Rap Radar

Apparently this was left on the cutting floor during T.I.’s Paper Trail run. Sounds like the producer flipped Tom Tom Club’s “Genius Of Love” à la Mariah Carey.

Splash

LL Cool J mosied on down to the Country Music Awards last night in Las Vegas and at the 4:20 mark, introduced Taylor Swift for her performance of “Change”. But the CMA’s wasn’t LL’s only stop. Prior to the awards he performed “Loungin” at the MGM Grand’s pool party.

Cypress Hill sold out S.O.B.’s last Thursday as part of Hot 97′s Who’s Next Showcase. And in case you forgot, the group’s new album Rise Up drops tomorrow. Above is their performance of “How I Could Just Kill A Man”. More footage down bottom.

(more…)

Shyne keeps callin’ me, but I don’t wanna pick up. I hate it. Hate that he keeps callin’. Hate what I would have to say him. Hate the way he sounds. Hate what people are saying about the way he sounds. Really hate what people are saying about him. Ask around. Find out, he wants to sound like that. Doesn’t ever want to be viewed as a Big soundalike again. Never again. Won’t accept criticism. Constructive or not. But then, what could I tell him? It’s not really my job. I’m not his A&R. I’m not his manager. I’m a critic. I critique. He’s not ready. Hopefully one day, he will. I once predicted, he would.

Hear he’s working with Irv Gotti now, which might explain him jumping all over the current big hits last week. Like Irving too, but don’t like the moves he’s making. Hate that Po’s reigniting an old tired beef with 50 Cent. Hate what bloggers are saying about him. Hate what commenters are saying about him. Jay-Z once said, “you guys should come in peace but you rip Po to pieces.” I really have never seen nothing like it. Made me wanna cry. Dude’s been through too much to deserve this. He did real time. Not rapper jail time. Hip-hop has heart? Not in 2010. Hate myself for liking the Its The Real sketch. Hate the idea of him releasing more new records. Hate to have to post it. Hate to have to dig up another old photo of him.

I love hip-hop culture. But sometimes, I hate my job.

These days, it seems as if there’s more teasers, trailers, and snippets than final product. Ah well, if you can’t beat em, join ‘em. Here a sneak peak of LB’s new video “Curtain Call” off Leftback.

Tricky Stewart and The-Dream extend their services to Jamie on the title track for his new album. This might not be the final version, but grab a hand earful for now.

HHNM

Justin told Complex a week and a half ago that he planned to work with Drake. And last night at the Juno Awards, they did just that with Drizzy adding some bars to his hit “Baby”.

Miss Info

Nicki Minaj recently gave a Question and Answer to Details magazine. Below are some excerpts from the sitdown.

Q: As an openly bisexual rapper, do you think hip-hop is getting more gay-friendly?
A: I think the world is getting more gay-friendly, so hip-hop is too. But it’s harder to imagine an openly gay male rapper being embraced. People view gay men as having no street credibility. But I think we’ll see one in my lifetime.

Q: Have you seen the YouTube video where Michelle Trachtenberg raps one of your verses?
A: She’s the cutest thing. I just wanted to reach into the computer and kiss her. I might have to get her on a track.

Q: Your father set fire to your home when you were a kid in Queens, New York. What happened?
A: He drank a lot and did drugs, and he would get violent when he did. When he set fire to the house, he was attempting to kill my mother. She got out before it burned all the way down. I’ve always had this female-empowerment thing in the back of my mind—because I wanted my mother to be stronger, and she couldn’t be. I thought, “If I’m successful, I can change her life.”

Here are photos from Breezy’s six page pictorial in the latest issue of FLAUNT magazine. Hey kids, it’s Chris, are you still down? More under the cut.

Natasha

(more…)

Come May 25th, Daz and Kurupt’s 100 Wayz is coming to a retailer near you. Check out the trailer above and ride down with their latest leak below.

“Keep On Riding”

Previously: “Crazy N The Club” x “Do U Drank”