorrow, and said the rock project would take hip-hop to a new level.
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According to Dre, Wayne's latest effort will stretch the spectrum for rap.

"There are so many artists who create music outside of R&B and Hip-Hop that we believe Rebirth will help open avenues and create a lane for these type of artists," Dre said. "I remember a time where Prince and The Revolution ruled the charts. I'd love to see music become diverse again. Wayne is more than just a hip-hop artist, he's quickly becoming the face of a generation. We're proud to have been given this tremendous opportunity." (All Hip Hop)

Cool added that the album would have impressed some late music pioneers with tracks like "Da Da Da."

"It's something Rick James would bug out on. It's Cool & Dre hot," added Marcello "Cool" Valenzano, who with partner Dre also created the tracks for "I Die," "Paradise" and "Get A Life." (All Hip Hop)

A final tracklisting for the album was released online last week.

1. American Star feat. Shanell aka SNL 2. Prom Queen feat. Shanell aka SNL 3. Ground Zero 4. Da Da Da 5. Paradice 6. Get A Life 7. On Fire 8. Drop The World feat. Eminem 9. Runnin feat. Shanell aka SNL 10. One Way Trip feat. Kevin Rudolf 11. Knockout f. Nicki Minaj 12. The Price Is Wrong DELUXE VERSION INCLUDES: 14. I'll Die For You 14. I'm So Over You featuring Shanell aka SNL (Karen Civil)

The rapper is set to begin his speculated one-year jail sentence for gun possession next week.

Come 2010, Lil Wayne will have to face the music. The rap superstar appeared in court for a brief appearance this morning (December 15) where a judge set a February 9 sentencing date regarding his New York gun possession case. XXLMag.com confirmed with his attorney, Stacey Richman, that not only will Weezy be officially sentenced, but he is also scheduled to surrender himself to authorities and be shipped off to prison on that same day. He is expected to face 366 days behind bars. (XXL Mag)

Listen to Lil Wayne & Eminem's "Drop The World" down below:

Source:sohh

8Ball & MJG Sign With Grand Hustle Records, Ready New Album

Youngmoneyclick — 2010-02-02T08:04:25Z

Memphis legends, 8Ball & MJG, are ready to get back to business. The duo recently inked a deal with Grand Hustle, where they will be dropping their next album, Ten Toes Down.

Via a partnership with E1 Music (formerly Koch Records), Grand Hustle presents the upcoming album, which will feature Snoop Dogg, T.I., Bun B, David Banner, and Young Dro while production will include Frank Nitti of Nitti Beats, Drumma Boy, David Banner, Nard & B, and Mo B. Dick.

"I'm happy to be working with America's #1 independent, E1 Music," said Grand Hustle's boss, T.I.

The first single is the album's title track. A video for it was just shot by director Gabriel Hart, and will be serviced shortly.

"Ten Toes Down, in my opinion, is one of the best 8Ball & MJG albums ever," said 8Ball. "It's a heart-felt, soul-filled, portion of the lives of 8Ball & MJG. 8Ball & MJG sounds and feels like 8Ball & MJG on this album 4sho!"

Ever since the duo's 1993 successful debut, Comin' Hard, 8Ball & MJG have been at the forefront of the southern rap movement. They've gone onto release 11 albums, several of which went gold. Their 2004 Livin Legends album peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Top 200.

The duo later teamed up with Three 6 Mafia for the latter's hit single, "Stay Fly," which brought both Memphis groups much success.

Ten Toes Down is slated for release April 6.

Source: Ballerstatus

Ludacris Reveals Partial "Battle Of The Sexes" Tracklisting

PAP — 2010-02-02T00:52:07Z

Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris recently offered select media an opportunity to preview a portion of his Battle of the Sexes album.

Many of the seven tracks Luda played at the listening session were collaborations with other artists.

Noting that the tracklisting was subject to change before its tentative March 16 release date, Bridges thanked the crowd for supporting him over the last decade and offered his latest battle footage. 1. "Hey Ho" featuring Lil Kim 2. "Tell Me a Secret" featuring Ne-Yo 3. "My Chick Bad" featuring Nicki Minaj 4. "Got a Man" featuring Flo Rida 5. "Can't Live With You, Can't Live Without You" featuring Monica 6. "How Low" (Remix) featuring Ciara, Pitbull, Rick Ross, Twista 7. "Sex Room" featuring Trey Songz (Los Angeles Times)

Reports last month suggested production from hitmakers like Swizz Beatz.

Ludacris is waging an all-out war with the opposite sex. The Atlanta rapper has challenged some of female rap's biggest stars to a battle on his new album. Lil' Kim, Eve, Trina and Nicki Minaj are among those getting in the ring with the Grammy winner on his seventh studio album Battle of the Sexes, due March 16. Previously planned as a joint album with femcee Shawnna, the set will also include appearances from Ne-Yo, Ciara, Flo Rida and Plies. Bangladesh, Swizz Beatz and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League have all contributed to the project. (Rap-Up)

Luda has also decided to put in studio time with The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams.

"Just left Baton Rouge for a show. No work or school tmrw so come Check out Live Jazz Sundays at Straits Atl 793 Juniper St & 5th Ave! In the studio with Pharrell my good people. And my n*gga has a mustache!! Ha!," Ludacris wrote on Sunday (January 17). "Pharrell and his mustache working on Battle of the Sexes Album. Coming March 2010! http://yfrog.com/4axkunj." (Ludacris' Twitter)

Speculation has begun to grow that rapper Shawnna will not take part in the project.

For those of you don't recall, Shawnna chose to diss Luda and the DTP family for T-Pain's Nappy Boy imprint. While details are sketchy at the moment, not really, but I'm afraid to say too much, what is known is that instead of Luda teaming up with the Chicago-native for the co-ed inspired rap album - she's been replaced with a plethora of young and old female MC's. Tenatively, rappers like Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, Eve and a few others are being tapped for the project, which is set to hit stores in early 2010. (Gyant Unplugged)

Battle of the Sexes is scheduled to drop Tuesday, March 16th.

Eminem, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake & More To Remake We Are The World

PAP — 2010-02-02T00:50:38Z

Grammy-winning artists Eminem, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and more have been chosen to help put together a 2010 version of "We Are the World" in light of last month's massive earthquake in Haiti.

According to reports, producer RedOne will helm the song's sound.

Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Barbra Streisand are just a handful of the 100-plus stars scheduled to take part in a re-recording of "We Are the World" to benefit Haiti, producer RedOne told Rolling Stone yesterday at the Grammys. Other artists contributing to the new "We Are the World" -- a remake of the 1985 USA for Africa charity single that was co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie -- include Celine Dion, Fergie, Wyclef, Enrique Iglesias and more musicians who attended yesterday's 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. (Rolling Stone)

RedOne says he recently received an unexpected request to put the track together.

"I'm so delighted and so happy to get a dream call from Quincy Jones and Randy Phillips and Lionel Richie," RedOne told RS. "I know that Lionel Richie has been asked like 150-something times to redo 'We Are the World' and he said no to everything until this Haiti thing happened. The moment he saw that it happened he was like, OK, 'We Are the World.' And to be one of the people they called to have fresh input to the song, to help produce the song -- I have no words." (Rolling Stone)

Rapper Busta Rhymes hinted at putting together a big tribute for Haiti last month.

"Dready I'm writing the most compelling song 4 Haiti over this beat u left me wit lastnight...One of the realest things I ever wrote bruddah!," he wrote Sunday (January 24) evening via Twitter. "RT @iamjpierce: @BusaBusss If I could some what dedicate my urban artwork into this Haiti dedication, I'M IN!" RT @PattyLaurent: @BusaBusss You sound like you are in a MARVELOUS mood :-) lol. What's good bro? Ur right baby and I'm gonna make u proud! @Dready10 No doubt bruddah..." (Busta Rhymes' Twitter)

Rapper Twista recently explained why he penned the Haiti tribute, "911."

"When I did that, it was just like what I saw with Hurricane Katrina," Twista explained via telephone from Chicago. "What I saw in Haiti hit me just the same. Especially if you're a person that is black and you're into our African culture, when you saw these things, it hits you harder than the average person. I know Wyclef personally, I'm a fan of his music before any of this happened. He put out CDs that were completely in Haitian. I would still bump those CDs 'cause I was into the whole vibe of it. I happened to be in the studio working. It was during the week when I was putting out a different freestyle for each day of the week. Once that [tragedy] happened, it was a no-brainer, like, 'What I gotta do today?' I thought real hard and the Mary J. Blige and Wyclef [Jean] '911' song came to me. I looped it up, played it for a while and thought about everything I wanted to say before I went in there. I just put something down. I thought it wasn't about lyrical skill -- just go straight in and tell them how you feel how you think people should react. That's what I did." (MTV)

The disaster took place last month.

The major earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday may lead to hundreds of millions of dollars of insured losses, risk assessor Eqecat said, an amount that could have been higher had underwriters loosened their standards. Eqecat indicated that insured buildings often must meet a higher standard and therefore may sustain less damage. However, the company said Haiti's magnitude 7.0 earthquake, whose epicenter was just 10 miles (16 km) from the capital of Port-au-Prince, "is very severe, and even well-designed buildings could expect damage from this event." (Reuters)

Drake Hints At Forever Follow-Up W Eminem Me & Em Talked About Something

PAP — 2010-02-02T00:49:13Z

Grammy-nominated rapper Drake has hinted at a possible collaboration track with Eminem being in the works.

While keeping details to a minimum, the Canadian rapper said talks have begun with Eminem.

"Not yet," Drake said referring to the status of his debut, Thank Me Later. "I got a couple more things. Me and Em talked about something today. We might need that to happen. I'm gonna figure [a single] out this week and it should be coming in a week or two. It's all coming soon. I won't take too long." (MTV)

Kanye West associate No I.D. has reportedly clocked in time with Drake.

"I am working with J. Cole and we are pretty deep into his album, which is turning out great, also working with Drake, Jazmine Sullivan," I.D. said in an interview. "Kanye and I are executive producing Common's next album and then I want some new and unexpected things." (Hip Hop DX)

Along with West, the rapper has locked up a collaboration with Jay-Z for his debut.

"I actually did the record with Jay-Z last night," Drake revealed in an interview. "It's crazy, I'm really really excited about it. I hope he likes it, I just did it and I'ma shoot it to him and I hope he likes it. But it's crazy. It's actually produced by, well, the one that I want him on, produced by this dude from Toronto -- it is nice. It's a special, special record because at first I was like, 'I don't know what kinda hook I'ma do,' I really wanted to make this rap record and I managed to get this rap with a crazy chorus in the lane of like a 'Forever' but not really. It's like that type of triumphant feel though. I'm excited. The record is called 'Light It Up.'" (Rap-Up)

Timbaland recently spoke on Drake's debut album delay and what impact it could have for music fans.

"I don't know, when all the hype was there, [people] were like 'Oh' but now you know how this world is," Tim told radio host/actor Nick Cannon explained about the changing popularity of artists. "They get it and then pull you down. I don't know [if delaying the album was good]. Time will tell when he drops, when he do drop his album. We don't know right now. I can't tell you." (92.3 Now)

A confirmed release date for Thank Me Later has not yet been announced.

Young Buck Blasts G-Unit At Detroit Concert Em Dont Agree W The Bullshit 50 Is Doin

PAP — 2010-02-02T00:47:38Z

Young Buck dissed 50 Cent and his G-Unit camp during a performance at a Detroit, Michigan concert over the weekend.

Buck Marley also made sure to show his respect for Detroit native Eminem.

"I'm a real life n*gga," Buck told a crowd of Detroit fans. "For real. I wanna clear this sh*t up real quick because I see a lot of real n*ggas in here, you understand me. Let me tell you something. I don't f*ck with that n*gga 50 Cent for real. F*ck that n*gga. For real though, look, I got a lot of love for Eminem, that's my n*gga. You understand that? You understand me? Eminem don't even agree with the bullsh*t 50 Cent is doing with me. You understand me -- don't worry about Buck, I'm good with or without some b*tch a** n*gga named 50 motherf*cking Cent...F*ck you, f*ck the contract, I'm in Detroit, I'm in Eminem's hometown...A lot of these n*ggas can't come to Detroit, this is a no fly zone...I promise you, you will not see Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, none of them b*tch a** n*ggas out here without some motherf*cking security..." (BC)

Last fall, Buck clarified speculation of dissing Em on one of his mixtape tracks called "If I Have To."

"Man, I would never diss Eminem," Buck promised. "You know what? I would never diss Eminem. I'ma be real, what had happened was I got a white producer that's from my town -- that actually produced that track. So when I went into the booth, I'm like 'Eminem, we after your a**' basically speaking on the production side of things because the producer of the track is a white dude and Eminem is his favorite and just f*cking with him. And actually, I still slam the sh*t outta his a** for keeping that sh*t on there, you feel me? [laughs] Once I saw how the track got out there like it did, I got at Trick Trick real quick, that's one of my homeboys and I know he's right there with Em [so] he don't take that sh*t the wrong kinda way 'cause how that fumbled. I ain't got no problems with Eminem. He's one of the realest motherf*ckers with me in this rap sh*t. There's only a handful of 'em." ("G-Unit Radio")

Aside from name dropping Slim Shady in the track's intro, Buck used the song to describe his street credentials.

"Cool, turn me up my n*gga," Buck says in the beginning. "[laughs] Eminem, we coming for your a**, ain't that right Coop? Man, we go too hard, for real. Shoot a n*gga dead right now if I had to/Hop out, walk up and just blast you/Snatch him out his Chevy/Take what's on his wrist, let the young n*ggas strip it...I'm pissed, you don't want your name on that list/'fore we come through, n*gga, we don't miss/Throwing shells out the chopper..." ("If I Have To")

Tony Yayo recently said he would not offer a response to Buck's disses as of late.

"Look, I told you, I'm not talking about a n*gga that has zero, nothing," Yayo told radio host DJ Whoo Kid. "I'm good man, rest in peace to Tick man...He frustrated. N*ggas know it's rough in the rap game right now, only the strong are surviving. Riding in nice cars, rappers are gonna have to start rapping for food soon...A n*gga can keep saying what he wanna say, but as long as those checks keep coming for me, I'm good...He's broke, what do you want me [to say?] How you spell broke? B-r-o-k-e. What do you do when a n*gga's on his last legs, don't have nothing, baby mom's all over the place, you was eating Olivia." (Radio Planet TV)

Rap/R&B Grammy Award Winners

A.T.I. — 2010-01-31T23:59:49Z

Announced so far at the pre-show (see Grammy site):

Best Rap Solo

Jay-Z - "D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)"

Best Rap Duo/Group

Eminem feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent - "Crack a Bottle"

Best Rap Song

Jay-Z feat. Kanye West & Rihanna - "Run This Town"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Jay-Z feat. Kanye West & Rihanna - "Run This Town"

Best Rap Album

Eminem - Relapse

Female R&B Vocal Solo

Beyonce - "Single Ladies"

Male R&B Vocal Solo

Maxwell - "Pretty Wings"

R&B Duo/Group

Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain - "Blame It"

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Beyonce - "At Last"

Urban/Alternative Performance

India Arie - "Pearls"

R&B Song

Beyonce - "Single Ladies"

R&B Album

Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night

Contemporary R&B Album

Beyonce - I Am... Sasha Fierce